Word of the Day. 9/17/2011

Word of the Day

"SPIDERMAN! HSSSSSSS!"

goblin [gob-lin]
noun
1. An evil and/or grotesque mythical creature described as mischievous or malicious toward humans.

GOBLINS ARE PEOPLE TOO.

I think all Dungeons and Dragons players have a favorite monster or type of monsters. For many, they love the classic powerhouse of a dragon, the scheming immortal undead lich or other D & D classics, like the displacer beast. These monsters are alot of fun to use but they lack a certain something.My favorite monsters don't usually have lots of powers or wealth. They have faults, quirks and most importantly, personalities.My favorite monsters in Dungeons and Dragons are goblins.

Goblins, as we dungeons and dragons players know them, was really given its shape by the expert hand of Tolkein in the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings. A Lich King, a turncoat wizard, Nazghul, orcs and a mostly naked crack addict (Gollum) are the biggest threats to the fellowship. In the Hobbit, the biggest threat is an army of goblins led by a goblin prince.

The idea of a scheming green humanoid got my attention. If orcs are the match for men than goblins were the match for dwarves. Goblins don't win through brute strength. Goblins when through scheming, deception and numbers. They make excellent minions, to quote the old idiom, "Throw goblins at a problem until it goes away. At the very least you'll have less goblins." I love goblins because they make great adversaries for low level (heroic level) heroes and in D & D most games are played at this low level. Perhaps one of the greatest strengths of using goblins as a dungeon master is to take advantage of their versatility and variety. 

In Dungeons and Dragons there are 3 main varieties of goblins that a hero has to contend with. They each share common characteristics; large and pointed ears, a prominent jaw filled with pointy teeth and a small nose.The 3 varieties are:

GOBLINS

 The smallest variety of goblins and the most numerous. They tend to have yellow-green skin, dark hair and beady eyes. Goblins are known for their wickedness, ill-tempers and cowardice. 

HOBGOBLINS

 The clever and militaristic race of hobgoblins are about human size, with reddish skin, dark hair and often facial hair. These warriors are disciplined and intelligent and can organize goblin and bugbear tribes into a formidable force.

 

BUGBEARS

These large, brutish and burly goblins are known for a surprising skill in stealth and though, not at intelligent as their smaller cousins, they can usually get ahead by bullying others or stealing what they want.

"Psst? Did he say we're people too?"

Yet, I see goblins different than most Dungeon Masters and most fantasy authors. In Beniro, the main setting I DM and write fantasy in looks at goblins with a different view. On one hand, traditionalists still view them as brutish monsters. Yet, some goblins strive for more, some goblins just want to be like everyone because goblins are people too.

For some this concept is completely silly. Yet, in Beniro, goblins, hobgoblins and even bugbears immigrate more and more often to the capital city. Yet, why would they leave their traditional homes for an urban life?

I suppose the first goblins to move to the cities were mercenaries and soldiers. Hobgoblins are the most civil of the three races and, therefore, as long as they could mind their Ps and Qs make excellent mercenaries. The next in line? Priests. In the Great Spine, the largest mountain range in the Wold (yes that's the name of the planet), a religious movement is spreading through the peoples

The Cult of Bung is a religion of peace and love. It was started by a goblin monk named Bung who is said to sit on the tallest mountain, praying for goblins and all monsters. His main message is that goblins and other intelligent creatures need not be monstrous. "Goblins are People Too." He would say. The idea spread through goblin and bugbear tribes and has caused a great pilgrimage of goblinoids to the human capital of Beniro. Initially, the people were weary but, despite their still being xenophobic tensions, they have become part of every day life. Each type has found a special function in the city.

The goblins make up the poorest slums of Beniro and are commonly found cleaning sewers, sweeping floors and doing dirty jobs nobody wants to do. Furthermore, they have found a special talent for salesmanship. One tribe of goblins, the Hands, are renown for their salesmanship. In our current campaign, they have met Scrib Hand, who tried to sell them such things as frozen yogurt and magic armor.
I love playing goblins as the nastier match up to halflings.

Next up, we got hobgoblins. As I mentioned before, they're renowned for their military prowess and are commonly found in mercenary guilds. Yet, the most important hobgoblin that the characters in my campaign know is their butler, Friday. Friday is the perfect butler, professional, clever and loyal to a point. Hobgoblins are great to play for their nasty but fair dealings.

Finally we got bugbears. To be fair, I have really had to stretch how people look at bugbears. Sure, most of them are still dumb as a brick, but I have also taken advantage of their talents. Being the best bullies, assassins and thieves what business would do bugbears better than professional crime? The most important bugbear the heroes have met in Beniro, is Michael Accordion AKA the Bugfather. He is the head of the mafia and founder of the Western Mercenaries guild. There is also a bugbear on the Guard, so they're not all criminals.

Yet, that's what I love about goblins. I love redefining them for my more Renaissance period kingdom of Beniro. Goblins are great for analogies and because their variety work for everything from indentured servants to illegal immigrants. I love goblins.

Don't give me that look. We'll talk about you tomorrow. Wink.