Col_Pladoh? Original Kobolds, canine or lizard-like?

[omedon]

Where has Kobold Curry Chef been lately? I haven't seen him since the move.

I am sure he would have something to say about this.

 

[tsadkiel]

Re: After Years of Research

The result of genetic sequencing in the city of Greyhawk 2000 (now Greyhawk 2002) has shown that kobolds are actually highly evolved dicynodont therapsids. Kobold "creationists" have attacked the results.

That's actually exactly how I treat kobolds in my game (though the fact has never come up in actual game play.) I got the idea while watching "Walking With Dinosaurs."

 

[mythusmage]

Re: Re: After Years of Research

Alan, That was great! I disagree with the findings (what kobold wouldn't.) But still a great report, seems like you've put a lot of thought into the mattter.

Man Greyhawk 2000 really needs to be a fleshed out setting, hopefully that will be part of d20 modern.

I've sorta put some thought into it. For my own, in progress, world. The essay I posted was largely, OTOH, the product of inpspiration. Sometimes it all comes together.

 

[Poster Bard]

But the question remains, given the artwork in the original MM and the limited description, what did he have in mind?

 

[A2Z]

Last time this question was asked someone posted a great story about kobolds being the cursed descendants of a dragon. Anyone remember who that was? I'd like to hear that story again.

 

[Dark Helmet]

I seem to recall in the Basic D&D books they were described as "little dog-like men", but I'll have to dig through my books later to double-check.

Does anybody remember if this is right?

 

[The Sunderer]

In the original MM (1ED) they just looked so cute!

In a full page picture within the book that shows a typical party fighting a whole annoyance* of Kobolds... The party are all smiling whistfully as if even they (theoretically fighting for their lives) find them very cute.




* The plural for 1st ED Kobolds is annoyance because any number is just annoying rather than threatening... This has changed of course.

 

[Left-handed Hummingbird]

I seem to recall in the Basic D&D books they were described as "little dog-like men", but I'll have to dig through my books later to double-check.

Does anybody remember if this is right?

I, too, think the Basic D&D described them as dog-like, but I haven't got the booklets in front of me, so I might be wrong.

 

[Bran Blackbyrd]

In the original AD&D Monster Manual the kobolds look like anthropomorphic canines completely covered in scales, with small horns above it's brow and a tiny but distinct ridge of bony protrusions along the back of the skull, topped off with a set of pointy, but not very canine ears.

In mythology (well, in one of my mythology books anyway) they are described as short, wrinkled, germanic brownies that help out around the house, as long as a saucer of milk (or similar gift, I would imagine) is left out for them each night. If the gift isn't left out, they pull mean-spirited pranks on the household, like pulling chairs out from under people as they sit down.

In my (forever) upcoming campaign I think I will have them sound like canines, but make it clear that they are not. The reason for this being that I will have at least two canine races figure rather prominently in the campaign, a third is just too much.
I wanted to use them because
A: a lot of players are jaded and see kobolds as a non-threat. And...
B: Orcs, ogres and some of the other usual mid-difficulty baddies are used way too often (or were, at least, in the last game I was in)
I want to use goblins and kobolds together and give them levels in various classes to make them a real threat, even at high levels. The kobolds being a more powerful race, subjugated (but still feared) by the goblins through oppression and sheer numbers.
I hadn't yet put much thought into what they would actually be though. Maybe as some missing link between mammals and the last of the dinosaurs. Though after reading what mythusmage wrote I think perhaps I'll have them related to spiny echidnae.
Heh, most of my players probably don't even know what an echidna is, let alone their characters.

And the kobold leader will be named Knuckles...
J/K

 

[Thorvald Kviksverd]

I seem to recall in the Basic D&D books they were described as "little dog-like men", but I'll have to dig through my books later to double-check.

Does anybody remember if this is right?

Good memory ...

"These small, evil dog-like men usually live underground. They have scaly, rust-brown skin and no hair..."

Unfortunately, this only serves to confuse the situation further...

Dog-like,

Scaly,

MEN!

For what it's worth, Monsters & Treasures says to treat them exactly as Goblins, but with fewer HPs (i.e. 1-3).

Guess we'll just have to wait for the master to weigh in on this one