The Ork rules for Might Makes Right lets Ork substitute Intimidate for Command when ordering his Boyz around. Later, with Listen ta me ... this also applies for humans he may boss around.

At Rank 6 Iron Discipline becomes available, but that states Command as a pre-requisite.

But why would an Ork need the Command skill, which as a Fel based skill is never going to get used for anything? He will lead his boyz by Intimidation and Strength, and nothing else.

Would you say the Command pre-requisites were covered by Intimidate and Listen ta me... etc?

Or is this just a pointless XP-dump that needs to be filled?

It think he really needs the command skill as trained. Because thats what sets your average Nob and a real Warboss apart, an ability to actually command a normally very chaotic orkoid mob.

./At0miclich

A fair point, but the description of Iron Discipline sounds more like the "propa Orky" way to lead:

One could assume he is taking the skill of Command and applying it to his Intimidate checks to get the results (ie, skill synergy). He doesn't NEED to use the actual skill himself, but having it elevates his use of intimidate from just scaring the other orks into doing what he wants, to inspiring them as well. That's the implication at least.

Might seem like a xp dump, but its there for a reason. Even with a low Fellowship score, he can still attempt to use it and raise it, especially for other uses beyond combat. I've got an ork player and its already troublesome (He thinks he is the Kaptain of the ship) and has already attempted to use intimidate to get his way.

Just keep in mind, the prerequisites are there for a reason (pointless as it may seem): helps prevent/reduce min/max characters; helps encourage role-playing possibilities; gives players options to develop characters in new ways never thought of. Who knows, there could come a time where Intimidate just isnt getting the job done (cause it could start lowering Morale?) and Command will become a necessity or you are looking at mutiny.

I am running into the problem where the ork player is the only one that wants to take charge of the ship, the only one with "command" abilities (Seneschal, Navigator, Astropath, Master of Void and Explorator in the party) but no one wants to take command but dont want him to have command...2 sessions, ship is still in void dock...sigh.

Edit: With that being said, if we cant get a solution I will have to GM-it, create a "Lord-Captain" of the vessel sent by Dynasty to handle all ship related activities.

The simplest solution is to ask the orc's player to reroll as a human rogue trader. If he absolutely wants to act Orky, but you need someone "racially acceptable" in the command position, remind him that orky humans are a thing, and he can be a re-socialising Digganob if he wants.

I'd agree with you for other uses of Command, like making inspiring speeches or more tactical decisions. But this is about Strength and Honour, leading from the front, and generally being Badass.

By that argument, humans using it should be using Intimidate instead of Command. But they don't, because the ability to Command is more than just bullying someone into doing what you want. Attempting to instill discipline, far from being an exception, is doubly so. Disciplined troops do what you want when you aren't looking over their shoulder almost by definition. Disciplined troops need to have certain priorities drilled into them, which requires focus and repetition on the part of the commander. An ork with nothing but Intimidate trained doesn't have that focus.