New Orc Special Skill

Inspired by rory's recent thread about orc warbands I wanted some feedback on a new orc special skill I've been tossing about in my mind. It's idea is to make it possible for goblins to become heroes:

Tink Outside Boks (Orc Special Skill)

This skill can only be taken by the orc Leader.  With unusual foresight, the orc can see advantages that few orcs can. The warband now accepts goblin warriors to become heroes if their henchmen group rolls That Lad’s Got Talent during an advance roll. Goblin heroes cannot choose strength skills as a skill list. If the orc leader does not choose to make the goblin which rolled Lad’s Got Talent a hero, it is killed normally. Should the orc leader with this skill die, any goblin which has already risen to hero status does not loose it’s position, as the rest of the warband has gotten used to the goblin hero. No new goblins can rise to hero until another orc leader takes this skill or a goblin hero becomes leader of the warband.

Ever since the Blazing Saddles mounted rules I have always wanted to see a goblin wolfrider zipping through the streets of Mordheim, but as the current orc rules stand, that is impossible for only heroes can use misc. items (which mounts are).

This sounds like a fun, quirky skill and I wouldn't have a problem with a player using it. I do wonder how much a player would want to use a skill choice on the chance for a gobbo to become a hero later on. Perhaps enrich the skill with something, enhancement to leadership skill or a bonus to the animosity rule?

I'm with Mike on that, especially since only the leader can take it, and with Orcs, that would mean passing up one of your only chances to take a speed skill. Maybe instead of a skill, it could be an additional special rule, like after rolling TLGT, one, and only one gobbo can take a leadership test, and if they pass, they get to become a hero instead of a stain on Boss's boot.

I think it's pretty cool

There are some options in regards to goblins on Wolves (Forest Goblins), but I would definitely support a player wanting this skill to use with the great Orcs & Goblins warband.

You would have no problem wanting to use that rule in my group, perhaps aside from a few sniggers at the idea of someone actually *wanting* to field goblins.

We have also played a fair bit of Empire in Flames and Relics of the Crusade and after a number of games slogging over fields and down roads we made a house rule that each race can use their native mount without a skill and the skill is only required to get 'foreign' mounts. If you are using such settings I *strongly* recommend such rules.

Lord 0 wrote:

You would have no problem wanting to use that rule in my group, perhaps aside from a few sniggers at the idea of someone actually *wanting* to field goblins.

Got the same reaction just before, when I presented this rule

@Thespian... I like the rule.

@Lord 0... Do you mean that each race can use their native mounts without penalty from not having the 'Ride x' skill? I assume that you also allow henchmen to have mounts.

RationalLemming wrote:

@Thespian... I like the rule.

@Lord 0... Do you mean that each race can use their native mounts without penalty from not having the 'Ride x' skill? I assume that you also allow henchmen to have mounts.

I do and we do .