Goblinoid

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Goblinoids (or greenskins) are a category of humanoid legendary creatures related to the goblin. The term originated in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, in which goblins and related creatures are a staple of random encounters. Goblinoids are typically barbaric foes of the various human and "demihuman" races. Even though goblinoids in modern fantasy fiction are derived from J. R. R. Tolkien's orcs, in his Middle-earth "orc" and "goblin" were names for the same race of creatures.

Contents 1 Occurrences in various fantasy worlds 2 Types of Goblinoids in Dungeons & Dragons 3 In Games Workshop publications 4 References

[edit] Occurrences in various fantasy worlds

• In Dungeons & Dragons, the primary goblinoid races are (in order of increasing physical size and strength) goblins, hobgoblins and bugbears. All three are adept at sneaking around, although hobgoblins are more concerned with fighting. Later rules expansions and editions include many other variants. In the original Dungeons & Dragons game, kobolds were also considered goblinoids, but have been depicted as reptilian humanoids since the release of the first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game. In editions prior to the third, orcs were considered goblinoids as well, but are now considered significant enough to be in a category of their own.

• In the Warhammer Fantasy setting, they are collectively known as greenskins. This term encompasses an entire spectrum of widely varying creatures from the tiny snotlings; through common goblins and the similar night goblins; gnoblars, who serve the Ogre Kingdoms in the east; hobgoblins up to the orcs of all types including the powerfully built Black orcs.

• In Warhammer 40,000 they are called orkoids, and include squigs, snotlings, "gretchin" (equivalent of Warhammer Fantasy goblins), and "orks".

[edit] Types of Goblinoids in Dungeons & Dragons

Amitok: White-furred arctic hobgoblins.

Bakemono: Bakemonos are the "goblins" of the Shadowlands--small, powerfully muscled humanoids with the intelligence and the temperament of vicious attack dogs.

Bhuka: Good-aligned consummate survivors, with many physical adapatations to help them thrive in the deserts.

Blue: A subrace of goblins with an innate knack for psionics. Their bluish skin sets them apart from other goblins.

Bugbear: The biggest and strongest of the goblinoids, bugbears are more aggressive than their smaller relatives.

Dekanter Goblin: Dekanter goblins are vicious, cunning opponents with large, rhinolike horns.

Forestkith Goblin: Nocturnal hunters, also known as kith.

Goblin: The smallest, most common of the goblinoids.

Goblyn: Goblyns are created by curses, powerful evil magic items, and certain spells. The transformation causes them to forget their former lives, turn evil, and become slavishly devoted to their master.

Grodd Goblin: Offshoot goblins trapped in a demiplane who gained civilized ways and built a great city with the help of a dragon.

Hobgoblin: Larger, far more aggressive than goblins, they wage a perpetual war with other humanoids, particularly elves.

Nilbogs: A race of magical goblinoids that are healed by receiving damage and are damaged by healing spells. The name is "goblin" spelled backward, a reference to this reversal of effects. The exact connection between the nilbog and the llort, which shares its power to heal by receiving damage, is unknown.

Norker: Short, gruff goblinoids who possess a thick segmented hide and long canine teeth.

Snow Goblin: Shaggy humanoids with large throat sacs that they use to call to one another over long distances.

Thoul: A strange merging of a hobgoblin, a troll, and a ghoul.

[edit] In Games Workshop publications

• Warhammer Fantasy
  • Orc (Warhammer) covers all the larger including the primitve Savage orcs and the powerful Black Orcs
  • Goblin (Warhammer) includes also the more primitive Forest Goblins of the Southlands and the subterranean Night Goblins.
  • Hobgoblin (Warhammer) - come from the East and wer various tribes live under the overall "Hobgobla Khan"
  • Snotlings are small and barely intelligent versions of Goblins

• Warhammer 40,000
  • Orks
  • Gretchin
  • Snotlings

• Squig - shortened form of "squiggly beast" are related animals and covered under the same topic but not humanoid in appearance.

[edit] References

• Baker, Richard, Joseph D. Carriker, and Jennifer Clarke-Wilkes. Stormwrack (Wizards of the Coast, 2005).

• Baur, Wolfgang, James Jacobs, and George Strayton. Frostburn (Wizards of the Coast, 2004).

• Bonny, Ed, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, Skip Williams, and Steve Winter. Monster Manual II (Wizards of the Coast, 2002).

• Burlew, Rich, et al. Monster Manual III (Wizards of the Coast, 2004).

• Cagle, Eric, Jesse Decker, James Jacobs, Erik Mona, Matt Sernett, Chris Thomasson, and James Wyatt. Fiend Folio (Wizards of the Coast, 2003).

• Cordell, Bruce R (2004). Expanded Psionics Handbook. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, Inc. ISBN 0-7869-3301-1

• Cordell, Bruce, Jennifer Clarke-Wilkes, and JD Wiker. Sandstorm (Wizards of the Coast, 2005).

• Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual (TSR, 1977).
  • Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual II (TSR, 1983). ISBN 0-7869-2873-5

• Kestrel, Gwendolyn F.M. Monster Manual IV (Wizards of the Coast, 2006).

• Moore, Roger E. "Creature Catalog." Dragon #89 (TSR, 1984).

• Reynolds, Sean K, et al. Races of Faerûn. Wizards of the Coast, 2003. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1

• Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual (TSR, 1994).

• Turnbull, Don, ed. Fiend Folio (TSR, 1981).

• Williams, Skip, Jonathan Tweet, and Monte Cook. Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast, 2000).

• Wyatt, James and Rob Heinsoo. Monstrous Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn (Wizards of the Coast, 2001).