Author's Notes
Orcs
Orcs has been done before, and they are usually just treated as monsters. Heroica doesn't do monsters, so I had to make them a people.
I wanted them to remain a warrior people, but bound by codes of honor, traditions and the landscape where they live. A fierce people, where strength means power and status. But, also with traditions and religion. A people with families, children, friends.
I used the Mongol tribes as inspiration, for their fierceness in battle and for their historical conquests.
I dropped the green skin and tusks, to take them back more to the Tolkien roots, and to make them less caricature.
I made the leaders grow larger, as in some apes.
Then, I made the exception: The Grashkaar orcs, where peace was used as a weapon, and it backfired.
They are still very much orcs, but they are a restrained power. They are like a spring under tension, which could snap and crush you if provoked, and they are many.
I like the Graskaar concept. It feels very orcish, yet more than just warriors.