> From: Brad Thompson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> So basically somebody converted the Hobgoblin and Kobold to
> their current form, and it is not the traditional form. I
> can't say who did, but it has some pretty far-reaching
> implications if it was TSR.
If you look back at the early days of D&D, you can see the wargame roots
showing through in unexpected ways that persist down to us today - one
of those "through a glass darkly" deals.
Most of the goblinoid races map to traditional classifications of
infantry to oppose the Knights In Shining Armor and the Brave Peasant
Footsoldiers.
Orcs == light infantry
Bugbears == medium infantry
Hobgoblins == heavy infantry
Gnolls == skirmishers
A very long time ago, someone told me that the D&D Kobold was actually
an in-joke at TSR and something of an insult to a long-forgotten staff
member, but I can't cite ('cause I don't remember) the source of that
comment or who it referred to. The early days of D&D are full of such
in-jokes though (example: Drawmij, one of the "names" on spells, is "Jim
Ward" (now of Fast Forward Entertainment) spelled backwards.
I don't think Kobolds fall into the "infantry" spectrum above, because
they've always been described as kind of skulking michieveous
troublemakers rather than large armed bands.
Ryan
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