Once upon a time, whenDungeons & Dragonswas first published under the nameChainmailin 1974, they included a race simply known as “small monsters.” These were actually goblins, and they’ve been in the game since the beginning, trying to subvert the will of the protagonists from literally the very first game.
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Goblins have evolved since those early days and now have their own library of lore in theD&Duniverse. Like so many other thingsin everyone’s favorite TTRPG, Goblins were inspired by creatures found in the works of JRR Tolkien, but modern Goblins inD&Ddon’t have much in common with their roots. They aren’t related to Orcs at all, for one thing, and are instead part of a race known as “goblinoids.” Here are a few more interesting facts about Goblins.
8Official D&D Monsters Since 1977
They graduated from “small monsters” to Goblins when they appeared in the firstD&D Monster Manual, which was published in 1977. They still have some of the same traits now as then, such as the small stature, the common tactic of attacking their foes in packs, poor hygiene,and a generally bad attitude.
New Goblin traits include a Neutral Evil moral alignment, advantages when it comes to Sneak Attacks, Stealth, and other Roguish skills. Their weapons of choice are the scimitar and shortbow, and should the party engage them, Goblins have the advantage of Nimble Escape.
7Found In Forests, Plains, Or The Underdark
It’s not a coincidence that the adventuring party almost always finds a bunch of Goblins while exploring a dungeon. They aren’t competing adventurers or ambitious looters. They just live there.
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These days, most Goblins can be found in subterranean locations, but it’s also possible to find them in plains, hills, or forests. There’sa variation called the Dankwood Goblinthat appears in a supplemental activity book forD&Dthat tends to be more Neutral or Chaotic as opposed to Evil and has a close affinity with their woodland neighbors.
6Often Dominated By Larger Goblinoids
Goblin tribes are ruled by the strongest in the group, and this can be anywhere from a small party of four or five to a massive hoard of 500. Goblin tribes as a whole, however, are often in thrall to another, more powerful race or individual.
Hobgoblins or bugbears are usually the ultimate leaders of a Goblin tribe, and these arethe same family of goblinoidsthat live in the same areas and share the same interests. It’s also very common for an evil wizard or a tyrannical ruler to keep a tribe of goblins in the basement just in case.
5Not Always Green
Although Goblins of the same tribe will share the same skin color, it doesn’t have to be green. Variations of yellow and orange are actually the default color for Goblins, with green and red also included.
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Pictures of Goblins usually show them as green, which is partly what led to the false assumption that they’re related to Orcs. InD&Dlore, Goblins and Orcs are entirely different species, although it is possible for an Orc to trade or even live with Goblins.
4The Worship Of Maglubiyet
Naturally, Goblins worshipa physical personification of dominance and power. Also known as Fiery Eyes or The Battle Lord, Maglubiyet is the main deity in the Goblin pantheon. The latter title comes from his status as a general and leader in times of war, along with his dominance over the other Goblin deities.
Despite his power, Maglubiyet is still a Goblin, which means he will bend the knee to a more powerful entity. In this case, he often acts as a close servant of Bane, the Faerunian god of tyranny, oppression, and malevolent despotism.
3They’re Playable Characters…
Thanks toVolo’s Guide To Monsters,Goblins are now a playable race. This depends on whether the character would fit in with the module or adventure, as the race still isn’t part of the core rules, so the Dungeon Master would have the final say.
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Assuming a Goblin would fit with the party, they would have a+2 bonus to Dexterityand a+1 to Constitution. Other benefits to playing a Goblin include Darkvision, Nimble Escape, and a new ability, Fury of the Small.
2…With Their Own Language
It’s always referred to as Goblin in the profiles, but it’s actually called Ghukliak, and it’s a common tongue among the goblinoid races. Bugbears and Hobgoblins also speak Ghukliak,and for the scholars out there, Goblins do have some degree of literacy and use the Dethek and Thorass script to write their language.
Those unfamiliar with Goblins and their culture might not recognize Ghukliak as a language when they hear it. It has a guttural sound and is made up of grunting and whimpering, often mistaken for a crying animal, making it all the much easier for Goblins to sneak up on people.
1Four Subraces
There are four official Goblin subraces, not including those in supplemental materials. These are theBatiri, theDekanter, theGrodd, and theNilbog.
TheBatriare a race that players can find in the jungles of Chult, and their lore is found in theForgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd Edition. They were famous for their tracking skills and had a complex society of tribes ruled over by Queen M’bobo.
The Beast Lord was a mage,maybe even a former Mind Flayer, that lived in theGreypeak Mountains. He used the space deep in the Dekanter Mines for his nefarious arcane experiments. TheDekanter Goblins, which are a more aggressive, heavy race that can grow horns, is an example of a successful result.
TheWizards of the Sword Coasttell a tale of the Plane of Grodd, and there dwells theGrodd goblinand their deity, the dragon Nalavarauthatoryl. Formerly an elf-wizard named Lorelei Alavara, she subjugated the Goblins that lived in the Plane of Shadow as her personal servants and minions.
ANiblogis a unique type of Goblin that a player can find anywhere, much to the delight of a mischievous Dungeon Master. This is a Goblin that’s been possessed by some kind of trickster spirit. This is such a common condition in theD&Duniverse that there’s a name for it, nilbogism, hence the name of this Goblin variant.
