Goblin-Kin

Goblin-Kin

Goblin-kin are a whole gamut of ugly, borderline-civilized
brutes that are as likely to be found glowering over a counter
in town as cackling behind a cauldron of boiling oil in the
dungeon. They have a reputation as “monsters” – thanks to fre-
quent employment in that role by evil wizards – but are also
avid delvers. The common threads seem to be money
and fighting; so really, they’re not that different from other
adventurers.
Goblin sub-races are almost as confusing as elven ones, but
the distinctions mostly come down to matters of size and puri-
ty of blood. Any of these templates would be a cheap way to
add combat-effectiveness to a character concept that doesn’t
call for IQ. The Social Stigma and unpleasant looks somewhat
balance this; see Almost Monster (p. 11).
Goblin
0 points
Choice Professions: Barbarian, Knight, Thief.
Marginal Professions: Bard, Cleric, Druid, Wizard.
True goblins are the small, not-too-stupid ones with needle-
like teeth and a cowardly disposition. They spend a lot of time
being bullied by orcs and tossed around by angry hobgoblins.
Still, they’re survivors, and deadlier on average than humans in
a fight (but unless an orc or a hobgoblin is around, a deter-
mined human can intimidate a goblin with ease).
Goblins stand 2” shorter than humans of the same ST, but
are no lighter.
Attribute Modifiers: IQ-1 [-20]; HT+1 [10].
Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: HP+1 [2]; Will+1 [5];
Per+1 [5].
Advantages: Infravision [10]; Rapid Healing [5]; Resistant to
Metabolic Hazards (+3) [10]; Teeth (Sharp) [1].
Disadvantages: Appearance (Ugly) [-8]; Cowardice (12) [-10];
Social Stigma (Savage) [-10].
Half-Orc
20 points
Choice Professions: Barbarian, Knight, Thief.
Marginal Professions: Bard.
“Half orc and half what?” It’s usually hard to tell, since few
half-orcs are really half anything – they’re the product of gen-
erations of inbreeding among the offspring of orc rapine,
mostly in elf and human communities, but also including the
occasional half-ogre. This is the usual explanation for why
they’re no less stigmatized than full-blooded goblin-kin, and
just as resilient.
A half-orc has the height and weight of a human with one
level more ST. This makes the average half-orc the size of a ST
11 human: 5’5”-6’3” and 125-195 lbs.
Attribute Modifiers: HT+1 [10].
Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: HP+1 [2].
Advantages: Acute Hearing 1 [2]; Night Vision 5 [5]; Rapid
Healing [5]; Resistant to Metabolic Hazards (+3) [10].
Disadvantages: Appearance (Unattractive) [-4]; Social Stigma
(Savage) [-10].
Hobgoblin
15 points
Choice Professions: Barbarian, Knight.
Marginal Professions: Bard, Cleric, Druid, Wizard.
Hobgoblins are the big, ill-tempered, stupid ones that con-
stitute the shock troops of a goblin-kin army. They’re tough,
strong, and – despite major psychological drawbacks – danger-
ously strong-willed and alert. They also have boar-like tusks,
and like to bite.
Work out a hobgoblin’s height and weight as if his ST were
three levels higher. The average hobgoblin (ST 12) is as big as
a ST 15 human: 6’2”-7’ and 170-270 lbs.
Attribute Modifiers: ST+2 [20]; IQ-2 [-40]; HT+1 [10].
Secondary Characteristic Modifiers: HP+3 [6]; Will+2 [10];
Per+2 [10].
Advantages: Infravision [10]; Rapid Healing [5]; Resistant to
Metabolic Hazards (+3) [10]; Teeth (Fangs) [2].
Disadvantages: Appearance (Ugly) [-8]; Bad Temper (12) [-10];
Social Stigma (Savage) [-10].