Hobgoblins of the Stonelands [Archive] - Wizards Community

Hobgoblins of the Stonelands [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
bayke
04-19-07, 05:04 PM I've been dreaming of this campaign for 15 years so tell me what you think. A hobgoblin (LN hobgoblin male Ftr) native to the Stonelands has decided that the area is the ancestrial home of his people and is trying to unite the goblinoids into a nation. Seriously, the goblins are too cowardly and the bugbears are a chaotic pain in the butt. Anyway, he decides to unite all the hobgoblin tribes under his rule then conquer their racial cousins. He has no asperations beyond this except that he wants his goblin homeland to be recognized as a legitimate nation. While he dislikes elves & dwarves, he recognizes their value and he actually admires many aspects of humanity. He is indifferent to halflings and admires gnomish inventiveness. My big problem is being between Shade & Cormyr. The hobgoblin would actually like to create trade agreements with both nations, as well as with Sembia & the Dales. My question is what would the reaction be from the surrounding states? Cormyr has been weakened but could use the percieved threat of a hobgoblin state as a rallying point. Shade sees everyone as an inferior and any goblin is nothing more than a slave or cannon fodder. The Dales have enough problems but Archendale is always looking to fight someone.
MarkusTay63
04-19-07, 05:29 PM Considering that the Netherese looked down at everyone else as filthy animals, and went out of their way to slaughter HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of goblinoids (mostly Orcs), don't expect them to roll out the red carpet.

Cormyr has recently lost its beloved king and several towns to GOBLIN activities. Even though these goblins were being 'pushed' into it by a dragon, they were still the only threat that most Cormyrians saw. So don't expect a warm welcome there either. If you can somehow offer to talk with them, see if they need help rebuilding Tilverton, or at least help with guarding the ruins.

The Zhents would try to enslave them.

Evereska might not kill them on sight, but definately no friendship there.

The Dales might be amenable, but only after they have somehow proven that they aren't "the bad kind". Maybe when one of the Dales (Shadowdale?) comes under attack by either Zhents or the Cormanthor Drow, the goblinoids can come rushing in and save the day? That might smooth over some hard feelings.

Your best bet would be to the south - The Dragon Coast is used to dealing with all sorts from Orcs and Yuan-ti to Vampires and Drow. As long as you don't start trouble there, pretty much everyone is welcome (even pirates). You would have to go through the marsh areas to do this, but if you could make a few deals with the Lizardmen (who I think are part of the kingdom of Nagara) and the other denizens, you may be able to work something out as a go-between for the monstrous types in the area and the human populations. Financially that could prove incredibly fruitful in the long run.

I was thinking something in this area along these lines myself, with a goblin town who deals with mostrous types and human/demi-humans. Part of the town would be located below ground, and the other half would be above, allowing trade with both the surface and the Underdark. I was thinking somewhere on the south-western side of the stonelands, close to the Farsea marshes.
Paix
04-19-07, 06:18 PM There is an Elminster's Ecology that details the Stonelands. It may be of help to you. I am not sure if the area can support large numbers and has its share of predators that will see the goblinoids as a meal.

I assume you have overcome the infighting and challenges to the power of your leader that will come from within the goblinoids once they do not have a clear purpose, such as plundering Cormyr.

The Shades as presented, will likely enslave the leaders and use the amassed goblinoids as a pressure mechanism for whatever desings they have on Cormyr.

After the dragon armies, the sahuagin attacks, losing their arch-mage and assorted calamities such as the incidence at Tilverton, I doubt Cormyr is in any position to take on another army. It will have little choice for now.

I am not certain about the Dales, especialy Archen but I doubt they have the numbers to go for a pre-emptive strike against a host of goblins.

The Zhentarim, like the shades, are another group that will be looking to control the goblinoid nation and with the magic at their disposal, it will be difficult to counter. Perhaps a clever leader may be able to play those two against one another and buy himself some time.

The problem is that the goblinoids lack the magical resources to stave off the expansionist factions of the Shades and the Zhents. Addressing this issue will be more vital to the survival of such a nation than dealing with Cormyr and the Dales.

I remember reading in an old Moonsea supplement that the goblinoid shamans of old, had considerable powers and were even able to summon outsiders to their aid. Your leader could use the service of a circle of such practitioners. Alternatively, a dragon patron may be able to lend his magical might, if you can keep it interested long enough.
Bonzai
04-19-07, 07:14 PM I would say that the Zhents would be the best bet, if you could work out some sort of mercenary deal with them. You "might" be able to persuade them that it is more efficient for them to trade you goods for your services, than to try and enslave you and have to feed you anyways. Yes, you will get the bum end of the stick, yes they will be condescending and treat you with disdain. However, they are probably the only ones who won't kill you on sight.

So work on your military forces, make them mighty and efficient, as a hobgoblin army should be. Then convince the Zhents that it is less costly to employ you, than to spend the resources to subdue you.
bayke
04-20-07, 08:13 PM Also consider that I run Hobgoblins as Oriental Klingons.
Fingoldfin
04-22-07, 04:00 AM A hobgoblin nation in the area won't be easy, but I think it can be done.

You need to build border forts and set up toll roads. Every other nation in the area has been weakened by wars. As long as you let trade go on without charging too much in tolls no one will come after them.(except the Zhents)
bayke
04-24-07, 12:08 AM Yeah that's what I was thinking. Building stone forts around major trade routes and charging tolls, but also providing goods and services to traders passing through. Because they're hobgoblins, it will be pretty spartan fare but sleeping under a roof with your horses being stabled and fed for a small fee is better than taking the risk of being eaten by something in the wild. Plus, once you pay the toll, the hobgoblins serve to ensure safe passage through the Stonelands. If another tribe attacks a protected caravan, it gives my tribe an excuse to go to war and bring another tribe under my rule.
AffableDoomwalker
04-24-07, 12:22 AM I think your primary issue is the goblins and bugbears. You'd need to keep a lot of them out of most social settings, of course, that doesn't mean all of them, there are bound to be a few more intelligent, reasonable members of each species, besides a Bugbear Innkeeper could be comical.

All in all I think its a great idea. A LN (in theory) Hobgoblin nation would be a sight to see.
Kerym Ammath
04-24-07, 12:15 PM Why even make it a separate nation. Claim the title of Baron of the Stonelands, and swear fealty to the Cormyrian Crown. Instant foreign relations, Cormyr secures a border, gains access to certain mines. You just have to get past the trust issue, but that is not insurmountable.
MarkusTay63
04-24-07, 01:55 PM That might be your safest bet, and then you can still do this -

You need to build border forts and set up toll roads. Every other nation in the area has been weakened by wars. As long as you let trade go on without charging too much in tolls no one will come after them.(except the Zhents)If the Hobgoblins actually prove to be a benefit, by patroling the roads and thereby protecting trade, then I don't see why merchants would complain about a reasonable toll. I f they had to hire 20 gaurds to get through an area, and now only need five, it would work out to their benefit and the presence of the Hobgoblins may be looked upon as an asset.

Keep the roads safe and open from Tilverton to Hluthvar - it might not be such a bad idea to 'thwart' a few 'raids', with the help of local Lizardmen or others. A few well planned attacks, set-up in advance, with the Hobgoblins rushing in and driving off the 'monsters', could go a long way into convicing caravan owners of your good intentions. Don't charge tolls at first, do it as a free service for about a year. In the meantime, build forts at the Sunset Mountains and Eastern edge of the Stonelands, and gaurd posts along the route. Then when you start to charge a 'nominal fee' (to mantain up-keep, of course), everyone will feel they are getting their money's worth.

The Darkhold may prove a problem, but if you could get Semmemon to work with you, it could alleviate some problems and help against Zhent intrusions from the East.

Do it right - Uniforms, well-drilled soldiery, etc... earn the humans respect. I think the Oriental-style Hobgoblins are a good idea, and you just gave me an inspiration for something I'm doing to the east.
Mazaron
04-29-07, 08:53 AM I've been dreaming of this campaign for 15 years so tell me what you think. A hobgoblin (LN hobgoblin male Ftr) native to the Stonelands has decided that the area is the ancestrial home of his people and is trying to unite the goblinoids into a nation. Seriously, the goblins are too cowardly and the bugbears are a chaotic pain in the butt. Anyway, he decides to unite all the hobgoblin tribes under his rule then conquer their racial cousins. He has no asperations beyond this except that he wants his goblin homeland to be recognized as a legitimate nation. While he dislikes elves & dwarves, he recognizes their value and he actually admires many aspects of humanity. He is indifferent to halflings and admires gnomish inventiveness. My big problem is being between Shade & Cormyr. The hobgoblin would actually like to create trade agreements with both nations, as well as with Sembia & the Dales. My question is what would the reaction be from the surrounding states? Cormyr has been weakened but could use the percieved threat of a hobgoblin state as a rallying point. Shade sees everyone as an inferior and any goblin is nothing more than a slave or cannon fodder. The Dales have enough problems but Archendale is always looking to fight someone.

Back about fifteen years ago (heh) a friend of mine ran a goblin campaign in the Stonelands and the scrubland/canyons south of Anauroch. I played a kobold and a friend of mine played a goblin. The DM had modeled our campaign area on parts of Utah, such as found in Arches and Canyonland National Parks. The goblin cities were carved into the sandstone itself and were largely underground. In the canyons and valleys goblins herded goats and sheep for food and textiles as well as food for their few worgs.

He had a strict caste system. Goblins were the most common and were the peasants, merchants, craftsman, and foot soldiers. Hobgoblins were the nobles and lords, were the knights, worg ridgers, military officers and some were merchant princes. Bugbears were a special breed apart, they were shock troops and bodyguards, rarely allowed to do anything else. A new race, the great goblin, were priests and also rulers and were rare. Kobolds existed as caste beneath the goblins and were beggars, theives, homeless people as well as also merchants and peasants (not that there weren't also goblin criminals too).

Gnolls came and went as traders, many from the "deep desert" of Anauroch. Human contact was rare and usually was Zhentish traders.

It was a fun campaign, invovling the PCs hiding and running a lot at first. We knew the local monsters, not as friends or anything, but had named for instance the local hydra and knew of a vargouille nest.

Regretably, the campaign didn't go more than a dozen sessions or so, but the DM said that he had plans for our group to become goblin prophets of a sort and unite the warring city-states, having a great goblin nation rise up and take its place among such nations as Cormyr and Sembia.

I can't tell you for sure what Cormyr or your FR nations would do. For one thing, it seems Cormyr has changed a lot since I first started using it in official materials. Second, there is a strong strain of good and neutralish goblins called the Brothers of Man, a missionary movement started by my PCs different campaign not goblins, who began to pushfor coexistence with humans, cooperation, the end of conflict, and eventualy resulted in peace with many goblinoid groups, unification with goblins and humans against the orcs (which are interlopers on Toril), and eventually goblins moving to human cities.

Sounds like a good campaign. Stop dreaming and do it!
Mazaron
04-29-07, 09:05 AM Yeah that's what I was thinking. Building stone forts around major trade routes and charging tolls, but also providing goods and services to traders passing through. Because they're hobgoblins, it will be pretty spartan fare but sleeping under a roof with your horses being stabled and fed for a small fee is better than taking the risk of being eaten by something in the wild. Plus, once you pay the toll, the hobgoblins serve to ensure safe passage through the Stonelands. If another tribe attacks a protected caravan, it gives my tribe an excuse to go to war and bring another tribe under my rule.

Considering the lawful bent of hobgoblins, this sounds very doable. I would add that they wouldn't necessiarly have to build stone forts from scratch but should be able to carve something out of the rock. Simply having a prescence in narrow canyons and passes and guarding oases and wells would be vital too.
The Stonelands and Goblin Marches are in my campaign and in the one I played in are dry, dusty, and easy to get lost in. The further north you go the closer you get to Anauroch and the more inhospitable it gets. With risks such as spending days lost in a dead end canyon, not finding water, a sand storm or dustg storm blowing in from the deep desert, or a yellow or red dragon setting up shop along a trade route, the hobgoblins could provide a valuable service.
Other thoughts/memories. The DM and later myself had the goblin citystates use messenger bats. Rats were raised for food too, though they weren't vicious (think of how guinea pigs are eaten in South America). Goblins often made deals with local monsters if they were intelligent and had alliances of a sort with many creatures. They were also very political and knew a lot of the ups and downs of other goblinoid city states and gnoll tribes.
Zeorth
05-07-07, 06:12 PM I would think after 15 years of dreaming you would have more detail "dreamt" up!

I've been dreaming of this campaign for 15 years so tell me what you think. A hobgoblin (LN hobgoblin male Ftr) native to the Stonelands has decided that the area is the ancestrial home of his people and is trying to unite the goblinoids into a nation. Seriously, the goblins are too cowardly and the bugbears are a chaotic pain in the butt. Anyway, he decides to unite all the hobgoblin tribes under his rule then conquer their racial cousins. He has no asperations beyond this except that he wants his goblin homeland to be recognized as a legitimate nation. While he dislikes elves & dwarves, he recognizes their value and he actually admires many aspects of humanity. He is indifferent to halflings and admires gnomish inventiveness. My big problem is being between Shade & Cormyr. The hobgoblin would actually like to create trade agreements with both nations, as well as with Sembia & the Dales. My question is what would the reaction be from the surrounding states? Cormyr has been weakened but could use the percieved threat of a hobgoblin state as a rallying point. Shade sees everyone as an inferior and any goblin is nothing more than a slave or cannon fodder. The Dales have enough problems but Archendale is always looking to fight someone.
bayke
05-09-07, 12:59 AM It always gets put on the backburner since I DM a Core campaign, play a FR campaign that has been going on since 1st edition, and run a Marvel Super Heroes campaign set in the DC Universe that I'm constantly having to adapt new characters for. Add that I have two jobs and two kids and you can see that it's not easy to spend a lot of time on a dream campaign that I'm not even sure any of my group has any interest in.
shades of eternity
05-21-07, 03:15 PM besides "pacifying" the region, have him send out "mercenaries" to learn about the world and bring back what they learned there.

heck they could use their own experiences with the war wizard's of cormyr to create their own variation.
zerodeviere
05-22-07, 01:57 PM Cormyr does have a standing offer to any that can take and hold a portion of the stone lands would be granted rights.. under their banner of course. I didn't read anything about they had to be a specific race or alignment. but also keep in mind that it will also make you the enemies of all that consider Cormyr an enemy.
MerrikCale
05-23-07, 08:31 PM Also consider that I run Hobgoblins as Oriental Klingons.

Its Asian Klingons for the PC crowd

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
bayke 04-19-07, 05:04 PM	I've been dreaming of this campaign for 15 years so tell me what you think. A hobgoblin (LN hobgoblin male Ftr) native to the Stonelands has decided that the area is the ancestrial home of his people and is trying to unite the goblinoids into a nation. Seriously, the goblins are too cowardly and the bugbears are a chaotic pain in the butt. Anyway, he decides to unite all the hobgoblin tribes under his rule then conquer their racial cousins. He has no asperations beyond this except that he wants his goblin homeland to be recognized as a legitimate nation. While he dislikes elves & dwarves, he recognizes their value and he actually admires many aspects of humanity. He is indifferent to halflings and admires gnomish inventiveness. My big problem is being between Shade & Cormyr. The hobgoblin would actually like to create trade agreements with both nations, as well as with Sembia & the Dales. My question is what would the reaction be from the surrounding states? Cormyr has been weakened but could use the percieved threat of a hobgoblin state as a rallying point. Shade sees everyone as an inferior and any goblin is nothing more than a slave or cannon fodder. The Dales have enough problems but Archendale is always looking to fight someone.
MarkusTay63 04-19-07, 05:29 PM	Considering that the Netherese looked down at everyone else as filthy animals, and went out of their way to slaughter HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of goblinoids (mostly Orcs), don't expect them to roll out the red carpet. Cormyr has recently lost its beloved king and several towns to GOBLIN activities. Even though these goblins were being 'pushed' into it by a dragon, they were still the only threat that most Cormyrians saw. So don't expect a warm welcome there either. If you can somehow offer to talk with them, see if they need help rebuilding Tilverton, or at least help with guarding the ruins. The Zhents would try to enslave them. Evereska might not kill them on sight, but definately no friendship there. The Dales might be amenable, but only after they have somehow proven that they aren't "the bad kind". Maybe when one of the Dales (Shadowdale?) comes under attack by either Zhents or the Cormanthor Drow, the goblinoids can come rushing in and save the day? That might smooth over some hard feelings. Your best bet would be to the south - The Dragon Coast is used to dealing with all sorts from Orcs and Yuan-ti to Vampires and Drow. As long as you don't start trouble there, pretty much everyone is welcome (even pirates). You would have to go through the marsh areas to do this, but if you could make a few deals with the Lizardmen (who I think are part of the kingdom of Nagara) and the other denizens, you may be able to work something out as a go-between for the monstrous types in the area and the human populations. Financially that could prove incredibly fruitful in the long run. I was thinking something in this area along these lines myself, with a goblin town who deals with mostrous types and human/demi-humans. Part of the town would be located below ground, and the other half would be above, allowing trade with both the surface and the Underdark. I was thinking somewhere on the south-western side of the stonelands, close to the Farsea marshes.
Paix 04-19-07, 06:18 PM	There is an Elminster's Ecology that details the Stonelands. It may be of help to you. I am not sure if the area can support large numbers and has its share of predators that will see the goblinoids as a meal. I assume you have overcome the infighting and challenges to the power of your leader that will come from within the goblinoids once they do not have a clear purpose, such as plundering Cormyr. The Shades as presented, will likely enslave the leaders and use the amassed goblinoids as a pressure mechanism for whatever desings they have on Cormyr. After the dragon armies, the sahuagin attacks, losing their arch-mage and assorted calamities such as the incidence at Tilverton, I doubt Cormyr is in any position to take on another army. It will have little choice for now. I am not certain about the Dales, especialy Archen but I doubt they have the numbers to go for a pre-emptive strike against a host of goblins. The Zhentarim, like the shades, are another group that will be looking to control the goblinoid nation and with the magic at their disposal, it will be difficult to counter. Perhaps a clever leader may be able to play those two against one another and buy himself some time. The problem is that the goblinoids lack the magical resources to stave off the expansionist factions of the Shades and the Zhents. Addressing this issue will be more vital to the survival of such a nation than dealing with Cormyr and the Dales. I remember reading in an old Moonsea supplement that the goblinoid shamans of old, had considerable powers and were even able to summon outsiders to their aid. Your leader could use the service of a circle of such practitioners. Alternatively, a dragon patron may be able to lend his magical might, if you can keep it interested long enough.
Bonzai 04-19-07, 07:14 PM	I would say that the Zhents would be the best bet, if you could work out some sort of mercenary deal with them. You "might" be able to persuade them that it is more efficient for them to trade you goods for your services, than to try and enslave you and have to feed you anyways. Yes, you will get the bum end of the stick, yes they will be condescending and treat you with disdain. However, they are probably the only ones who won't kill you on sight. So work on your military forces, make them mighty and efficient, as a hobgoblin army should be. Then convince the Zhents that it is less costly to employ you, than to spend the resources to subdue you.
bayke 04-20-07, 08:13 PM	Also consider that I run Hobgoblins as Oriental Klingons.
Fingoldfin 04-22-07, 04:00 AM	A hobgoblin nation in the area won't be easy, but I think it can be done. You need to build border forts and set up toll roads. Every other nation in the area has been weakened by wars. As long as you let trade go on without charging too much in tolls no one will come after them.(except the Zhents)
bayke 04-24-07, 12:08 AM	Yeah that's what I was thinking. Building stone forts around major trade routes and charging tolls, but also providing goods and services to traders passing through. Because they're hobgoblins, it will be pretty spartan fare but sleeping under a roof with your horses being stabled and fed for a small fee is better than taking the risk of being eaten by something in the wild. Plus, once you pay the toll, the hobgoblins serve to ensure safe passage through the Stonelands. If another tribe attacks a protected caravan, it gives my tribe an excuse to go to war and bring another tribe under my rule.
AffableDoomwalker 04-24-07, 12:22 AM	I think your primary issue is the goblins and bugbears. You'd need to keep a lot of them out of most social settings, of course, that doesn't mean all of them, there are bound to be a few more intelligent, reasonable members of each species, besides a Bugbear Innkeeper could be comical. All in all I think its a great idea. A LN (in theory) Hobgoblin nation would be a sight to see.
Kerym Ammath 04-24-07, 12:15 PM	Why even make it a separate nation. Claim the title of Baron of the Stonelands, and swear fealty to the Cormyrian Crown. Instant foreign relations, Cormyr secures a border, gains access to certain mines. You just have to get past the trust issue, but that is not insurmountable.
MarkusTay63 04-24-07, 01:55 PM	That might be your safest bet, and then you can still do this - You need to build border forts and set up toll roads. Every other nation in the area has been weakened by wars. As long as you let trade go on without charging too much in tolls no one will come after them.(except the Zhents)If the Hobgoblins actually prove to be a benefit, by patroling the roads and thereby protecting trade, then I don't see why merchants would complain about a reasonable toll. I f they had to hire 20 gaurds to get through an area, and now only need five, it would work out to their benefit and the presence of the Hobgoblins may be looked upon as an asset. Keep the roads safe and open from Tilverton to Hluthvar - it might not be such a bad idea to 'thwart' a few 'raids', with the help of local Lizardmen or others. A few well planned attacks, set-up in advance, with the Hobgoblins rushing in and driving off the 'monsters', could go a long way into convicing caravan owners of your good intentions. Don't charge tolls at first, do it as a free service for about a year. In the meantime, build forts at the Sunset Mountains and Eastern edge of the Stonelands, and gaurd posts along the route. Then when you start to charge a 'nominal fee' (to mantain up-keep, of course), everyone will feel they are getting their money's worth. The Darkhold may prove a problem, but if you could get Semmemon to work with you, it could alleviate some problems and help against Zhent intrusions from the East. Do it right - Uniforms, well-drilled soldiery, etc... earn the humans respect. I think the Oriental-style Hobgoblins are a good idea, and you just gave me an inspiration for something I'm doing to the east.
Mazaron 04-29-07, 08:53 AM	I've been dreaming of this campaign for 15 years so tell me what you think. A hobgoblin (LN hobgoblin male Ftr) native to the Stonelands has decided that the area is the ancestrial home of his people and is trying to unite the goblinoids into a nation. Seriously, the goblins are too cowardly and the bugbears are a chaotic pain in the butt. Anyway, he decides to unite all the hobgoblin tribes under his rule then conquer their racial cousins. He has no asperations beyond this except that he wants his goblin homeland to be recognized as a legitimate nation. While he dislikes elves & dwarves, he recognizes their value and he actually admires many aspects of humanity. He is indifferent to halflings and admires gnomish inventiveness. My big problem is being between Shade & Cormyr. The hobgoblin would actually like to create trade agreements with both nations, as well as with Sembia & the Dales. My question is what would the reaction be from the surrounding states? Cormyr has been weakened but could use the percieved threat of a hobgoblin state as a rallying point. Shade sees everyone as an inferior and any goblin is nothing more than a slave or cannon fodder. The Dales have enough problems but Archendale is always looking to fight someone. Back about fifteen years ago (heh) a friend of mine ran a goblin campaign in the Stonelands and the scrubland/canyons south of Anauroch. I played a kobold and a friend of mine played a goblin. The DM had modeled our campaign area on parts of Utah, such as found in Arches and Canyonland National Parks. The goblin cities were carved into the sandstone itself and were largely underground. In the canyons and valleys goblins herded goats and sheep for food and textiles as well as food for their few worgs. He had a strict caste system. Goblins were the most common and were the peasants, merchants, craftsman, and foot soldiers. Hobgoblins were the nobles and lords, were the knights, worg ridgers, military officers and some were merchant princes. Bugbears were a special breed apart, they were shock troops and bodyguards, rarely allowed to do anything else. A new race, the great goblin, were priests and also rulers and were rare. Kobolds existed as caste beneath the goblins and were beggars, theives, homeless people as well as also merchants and peasants (not that there weren't also goblin criminals too). Gnolls came and went as traders, many from the "deep desert" of Anauroch. Human contact was rare and usually was Zhentish traders. It was a fun campaign, invovling the PCs hiding and running a lot at first. We knew the local monsters, not as friends or anything, but had named for instance the local hydra and knew of a vargouille nest. Regretably, the campaign didn't go more than a dozen sessions or so, but the DM said that he had plans for our group to become goblin prophets of a sort and unite the warring city-states, having a great goblin nation rise up and take its place among such nations as Cormyr and Sembia. I can't tell you for sure what Cormyr or your FR nations would do. For one thing, it seems Cormyr has changed a lot since I first started using it in official materials. Second, there is a strong strain of good and neutralish goblins called the Brothers of Man, a missionary movement started by my PCs different campaign not goblins, who began to pushfor coexistence with humans, cooperation, the end of conflict, and eventualy resulted in peace with many goblinoid groups, unification with goblins and humans against the orcs (which are interlopers on Toril), and eventually goblins moving to human cities. Sounds like a good campaign. Stop dreaming and do it!
Mazaron 04-29-07, 09:05 AM	Yeah that's what I was thinking. Building stone forts around major trade routes and charging tolls, but also providing goods and services to traders passing through. Because they're hobgoblins, it will be pretty spartan fare but sleeping under a roof with your horses being stabled and fed for a small fee is better than taking the risk of being eaten by something in the wild. Plus, once you pay the toll, the hobgoblins serve to ensure safe passage through the Stonelands. If another tribe attacks a protected caravan, it gives my tribe an excuse to go to war and bring another tribe under my rule. Considering the lawful bent of hobgoblins, this sounds very doable. I would add that they wouldn't necessiarly have to build stone forts from scratch but should be able to carve something out of the rock. Simply having a prescence in narrow canyons and passes and guarding oases and wells would be vital too. The Stonelands and Goblin Marches are in my campaign and in the one I played in are dry, dusty, and easy to get lost in. The further north you go the closer you get to Anauroch and the more inhospitable it gets. With risks such as spending days lost in a dead end canyon, not finding water, a sand storm or dustg storm blowing in from the deep desert, or a yellow or red dragon setting up shop along a trade route, the hobgoblins could provide a valuable service. Other thoughts/memories. The DM and later myself had the goblin citystates use messenger bats. Rats were raised for food too, though they weren't vicious (think of how guinea pigs are eaten in South America). Goblins often made deals with local monsters if they were intelligent and had alliances of a sort with many creatures. They were also very political and knew a lot of the ups and downs of other goblinoid city states and gnoll tribes.
Zeorth 05-07-07, 06:12 PM	I would think after 15 years of dreaming you would have more detail "dreamt" up! I've been dreaming of this campaign for 15 years so tell me what you think. A hobgoblin (LN hobgoblin male Ftr) native to the Stonelands has decided that the area is the ancestrial home of his people and is trying to unite the goblinoids into a nation. Seriously, the goblins are too cowardly and the bugbears are a chaotic pain in the butt. Anyway, he decides to unite all the hobgoblin tribes under his rule then conquer their racial cousins. He has no asperations beyond this except that he wants his goblin homeland to be recognized as a legitimate nation. While he dislikes elves & dwarves, he recognizes their value and he actually admires many aspects of humanity. He is indifferent to halflings and admires gnomish inventiveness. My big problem is being between Shade & Cormyr. The hobgoblin would actually like to create trade agreements with both nations, as well as with Sembia & the Dales. My question is what would the reaction be from the surrounding states? Cormyr has been weakened but could use the percieved threat of a hobgoblin state as a rallying point. Shade sees everyone as an inferior and any goblin is nothing more than a slave or cannon fodder. The Dales have enough problems but Archendale is always looking to fight someone.
bayke 05-09-07, 12:59 AM	It always gets put on the backburner since I DM a Core campaign, play a FR campaign that has been going on since 1st edition, and run a Marvel Super Heroes campaign set in the DC Universe that I'm constantly having to adapt new characters for. Add that I have two jobs and two kids and you can see that it's not easy to spend a lot of time on a dream campaign that I'm not even sure any of my group has any interest in.
shades of eternity 05-21-07, 03:15 PM	besides "pacifying" the region, have him send out "mercenaries" to learn about the world and bring back what they learned there. heck they could use their own experiences with the war wizard's of cormyr to create their own variation.
zerodeviere 05-22-07, 01:57 PM	Cormyr does have a standing offer to any that can take and hold a portion of the stone lands would be granted rights.. under their banner of course. I didn't read anything about they had to be a specific race or alignment. but also keep in mind that it will also make you the enemies of all that consider Cormyr an enemy.
MerrikCale 05-23-07, 08:31 PM	Also consider that I run Hobgoblins as Oriental Klingons. Its Asian Klingons for the PC crowd