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Kobolds
Oct 29, 2012 7:12:10 GMT -6
Post by llenlleawg on Oct 29, 2012 7:12:10 GMT -6
For the sake of curiosity, what led to the decision to identify kobolds as "small, cowardly reptilian humanoids" (emphasis mine), accenting the reptilian angle by noting the chance of lizardmen and crocodiles to be in a kobold lair? That is, given the desire to emulate the original set, which is silent about the appearance of kobolds, save in treating them as lesser sorts of goblins, why the "evil lizardmen" approach? (I note also the restoration of gnolls as a cross between trolls and gnomes, so I presume this is not merely a concession to later artwork/development.)
Oh, and before anyone says so, I am perfectly aware I can flavor kobolds as I like in my own game!
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Kobolds
Oct 29, 2012 8:04:53 GMT -6
Post by Vile Traveller on Oct 29, 2012 8:04:53 GMT -6
I was wondering about this, also. In Blueholme kept close to Holmes's description of kobolds, which makes them much more like their traditional mythological stereotype. Did you go with the reptilian type because of the general perception of kobolds in the D&D community, or another reason?
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Kobolds
Oct 29, 2012 10:59:08 GMT -6
Post by talysman on Oct 29, 2012 10:59:08 GMT -6
I seem to recall an article somewhere discussing this. As I recall, it was the artist's decision to make them somewhat reptillian just to distinguish them from the endless others. The gnolls wound up as hyenas the same way.
Don't have a pointer to the article, though.
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Kobolds
Oct 29, 2012 13:46:01 GMT -6
Post by llenlleawg on Oct 29, 2012 13:46:01 GMT -6
I seem to recall an article somewhere discussing this. As I recall, it was the artist's decision to make them somewhat reptillian just to distinguish them from the endless others. The gnolls wound up as hyenas the same way. Don't have a pointer to the article, though. Indeed, but my question is something different, namely, why Delving Deeper, in trying to emulate the original books without reference to late developments (i.e. D&D in 1974), nonetheless went the "kobold as little lizardmen" path, rather than "kobold as evil dwarf-type goblins in mines," given, e.g. that it decided not to make gnolls hyæna-like, but rather, as in Monsters & Treasure, a cross between trolls and gnomes.
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Kobolds
Oct 29, 2012 13:51:24 GMT -6
Post by talysman on Oct 29, 2012 13:51:24 GMT -6
I seem to recall an article somewhere discussing this. As I recall, it was the artist's decision to make them somewhat reptillian just to distinguish them from the endless others. The gnolls wound up as hyenas the same way. Don't have a pointer to the article, though. Indeed, but my question is something different, namely, why Delving Deeper, in trying to emulate the original books without reference to late developments (i.e. D&D in 1974), nonetheless went the "kobold as little lizardmen" path, rather than "kobold as evil dwarf-type goblins in mines," given, e.g. that it decided not to make gnolls hyæna-like, but rather, as in Monsters & Treasure, a cross between trolls and gnomes. Yeah, I saw that, and thought about changing my answer, but decided I'd just let that stand for the general background and wait for the actual people involved with DD to say what they were aiming for. Sorry for the confusion.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Kobolds
Oct 29, 2012 14:13:32 GMT -6
Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2012 14:13:32 GMT -6
As a co-author of the material, I can't answer this question. My (very) rough draft went through several more edits before reaching release edition. Here is the text for that monster I originally submitted:
Apart from being weaker in hit points and shorter of stature, these beings are very much like their goblin cousins.
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Kobolds
Oct 29, 2012 15:29:47 GMT -6
Post by waysoftheearth on Oct 29, 2012 15:29:47 GMT -6
Hmm, that's probably one where the SRD was more influential than was strictly necessary. During the editing process I had to reconcile the draft text for every single monster, spell and magic item against what appears in the original and also the SRD (upon which DD is ultimately based). Anything which didn't appear by name in the SRD had to be either omitted or renamed (which is why you'll see quite a few of the spell and magic items names changed). For better or worse, the DD Kobold looks very close to the SRD one See www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/kobold.htm
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