Goblins

[Daniel Ferguson]

What versions of goblins have you seen in fantasy games? Have you seen many who have a taste for human flesh?

EDIT:

The reason I want to know regards plagiarism. But fairytale creatures are probably exempt, otherwise D&D would be in deep, as people tell me.

I'm a writer as well as a gamer, and I have goblins in my book (started 2010) which live in the mall and eat people's faces (or at least they're believed to - I could do a lot regarding perception vs reality, there). Then, just this last week, someone warned me about a recently published book, I assume from the UK, which has goblins in the underground too, and they have a taste for human. So I wanted to see if the concept is old, new, recycled, copyrighted, copyright protected, trademarked, whatever - and to see if it's been done that way in video games as well (or pen and paper).

Then there's Australian copyright law, which is pretty much automatic. But I don't think use of things like goblins, trolls, lizardmen, elementals, etc falls under copyright-able use anyway. Otherwise lots of fantasy writers would be in trouble too.

So yeah.

 

[Daniel Ferguson]

Doesn't have to be strictly fantasy, by the way.

 

[Dandark]

From what I have seen of them in games most of the time? I usaully hear "Goblins" and think of evil little monsters, there is a lot of them and they are usaully weak and easily dispatched. They have little civilization and are pretty much animals but slightly more sentient, they do however tend to have magic usaully in the form of shamans of some kind.

They are also most commonly green and terrorize the countryside with their greater numbers they overwhelm farmers and villagers who lack training and decent weapons.

 

[Krantos]

The Goblins in Jim Hines's Goblin books eat dead adventurers. That includes humans, obviously, but they prefer dwarves, since they can feed the lair for longer. You just need to pick out the hairs. Elves are ok, but they don't have much meat on them. Pretty much only good for soup.

Seriously, you should read the books. They're hilarious.

 

[Bobic]

Goblins are probably the worst unit in Heroes of Might and Magic 5: Tribes of the East. They get hit and their response isn't to hit back, no, they run off like the yellow bellied cowards they are. And then, if they lose a load of their buddies, the buggers swap sides. Traitorous scumbags.

 

[DoPo]

That's a strange question. I've seen many versions. Countless, even, since I really can't count them. Doesn't help that some works just use "goblin" to name (lesser mostly) evil enemies, regardless of their appearance/function/role. As for human flesh...I don't know. I wouldn't say I've seen many, but then again, lots of goblins are generic evil baddies, as I said, and aren't really described in absolutely full detail. Some of them could have also been attracted to human flesh, but were constantly wiped out before showing it.

Doesn't have to be strictly fantasy, by the way.

Wait, you mean we can also use real examples? I don't think I've seen many of them. None, actually.

 

[Ti0k0]

Appear in the movie Troll II, despite the title XD Also, the name of the town of said movie when read backwards in Troll II

 

[Insanity72]

From what I have seen of them in games most of the time? I usaully hear "Goblins" and think of evil little monsters, there is a lot of them and they are usaully weak and easily dispatched. They have little civilization and are pretty much animals but slightly more sentient, they do however tend to have magic usaully in the form of shamans of some kind.

I agree with this pretty much, When I hear goblin, I don't think of them eating human flesh, but it doesn't shock me when I do.

 

[Baralak]

From what I have seen of them in games most of the time? I usaully hear "Goblins" and think of evil little monsters, there is a lot of them and they are usaully weak and easily dispatched. They have little civilization and are pretty much animals but slightly more sentient, they do however tend to have magic usaully in the form of shamans of some kind.

They are also most commonly green and terrorize the countryside with their greater numbers they overwhelm farmers and villagers who lack training and decent weapons.

They're also the best cards to play in Magic: The Gathering, and one of my favorite races to play as in D&D!

 

[felbot]

they die to easily, not really that fun to kill, hell i prefer to kill rats above them.

theyre also pretty annoying with their squeaky voice.

 

[DoPo]

one of my favorite races to play as in D&D!

Meh, two stat penalty and not impressive race features: darkvision and small size. The skill bonuses are fair but all they have going for them is being sneaky. Do not want to be a goblin. Halfings are comparable...barely, since they are way better than goblins.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

I love the Dungeon Siege Goblins and the Warhammer Gretchins. The Dungeon Siege Goblins have machine guns and robots.

 

[Baralak]

one of my favorite races to play as in D&D!

Meh, two stat penalty and not impressive race features: darkvision and small size. The skill bonuses are fair but all they have going for them is being sneaky. Do not want to be a goblin. Halfings are comparable...barely, since they are way better than goblins.

Meh, Halflings are furry footed midgets only good for pie and delivering rings. Goblins? they'll sneak up behind you and gut your throat because you gave them a mean look a few days ago

 

[GiglameshSoulEater]

Dwarf Fortress goblins rescue kidnap your children, send theives and ambushes, and launch huge seiges. They are actually very useful, because they bring you metal to use after you take it from their corpse (goblinite).

 

[DoPo]

one of my favorite races to play as in D&D!

Meh, two stat penalty and not impressive race features: darkvision and small size. The skill bonuses are fair but all they have going for them is being sneaky. Do not want to be a goblin. Halfings are comparable...barely, since they are way better than goblins.

Meh, Halflings are furry footed midgets only good for pie and delivering rings. Goblins? they'll sneak up behind you and gut your throat because you gave them a mean look a few days ago

Meh, I knew a halfling who would also do that but the only condition that might need to be met is "It's Tuesday". He also planned to settle down and open a business. Like lead a band of thieves and murderers. Then he decided it might be fun to steal a church. The whole of it. Also wanted to start a new religion so people would worship him. And maybe even take a level in priest with himself as a deity.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

What versions of goblins have you seen in fantasy games? Have you seen many who have a taste for human flesh?

What an... odd question.

What versions? Tolkien, Greyhawk standard, Forgotten Realms standard, Planescape (so mildly steampunk, possibly wearing monocles), Pathfinder style (huge mouths).

Also, the goblins in Harry Potter. The ones in Jim Butcher's Dresden Files are the old-school Fairy style (ie, what Goblins originally were rather than Tolkien's version).

The ones in various Final Fantasy games. I won't include ones in games based directly on D&D, as that is rather redundant. The ones in Jeanne d'Arc (for PSP).

And... about 2/3rds of them eat human flesh.

Now, I have to ask... why do you ask?

 

[PinkiePyro]

:3 when I think goblins I think of
http://goblinscomic.com/

 

[Laser Priest]

Doesn't have to be strictly fantasy, by the way.

The edit button is your friend.

And... er... I'm generally visualize the small goblins with the big ears and long noses that are the punching bag of fantasy overall.

 

[saintdane05]

I think of the Goblins from Corruption of Champions. I'm not allowed to talk about Corruption of Champions

 

[[REDACTED]]

I think of the Goblins from Corruption of Champions. I'm not allowed to talk about Corruption of Champions

Looking back, I'm surprised linking to it didn't incur mod wrath. Or did it?