Kobolds. KOBOLDS!

[MikolasTheAngry]

I actually really like them. They're spunky. Their DDO incarnations are annoying but let's not go there.

So I want to play a kobold next I can manage it. The game I had been in is getting ended prematurely (DM is moving) and while I haven't found a new group yet, I believe in being prepared! :smallsmile:

I have heard that their best class is Sorcerer, but I'm not really that in to them. I had been playing a druid and was liking the versatility of a prepared caster with full access to his list, but for a kobold I think a cleric or wizard might be fun.

I just like the mental imagery of the character in shaman getup with an assortment of tribal trinkets on his armor and such.

Which do you think they're more suited for though? Wizardry or cleric shenanigans? I don't really see any reason why they'd favor one over the other in terms of stats, but I'm not super book-savvy. Are there PrC's, ACFs, or other similar tweaks and adjustments that would make a kobold a better wizard or cleric?

[Keld Denar]

Nothing Kobold specific without some serious cheese (Dragonwraught + Dragon Psychosis from a Dragon Mag). Most Kobold casty stuff is Sorcerer oriented, such as Sorcerer only spells for Dragonblooded characters.

That said, if you had at LEAST a 13 Str to qualify for Power Attack, a low level Kobold Cleric with a decent Cha score could do some damage with Divine Might on his Claw/Claw/Bite natural attack chassis. You'd need a fair amount of feats to pull it off though, since you'd probably want Multiattack too so your bite doesn't wiff too bad, and if you could squeeze Improved Unarmed Strike in there, you'd have 4 attacks/round that all get +Cha to damage.

[Demonic_Spoon]

Pun-pun is the best class! :smalltongue:

In all seriousness though, sorcerer fits them the best fluffwise, but failing that I'd say cleric over druid or wizard.

[Greenish]

Dragonwrought Great Wyrm Jungle Kobold Spirit Shaman!

[MikolasTheAngry]

That said, if you had at LEAST a 13 Str to qualify for Power Attack, a low level Kobold Cleric with a decent Cha score could do some damage with Divine Might on his Claw/Claw/Bite natural attack chassis. You'd need a fair amount of feats to pull it off though, since you'd probably want Multiattack too so your bite doesn't wiff too bad, and if you could squeeze Improved Unarmed Strike in there, you'd have 4 attacks/round that all get +Cha to damage.

Hmm. They have claws and a bite? I don't see that on the SRD... Unless they have an updated variation somewhere (no books with me at the moment). But man, qualifying for power attack would be awful with that -4 strength.


Pun-pun is the best class! :smalltongue:

In all seriousness though, sorcerer fits them the best fluffwise, but failing that I'd say cleric over druid or wizard.

:smalleek: No Pun-pun! I don't want to introduce myself to a new group as "that guy who broke the campaign before it started." Maybe I will keep a sorcerer in mind, I suppose. The 'toolbox' aspect of wizard is shinier than more spells to me, though. Are there other ways to expand a sorcerer's versatility? Also, wizard bonus feats, spell specialization, better skills due to being int-based... I don't know, I don't see the draw.

Well, aside from fluff. But if that were the only character basis I was using, a kobold wouldn't be adventuring with people anyway. :smalltongue:

[Greenish]

RoD web enhancement (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060420a).

[MikolasTheAngry]

RoD web enhancement (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060420a).

Oh. Yeah, that would do it. I can see why it's attractive, now. Hmm. Food for thought in any case!

[Ursus the Grim]

RoD web enhancement (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060420a).

I just read that.

Mikolas, do not be fooled. +1 Natural Armor is NOT worth losing 2 ability score points.

Greenish is right, methinks. You're going to want to go with Dragonwrought. You do have to go out of your way to fill it with cheese, but its a great way to make Kobolds playable. Spirit Shaman is also a great alternative, and a little bit more balanced than playing a Druid, but with a similar feel.

[ZombiePunch]

I have a Kobold character
He's fun, play him as comic relief but when **** gets serious so does he.
I went Arcane Hierophant. Dragonwrought with wings and breath weapon
Dragon Wildshape and Polymorph(I know probally would have been better to focus on either/or but, eh?) Also fixed him up with a Fleshraker Companion Familiar mount.

Here's the Races of the Dragon web enhancement if you haven't seen it(which you probably have).

Part I (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060127a)

Part II (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060420a)

Have fun with your Kobold. Make them pay for not taking you seriously :smallbiggrin:

*Edit: Not 100% but pretty sure the term is Ninja'd

[MikolasTheAngry]

Oh, I'm will aware +1 NA isn't worth the strength and con penalties. That's not the point! You don't play a wizard because of his remarkable strength and melee fortitude, after all. Like I said, kobolds are lively critters. Them and goblins, really, don't have much going for them in the large scale of things against everything else in the Monster Manual.

I've always liked the thought of turning a band of kobolds into a serious threat with proper application of guerrilla warfare, traps, and hit-and-run despite their remarkably low ... everything. They always just end up being fodder though, and my poor story-telling attention span hampers my ability to run a game and employ them like that.

In any case a kobold just seems fun to play, min-maxing aside. Is Dragonwrought in RoD? I might as well educate myself even if I never use it.

[Teln]

I've always liked the thought of turning a band of kobolds into a serious threat with proper application of guerrilla warfare, traps, and hit-and-run despite their remarkably low ... everything. They always just end up being fodder though, and my poor story-telling attention span hampers my ability to run a game and employ them like that.


Have you heard of Tucker's Kobolds (http://www.tuckerskobolds.com/), by any chance?

[Greenish]

In any case a kobold just seems fun to play, min-maxing aside. Is Dragonwrought in RoD? I might as well educate myself even if I never use it.It is, and RoD's kobold section is pretty decent for that matter.

[ZombiePunch]

Dragonwrought is indeed in Races of the Dragon pg. 100
Not really cheesy unless you start trying to use it for epic feats.

*Edit: Ninja'd again!

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

A Cloistered Cleric (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#clericVariantCloistere dCleric) with the Kobold and Trickery domains makes a suitable replacement for a party Rogue. You could include something in his background about secretly converting to Vecna but still claiming to worship Kurtulmak, to keep those domains and be able to get the Whispered Secrets initiate feat from Races of Destiny, which makes Spot and Listen class skills and gives you access to a few extra spells.

Desert Kobold (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/environmentalRacialVariants.htm#desertKobolds) doesn't take a Con penalty, if you're not going to make a Wis-based character.

A Kobold Sorcerer with the Greater Draconic Rite of Passage gets access to the next level of spells at the same character level as a Wizard. Use Dragonwrought and you can start with Venerable ability score bonuses without taking the penalties to your physical stats. Dragonwrought also allows you to get the Loredrake archtype from Dragons of Eberron, which increases your Sorcerer spellcasting ability by another two levels for no cost or drawback. You could even get the Spellhoarding psychosis from Dragon 313, which trades your Sorcerer spellcasting ability for Wizard casting of equal level, plus it gives you a bunch of other nice benefits for some RP quirks which are actually quite fitting for a Loredrake. At that point you may as well use Battle Sorcerer (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#sorcererVariantBattleS orcerer) along with the Stalwart Sorcerer variant in Complete Mage, it decreases your Sorcerer spells/day and spells known but that all gets traded away for Wizard casting anyway so there's no drawback at all. You could even dip a level of Wizard prior to gaining Spellhoarding to specialize in a school (Conjuration is best), and even get some alternate class features like Abrupt Jaunt (PH2) and Martial Wizard (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#wizard). You'll need the Draconic Rite of Passage, so for its spell-like ability pick Charm Person and you'll still be able to dip a level in Mindbender (CA) even if Enchantment is a prohibited school. Good luck getting any DM to allow all of that, though.

[KoboldCleric]

As a Kobold Cleric myself, allow me to assure you that the path of the faithful is paved with precious stones. Kurtulmak is generous and kind to empower his servents to ensure the golden future of our great race and to rid the multiverse of those jealous and deceitful vermin we call Gnomes; may a steady stream of their blood flow in sacrifice to Kurtulmak's great pleasure.

Truly, though many among our ranks spend their early years cloistered in the sanctuaries of our people and lose their physical and martial prowess, this devotion to knowledge becomes a powerful tool when turned against our enemies. In addition, because of Kurtulmak's great favour, in times of trouble we can depend upon his divine power and the righteous might of the faithful to empower us such that we may stand against all but the most terrible opposition.

Our diligent study of the history of our people and our devotion to the will of Kurtulmak have also allowed us to keep our skill with traps and other specialised skills on par with masters of the trade. As always, when we seek the guidance of the Kurtulmak's avatar in defending our people or in seeking out the death of the gnomekin, our technical skills may at times far surpass those of any other race. Any fortress of ours can be made impenetrable and no sanctuary of gnomes is safe from our wrath.

To feel The Horned Sorcerer calling is an honour unlike any other; do not turn away from his will. Embrace your calling, brother; rise up and lead our people back to their rightful place: the right claw of the dragon, the tooth of his maw and the fire of his breath. Forever and ever may the dragonkin reign.

[MesiDoomstalker]

As a Kobold Cleric myself, allow me to assure you that the path of the faithful is paved with precious stones. Kurtulmak is generous and kind to empower his servents to ensure the golden future of our great race and to rid the multiverse of those jealous and deceitful vermin we call Gnomes; may a steady stream of their blood flow in sacrifice to Kurtulmak's great pleasure.

Truly, though many among our ranks spend their early years cloistered in the sanctuaries of our people and lose their physical and martial prowess, this devotion to knowledge becomes a powerful tool when turned against our enemies. In addition, because of Kurtulmak's great favour, in times of trouble we can depend upon his divine power and the righteous might of the faithful to empower us such that we may stand against all but the most terrible opposition.

Our diligent study of the history of our people and our devotion to the will of Kurtulmak have also allowed us to keep our skill with traps and other specialised skills on par with masters of the trade. As always, when we seek the guidance of the Kurtulmak's avatar in defending our people or in seeking out the death of the gnomekin, our technical skills may at times far surpass those of any other race. Any fortress of ours can be made impenetrable and no sanctuary of gnomes is safe from our wrath.

To feel The Horned Sorcerer calling is an honour unlike any other; do not turn away from his will. Embrace your calling, brother; rise up and lead our people back to their rightful place: the right claw of the dragon, the tooth of his maw and the fire of his breath. Forever and ever may the dragonkin reign.

+1

I want all my divine characters to talk like this. Unfortunatly, I fail. So, ya, failure. :smallfrown:

[Piggy Knowles]

Kobold Bard with Dragonfire Inspiration is also fun. Like the Divine Might trick, adding on bonus damage to a claw/claw/bite routine is pretty decent at low levels. At high levels - well, you're still a bard, so have fun!

But I would agree, Cloistered Cleric with the Kobold Domain is pretty rockin'. It's on the short list of characters I'd like to play one day.

[Andorax]

I once played (and thoroughly enjoyed) a Kobold Dragon Shaman...in the same party as a silver dragon wyrmling.

Heavily worked the "chosen one" best (only because at the time I was his ONLY) follower. Was approaching it from the point of view of his eventual, inevitable, rise to might and power (well...he's a dragon isn't he?) and how as his first, best, most loyal companion I would wield great power in time. Getting in on the ground floor and all that sort of thing.

[McToomin]

I love Kobolds too. My current character is a Kobold Sorcerer/Monk/Enlightened Fist. And he's AWESOME. I defeated an Iron Golem at lvl 11 single-handedly by getting it to fall off the same cliff several times and going Gaseous Form (Sorcerer ACF that grants a domain, I picked Air as it's part of his character concept of having air elemental in his blood, but being a Half-Elemental is WAAAY to costly (at a +3 LA)) to avoid damage.

[flabort]

I like using lots of ACFs. A Kobold Cloistered Cleric is all fun, and things, but lets spice it up some more.
You can add Spontaneous (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/spontaneousDivineCasters.htm), and since you've got three domains, that's all the nicer. And swap out rebuke undead for smite good. :smallbiggrin:

[Galanar]

small + Slight Build + reduce person as dragon rite spell, total of +15 to hide just due to size, couple of feats like able sniper, woodland archer and you can keep shooting undetected for a while

[Getsugaru]

Wizard can become a Beholder Mage with 2 feats and one variant class feature, specifically Versatile Spellcaster+Arcane Manipulation+Spontaneous Divination=Turning a spell prepared into a divination, followed by turning it into 2 spells of 1 slot lower, followed by turning the 2 spells of 1 slot lower, becoming any spell you know that is of the original level. Also, by using Miser with Magic, you can get infinite spells. Miser with Magic works with any caster class. But when combined with the former, you can become completely broken.:smallamused:

[opticalshadow]

off to left field here, my kobolds are always dread necromancers. if you do some chesse veaneable dragonwought kobolds are awesome, though most of the time i just take them to have flavor (necropolitain childish dread necros are so innocent and lethal)

[Daftendirekt]

off to left field here, my kobolds are always dread necromancers. if you do some chesse veaneable dragonwought kobolds are awesome, though most of the time i just take them to have flavor (necropolitain childish dread necros are so innocent and lethal)

You do know that you can't do both Dragonwrought and Necropolitan on a Kobold, right? Necropolitans have to be humanoid or monstrous humanoid. As a Dragonwrought, you're of the Dragon type, and no longer qualify. A kobold is Dragonwrought from birth, so there's no "put necropolitan on first" cheese or anything.

[ZombiePunch]

Also pick up a pair of sundark goggles. Also found in RoD I believe.

[Graha013]

I once played an ECL 20 Kobold Monk. I don't really remember why but that he got swallowed and had to claw and bite his way out. It was pretty epic, but then again, in a PvP encounter later in the campaign, he got trounced pretty handily...but thats because he was a monk, not a kobold.

[ranagrande]

In one of the first games I played, each of the players got to create a nemesis for their characters. I was a ridiculously multiclassed Gnome Fighter/Bard/Breachgnome/Templar/I'm sure there was more. So for my archenemy, I made a Kobold Cleric/Oozemaster.

The first time we met him very nearly resulted in a TPK.