Source —
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Master’s Guide
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook
https://dungeonsdragons.fandom.com/wiki/Kobold
https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/16939-kobold
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Kobold
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobold_(Dungeons_%26_Dragons)
https://mythology.net/mythical-creatures/kobold/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/kobold
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Artwork —
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/lRagqo
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/kDOV1K
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/15KEo
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/5oEKA
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Kobolds are craven reptilian humanoids that commonly infest dungeons. They make up for their physical ineptitude with cleverness for trap-making and interesting tactics in combat.
Kobolds appeared as monsters alongside goblins, orcs, and trolls in the 1971 wargame Chainmail, as part of Gary Gygax’s “fantasy supplement” inspired by The Hobbit and other fantasy novels. This supplement inspired the first editions of Dungeons & Dragons in 1974, where kobolds appear again. In these early appearances, they are only described as creatures similar to goblins.
These small creatures are a scourge to adventuring progress as diminutive, weak humanoids, who will compensate for their weakness with cunning traps. They are famous in Dungeons & Dragons lore for being examples of weak, cowardly, and wicked, often being amongst the weakest creatures that any adventurer faces.
Kobolds are essentially self-interested cowards, with no concept of loyalty or trust, and often with a giant chip on their shoulder. They rarely fight fair: only overwhelming numbers are considered “enough,” and they use traps, ambushes, and poisons to secure a victory at any cost.
Kobolds are often recruited into the forces of bigger, stronger humanoids, such as goblinoids. They have a particular affection for dragons, and can often be seen serving them. Kobolds and gnomes share a passionate hatred of each other, as both favor tricks and creative tactics when fighting, rather than direct assault. They may domesticate dire weasels and wild boars to serve as guardians in their lairs.
Kobolds have an antagonistic relationship with goblins, and frequently war with the creatures. These creatures are usually Lawful Evil. They are organized and cooperative, but thoroughly nasty to anything outside of their clan, and even to each other much of the time.
While in sunlight, the koebold has a disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Perception checks that rely on sight. The koebold has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the koebold’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.
Koebolds in Forgotten Realms are aggressive, insular, yet industrious small humanoid creatures. They were noted for their skill at building traps and preparing ambushes, and mining. They were distantly related to dragons and urds and were often found serving as their minions.
Koebolds were resentful of their short stature and hated members of other races who poked fun at them for this. Most felt as though they ought to compensate for their small size in other ways, such as humor or aggression. They would naturally tend to hate larger creatures, and although they would show respect and obedience if required, they always looked for ways to display their resentment.
The ultimate goal of the koebold race was to conquer as much land as possible. They would plan and dig mines industriously, while laying cruel traps for interlopers, preferring an ambush to direct confrontation. If they ever confronted an enemy, they would try to overwhelm foes with sheer numbers. Among the monstrous humanoids, they were known for cunning plans, and unlike many others, would also share those plans among the entire tribe. General plans and goals would be common knowledge, and detailed plans were shared with all who asked to allow them to work fruitfully for the good of the tribe. Their society was influenced by their lawful evil alignment. Koebolds were confident and happy to remain separated from the other races.
Koebolds lived in the dark, ideally underground or thick forest, in tribal societies. Their lairs were often overcrowded, although when one tribe became too numerous, it split into numerous smaller ones. The overcrowding eliminated the concept of privacy, so koebolds slept in communal areas where nudity was not regarded as shameful or offensive, even to the opposite sex. Koebolds wore clothing for function or ritual, but not to prevent nudity. The common overcrowding often led to konflict, and two koebolds would fight to settle their differences, although these fights were not usually lethal. This led to a lack of deep-rooted divisions or grievances in koebold society.
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