AD&D Kobold picture

[Fieari]

I was having a discussion about the various depictions of kobolds over the years, and it came up that the AD&D Kobold from the Monstrous Compendium was significantly different from either the dog-like image or the lizard-like image. Does anyone have this picture available so I can see it? Google image search has failed me.

 

[Amphimir Míriel]

I was having a discussion about the various depictions of kobolds over the years, and it came up that the AD&D Kobold from the Monstrous Compendium was significantly different from either the dog-like image or the lizard-like image. Does anyone have this picture available so I can see it? Google image search has failed me.

Weren't they originally goblinoids? The smallest, lowest, meanest of the goblinoid totem pole...?

 

[Logan_Bonner]

I looked it up in our library. It looks kind of like a Boston terrier.

 

[JeffB]

I had a convo with Gary about this here on ENWORLD in one of his many "ASK GARY" threads.

Basically, the original kobold pic by David Sutherland was a mistake. The Kobold was not meant to be a little dog/lizard man, but more of an evil twisted gnome type creature as commonly depicted in real world "legend/mythology"- something like this:

At the time I posted a better picture (which I could not find again now) and Gary basically said "exactly like that is how I pictured them".

 

[Sir Brennen]

Sigh. I miss Jeff Dee.

http://paratime.ca/v_and_v/pics/jeffdee/koboldfun.jpg

 

[Dragonbait]

Kobolds went from scaly devil dogs men (AD&D) to alien pugs with antennae (AD&D 2E MC) to rat men (AD&D 2e MM) to lizard dogs (3E MM) to small evil looking lizard humanoids with next to no canine traits (4E MM).

I love the litte lizards but the evil gnomish creatures would have been pretty neat too.

 

[Oni]

I had a convo with Gary about this here on ENWORLD in one of his many "ASK GARY" threads.

Basically, the original kobold pic by David Sutherland was a mistake. The Kobold was not meant to be a little dog/lizard man, but more of an evil twisted gnome type creature as commonly depicted in real world "legend/mythology"- something like this:

At the time I posted a better picture (which I could not find again now) and Gary basically said "exactly like that is how I pictured them".

Well that would have certainly made Meepo different.

Sigh. I miss Jeff Dee.

http://paratime.ca/v_and_v/pics/jeffdee/koboldfun.jpg

I feel sorry for the kobolds being abused by the heartless adventurers.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I feel sorry for the kobolds being abused by the heartless adventurers.

Those kobolds are just the diversion. The kobold ninjas who will defeat the cocky adventurers are lurking just out of shot to the left.

 

[RFisher]

I was having a discussion about the various depictions of kobolds over the years, and it came up that the AD&D Kobold from the Monstrous Compendium was significantly different from either the dog-like image or the lizard-like image. Does anyone have this picture available so I can see it? Google image search has failed me.

I’m looking at it. Unfortunately the wife took the scanner when she left (>_<) so I can’t scan it for you. First impression I get is indeed canine. Looks like a humanoid pug.

 

[diaglo]

Weren't they originally goblinoids? The smallest, lowest, meanest of the goblinoid totem pole...?

but that was the OD&D(1974) version. better description of them was in supplement II Blackmoor (1975)

1edADnD had them like the DCS pic
2edADnD MC changed them up a little. they had winged ones too. urds iirc.

edit: kobold is from germanic lore. iirc they are considered "house spirits"