"Orcs: How Tough?" Topic

Depends on the Orc.

Well, it depends on which orcs you are talking about. Tolkien orcs are described as smaller than men but still quite strong for their size. There are a few breeds which are bigger than other orcs, so they are probably man-size and perhaps a bit stronger. Then there are the mixed-breed Uruk-hai bred by Sauruman. They are probably man-sized and man-strength and unaffected by sunlight.

The big problem I've always had with the Tolkien orcs is that they don't seem like terribly skilled fighters compared to men or elves. But the orcs are immortal like the elves. You'd think that thousands of years of training and combat experience would count for something, but it doesn't seem to. :)

And then there are the Peter Jackson orcs… Sigh. Jackson likes EVERYTHING super-sized.

Depends, but slightly weaker. I always thought orcs got their strength from numbers and savagery, not power and prowess. Stronger than human orcs are rare and are warlords and kings.

I thought a bit stronger and bigger for true Orcs – and as to the years of training and combat, very true but you have to survive to learn!

Goblins: much weaker, but numerous and sneaky. No discipline, low morale.
Orcs: about the same, but numerous and ruthless. Discipline ranges from poor to average. Morale varies.
Uruk-hai: stronger, ruthless, high morale, but only more numerous in the instance. Good discipline, but not seasoned fighters (not enough time yet.)

Above are the Tolkien concepts.

As for immortality among Tolkien's orcs, I don't think that was ever established, and no one remarks on it in the novels, IIRC. This leads me to believe that Morgoth's twisting of the elf race rendered the orcs as mortal as man. Or that survival of the fittest made it a moot issue…

Slightly weaker. Much worse discipline and somewhat brittle morale. If it's all going well they are ok. Once it starts to go south they rout. This is how they work in Tolkien. The Battle of unnumbered tears at Khazad dum is an exception as they had a very strong Leader and a very tough body guard.

Somewhere in Tolkien it says that orcs live and procreate as the elves (which indicates female orcs). I can't recall where. I'll have to look. Maybe in the Silmarillion.

Orcs are hobbit sized and useless unless you got some 200 000 of them, Uruks are the best of the orc kind but still on average less effective then a normal human(the best the evil can make)

1 man is worth 10 orcs,
1 man is worth 1.5 uruks,
1 Legolas is worth 200 uruks and a mamukil with full crew compliment.,

Depends on the orc. If we're talking about Tolkien, common orcs are probably a bit stronger than human civilians, but not as strong as trained soldiers. Their main advantage lies in numbers. Uruks may be a bit stronger than humans.

D&D orcs are a bit stronger than humans on average, and are larger than Tolkien's common orcs. But keep in mind that goblins are a type of orc in Tolkien's books and a different species in regular D&D.

Warhammer (Fantasy and 40K) orcs are definitely larger and stronger than human soldiers, except for (maybe) Space Marines.