Thank you. Great job. I can't wait to see the Orken lore and art expand. Marko doesn't do anything half-way and luckily for his fans we have people like Anjelica, Max and Cooper to guide us on our journey.
Cool I remember seeing the art few years back and it looks pretty awesome. Orks are such a cool race so giving them a new interpretation has a lot of potential.
this is my first time hearing about this, and I'm already in love with their design of the orcs, they resemble the orcs on the Lord of the rings movies, but having some of the more monster features toned down slightly, as opposed to the WOW/D&D design with the big chin, tusks and overall ape-like shape to their heads. These look outlandish enough that people of the time would be afraid or alienated by them but human enough for us to see the irrationality in taking them simply as mindless monsters.
Some interesting artwork for this. I haven't seen orcs with such a strong Mesoamerican flair in a while. Not since I learned about Heroes of Might and Magic 6, I suppose. I would push back on the idea that depicting an orc society as complex and sympathetic is against the norm nowadays. The Warcraft and Elder Scrolls series popularized depicting them as noble and spiritual beings as far back as 20 years ago at least. Hell, I defaulted to such a depiction myself when I started writing a story from an orc's perspective. I just bucked the modern trend to depict them as hulking green bodybuilders and instead made them almost human in appearance.
I really love the artwork too! I think it's a fresh look at orcs that I haven't seen in fantasy in a while. I also agree that people have been depicting orcs as more complex and sympathetic recently, so it's awesome to have yet another interpretation in the mix.
You're right to be worried. Even though some of them use stone warhammers and other blunt weapons, the materials they use are weak against steel plate. Iron swords are their strongest weapons, but it's more common for them to use obsidian daggers and flint knives. At least, that's what we've seen in the art and novel.
Thank you for these videos, it's good to have the lore organized :) I have a question: where did you get the high quality image of Karakhar army from ?😅
I’m glad these videos are useful! I really want to ensure the lore shared in the shorts is also available in a well-organized way for sharing with friends and other interested parties. As for the Karakhar army illustration, when I told SMV I wanted to make these videos, they kindly offered to provide any artwork I need. So, as a result, future videos might feature art not yet shared on the website!
I'm not entirely sold on this concept. Maybe I just read too much tolkien or like the old Dnd Lore or Warhammer so much that i struggle to see orcs as sympathetic or, i guess, question why they need to be. This does seem like some very nice world building though. I will check it out.
Hey, thanks for taking the time to watch my video and check out Orken. I understand if it’s not your thing, since I don’t believe everything has to cater to everyone. But at the very least, I invite you to read the first book, “Orken: Field Reports From Edom” which is available on Kindle, and decide afterwards.
No, Marko said in the Orken First Look video that his company is moving away from TTRPGs. Orken will be a novel series spanning multiple mediums/formats for maximum narrative effect.
Captivating. Hope the notion of reversing of negative, one-dimensional stereotypes for Orc(k)s doesn't come at the cost of the increasingly common demonization of vaguely European white men, lol. Balanced, nuanced depictions that play with stereotypes but don't squarely dwell in them is what is required if art is to push for a healthier, altruistic and egalitarian society.
I think SIXMOREVODKA does a really good job with striking that balance and making different factions very nuanced, with characters across the entire spectrum of morality. They did this with their other IP, Degenesis: Rebirth, and what I've seen of Orken so far does the same.
I like the concept and the art is beautifl, but: it just kinda seems like another “My orcs are different.” And just end up being modeled after human civilizations/cultures that existed with a few fantasy elements instead of any elements that really make them feel alien; it might just be from the brief description but either way I hope the project does well.
I hope so too! One thing I do want to note is I don’t believe the point is to make orcs feel alien, but nuanced in the way humans tend to be portrayed instead. And from what I’ve read so far, I think Orken achieves that well.
@girlcalledguns What I meant is that there are some people who are going to want and demand, stories about and in case of a game the ability to play as. The Invading quasi, European humans. Because they are bringing "civilization and enlightenment". The same thing happened to a game studio that made a game about the Aztech Empire. People wanted to play as the Conquitadors,because they wanted to be the good guys.
@@ThriceGreatHermes-c6p Sure, there will always be people like that. I trust that Marko will write his stories the way he wants, regardless of what people demand. And fans can always tell their own stories by adapting existing TTRPG systems to the world of Orken, or writing fanfiction, or whatever they like.
Thank you. Great job. I can't wait to see the Orken lore and art expand. Marko doesn't do anything half-way and luckily for his fans we have people like Anjelica, Max and Cooper to guide us on our journey.
Thank you for your kind words!
Absolutely wonderful to see Orken being shared!! Great work
Loving the war paint, the armor, and the variety of the tribes in general. Rad, will have to check it out further
The first novel is available on Kindle if you'd like to read it. Search for "Orken: Field Reports From Edom".
Cool
I remember seeing the art few years back and it looks pretty awesome.
Orks are such a cool race so giving them a new interpretation has a lot of potential.
There’s more art on the official SMV site now, if you want to take a look! And more to come with all the books in the Kickstarter, too.
Thanks, I will check it out
Such a well done video! Your enthusiasm and passion make me feel even more excited about Orken!! I can't wait for Memories of the Khar 🤩
Thank you so much!
this is my first time hearing about this, and I'm already in love with their design of the orcs, they resemble the orcs on the Lord of the rings movies, but having some of the more monster features toned down slightly, as opposed to the WOW/D&D design with the big chin, tusks and overall ape-like shape to their heads. These look outlandish enough that people of the time would be afraid or alienated by them but human enough for us to see the irrationality in taking them simply as mindless monsters.
I agree! I find the designs very refreshing, and I like that there's a lot of variety to them, too.
She's back!
This looks awesome!
This is legit. You have my complete interest.
Thanks so much! If you want to start reading the story, the first novel, “Orken: Field Reports From Edom,” is available now on Kindle.
Some interesting artwork for this. I haven't seen orcs with such a strong Mesoamerican flair in a while. Not since I learned about Heroes of Might and Magic 6, I suppose.
I would push back on the idea that depicting an orc society as complex and sympathetic is against the norm nowadays. The Warcraft and Elder Scrolls series popularized depicting them as noble and spiritual beings as far back as 20 years ago at least.
Hell, I defaulted to such a depiction myself when I started writing a story from an orc's perspective. I just bucked the modern trend to depict them as hulking green bodybuilders and instead made them almost human in appearance.
I really love the artwork too! I think it's a fresh look at orcs that I haven't seen in fantasy in a while. I also agree that people have been depicting orcs as more complex and sympathetic recently, so it's awesome to have yet another interpretation in the mix.
I am worried about the orken as most of the weapons they seem to have are sharp ones which are almost useless against plate armor.
You're right to be worried. Even though some of them use stone warhammers and other blunt weapons, the materials they use are weak against steel plate. Iron swords are their strongest weapons, but it's more common for them to use obsidian daggers and flint knives. At least, that's what we've seen in the art and novel.
Thank you for these videos, it's good to have the lore organized :) I have a question: where did you get the high quality image of Karakhar army from ?😅
I’m glad these videos are useful! I really want to ensure the lore shared in the shorts is also available in a well-organized way for sharing with friends and other interested parties. As for the Karakhar army illustration, when I told SMV I wanted to make these videos, they kindly offered to provide any artwork I need. So, as a result, future videos might feature art not yet shared on the website!
Any lore on the People of Metal?
Yes! My shorts in December will be all about them, then I’ll release a consolidated long video like this one afterward.
@girlcalledguns Nice
I'm not entirely sold on this concept. Maybe I just read too much tolkien or like the old Dnd Lore or Warhammer so much that i struggle to see orcs as sympathetic or, i guess, question why they need to be. This does seem like some very nice world building though. I will check it out.
Hey, thanks for taking the time to watch my video and check out Orken. I understand if it’s not your thing, since I don’t believe everything has to cater to everyone. But at the very least, I invite you to read the first book, “Orken: Field Reports From Edom” which is available on Kindle, and decide afterwards.
Will this also become a TTRPG?
No, Marko said in the Orken First Look video that his company is moving away from TTRPGs. Orken will be a novel series spanning multiple mediums/formats for maximum narrative effect.
Captivating. Hope the notion of reversing of negative, one-dimensional stereotypes for Orc(k)s doesn't come at the cost of the increasingly common demonization of vaguely European white men, lol. Balanced, nuanced depictions that play with stereotypes but don't squarely dwell in them is what is required if art is to push for a healthier, altruistic and egalitarian society.
I think SIXMOREVODKA does a really good job with striking that balance and making different factions very nuanced, with characters across the entire spectrum of morality. They did this with their other IP, Degenesis: Rebirth, and what I've seen of Orken so far does the same.
I like the concept and the art is beautifl, but: it just kinda seems like another “My orcs are different.” And just end up being modeled after human civilizations/cultures that existed with a few fantasy elements instead of any elements that really make them feel alien; it might just be from the brief description but either way I hope the project does well.
I hope so too! One thing I do want to note is I don’t believe the point is to make orcs feel alien, but nuanced in the way humans tend to be portrayed instead. And from what I’ve read so far, I think Orken achieves that well.
773rd sub ❤
Thanks so much!
She is so beautiful with an a sexy voice ❤😍😍
I just know somoe peoole are going to ask for stories or games about the "good guys".
That will definitely happen! But as is the case with SIXMOREVODKA’s work, it’s never clear who are the “bad guys” and who are the “good guys.”
@girlcalledguns
What I meant is that there are some people who are going to want and demand, stories about and in case of a game the ability to play as.
The Invading quasi, European humans.
Because they are bringing "civilization and enlightenment".
The same thing happened to a game studio that made a game about the Aztech Empire.
People wanted to play as the Conquitadors,because they wanted to be the good guys.
@@ThriceGreatHermes-c6p Sure, there will always be people like that. I trust that Marko will write his stories the way he wants, regardless of what people demand. And fans can always tell their own stories by adapting existing TTRPG systems to the world of Orken, or writing fanfiction, or whatever they like.
You sound like a textbook.
Thanks, I think? 🤣 A lore textbook, hopefully!