Hobgoblins are a larger, stronger, smarter, and more menacing form of goblinoids than goblins, but not as powerful as bugbears. It is believed they may have created the latter two races.6 1 Psychology 2 Culture 3 Religion and magic 4 Appendix 4.1 Appearances 4.2 Further Reading 4.3 External Links 4.4 References 4.5 Connections By and large hobgoblins, like their kin, are considered evil. Kevin just got hired to be the assistant night watchman at an old film vault. Warned to stay out of one mysterious chamber, the rookie guard can't help but satisfy his curiosity and unwittingly unleashes a group of hobgoblins: furry aliens who grant people wishes only to kill them in the process.
Hobgoblin definition is - a mischievous goblin. How to use hobgoblin in a sentence. What's the difference between a goblin and a hobgoblin?
| Hobgoblins | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Medium Humanoid |
| Faction/Affiliation | Bilgewater Cartel (Horde), Steamwheedle Cartel, Venture Company |
| Racial capital | |
| Racial leader(s) |
|
| Homeworld | |
| Area(s) | Undermine, Kezan, Azshara, Stonetalon Mountains, Westfall, Tanaris, Lost Isles, Krasarang Wilds |
| Language(s) | |
- “Ever seen a hobgoblin? They're another vile goblin creation. Take a goblin, make it even uglier, fatter, bigger and stupider and you have a hobgoblin. Add to all of that a nasty mean streak and we've got a problem.”
- — Scout Mistress Yvonia[1]
Hobgoblins, sometimes known simply as brutes,[2]oafs, or mooks,[3] are large, mutated goblins most commonly found guarding goblin settlements, acting as bodyguards or even serving as mounts. They were once regular goblins, but have been altered by some foul alchemy to become tough, powerful, and 'dumber than an ogre with a hangover'.[3]
The sweat of hobgoblins is considered acidic.[4] They are shown to be affected by kaja'mite just like normal goblins.[5] According to Sky Admiral Rogers, the Dominance Offensive brought in Heavy Mooks in order to hide behind their bodies during the battles in the Krasarang Wilds.[3]
Hobgoblins made their first appearance in World of Warcraft with the Cataclysm expansion.
- 4In the RPG
Notable
- Auditor Dolp
- Gobber
- Goob
- Hulking Labgoblin
- Innkeeper Dreedle<Marshal Expeditions>
- Jack the Hammer
- Lumbering Oaf
- Meatface
- Mugg
- Riddoh
- Simple Sal<Repairs>
How To Trade With Hobgoblins
Types
- Brute Bodyguard
- Brute Bodyguard
- Brute Enforcer
- Brute Overseer
- Brute Squad
- Compensated Bruiser
- Hamfisted Bruiser<Grizzle's Bodyguard>
- Heavy Mook
- Lumbering Oaf
- Oaf Lackey
- Uncrowned Bruiser
- Vault Guard
- Villa Mook
Notes
- Goblin player characters have a racial ability that summons a [Pack Hobgoblin] (more specifically, Gobber) that allows them to access their bank anywhere.
- Despite their goblin origins, hobgoblins have five fingers on each hand and five toes on each foot. This is probably because hobgoblins currently use the animation skeleton of ogres.
In the RPG
Background
- “Those purple-skinned guys. We call them hobgoblins. They were originally goblins, of course, but now they're bigger, stronger and much stupider. They aren't so good at thinking about things, but they make great shock troops. And we don't have to feel bad about sending them into battle on the front lines, because they have a life expectancy of only three years anyway.”
- — Zovzik[6]
The Alchemists' Union's greatest creations are the dread hobgoblins.[7] Hobgoblins are stupid, brutal troops that goblins created with their mad alchemy. Goblins created hobgoblins by experimenting on their own kind. The alchemically-wrought changes in hobgoblins did more than increase their size and strength and decrease their mental faculties. Perhaps the most well-known fact about them is their short lives. If a hobgoblin lives to his third year, he's ancient. Hobgoblins either don’t realize their lives are pitifully short (which is likely, due to their limited intellect) or they don't care.[8] Hobgoblins can also alter their personal metabolisms, channeling their adrenalin into the muscles that most need it. Their sweat is acidic, and they are capable of bursts of amazing speed that will reduce them to unconscious piles.[8]
One frightening change the alchemy wrought was on hobgoblin emotions and psychology. Hobgoblins are unstable, and their goblin masters find them difficult to control. They have a number of tactics — ranging from the violent to the culinary — to convince hobgoblins to obey, but because of this instability goblins use hobgoblins only rarely. Hobgoblins grunt out phrases in Common and Goblin.[8] When hobgoblins use one of their alchemically-created abilities, they secrete a sticky acid that build up on their skin and eventually becomes coated with this acid. Creatures that touch them or are touched by them are harmed by this acid. If enough of this acid builds up they are capable of shaking themselves like a dog, spraying the acid on nearby creatures. However, this acid is also highly flammable and will burst into flames should the hobgoblin come into contact with fire. The most insane hobgoblins set themselves on fire before entering combat.[9]
Concept art
Artwork in Art of Warcraft seems to describe 'before' and 'after' pictures of goblins turning into hobgoblins:
Concept art by Thammer[10] for Warcraft III
Concept art by Thammer[11] for Warcraft III
Concept art listed as 'Goblins and Hobgoblins Concepts' can be found in Art of World of Warcraft.
Concept art for the Cataclysm expansion when hobgoblin were added in-game:
Early Cataclysm concept art.
Concept art of a rich goblin and his hobgoblin from The Art of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm.
Concept art or a hobgoblin mount from The Art of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm.
Gallery
Hobgoblin in the Lost Isles
A hobgoblin in the TGC
Lumbering Oaf Trading Card
Unpublished Card Art for Mean Streets of Gadgetzan Hearthstone expansion, by Jim Nelson. Titled 'Tough Guy' featuring a hobgoblin with a jackhammer hand.
References
- ^ [28] The Lumbering Oaf Problem
- ^Kezan Socialite quotes
- ^ abc [90 Daily] Hammer to Fall
- ^Acidic Sweat (Wowhead)
- ^ [11] Morale Boost
- ^Lands of Mystery, pg. 75.
- ^Dark Factions, pg. 116
- ^ abcDark Factions, pg. 197
- ^Dark Factions, pg. 198
- ^Sons of the Storm - Concept art
- ^Sons of the Storm - Concept art
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Image credit: Jim Holloway
Hobgoblins are a unique type of low-level foe that are similar to both goblins and orcs. They are usually portrayed as having more military organization than orcs and are larger, smarter, and tougher than their goblin cousins.
Here’s a free hobgoblin generator for 5e Dungeons & Dragons to make the creation of customizable bands of hobgoblins easy and fun!
Customize Your Party of Hobgoblins
Hobgoblins are easy to bring to life when you have clear motivation and a set of details to set them apart from one another:
- Backstory: The Maker’s Forge Foe Generator will create a backstory for your hobgoblins that you can modify as needed to fit into the PC’s current situation. Where did this band of hobgoblins come from? What do they want? And most importantly: how does what the hobgoblins want conflict with what the PCs want?
- A name and vivid description: each hobgoblin should have their own names to be revealed during trade, negotiation, threats, or capture. And every hobgoblin should be unique when you describe it to the player that encounters it. Vivid description is the lifeblood of the roleplaying game. What sets this hobgoblin apart from his fellows? Separate from the band itself, what does this hobgoblin want? And what is it prepared to do to get it?
- Weapons and hit points: hobgoblins are a military race and often have sturdy, useful weapons and armor. Not all hobgoblins have the same hit points either, so when you face them, you can never be sure what it will require to take them down.
- Commander: every hobgoblin band has a leader, and most have a veteran soldier that has earned his rank through skill and aggression. What does this commander want? How does he treat those that follow him?
- Hobgoblins and worgs: hobgoblins often work with giant wolves called worgs, either riding them or fighting alongside them in battle. And often among the ranks are veteran soldiers, much tougher and stronger than their fellows.
- Loot: should the PCs win the day, what gear and valuables might the hobgoblins be carrying? What small hints of further adventure might be lurking among the their possessions?
Witchery How To Trade With Hobgoblins
Foe Generator for 5e D&D and Low Fantasy Gaming
How To Trade With Hobgoblins
So what are you waiting for? Go use the Maker’s Forge Orc Generator to get a jump-start on a party of hobgoblins. It does all the grunt work for you: stats, names, short descriptions, weapons, and HP for each hobgoblins and their worgs, even the loot they’re carrying should your PCs defeat them. All that’s left for you to do is to bring the hobgoblins’ goals into sharp conflict with the PCs and let the sparks fly!