Crooked Dice Is Bringing Back Classic Pig-Faced Orcs With Bags Of Old-School Character

There's something wonderfully nostalgic about a pig-faced orc.

Long before the hulking brutes popularised by modern fantasy, early fantasy roleplaying introduced a very different vision of orcs. Sporting porcine snouts, squat builds and a mischievous rather than monstrous appearance, these creatures became an iconic part of the earliest days of tabletop gaming. Now, Crooked Dice Game Design Studio is bringing that classic look back with a delightful new set of seven character miniatures sculpted by the ever-talented Mariano Pagotti.

A Herd Of Pig-faced Orcs // Crooked Dice

Crooked Dice has revealed that these seven Pig-Faced Orcs are now heading off to the caster, offering fans a glimpse of what's to come.

The inspiration comes directly from the earliest era of fantasy roleplaying. The distinctive pig-faced appearance is widely credited to illustrator Dave Sutherland, whose artwork for Swords & Spells (1976) and later illustrations for the 1977 Basic Set and the AD&D Monster Manual cemented the look for an entire generation of gamers.

While fantasy art has evolved considerably over the decades—particularly under the influence of Games Workshop and Peter Jackson's cinematic vision—the humble pig-faced orc has never entirely disappeared. For many old-school gamers, they're still the definitive orc.

Orcs Of Thar

Seven Personalities, Not Seven Copies

Rather than producing a collection of near-identical troops, Mariano Pagotti has packed each miniature with its own distinct personality.

Among the upcoming characters you'll spot:

• A spear-wielding guard standing ready for intruders.
• A burly axe bearer looking eager for a fight.
• A club-wielding bruiser scratching his head in confusion.
• A boisterous drinker proudly raising a foaming tankard.
• A pie-loving gourmand carrying what looks like an impressive feast.
• A thoroughly relaxed orc enjoying a bottle and a well-earned rest.
• Even tiny rat companions sneaking around their feet add another dash of character.

They're full of little storytelling moments that make them feel like individuals rather than anonymous monsters waiting behind the next dungeon door.

Perfect Dungeon Guards... Or Something More

Of course, these miniatures are ideal for populating dungeon corridors and guarding the entrance to an evil overlord's lair, but they're versatile enough to be used in plenty of other ways.

Do you need some guards patrolling a goblin market or underground settlement? Or wandering monsters who are more interested in lunch than combat? These fit the bill perfectly; maybe those tavern regulars that aren't there to start trouble but get swept up in your party's incompetence are orcs for once instead of a mix of humans and dwarves. Why not try and get your players to negotiate with them instead of immediately attacking for once in their murder hobo life?!

Their expressive poses make it easy to imagine personalities and motivations, which is often far more memorable than simply rolling for initiative.

Piggy Back Riding!

As you'd expect from Crooked Dice, these figures should fit naturally into 7TV, where a colourful cast of villains often steals the show. Whether they're minions protecting an eccentric fantasy villain or a gang of comic-relief henchmen, they have exactly the kind of cinematic personality that 7TV thrives on.

They're equally at home in roleplaying games. A Games Master could use them as recurring rivals, bodyguards for a local bandit chief, colourful tavern patrons, or even reluctant allies who end up helping the heroes against a greater threat.

For skirmish gamers, they also make an excellent foundation for a small warband. Rather than fielding dozens of anonymous orcs, each member already feels like a named character with their own quirks and role within the group.

Old School Never Goes Out Of Style

Fantasy gaming has embraced many different interpretations of orcs over the last fifty years, but there's still something irresistible about these classic pig-faced troublemakers.

Mariano Pagotti has managed to capture everything that made those early illustrations so memorable while giving each miniature enough charm and personality to stand proudly on today's gaming tables.

Whether you're recreating the earliest days of fantasy roleplaying, assembling a unique 7TV cast, or simply looking for some wonderfully characterful dungeon inhabitants, these upcoming Pig-Faced Orcs look set to deliver plenty of old-school charm—and perhaps just a little bit of mischief.

Oink.