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Kobolds!?! - What are they?
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Kobolds!?! - What are they?
#1:arrow: Kobolds seem to make an apperance in in many Role-Playing games vut they vary substantially from one to another and I intend to once and for all discover the true koboldWill you help me?
The Kobolds im used to are small reptiallian creatures that are sneaky and clever but not really intelligent otherwise, i have also seem kobolds that are Gobliniods and are smarted cousins of Goblins. The sizes vary, the creature type varies, but they all seem to like mining... I think its time we united our views on Kobolds and made the one true kobold!
My Thoughts - I like the idea of Kobolds having dragon ancestry, maybe even Gobliniods with Dragon ancestors. The whole mining and building traps thing is good as well, but i want to know what you think a Kobold is or should be. -
Kobolds!?! - What are they?
#2I always disliked the idea of kobolds as being in any way dragon-like or related to dragons.
My kobolds are always sort of rodent-like and they live underground and mine. -
Kobolds!?! - What are they?
#3I dislike them being related to dragons in any way as well. Dragons are supposed to be powerful creatures capable of terror. Kobolds are like cockroaches, irritating as individuals, but major annoyances as massive groups.
I think the feel of kobolds has been more or less consistent in the games I've seen them. They are weak and not real bright, but wily, cunning and quite unscrupulous. They do work in groups, but without a lot of coordination. Undisciplened and unruly, but capable of following orders that give them gratification.
Appearance wise, I think of them more as rodent or dog like, a short, sometimes narrow snout, small tail, and light frame. Like an anthropomorphic chiuaua grifter. -
Kobolds!?! - What are they?
#4Personally, my mental image of a kobold will always be skewed by the AD&D Monstrous Manual, which has them pictured as this freaky rat-dog-thing walking around as a biped.
They're small, weak, but potentially rather clever; used correctly, a lone kobold can be more of a challenge than an entire army of trolls. -
Kobolds!?! - What are they?
#5It's from the Middle High German & means "goblin." Alternate definitions describe it as a being a type of elf, spirit, or gnome (note that these are not distinctively different from one another in mythology), and inhabits/haunts underground spaces or homes.
Any physical characteristics, game mechanics, or personality traits are all modern inventions, and are based on whatever game system you are using at the time. While D&D kobolde (proper plural of "kobold") are as described above, other games are different, such as the Palladium kobolde who are highly skilled metalworkers.
Personally, I've often wondered how much of the current D&D view of kobolde were based on an artist's interpretation, rather than the other way around. -
Kobolds!?! - What are they?
#6Kobolds are Wolf or dog looking creatures...
That's all I can say... -
Kobolds!?! - What are they?
#7And they taste of chicken. -
Kobolds!?! - What are they?
#8And they taste of chicken.
They taste of chiken what do you mean?? -
Kobolds!?! - What are they?
#9Old Kobs as in corn husks?
AD&D Monstrous Manual
What is this you speak of?
Palladium, cough, the one true commercial RP system, cough, has them as cousins to goblins and orcs but a smarter, meaner version.
Live underground, as most worthy monsters, but are only bested by dwarves in the creation of armor and weapons. In Jewelry and silver their quality is unmatched.
Their skill in metalwork makes them a sought after "friend" to other monster breeds which sort of makes kobolds movers and shakers.
Kobolds rock! -
Kobolds!?! - What are they?
#10Most Dungeon crawlers (Dungeons and Dragons players) remember the Kobold as the lowliest of monsters, not even a full hit die worth of hit points. In combat, the mage could best a kobold or three with his staff, while the warrior could defeat them with his off hand, sword sheathed. Generally played out as the little brothers of goblins, just as the goblins were the little brothers of orcs. You know what rolls downhill, as the expression goes.
I was captivated by a single word, Koboldwerk, in reference to kobold crafted chainmail. it was excellently made and black iron, a far cry from the ultra-light magic friendly mithril elven chainmail. All of a sudden they became something different to me, not just the first layer of sword fodder in the dungeon.
They were delvers, and makers, smithies and builders. They naturally compete with the dwarves, and perhaps instead of being a diminutive dog-faced mini-goblin they are more potent rivals. They craft steel and black iron weapons, sheath their bodies in chain armor, and though lacking the stubborn courage of the dwarves compensate with a cunning that makes them seem more animalistic than the stoic dwarves. Its all a matter of PR -
Kobolds!?! - What are they?
#11And they taste of chicken.
They taste of chiken what do you mean??
You can barbecue it,
boil it,
broil it,
bake it,
saute it.
There's uh, kobold-kabobs,
kobold creole,
kobold gumbo,
pan fried,
deep fried,
stir-fried.
There's pineapple kobold,
lemon kobold,
coconut kobold,
pepper kobold,
kobold soup,
kobold stew,
kobold salad,
kobold and potatoes,
kobold burger,
kobold sandwich.
That... that's about it. -
Kobolds!?! - What are they?
#12A chicken is a small fowl-bird with atavistic wings and too much weight in meat to fly. They are used as food animals in many of the major nations of the Earth, especially in the modern age, where global commerce has brought the onset of chicken as the staple food of pretty much everyone.
Stereotyped as a barnyard animal, they are characterized by their call: "bok-bok-bok-bok". -
Kobolds!?! - What are they?
#13A chicken is a small fowl-bird with atavistic wings and too much weight in meat to fly. They are used as food animals in many of the major nations of the Earth, especially in the modern age, where global commerce has brought the onset of chicken as the staple food of pretty much everyone.
Stereotyped as a barnyard animal, they are characterized by their call: "bok-bok-bok-bok".
Cocka-doodel-dooooo! -
Kobolds!?! - What are they?
#14Exactly! -
Kobolds!?! - What are they?
#16Uh. Yeah... Well, I like Draconic Kobolds and I'm pretty sure that Kobolds highly enjoy the taste of Babies and Onions. I know them to be skilled trapmakes and cowardly when encountered alone. :D -
Kobolds!?! - What are they?
#17Everyone enjoys the taste of babies.
I'm a D&D guy, and have been biased with dog-lizards that hate gnomes, but do prefer the wolfish more "tunnel under the forest," chicken-flavored kobold.