Goblinoid

Goblinoids are a syubtype of humanoid which includes goblins and their relatives. Goblinoids are typically barbaric foes of the various human and demihuman races.

The primary goblinoid races are (in order of increasing physical size and strength) goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears. Later rules expansions and editions include many other variants. 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. The first edition Forgotten Realms Campaign Set said "The Goblin Races include all creatures such as Kobolds, Goblins, Orcs and Hobgoblins. Some sages extend the definition to Ogres, Bugbears, and Half-orcs." Monster Mythology lumped a similar range of creatures together as "goblinoids," but ogres were cataloged with giants. The definition has, since the third edition, been considerably narrowed.

In fifth edition, goblinoid species are noted as "goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears." The later Monster Manual (2024) uses "Fey (Goblinoid)" as the descriptor for goblins, hobgoblnis, bugbears, and their relatives.

Most goblinoids speak Goblin.

Types of goblinoids

Amitok: White-furred arctic hobgoblins.

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

Bhuka: Good-aligned consummate survivors, with many physical adaptations 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.

Goblin: The smallest, most common of the goblinoids.

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

Koalinth: A marine species of hobgoblin, similar to the land dwelling one in many respects, but having gills and able to live in fresh or salt water.

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.

Varag: Faster, stronger and more primitive than typical goblins, these have merely a predatory cunning. They often find work as mercenary scouts and raiders for hobgoblin warbands. They stand about seven feet tall when fighting, but typically move and run on all fours.

Vril: A race bred by drow to act as soldiers. They have violet skin with tiger stripes and can produce and are immune to sonic attacks.

Creative origins

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.

References

Bibliography

• Baker, Richard, Joseph D. Carriker, and Jennifer Clarke-Wilkes. Stormwrack. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2005.
• Baur, Wolfgang, James Jacobs, and George Strayton. Frostburn. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2004.
• Bonny, Ed, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, Skip Williams, and Steve Winter. Monster Manual II. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
• Burlew, Rich, et al. Monster Manual III. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2004.
• Cagle, Eric, Jesse Decker, James Jacobs, Erik Mona, Matt Sernett, Chris Thomasson, and James Wyatt. Fiend Folio Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2003.
• Cordell, Bruce R. Expanded Psionics Handbook. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2004. ISBN 0-7869-3301-1
• Cordell, Bruce, Jennifer Clarke-Wilkes, and JD Wiker. Sandstorm. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2005.
• Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1977.

———. Monster Manual II. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983. ISBN 0-7869-2873-5

• Kestrel, Gwendolyn F.M. Monster Manual IV. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2006.
• Moore, Roger E. "Creature Catalog." Dragon #89. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1984.
• Turnbull, Don, ed. Fiend Folio. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1981.
• Williams, Skip, Jonathan Tweet, and Monte Cook. Monster Manual. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.

Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

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