MarkB
Legend
I like me a comic-relief goblin or kobold, I really do. They can lighten the mood of a campaign. But then, so can a comic-relief ogre.
Making the entire species comic relief really is missing the point of them.
Personally, whilst I like the way Eberron structured goblinoid society, I think that, in general, lumping goblins, hobgoblins and bugbears together doesn't really do any favours for any of the individual races.
I'd prefer to see goblins out on their own. Yes, they share some DNA with hobgoblins, and yes, hobgoblins will keep goblin slaves when they can get them, but the larger part of the goblin population form a separate society, and hobgoblins, despite their greater strength and martial prowess, know better than to venture into goblins' home warrens in anything less than overwhelming force, else few of them would ever emerge alive.
Making the entire species comic relief really is missing the point of them.
Personally, whilst I like the way Eberron structured goblinoid society, I think that, in general, lumping goblins, hobgoblins and bugbears together doesn't really do any favours for any of the individual races.
I'd prefer to see goblins out on their own. Yes, they share some DNA with hobgoblins, and yes, hobgoblins will keep goblin slaves when they can get them, but the larger part of the goblin population form a separate society, and hobgoblins, despite their greater strength and martial prowess, know better than to venture into goblins' home warrens in anything less than overwhelming force, else few of them would ever emerge alive.