While lamenting the changes he saw DMs trying to make to D&D, Gary Gygax also gave some examples of what he thought were balanced changes that worked within the D&D system. In the article Humans and Hybrids, Dragon #29, September 1979, he gives an example of a racial hybrid for use in AD&D, the Half-Ogre (note I removed or re-worded some of the footnotes on ability scores, but this gives you an idea):
HALF-OGRE
Character Classes Possible: Cleric or fighter
Class Level Limits: Cleric 4th; fighter unlimited
Ability Adjustments:
- STRENGTH: 14 – 18/00 – Use d6 and 5 or 6 equals 18, with a percentile bonus of 25% to the roll if a 6, but 18/00 maximum.
- INTELLIGENCE: 3 – 12
- WISDOM: 2 – 12
- DEXTERITY: 3 – 12
- CONSTITUTION: 14 – 18 – Use d6 and 6 equals 18
- CHARISMA: 2 – 8 – Charisma score would not apply to ogres and half-ogres; double the result for the charismatic effect on such creatures.
Racial Preferences:
Half-orcs would rate a T, humans an N, and half-ogres a P. All others would be H both ways.
Special Characteristics:
Infravision to 60’.
Speak ogre, orc and troll only if raised with ogre parent.
Complexion will be swarthy and dull, hair lank and dark.
Average height will be 7-1⁄2’.
Two hit dice at 1st level, then regular progression as usual.
Gary notes that this would probably be a rather boring class for a PC to play, but would make a good NPC as a guard or mercenary troop. I’m not sure I agree, I think it would be fun to have such a brute as a PC (and I notice 3.5e and Pathfinder have a Half-Ogre race similar to this one). In any case, it is generic enough to be used in with any d20 old-school fantasy game, percentile strength is probably the only AD&D-ism.
Smoldering Wizard 
Excellent.
I loved this article back int he day. Even had an Half-Ogre character for a little while.
Ah, cool! I haven’t ever played one, but I’m definitely going to at least use them as badguy NPCs.
Reblogged this on the icosahedron.
This was my main character back in high school. I played him all the way to max level, and then he became a deity in hour home brewed immortals game. I never got magic items until much later in the game, because of my size. Instead, I went to great lengths to get equipment that was custom made for my size, allowing me to unlock my full power. I remember that it was a huge inconvenience for my party because I could not ride a horse and I slowed everyone down. Until we ended up on an adventure that had us fighting triceratops. I asked my DM if I could go on a custom solo adventure to obtain one as a mount, and he agreed. A huge half-ogre riding into battle on a triceratops… Orgg was metal as fuck 😀
Thanks for the comment, that’s a great story!