Dungeons and Dragons Lore: Hobgoblin

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#baldursgate3 #dungeonsanddragons #goblin

[@AJPickett]

Just edited the old Hobgoblin video to remove the copyright claimed music, otherwise this is basically the same video (art work is swapped around a bit)

[@coldrage20t8]

hobgoblins are a weird mix of the worst of the hordes of the steppe and samurai. It's a fascinating and harsh cultures for D&D and open up a lot of role play for DMs

[@nova997]

"They never pierce or scar their nose" while showing a pic with the nose pierced LOL

[@martinfiedler4317]

Doubtlessly, that picture is despicable elf-propaganda. They will pay for it... 🤬

[@tatsusama3192]

3:18 Hobgoblin The Hun Ps. I think this original video was one of the first ever I've watched of yours. You've grown quite a bit in confidence, ability, and production. Well done, Professor Pickett

[@AJPickett]

Yeah even in a relatively short amount of time, the contrast between this video and a recent one is quite stark.

[@tatsusama3192]

@@AJPickett - golf clap -

[@AJPickett]

@@tatsusama3192 Was not actually making a pun there, but I'll take it. :)

[@jh1859]

In my Pathfinder campaign the mayor of Sandpoint, Deverin, adopted a hobgoblin-ling, since she was childless and unwed. She was determined to raise it up into human, mainstream society as an example how to dispel stereotypes about infernal creatures and bring everlasting peace to a cruel world. Unfortunately, it did not end well as the coddled youth could not keep a tutor at the Turandarok Academy; there was a mysterious death pool of cats and dogs in the area; and when the adolescent began to grow its tusks its last specialist social worker from Magnimar had their ear mostly chewed off in an agonizing few minutes. Needless to say, she didn't receive another term in her appointment as mayor of Sandpoint... Aw, never mind.

[@shakescan]

I've had a goal for a long time. Run a dwarf slaver that buys goblins and helps them build a citadel for themselves (indentured servitude, sets them free. To raid). Looked for a long time for a partner for the black dwarf. Came up with a hobgoblin assassin. Seamless. Thanks for covering a favorite. Definitely giving mine a sling for missiles. Perhaps an axe. Longbow would be cool though. Dwarf definitely uses crossbow on the "slave" wagon (free goblins).

[@shakescan]

Assassin, scout, spy. Perfect. I know it's wrong but i want my hobgoblin to be a bit neutral. Definitely inclined to raid, a little mellow.

[@Wolfphototech]

*Hobgoblin :Don't be a fool .* *We have the high ground , fragile Elves .*

[@UriahNeveah]

We have had a Hobgoblin in our party for the last year and it has been a lot of fun. The game started as a purely mechanical one-shot in an arena and it felt good enough that everyone was up for a longer game with the same characters. One of those was the Hobgoblin transitioning out of his old culture for a his father being too soft and sorting out what shame and honor should look like, what does it mean to save face now, and if it is possible to trust others. Saving face has been a wonderful trait to walk out, for example, given good story beats saving face has expanded beyond party members to others allies or specific enemies. One of my favorite moments was when they were forced to get out of the way of twenty or so Tlincalli. The wizard was saying what they were saying and commented that they had called them all cowards for fleeing. Then, I realized I may have tpk’d the group by challenging that honor. Nope, the Hobgoblin responded, “They don’t know that I understand them,” and continued up the cliff.

[@StevoM08]

Screw what the SCAG says. I think the hobgoblins would have bladesong except it would be like Mongolian throat singing.

[@AmigoRoberto]

This. This is good

[@Nildread]

This makes me think of a horde of hobgoblins. A few big ones step forward to fight the party and the rest surround them throat singing, chanting, clanging their armour and weapons. As a group buff type thing or where the horde could effectively be giving the ones fighting the party effects similar to bladesong but without the ones fighting having to keep it up. But yeah, generally I like giving bladesong to other races where it seems interesting. You could even go at it from a, the battle is the song type angle. I also like working bards into things in this way. Or group rage. Like "kill the guy who is buffing everyone else" type thing.

[@thedarkmaster4747]

I second THIS^, this is perfect.

[@tatsusama3192]

This would be a great monster to really test your tables tactics. Most campaigns I've watched don't have very good/practical battle tactics. Having a band of Hobgoblins with archers in the back focusing on healers or magic users while the heavies divide and single out one person at a time would be brutal

[@almitrahopkins1873]

Five goblins & three wolves can wipe a 5th level party. If hobgoblins can't, you have a problem.

[@crazyscotsman9327]

I've done that where the Hobgoblins had taken a village, they used narrow passageways to have two or three shield wall and push the adventurers back while Archers shot them from elevated positions.

[@dbensdrawinvids8390]

Submitted for your consideration: hobgoblin pirates.

[@AmigoRoberto]

I run a pirate game. Could you brainstorm how you see the captain for me and I'll put him in the campaign with his own fleet? Please? :)

[@dbensdrawinvids8390]

@@AmigoRoberto I'm running my own pirate game. I'll most likely put him together for my own purposes.

[@robomonkey1018]

I see hobgoblin pirates as more like Vikings. Organized and militaristic reavers and raiders.

[@johntheherbalistg8756]

@@AmigoRoberto Exactly the way you'd see a hobgoblin general, except he raids the waves instead of the plains

[@AmigoRoberto]

@@johntheherbalistg8756 that crew is long dead. Was a fun arc though. Used Volos guide and built a pretty sweet 3 ship fleet

[@timothymaddux9018]

"A mix between Vulcans and Klingons." So... Romulans?"

[@AJPickett]

Yeah, pretty much

[@freman007]

Hobgoblin Armorer Artificer. The Hobgoblin has entered the MCU.

[@sagesheahan6732]

🤔 Look up Tulok the Barbarian's video on how to make Iron Man in D&d, and how to make War Machine in D&D. Switch human variant out for hobgoblin. That's, actually an interesting build. 🤔 Full plate armor flying Gunner wizard... Take that, DM. 😂

[@wagz781]

I personally tended to see hobgoblin culture as something similar to the samurai if they didn't have the peasant class to bully for resources. Little more than glorified orks from the outside, but if any legion actually figured out the idea of herding or at least interrogated enough shepherds to figure out what their job actually was beyond staring at sheep and occasionally giving them buzz cuts, they'd likely be able to set down roots and grow to be something akin to a malignant mass upon an empire. Chickens and hogs in particular would likely be quite popular among such settlements. Chickens produce food everyday, and an egg has enough nutrition in it to make for a solid, quick meal. Plus the chickens themselves breed extremely quickly which make maintaining their numbers for a carnivorous society quite simple. Hogs on the other hand can just be... released basically so they wouldn't even have to know much about herding to keep them. They can breed rather quickly compared to sheep and cattle, produce quite tasty and voluminous amounts of meat, and can even be converted into beasts of war that don't have to compete for food with the hobgoblins themselves. Imagine an armored boar with reinforced tusks, multiply that by about five hundred and you've got cannon fodder and an after-battle snack sorted.

[@That80sGuy1972]

Great video AJ. I add one little nugget to explain why Hobgoblins don't overrun other "man-sized" races in sheer number... they are superior in their particular jobs. I have it so their "hooking up", even copulation is loveless and violent to the point there is a good chance one of the couple dies in the process. I got the idea from some critters could die in mating, like ferrets, preying mantises, many spiders, etc. And, no, I don't mean the rough foreplay that Star Trek's Klingons do... I mean it's a brutal, sadistic and bloody fight where death can happen.

[@That80sGuy1972]

@Night and Day I know what you mean but that only applies when a Hobgoblin does it outside of its species, which they don't generally do. Both sexes do it and if one is not into doing that, it ends for the one trying to make it happen rather badly as the one not wanting to "hook up" is more focused on doing damage. More like dangerously mating critters than human predators of the type you are thinking of, my friend.

[@willynthepoorboys2]

So always remember to beat the whelps and they will grow into useful, well disciplined warriors, ready to protect the tribe at any cost.

[@Greenscyth22]

I've never heard of a nice Hobgoblin, and I can't imagine what one would even act like. Perhaps a Hobgoblin Bounty Hunter or Mercenary could garner a modicum of respect among it's competitors or teammates, but never favor as they are too narrow-minded and un-trusting of anybody else besides themselves. Even if a Hobgoblin was redeemed and had it's alignment changed I'm assuming they would still be just as paranoid and stuffy.

[@jacobfreeman5444]

I would imagine a "nice" hobgoblin as one from a tribe who became mercenaries to some lord. Neutral instead of evil. Still obnoxiously lawful but are willing to not murder or enslave someone who is not a threat.

[@Nildread]

I feel like they'd make interesting master artisans, but a pain in the ass to deal with because they'd be extremely untrusting. A blacksmith that makes swords that are sung about, but they refuse to make any for anyone. Or mentor types, something like "since you managed to spare the hobgoblin mercenary that was sent to kill you's life and somehow gained their trust. They teach the ways of battle, becoming a battle master instead of a simple fighter"

[@jacobfreeman5444]

@@Nildread Not given to mixing with outsiders but noted for their high competency. Either you are part of the accepted few or you are not. Winning their favor would be seen as a high honor given how reserved they are. Maybe the best warriors somehow had some time under their tutelage.

[@smuggrog9821]

Its kind of crazy to think that the one thing stopping Hobgoblins from completely dominating Faerun is thier infighting. If we just compare Hobgoblins to humans, Hobgoblins are tougher, more cunning, mature faster, and are more ruthless then humans and humans can be pretty damn ruthless. Combine that with thier extremely martial culture and you have race that is built for war and conquest, its a blessing for everyone else in Fearun that a warlord hasn't united all the Hobgoblin tribes yet. Though I am definitely gonna make that a thing in my campaign world now, a Hobgoblin empire and how it would change thier society is very interesting scenario to explore.

[@somerandomschmuck2547]

That honestly sounds pretty awesome

[@VikingMale]

Lawful Evil…. Fighter/Monk….

[@StephenLawson]

Same thing with the Demons. Infighting is always the thorn in evil's paw.

[@pauljinkerson6359]

@@StephenLawson this is the truest thing ever said in this comment section. Bravo

[@pugking4518]

I will be making a PC who has this as her long time goal she wants to make the elves pay for wiping out her clan her hatred is so bad that she become a bladesinger not only to use the elves discipline against them but as away to remind her of what the elves have done too her

[@AdamAtYourService]

I love goblinoids of all kinds and plan on making a campaign that centers in a Hobgoblin Kingdom. Thanks for the upload!

[@Nildread]

Have you checked out Nord games' revenge of the horde book?

[@johntheherbalistg8756]

I'm thinking if featuring goblins very heavily in my next game, as well

[@AdamAtYourService]

@@Nildread no, what's that about?

[@AmigoRoberto]

If you can get your hands on it, Lost Mine of Phandelver from the 5e starter set box is really good. Spoiler for module*** One of the primary antagonist factions is a gobliniod horde, Clan Cragmaw, and if you wanted A) a good lvl 1 start into a hobgoblin heavy game or B) a good read for inspiration I highly recommend

[@AdamAtYourService]

@@AmigoRoberto I played that before, but all the goblinoids we encountered were basic mooks. Maybe it was the DM or maybe we missed more intense goblin interaction. I don't know.

[@frankb3347]

I tend to think of Hobgoblins as being as a lot like the Spartans.

[@AJPickett]

Very much so

[@brianc9374]

I ran a campaign where the goblins had an empire. The hobgoblins were hereditary elites, while goblins were the commoners

[@JohannesJ7539]

Makes a lot a sense, spartan society had deeply rooted slavery. 4/5 of the population were slaves, that's also why they were so militaristic, to easily defeat slave revolts.

[@commanderblackheart5856]

m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKe8i4WpoLOJadk

[@seanmcfadden3712]

Just thought I'd share my idea for a Hobgoblin player character. Basically, I'm thinking an evil aligned paladin oath of conquest or oath breaker. Personality is essentially the Team Four Star version of Vegeta from Dragon Ball Z Abridged. "I am Sharngeta, prince of all hobgoblins! F*** you!"

[@kylethomas9130]

"Neat!"

[@joedominguez8064]

The description of the hobgoblin in the bar sounds a lot like me in a bar 😂 but when you’ve been in two different gun point robberies in your life you start to sit facing all the entrances

[@ryderma1]

I know this was just a re-upload, but damn if I didnt get sucked in and listen to the whole thing again😁 WOTC would do good to buy your video scripts for their monster manuals

[@Werebat]

Love the throat singing at the start. The first time I heard The Hu’s “Wolf Totem” and read the translated lyrics, I was amazed how much it reminded me of the hobgoblins of Eberron; you can even leave almost all of the lyrics as is and the song still fits.

[@Nildread]

Are goblinoids that become druids herbgoblins?

[@Ariemius]

They are now good sir.

[@AmigoRoberto]

Ermergerd herbgerblins

[@anthonyromasco3528]

Nope. Goblin druids are Green Goblins, in desperate war with the Spider Men!

[@Nildread]

@@anthonyromasco3528 There's been a goblin spotted in a city, the citizens are frightened, children have been going missing. But when the PCs track this goblin down, they start to unravel the strange web that has become of the situation. The goblin has been hunting an ettercap. This ettercap is the true culprit behind the missing children. Thus begins the first LVL adventure "in the chill of the night" in this city children can be heard eerily chanting "Spiderman..... Spiderman.....does whatever...... a spider can....Spins.... a web..... any... size... catches thieves..... just... like flies...Look out.. here comes... the Spiderman..."

[@blacktemplarbrotherlucius1935]

I often like to think of hobgoblins as the best of goblins an orcs. I like to put hobgoblins as shock troopers or as Leading groups of goblins to keep them in line, while orcs barrel down the middle into combat. I've trained my party so well (mostly trauma) that if a goblin warband looks too organised with frequent raids with no survivors, that these only a 2 to 1 goblin advantage, too many "smart" goblin Spellcasters and/or these 1 extra trap behine the last one. That means these a a good number of Hobgoblins an that they are now priority targets over the War-Chieftain. A War-Chieftan an only keep a goblin army in line is if he has orcs or hobgoblins.

[@brochogan3579]

You get another like and full view from me brother. Damn you, KZbin with your ability to bring us beautiful content but turn around and ban half of it!

[@thedarkmaster4747]

Then they start baning videos that report on the c*****virus, then you just know what kind of agenda this site has. Artists are amazing, those who exploit them however...

[@kylethomas9130]

I remember watching the original release, made we want to come up with a Hobgoblin build. Still haven't made it optimized for 5e, but it's one of my favorite character concepts.

[@craykard8325]

Hobgoblins, the brains of the operation. Our DM brought them to bare in our campaign.

[@fritzvoss5263]

01:41 at night and i have to Work tomorrow, oh fudge IT better watch aj

[@macguyverbond7480]

I’m glad you were able to reupload it, started an adventure yesterday with a solo monk player running into a dwarf and hobgoblin mercenary pair and going out of his way to try and impress them clearing out a band of orc raiders. Serves as great inspiration for my portrayal of the suspicious, tooth-grindingly begrudging Hobgoblin.

[@TheHornedKing]

Dammit, I loved that song.

[@CreatorCade]

A goblin with the strength and cunning of an orc is a fierce enemy indeed.

[@destonlee2838]

Approaching combat tactically, in formationlike US rules nfl footballers, or roman legionaries in fact. Powerful shock troops. You always give such excellent holes for my rabbit and squirrel mind to explore! Love it I've watched this one half a dozen times in the last year. Thank you. Worth every penny I am happy to say, so glad to be on your Patreon!

[@AJPickett]

Much appreciated thank you!

[@anthonyromasco3528]

Chiming in again with more ideas for jaded DMs. There's a pre-existing setting that not only lends itself well to D&D, but hobgoblins and steampunk as well. Thundar the Barbarian. A barbarian who became a paladin. A sorceress/sage well versed in ancient culture and technology And an orc-like warrior. All wandering a world recovering from a cosmic catastrophe. Wizards wielding both magic AND ancient technology. You can use Gamma World for creature creation tips. I ran this one in Tampa in 1987 My friends loved it

[@anthonyromasco3528]

Here's the opening from the old cartoon series kzbin.info/www/bejne/anqck5-Ohqp7r9k

[@Strix2031]

Decided to research on hobgoblins due to The Hobgoblin Command coming out in Anbennar. Really good video.

[@zeburancher9480]

too bad you had to do this, i really liked the song. hopefully you get something from the reupload, more views and comments. thanks for sharing.

[@UNSCMarine117]

Hobgoblins, They sound like a bunch of Nobgoblins if you ask me.

[@Scianta]

Myself, I'd lean a little harder on Terran lore in deciding evolution of Hobgoblins for my own campaign. Goblin to my ear sounds like an AngloCeltic hybrid word (linn being a pond or marsh and gobb being mouth or the spittle that comes from it). Goblins were suggested to be a marsh or swamp spirit so I thought perhaps that they started small but scarey demi-elemental that transitted to tall and lanky as they spread into feld, desert and prairie landscapes.

[@JockenN]

Making them spirits is a bit more in line with the Scandinavian folklore, in which they exist. The "Hob" in hobgoblin is also an old way of saying "elf", so calling them an "elf-goblin" and having them work as sort of the elves of your fantasy setting is quite possible too, that's what they do in the Eberron setting.

[@Freshpickedrainbows]

I like the idea of goblins stemming originally from the the Faewild, as spirits as you say. Perhaps hobgoblins were the mixing of these spirits and elves, again as stated. It would just be so damn funny if they didn't know that elves were actually in their lineage. Which actually connects with Tolkien's creation of goblins, as elves corrupted by Morgoth.

[@Scianta]

Also lends them to interesting insults... Dwverge seeing a Goblin walk into a bar... ah look there Pond Spittle slug slithering up to soil our stay

[@CatMandiano]

A hobgoblin PC sounds like a fun character to play

[@VarangianGuard13]

They really are. Some great play can be had when you roll a Hobgoblin.

[@kordelshorgar122]

A Shame that the song was removed but well ay least the video still exists

[@Spookytherin]

Love this channel

[@OMentertainment]

Somewhere between Vulcans and Klingons... so Romulans?

[@thedarkmaster4747]

More like the kazon, or ugh... Those sleeper soldier guys from voyger, i can't remember the name, they've got cobra necks, they're like hobgoblins.

[@antoinehicks2681]

BG3 mod allows me to play a hobgoblin. I am currently playing a paladin hobgoblin with green skin and black hair. He looks like a tall version of goblin.

[@matthewfritz4629]

Man i watched that opening to the original a 100 times.

[@Etticos.]

Say a baby hobgoblin was adopted by a loving family and raised properly with love, would the hobgoblin function like a normal human raised under those circumstances? The way you described their process of raising children to be equivalent to human child abuse makes me wonder how a human raised hobgoblin would turn out.

[@AJPickett]

Yeah, pretty much

[@sylph4252]

I'd assume a slight predisposition to lawfulness and evil, since those things seem at least partially genetic in dnd, but generally speaking the upbringing is the most important part

[@Vampirith]

Seems like that would turn them into 6'6" dwarf... lol

[@pelijer]

This must be my favorite of your vids. I've played it plenty of times - praise Maglubiyet. I want hobgoblins to get properly featured in a big campaign, with disciplined war mages blasting platoons and scouts conversing with their worg mounts - just so much potential for cool and scary baddies poised to take over

[@wyrmboi6172]

I always viewed the Hobgoblins as the true successor to Tolkien's orcs. Industrious, merciless, cruel, belligerent, and organized. If the goblins are the basic snaga orcs, then hobgoblins are the Uruks and Uruk-Hai, In the end, they know that they are merely the slaves of the Dark Lords and the soldiers of their wars.

[@wailandkarisma4279]

Hobgoblins really needs to be a playable character race. And kobolds ofc.

[@corvifred]

Wailand Karisma they both are, Volos guide to monsters

[@stevedd9725]

Anything is playable. Any good DM can fit it in

[@pineappleguy7495]

I hope to hear the song again!

[@AlphaCocoAudio]

Great as always can you do one on changelings?

[@davidfletcher6703]

I actually would get in an argument with a Hobgoblin about whose society is more flawed, i might get myself killed, but that would prove my point about them killing and pillaging, sooner or later they will bite off more than they can chew by attacking someone bigger than them and they will get wiped out

[@StevenNosferatu]

one thing I have always wondered about is why so many races that seem to have no common ancestry in the dungeons & dragons universe scene to all share a common alphabet of dwarven in their languages I was always wondering if this was ever explained,

[@abdullahalghanimi379]

Again, the naming reminds me of the Nietzschean race from the Andromeda TV show. Their names include their Primary Name, their Clan Name, their mother's name, their father's name, and finally, the Pride Affiliation. For example; Charlemagne Khmer, out of Elssbett by Saladin, of Atreus Pride. As you can see, lienage is important to them, and they see themselves as lions amongst sheep, hence their great clan naming is related to lion prides.

[@gekolvr0734]

(Comment for algorithm purposes)

[@digunder14]

sounds like a reflavored bugbear would allow a person to play as a bloodchaser

[@alanschaub147]

I want to make a Hobgoblin slaver PC who worships Khurgorbaeyag and uses a whip as his main weapon! What do you think?

[@AJPickett]

I approve

[@dutch1641]

best race

[@davidfletcher6703]

I could see a group of Hobgoblins doing something like the Haka to prepare themselves for battle

[@MacLord]

Spartans on steroids.

[@reesethenorthernshaman1851]

Hi Aj can you do a lore video on leonin since they are going to be playable. When the mythic odyssey of Theros book is coming in June. I loved your Loxodon video.☺️

[@kendrickrochelanzot2053]

One of my favorite vids

[@ddrew1973]

Damn, you had to axe the kick ass opening intro on the original video?

[@ActionNerdGo]

This description of hobgoblin society actually reminds me of the Clans from BattleTech. Like its weirdly similar. Minus the whole genetic manipulation concept.

[@pugking4518]

Goblins are not really my thing but Hobgoblins hit the sweet spot for me

[@brightglory5734]

Well I just rewatched this the other day but I compulsively click on anything labeled TMG. Only critique would be not using a different thumbnail but I guess that's keeping it honest.

[@codydeneys217]

Anyone else think the intro sounded like a lantern oath from dc

[@AJPickett]

It does!

[@trajanfidelis]

Hobgoblins and goblins should switch names

[@cavareenvius7886]

No. Hobgoblins were always a upgrade from normal Goblins. We don't need the same confusion we got from Yuan-Ti Pure Bloods.

[@jgr7487]

@@cavareenvius7886 Hobgoblin means "house goblin". in European folklore, these guys were like Brownies & house elfs

[@blaed6649]

It's back, yay!

[@lordpatience5772]

yes another vid thank you man

[@zaelzvandera3799]

So I said i would do an Age of Worms campaign, and I will, but while fleshing out the sandbox I was comming across a lot of goblinoid focused modules so I reworked them into a prelude to Red Hand of Doom. Around lvl 6 red hand starts but before that smaller tribes are being recruited and the PCs learn of a looming threat if the investigate.

[@jonathanschneider9425]

I really enjoyed the poem at the start!

[@joshchandler13]

Bane is my favorite FR god. 🤘🏼

[@pugking4518]

Thanks for the video Hobgoblins has become my new favourite race I thought they was like Goblins which is why I did not take a deeper look into Hobgoblins so your video has changed my opinion on them but I think Mordenkainen Presents Monsters of the Multiverse has set Hobgoblins back a bit the art they used for this race did not help them they come off as more silly than serious I will be playing as the updated Hobgoblin but I will be playing as a serious Hobgoblin not a goofy one you see in Mordenkainen Presents Monsters of the Multiverse I think even Maglubiyet would be wondering what has Wizards of the Coast done to his Hobgoblins? just by looking at the art they used for them in Mordenkainen Presents Monsters of the Multiverse

[@chriscalvin5083]

good video AJ

[@snforde4603]

Say AJ, any thoughts on the new lore for goblinoids, that they originated in the feywild before their pantheons were slaughtered by Maglubiyet and were consolidated under the racial banner of goblinoids.

[@AJPickett]

I think it is fine, I am not so keen on presenting that option as the default for player character goblinoids, but it certainly tracks with the mythology and folklore origin of Goblins in the literature.

[@zmishiymishi5349]

Material version of bearded devil

[@AJPickett]

Pretty much, yes.

[@chrismoore8177]

Shit, I'm a hobgoblin

[@Im-Not-a-Dog]

The legion is pleased.

[@ivory867]

Hobgoblin vs orc?

[@davidfletcher6703]

HEY HOBGOBLIN!!!, YOU'RE JUST THE TWISTED SPAWN OF AN ELF!!!!

[@AJPickett]

*Them's big fight'en words for an Overgrow'd Hobbit* (sound of weapons being drawn)

[@davidfletcher6703]

@@AJPickett, 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@davidfletcher6703]

@@AJPickett, person disappeared, in walks a 10 foot tall Warforged Juggernaut clad in black armor with red trim and a massive +1 war mallet of bashing, the hammer hums and reverberates with a strange energy, and a large shield that shimmers with a faint light

[@AJPickett]

@@davidfletcher6703 (Hobgoblin neatly salutes) *You see where them weakling humans went sir?*

[@davidfletcher6703]

@@AJPickett, the human was a holographic image projected by the Juggernaut using a projection device, before the hobgoblin can react, the Juggernaut swings his hammer sending the hobgoblin flying like a baseball player hitting a grand slam with a mighty klank like the sound of Mjolnir striking an opponent from the Marvel movies, the hobgoblin hits the ground with a mighty crash all sprawled out with his cuirass caved in

[@FiggityJones]

If Hobgoblins are the main Goblin race, why aren’t they just called Goblins? 🤔 I feel like Hobgoblins and Goblins should really swap names

[@AJPickett]

Same reason there is high elves, eladrin, green elves, etc

[@Scianta]

This lack of love and joy in their society must play merry hob on the psyche of the atypical good Hobgoblin player character

[@OliverCovfefe]

Yes, this is why I played the ASCENDED neutral hob

[@NovaRuner]

They are tall in size so unfortunately we can’t call them “nasty, brutish, and short” although 2 out of 3 ain’t bad. Can I ask if they were named after Thomas Hobbes? Probably not but can’t hurt to ask. Thanks for the video AJ.

[@AJPickett]

They were not.

[@krispalermo8133]

The pronounce of .. hobgoblin .. was a slur the English had against the Wales., hench the terrain which is said to the favorite environment of hobgoblins matches Wales. During JRR Tolkien younger years of WW I, orc was still used by Germans to refer to their own back country rural wood folk that pick bully fights at any chance they got.

[@NovaRuner]

@@krispalermo8133 thanks for explaining some of these word origins. It’s much appreciated. So bottom line these terms come from real world insults and put downs for particular groups of people. Wow learn something new every day.

[@AJPickett]

It does pay to check the historic origin of these 'translations from old languages" and here I get to point the finger at Shakespear, that hack... he is notorious for his grabbing of Welsh words and slapping bits of inaccurate folklore, for example, there was no such thing as Mab, that is entirely his invention. So, take these factoids about monster name origins in "folklore" with a large grain of salt, and always check your sources before you start passing it on as fact on the internet ... lest you go running into some annoying bastard like me. ;)

[@almitrahopkins1873]

@@AJPickett Mab is one of the three aspects of the Morrigan. It’s the one closest to Rhiannon, as I recall.

[@kullinnmeilleur-finn5734]

Love the music you put in the intro of a lot of these

[@snforde4603]

Say AJ, any thoughts on the Verdan? You know the race of psionic goblinoids released in Acquisitions Incorporated? Personally, I like the idea of them being a race in the underdark who aren’t overwhelmingly evil. I imagine they would be a very mercantile people who act as the middle-goblins for the various underdark races.

[@AJPickett]

Oh they don't live in the Underdark, they all migrated to the surface and do their best to stay the hell away from other goblinoids, the innate mutagenic qualities of the Verdan hold HUGE potential for the warped arcanists of the Hobgoblin armies, if they got their hands on some Verdan it could have dire consequences indeed. As it is, they are a new race, curious and still exploring the world, they are clearly not goblins any more, most who encounter them think they are some form of wild elf, perhaps fey, but certainly not a savage species and no threat to them.

[@tristanchristiansen9054]

I remember a psionic goblin called blue i think . They were smart dessert dwellers

[@theburndome9396]

That was so fantastic man.

[@chrisshumpert9422]

So in my friend group all goblinoids have an Australian accent. Currently I’m playing as a Hobgoblin Wildfire Druid, named Mevlar the Vengeful

[@AJPickett]

Oh yeah! Old Mevvy the grumpy, stole all me scrumpy the cheeky sod.

[@trajanfidelis]

@@AJPickett u 'avin urself a giggle m8?

[@pistolhero1973]

Where does the poem at the begining comes from please ?

[@AJPickett]

Dragon Magazine

[@almitrahopkins1873]

Their language is shared with goblins & bugbears, so pronounce each vowel individually to create a more growling sound from the smaller and larger goblinoids. Nomog-Gaenya (ga en eea) I posted something like 10,000 posts on the old WotC boards for the Dhakaani in the third edition under the name of Goblin_pride along with a fellow named Darth Syntax. His work on the language used Russian and Klingon as a base with some of Tolkien's Sindarin (I think). That makes names in Eberron interesting: Darguun (Dar Gu un) Volar Draal (Vo lar Dra al) Droaam (Dro ah am)

[@AJPickett]

Eberron Goblinoids have a much more refined language than those of Faerun.

[@almitrahopkins1873]

@@AJPickett In terms of philosophy, yes. But it terms of the characteristics, they should be quite similar. The Dhakaani remnants speak the same language as the regular goblinoids, they just have a greater vocabulary. They have an identical physiology, so the sounds they can make would be identical.

[@AJPickett]

@@almitrahopkins1873 The Eberron goblinoids have a full vocabulary, those of Toril, not so much, and containing a lot of other words from Orc and Giant cultures.

[@almitrahopkins1873]

@@AJPickett Ah, but the orcs of Eberron originated in Droaam, so the language would include some loan words. I'm not certain about the giants. It could be argued that the orc language is different as well, but it would also likely be based on the sounds that are physically comfortable for them to make.

[@AJPickett]

@@almitrahopkins1873 oh no argument there. You should put a PDF up on DrivethruRPG. I'd love to see your work. 🙂

[@jameslightfoot1872]

I always compare hobgoblins to Klingons from Star Trek. The highly regimented warrior culture with a somewhat monstrous but noble bearing.

[@almitrahopkins1873]

@Still Life That’s why I made Eberron Dhakaani goblinoids more Japanese in flavor. It just fit.

[@thashadowspawn]

That awesome moment when my brotha starts speaking the the Hobgolin language! :D AWESOME!!!!

[@bjarnivalur6330]

Fun little fact: according to the letters from J. R. R. Tolkien, goblins, orcs, uruk, dark elf, and possibly some other creature I don't remember were originally the same thing, just that different races/cultures would use different words to refer to them.

[@adrenalineunlimited]

Next to a capacitated ally?

[@AlexanderAudiobooks]

Q: What do hobgoblins look like? Artist 1: basically orcs but fancier Artist 2: swole goblins with samurai armor! Artist 3: Evil Thundercats? Artist 4: Just gorillas

[@somethang9264]

i prefer the swole goblins myself

[@vortexvulture7997]

@@somethang9264 isn't that just orcs?

[@jacobfreeman5444]

I have been thinking aboit this and I think what suits them is being mercenaries. You either but them off and throw them at a war or they ravage the countryside. They have a reputation of being some of the meanest and most disciplined fighters around so their services are always in demand. And best of all they conduct strategic raiding on those who are not employing them so as to encourage future employment. Brutal but lawful they accept no deviations from their laws within their territory but couldn't care less what you do if you do follow the laws. Just eagle eyed for any peacebreaking. Basically both at war with everyone and no one. It is common knowledge the only way to stop their raids is to buy them off.

[@AlternityGM]

They way I understand Hobgoblins according to Volo’s Guide (5e) is that they are soldiers. They have ranks and functions within their band. They’re not raiders but conquerors & invaders.

[@AJPickett]

Correct

[@paulh3892]

EPIC intro! These guys are badasses. I’m very excited to try out a Fey Hobgoblin to have mechanics that back up the lore of the race: TEAMWORK! 🤘

[@Draythur]

they never pierce their nose - shows image of a hobgoblin with a nose ring...

[@AJPickett]

it was a clip on.

[@mikegould6590]

The Hobgoblins of my homebrew world are an organized horse culture. The Red Sun Khanate controls a vast swath. They have a unique nomenclature based on a play on a mix of Asian cultures. For example, one particular Hobgoblin NPC of note is "Taijhaungbuyet". (Tie-zhong-buy-yet). Her name means "iron boot", mixed with the suffix "buyet". The suffix is a play on the Sihk faith, where the surname Singh is used. So therefore her name means "iron boot, follower of Magubliyet". The Hobgoblins of Tholl are red skinned, with yellow cat like eyes, an almost cat like nose (without the snoot). Their society is a mix of Mongolian Empire mixed with Bushido-like codes. They wield a long dao (sword) with a serrated edge on the back. The curved edge is for opponents. The serrated edge is for ritual suicide. Since I've removed alignment from my game, it makes all species, not just Hobgoblins, deeper and more flexible. Because of that, I can remember on particular and spectacular game where one of my players married Taijhaungbuyet. At the end of the ceremony, their palm are tied together around a dagger. When both parties say "I belong to you", the dagger is pulled, and they are considered mated once their blood touches each other. In Hobgoblin, there is no word for "love", so they do not say "I love you". They say "I belong to you". Having a human, and his mercenary company by extension, tied into a Hobgoblin Khanate was a helluva story hook. That lead to yet another pinnacle where a civil war started within the Khanate, and no one knew which side Taijhaungbuyet would fall on. She held her hand out to her husband, palm up to show the scar. "I belong to you", she said. The table cheered.

[@mikegould6590]

Also, no tusks. All their teeth are pointed...like a shark.