Here is the current version of my mod. It adds Orcs, Halflings, and Dark Elves to the game as playable races. It also adds Nibelungs (dark dwarves), Barbarians, Outcasts, Raiders, and Kobold Thieves, that you can encounter in the wilderness in Adventure Mode.
http://www.inficad.com/~shadowstar/robsmod.zip just unzip into your raw/objects folder. It doesn't overwrite anything so you can add and remove it as you wish, even use it with other mods if you like.
Expanded Information:
Orcs: Based on a mishmash of Orc stereotypes from numerous fantasy sources, they are about the same size as humans but more aggressive, harder to kill, and they make weapons and armor out of whatever materials they can get quickly, not necessarily the best. They are inherently evil. Initially, their towns are relatively civilized and peaceful, but if you should encounter Orcish armies in the wilderness, don't be surprised if they attack you, even if you're an Orc. Orc armies don't serve to protect their civilians, only to terrorize others.
Halflings: AKA Hobbits. Peaceful and homely. They live in villages much like humans (sorry no hobbit holes in this version). Halflings don't make many weapons, they spend more time just trying to live happy lives. They make most of their weapons out of wood or stone and their armor out of wood or leather. They don't make good fighters but they can put up a decent fight when they have to defend themselves.
Dark-Elves: A mysterious offshoot race from the Elves. It is said the Dark Elves were once Elves, but rejected their brethren's ways and exploited the natural resources of the forests where they lived. This drew the attention of dark forces which corrupted them and turned them Dark. Now their forest homes have turned into places of evil and they do not interact much with the world beyond their haunted glades. Occasionally they will find themselves under attack by unicorns and satyrs who come to reclaim thier glade wards. Recently, pressure from outside forces have driven them to begin seeking trade alliances with Kobolds, Goblins, and even some Dwarves. However, many of these groups do not trust the Dark Elves and have instead declared war on them.
Half-Elves: These creatures are rarely seen. They are the offspring of a human and elf parent, something that happens very rarely. They are spoken of in some legends, but few have ever seen one. They are not well liked by most humans or elves, so they often live in the wilderness away from civilization. Because of this, many half-elves turn to bandit gangs who appreciate their unique talents.
Barbarians: Conan-esque wild men who roam the wilderness like the beasts they hunt and tame. Strange and aggressive, they tend to be larger than the average human and quite formidable in combat. They usually keep to themselves, but it is advised not to pester them too closely as they are also very suspicious of the more civilized races and will attack on a whim.
Goblin Raiders: Goblin armies roaming the wilderness for easy targets. They
can be found almost anywhere. There are rumors of Goblin armies attacking
Goblin fortresses, leading to the belief that the various Goblin clans may be at war, even as they contend with the other races.
Nibelungs: The Nibelung Dwarves are a mysterious and dark offshoot of Dwarves who fear the light and mostly live underground. Despite their fear of sunlight, Nibelung armies are trained to bear it. It is rare to find them walking the surface world, but they will do so in order to establish new fortresses. In recent years, some Nibelungs have rebelled and joined other civilizations, in an effort to re-accomodate themselves with the greater world and learn to bear the sunlight, which many Nibelungs consider to be beautiful, despite their fear of it.
Kobold Thieves: This is about the closest to an army the Kobolds can get, at least outside of their caves. These thieves wander the world, occasionally in packs, looking for things to steal. The Kobold Thief is probably the best armed Kobold there is, and may even put up a decent fight if attacked. But Kobolds tend to be relatively weak fighters on average, so they are not much of a threat once spotted.
Outcasts: Reclusive humans who have been exiled from their homes for various crimes. Many outcasts have favorable relations with the less-liked races like Goblins and Kobolds, however Outcasts are not inherently evil. Many Outcasts have been falsely accused and were innocent of the crimes for which they were exiled. Angry towards the government that took away all that they knew and loved, many Outcasts have banded together and formed rebel groups. These groups are dangerous and should be treated with caution. They are suspicious of outsiders and live in fear of discovery, but they are not as hostile as Bandits.
Bandits: These are hardened criminals from the various races who live in the wilderness and occasionally build semi-permanent hideouts in caves. They can be found almost anywhere there is crime, and are armed with whatever they can get their hands on. Most of their weapons and armor are taken from their victims. They are formidable fighters, having that murderous streak that allows them to kill without remorse. Each race's bandits have unique traits, but overall, they are all murderous bastards. When they have access to ships, they are pirates (not in this version). It is best to avoid them unless you are well equipped and have some backup.
[ January 03, 2008: Message edited by: Rob Allen ]