"Races of Goblinoids"?

[Scarey Nerd]

Just a quick question, are there any books that discuss Goblins in a sort of "Races of" format for 3.5? Language, history, religion etc?

[eggs]

I don't know of anything by WotC.

Of third party supplements, Mongoose's Slayer's Guide to Goblins was written for this with a high fluff focus but Mongoose's usual clumsy implementation of the mechanics that do crop up; it sounds like Dark Quest's Fell Beasts: Goblins was basically written with this goal (but I've never seen the book itself).

[BowStreetRunner]

They did include a goblinoid prestige class in Races of Stone. But that is the most I have ever seen from official sources outside the Monster Manuals.

Edit: there is a d20 system Dragonlance book called Races of Ansalon that has a chapter on goblins.

[Dusk Eclipse]

IIRC there was a Races of War (from Frank Trollman) web book who focused in goblinoid/orcs; but AFAIK it is balanced against Tomes which try to balance the game around tier 1.

[Scarey Nerd]

IIRC there was a Races of War (from Frank Trollman) web book who focused in goblinoid/orcs; but AFAIK it is balanced against Tomes which try to balance the game around tier 1.

I'm not looking for any rules, the game has been restricted to the 3 core books only in terms of gameplay, I'm just looking for background stuff.

[Dusk Eclipse]

There were some issues of Dragon which did that kind of analysis on some monsters, I recall the Hobgoblins one (which was awesome); but I don't know if there was one for goblins nor the number.

[BowStreetRunner]

There were some issues of Dragon which did that kind of analysis on some monsters, I recall the Hobgoblins one (which was awesome); but I don't know if there was one for goblins nor the number.

I don't have it, but am told that Dragon #309 had the ecology of the hobgoblin. MM5 also paid a little extra attention to the hobgoblin as well.

[Madara]

In sandstorm, the Buka(a type of goblin) have their own section. Most campaign settings metion them. It seems the modern notion is to have them be the common labor of cities, and live off of scraps and knicknacks in the slums.

[lunar2]

all i can say is that they are as smart as humans (no racial Int. modifier) and dumb as an ox according to everything ever written about them (now what does that tell you?).

[Coidzor]

There's a homebrew project here that includes fluff as well as crunch.

I believe in the OP it is explained that the thread exists because no such book exists.

[Arcanist]

In sandstorm, the Buka(a type of goblin) have their own section. Most campaign settings metion them. It seems the modern notion is to have them be the common labor of cities, and live off of scraps and knicknacks in the slums.

Reading stuff like this actually makes me want to cheer for Red Cloak :smallfrown:

[Coidzor]

Arcanum did a similar thing with Orcs being used as essentially slave labor in the industrial revolution of that world, where before they'd basically been hunted as monsters.

[Lord_Gareth]

You may find this useful. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goblin_%28Dungeons_%26_Dragons%29) You can also ask Afroakuma (via PM or IRC); he's a goblin expert.

[afroakuma]

You can also ask Afroakuma (via PM or IRC); he's an everything expert.

Corrected.

What can I do for you?

[Arcanist]

You may find this useful. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goblin_%28Dungeons_%26_Dragons%29) You can also ask Afroakuma (via PM or IRC); he's an everything expert.

Corrected.

What can I do for you?

I personally view this as a challenge so do you mind if I put forth a D&D related question and see if you can answer it? :smallamused: I promise it won't be something controversially debatable and will have a solid straight forward answer.

[Pilo]

If I recall correctly, there is a section about goblinoids in Race of Faerûn.

[afroakuma]

I personally view this as a challenge so do you mind if I put forth a D&D related question and see if you can answer it? :smallamused: I promise it won't be something controversially debatable and will have a solid straight forward answer.

As long as it's not 4E-related (I am contractually obligated to give a knee-jerk answer to anything on the subject) or something tedious like "what build would let me XYZ" then sure.

[Kantolin]

Eberron has goblins.

It puts... well, it puts more effort into them than any other official source I've seen, at least. It still has the 'As intelligent as humans' with 'forced to become more adaptable to deal with adversity' with 'dumb as an ox' and 'idiotic at the best of times', all in one handy package of '...wait, huh?'

Still, it's more than I've seen anywhere else. Besides that, there's the races of stone prestige class (Stonedeath assassin) and a staff in the arms & equipment guide, and that's about it for goblins. Maglubiyet isn't even in a book, to my knowledge.

[Arcanist]

As long as it's not 4E-related (I am contractually obligated to give a knee-jerk answer to anything on the subject) or something tedious like "what build would let me XYZ" then sure.

Alright. This one is 3.5 related so don't worry :smallsmile:

What is Ioulaum's Field Specialization as a Netherese Arcanist?

[afroakuma]

Alright. This one is 3.5 related so don't worry :smallsmile:

What is Ioulaum's Field Specialization as a Netherese Arcanist?

I've found no evidence in any 3.5 source mentioning him that's at all conclusive about what it is. It is not mentalism (ironically), as Ioulaum's longevity requires seeds from the other two fields. Given his background, I'm inclined to say his field specialization was invention.

[Arcanist]

I've found no evidence in any 3.5 source mentioning him that's at all conclusive about what it is. It is not mentalism (ironically), as Ioulaum's longevity requires seeds from the other two fields. Given his background, I'm inclined to say his field specialization was invention.

... Damn... that was a Trick question... Good job :smallamused:

[afroakuma]

Thank you.

Oh, and to Kantolin: Maglubiyet is mentioned in Defenders of the Faith, the Monster Manual and Complete Divine, though he doesn't ever get the workup in 3.X that he had in 2E.