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So Im browsing over New Rumors and such, when I go into the Tau rumors thread and read these tasty crumpits:

"Y'know what doesnt fit in 40k? Orks, They are just to silly to be a serious threat"

and

"Agreed 100% Goofy, dopey, and of minor intelligence. Orks belong in a fantasy setting, not sci-fi. They would never even begin to keep up with the technology curve. Guns would frighten them away... But even on that note I'll concede that they have been given a prominent place in the 40k galaxy. As they are written, so let them be."

Da fraq did I just read?

Not only do orks belong in 40K they have been here since the very beginning... nothing in 40K makes more sense than a space ork, even backed with logical scientific reasoning (aside from red blood) to explain why they exist, where they came from, why they think the way they do and so on. The fact that orks are staple and reliable apocalypse armies, and are still quite strong despite the sucker punch assault armies took, while simultaneously proving that despite their horrible ballistics, they are still dangerous on the right side of a gun...

So I ask this question: Are orks too silly for 40K? or do people need to re-evaluate the threat to the 40K universe that is orky?

Its Tau fans being Tau fans. Screw them and their mary sue race.

Anyway, Orks are funny to us. They aren't funny to the people they kill and enslave or exterminate.

Dem stoopid oomies iz skared 'cause oomies iz pink and squishy. Orks iz green and green iz best!

Silly 40K is best 40K.

 illuknisaa wrote:
Dem stoopid oomies iz skared 'cause oomies iz pink and squishy. Orks iz green and green iz best!

Tau fans were saying what the OP is talking about, you dolt.

Corporal_Reznov wrote:

 illuknisaa wrote:
Dem stoopid oomies iz skared 'cause oomies iz pink and squishy. Orks iz green and green iz best!

Tau fans were saying what the OP is talking about, you dolt.

Oi! me readz good and proppa. You want to taste me killkannon!?!

Corporal_Reznov wrote:Anyway, Orks are funny to us. They aren't funny to the people they kill and enslave or exterminate.

Hey, I actually agree with you here. This pretty much sums up my thoughts on the issue perfectly.

It's kind of like watching nature. Tigers and bears can be cute and people go "d'aww" - they'd still murder the feth outta anything they consider prey or a threat. Orks are the same, in a way, just that they're more like an army of brutal psychopaths who talk funny.

I dunno, football hooli- Orks are pretty scary from where I'm standing. ^^;

Whoever made that comment about Orks being scared of guns and being behind on the technology curve either hasn't been paying attention or is just trolling. Like the guy I used to know who insisted Elves in fantasy should be less than a foot tall and make toys.

I suppose they are entitled to hate all they want, as everytime I've watched a game between orks and tau, orks won everytime lol... hell I'd laugh if that were the case when the new tau dex hits... but all the wargaming aside, have they never read the fluff?

Seriously, orks are some of the meanest most destructive, quite possibly THE most destructive race in the universe. I've read in places where several different space marine races went around a system/galaxy because it was ork territory... and as we all know, spesh mehrines are ded 'ard, so whats that say? lol

I just get ticked off when the one race everyone says is more of a novelty codex also gets the "doesnt belong" treatment... Im mean just because their xenos have pansy blue skin and classify roles out of geneology rather than whoever is the biggest and the strongest, doesnt mean an ancient race is any worse than them...

heres a quote I found regarding orks logically, even taking a nod at the ork codex quote where the eldar found them resourceful: "I don't know what any of you are talking about...The universe is a wonderful place. There is always plenty to eat, freedom to follow your own pursuit of happiness, it is hardly a place of hopeless despair...at least if you are an Ork.

The Orks are the quintessential race in the 40k galaxy. With a prodigious birth rate (and "kultur" that accepts war as a necessity) the orks are depicted as the most economically viable and stable civilization period. The ork codex sums it up in the quote in which the eldar recognized the strong culture of the orks, knowing no stress or angst, yet being despised as crude or uncivilized by other races standards.

Life as an Ork in the 40k universe is to live in a perpetual golden age where you fulfill your dreams as a freebooting pirate, dare-devil racer, runtherder or even a squig farmer! Each individual is limited only by his ambition. Even gretchen who are arguably second class citizens of the ork empire can follow aptitudes for medicinal work, mekanical repair, or munition work.

To live as an Ork is to look at a galaxy set upon all sides by innumerable horrors...and have a good hearty larf.

That is why I love the Orks. Once the Imperium crumbles, Eldar become extinct and other races fail and fade from the annals of history, the Orks can usher in a new age of unmatched prosperity and put and end to all this grimdark nonsense"

 WarlordRob117 wrote:

The ork codex sums it up in the quote in which the eldar recognized the strong culture of the orks, knowing no stress or angst, yet being despised as crude or uncivilized by other races standards.

That was said by only one Eldar philosopher and I doubt his views are accepted by the rest of his people. Seeing as he's called perverse.

That is why I love the Orks. Once the Imperium crumbles, Eldar become extinct and other races fail and fade from the annals of history, the Orks can usher in a new age of unmatched prosperity and put and end to all this grimdark nonsense"

It will still be grimdark for everyone else except the Orks. I don't see grimdark as nonsense as long as it isn't stupid grimdark( I classify grimdark in that it makes it seem that people aren't living lives in 40k) and makes sense.

That's the first time I've seen a convincing argument for "Grimdark" being a matter of perspective.

I guess it's true though. It's a good time to be an Ork.

just had to post this... everytime I play my orks I listen to this song, its about as pumping up orky a song as you can get: Cyborg Killer (Dethklok) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CL-SQXBJAA

I mean I get grimdark is a matter of perspective, but orks can operate on any level of that spectrum... you could have a video depicting an ork having tea time with SGT Slaughter on youtube all the way to an R-rated movie depicting orks as a blood thirsty race that will murder you in front of your family, eat you in front of said family, then make your family eat parts of you out of threat of killing your children... considering how evil people can be in real life, I'd say thats about as grimdark as it gets

Want a good example of the seriousness of orks?

Space Marine pretty much puts them both in a slightly numerous light, but then you see the destruction, then you begin listening to the audio of everyone being butchered for fun, all the depressing stories, and then you realize that from the Orks prospective, it's all good fun.

From everyone else? It's pretty up.

With respect for the OP, the above snippets he cited were in response to another poster claiming how the Tau did not fit for such and such reason, and were ( IMO since it was not my posts) intended as a sarcastic/ironic response, and not one to take seriously

Orks have been in the setting from the begining hell I still have my incrdibly lethal lead minis, but orginaly they were alot more comical then now, 3rd ed did alot to make them more techno-barbaric, and lest colorful cartoony villans.

Anyone who thinks orks are too silly and light hearted for 40K needs to read Space Marine Battles- Rynns World by Steve Parker

Yeah, the marines get to win in the end, but it portrays the orks in a less comedic light

Tau, on the other hand, are the comic relief for 40K

 ZebioLizard2 wrote:
Want a good example of the seriousness of orks?

Space Marine pretty much puts them both in a slightly numerous light, but then you see the destruction, then you begin listening to the audio of everyone being butchered for fun, all the depressing stories, and then you realize that from the Orks prospective, it's all good fun.

From everyone else? It's pretty up.

oh you mean this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvf0MMgYpg4


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Soo'Vah'Cha wrote:
With respect for the OP, the above snippets he cited were in response to another poster claiming how the Tau did not fit for such and such reason, and were ( IMO since it was not my posts) intended as a sarcastic/ironic response, and not one to take seriously

Orks have been in the setting from the begining hell I still have my incrdibly lethal lead minis, but orginaly they were alot more comical then now, 3rd ed did alot to make them more techno-barbaric, and lest colorful cartoony villans.

can we really assume that though? I mean look at the poll... there are at least three people who think orks are too silly for 40K, in a small form this proves that the comments can be taken either way... I personally feel that no such comment could be made about any race let alone orks... they are all unique and serve a purpose to perpetuate the cycle of death and blood, orks especially since it takes the destruction of an entire planet to effectively remove their ability to repopulate.

I actually came by some third edition stuff in a trade, i think like an ork, a boss and a couple grots... love the models to death!

Poll is indicitive, Orks are one of the most well loved of all of the races, and their one dimensional love of destruction is a welcome addition to offset the endless complex machinations of the other races.

you could make a poll titled the earth is flat, and there will always be a few people that will say "yes it is", internet polls are just like all other polls, mainly useful for stringing laundry up on.

And I am pretty certain the comments that got you all up in arms were intended for the troll in that thread, myself I love my orks, and my tau, and my guard, and even my marine malevolents, stop trying to be divisive and just embrace the hobby as a whole.

Cause every part of 40k is important to its setting.

 Soo'Vah'Cha wrote:
you could make a poll titled the earth is flat, and there will always be a few people that will say "yes it is", internet polls are just like all other polls, mainly useful for stringing laundry up on.

And I am pretty certain the comments that got you all up in arms were intended for the troll in that thread, myself I love my orks, and my tau, and my guard, and even my marine malevolents, stop trying to be divisive and just embrace the hobby as a whole.

Cause every part of 40k is important to its setting.

Since when was I being devisive? I embraced that fact in that last comment... all the races are equally viable... again what I hate is hearing "Orks are the joke codex for the less serious player" and "You should just shelve your ork codex since they really arent a 40K army anyway..." this is horse manure, and anyone who makes such comments should have their nether region smacked with a frozen fish... you should stop being obtuse sir (big word for an ork player, I know) and understand that I made this thread as an attempt to see just how many other people out there feel a particular way about orks

 WarlordRob117 wrote:

Not only do orks belong in 40K they have been here since the very beginning...

There is a point though: if 40k had been as serious/grimdark from the beginning as it is now, and Orks were added in later, after most other similar 'funny' elements were filtered out or never existed...people would complain that they ruin the setting.

However as things stand, Orks are way iconic to 40k.

Obtuse ..huh, ok, well my devisive comment was based on the dismisal of the explanation of the responses that incited this thread, were ment as sarcasm/ironic in the context of that thread, and not as a attack against a beloved race.

And that when stated the response was, since the poll indicates some people think that way, then the again above stated snippets from another thread could/or likely be a true statement and a attack on a beloved race.

Funny thing about typed statements is its hard to read tone, so usually its better to err on the side of caution, until stated otherwise.

And just to be fully clear on my stance, I believe the Orks are a wonderful addition to the setting always have been always will..yay party on garth!

Corporal_Reznov wrote:
Its Tau fans being Tau fans. Screw them and their mary sue race.

LOL, so much racism and truth in this post... I like it

Anyway, to the OP: people call Orks silly because they are the only race/ faction ( beside Space Wolves and various Guardsmen ) who love to tell a joke from time to time.
Orks are very serious threat to the galaxy, maybe they are funny and stupid but gather bunch of them in one place and you can stomp everything in front of you.

 Soo'Vah'Cha wrote:
And just to be fully clear on my stance, I believe the Orks are a wonderful addition to the setting always have been always will..yay party on garth!

No misunderstanding here... FUNGUS BEER ALL AROUND!!!! suffice it to say I think an ork would beat a space wolf in a drinking contest... I just had another idea for a thread lmao

Anyone that thinks orks are silly should read Rynn's World and Helsreach to get a proper education.

Orks are the scariest part of 40k.

The unstoppable barbarian horde at the gates, with technology none of us understand, brutally effective tactics, impossibly durable bodies, and a culture so focused around war that "war!" is their rallying call. They are so numerous as to be without number, and they will not stop until the entire galaxy is covered in an all-consuming war.

And you know what? They've already won.

Orks are fun. What is not to like about a race of barbaric creatures for whom simple belief in a thing makes it true?

They are the epitome of that person who is dumb as a rock but for some reason still manages to come out on top without even knowing it.

They are the one race that should never have survived natural selection, but somehow through sheer force of will alone actually have a shot of conquering the galaxy.

Orks are the absolute definition of the darkness of the 40k universe. Their existence underlines the fact that no matter how smart you are, no matter how organized or well equipped, it is all for nothing as even these idiots will tear down your gates and leave destruction in their wake.

I actually think the current depiction of Orks is the best. They have silly undertones and internal interactions, but are no longer just purely wacky and lovable buffoons. Rather they're somewhat similar to the Joker from the Dark Knight. They'll make you laugh, but can still be threatening while doing it.

The original Orks felt like that GW was afraid to elevate them to a true terror, that bit about non-Orks rising to prominence in their settlements, their more goofy appearances, and the stuff about slaves being respected and well-treated all felt as symptoms to this. Now, Orks will be wild and crazy in a humorous fashion but do so while destroying civilizations and enslaving millions.

It's the right balance between the humorous nature that the Orks were developed upon, and the grimdark of 40k itself. You can't have the most populous race in the galaxy that has been an enemy of mankind for 30,000 years be completely harmless.

 kronk wrote:
Anyone that thinks orks are silly should read Rynn's World and Helsreach to get a proper education.

Agreed. Both of these do a good job of presenting ork kulture. Also worth a look are Yarrick (where the Imperial Guard's tacticians get outwitted by the orks) and The Siege of Castellax (where even the Iron Warriors are taken aback by orkish indifference to casualties).


Though there have been some regrettable exceptions, the Orks have been presented as humorous in three ways, all of which are compatible with the 'GrimDark':

Individual orks doing something that a sympathetic character regards as stupid and foolish. This covers a lot of scenes in a lot of fluff, with orks fighting each other, shooting wildly and inaccurately, or other typically orky things that are just senseless and dumb to humans (or Space Marines).

Things that the reader, who is not really too emotionally invested in the fates of random 40K bystanders, would find funny. For instance, we might find it funny that an ork uses a Shokk Attack Gun to teleport frenzied snotlings into a Leman Russ, but the poor guardsmen inside, blown apart as snotlings materialize inside the ammo hoppers, certainly do not.

Things that are funny to the orks. This can include things that are funny to the reader, but also, things that aren't necessarily funny to the reader. We might not find it humorous when an Ork Nob squishes a marine's helmeted head like a grape, but the nob probably does.

The orks are seldom presented, except in individual acts, as mentioned above, as being perceived by ANYONE in the 40K universe as 'funny', and never 'silly'.

The orks are one of the few 'forces' in Warhammer 40,000 who can enjoy the 'eternal war' narrative themselves. Most of the forces are horrified by this conflict, and only striving for survival, or driven by other motives, or too grim and sombre about warfare. Those few forces who do deliberately seek out bloodshed are largely too 'alien' to really 'enjoy' it. Bloodletters might seek eternal war, but is a daemon composed of rage and bloodlust really 'having a laugh?" I think it's one of the reasons why Orks are so popular with so many gamers. You can play an army of 'little plastic men' who enjoy the game as much as you do. If they were real, they would still want to be in the endless, constant battles that we put them into anyway. You can laugh as your orks get blown up, knowing the other orks would be laughing just as much as you do. Not the sentiment that you would hear from your Eldar.

Actually, Orks were insinuated to be the first species that humans ran in to upon leaving the solar system . And it's also insinuated that when we finally get the tech to leave the galaxy, Orks will be there wherever we go afterwards.

There will always be Orks, and there will always be war. They have already won.

right, a race of gestalt pyschic-technology weilding muscle bound aliens that can reach the size of dreadnaughts and reproduce at an alarming rate are just silly...


orks are one of the best written, if not the best written, xenos..

seriously, the whole gestault psychic nature of the entire race is pretty clever fluff for a game, and fits the 40k universe very well.