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| Goblin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First appearance | TheDungeons & Dragons "white box" set (1974) |
| Based on | Goblin |
| In-universe information | |
| Type | Humanoid |
| Alignment | UsuallyNeutral Evil |
In theDungeons & Dragonsfantasyrole-playing game,goblins are a common and fairly weak race ofevil humanoid monsters. Goblins are non-human monsters that low-levelplayer characters often face in combat.
Goblins inDungeons & Dragons are based primarily on thegoblins portrayed in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-Earth.[1] Goblins are presented as "evil" and "predisposed towards a society of brutal regimes where the strongest rule" in the game.[2]: 48, 66, 134 In turn, D&D's goblins influenced later portrayals in games and fiction, such as the tabletopwargameWarhammer Fantasy Battle.[3] They have also been compared toGermankobolds.[4] Unlike the goblins in Tolkien's works, the goblins of D&D are a separate race from orcs; instead, they are a part of the related species collectively referred to asgoblinoids,[3] which includeshobgoblins, bugbears, and others.
The goblin first appeared in the fantasy supplement to the original "Chainmail" set, prior to appearing in the original Dungeons & Dragons game.
The goblin was one of the first monsters introduced in the earliest edition of the game, theDungeons & Dragons "white box" set (1974), where they were described simply as small monsters.[5]
The goblin appears in the first editionMonster Manual (1977),[6] where it is described as having a tribal society and dwelling in dismal surroundings. They also appeared in the video gamePool of Radiance (1988), with the depiction directly derived from that book.[7][8]
The mythology and attitudes of the goblins are described in detail inDragon #63 (July 1982), inRoger E. Moore's article, "The Humanoids."[9]
In the article "Hey, Wanna Be a Kobold?" by Joseph Clay inDragon #141 (January 1989),kobolds,xvarts, goblins, and orcs were presented as player character races along with two new character classes the "Shaman" and the "Witch Doctor".[10]
This edition of theD&D game included its own version of the goblin, in theDungeons & Dragons Basic Set (1977, 1981, 1983).[11][12][13] The goblin was featured as a player character race in the gazetteerThe Orcs of Thar (1989). Goblins were also later featured in theDungeons & Dragons Game set (1991), theDungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991),[14] theClassic Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1994), and theDungeons & Dragons Adventure Game set (1999).[15]
The goblin appears first in theMonstrous Compendium Volume One (1989),[16] and is reprinted in theMonstrous Manual (1993).[17]
The goblin is detailed as a playable character race inThe Complete Book of Humanoids (1993).[18] The book notes that goblins cannot bewizards.[19] The goblin is later presented as a playable character race again inPlayer's Option: Skills & Powers (1995),[20] and in the moduleReverse Dungeon (2000).[21]
Thegoblyn, a related creature in theRavenloftcampaign setting, appeared in the moduleFeast of Goblyns (1990), and theMonstrous Compendium Ravenloft Appendix (1991).
TheCerilian goblin for theBirthright campaign setting appeared in theBirthright Campaign Setting set (1995), and was reprinted inMonstrous Compendium Annual Three (1996).
The goblin appears in theMonster Manual for this edition (2000).[22]
Tactics for fighting goblins were described in "Vs. Goblins", byBruce Cordell, inDragon #275 (2000).[23]
TheDekanter goblin was introduced inMonsters of Faerun (2000).Races of Faerûn (2003) presented the goblin and Dekanter goblin as player character races for theForgotten Realms campaign setting.[24]
Theblue, a psionic relative of the goblin, appeared in thePsionics Handbook (2001).
Thegoblyn of Ravenloft appeared for this edition inDenizens of Darkness (2002).
The goblin appears in the revisedMonster Manual for this edition (2003).
The blue appeared in theExpanded Psionics Handbook (2004).[25]
Theair goblin, theaquatic goblin, thearctic goblin, thedesert goblin, and thejungle goblin were all introduced inUnearthed Arcana (2004).[26]Monster Manual III (2004) introduced theforestkith goblin.[27] Thesnow goblin appeared inFrostburn: Mastering the Perils of Ice and Snow (2004).[28] Thedark goblin appeared inTome of Magic (2006).[29] Thevril, and thegoblin flesh-herder appeared inDrow of the Underdark (2007).
Thegoblyn of Ravenloft was updated to this edition inDenizens of Dread (2004), but also appeared again in theCampaign Classics feature inDragon #339 (January 2006).
The goblin appears in theMonster Manual for this edition (2008), including thegoblin cutter, thegoblin blackblade, thegoblin warrior, thegoblin sharpshooter, thegoblin hexer, thegoblin skullcleaver, and thegoblin underboss. The bugbear and thehobgoblin also appear under thegoblin entry in this edition'sMonster Manual.[30]
Goblins feature in the first segment of the adventureLost Mine of Phandelver, included in the 5th editionDungeons & Dragons Starter Set (2014).[31] The goblin also appears in theMonster Manual for this edition (2014), including thegoblin boss.[32] InVolo's Guide to Monsters Goblins, Hobgoblins, and Bugbears were featured as playable races under Monstrous Races.[33][34] InGuildmasters' Guide to Ravnica Goblins were a playable race.[35]
InDungeons & Dragons, goblins are small humanoid monsters.[36] They vary in height from about 3 to 3 ½ feet (91 – 106 cm) and weigh 40 to 45 pounds (21 – 24 kg). They walk upright even though their arms nearly reach their knees. Their eyes vary from red to yellow and are usually dull and glazed. Described as "hideously ugly",[36] they have a broad nose that sits on a flat face with pointed ears and a wide mouth. Their mouth contains small, but sharp fangs. Their skin pigment ranges from a deep red through nearly any shade of orange to yellow. Members of the same tribe tend to have the same skin color.
Goblins usually live in tribes which are ruled by the strongest goblin in the group. These tribes vary in size from gangs of 4–9 to tribes of up to 400.[37] Most larger tribes havewolves ordire wolves as mounts, or ally themselves withworgs, which also carry them into battle. Goblin tribes usually settle near civilized areas to raid for food, livestock, tools, weapons, and supplies. It is common for the leaders of goblin clans to be non-goblin (either other goblinoids or a different species entirely); such leaders are exploiting the goblins asdisposable soldiers to further their purpose.
In mostcampaign settings, Maglubiyet, the god of war and rulership, is the chief deity of goblins. Other gods worshipped by the goblins includeKhurgorbaeyag, the god of slavery, oppression, and morale, andBargrivyek, the god of co-operation and territory.
Deities of other goblin races include Meriadar (deity of patience, tolerance, meditation, and arts and crafts) and Stalker (deity of hate, death, and cold), as well as the hobgoblin god Nomog-Geaya (deity of War and Authority), the bugbear gods Hruggek (deity of violence and combat), Grankhul (deity of hunting, senses, and surprise), and Skiggaret (deity of fear), as well as Kikanuti the goddess of the desert goblins, known as bhukas.
Sub-races of goblin inDungeons & Dragons include the snow goblin, the aquatic goblin, and the jungle goblin, each adapted to a particular environment.[36]
Nilbogs are, according to the game description, a type of naturally-born butmagical goblins that are healed by receiving damage and are damaged by healingspells.[38] Furthermore, they project a paradox area effect in whose radius every intended action is twisted so that the exact opposite is carried out (i.e.: instead of hitting a nilbog with a weapon, one might end up attacking a companion; or instead of plundering a treasure hoard, an adventuring party under the influence of "nilbogism" might actually end up adding their own wealth to it). The name of this sub-species is "goblin" spelled backward, a reference to this reversal of effects.
Introduced in theAcquisitions Incorporated supplement, the Verdan are a race of goblins subject to constant magical mutations due to a connection to a chaotic force of magic.[39] The Verdan are notably taller than other goblins and less monstrous in appearance. Mutations, occurring at random throughout their lifespans, can cause changes to eye color, skin color, hair color, gender and/or sex. They live far longer than any other goblinoid, comfortably over two centuries. As a race, they are nomads, and their traveling has made them less prone to pettiness and violence than their other goblin cousins.
Goblins feature prominently in material for thePathfinder Roleplaying Game fromPaizo Publishing, which is based on theDungeons & Dragons 3.5 rules. The goblins inPathfinder, as detailed in Paizo's booksClassic Monsters Revisited (2008)[40] andGoblins of Golarion (2011),[41] have a distinct characterization from theirDungeons & Dragons counterparts; reviewers have described them as "walking bundles of chaos and crazy".[42]
Pathfinder's goblins are also central to Paizo's Free RPG DaymodulesWe Be Goblins! (2011),We Be Goblins Too! (2013) andWe Be Goblins Free! (2015), which feature goblins as player characters,[43] as well as the licensedDynamite Entertainment comicPathfinder: Goblins![42]
Goblins are the protagonists in theDungeons & Dragons-influenced webcomicGoblins.[44] Goblins also feature prominently in anotherDungeons & Dragons-influenced work,The Order of the Stick; a major antagonist, Redcloak, is a goblincleric serving a deity known as the "Dark One".[45]
A "Goblin Lair" is used as one of the sample encounters in the bookDungeon Master 4th Edition for Dummies.[46]
Scott Baird fromScreen Rant compiled a list of the game's "10 Most Powerful (And 10 Weakest) Monsters, Ranked" in 2018, calling this one of the weakest, saying "Goblins are purposely designed to be weak and ineffective in combat so that they can fulfill their role as the tutorial battle ofDungeons & Dragons." Baird also found goblins the most stereotypical of choices for a combat encounter for beginning characters.[47]
Bleeding Cool perceived the goblin as "the more distinctive race options in the D&D multiverse",[34] whileComic Book Resources counted the goblin as # 10 on the list of "10 Powerful Monster Species That You Should Play As", stating that "They're pretty much everywhere in a fantasy setting and have so many variations that it is unlikely to not fit in a campaign. The traditional goblin is the equivalent of an internet troll, smallish, angry, looking to bully those it can and flee if the confrontation goes badly."[48]
Paul Karczag andLawrence Schick counted the goblin among the "five main "humanoid" races" in AD&D.[49]
Cyril Pasteau forBackstab found goblins suitable opponents for characters of the lowest level.[50]
A.V. Club reviewer Nick Wanserski praised the "thoughtful" look on goblins provided inVolo's Guide to Monsters: While "such staples as orcs, goblins, and kobolds [...] often get lumped together as a dull monolith", the many details here give "a lot of personality to an otherwise easily forgettable monster."[51]
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