This thread is being started for two reasons; to get my thoughts down, and to solicit feedback. This first post covers the folklore of the subject briefly, and gives you, the reader, some idea of how I plan on dealing with the subject.
The kobold of folklore started as a German domestic spirit. Much like the English hobbit or Cornish pixie. Helpful, at times mischievious, and excessively shy. Around the 17th century, and the expansion of the German mining industry, the kobold was adopted by German miners as a helper and hindrance. According to the tales the kobold is responsible for exposing new ore veins for discovery, stealing mining tools, and making off with sliver when ore is smelted and replacing it with either cobalt or nickel. Cobalt coming from the German "kobalt", an alternate name for the kobold.
The Kobold in D&D® 3.5 is a reptilian creature, possibly descended from dragons. I decided to go back to the dog-like mammals of AD&D® 1e, with a few changes.
First, I decided to make them primates. Descendents of an animal closely related to the rhesus macaque. Altered through magic and breeding by a minor deity who thought having his own pet sophont would be a cool thing. Kurt's kobolds (Kurt being the god's name) look very much like anthropomorphic rhesus macaques. They are short (about 3 feet tall), slender, and have a short macaque like tail. They have a short muzzle, prominent canines, and are 'dressed' in fur that ranges in color from a pale blond to a deep brown. Most are a medium brown in coloration
In terms of behavior and social organization they are much like their ancestors. But here we're getting into fields that would best be covered in later entries. In the next post we'll be looking at the base kobold, based on the kobold from the revised SRD. As this thread continues I'll be presenting templated kobolds. Starting with the SRD templates, then going on to templates from other sources.
(Yes, this thread could wind up with tons of kobolds.)
The ultimate goal is to produce a book or books of these kobolds. Including kobolds with character classes, NPC classes and combinations of templates and classes. (A dread, savage, lich kobold druid 17th anyone?
). Your feedback and advice could end up in it (or them).
Next up, the base kobold (according to Mythusmage).
The kobold of folklore started as a German domestic spirit. Much like the English hobbit or Cornish pixie. Helpful, at times mischievious, and excessively shy. Around the 17th century, and the expansion of the German mining industry, the kobold was adopted by German miners as a helper and hindrance. According to the tales the kobold is responsible for exposing new ore veins for discovery, stealing mining tools, and making off with sliver when ore is smelted and replacing it with either cobalt or nickel. Cobalt coming from the German "kobalt", an alternate name for the kobold.
The Kobold in D&D® 3.5 is a reptilian creature, possibly descended from dragons. I decided to go back to the dog-like mammals of AD&D® 1e, with a few changes.
First, I decided to make them primates. Descendents of an animal closely related to the rhesus macaque. Altered through magic and breeding by a minor deity who thought having his own pet sophont would be a cool thing. Kurt's kobolds (Kurt being the god's name) look very much like anthropomorphic rhesus macaques. They are short (about 3 feet tall), slender, and have a short macaque like tail. They have a short muzzle, prominent canines, and are 'dressed' in fur that ranges in color from a pale blond to a deep brown. Most are a medium brown in coloration
In terms of behavior and social organization they are much like their ancestors. But here we're getting into fields that would best be covered in later entries. In the next post we'll be looking at the base kobold, based on the kobold from the revised SRD. As this thread continues I'll be presenting templated kobolds. Starting with the SRD templates, then going on to templates from other sources.
(Yes, this thread could wind up with tons of kobolds.)
The ultimate goal is to produce a book or books of these kobolds. Including kobolds with character classes, NPC classes and combinations of templates and classes. (A dread, savage, lich kobold druid 17th anyone?
). Your feedback and advice could end up in it (or them).Next up, the base kobold (according to Mythusmage).
