Motor oil protects against hobgoblins with battleaxes

[Quasqueton]

Today on the radio, I heard a commercial that didn’t really catch my attention until the last line. It is for Havoline Deposit Shield (an engine oil, of some kind). I’ve looked on the Web for the commercial, but can’t find it (even on the Havoline company site).

It starts out talking about the shield has always been a good defense, “. . . against arrows <thunk>, against broadswords <clank>. . .”. It then talks about how the product protects a car engine like a shield. The very last comment in the commercial is “. . . even against hobgoblins with battleaxes <blarghblargh [hobgoblin words]> <clunk>”.

I thought, whoa! “Hobgoblins with battleaxes”? In a mainstream motor oil commercial? Way damn cool. When have you heard the word “hobgoblin” outside of an RPG context (tabletop or online)? [It’s a pretty archaic term, yes?]

Anyway, have any of you heard this commercial? Keep an ear out for it. It made my little RPG-geek heart giggle.

Quasqueton

 

[Henry]

Aw, man... that's great! Not heard it, yet.

When have you heard the word “hobgoblin” outside of an RPG context (tabletop or online)? [It’s a pretty archaic term, yes?]

I'm guessing the influx of computer RPGs from 2000 onward were probably the final tipping point where you start hearing and seeing role-playing games referenced in commercials.

 

[Corsair]

As much as I don't enjoy the gameplay in WoW, it and the Lord of the Rings movies have done fantasy RPGs and the fantasy genre a lot of service in moving it toward more mainstream.

 

[arscott]

Hobgoblins as the sort of uber-goblins that would carry battleaxes is pretty much a D&Dism, right? Prior to that, they're more like fairies or halflings.

Hobgoblins weren't in LotR, and I'm pretty sure they're not in WoW. I can't think of anything this is a reference to if not D&D proper.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

So does coating my character with Mobil 1 give +1 or +2 to AC? Is it a shield bonus or deflection bonus? Or does it act as DR instead?

 

[blargney the second]

So does coating my character with Mobil 1 give +1 or +2 to AC? Is it a shield bonus or deflection bonus?

It's obviously a Dodge bonus.


*grin*

 

[Slife]

Hobgoblins as the sort of uber-goblins that would carry battleaxes is pretty much a D&Dism, right? Prior to that, they're more like fairies or halflings.

Hobgoblins weren't in LotR, and I'm pretty sure they're not in WoW. I can't think of anything this is a reference to if not D&D proper.

Hob goblins were in The Hobbit. The leader of the goblins was known as the 'hob' goblin.

In the Wizard of Oz, IIRC, hobgoblins were a somewhat larger, and non-evil subspecies of goblin.

 

[Dross]

So does coating my character with Mobil 1 give +1 or +2 to AC? Is it a shield bonus or deflection bonus? Or does it act as DR instead?

It's a circumstance bonus of +2 to AC v hobgoblins, obviously.

 

[Ulrick]

Well, I Googled "Havoline Motor Oil Hobgoblins" and got nothing.

 

[pawsplay]

Well, I Googled "Havoline Motor Oil Hobgoblins" and got nothing.

Me, too. And when you google something like that, you really hope for something for your efforts.