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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Loonook" data-source="post: 3986814" data-attributes="member: 1861">Good Gaming: Goblins, Gewgaws, and Glorious Generalities Pt. 3: Responses and Recommendations: Goblin EditionWell, the first Thought Experiment had only a few responses, but I liked what I saw.  Out of five whole respondents, perhaps the most interesting choice for Goblin musical tastes would have to be the Blues.  Now, for an oppressed minority, it is a no-brainer, but I have to say that the anonymous email that postulated this premise definitely works for me.  Sadly, this seems to be the only part of the experiment that people looked at in-depth; however, any campaign settings where Goblins could be plucking twelve-bar odes to their beloved den mothers, or banging heads to the Clash has a definite place in my heart.  Good job for the responses, and hopefully #2 will get a few more responses.Now, onto Recommendations for the Goblin people.  You tired, poor, huddled masses yearning to be green.  Since most worlds lack a Declaration of Humanoid Rights, goblins need some real assistance on their place in the world.  Where, we may ask, does the noble warty visage of this most maligned race of war-dog riding minor mook deserve to shine its countenance?  Right now, I’ll draw some possible locations:<a href="http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebds/20040816a" target="_blank">This article on Dhakaan</a> and other Eberron sources presents a great avenue for our goblins; scouts and assassins.  Though definitely breaking out of the stereotype of most settings, Eberron’s take on a goblin empire may be a bit much to fit into your everyday setting.Now, here’s something a tad bit more interesting in my own opinion.  A long quote follows from Scott’s <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/14461" target="_blank">Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft</a> :In fact, there seems reason to conclude that these duergar wereoriginally nothing else than the diminutive natives of the Lappish,Lettish, and Finnish nations, who, flying before the conquering weaponsof the Asae, sought the most retired regions of the North, and thereendeavoured to hide themselves from their Eastern invaders. They were alittle, diminutive race, but possessed of some skill probably in miningor smelting minerals, with which the country abounds. Perhaps also theymight, from their acquaintance with the changes of the clouds, ormeteorological phenomena, be judges of weather, and so enjoy anothertitle to supernatural skill. At any rate, it has been plausibly supposedthat these poor people, who sought caverns and hiding-places from thepersecution of the Asae, were in some respects compensated forinferiority in strength and stature by the art and power with which thesuperstition of the enemy invested them. These oppressed yet dreadedfugitives obtained, naturally enough, the character of the Germanspirits called Kobold, from which the English goblin and the Scottishbogle, by some inversion and alteration of pronunciation, are evidentlyderived.Wow, I know, it was a long quotation.  However, I find it quite worth reading, so it gets inserted.  We won’t discuss the dwarf part of this just yet, but rather the idea that the Goblins of our own legend (alongside the kobold and bogle) have a possible mythic heritage with the real-life story of the Lapps, or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sami_people" target="_blank">Sami</a>.  Now, the Sami are a pretty interesting indigenous group.  Very little common genetic heritage with the local ethnicities, lots of legends, colorful clothing and traditions.  Also, they share common traits with our new Boblin and his warrior compatriots; they are good hunters, scouts, herders, and can raise animals.  Their traditions include interesting pieces of clothing such as the Four Winds Hat, and formerly had a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamanism" target="_blank">Shamanic Tradition</a>.  Now, this is a culture we can get behind.  Goblin warrens who share their faith, have talents, practice a spiritualist religion, have their own unique symbols and pride for their own worth, and have talents which would place them in their current state quite squarely.  The Sami have been suppressed as an ethnicity for most of the period that other cultures have been aware of their existence.  If anything, a Sami-inspired Goblin group, along with the traditions expressed in Eberron and other similar sources, makes for a very interesting culture to observe.  Now, let us add some additional information (i.e. some of the other possible interesting bits about goblins). <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwyn_ap_Nudd" target="_blank">Gwyn ap Nudd</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutin" target="_blank">Lutin</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spriggan" target="_blank">Spriggan</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%BAca" target="_blank">Phooka</a>Next article, we’ll take some of these ideas and apply them to some new uses for the Goblin, and perhaps some ‘elite’ opponents which will make your average party think twice about their treatment of these noble emerald beasties.Good Gaming,Slainte,-Loonook.PS: My schedule is quite hectic (always happens when I'm starting something new...) so the article could be off for 3-5 days.  Until then, I suggest you check out the <a href="http://pol-comic.livejournal.com/" target="_blank">Points of Light</a> Sprite Comic.  Truly, a marvel to behold... and perhaps we'll be able to include one of the writer's points in our current rigamorale.</blockquote>

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