PC Goblins for D&D 5E

Hiddenawayineverycornerofdarkness,lurkingineverycornerofthedarkforest,scurrying
downeverybackalleyandoccupyingeverycaveandtunneltheycan,goblinsarefound
everywhere.Theyareperhapsthemostcommonofalltheraces,themostadaptableandthemost
variedofthemall.Thoughsmallandyoung,thegoblinshavearemarkablytenacityand
clevernesstosucceedevenindefeatandkeepsurvivinginaworldthatseemsdriventodestroy
them.

Pint-Sized Wildmen
Thefirsttwowordsthatcometopeoplesmindswhenoneimaginesagoblinareprobablyshort
andugly.Theyareaverysmallrace,standingbetween3to3andahalffeettall,nolargerthana
child.However,theyhavesmall,powerful,athleticbodieslikelargemonkeys,capableof
surprisingspeedandagility.Theyweighperhapsbetween40and45poundswithvirtuallynosize
differencebetweenmalesandfemales.
Theyhaveanynumberofoddfeatures.Mosthaveverylargeandlongpointedears,sharplittle
teeth,longlimbsandeyesthatgleaminthedark.However,thevastvarietyintheirkindmean
thatvarioustribesshowotheramazinglydiversefeaturessomearenearlyhairless,othersare
nearlyfurry,somehavelongandhooklikenoses,othershavenonosesatall.Theirskintoneis
oftentintedyellow,greenorgray,butothersarepossible.Thehairtheyhaveisalmostalwaysjet
black,butvariousotherdarkcolorshavebeenseen.
Goblinsusuallydontspendmuchtimecaringfortheirappearance.Oftentheyarefilthy,rarely
bathingandhavingterriblesanitaryhabits.Theyareoftendressedthefilthyandtorndiscarded
garmentsofotherraces,thoughthosethatliveinthewildmaywellskintheanimalstheykilland
weartheirhidesdoinglittletotreatortanthemproperlycausingthemtorotupontheirvery
bodies.Goblinsalwayscarryeverythingtheyownontheirperson,buttheyalsotendtoconsider
noboundarybetweentheirowngoodsandthoseoftheirtribeandhappilyturnoveranythingthey
arentusing,expectingotherstodothesame.

You Only Live Once

Theperspectiveofagoblinisonethatisverydifficultforonetrulygrasp.Goblinshavebrutally
shortlives.Bytenyearsoldtheyarefullymatureadultsandfewgoblinseversurviveafourth
decade.Althoughgoblinsareoftenseenasunintelligentandimmature,thetruthisthatthey
simplydontmatureemotionallyorintellectuallyfasterthananyoneelsedespitematuring
physically.Thismeansthattheyareoftenleftwithaverychildishperspectiveontheworld.
Theyworldishostiletogoblins.Justabouteveryotherracelooksuponthemasmorean
infestationthanapeople,peststhatareslaughteredwithonlythemostsillyandtenderhearted
givingmuchconcerntothemoralimplications.Tostayalive,agoblinlearnsassoonastheycan
walkthattheymustbequickandtheymustbequiettolivetoseetomorrow.
Andyet,evenattheirmostwicked,opportunisticordestructive,theyouthfulvibrantenergyof
thegoblinshinesthrough.Theylovetheillusionofdanger,theylovethethrillofafight,
particularlywhentheyoutnumbertheenemyandhavetheadvantage,theylovetoplaypranks,

theylovetogainpoweranduseitirresponsibly,theyloveadventureandwhatevershinythings
theycanlaytheirfingerson.Theytendtohavelittleinthewayofmodesty,theydontcareabout
privacy,theycanbeshamelesslylecherousandtheyhavenoqualmsaboutbeingdishonest,
underhanded,ortreacherousinfacttheytakegreatprideinpullingoneoveronsomeoneelse
whowasfoolishenoughtofallfortheirtrickery.Solongasoneultimatelyactsforthegoodof
thetribe,orthepartyforthatmatter,nothingelsecouldpossiblybewrong.

Communal Life
Goblinslivenotonlyintheworstconditionsofanyrace,butalsousuallylivetogetherwithafew
dozenothergoblins.Theylive,eat,workandsleepwithalltheirkinincommunaldens,onlythe
chieftainbeingseparatedfromtheothers.Tothemthereisntarealseparatinglinebetweentheir
owngoodandthegoodofthetribe.Theybondwiththeothersaroundthemonaveryintimate
level,abletoreadtheirthoughts,emotionsandfeelingswithouttheneedofwordsoractions.
Goblintribesdontdomuchtokeeptheirhomescleananditisntunusualforthestenchtogetso
badthatotherracescannolongerstandwithinthemwithoutfeelingill.Thisstenchoftenclings
togoblinsregardlessofhowoftenotherstrytocleanthem.
Thechieftainofagoblintribeisvirtuallyalwaystheeldestofthetribeandusuallyconsideredthe
grandfatherofthemajorityofitsmembers.Sometimesapowerfulsorcererorshamanborn
amongthetribecanamazetheothersenoughtowinovertheaffectionsoftheirpeersandseize
control,butitIsrelativelyrare.Evengoblinsthatserveasslavestoanotherraceorforwhoman
outsiderhasappointedthemselveschieftainstillchoosealeaderamongthemselves.Theyare
acutelyawareoftheirstatusandorderwithinthetribeandarealwayslookingtoearnahigher
status,willingtotryanythingfromheroictotreacheroustoachievethis.

Sneaky and Devious

Goblinsarehardlyatrustworthylot,theycannotaffordtobe.Theyaresuspiciousofothersand
tendtolookforanyadvantagetheycan.Theywilllie,cheatandstealfromotherswithlittle
regardtotheconsequences.Althoughfiercelyloyaltotheirgroup,theyarehappytodoublecross
anyoneoutsideofitwiththelittlestofprovocations.Theylookforwaystotakeadvantageof
theirsizeandnimblenessineverysituationandarequicktorunwhentheycannotfindawayto
doso,findingitbettertogiveupandspendtheirenergyonsomethingmorefruitfuloratleasttry
againoncetheyhaveabetterplan.
DwarfsDwarfsarealwayssoangryandserious.Andtheyarealwayslookingtokillyouover
absolutelynothing!Killthemfirstorkeepclearandunlessyououtnumberthemtwotoone,be
readytorunifyoueverseethemreachfortheiraxe.
ElvesTheyaresoweirdandcreepywiththeirmysticalmagicalstuff!Theyactallarrogant,
haughtyandvain,butbeneathitalltheyarentmuchdifferentthanus,butIbetyouifagoblin
had400yearstolive,theydbealotsmarterandhavedonealotmorethananyelf.
HalflingsTheyaresoboring!Anddumb.Atleasttheyusuallyarentouttokilluslikeeveryone
elseandtheycanmoreorlesstakeajoke,buttheyllfallforeverytrickinthebookandstillkeep
thatdumbsmileplasteredontheirfaces.
HumansThenicestthingaboutthesebig,bumblingoafsisthattheymakeniceplacesforusto
live.Everyoneoftheircitieshasadozendifferentplacesforustocarveoutadenrightunder
theirfeet.Andtheythrowsomuchawaythatwecanmakeuseof!Theirgarbageheapsarefullof
treasure.Somehumansareasquicktokillusasdwarfs,othersareaspatientashalflingsand

theproblemisyoucannevertellwhichiswhich.Itisbettertokeepyourdistanceiftheyareold
enoughtobebiggerthanyou.

Goblin Names
Goblinnamesaregivenatbirthand,sinceGoblinsareoftenborninlittersof35,allGoblins
borntogetherareusuallygivensimilarnames.WhileGoblinstrytoputacreativeflareonthe
namestheygivetheirchildren,therearesomanyGoblinsbornthatitisinevitablethatthereare
manywiththesamenames.
Insteadofhavingfamilynames,Goblinsareoftennamedaftertheirtribes.Thetribenamesare
oftenlongconsistingofmultipleGoblinwordsstrungtogether,becauseofthisgoblinstendto
onlyusetheirgivennameandthentrytoearnatitleornicknameandstartusingitinsteadoftheir
tribename.
MaleNames:Avc,Azdis,Bana,Buyuk,Drek,Geko,Gemble,Gizlilik,Guc,Hancer,Jazz,Kan,Kurnaz,Ledak,
Mildo,Mzrak,Nos,Ragnuk,Ruya,Tak,Xotz,Yigitlik,Yldz,Zafer,Zorbin,Zust
FemaleNames:Asuk,Ayuh,Bahar,Bebek,Bizou,Buyu,Cicek,Civciv,Gercek,Gezgin,Gunduz,Huzur,Isk,Izzy,
Kar,Kiraz,Ks,Lenme,Menekse,Ota,Ruh,Ruzgar,Seftali,Sonbahar,Umut,Yaz,Zambak
TribeNames:Arankhuisoyeo,Bodintuner,Dogshinkhusuryn,Gashunzagas,Guivjdaivsan,Idegchnibiyema,
Kharchikhni,Khuchteibulan,Naidvarjad,Sarnynud,Shonintsereg,Tsustkhutga,Ulanbukh

Traits
Yourgoblincharacterhassometraitsincommonwithallothergoblins.
AbilityScoreAdjustments:YourDexterityScoreisincreasedby2.
Age:Goblinsmatureatnearlytwicetheratehumansdo.Agoblinofeven10yearsoldcouldbe
consideredanadult.Goblinstendtolivefairlyshortandfastlives,eventheluckysurvivorsrarely
makeitintoafifthdecade.
Alignment:MostGoblinstendtowardsNeutralEvil.Theirgeneralbehaviorincludessomevery
chaoticelements,butisbalancedbytheirloyaltytotheirgroupandputtingtheneedsofthetribe
abovetheirown.Andyet,theirdesperatestruggleforsurvivalmeansthatthereisnearlynolimit
totheevilstheyarelikelytoexerciseuponthoseoutsidetheirtribe.
Size:Theaveragegoblinisabout3andahalffeettallandtheyweighinatabout45pounds.
YoursizeisSmall.
Movement:Yourbasewalkingspeedis30feet.Youareabitfasterthanothersmallhumanoids.
DarkVision:Youareusedtocrawlingaroundindarktunnelsandnavigatingdarkforestsinthe
dimofnight,givingyousuperiorvisioninthedarkness.Youcanseeindimlightwithin60feet
ofyouasifitwereinbrightlightandindarknessasifitwereintimlight.Youcan'tdiscern
colorsindarkness,onlyshadesofblackandwhite.
NimbleStep:Opportunityattacksmadeagainstyouaremadewithdisadvantage.
Sneaky:YouhaveadvantageonDexterity(Stealth)rolls.
Languages:Youcanspeak,readandwriteCommonandGoblin.Goblinshavetheirown
languagethattheymoreorlesssharewithBugbearsandHobgoblins.Therearedialect
differences,buttheycanbeovercomewithsomeextraeffort.However,theracesdonotsharea
script.WhileHobgoblinsuseacomplicatedpictographicscript,Goblinsuseasimplephonetic
scriptusingheavilymodifiedDwarvencharacters.

Subrace:Thetwosubracesthatliveonthesurface,forestandhill,aremoreliketwobroad
categoriesseparatedbybothenvironmentandculture.,thoughsometribesareamixofthetwo.

Forest Goblins
Asaforestgoblin,youareathomeinthedeepwoods,whethertheybeatemperateforest,a
swelteringjungleoradankswamp.Althoughprimitive,youcansurviveamongthemanylarger
andmoremenacingcreaturesbyyouruniquekinshipwiththebeaststhatalsocalltheseplaces
home.
Forestgoblinstendtowardsgreenerskinandlargerearsandnoses.Theytendtohavethin,
scragglyblackhairandmanytribaltattoos.Theyareusuallydressedinthehidesofanimalsthat
servedaspreviousmealsandmightwearbonesasjewelry.Forestgoblinsareparticularlyfamous
fortheirfearsomewolfridersandtheirpowerfulshamansanddruids.
AbilityScoreAdjustment:YourWisdomscoreisincreasedby1.
AnimalKinship:YoucanuseWisdom(AnimalHandling)onwildanimalsasiftheywere
domesticatedanimals,calmingthem,controllingthemorkeepingthemaspets.Youmayalsouse
anyanimallargeenoughtocarryyouasamountevenifithasntbeenbredortrainedforit.
PrimitiveWeaponTraining:Youhaveproficiencywithwhips,shortbowsandnets.In
addition,whenyoumakeattackswithbasicspearsdeal1additionaldamage.

Hill Goblins
Asahillgoblin,youprobablyliveunderthefootoreventheheelofanotherhumanoidrace.
Perhapsyougrewupasaslave,perhapsyougrewupinthecityhiddenawayintheabandoned
structures,alleysorsewers.Ormaybeyougrewupasahighwaybandit.Yourlifehasbeenone
ofhidingandslippingoutofthegraspofpeoplebiggerandstrongerthanyou.Youavoidfights
unlessyououtnumberyouropponentsandatwhichtimeyouexcelatganginguptobeatandrob
them.
Hillgoblinsusuallyhaveyellowororangeskinwithsmallpuglikenoses.Theyusuallyhave
thickreddishbrownorblackhairandbrightredoryelloweyes.Theyusuallydressinscavenged
clothingdesignedforotherracesandcrudelymodifiedtofittheirbodies.Despitelivinginfearof
largerraces,whoconstantlyseemtoseektoslayorenslavethem,theyalsothemostopento
interactingwithotherracesinanoncombativewaymostgoblinswhoworkalongsideother
racesarehillgoblins.
AbilityScoreAdjustments:YourCharismascoreisincreasedby1.
Slippery:YouhaveadvantageonDexteritychecksorsavingthrowstoescapegrapples,restraints
orattacksthatimpedeyourmovement.
MobTactics:Yourattackbonusisincreasedby1againstenemiesengagedinmeleewithyour
allies.

Goblins of the Underdark

Downinthebellyoftheearthlietribesofgoblinsthatareconsiderablymoresuccessfulthan

theirsurfacebrethren,butalsomorebrutalinsomeways.Thecavernorgloomgoblinsoftenlive
incommunitiesnumberinginthehundredsoreventhousandsintheruinsofancientabandoned
citiesruledoverbyaking.Thesegoblinsaremoreproductivethantheirsurfacedwelling
cousins,growingfungiandmining,orenslavingotherstodothesetasksforthem.They
occasionallydoraidsagainstdwarforgnomecitiesorevenraidingthesurfaceinthedeadofthe
night,slaughteringmanybeforetheyknowthereisanattackandtakingawayalltheycancarry,
includingtheweakest,oftenchildren,toworkastheirslavesoreventobefattenedandthen
slaughteredandeatenaslifestock.Amongtheirnumberareskilledsmithsandpowerfulsorcerers,
makingdefeatingthesegoblins,especiallyintheirtrapladendwellings,animpossibletask.
Whilesurfacegoblinscancomeacrossascomical,anencounterwiththesecreatureseasily
makesoneunderstandthehatreddwarfsandgnomeshaveforgoblinkind.