Which Kobold feels right to You?

[jodyjohnson]

Kobolds through the editions vs. average fighter types or magic missile.

BECMI:
1/2 HD (2.5hp), average character needs a '12' to hit and does 3.5 damage (Magic Missile 4.5), hits a level 1 fighter (chain and shield) with a '15' for 1d4 (2.5) or 1d6-1 (2.5) damage. Character HD are 1d4/1d6 and 1d8 with a max +3 Con.

AD&D:
1/2 HD (2.5hp), average character needs a '13' to hit and does 4.5 damage (Magic Missile 3.5), hits a level 1 fighter (splint and shield) with a '18' for 1d4 (2.5) or 1d6 (3.5) damage. Character HD are 1d4/1d6/1d8/1d10/2d8 and 1d12 with a +2 max Con for non-fighters and +4 for fighters.

2nd AD&D:
1/2 HD (2.5hp), average character needs a '13' to hit and does 4.5 damage (Magic Missile 3.5), hits a level 1 fighter (splint and shield) with a '17' for 1d4 (2.5) or 1d6 (3.5) damage. Character HD are 1d4/1d6/1d8/1d10/2d8 and 1d12 with a +2 max Con for non-fighters and +4 for fighters.

3.5 D&D:
1 HD (4hp), average character needs a '15' to hit and does 6.5 damage (Magic Missile 3.5), hits a level 1 fighter (scale, heavy shield, +1 Dex) with a '16' for 1d6-1 (2.5). Character HD are 1d4/1d6/1d8/1d10 and 1d12 with a +5 max Con for some races and +4 for other races.

4e D&D (Monster Vault):
Level 1 creature with 29hp, average character needs a '8' to hit and does 8.5 damage (Magic Missile 6), hits a level 1 fighter (plate and heavy shield) with a '14' for 1d6+3 (6.5) with a power to add 6. Character HP are Con + 10/12/15. Con ranges 8-20.

 

[Boarstorm]

Why the kobold, in particular?

 

[MatthewJHanson]

I thought it was going to be dogs vs. lizards, but this works too.

 

[Starbuck_II]

Kobolds through the editions vs. average fighter types or magic missile.

BECMI:
1/2 HD (2.5hp), average character needs a '12' to hit and does 3.5 damage (Magic Missile 4.5), hits a level 1 fighter (chain and shield) with a '15' for 1d4 (2.5) or 1d6-1 (2.5) damage. Character HD are 1d4/1d6 and 1d8 with a max +3 Con.

AD&D:
1/2 HD (2.5hp), average character needs a '13' to hit and does 4.5 damage (Magic Missile 3.5), hits a level 1 fighter (splint and shield) with a '18' for 1d4 (2.5) or 1d6 (3.5) damage. Character HD are 1d4/1d6/1d8/1d10/2d8 and 1d12 with a +2 max Con for non-fighters and +4 for fighters.

2nd AD&D:
1/2 HD (2.5hp), average character needs a '13' to hit and does 4.5 damage (Magic Missile 3.5), hits a level 1 fighter (splint and shield) with a '17' for 1d4 (2.5) or 1d6 (3.5) damage. Character HD are 1d4/1d6/1d8/1d10/2d8 and 1d12 with a +2 max Con for non-fighters and +4 for fighters.

3.5 D&D:
1 HD (4hp), average character needs a '15' to hit and does 6.5 damage (Magic Missile 3.5), hits a level 1 fighter (scale, heavy shield, +1 Dex) with a '16' for 1d6-1 (2.5). Character HD are 1d4/1d6/1d8/1d10 and 1d12 with a +5 max Con for some races and +4 for other races.

4e D&D (Monster Vault):
Level 1 creature with 29hp, average character needs a '8' to hit and does 8.5 damage (Magic Missile 6), hits a level 1 fighter (plate and heavy shield) with a '14' for 1d6+3 (6.5) with a power to add 6. Character HP are Con + 10/12/15. Con ranges 8-20.

You forgot Minion:
Kobold Tunneler
4 x Level 1 creature with 1 hp (miss deals no damage). average character needs a '8' to hit and does 8.5 damage (Magic Missile 6), hits a level 1 fighter (plate and heavy shield) with a '14' for 4 (4). Character HP are Con + 10/12/15. Con ranges 8-20.

They are most dangerous because they have appropriate hit chances and AC, but lower damage but more of them. So evens out to more damage if not killed.

 

[Umbran]

I'm not feeling any kobolds just to satisfy your curiosity. Feel your own darned kobolds!

 

[the Jester]

Poll fail; should be multiple choice.

All of the above are good, except that the 4e default IMHO is the minion, with all the rest being above average, exceptional kobolds.

 

[steeldragons]

Personally, I think the "Poll fail" comes from the fact that you are asking for the "feel" of the kobold and then go on to define each "type" of kobold in terms of numbers and stats...and that's all. That "feels" like something to you?

If this is an example of what constitutes a "feel" for anything in 5e, then I have fairly low expectations for the future of D&D.

 

[jodyjohnson]

Why the kobold, in particular?

Because it is the iconic less than a Hit Dice humanoid opponent and it is first on my list of humanoids I compared by edition.

I ran the numbers on the orc, gnoll, ogre, troll and hill giant by edition too.

 

[Mattachine]

Yep--the 4e default kobold, even in the first published adventure, is a minion.
Other kobolds are leaders or are exceptiobnal.

 

[jodyjohnson]

... the 4e default IMHO is the minion, with all the rest being above average, exceptional kobolds.

I would have listed the 4e minion kobold but the first encounter with kobolds in these published intro modules do not feature minions: Keep on the Shadowfell, The Slaying Stone, Scepter Tower of Spellguard.