What do you think?
Rate this book
Creature Warfare
Orc Warfare
To defeat your enemy, you must understand him. This volume offers an indispensable analysis of the most vicious killers of all orcs. Born and bred for war, they are an awful, brutish, violent species and, despite their constant infighting and backstabbing, their horde armies remain a dire threat to all races. To them, war is life. Beginning with an examination of the fighting methods of the individual orc warrior, the book expands to look at how they do battle in their small warbands and in vast armies. Using vivid, illuminating illustrations, it reveals the tactics, technology and disposition of all the orc troop types, from lightly armed archers and heavily armored shock troops to their wolf cavalry and siege engines, uncovering startling regional variations and highly specialized fighters such as beserkers and battle shamans. Finally, it will explore specific key battles that orcs have fought in to develop the fullest possible understanding of these loathsome, terrifying creatures and the ways in which they go to war.
66 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 20, 2015
5 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 31, 2015
An interesting generic orc and goblin book, dosent focus on one particular table top wargaming rule set.
concentrates on orcs by regions eg, forest, mountain, sea and many others.
goblins are refered to as smaller orcs not as a separate race.
Only for die hard orc players/fan.
Could be useful for authors and GM's as an aid to writing.
It contains some very nice artwork.
FREE FROM NET GALLERY.
anyone who plays tabletop wargames will interested in this. Any of my GR friends who play let me know please.
concentrates on orcs by regions eg, forest, mountain, sea and many others.
goblins are refered to as smaller orcs not as a separate race.
Only for die hard orc players/fan.
Could be useful for authors and GM's as an aid to writing.
It contains some very nice artwork.
FREE FROM NET GALLERY.
anyone who plays tabletop wargames will interested in this. Any of my GR friends who play let me know please.
February 2, 2015
Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley.
Pramas has a point. Orcs do get a bit of a bad rap. Honestly, where would a great many fantasy novels be without them? No where really interesting. Orc Warfare attempts to remedy this misunderstanding by presenting Orcs in a more tactical light.
It is Osprey after all.
Books like these seem to me, to be an excellent idea. Taking a fantasy creature (or a straight out fantasy) and presenting using terms and ideas that used in the real world. In a book detailing made up beings, there is a great deal about tactics.
It’s a way to get people interested in learning. Pramas breaks down Orcs, going over the strengths and weaknesses of different types. There is a discussion about battle tactics (hence the references to the real world). The most creative (and funny) part of the book are the quotes that are used to introduced some sections. There is some macabre humor there. At the end there are a few stories of famous Orc battles, including one involving a commander escaping with rats.
The book is short and can easily be read in an hour or less. It is well worth the time, and a great gift for a young LOTR fans.
Note: The ARC I read did not have illustrations so I cannot comment on them.
Pramas has a point. Orcs do get a bit of a bad rap. Honestly, where would a great many fantasy novels be without them? No where really interesting. Orc Warfare attempts to remedy this misunderstanding by presenting Orcs in a more tactical light.
It is Osprey after all.
Books like these seem to me, to be an excellent idea. Taking a fantasy creature (or a straight out fantasy) and presenting using terms and ideas that used in the real world. In a book detailing made up beings, there is a great deal about tactics.
It’s a way to get people interested in learning. Pramas breaks down Orcs, going over the strengths and weaknesses of different types. There is a discussion about battle tactics (hence the references to the real world). The most creative (and funny) part of the book are the quotes that are used to introduced some sections. There is some macabre humor there. At the end there are a few stories of famous Orc battles, including one involving a commander escaping with rats.
The book is short and can easily be read in an hour or less. It is well worth the time, and a great gift for a young LOTR fans.
Note: The ARC I read did not have illustrations so I cannot comment on them.
February 13, 2015
This is a nice quick one that reads more like a character breakdown for an entire race than a book with a plot and structure but I must say for the very first time I am tempted to be an orc next time I pick up Skyrim or a game where it gives me that opportunity. It has elements of the Art of War in terms of tactics, troop deployment and weaponary and I picked it up because it sort of reminded me of the game Dynasty Warriors. I was interested to see how an entire battle of Orcs may work especially as wet to view it from a neutral point of view. There are no heroes or villains in this one just Orcs, Yetis, Trolls, Goblins and more.
It’s a great summary of the make up of the Orc race explaining the different factions and tribes that exist based on the terrain they live in and how they have evolved individual tactics to help their way of life continue. We get an insight into some of their ghastly but creative weapon choices as well as their day to day habits.
It is only 64 pages and some of that is taken up with some absolutely beautiful artwork. Yes Orcs can be beautiful. I would not have thought it myself but one flick through the pages and your imagination and sense of what they look like, how they move, even how they sound; comes alive
I think any gamer would enjoy this and anyone who has read books where Orcs constantly appear but are rarely given their due respect in terms of backstory.
It ended a little abruptly and may have benefited from a final chapter or summary but overall it was a very enjoyable half an hour of reading.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a review
Published by Osprey Publishing and available June 23rd
It’s a great summary of the make up of the Orc race explaining the different factions and tribes that exist based on the terrain they live in and how they have evolved individual tactics to help their way of life continue. We get an insight into some of their ghastly but creative weapon choices as well as their day to day habits.
It is only 64 pages and some of that is taken up with some absolutely beautiful artwork. Yes Orcs can be beautiful. I would not have thought it myself but one flick through the pages and your imagination and sense of what they look like, how they move, even how they sound; comes alive
I think any gamer would enjoy this and anyone who has read books where Orcs constantly appear but are rarely given their due respect in terms of backstory.
It ended a little abruptly and may have benefited from a final chapter or summary but overall it was a very enjoyable half an hour of reading.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a review
Published by Osprey Publishing and available June 23rd
July 19, 2015
'Orc Warfare' by Chris Pramas is strategy guide written to understand orcs and how they fight. Sure they are fictional, but you never know when something like this might come in handy, right?
The book is broken into four sections. You'll learn about types of orcs, types of orc troops, orc strategies and tactics, and some sample orc victories. Orcs are not pretty, and neither are their tactics. They are dirty fighters and chaotic. They are also not afraid to eat their own. The description of orc types and troops rings true from fantasy books and movies, but I didn't see any kind of appendix or bibliography. It would be interesting to know if any of the battles listed were from books or just invented for the sake of the book. The art in the book is of orcs, so it is gloriously ugly.
It might make a good source-book for a game master or someone looking to write about orcs. It's a quick enough read, and I liked the fact that it completely played itself off with the gravity of non-fiction. It is funny that this fictional race that Tolkien created seems to continue to operate in a very similar manner all these years later.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Osprey Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
The book is broken into four sections. You'll learn about types of orcs, types of orc troops, orc strategies and tactics, and some sample orc victories. Orcs are not pretty, and neither are their tactics. They are dirty fighters and chaotic. They are also not afraid to eat their own. The description of orc types and troops rings true from fantasy books and movies, but I didn't see any kind of appendix or bibliography. It would be interesting to know if any of the battles listed were from books or just invented for the sake of the book. The art in the book is of orcs, so it is gloriously ugly.
It might make a good source-book for a game master or someone looking to write about orcs. It's a quick enough read, and I liked the fact that it completely played itself off with the gravity of non-fiction. It is funny that this fictional race that Tolkien created seems to continue to operate in a very similar manner all these years later.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Osprey Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
February 10, 2019
In a departure for Osprey, this is a series of short books which looks at the tactics of fantasy races. Perhaps initiated by the 'Frostgrave' skirmish wargames rules (advert in back of this book), this is an interesting idea but falters because there is no world to hang the information onto.
Taking a more Tolkien view of Orcs (as opposed to the newer 'Warhammer' re-interpretation) Chris Pramas guides us through Orc races, troops, tactics and battles in the same way as any historical books by Osprey. In this format it was nice and simple to follow and read and the pictures are - as one would expect from Osprey - are very good. However, it missed the option of maps of some of the fictional battles (a shame, as this is often the best part of other Osprey books), and as there was no world and it was generic there was no investment in the information.
Perhaps Osprey should have associated this more closely with their Frostgrave world.
Taking a more Tolkien view of Orcs (as opposed to the newer 'Warhammer' re-interpretation) Chris Pramas guides us through Orc races, troops, tactics and battles in the same way as any historical books by Osprey. In this format it was nice and simple to follow and read and the pictures are - as one would expect from Osprey - are very good. However, it missed the option of maps of some of the fictional battles (a shame, as this is often the best part of other Osprey books), and as there was no world and it was generic there was no investment in the information.
Perhaps Osprey should have associated this more closely with their Frostgrave world.
October 5, 2019
This is another in the Osprey series of Fantasy Warfare. I have previously read the elf one. I liked the art and it is a decent read. This is the kind of book that I would have eaten up as a kid. It takes the generic elements of fantasy orcs and compiles them into a manual of battle, giving descriptions of different types of orc units and orc strategies. It is well done but leaves me wanting for a more original take on orcs. Sure, orcs only care about warfare and obtain all their supplies from raiding. What about orc sorcerers who apply study and esotericism to brutality? What about orcs who use diplomacy to boost their martial gains? This book would make a good resource for role-players or wargamers, but in the end it made me want to create a new and unique orc culture.
November 8, 2020
Life crisis admitting that I love sword and sorcery. The worse, the better. I'm just a giant nerd at heart, but mustn't let anyone know lest I'm outed.
March 28, 2015
eARC review
2.5 stars (3 for objectivity considering that I'm maybe not quite the perfect audience in retrospect...)
This was a fun novelty fantasy military strategy read. Despite the small page count, for those not totally into the world of Lord of the Rings, Dungeons & Dragons, World of Warcraft, War Hammer, etc...after a while the novelty wears off and this does get a little monotonous.
Reading about all the different types of orc was fun though the list does go on and on... Thorough or tedious? You decide!
For me, the orcs I am most familiar with are the original(?) Lord of the Rings type. They are also the type I think are the coolest. However, they are not quite what is described in this book as far as I can tell. I mean, much of the time they could be.. But certain aspects don't sit well with that group of orcs. For example, I can get into the idea of orc mysticism, but not so much in such a structured religion kind of way as described in this book. That said, what's described here is supposed to be a general guide based on information pooled from many varying orc sources. Oh yeah, and orcs are totally fictional so writing a non-fiction-esque guide to the war tactics of fictional characters carries certain understandable complications. hah
The last chapter documents a few orc victories showing the use of orc tactics discussed in a previous chapter, but it ends a little abruptly with a story that finishes talking about the orcs' expendability to an elf dark lord. It might have been good to switch the last two stories so it ends with a story of pure orc unadulterated orc victory rather than someone else's victory that the orcs greatly assisted.
The book says the orcs breed like rabbits, but not once are female orcs mentioned (other than the War-Mother who...is she a legend? I think...). Question: Are orcs a-sexual? Or, if there are indeed orc women (like the mystery of dwarf women), do the orc women fight too? (I assume so.) Might have been good to include just a line to clear up that little mystery, but that's just for my curiosity.
Ramblings about the illustration:
The illustration style didn't grab me and it felt just a bit superficial partly because it felt like random drawings of orcish thinks not always in relation to the text and partly because the clear use of the digital medium take you out of the moment a bit. It would have been good to see a better text/image relationship.
As a matter of stylistic preference, I think it would be really great to see this illustrated more in the vein of Alan Lee or John Howe or even, for a slightly more modern approach while still staying authentic to the work, Sam Bosma.
I hope none of that seems snooty to say :/
2.5 stars (3 for objectivity considering that I'm maybe not quite the perfect audience in retrospect...)
This was a fun novelty fantasy military strategy read. Despite the small page count, for those not totally into the world of Lord of the Rings, Dungeons & Dragons, World of Warcraft, War Hammer, etc...after a while the novelty wears off and this does get a little monotonous.
Reading about all the different types of orc was fun though the list does go on and on... Thorough or tedious? You decide!
For me, the orcs I am most familiar with are the original(?) Lord of the Rings type. They are also the type I think are the coolest. However, they are not quite what is described in this book as far as I can tell. I mean, much of the time they could be.. But certain aspects don't sit well with that group of orcs. For example, I can get into the idea of orc mysticism, but not so much in such a structured religion kind of way as described in this book. That said, what's described here is supposed to be a general guide based on information pooled from many varying orc sources. Oh yeah, and orcs are totally fictional so writing a non-fiction-esque guide to the war tactics of fictional characters carries certain understandable complications. hah
The last chapter documents a few orc victories showing the use of orc tactics discussed in a previous chapter, but it ends a little abruptly with a story that finishes talking about the orcs' expendability to an elf dark lord. It might have been good to switch the last two stories so it ends with a story of pure orc unadulterated orc victory rather than someone else's victory that the orcs greatly assisted.
The book says the orcs breed like rabbits, but not once are female orcs mentioned (other than the War-Mother who...is she a legend? I think...). Question: Are orcs a-sexual? Or, if there are indeed orc women (like the mystery of dwarf women), do the orc women fight too? (I assume so.) Might have been good to include just a line to clear up that little mystery, but that's just for my curiosity.
Ramblings about the illustration:
The illustration style didn't grab me and it felt just a bit superficial partly because it felt like random drawings of orcish thinks not always in relation to the text and partly because the clear use of the digital medium take you out of the moment a bit. It would have been good to see a better text/image relationship.
As a matter of stylistic preference, I think it would be really great to see this illustrated more in the vein of Alan Lee or John Howe or even, for a slightly more modern approach while still staying authentic to the work, Sam Bosma.
I hope none of that seems snooty to say :/
June 6, 2016
This a a great book for some that like fan fiction that tolkien like but not canon. it also great from someone writing a tolkien like story for ideas. I like the second cavalry types other than the giant wolf/worg. I hope he makes a stand alone Goblin warfare book and wish he use the WoW version of trolls. I have purchased the Dwarf warfare book and plan to buy the Elf warfare book as soon as it is release. Beside the stand alone Goblin book I'd like to see books on Centaurs and Gnomes. Reposting of Amazon review
July 20, 2015
Brought to you by Osprey - the same publisher that brings you military books on historical units, aircraft and vehicles, Orc Warfare brings a version of orc armies. There are examinations of different types of orcs (they include goblins as a sub-type of orc), their fighting styles and then fictional battles against various opponents. If you need info for a fantasy book or RPG, this could be helpful in jump-starting your imagination.
August 23, 2015
A book along the lines of the Osprey series of military campaign books. If you are interested in running a traditional fantasy campaign for your roleplaying game this is a quick easy read to give you some nice ideas to flesh out the Orcs of your world.
The author has an efficient way of writing the more anthropological portions of the book while still being able to turn out enjoyable anecdotes to go along as examples of the behaviors discussed.
The author has an efficient way of writing the more anthropological portions of the book while still being able to turn out enjoyable anecdotes to go along as examples of the behaviors discussed.
May 6, 2015
For those looking for more background on Orcs, this is the book to read. Pramas provides a wealth of information perfect for someone looking to RP with or around Orcs or for someone looking to write fantasy with Orcs as part of the story. The writing is simple easy and quick to read making it a great resource. I received an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 12, 2016
Excellent
Truly great book fun to read by the fact that it was so serious felt like it was a description of real wars
Truly great book fun to read by the fact that it was so serious felt like it was a description of real wars
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews