Goblins and Hobgoblins are two different races in my campaign, and are quite different then what they are in most campaigns. In fact Goblins have more in common with the Goblins in Warcraft and Iron Kingdoms (Gobbers are even a Goblin subrace) than they do with their standard D&D representations. Here's a bit taken from my campaign guide...
Goblins
The Goblin people are one of the most common races on Swargamara, integrated into almost every society to some degree. Goblins may not be some of the proudest people, with long glorious histories of their deeds on Swargamara, but they’ve since their arrival they’ve been people that have always “been there”. Out of all the races on Swargamara, Goblins may in fact be one of the most technologically advanced, yet a few of their subraces are rather primitive.
Goblins have many differences between them; some of them have to do with different subraces or physical variations, while others have to do with cultural influences from the myriad number of people Goblins live with. Most cultures tolerate Goblins, they may not necessarily get the best respect, but most cultures don’t try to exterminate Goblins like they do on other worlds.
Culture & Personality: Goblins are humble people, who do the best they can. They don’t seek to elevate themselves over other races, or make any grand claims about their race. Many Goblins are nomadic, and just as many Goblins are settled. As many Goblins either live among other races or other races live among Goblins, they are an adaptable people with a rather tolerable culture.
To Goblins hardly anything really goes to waste, as they are infamous for making use of other people’s garbage. Many Goblins can put together some truly wonderful inventions using just junk. Even the primitive Goblin subraces reuse the scraps left behind by others. This does make Goblins to be packrats, and often makes Goblin cities to be disparate and crowded places to live in.
Through some odd ancient rituals and many outside cultural influences, many Goblins do form some strange cultural practices. It’s different everywhere, but they usually come down to weird superstitions and unusual fashion choices. Sometimes strange new religions and schools of philosophy are formed as a result; many tend to fall out of favour after a couple of decades, yet just as many tend to re-emerge every few generations.
Physical Description: Goblins have such varied forms of appearances, but most are short humanoids. Skin colour is perhaps the one feature that varies the most between Goblins, as many Goblins of the same subrace will often have widely different skin colours. Typical Goblin skin colours range around the different primary colours and the mixtures of two of them all of varying shades and tones. Most Goblin subraces have large pointed noses that are often crooked, and really large pointed ears that go outwards. Many Goblins look rather humanoid, but with a few exaggerated features.
Nationalities: There are seven major nations where the majority of the population are Goblins.
Khabe – This nation may be perhaps one of the shining examples of a democracy, as it’s prosperous and mostly a peaceful land, filled with a wide range of different Goblin cultures. However if there’s one thing that needs to be said about its population, it’s the fact that everything seems to proceed slowly due to constant arguments from its politicians. Khabe is a very open land, and has a significant place among world affairs. Khabe has a very large population and is quite a developed nation.
Truneb – A highly technologically advanced nation located in the outer layer governed by an elected council of technomancers. A sophisticated network of trains and an airship ferry service ensure easy transportation through out this land. Personal vehicles are quite common here and compared to other Goblin nations its cities aren’t as cluttered. The people of Truneb are quite an arrogant people seeing other nations as being primitive.
Ghom – This is a poor nation from the inner layer, with vast territories and resources. A vast number of tribes live through out this nation, and many are at odds with each other over what to do with their resources. As a result this country has been exploited by many other foreign nations. Conflicts through out this land are common, but a faction in the land known as the Enforcers of Civility roam the land trying to suppress conflicts with force, they have in many ways become the unofficial government and have supplanted the old tribal council.
Thraben – The land is a highly magical one, where spirits roam freely and magical energies seem to flow through the land. As a result it’s a holy land to many Goblins. But there are many different religions, all strongly theocratic which are all competing for control of this nation. Thraben is a place where many strange miracles and occurrences happen on a regular basis due to its planar connections and the beliefs of its people.
Bhista – This socialist republic is seen by many to be a strong cultural homeland of the Goblin people. Bhista is thought to be the first place where the Goblin races arrived, and it’s quite an old nation with buildings upon buildings covering each other in this sprawling nation. But over the last century this nation has been under siege by various malign forces such as pirates, rogue nations, and vicious extraplanar invaders.
Ardan – An international manufacturer of many goods sold around the world. Ardan supplies everything from textiles and dishes to weapons and ships. The economy of this nation is a very strong one, its products known as being cheap and reliable. Ardan is perhaps also the most polluted nation in the world due to its massive industry. As a nation Ardan is highly neutral in political affairs, and usually seeks to prevent most conflicts from happening.
Suna – A highly tribal nation that was built over the ruins of an ancient civilization, this nation boasts some of the richest archaeological discoveries ever. The education, technological and economic development of this nation is surprisingly one of the highest in the world, thanks to its ancient ruins. Rumours speak of the predecessors of this land are still very much alive, and in control behind the scenes.
Other Nations – Goblins are generally welcomed in most nations (even the Gnomish ones). They are valued as workers and for the talents that they bring. As many of these Goblins are nomadic, they may often travel from country to country during their entire lives.
Subraces: Tunnel (Khableti) Goblins, Gobbers (Ghabi), Blue (Syluni) Goblins, Sky (Myluti) Goblins, Tinker (Burati) Goblins, Tasloi. Minor Subraces: Mongrelfolk, Norkers, Bakemono, Dekanter, Brain Goblins, Arachnid Goblins
Hobgoblins
The Hobgoblin people have adapted well to the modern world. Traditionally a highly tribal culture, Hobgoblins are valued for their skills as workers, soldiers, clergy, and even as advisors. Hobgoblins are about as common as Orcs are in nations all around Swargamara, and the two races share much in common with each other. The people who get along the best with Hobgoblins are Orcs, Humans, and their close relatives Goblins.
Hobgoblins are in the middle of the timeframe of the arrival of the major races. It’s thought that Hobgoblins actually came before Goblins did, which eliminates any theories of Hobgoblins being mixtures of Humans and Goblins. The history of the Hobgoblin people has many inconsistencies, often from the interpretations of many different rival tribes of the past. In modern times most of the tribes have been unified under various nations whether Hobgoblin nations or others.
Culture & Personality: Hobgoblins are a hard-working and determined race of people; they have a strong sense of pride and loyalty towards their respective tribes. But Hobgoblin cultural identity is hardly all about the tribes, as they respect individuality as much as other races do. Hobgoblin subraces originally determined the likely roles in society. Kurmeshk were usually shamans and mystics, Turmushk were usually the warriors and scouts, and the Zirmishk were usually the craftsmen and architects of Hobgoblin society. In attitudes of gender Hobgoblins always were egalitarian, always seeing it best that all members of the tribe contribute in many ways as they can.
Other subraces have appeared since those times, and the roles of the three subraces aren’t solidly set as they were before. Hobgoblins aren’t as big on traditionalism as other races are; they’re more about adapting and surviving. Often the places that Hobgoblins choose to live are quite inhospitable to life. Hobgoblins enjoy surviving in these places, and don’t prefer to tame such places. Many Hobgoblins become nomads due to such lifestyles, and tend to be more reclusive to other races.
But among other races, which many Hobgoblins live with, Hobgoblins often make a good portion of the working force. They prefer not to seek out positions of power and the concepts of nobles and aristocracy is something bothers many Hobgoblins. While there are such positions in many Hobgoblin societies, those positions usually have to prove themselves on merit, even after such positions are held. Hobgoblins have little respect for leaders who don’t mix with and sympathize with those below them.
Physical Description: Most Hobgoblin subraces resemble Humans with large noses and large pointed ears that go outwards, with a small set of tusks or fangs which protrude outwards. Their skin and hair colours range across many different shades of colours from all the primary colours to mixtures of two of them. Some Hobgoblin subraces have builds much like humans, but others are stockier or more powerfully muscled.
Nationalities: There are five major nations where the majority of the population are Hobgoblins.
Klalamusku – Is a barren and desolate industrial nation located in the inner layer, where workers constantly toil at mining and extracting ores and other materials that seem to regularly arrive here by planar anomalies. Klalamusku is a dangerous place to be in as streams of rock constantly pelt the islands and the very weather itself is dangerous. Despite its often squalid state, this nation is a very wealthy and powerful one. Klalamusku is indisputably the largest exporters of raw ore material in the world.
Ylerish – A deeply religious nation run by a powerful theocracy. It has a population of pilgrims and faithful, who spend much of their lives trying to interpret the teachings of this nation’s many eccentric prophets. Ylerish is also known for its highly volcanic nature, which has often claimed many lives. The theocratic council keeps its sects from fighting each other, and seeks to spread its religion among the world with its missionaries.
Qua-tethk – A powerful socialist nation which see itself as the vanguard of the ecomical philosophy, along with the Dwarven nation Druu’malar. Qua-tethk seeks to enlighten the rest of the world to its ways, which puts it at odds with many other nations, and is regularly blamed for being behind most revolutions in the world. Qua-tethk’s people are proudly loyal to its political ideals, and are known for intervening in world affairs.
Vramashik – Military might is the nation’s greatest strength as it contains some of the best fleets, armies and tacticians in the world. Almost every citizen of this constitutional monarchy is a member of its military. Vramashik’s government sells the services of its military to any nation which can meet its price. They will work for any side in a conflict, but will not attack their own forces on opposing sides of a conflict should they meet.
Odotankyk – The closest nation to the very core of the planet, Odotankyk is a very dangerous place to be. It has often been troubled by the mysterious forces from the toxic core, but for the most part contains these forces inside the nation. The tribal council of this nation has been entrusted by other nations to guard and learn about the core, keeping it well compensated with money and weaponry.
Other Nations – Hobgoblins tribes live in about every nation in the world, often having cultures which are a mixture of Hobgoblin culture and its respective nation’s culture. Hobgoblins are a rather common sight almost everywhere.
Subraces: Kurmeshk Hobgoblins, Turmushk Hobgoblins, Zirmishk Hobgoblins, Mimaghk Hobgoblins, Virmanth Hobgoblins, Xephs, Bugbears. Minor Subraces: Koalinth, Spiyashk, Grakanth
