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Psienesis wrote:Orks come out of their spore-pods fully grown. There are no ork "children". They immediately pick up a weapon and look for something to kill. Pants and such come later, if their pack of Orks they are around are suitably advanced to have recognized the need or desire for clothes and armor.

Not so, there is such a thing as an Ork "child." It's simply that orks grow up a hell of a lot faster than humans do, as is stated in the codex.

In what, a matter of hours?

The only description I've seen, recently, of the Ork spawning process has pods tearing open and full-sized Boyz stumbling out.

In none of the descriptions of the Orks at war are we given descriptions of Ork villages that are anything but staging camps for the Waagh. Even in the RPG fluff, the worlds of the 'Undred-'Undred Teef are tides of violence and carnage as various Bosses and Freebooterz fight for dominance in the coming Waagh.

There are Ork children, they are called yoofs.

Are we sure that's not just more-experienced Boyz referring to newly-podded Boyz?

Nah, what it is, is an Ork comes out of the pod fully developed, but not fully grown. Orks never stop growing. It's just, when they first pop out, they're a bit weedy and runty. Not as small as Gretchin, but much smaller than your average Boy. They fight each other, fight wild critters, maybe run off to Stormboy camp for a while- get some glory, win some fights, and start growin'. Then they're Boyz. They just don't have them in the games 'cause they tend to be more disciplined and less powerful/tough than Boyz- basically, if you want a Yoof, get a Guardsman.

So... it's more a social distinction than an actual physiological maturity distinction?

By that I mean, outside of what passes for society amongst the Orks, these yoofs would be able to function and survive on their own?

Psienesis wrote:So... it's more a social distinction than an actual physiological maturity distinction?

By that I mean, outside of what passes for society amongst the Orks, these yoofs would be able to function and survive on their own?

They are basically the smallest, weakest Boyz, able to do everything their fellows can do, but not as good in a fight. Think of it as a human springing out at age 16. Not as big or strong or experienced as a full-grown man, but otherwise equally capable of surviving and reproducing.

ok, so these answers explain a lot but how does the Imperium, Tau, or Eldar make sure that non of the spurs are left?

They don't. You burn everything you can, and then you get people to periodically sweep through and wipe out tribes of feral orks. Orks are like herpes--when you have them, you have them, although you'll have flare-ups and dormant stretches.

They purify it with fire.

At least the Imperium does. I'm not sure the Tau have quite figured out the Ork yet.

The Eldar have known the ins and outs of the Ork for millennia, and so have probably developed some sort of spray or dust or maybe a unique wavelength of light that eradicates Ork-spores.

No, the Eldar haven't figured it out either. Orks control more "territory" in modern 40k than the Eldar did in their prime.

The Eldar can't control them anymore. In their prime they were able to control the numbers, although it is impossible to exterminate them, now however nothing is keeping them in check.

Even in their prime, I don't think they could really control the Orks' numbers. Remember, the same race that created the Eldar created the Orks as well. Orks were far, FAR more successful of a design.

Yeah, I know, I was more making a funny about Eldar technology and their snooty ways. Everyone else uses fire/napalm/atomic weapons.... Eldar have Ork-B-Gone, available in spray-bottle or room-bomb on Craftworld Pick-N-Save.

"Their cross-breeding with fungi allows them to reproduce asexually, which explains the lack of Ork females. This reproductive process basically involves the dispersion of spores from a decomposing Ork corpse, such that killing an Ork literally creates more Orks, explaining why Orks are such a difficult enemy to combat and how, along with their extreme physical hardiness, they can very easily infiltrate and build up large populations virtually anywhere. The only known solution to this problem is to incinerate the entire area to destroy all Orks and Ork spores."

Even in their prime, I don't think they could really control the Orks' numbers. Remember, the same race that created the Eldar created the Orks as well. Orks were far, FAR more successful of a design.

One of my favorite quotes concerning Orks, from the Eldar point of view:

"The Orks are the pinnacle of creation. For them, the great struggle is won. They have evolved a society which knows no stress or angst. Who are we to judge them? We Eldar who have failed, or the Humans, on the road to ruin in their turn? And why? Because we sought answers to questions that an Ork wouldn't even bother to ask! We see a culture that is strong and despise it as crude."

- Uthan the Perverse, a controversial Eldar philosopher

(from Lexicanum)