[Need donation of ideas] Goblin species tree

CheertheSecond

The second coming of CheertheDead
Joined
Nov 15, 2022
Messages
1,498
Points
153
You know that there are countless subspecies of goblin and goblin types in pop culture, right?

I want to create species tree for my goblin but is more focused on goblin's pop characteristics of being weak individually but are many. Hence, I want these goblin subspecies to be less about a super strong goblin like hobgolin, goblin champion like in the some of the more popular series.

For example, instead of suggesting for a goblin subspecies like a goblin champion which is pretty much a giant ogre, I would prefer to create my subspecies like a tree goblins that are more adapted to living on the trees or goblins that are shorter and smaller but have venomous nails.

I want being weak and many being the species' most prominent features with subspecies do not stray away from these traits.
 

TheEldritchGod

A Cloud Of Pure Spite And Eyes
Joined
Dec 15, 2021
Messages
3,445
Points
183
Well...
Gold Goblins, Silver Goblins, Copper Goblins, Green Goblins, Wood Goblins, High Goblins, Valley Goblins, Dark Goblins, Moon Goblins, Void Goblins, Shadow Goblins, Fire Goblins, Water Goblins, Sea Goblins, Earth Goblins, Air Goblins, Ash Goblins, Spider goblins... off the top of my head.

Then you got the warhammer route: Snotlings & Gretchens are sub orcs, so make them sub goblins.

Mutate the crap out of these goblins. Combine them with fun things. Snail Goblins. Goblins that grow a massive nautilus shell they carry on their backs they can use to carry shit and hide inside.

Make them into tools. This is the Lampry Goblin. A Goblin with no bones that you stick to the underside of a boat to suck off all the algae and eat all the barnacles.
 

Cipiteca396

Monarch of Despair 🐉🌺🪽🌊🪶🌑🐦‍🔥🌈
Joined
Jun 6, 2021
Messages
2,702
Points
153
The only subtype I have listed in my oldest list is a type of ironworking, nature aligned (possibly fae) creature. It specifically notes that they can't enter cultivated land or civilized places.

I also have 'Kabloomie Goblins' as the typical artificer type that appears in warcraft.

Gremlins might also be a goblin subrace in some stories.

Maybe typical templates as well, so demonic, angelic, draconic, undead, ghostly, ethereal, astral, psionic, aberrant, Dire(like a goblin Neanderthal?), skinchanger-therianthrope, vampiric, druidic, divine, constructed-animated, elemental, climate-terrain, mutant-servants of *insert monster*, and Monstrous HumanGoblinoid(Harpy, Centaur, Lamia, Mergoblin).

As far as therian/beastkin/whatever goes, I think a hivemind type of bug or whatever might fit very well. Ant Goblins, Bee Goblins, so on.
 
D

Deleted member 166076

Guest
You could do what I do. Just give them the same classes as adventurers. Archers, elementalist, swordsman, etc. Adventurers still form parties most of the time, so there is still that feeling of being a collective. Plus, the goblins still remain goblins with all their fundamental weaknesses and strengths remaining the same. Just now they can fight slightly more skilled with a bow or sword.
 
D

Deleted member 19066

Guest
Slightly hairy goblin, minutely warmer in the winter.

Camo goblin, nothing magical or supernatural, they just like to bathe in mud and compost making them blend into the forest foliage.
 

Cipiteca396

Monarch of Despair 🐉🌺🪽🌊🪶🌑🐦‍🔥🌈
Joined
Jun 6, 2021
Messages
2,702
Points
153
You could do what I do. Just give them the same classes as adventurers. Archers, elementalist, swordsman, etc. Adventurers still form parties most of the time, so there is still that feeling of being a collective. Plus, the goblins still remain goblins with all their fundamental weaknesses and strengths remaining the same. Just now they can fight slightly more skilled with a bow or sword.
I actually strongly suggest NOT using classes as racial subtypes. Every single goblin of the Forest Goblin subtype should have access to any class a normal adventurer could have.
 
D

Deleted member 166076

Guest
I actually strongly suggest NOT using classes as racial subtypes. Every single goblin of the Forest Goblin subtype should have access to any class a normal adventurer could have.
Our stories are allowed to work differently? The basis of how things work in my story makes it so a goblin being evolved using light magic would make it make more sense for them to just be a healer than say a glowing goblin like with the moonlight slimes that you get when you combine light magic and slimes. Also, in my story, even basic goblins can use weapons and non-awakened individuals can use weapons too. Having the official class just allows you to get class skills to be more proficient and have special attacks with the weapons. After all, knights exist in non-magic stories.
 

Cipiteca396

Monarch of Despair 🐉🌺🪽🌊🪶🌑🐦‍🔥🌈
Joined
Jun 6, 2021
Messages
2,702
Points
153
Our stories are allowed to work differently?
I don't disagree.

I just personally loathe the concept of race being linked to class. Technically I loathe the concept of classes as well, but there can be instances where classes can be kinda charming at times.
I've never seen a single good reason why race should equal class, unless it's just a cultural thing. (Like, a Fighter Goblin isn't actually a Fighter or even better suited to being a Fighter than another Goblin, it just comes from a culture that values fighting to the extent of naming its species 'Fighters'. That's kinda nice lore.)

Its just something that makes me unduly angry. You don't need to mind it.
 
D

Deleted member 166076

Guest
I don't disagree.

I just personally loathe the concept of race being linked to class. Technically I loathe the concept of classes as well, but there can be instances where classes can be kinda charming at times.
I've never seen a single good reason why race should equal class, unless it's just a cultural thing. (Like, a Fighter Goblin isn't actually a Fighter or even better suited to being a Fighter than another Goblin, it just comes from a culture that values fighting to the extent of naming its species 'Fighters'. That's kinda nice lore.)

Its just something that makes me unduly angry. You don't need to mind it.

Ah, misunderstanding then. I meant it didn't need to be a racial change such as in re:monster but could be more of a change like in Skyrim. Doesn't make much sense for them to stop being goblins to me anyhow. Ogres and orcs should just be separate entities in the first place.
 
D

Deleted member 19066

Guest
Nosey goblin very good sense of smell, likes to be clean good hunters.

Picky goblin very sensitive taste buds. Can identify ingredient and poison by taste. Great alchemists.

A picky and nosey goblin are excellent chefs.
 

Zenomew

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 1, 2023
Messages
283
Points
83
Goblins are basically mutant human considering how many books show them kidnapping human girls to reproduce
So maybe humans can evolve into goblins via magic?
 
D

Deleted member 19066

Guest
Collapsible skeleton goblin can fit in the tiniest places.

Related to sweaty palms goblins
and their cousins the greasy and slimy goblins that sweat an oily lubricant from their skin. (no practical application)
 

BearlyAlive

I'm not savage, you're just average
Joined
Oct 13, 2021
Messages
1,976
Points
153
Just do the same as lazy worldbuilders do with their fantasy setting: Add "Goblin" in front of everything as they do with magic. Magic carriage, magic air fryer, magic missile. Goblin carriage, goblin air fryer, goblin missile. Problem solved.

Or mash words with goblin like ghostblin, rockblin, smithblin, cookblin, toastblin, seablin
 
Top