Goblin

The convoluted histories other people cling to don’t interest goblins. These small folk live in the moment, and they prefer tall tales over factual records. Goblin virtues are about being present, creative, and honest. They strive to lead fulfilled lives, rather than worrying about how their journeys will end. To tell stories, not nitpick the facts. To be small, but dream big. Many goblins enjoy simpler delights like songs, fire, and eating, and hate reading, dogs, and horses. Other goblins might have more complex pursuits, though, such as tinkering with scraps or concocting snacks and explosives from most anything.

If you want a character who is eccentric, enthusiastic, and fun-loving, you should play a goblin.

You might…

Strive to prove that you have a place among other civilized peoples, perhaps even to yourself.
Lighten the heavy emotional burdens others carry (and amuse yourself) with antics and pranks.

Others probably…

Work to ensure you don’t accidentally (or intentionally) set too many things on fire.
Wonder how you survive given your ancestry’s typical gastronomic choices, reckless behavior, and love of fire.

Physical Description

Goblins are stumpy humanoids with large bodies, scrawny limbs, and massively oversized heads with large ears and beady red eyes. Their skin ranges from green to gray to blue, and they often bear scars, boils, and rashes. Goblins average 3 feet tall. Most are bald, with little or no body hair. Their jagged teeth fall out and regrow constantly, and their fast metabolism means they eat constantly and nap frequently. Mutations are also more common among goblins than other peoples, and goblins usually view particularly salient mutations as a sign of power or fortune.

Goblins reach adolescence by the age of 3 and adulthood 4 or 5 years later. Goblins can live 50 years or more, but without anyone to protect them from each other or themselves, few live past 20 years of age.

Society

Goblins tend to flock to strong leaders, forming small tribes. These tribes rarely number more than a hundred, though the larger a tribe is, the more diligent the leader must be to keep order—a notoriously difficult task. Play and creativity matter more to goblins than productivity or study, and their encampments erupt with songs and laughter.

Goblins bond closely with their allies, fiercely protecting those companions who have protected them or offered a sympathetic ear. Goblins tend to assume for their own protection that members of taller ancestries, which goblins often refer to colloquially as “longshanks,” won’t treat them kindly. Learning to trust longshanks is difficult for a goblin, and it’s been only in recent years that such a partnership has even been an option. Goblins keep their names simple. A good name should be easy to pronounce, short enough to shout without getting winded, and taste good to say. The namer often picks a word that rhymes with something they like so that writing songs is easier.

Sample Names: Ak, Bokker, Frum, Guzmuk, Krobby, Loohi, Mazmord, Neeka, Omgot, Ranzak, Rickle, Tup, Wakla, Yonk, Zibini

Beliefs

Even the most well-intentioned goblins have trouble following the rules, meaning goblin adventurers are often unsure whether they’re on the right side of the law. Organized worship likewise confounds goblins, and most of them would rather pick their own deities, choosing powerful monsters, natural wonders, or anything else they find fascinating—sometimes even attributing deific status to fellow goblins of note. Goblins who spend time around people of other ancestries might adopt some of their beliefs, though, and many goblin adventurers adopt the worship of Cayden Cailean.

Popular Edicts invent songs for every occasion, turn trash into your treasures, solve problems with fire

Popular Anathema trust a dog or horse, learn to read

Hit Points

Size

Small

Speed

25 feet

Attribute Boosts

Dexterity
Charisma
Free

Attribute Flaw

Wisdom

Languages

Common
Goblin
Additional languages equal to your Intelligence modifier (if it’s positive). Choose from Draconic, Dwarven, Gnomish, Halfling, Kholo, Orcish, and any other languages to which you have access (such as the languages prevalent in your region).

Traits

Goblin
Humanoid

Darkvision

You can see in darkness and dim light just as well as you can see in bright light, though your vision in darkness is in black and white.

Goblin Heritages

Goblins, especially those of different tribes, have all sorts of physiological differences, which they often discover only through hazardous “experiments.” Choose one of the following goblin heritages at 1st level.

Ancestry Feats

At 1st level, you gain one ancestry feat, and you gain an additional ancestry feat every 4 levels thereafter (at 5th, 9th, 13th, and 17th level). As a goblin, you can select from the following ancestry feats.