Is their an official goblinoid alphabet ?

[Shades of Eternity]

If so, where is it.

I got this crazy idea that would rock.

 

[Umbran]

Official? No.

The game designers are not Tolkien

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

If they ever did a monster's book to goblinoids, either as a D&D thing, or in their YA line, it'd be a nice thing to include, though. There have been many, many, many Dragon articles over the years about dwarven runes, after all.

 

[Umbran]

There have been many, many, many Dragon articles over the years about dwarven runes, after all.

Yes, but I think there's a few basic reasons for that:

If I recall correctly, they started with a rune-set that already existed in the world, making it pretty easy - I think the Dethek runes are based on Futhark. Given the pseudo-nordic bent of D&D dwarves, the association seems fitting. The mystical associations for Nordic runes are also flavorful.

But the goblinoids don't have the association. They are not generally even portrayed as being literate, much less users of magic runes. Why bother making up a separate alphabet for them, when the culture does not put much value on the written word?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Well, the RAW says Goblin is a language, and there's nothing in the RAW that suggests it doesn't have a written form. In fact, I'm 99 percent sure I've seen modules that have included written Goblin.

In any case, as much as I love dwarves, I'm set for life on dwarven alphabets. (I even have a hardcover version in the Dragon Compendium.) If anyone is looking for stuff to submit to the DI, here's one probable reader who'd love to see all the other core book languages get a similar treatment.

 

[Wolf72]

Zug Zug!!!

 

[Shades of Eternity]

just checking in.

I heard there was a gobling alphabet and/or words somewhere?

 

[Kobold Avenger]

The only coverage on the Goblin Language so far comes from an article on the Eberron novel Doom of Kings. Which has a few things on Dhakaani culture and language.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Minor help, but from Tome of Battle, the Iron Heart discipline was developed mostly by Hobgoblins, who named the discipline's legacy weapon, Katame. (I assume it's pronounced Kah-tah-may). Don't have the book right now, I don't think the Goblin language is covered in much more detail than that in it, though.

I'd really like to see an extensive book on the Goblin language, too.

 

[Walknot]

"Goblin is the only foundational language of the world that lacks its own script, owing to the brutal and barbaric nature of the goblin race." DMG page 171 (4e)