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The Orc Beserker is a miserably designed sack of hitpoints:

Orc Berserker

HP 66; Bloodied 33

AC 15; Fortitude 17, Reflex 13, Will 12

Speed 6 (8 while charging)

Greataxe (standard, at-will) Weapon

+8 vs AC; 1d12+5 damage (crit 1d12+17).

Warrior's Surge (standard; usable only while bloodied, encounter) Healing, Weapon

The orc berserker makes a melee basic attack, spends a healing surge, and regains 16 hit points.

Calculating in their warrior's surge (which is a horrible mechanic), they have: 66+16 = 82 HP versus the expected 56 HP or so.

Also, their absurd crit damage is... absurd.

What are some recommended balance modifications to this horrible creature?

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1 Answer 1

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I like the Orcs in the Monster Vault. Let's take the brute from there and downlevel it to match the Orc Berserker.

Orc Rampager
Medium natural humanoid

Level 4 Brute
XP 175
HP 68; Bloodied 34  Initiative +5
AC 16, Fortitude 18, Reflex 16, Will 14 Perception+3
Speed 6 Low-light vision

Traits
Berserk Flailing
While the orc is bloodied and can take opportunity actions, any enemy that 
starts its turn adjacent to the orc takes 5 damage.

Standard Actions
 Heavy Flail (weapon)  At-Will
Attack: Melee 1 (one creature); +9 vs. AC
Hit: 2d6 + 4 damage.
 Rampage  At-Will
Effect: The orc shifts up to 3 squares and can use heavy flail 
against three enemies during the shift.

 Handaxe (weapon)  At-Will
Attack: Ranged 10 (one creature); +9 vs. AC
Hit: 2d6 + 4 damage, and the orc can push the target 1 square.

Triggered Actions
Savage Demise  Encounter
Trigger: The orc drops to 0 hit points.
Effect (Free Action): The orc takes a standard action.
Str 21 (+8)                Dex 14 (+5)                Wis 10 (+3)
Con 20 (+8)                Int 8 (+2)                Cha 8 (+2)
Alignment chaotic evil        Languages Common, Giant
Equipment: handaxe x4, heavy flail , leather armor .

Now, this guy looks like a brute! (And not like a big sack-o-hit points)

The Orc Savage DDI is a nice L4 brute minion. Make sure to mix some of those in as well. Orcs should always come in a horde after all :)

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  • \$\begingroup\$ or, possibly, in a horde. \$\endgroup\$
    – Adriano Varoli Piazza
    Commented Jan 30, 2011 at 1:32
  • \$\begingroup\$ @adriano - what? \$\endgroup\$
    – Pat Ludwig
    Commented Jan 30, 2011 at 1:33
  • \$\begingroup\$ triple attack at 2d6? owww? \$\endgroup\$
    – Brian Ballsun-Stanton
    Commented Jan 30, 2011 at 3:00
  • \$\begingroup\$ @Brian - don't forget it's just a standard action. It makes for a heck of a dying present to lay on the party :) On the other hand, make sure the attacks go to 3 different characters. He can't wail on the defender 3x a round. \$\endgroup\$
    – Pat Ludwig
    Commented Jan 30, 2011 at 3:06
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    \$\begingroup\$ @Brian: to be honest, 4e's orcs are pretty tame compared to 3e's orcs, especially if you consider the differences in damage and hit points. A single crit from a 3.0 CR 1/2 orc at 3d12+18 could auto-kill pretty much any tough character up to level 3. ;) \$\endgroup\$
    – user660
    Commented Jan 30, 2011 at 12:25

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