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Hey guys! One of my players is playing as a Goblin theif in 5e, and we both really like the idea of him continually growing through the goblinoid chain. How would you suggest we go about this, mechanically? Is there a certain level where I should give him certain stats or bonuses?
I would toss in a couple levels of warlock for Devil's Sight. Remember it's not just 120-foot darkvision, it's 120 ft normal vision in complete darkness of any kind.
Literally made my Goblins like the Covenant in Halo, adding Gnolls to the group as the Jackals. Goblins are Grunts, Hobgoblins are Elites, Bugbears are Brutes, Trolls are Hunters. So far has worked out great!
This goblin life-cycle idea is amazing!!! What if there's a legendary goblin out there the size of a dragon - or a tarrasque? Wait, what if that's Maglubiyet??? And he's on Acheron, and imbued with near-deific powers, he harvests goblin souls and leads them in the Blood War! And now you have a CR 25 goblin! AAAAAAAGGGH!!!!!
Can I use that ? I'm also writing a story, I think I might use the idea of goblins growing infinitely in it, except my world does not have hobgoblins or bug bears because it's separate from D and D.
In my games I've done a wierd system of them all having the same juvenile stage. Fed specific things they'll develop into specific types with goblins developing as default. Kinda like queen bees and royal jelly.
The Big Freindly Gaijin For some reason, I’m picturing a “Journey to the Center of the Earth” type situation, but instead of dinosaurs (or along with them?) are giant goblins. 😆
My goblin races are bastardized versions of races interbred with Orcs. Orc+Human=Half-orc Orc+Elf=Hobgoblin Orc+Dwarf=Bugbear(I call them Moggs) Orc+Gnomes=Goblins
So goblins are gnorcs? Me and a friend found out that orcs and gnomes could be mixed. This leads to two races, Ones and Gnorcs. One: a gnome mother and an orc father. A small but strong race that has a napoleon complex. Gnorc:an orc mother and a gnome father. Big fat lazy race that has a knack for technology and magic.
Hobgoblins worked really well in one game I was in where they were the ones ruling the empire. Our DM leaned into the Lawful, Roman-esque angle and had Hobgoblin justice being harsh, but fair, so non-hobgoblins were fine living in the empire because the Law was very well defined even if punishments were very 'eye for an eye'. Our party were foreigners, used to the idea of "the goblin horde" worshiping Maglubiyet the Conqueror, so they came into the empire expecting Genghis Khan's Mongols and found Kublai Khan's China where the gods of law and order were ascendant. Watching the last couple of months of Critical Role has been fun as the Mighty Nein run face-first into the same issue of "these aren't the villains we're looking for".
In my setting, Goblins, Hobgoblins, and Bugbears are halflings, humans, and dwarves that were mutated by experimentation. Their uniting feature is the experimentation that was done to them. Halflings lost their fearlessness but became cunning and exploitative nature of goblins. Humans lost their versatility but gained their obsession and dedication of hobgoblins. Dwarves lost their industriousness but gained the size and strength of bugbears. In turn they have made their own tribal, nomadic, or "Mongolian" clans - each with its own flavour playing into certain aspects of their races. Presently they are united under a single hobgoblin khan who is trying to finally create a genuine goblinoid empire and be recognised on the world stage as a legitimate power. One of the fun things is to actually motivate and organize bugbears into pike wielding heavy infantry - 15 foot melee range guys. Or goblins on wolf cavalry. Hobgoblin wizards and commanders. When they get together they are a force to be reckoned with.
Goblins are the best. I had a bard who disguised himself as an orc and infiltrated the dark army along with a few goblins that owed him their lives and from there he built his own unit inside the army that was 90% goblin 10% orcs. Goblins left their command to join his company because of the egality. In a game I game mastered I had this uberwealthy elf who had never seen a goblin. His son had stolen from a goblin shoemaker named Brillo and when the PCs took the goblin to see him, the rich man thought he was a talking cat and took him in renamed him Don Fluffito.
I like playing a hobgoblin, but I do agree that they aren't great mechanically, especially when you look at the other goblinoids who are actually pretty good. It's kind of weird that a PC hobgoblin does not synergize much at all with most martial classes. Their design works better for wizards (or mystics and artificers if your group allows UA content). But thematically, it is fun to play as someone from a highly disciplined martial society who may or may not be trusted by those around them.
Hobgoblin War Wizard is a character concept I've wanted to play for months. Works best as a mid level PC: veteran of the Cohorts, the "close in fire support" for the rank and file.
I also do this. At first I had issues with hobgoblins using iron, as I also give fey a weakness to that. But then I started incorporating it into their sense of pride. Essentially, I made their attitude, "I'm so awesome I wear my weakness as armor."
I only played the first two Halo games, but I remember loving it whenever I'd shoot in a random direction and all the grunts would just FREAK OUT and scream with their high-pitched voices. Glad I'm not the only one who kind of saw similarities between them and goblins. Also, the first D&D 5e character I ever made was a goblin bard who couldn't sing very well, but could RAP LIKE HELL... memories.
In the world I run, my influence for the goblinoid races are as follows (but it changes when the Hobgoblins hear the drums of Maglubiyet): Goblins are heavily inspired by the MTG goblins. Dangerous curiosity and recklessness personified. If you don't die in a firey blaze or aren't cremated you become a lost ember, unable to rejoin the Eternal Inferno, and your soul is lost, never to be re-lit. Bugbears are what I use as boogeymen for the common folk. They creep in at night and take the young, the weak, and the frail. So rarely seen by the peasants that therey are almost a cryptid and the help and knowledge of adventurers is needed to solve the problem. They've forgotten any god or belief they once had and live on instinct. Hobgoblins are the only true followers of Maglubiyet because in my world that is their original deity. Militaristic and structured, they tend to have a disdain towards other goblinoids and focus on keeping their law in place in their territories. However oned the war drums of Maglubiyet are heard, they begin their march, and both bugbears and goblins fall in line. Bugbears using their inherent stealth to be scouts and assassins, not really needing coercion because thwy get to boss goblins around and do what they do beat when the time comes. Goblins however resent this, only falling in line in the hope that they live and their soul isn't forced into Maglubiyet's eternal war. This is when Nilbogs are born, and they tend to be the ultimate downfall of Maglubiyet's campaigns.
When talking about the hobgoblins all I could think of now is a hobgoblin monk based of Iroh from Avatar. Initially a terrifying warrior/general to now an easy living hero who's reaching for enlightenment.
i had the idea of a Goblin illusion wizard with the criminal background, he was a thief pre-adventure and stole his spellbook from a wizard's apprentice, and was just smart and angry enough to figure it out himself
Having played a Goblin Bard, I can tell you they're a blast. When I DM my home world of Tholl, the Hobgoblins are a Khanate - expert horsemen and skilled at taking down larger foes like Giants. Great topic guys!
I've used Hobgoblins to great effect as pirate captains, sailing deep bellied ships powered/staffed by the subjugated goblins within. The vessels - serving as mobile warrens - would provide an excess of lesser goblins (slave pirates) who were thusly deposited on remote islands, tasked with creating various harbors/shipyards/settlements, or simply used as expendable cannon fodder.
i just use the standard japanese samurai thing...and i basically dont have any regular hobgoblins, all of them have some kind of extra ability depending on the clan theyre a part of.
I played a bugbear barbarian from lvl 10-20 he specialized in grappling, and would beat baddies to death with the screaming Bodies of their allies. Loved it.
In my camping world the word goblin means subjugated and the prefix hob means "un" making hobgoblins the un-subjugated. I depict the hobgoblins as the slave masters to the goblin race.
My hobgoblins in my campaign are based off of the mongol empire of the 12th - 14th century, composed of skirmish and shock cavalry that ride on Gorevalopes, horse-sized ram creatures with claw-like hooves
I have a campaign inspired by Mad Max, and there's a motorcycle gang of Goblins called the Dune Raiders. I portray them as similar to the Gremlins. They were outcasts following the White Event, and were brought together by a Revenant named Stryder.
Hobgoblin war mage that potentially takes the medium armor feat. Breastplate and a shield do wonders for the wizard. Also the saving face feature synergies well with arcane deflection for saves.
I like to use the Zulu's chest and horns tactics with my goblin hoards. Hundreds of quick nimble skirmishers on either wing to control the flanks. While the bugbear infantry make up the front ranks of the chest (main body), with Hobgoblin war chiefs/war priests make up the rear of the chest to control the formation.
I used the goblin to bugbear life-cycle but kept it going into ogres. A player favorite. I was inspired by Monte Cooke's Giant character race where you could grow as a level-up.
I like the idea of goblins being the ultimate survivor races, finding niches. In one of my worlds, goblins (which included kobolds and orcs) were able to get genetic material not just from their parents, but what they ate so they could fit into new terrains. Kobolds were desert goblins that had eaten enough lizards they became smaller and more reptilian. Bugbears were cold weather survivors who lived off bears, caribou and elk. Hobgoblins were smarter because...well there is a reason they were the foe of all humanity.
There's a manga called re: monster that had the main character reincarnate as a goblin and he ranks up once his level is high enough to a hobgoblin and so on and so forth
Heck yes! Kingdoms of Kalamar! I loved that book and my hobgoblins have always been based on that. That book just changed me for some reason lol Glad it got a shout out
I would go with Shield proficiency maybe, but I think a Fighting Style is too much. As far as I know no other race has that ability, seems a bit overpowered imho
@@theonlymatthew.l maybe specifically the archery fighting style? makes sense with the whole samurai theme, and not as strong as choosing one...and not too useful, since a character that really needs it would have taken it anyway, and would also benefit much less from any additional fighting style.
My favorite character is a goblin OH monk, Grot Snotgobbla. I just got boots of jumping and springing, bc nothing is more terrifying than an insane, green, ball of flying feet and fists.
It wasn't until the video was nearly over that I thought to look up what bugbears look like. I had been picturing something like an owlbear (but different face), and so was confused at the goblin->hobgoblin->bugbear idea for a long while. Made more sense after I looked up what they looked like
I usually base goblin society on the feudal Japanese. Hobgoblins are samurais. Goblins are farmers, spearmen, archers. Bugbears are ninja clans/ sumo/ Yakuza.
Mind if I ask what led you to that decision? I'm also making something like this and was wondering what races should take on what roles. I feel like you're 100% spot on with the hobgoblin samurai/shinobi, but something about the goblin screams ninja to me. Then for the bugbears I give them a shugoki type feel.
@@dicorockhimself It makes sense now why goblins=farmers, I wasn't thinking about my ninja history. Ninjas were often farmers or commoners. Most of what we think of as ninja weapons are just farming tools. Kusarigama are their farming sickles but with a rope and spike on the end, and kunai were legit just masonry trowels that turned into deadly weapons in the right hands. I guess my main question is where bugbears fit in since their powerful build and general bulk makes them seem super buff, but then they're sneaky ambushers, and their racial traits mean they could go either way, but 7ft ninja that weighs 270 lb..... ლ(ಠ益ಠლ) Bugbears are so wierd.
@@collinsequeira6160 Goblins seemed more like peasants in my mind, while the Bugbear seemed like specialized ninja warriors with high str and dex. If goblins were ninjas I imagine them as spies and informants, or even poisoners. But inevitably there is always one or two goblin clans who act as elite assassins. I read the "races of war" sourcebook and its description just sparked my imagination, I have been using feudal goblin societies ever since. www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Races_of_War_(3.5e_Sourcebook)
Mu favorite goblin i played was Glib the Goblin, who was an arcane trickster who wouldn't steal per say, but would try and loot and conceal that loot from the rest of the party. But otherwise, he was super loyal and even sometimes self sacrificing. Goblins with invisible mage hans are fun and devious.
I started playing a goblin barbarian in a campaign and it's a really fun space to explore. There's so much to use in terms of their culture or religions. Fellow party members or npcs may expect a vicious, tribal horde member, but then you can show them a potential misunderstood hero or cunning problem solver.
I like to see Goblinoids as being the servants of the Archfey in times past. Specifically of the Unseelie court. The Seelie court had Elves and Gnomes. The Unseelie, various goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears. It gives a sense to a setting that the Feywild has left an indelible mark on the world. ... On another point, I've come up with a bunch of bugbear ideas. One is a Mastermind Rogue, that is basically Ebenezzer Scrooge if he was tall, hairy (with mutton chops), and jacked. A money lender named Nebecanezzer Scrimp, who walks around in a coat and top hat, and a set of spectacles. A black whip wrapped around his waist, from when he grew up on the streets. He got visited by some ghosts, and went adventuring as part of his effort to change his ways and become a better person. But he's still a curmudgeon, because one encounter with spooks does not instantly change a pattern of behavior developed over a lifetime. In combat, he uses his phenomenal reach to sneak attack opponents with his whip, while barking orders to his compatriots (his way of "Help"ing). The next character is a female bugbear Monk, of the Drunken Master archetype. Except instead of a typical drunken master, she was a circus clown and acrobat, whose fighting blends tomfooleries and real attacks, so opponents are never sure whether she's really lucky or really skilled.
WORGS! Please do mounted combat! There is a general atmosphere of confusion concerning mounted combat and CR/ encounter difficulty. You always give a balanced approach and this topic could use your oversight.
Fabulous opening as always!! I have had a Hobgoblin Legion(The Blackbloods) augmented by other goblinoids as a major feature of my home brew campaign for the past year. They have continued to make a great background antagonist and it was fun to populate my encounter tables with all sorts of combos of goblinoids!!
Th goblins in my world are split into two civilizations due to a schism that happened long ago. "Northern" Goblinoids live in a highly structured caste system where Bugbears are the elites, hobgoblins are the middle class, and goblins are treated as filth and are relegated to slums. "Southern" goblins are primitive, nocturnal jungle hunters and took a no gods, no masters stance long ago. Southern goblins are a little taller and lanky (think Smegòl) and are much tougher to fight, as their homeland is close to a mountain that emits magic from the feywild. They also captured their god and sealed it away in an obsidian tomb.
Priestess: Children? Goblin Slayer: They multiply fast. If we had waited any longer, there'd be about fifty of them, and they would've attacked. You were lucky. Priestess: Are you going to kill them? Goblin Slayer: Of course I am. They hold on to grudges for life. And the survivors of the nest learn from their mistakes and adapt. There isn't a single reason to let them live. Priestess: Even if there was a good goblin? Goblin Slayer: A good goblin? I guess there might be one if you looked really hard. But in the end, the only good goblins are the ones who never come out of their holes. 1 of my fav moments in Goblin Slayer anime.
I’m also using Goblins in my setting as forever growing. However they are evil as they are tainted by ‘Sin’. To grow and ‘Evolve’ they must indulge in Sin as much as possible. Goblins
Goblins in my setting are almost insect-like; goblins are almost a,larval stage that become hobgoblins, bugbears, and other monstrosities depending on what their handler decides is needed. They're connected through pheromones, with hobgoblins being super dependant on the connection but they operate almost as one organism, and bugbears are almost removed from the connection which allows them to survive for long periods of time outside of the hive as scouts. Goblins aren't cowards really, but if they're losing the fight they're almost compelled to return to the hive with all the information they've collected.
In my setting I use Goblins quite a lot, I separated my world into 4 orders: the hominoids, Goblinoids, Reptilian and Feral. I made the bugbears part of the Feral just because they are too phisically different form Orcs, goblins and hobgoblins. I made no race be actually evil, except for the Drow, everybody hates the Drow lol. The orders are at constant war with each other and making alliances here and there.
I've got a Strength rogue character I like. Half Orc Rogue X Fighter 3. Go Ftr-Champion for the improved Crit and Dual Wield. Put one expertise in Athletics then take the grappler feat. At this point you can pin down most humanoid opponents, attack twice each turn with advantage, a 10% crit chance on each D20, and you're most likely going to at least get your Sneak Attack every round. Strength is important, as grappling allows you to sort of bypass armor, and the rogue is especially good at it with expertise, especially when they get reliable talent. The fantasy comes from an assassin character from the Malazan Book of the Fallen series named Kalam, who basically answers the question: "What if you took a strong man type and gave him world class assassin training? Oh and by the way he has a real knack for it." This is the second time I've posted this in response to a comment from Jim about a strength rogue concept. I don't remember what video it was though.
I love Copper the goblin in Matt Colville's game. He is using a modified beastmaster range type class with a displacer beast as a mount named "big cat". Every time an NPC asks "what manner of beast is that?" Copper just says "it's a cat, what else could it be?" as if the npc is a moron for asking.
3 years! It was three years ago that we last discussed goblins. I’m really glad you guys have come back to them to talk about the pc-ability of them all
if you want to further elaborate goblins in your setting, you can look at kamoto dragons life cycle, being small and sneaky, scrappy, then physically dominate.
Goblins are making a comeback...sometimes, in the case of "Goblin Slayer", they dial up the horror of what they are. In the case of "Critical Role", they place one in a hero role...though this is a strange case. Currently work-shopping a goblin character...it's tricky. You could make a rogue, but some of the best features of goblin become redundant. I would say that goblins would make great skirmishers...fighters, rangers and monks. The appeal of a goblin monk who spiritually represses his violent urges holds an amusing appeal. Bards are an unconventional choice. Sword Bards gain a huge benefit to the added Disengage action. The question is how you explain a charismatic goblin...is he so charming the goblin visage doesn't matter? Maybe he specializes in aggressive music? Maybe he created grunge? Lots of fun there.
Be a good reason for the party to have come together. Part of the band! The goblin bard is the lead singer/guitarist, the wizard makes the instruments and plays keyboard, the barbarian is the drums...so on and so on. Then something happens that puts the band or the gig in jeopardy. Now they gotta thrash their way to saving the day!
Awesome video! In my homebrew, goblins grow into hobgoblins just like you thought of. Bugbears are the result of drinking a potion or eating a specific combination of mushrooms. Then i use blue goblins as a rare mutation that control other goblins (like ethereal Tau in 40k).
I love the idea that they are variants of one race or just different life stages. Awesome. Definitely adapting something like that into my home brew. LOVE THIS CHANNEL!
Hey Web DM, what was up with the weird skip at 14:30? Nah all jokes aside you guys have given me so many excellent tips on how to run certain things and my players LOVE the campaign so far! Thank you for helping us out every step of the way!
I actually love the light armor proficiency for a war wizard hobgoblin because it sets up the moderately armored feat which does give you shield proficiency, something that mountain dwarfs don’t get even if you take the feat to step up to heavy armor. Give them a rapier with a war mage’s ruby and you’re out there at 4th level casting spells, stabing with booming blade, wearing medium armor, and wielding a shield! If you can’t get a war mage’s ruby or similar effect, you can wait till war caster at lvl 8 to avoid the drawing and sheathing of you blade, or just swing a arcane focus staff 1 handed until you want to take the feat. It’s not the most optimal play style of a wizard, but I think these boosts excel in supporting a different, harder to get working play style. That’s not even touching the rp value of a war tactician wizard. Great video, love the concept fodder
My favorite character thus far has been my Goblin Fighter/Druid, the mix of absurdist hilarity and a genuine cause to liberate so-called lesser races from their lot in life makes him a blast. And you know this dude's obsessed with fungi, I'm essentially playing a Night Goblin (or for current AoS players, a Moonclan Grot) and it translates so well into D&D
I've been playing a Goblin Bard named Boot for a little over a year now and love being the little guy with a trickster bent. Speak with Plants and Animate Objects are his go to tools.
The living goblin shield is awesome. You strap a living goblin to a shield for extra +1 ac and it adds some cushion to the shield. You loose the +1 when the goblin dies.
Whenever I find out one of my players wants to play a goblin in my campaigns, I get so excited. They are my favorite small playable race. So much cool opportunities with goblin pcs
On my homebrew continent of Grakoa, hobgoblins make up the majority of the population, as the largest country is primarily made up of them. Way back before humans or anyone else came to this landmass, goblinoid war bands roamed everywhere and fought for territory constantly. Eventually, a handful of these bands finally threw down their arms and used their intellect to build something greater, creating the kingdom of the High Arches. Now, however many thousands of years later, the High Arches has expanded to encompass about one third of the continent and also evolved into more a representative government. There are still plenty of war bands (I’ve made subraces called Artisan Hobs and Warmonger Hobs to fill these niches), but at least in Grakoa goblinoids have a much more decent reputation than the rest of the world thanks to the High Arches. Needless to say, goblinoids are some of my favorite dudes in DnD and the video is great! Glad you guys got to covering it.
One of the characters I have in the works is a goblin ranger/beast-master with an owl companion. The owl will catch its prey, eat the brains/head then drop the corpse for the goblin to cleanup the rest. Great for scouting and always has the flyby on hand for himself or another party member.
AAAAANd It's time for my FAVORITE monster type. Ive always treated goblins as twisted children. "Chaotic Evil" as in they're just naturally destructive in thier extreme inquisitiveness. They're the ones sprinting around the countryside, stealing goats for fun and burning things to watch the flames. they're selfish and take everything because they haven't really grasped that others have feelings and have no thought of how things are effective. they smash and kill what they don't like, and what they don't like is basically just 'whatever is stopping me from doing whatever insane thing has come to my mind. And yet, like children, if raised in an actual home instead of a pack of destructive lunatics, they can become normal people. probably a bit easily distracted, but genuinely good people. from potion sellers to gym teachers to priests, a reformed goblin can be a breath of fresh air. They're also quite clever, and my players would rather face a Trollish Warband than a decent sized goblin horde. They'll fling each other out of catapults in sometimes-functioning parachutes, roll forth in the spiked hamster balls thrown down hills, streak through the town on a wild animal chucking bombs until they forget they lit one. Their spellcasters will caster homebrewed springtrap spells to launch enemies over walls or smashing down corridors. when led by an older goblin or a band of hobgoblins, they're suddenly something my players wish they could run from screaming but know better than to let them get momentum. That shared look of nervous "What the hell did he think up this time" is what I live for as a GM. could be GRUFF THE TOUGH'S HOUSE OF BUFF returned for another round of squat contests, could be a firey warmachine as likely to backfire as it is to devastate. Who knows? :D
4 years late to the party but I’ve been playing a goblin/tiefling wizard who has been SO MUCH fun, constant bar fights, arson and magic shenanigans abound
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I’m surprised Nerdarchy didn’t ask to collaborate on this video
I'm currently playing a goblin barbarian in dungeon of the mad mage. They're really good for the class.
seems you missed the bugbears being lazy and bully the smaller goblins but fierce once they get into a fight
Hey guys!
One of my players is playing as a Goblin theif in 5e, and we both really like the idea of him continually growing through the goblinoid chain. How would you suggest we go about this, mechanically? Is there a certain level where I should give him certain stats or bonuses?
Bugbear Gloomstalker Assassin
Favorite Terrain: First Turn of Combat
LokNWykLeer I almost cried laughing after reading this.
I would toss in a couple levels of warlock for Devil's Sight. Remember it's not just 120-foot darkvision, it's 120 ft normal vision in complete darkness of any kind.
@@MatthewJaluvka I know, but that wasn't the case a year ago when I posted that comment.... 😏
My bugbear assassin battlemaster agrees.
Add three levels of rogue assassin
Literally made my Goblins like the Covenant in Halo, adding Gnolls to the group as the Jackals. Goblins are Grunts, Hobgoblins are Elites, Bugbears are Brutes, Trolls are Hunters. So far has worked out great!
would go on that campaign.
So who are the Prophets?
@@gasmonkey1000 I left them out, had a Hobgoblin High Council instead.
@@thenicemare Oh. Cool.
Will the Gnolls be regular?
This goblin life-cycle idea is amazing!!! What if there's a legendary goblin out there the size of a dragon - or a tarrasque? Wait, what if that's Maglubiyet??? And he's on Acheron, and imbued with near-deific powers, he harvests goblin souls and leads them in the Blood War! And now you have a CR 25 goblin!
AAAAAAAGGGH!!!!!
Can I use that ? I'm also writing a story, I think I might use the idea of goblins growing infinitely in it, except my world does not have hobgoblins or bug bears because it's separate from D and D.
In my games I've done a wierd system of them all having the same juvenile stage. Fed specific things they'll develop into specific types with goblins developing as default. Kinda like queen bees and royal jelly.
Fury of the large
@@noahpreuss2795 big goby boi
The Big Freindly Gaijin For some reason, I’m picturing a “Journey to the Center of the Earth” type situation, but instead of dinosaurs (or along with them?) are giant goblins. 😆
Me: about to run a goblin based session this week
WebDM: drops goblin video like the gods they are
It happens pretty often to me too lol.. They are indeed the prophets we need.
My goblin races are bastardized versions of races interbred with Orcs.
Orc+Human=Half-orc
Orc+Elf=Hobgoblin
Orc+Dwarf=Bugbear(I call them Moggs)
Orc+Gnomes=Goblins
Orcs make all.
That poor gnome, I can only imagine what the size difference would be like.
So goblins are gnorcs?
Me and a friend found out that orcs and gnomes could be mixed. This leads to two races, Ones and Gnorcs.
One: a gnome mother and an orc father. A small but strong race that has a napoleon complex.
Gnorc:an orc mother and a gnome father. Big fat lazy race that has a knack for technology and magic.
Weirdly enough I have a similar origin for Goblinoids. Hobgoblins are purebloods, Goblins are half Halfling, and Bugbears are half Orc.
that's rad af bro
I love the image of goblin hordes using a Hydra as a siege weapon
Stealing the fuck out of that lol.
I have mine using dire elephants (my setting the India equivilant is the goblin civilization)
I read that wrong and thought of goblin Hydra agents and now I wonder if they ever had green goblin be involved with Hydra
I DM goblins as the gnome/ halfling version of orcs as if orcs are evolutionarily twisted elves in the tolkein tradition 🍻
This has inspired my brain and im enjoying the thought of orcs getting chopped in half just to sprout some little legs like a lizard. Lmfao.
I love that idea definitely gonna use that too
Hobgoblins worked really well in one game I was in where they were the ones ruling the empire. Our DM leaned into the Lawful, Roman-esque angle and had Hobgoblin justice being harsh, but fair, so non-hobgoblins were fine living in the empire because the Law was very well defined even if punishments were very 'eye for an eye'. Our party were foreigners, used to the idea of "the goblin horde" worshiping Maglubiyet the Conqueror, so they came into the empire expecting Genghis Khan's Mongols and found Kublai Khan's China where the gods of law and order were ascendant.
Watching the last couple of months of Critical Role has been fun as the Mighty Nein run face-first into the same issue of "these aren't the villains we're looking for".
I like hobgoblins as romans.
I also throw in the idea that you're not a citizen of there nation until you complete a term of military service.
@@beastwarsFTW What about those who can't serve under the military due to physical injury? Indentured servant maybe?
@@crimsonwizahd2358
Then unless they can prove themselves useful then they are unfit to have rights.
They are an "evil" society after all.
In my setting, Goblins, Hobgoblins, and Bugbears are halflings, humans, and dwarves that were mutated by experimentation. Their uniting feature is the experimentation that was done to them.
Halflings lost their fearlessness but became cunning and exploitative nature of goblins. Humans lost their versatility but gained their obsession and dedication of hobgoblins. Dwarves lost their industriousness but gained the size and strength of bugbears.
In turn they have made their own tribal, nomadic, or "Mongolian" clans - each with its own flavour playing into certain aspects of their races. Presently they are united under a single hobgoblin khan who is trying to finally create a genuine goblinoid empire and be recognised on the world stage as a legitimate power.
One of the fun things is to actually motivate and organize bugbears into pike wielding heavy infantry - 15 foot melee range guys. Or goblins on wolf cavalry. Hobgoblin wizards and commanders. When they get together they are a force to be reckoned with.
Goblins are the best. I had a bard who disguised himself as an orc and infiltrated the dark army along with a few goblins that owed him their lives and from there he built his own unit inside the army that was 90% goblin 10% orcs. Goblins left their command to join his company because of the egality. In a game I game mastered I had this uberwealthy elf who had never seen a goblin. His son had stolen from a goblin shoemaker named Brillo and when the PCs took the goblin to see him, the rich man thought he was a talking cat and took him in renamed him Don Fluffito.
Well if it isn't Don Fluffles.
So glad you touched on Halo and the Covenant. That's how i run my goblinoid society. So easy to parallel that!
Hey it's the goblin episode I ask for!! thanks guys!!
I like playing a hobgoblin, but I do agree that they aren't great mechanically, especially when you look at the other goblinoids who are actually pretty good. It's kind of weird that a PC hobgoblin does not synergize much at all with most martial classes. Their design works better for wizards (or mystics and artificers if your group allows UA content). But thematically, it is fun to play as someone from a highly disciplined martial society who may or may not be trusted by those around them.
Hobgoblin War Wizard is a character concept I've wanted to play for months.
Works best as a mid level PC: veteran of the Cohorts, the "close in fire support" for the rank and file.
Goblinoids are fey in my campaign setting. Gives them nice flavour to make them completly different from orcs.
Janitwo you know I’m guessing you do in folklore goblins are fey creatures and red caps are terrifying
I also do this. At first I had issues with hobgoblins using iron, as I also give fey a weakness to that. But then I started incorporating it into their sense of pride. Essentially, I made their attitude, "I'm so awesome I wear my weakness as armor."
I've been toying with that idea a lot lately... mostly inspired by Dresden Files goblins.
@@andrewhalverson6974 same
I like to incorporate the Seelie/Unseelie dichotomy into it. Creatures like Elves and Gnomes were Seelie in origin, while Goblinoids were Unseelie.
I only played the first two Halo games, but I remember loving it whenever I'd shoot in a random direction and all the grunts would just FREAK OUT and scream with their high-pitched voices. Glad I'm not the only one who kind of saw similarities between them and goblins. Also, the first D&D 5e character I ever made was a goblin bard who couldn't sing very well, but could RAP LIKE HELL... memories.
In the world I run, my influence for the goblinoid races are as follows (but it changes when the Hobgoblins hear the drums of Maglubiyet):
Goblins are heavily inspired by the MTG goblins. Dangerous curiosity and recklessness personified. If you don't die in a firey blaze or aren't cremated you become a lost ember, unable to rejoin the Eternal Inferno, and your soul is lost, never to be re-lit.
Bugbears are what I use as boogeymen for the common folk. They creep in at night and take the young, the weak, and the frail. So rarely seen by the peasants that therey are almost a cryptid and the help and knowledge of adventurers is needed to solve the problem. They've forgotten any god or belief they once had and live on instinct.
Hobgoblins are the only true followers of Maglubiyet because in my world that is their original deity. Militaristic and structured, they tend to have a disdain towards other goblinoids and focus on keeping their law in place in their territories. However oned the war drums of Maglubiyet are heard, they begin their march, and both bugbears and goblins fall in line.
Bugbears using their inherent stealth to be scouts and assassins, not really needing coercion because thwy get to boss goblins around and do what they do beat when the time comes. Goblins however resent this, only falling in line in the hope that they live and their soul isn't forced into Maglubiyet's eternal war. This is when Nilbogs are born, and they tend to be the ultimate downfall of Maglubiyet's campaigns.
When talking about the hobgoblins all I could think of now is a hobgoblin monk based of Iroh from Avatar. Initially a terrifying warrior/general to now an easy living hero who's reaching for enlightenment.
i had the idea of a Goblin illusion wizard with the criminal background, he was a thief pre-adventure and stole his spellbook from a wizard's apprentice, and was just smart and angry enough to figure it out himself
Having played a Goblin Bard, I can tell you they're a blast. When I DM my home world of Tholl, the Hobgoblins are a Khanate - expert horsemen and skilled at taking down larger foes like Giants. Great topic guys!
What about Wargs?
I've used Hobgoblins to great effect as pirate captains, sailing deep bellied ships powered/staffed by the subjugated goblins within. The vessels - serving as mobile warrens - would provide an excess of lesser goblins (slave pirates) who were thusly deposited on remote islands, tasked with creating various harbors/shipyards/settlements, or simply used as expendable cannon fodder.
I have always though Hobgoblins work well with a Roman Legion type idea.
JBRocky007 Mix Roman Legion with a swarm of locust and you’ve basically got it.
i just use the standard japanese samurai thing...and i basically dont have any regular hobgoblins, all of them have some kind of extra ability depending on the clan theyre a part of.
I played a bugbear barbarian from lvl 10-20 he specialized in grappling, and would beat baddies to death with the screaming Bodies of their allies.
Loved it.
Strength based rogue. Expertise athletics plus Grappler feat
Grab then stab
Subclass: Grab 'n Stab
Goblins are my favorite D&D and Pathfinder race. They have such a central place in my heart.
In my camping world the word goblin means subjugated and the prefix hob means "un" making hobgoblins the un-subjugated. I depict the hobgoblins as the slave masters to the goblin race.
Hobbe means small. Tolkien knew this, hence Hobbits. 'Hob'goblins are small goblins, what we now call gremlins.
The first game I ran, every PC was a goblin and they saved the village
Awesome!
Loving the Pathfinder art on the thumbnail!
My hobgoblins in my campaign are based off of the mongol empire of the 12th - 14th century, composed of skirmish and shock cavalry that ride on Gorevalopes, horse-sized ram creatures with claw-like hooves
I have a campaign inspired by Mad Max, and there's a motorcycle gang of Goblins called the Dune Raiders. I portray them as similar to the Gremlins. They were outcasts following the White Event, and were brought together by a Revenant named Stryder.
Hobgoblin war mage that potentially takes the medium armor feat. Breastplate and a shield do wonders for the wizard. Also the saving face feature synergies well with arcane deflection for saves.
I like to use the Zulu's chest and horns tactics with my goblin hoards. Hundreds of quick nimble skirmishers on either wing to control the flanks. While the bugbear infantry make up the front ranks of the chest (main body), with Hobgoblin war chiefs/war priests make up the rear of the chest to control the formation.
I love that I'm not the only one who thought of this for goblinoid war tactics. It feels so fitting for them!
@@kylestanley7843 brutally effective tactics from a from a group that is really looked over/not expected to be a great power.
I used the goblin to bugbear life-cycle but kept it going into ogres. A player favorite. I was inspired by Monte Cooke's Giant character race where you could grow as a level-up.
Guys, get out of my head! For real the last four videos have been about topics I was thinking about
Ok, we won't scry on you next week!
If you guys make it the UK and end up in my neck of the woods I'd love to run a one shot for you guys
I like the idea of goblins being the ultimate survivor races, finding niches. In one of my worlds, goblins (which included kobolds and orcs) were able to get genetic material not just from their parents, but what they ate so they could fit into new terrains. Kobolds were desert goblins that had eaten enough lizards they became smaller and more reptilian. Bugbears were cold weather survivors who lived off bears, caribou and elk. Hobgoblins were smarter because...well there is a reason they were the foe of all humanity.
I love the idea of them being different stages of one species. I may steal that one. 😁
There's a manga called re: monster that had the main character reincarnate as a goblin and he ranks up once his level is high enough to a hobgoblin and so on and so forth
Heck yes! Kingdoms of Kalamar! I loved that book and my hobgoblins have always been based on that.
That book just changed me for some reason lol
Glad it got a shout out
Bonus action hide is a great way to make goblins deadly ambushers
It's why I love them as Rangers with the Skulker Feat
Lost mine of...the fuck do you mean everyone died already?
I want to throw a party of artificers into my campaign and this has convinced me the battle smith will be a hobgoblin.
Maybe just give hobgoblins medium armor proficiency as well as one free "Fighting Style" from the fighter list
I would go with Shield proficiency maybe, but I think a Fighting Style is too much. As far as I know no other race has that ability, seems a bit overpowered imho
@@theonlymatthew.l maybe specifically the archery fighting style? makes sense with the whole samurai theme, and not as strong as choosing one...and not too useful, since a character that really needs it would have taken it anyway, and would also benefit much less from any additional fighting style.
My favorite character is a goblin OH monk, Grot Snotgobbla. I just got boots of jumping and springing, bc nothing is more terrifying than an insane, green, ball of flying feet and fists.
Tommy Two-times is definitely going in my next game.
This portrayal of goblins kinda reminds me of the locust from gears of war
if the Mystic and Artificers are ever made official, Hobgoblins will be perfect for those roles (alongside the wizard)
It wasn't until the video was nearly over that I thought to look up what bugbears look like. I had been picturing something like an owlbear (but different face), and so was confused at the goblin->hobgoblin->bugbear idea for a long while. Made more sense after I looked up what they looked like
I usually base goblin society on the feudal Japanese.
Hobgoblins are samurais. Goblins are farmers, spearmen, archers. Bugbears are ninja clans/ sumo/ Yakuza.
Mind if I ask what led you to that decision? I'm also making something like this and was wondering what races should take on what roles.
I feel like you're 100% spot on with the hobgoblin samurai/shinobi, but something about the goblin screams ninja to me. Then for the bugbears I give them a shugoki type feel.
@@collinsequeira6160 goblins fit the ideas for real life ninjas that had to small and agile.
@@dicorockhimself It makes sense now why goblins=farmers, I wasn't thinking about my ninja history. Ninjas were often farmers or commoners. Most of what we think of as ninja weapons are just farming tools. Kusarigama are their farming sickles but with a rope and spike on the end, and kunai were legit just masonry trowels that turned into deadly weapons in the right hands.
I guess my main question is where bugbears fit in since their powerful build and general bulk makes them seem super buff, but then they're sneaky ambushers, and their racial traits mean they could go either way, but 7ft ninja that weighs 270 lb..... ლ(ಠ益ಠლ) Bugbears are so wierd.
@@collinsequeira6160 they are fucking weird I'd use them as like onnie style warriors with a mix of trickery and might
@@collinsequeira6160
Goblins seemed more like peasants in my mind, while the Bugbear seemed like specialized ninja warriors with high str and dex.
If goblins were ninjas I imagine them as spies and informants, or even poisoners. But inevitably there is always one or two goblin clans who act as elite assassins.
I read the "races of war" sourcebook and its description just sparked my imagination, I have been using feudal goblin societies ever since.
www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Races_of_War_(3.5e_Sourcebook)
If I'm playing a bugbear I'm going to play Beast Man from He-man and the Masters of the Universe
I wish someone would do a D20 MOTU setting book.
Mu favorite goblin i played was Glib the Goblin, who was an arcane trickster who wouldn't steal per say, but would try and loot and conceal that loot from the rest of the party. But otherwise, he was super loyal and even sometimes self sacrificing.
Goblins with invisible mage hans are fun and devious.
I started playing a goblin barbarian in a campaign and it's a really fun space to explore. There's so much to use in terms of their culture or religions. Fellow party members or npcs may expect a vicious, tribal horde member, but then you can show them a potential misunderstood hero or cunning problem solver.
I love it that in the end of the video you guys gave us a glimpse of your everyday life.
I like to see Goblinoids as being the servants of the Archfey in times past. Specifically of the Unseelie court. The Seelie court had Elves and Gnomes. The Unseelie, various goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears. It gives a sense to a setting that the Feywild has left an indelible mark on the world.
...
On another point, I've come up with a bunch of bugbear ideas.
One is a Mastermind Rogue, that is basically Ebenezzer Scrooge if he was tall, hairy (with mutton chops), and jacked. A money lender named Nebecanezzer Scrimp, who walks around in a coat and top hat, and a set of spectacles. A black whip wrapped around his waist, from when he grew up on the streets. He got visited by some ghosts, and went adventuring as part of his effort to change his ways and become a better person. But he's still a curmudgeon, because one encounter with spooks does not instantly change a pattern of behavior developed over a lifetime. In combat, he uses his phenomenal reach to sneak attack opponents with his whip, while barking orders to his compatriots (his way of "Help"ing).
The next character is a female bugbear Monk, of the Drunken Master archetype. Except instead of a typical drunken master, she was a circus clown and acrobat, whose fighting blends tomfooleries and real attacks, so opponents are never sure whether she's really lucky or really skilled.
WORGS! Please do mounted combat! There is a general atmosphere of confusion concerning mounted combat and CR/ encounter difficulty. You always give a balanced approach and this topic could use your oversight.
*ORCBOLG HAS ENTERED THE CHAT*
Fabulous opening as always!! I have had a Hobgoblin Legion(The Blackbloods) augmented by other goblinoids as a major feature of my home brew campaign for the past year.
They have continued to make a great background antagonist and it was fun to populate my encounter tables with all sorts of combos of goblinoids!!
Th goblins in my world are split into two civilizations due to a schism that happened long ago. "Northern" Goblinoids live in a highly structured caste system where Bugbears are the elites, hobgoblins are the middle class, and goblins are treated as filth and are relegated to slums.
"Southern" goblins are primitive, nocturnal jungle hunters and took a no gods, no masters stance long ago. Southern goblins are a little taller and lanky (think Smegòl) and are much tougher to fight, as their homeland is close to a mountain that emits magic from the feywild. They also captured their god and sealed it away in an obsidian tomb.
Priestess: Children?
Goblin Slayer: They multiply fast. If we had waited any longer, there'd be about fifty of them, and they would've attacked. You were lucky.
Priestess: Are you going to kill them?
Goblin Slayer: Of course I am. They hold on to grudges for life. And the survivors of the nest learn from their mistakes and adapt. There isn't a single reason to let them live.
Priestess: Even if there was a good goblin?
Goblin Slayer: A good goblin? I guess there might be one if you looked really hard. But in the end, the only good goblins are the ones who never come out of their holes.
1 of my fav moments in Goblin Slayer anime.
It is so hard to disconnect goblin from that setting. XD Shows how large an impression it made.
I’m also using Goblins in my setting as forever growing. However they are evil as they are tainted by ‘Sin’. To grow and ‘Evolve’ they must indulge in Sin as much as possible. Goblins
WebDM: *Says literally anything about goblins
Me: Souka
What you did there, I see it.
Did someone say goblins?
Jim wants to play a wizard? Color me shocked. Next you'll tell me that Pruitt likes Samurai.
Not An Enemy ayy bro true that
Man, Pruitt. Your Texas really came out in that intro.
The Hobgoblin player race also works well for Mystics.
I absolutely LOVE these goblin concepts!!
I think this is your best topic yet. I was already thinking along these lines and y’all just mapped out the background in less than 30 minutes!
Thanks so much!!
20:24 I just realised that wizards are just magical fighters.
The Str-Rogue Strangler is a crazy interesting concept. I might make something of it next.
16:00 Goblins are grunts (the small funny ones), Bugbears are brutes (big hairy meanies), hobgoblins are elites (armored zealots), etc.
Bugbears would be closer to the Brutes in Halo, in my opinion
Goblins in my setting are almost insect-like; goblins are almost a,larval stage that become hobgoblins, bugbears, and other monstrosities depending on what their handler decides is needed. They're connected through pheromones, with hobgoblins being super dependant on the connection but they operate almost as one organism, and bugbears are almost removed from the connection which allows them to survive for long periods of time outside of the hive as scouts. Goblins aren't cowards really, but if they're losing the fight they're almost compelled to return to the hive with all the information they've collected.
In my setting I use Goblins quite a lot, I separated my world into 4 orders: the hominoids, Goblinoids, Reptilian and Feral. I made the bugbears part of the Feral just because they are too phisically different form Orcs, goblins and hobgoblins. I made no race be actually evil, except for the Drow, everybody hates the Drow lol.
The orders are at constant war with each other and making alliances here and there.
I've got a Strength rogue character I like. Half Orc Rogue X Fighter 3. Go Ftr-Champion for the improved Crit and Dual Wield. Put one expertise in Athletics then take the grappler feat. At this point you can pin down most humanoid opponents, attack twice each turn with advantage, a 10% crit chance on each D20, and you're most likely going to at least get your Sneak Attack every round. Strength is important, as grappling allows you to sort of bypass armor, and the rogue is especially good at it with expertise, especially when they get reliable talent.
The fantasy comes from an assassin character from the Malazan Book of the Fallen series named Kalam, who basically answers the question: "What if you took a strong man type and gave him world class assassin training? Oh and by the way he has a real knack for it."
This is the second time I've posted this in response to a comment from Jim about a strength rogue concept. I don't remember what video it was though.
I love Copper the goblin in Matt Colville's game. He is using a modified beastmaster range type class with a displacer beast as a mount named "big cat". Every time an NPC asks "what manner of beast is that?" Copper just says "it's a cat, what else could it be?" as if the npc is a moron for asking.
3 years! It was three years ago that we last discussed goblins. I’m really glad you guys have come back to them to talk about the pc-ability of them all
if you want to further elaborate goblins in your setting, you can look at kamoto dragons life cycle, being small and sneaky, scrappy, then physically dominate.
That intro was the best I've heard from you guys, great job!
Goblins are making a comeback...sometimes, in the case of "Goblin Slayer", they dial up the horror of what they are.
In the case of "Critical Role", they place one in a hero role...though this is a strange case.
Currently work-shopping a goblin character...it's tricky. You could make a rogue, but some of the best features of goblin become redundant.
I would say that goblins would make great skirmishers...fighters, rangers and monks.
The appeal of a goblin monk who spiritually represses his violent urges holds an amusing appeal.
Bards are an unconventional choice. Sword Bards gain a huge benefit to the added Disengage action.
The question is how you explain a charismatic goblin...is he so charming the goblin visage doesn't matter? Maybe he specializes in aggressive music?
Maybe he created grunge? Lots of fun there.
Check out the Nilbog in 5E. Its a goblin possesed by one of the lingering dead goblin gods of trickery. He's basically a prankster jester.
Be a good reason for the party to have come together. Part of the band! The goblin bard is the lead singer/guitarist, the wizard makes the instruments and plays keyboard, the barbarian is the drums...so on and so on. Then something happens that puts the band or the gig in jeopardy. Now they gotta thrash their way to saving the day!
Great episode, I’m playing a goblin sword bard right now. My favorite character so far.
Awesome video! In my homebrew, goblins grow into hobgoblins just like you thought of. Bugbears are the result of drinking a potion or eating a specific combination of mushrooms. Then i use blue goblins as a rare mutation that control other goblins (like ethereal Tau in 40k).
I really want a goblin bladesinger wizard, but I dont want all the Yoda allusions
I love the idea that they are variants of one race or just different life stages. Awesome. Definitely adapting something like that into my home brew. LOVE THIS CHANNEL!
Thank you!!
That was some advanced wordplay on display in the intro sir!
Hey Web DM, what was up with the weird skip at 14:30? Nah all jokes aside you guys have given me so many excellent tips on how to run certain things and my players LOVE the campaign so far! Thank you for helping us out every step of the way!
Maglubiyet (or mağlubiyet) means defeat in Turkish
theplateus that is interesting
I do love the idea of the goblin warrior who just loves that great-sword and doesn't care that hes horrible at using it.
I love your take and I realize I've felt this way without putting it in so many words. Listening to this was awesome!
I actually love the light armor proficiency for a war wizard hobgoblin because it sets up the moderately armored feat which does give you shield proficiency, something that mountain dwarfs don’t get even if you take the feat to step up to heavy armor. Give them a rapier with a war mage’s ruby and you’re out there at 4th level casting spells, stabing with booming blade, wearing medium armor, and wielding a shield! If you can’t get a war mage’s ruby or similar effect, you can wait till war caster at lvl 8 to avoid the drawing and sheathing of you blade, or just swing a arcane focus staff 1 handed until you want to take the feat. It’s not the most optimal play style of a wizard, but I think these boosts excel in supporting a different, harder to get working play style. That’s not even touching the rp value of a war tactician wizard. Great video, love the concept fodder
I just had a imagine of a goblin singing *part of that would * while looking misty eyed from the shadows over a city
My favorite character thus far has been my Goblin Fighter/Druid, the mix of absurdist hilarity and a genuine cause to liberate so-called lesser races from their lot in life makes him a blast. And you know this dude's obsessed with fungi, I'm essentially playing a Night Goblin (or for current AoS players, a Moonclan Grot) and it translates so well into D&D
Haven't even watched the video and I already love it
I've been playing a Goblin Bard named Boot for a little over a year now and love being the little guy with a trickster bent. Speak with Plants and Animate Objects are his go to tools.
The living goblin shield is awesome. You strap a living goblin to a shield for extra +1 ac and it adds some cushion to the shield. You loose the +1 when the goblin dies.
Whenever I find out one of my players wants to play a goblin in my campaigns, I get so excited. They are my favorite small playable race. So much cool opportunities with goblin pcs
You went head to head with Kyle Vogt over baked goods! 36:20
(Also great discussion of goblinoids)
Yes indeed!! He's a pretty passionate baker as it turns out!
On my homebrew continent of Grakoa, hobgoblins make up the majority of the population, as the largest country is primarily made up of them. Way back before humans or anyone else came to this landmass, goblinoid war bands roamed everywhere and fought for territory constantly. Eventually, a handful of these bands finally threw down their arms and used their intellect to build something greater, creating the kingdom of the High Arches. Now, however many thousands of years later, the High Arches has expanded to encompass about one third of the continent and also evolved into more a representative government. There are still plenty of war bands (I’ve made subraces called Artisan Hobs and Warmonger Hobs to fill these niches), but at least in Grakoa goblinoids have a much more decent reputation than the rest of the world thanks to the High Arches.
Needless to say, goblinoids are some of my favorite dudes in DnD and the video is great! Glad you guys got to covering it.
In my D&D world Goblins are used by the human kingdoms as expendable troops/labour
You are cool like you
Great video! Love the Roman legions tie in, using that as soon as my players get out of my one shot dungeon.
One of the characters I have in the works is a goblin ranger/beast-master with an owl companion. The owl will catch its prey, eat the brains/head then drop the corpse for the goblin to cleanup the rest. Great for scouting and always has the flyby on hand for himself or another party member.
AAAAANd It's time for my FAVORITE monster type. Ive always treated goblins as twisted children. "Chaotic Evil" as in they're just naturally destructive in thier extreme inquisitiveness. They're the ones sprinting around the countryside, stealing goats for fun and burning things to watch the flames. they're selfish and take everything because they haven't really grasped that others have feelings and have no thought of how things are effective. they smash and kill what they don't like, and what they don't like is basically just 'whatever is stopping me from doing whatever insane thing has come to my mind. And yet, like children, if raised in an actual home instead of a pack of destructive lunatics, they can become normal people. probably a bit easily distracted, but genuinely good people. from potion sellers to gym teachers to priests, a reformed goblin can be a breath of fresh air.
They're also quite clever, and my players would rather face a Trollish Warband than a decent sized goblin horde. They'll fling each other out of catapults in sometimes-functioning parachutes, roll forth in the spiked hamster balls thrown down hills, streak through the town on a wild animal chucking bombs until they forget they lit one. Their spellcasters will caster homebrewed springtrap spells to launch enemies over walls or smashing down corridors. when led by an older goblin or a band of hobgoblins, they're suddenly something my players wish they could run from screaming but know better than to let them get momentum. That shared look of nervous "What the hell did he think up this time" is what I live for as a GM. could be GRUFF THE TOUGH'S HOUSE OF BUFF returned for another round of squat contests, could be a firey warmachine as likely to backfire as it is to devastate. Who knows? :D
4 years late to the party but I’ve been playing a goblin/tiefling wizard who has been SO MUCH fun, constant bar fights, arson and magic shenanigans abound
I know bladesinger is an elf only thing, but I could see it work for Hobgoblins as well. Just to show them some love.