Roleplaying a Goblin as a PC [Archive] - Wizards Community

Roleplaying a Goblin as a PC [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Buggernaught
03-27-07, 05:52 PM Hello all,

I'm playing in a campaign where I got the fun of roleplaying a goblin (still the tallest one in the party!) fighter. And being rusty overall, I've realized that I don't quite know what to do with him.

I do like Skuogg, but I'd love to hear any suggestions as to how to roleplay him. The only things I can think of right now are playing on the goblin ingenuity, cowardliness and "alternative tactics" tendencies. But I am completely at loss beyond that.

What I am looking specifically are attitude suggestions, thematics and language.
Help me out?
Krusk
03-27-07, 06:04 PM Running away if defeat looks like a possibility, would work for cowardness part.

Flank a lot, for the use of unfair tactics. 2v1

tumbleing can be described as scampering and bounding around the opponent.

attitude suggestions, you could play him as a big talker. Combined with coward is always fun.

I always picture goblins as foul mouthed, so that could be something to build on.
Clutchbone
03-27-07, 06:07 PM For some reason, Goblins always remind me of the Ferengi from Star Trek.

So I'd say be obsessed about your gold.
Buggernaught
03-27-07, 06:14 PM Hey thanks Krusk, thats a good start
And gold? You must be thinking of the "other" goblins.
The WOW kind of goblins. I'm thinking more of a "kill then until they die!" goblins.
bobothechimp
03-27-07, 06:16 PM Even though you are small and weak, act big and tough.
SilverFoxKnows
03-27-07, 06:21 PM Let people think you're stupid and cowardly, play it up even. When your foes realize you're actually as smart as they are it will be a rude awakening. Feel free to run but if possible lead your pursuers into an ambush. Use tanglefoot bags and caltrops, poisoned weapons, any dirty trick you can think of. Extinguish the torches of creatures that can't see in the dark or target their lanterns with flaming arrows. Grease one section of a floor when retreating. Gobbos are known for being cowards but they're also known for being sneaky and mean.
Disciple_of_Juiblex
03-27-07, 06:55 PM Well i recently read a book called "goblin quest" witch was fairly good (atually it was very good IMO made me laugh alot). the storyline in the book followed basicly a goblin in a party of adventures.

The goblin for example decided he wanted to use magic, and could either choose the Crazy evil magic (arcane) or talk to some guy (divine). he ultimatly choose divine. when the cleric was talking about all the gods the goblin choose a god of darkness, and a forgoten god (later the god says the cleric wouldent of even rememberd the gods name if he dident jog his memory),

He was very cowarly but seemed to have like 18 wisdom. he found out how the zombies where coming during an attack and later manipulated it sohe and the theif could hide. He was the first one to think of cutting off a zomby posiend finger (it never occered to the rest) when chalenged to a duel by the human and had to choose a wepon for them to use he choose "fang" (guess who won :) ). he noticed a weird bracelet on a zobmbie and picked it up.

in the final climatic battle he was debating who to shoot, the evel dragon or the basicly evil party member. and more importantly when pushed to the edge he was a ball a fury that no one could deny (singlehanded killed a necromancer after deducing its location, but the necromancer was a fay...).

While it wasent DnD persay id play a goblin that. Curious and ignorant seeing a worldveiw diffrent from all the other characters. A bit lucky to (taking a few luck feats from complete scoundrel) Perhaps a little cowardly but when pushed to be just as good a brawler as anyone else. And more importantly worshop a forgotten god that couldent get any ane else (the god commented on how far he had fallen to get a goblin as a worshoper) but that last one is just my style (poor half-ogre monk/cleric of cas and binder/cleric of tenebrious)
AMGriffin
03-27-07, 08:31 PM Depends on your stats... What'd ya roll up?
Thomar_of_Uointer
03-27-07, 08:47 PM For some reason, Goblins always remind me of the Ferengi from Star Trek.

So I'd say be obsessed about your gold.

That's a good one.

Anyways, try for basic underdog tactics. Among bigger folk, take advantage of the fact that you look like a child and humans can't tell your age (one of the Eberron novels has a character like this, she picks the main character's pocket twice). Flank always, use traps, be cunning, never take the direct approach (in combat and in conversations), always rely on your friends. Also, as a goblin, you definitely need a wolf mount. Figure something out with your DM, maybe take levels of ranger or one level of druid or this feat:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031118a
Buggernaught
03-28-07, 01:24 AM Hey guys, those ideas are absolutely awesome. Caltrops, here I come!

As for what I am, I am a Goblin Fighter 12/14/14/14/12/8 that already has a Worg that he uses in combat. Its fun.

And I just convinced a hostile goblin tribe to fight my "other" enemies.

Keep em coming guys! I love it!
Thomar_of_Uointer
03-28-07, 01:26 AM Well, if you're doing that well you might want to take Leadership and get your hands on some hobgoblin mercenaries. However, bugbears will be easier to control because they're weaker mentally (and they're simply tougher).
Needle
03-28-07, 01:30 AM Try reading Goblins.

http://goblinscomic.com/

Might give you some ideas.
M1kh43l_P4r4d1s0
03-28-07, 01:38 AM If the other characters tolerate your character, there is nothing wrong with "arguing" and throwing tantrums to get shiny items that would better suit the others players, simply because your greedy.
Neutronium_Dragon
03-28-07, 01:48 AM > For some reason, Goblins always remind me of the Ferengi from Star Trek.

That's basically how Warcraft has done them.

-----

Are you playing this character in Eberron, in the Forgotten Realms, or in another specific setting? Eberron has a decidedly nonstandard spin on goblins, while the FR is closer to generic.
ragoftag
03-28-07, 09:35 PM If you can locate a copy of SJG's Goblins world book, check it out. On a more RW note go through movies and books with smarmy characters (Bernie from THE MUMMY) and collect their tricks. Fake a few other classes, disguise your armor as worse, carry a few crappy arrows that break or are inaccurate, tricks that don't work to set them up for the ones that do!
GL, sounds like a hoot of a RP challenge!
Buggernaught
03-29-07, 01:11 AM You guys are awesome. Keep em coming!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Buggernaught 03-27-07, 05:52 PM	Hello all, I'm playing in a campaign where I got the fun of roleplaying a goblin (still the tallest one in the party!) fighter. And being rusty overall, I've realized that I don't quite know what to do with him. I do like Skuogg, but I'd love to hear any suggestions as to how to roleplay him. The only things I can think of right now are playing on the goblin ingenuity, cowardliness and "alternative tactics" tendencies. But I am completely at loss beyond that. What I am looking specifically are attitude suggestions, thematics and language. Help me out?
Krusk 03-27-07, 06:04 PM	Running away if defeat looks like a possibility, would work for cowardness part. Flank a lot, for the use of unfair tactics. 2v1 tumbleing can be described as scampering and bounding around the opponent. attitude suggestions, you could play him as a big talker. Combined with coward is always fun. I always picture goblins as foul mouthed, so that could be something to build on.
Clutchbone 03-27-07, 06:07 PM	For some reason, Goblins always remind me of the Ferengi from Star Trek. So I'd say be obsessed about your gold.
Buggernaught 03-27-07, 06:14 PM	Hey thanks Krusk, thats a good start And gold? You must be thinking of the "other" goblins. The WOW kind of goblins. I'm thinking more of a "kill then until they die!" goblins.
bobothechimp 03-27-07, 06:16 PM	Even though you are small and weak, act big and tough.
SilverFoxKnows 03-27-07, 06:21 PM	Let people think you're stupid and cowardly, play it up even. When your foes realize you're actually as smart as they are it will be a rude awakening. Feel free to run but if possible lead your pursuers into an ambush. Use tanglefoot bags and caltrops, poisoned weapons, any dirty trick you can think of. Extinguish the torches of creatures that can't see in the dark or target their lanterns with flaming arrows. Grease one section of a floor when retreating. Gobbos are known for being cowards but they're also known for being sneaky and mean.
Disciple_of_Juiblex 03-27-07, 06:55 PM	Well i recently read a book called "goblin quest" witch was fairly good (atually it was very good IMO made me laugh alot). the storyline in the book followed basicly a goblin in a party of adventures. The goblin for example decided he wanted to use magic, and could either choose the Crazy evil magic (arcane) or talk to some guy (divine). he ultimatly choose divine. when the cleric was talking about all the gods the goblin choose a god of darkness, and a forgoten god (later the god says the cleric wouldent of even rememberd the gods name if he dident jog his memory), He was very cowarly but seemed to have like 18 wisdom. he found out how the zombies where coming during an attack and later manipulated it sohe and the theif could hide. He was the first one to think of cutting off a zomby posiend finger (it never occered to the rest) when chalenged to a duel by the human and had to choose a wepon for them to use he choose "fang" (guess who won :) ). he noticed a weird bracelet on a zobmbie and picked it up. in the final climatic battle he was debating who to shoot, the evel dragon or the basicly evil party member. and more importantly when pushed to the edge he was a ball a fury that no one could deny (singlehanded killed a necromancer after deducing its location, but the necromancer was a fay...). While it wasent DnD persay id play a goblin that. Curious and ignorant seeing a worldveiw diffrent from all the other characters. A bit lucky to (taking a few luck feats from complete scoundrel) Perhaps a little cowardly but when pushed to be just as good a brawler as anyone else. And more importantly worshop a forgotten god that couldent get any ane else (the god commented on how far he had fallen to get a goblin as a worshoper) but that last one is just my style (poor half-ogre monk/cleric of cas and binder/cleric of tenebrious)
AMGriffin 03-27-07, 08:31 PM	Depends on your stats... What'd ya roll up?
Thomar_of_Uointer 03-27-07, 08:47 PM	For some reason, Goblins always remind me of the Ferengi from Star Trek. So I'd say be obsessed about your gold. That's a good one. Anyways, try for basic underdog tactics. Among bigger folk, take advantage of the fact that you look like a child and humans can't tell your age (one of the Eberron novels has a character like this, she picks the main character's pocket twice). Flank always, use traps, be cunning, never take the direct approach (in combat and in conversations), always rely on your friends. Also, as a goblin, you definitely need a wolf mount. Figure something out with your DM, maybe take levels of ranger or one level of druid or this feat: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031118a
Buggernaught 03-28-07, 01:24 AM	Hey guys, those ideas are absolutely awesome. Caltrops, here I come! As for what I am, I am a Goblin Fighter 12/14/14/14/12/8 that already has a Worg that he uses in combat. Its fun. And I just convinced a hostile goblin tribe to fight my "other" enemies. Keep em coming guys! I love it!
Thomar_of_Uointer 03-28-07, 01:26 AM	Well, if you're doing that well you might want to take Leadership and get your hands on some hobgoblin mercenaries. However, bugbears will be easier to control because they're weaker mentally (and they're simply tougher).
Needle 03-28-07, 01:30 AM	Try reading Goblins. http://goblinscomic.com/ Might give you some ideas.
M1kh43l_P4r4d1s0 03-28-07, 01:38 AM	If the other characters tolerate your character, there is nothing wrong with "arguing" and throwing tantrums to get shiny items that would better suit the others players, simply because your greedy.
Neutronium_Dragon 03-28-07, 01:48 AM	> For some reason, Goblins always remind me of the Ferengi from Star Trek. That's basically how Warcraft has done them. ----- Are you playing this character in Eberron, in the Forgotten Realms, or in another specific setting? Eberron has a decidedly nonstandard spin on goblins, while the FR is closer to generic.
ragoftag 03-28-07, 09:35 PM	If you can locate a copy of SJG's Goblins world book, check it out. On a more RW note go through movies and books with smarmy characters (Bernie from THE MUMMY) and collect their tricks. Fake a few other classes, disguise your armor as worse, carry a few crappy arrows that break or are inaccurate, tricks that don't work to set them up for the ones that do! GL, sounds like a hoot of a RP challenge!
Buggernaught 03-29-07, 01:11 AM	You guys are awesome. Keep em coming!