Zombies, Klendathu and The Absurdly Violent Intergalactic Space Fungus.

Any old Ork can't become a painboy or Mekanik they're traits that appear in some Orks it's a innate ability not a learnt one. Doesn't stop them becoming the Boss though that's all down to how 'ard they are.

There's actually a Warboss in the Farsight Enclaves who attacks a Tau colony beginning with A...Arkunasha, that's it. Anyway, this Warboss was actually a Painboy for the previous big boss, and over the course of several months cuts bits away from the Warboss and stitched them onto himself. He eventually killed the Warboss and was also the biggest boy there, and thus become the Painboss.

It's also pretty common to see particularly kunnin' Meks become leaders as well. Thus, the Orks actually have a pretty fair system, considering the others. If you're strong or kunnin' enough, you can be in charge, provided you can get rid of the one who already is in charge. It's a pretty Darwinistic meritocracy, actually.

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Originally Posted by grimmas

Any old Ork can't become a painboy or Mekanik they're traits that appear in some Orks it's a innate ability not a learnt one. Doesn't stop them becoming the Boss though that's all down to how 'ard they are.

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Funnily enough, a Grot can become anything, as far as we've seen. Grot Orderly to Ammo Runt, to Mek Helper.

Yep and there's Wazdakka. They're a brutally charming lot the Orks.

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Originally Posted by Anonymous Ork Boy

Oomans are pink and soft, not tough and green like da Boyz. They'z all the same size too, so they'z always arguing about who's in charge, 'cos no way of telling 'cept fer badges an' ooniforms and fings. When one of them wants to lord it over the uvvers, 'e says "I'm very speshul so'z you gotta worship me", or "I know summink wot you lot don't know so yer better lissen good". Da funny fing is, arf of 'em believe it and da over arf don't, so 'e 'as to hit 'em all anyway or run fer it. Wot a lot of mukkin' about if yer asks me. An' while they'z all arguing wiv each other over who's da boss, da Orks can clobber da lot

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I think that about sums it up. Orks just want a strong leader. It doesn't matter who it is, or what they've done to get there. By the simple virtue of being Boss, they're accepted as the 'ardest Ork around, and thus the right one to lead.

Chav, or correctly Chavie is a Gypsie word for kid and had been used in the Medway towns for ever, the older use literally means child but the more common use meant a bit of a lad. Think small time drug dealer/car thief/always up for a scrap at closing time. It wasn't until the Tristrams and Isabelles of the meed-ya got hold of it that it became a shorthand for the "underclass".

I was always told it stood for 'Council House And Violent'.

Ah, urban legends :)

Oh, and further thoughts on Orks, Grots and Snots....it's not clearly defined where once starts and the other begins.

A Snot is either a Snot, or a small Grot. A Grot can be a Grot, or a particularly weedy Ork.

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Originally Posted by Mr Mystery

I was always told it stood for 'Council House And Violent'.

Ah, urban legends :)

Oh, and further thoughts on Orks, Grots and Snots....it's not clearly defined where once starts and the other begins.

A Snot is either a Snot, or a small Grot. A Grot can be a Grot, or a particularly weedy Ork.

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Not sure where you've got that from. Yes the Ork word Grot can mean Gretchin or weedy but they're all distinct subspecies. Squigs, snotlings, Gretchin and Orks are all distinct and separate from the others and remain so after they popped out of the ground. There's no swapping a successful Gretchin doesn't get promoted to be an Ork he'll always be a Gretchin just he'll be the most powerful Gretchin.

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Originally Posted by Mr Mystery

Grots get kicked about because, objectively, they're not as 'ard as even the weediest Yoof - so Grots have no chance to become Warboss. But.....other than that, they can be left alone. They're the workers. They build stuff. They sell stuff. They organise gambling when the Orks have an impromptu competition of any kind. If they can afford a Blasta, they can take to the field of battle if they want. If a Grot is serving an Ork, it's because he's after prestige and renown, not to mention some form of protection. It's a willing servitude, rather than 'you is my slave and dat's dat'

Just as Orks are objectively 'arder than Grots, Grots are objectively more kunnin' than Orks. When you culture is all about meritocracy, are you actually being oppressed if you can't compete in an area where you just can't compete? Nobody is saying a Grot can't attempt to topple and replace the Warboss, it's just any such action is inherently doomed to failure on account the Warboss is 'arder than any Grot will ever be. Grots are smart enough to know this, and so set about using their kunnin' to rip off as many Orks as they think they can get away with (or indeed, get away from).

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Unless they get stuck in a Killa Kan, in which case, well, you could potentially have a Grot Warboss...

Actually, now I think of it, that could be an excellent army theme. Plus you'd have a 'natural' enemy, in the form of the Ork would-be warboss who finds the whole idea of a Grot warboss utterly distasteful.

The ork vs. ork campaign writes itself. It'd be a really fun one to do with Gorkamorka, what with that setting's preponderance of Meks and advanced teknology.

It's part of the background. Orks don't necessarily see Grots as a separate species. They only care that they're bigger, and thus can kick the Grot around with impunity, hence there is no clear delineation where a Big Grot ends, and a Weedy Ork begins.

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Originally Posted by YorkNecromancer

Unless they get stuck in a Killa Kan, in which case, well, you could potentially have a Grot Warboss...

Actually, now I think of it, that could be an excellent army theme. Plus you'd have a 'natural' enemy, in the form of the Ork would-be warboss who finds the whole idea of a Grot warboss utterly distasteful.

The ork vs. ork campaign writes itself. It'd be a really fun one to do with Gorkamorka, what with that setting's preponderance of Meks and advanced teknology.

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One could also argue it's possible (however unlikely) that a particularly influential Grot Orderly could arrange to have his head stitched on in place of Warboss should the Boss get krumped.

He would of course have to a) do away with the Painboy/Painboss first b) persuade the other Grots to do the stitching/stapling/gluing c) trust that his fellow Grots won't just do it, but d) actually do it properly, as in head on neck and the right way up...

Well the difference is usually 3ft and about 200lbs. Gretchin and Orks have always been different subspecies yeah a bigger Ork will push round a smaller one but it a long way from being a Gretchin. Your weakest Ork is still giving the biggest Gretchin a slap anytime he likes.

Sure Orks don't think about it but that doesn't mean it isn't the case and let's face it there's plenty Orks don't think about.