On a craggy clifftop peppered with jagged rocks, a legion of hobgoblin soldiers stands at attention, regimented rows forming intricate patterns like a deadly mosaic. Their imposing figures are silhouetted against the crimson sky as the sun sinks below the horizon, bathing their polished armor in bloodred hues. At an unseen signal, the legion moves as one, splitting into smaller cohorts that march down separate paths along the mountainside. An orchestra of rhythmic bootfalls and clinking metal creates a macabre battle hymn, echoing through the valley below.
These militaristic humanoids may seem like mere cannon fodder at first glance, but experienced adventurers know better than to underestimate hobgoblins. Behind their martial discipline lies razor-sharp cunning and strategic intellect. Hobgoblins have menaced dungeon delvers since the inception of D&D, and their rich lore has evolved across multiple editions of the game.
Origins of the Hob: Fey Ancestors and the Curse of Strife
In the current edition of D&D, hobgoblins trace their ancestry back to the Feywild. Long ago, they dwelled as solitary fey beings attuned to various aspects of nature and the primordial magic of that plane. Hobgoblins embodied loyalty and reciprocity, the cornerstones of the Feywild's intricate social rules. Their senses of duty and honor would later be twisted under the cruel domination of Maglubiyet.
Eons past, the goblinoid god Maglubiyet conquered the hobgoblins’ pantheon and forced them into exile on the Material Plane. He brutally conditioned them into the militaristic, regimented society known today.Maglubiyet’s methods inflicted a curse of strife upon all goblinkin, making them prone to infighting and treachery. Only by maintaining order through discipline can hobgoblins resist the curse.
Some hobgoblins managed to break the curse’s grip, achieving clearer minds and kinder dispositions. Many abandon their warlike brethren to wander as adventurers, while others seek to reform hobgoblin civilization from within. These “enlightened” hobgoblins offer story hooks for playing against stereotypes.
The Roots of Elf Animosity
Hobgoblins harbor an intense, deeply-ingrained resentment toward elves. Scholars propose numerous origins for this enmity:
- Elves represent the beauty of nature and the Feywild – things forever denied to hobgoblins due to Maglubiyet’s influence. Their very existence stirs up hobgoblin anguish.
- As creatures still connected to primal fey magic, elves draw on power hobgoblins can never regain after Maglubiyet severed their link. Their jealousy boils into hatred.
- Hobgoblin lore tells of elves stealing vital fey secrets or lands from them ages ago. Though the grudge outlived the truth, hobgoblins still crave vengeance.
- Elves oppose the violent conquest hobgoblins view as their purpose, forcing disastrous military losses upon them repeatedly throughout history.
No one knows the full truth behind the ancient grudge. But hobgoblins' fixation on elf-slaying makes them predictable pawns for those seeking to eliminate elven leaders.
The March of Progress: Hobgoblin Evolution Across Editions
Hobgoblins have remained remarkably consistent in their core identity as martial strategists across multiple editions of D&D. However, key aspects of their background have evolved over time:
- 1st Edition: Hobgoblins as larger goblin variants with dark orange skin and blue noses. Not much society lore.
- 2nd Edition: Strictly regimented legions arise, led by warlords and captains. Deep elf hatred established.
- 3rd Edition: Hobgoblin lore expanded. Links to goblinoid god Maglubiyet introduced, explaining elf feud.
- 4th Edition: Maglubiyet now an exarch of Bane. Magic purely for combat.
- 5th Edition: Retconned origin as fey beings. Maglubiyet conquered their pantheon.
Despite changes to their origin story, hobgoblins retained their iconic militaristic culture, tactical mastery, and burning hatred of elves through each iteration.
Form and Function: Hobgoblin Traits and Abilities
Hobgoblins’ racial traits reflect their orderly, regimented society oriented around combat. Their features allow them to operate in lockstep on the battlefield. Let’s examine some of their abilities:
- Fey Gift: Take the Help action as a bonus action to aid an ally. At 3rd level, this confers additional benefits like temporary HP or enhanced movement.
- Fortune from the Many: When you miss an attack or check, draw on your bonds to gain a bonus equal to the number of visible allies (max +3).
- Martial Training: Proficiency with two martial weapons and light armor.
- Saving Face: When you miss an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, gain a bonus equal to nearby allies (max +5).
- Darkvision: See in dim light as if it were bright and in darkness as if it were dim.
Hobgoblins leverage cooperation and reciprocity to function seamlessly as military units. Fey Gift and Saving Face reward tightly packed formations. Darkvision allows reliable night attacks. Martial Training provides discipline and weapon mastery.
Squad Goals: Building Effective Hobgoblin Units
Hobgoblins operate in well-defined units that mirror real-world military hierarchy:
- Fire Teams: Units of 4-5 soldiers.
- Squads: 2-3 fire teams (8-12 soldiers). Led by a sergeant.
- Platoons: 2-4 squads (16-50 soldiers). Led by a lieutenant.
- Companies: 4-6 platoons (80-250 soldiers). Led by a captain.
- Battalions: 4-6 companies (400-1500 soldiers). Led by a major.
- Regiments: 2+ battalions. Led by a colonel.
- Legions: Entire armies (5000+ soldiers). Led by a general.
Each hobgoblin has an assigned position, allowing them to maneuver seamlessly. Use minis or tokens to track positions!
Call of Duty: Hobgoblin Battlefield Roles
Hobgoblin units include warriors filling key battlefield roles:
- Grunts: Regular infantry armed with longswords and shields. The backbone of hobgoblin might.
- Archers: Ranged support troops wielding longbows. Pick off enemies from a distance.
- Champions: Elite warriors seeking glory in combat. Charge headfirst into the fray.
- Warcasters: Spellcaster artillery, bathe enemies in fire and lightning.
- Siege Engineers: Construct weapons like catapults, ballistas, and rams for breaching fortifications.
- Cavaliers: Mounted warriors riding worgs for shock attacks.
- Rangers: Scouts and spies who infiltrate enemy lands.excel at ambush.
Varying unit composition prevents your players from getting complacent! Use minis or tokens to distinguish roles.
Shields of Glory: Hobgoblin Tactical Formations
Hobgoblins employ coordinated formations, leveraging teamwork:
- Phalanx: Soldiers form a tight formation with shields interlocked and spears thrusting out. Slow moving but nearly impervious from the front.
- Shield Wall: Interlocked shields provide cover from ranged attacks. Spearmen attack from gaps between shields.
- Box: Soldiers cluster in a square, shields facing outwards on all sides to fend off encirclement.
- Pincer: Attempts to flank and surround enemies in a pincer movement. Soldiers charge from two directions to crush foes.
- Wedge: Troops form an arrowhead formation and charge enemies head-on. Excellent for breaking through lines.
- Skirmish: Loose formation, soldiers take cover and look for openings. Used when outmatched.
Describe formations vividly to immerse your players! Draw diagrams on a battlemap or use minis to depict the shapes.
Setting the Stage: Crafting Hobgoblin Lairs and Strongholds
Hobgoblins aggressively fortify any territory they seize. Their strongholds utilize grunt work from goblin slaves:
- Mountain Citadels: Carved into cliffsides and outfitted with crenellated battlements. Treacherous slopes and bone pits guard the approaches. Designate areas of the stronghold for different units to be garrisoned.
- Desert Fortresses: Adobe or sandstone walls surround an oasis. The life-giving spring within makes the fort a prized possession. Labyrinthine halls help defenders repel invaders.
- Subterranean Forts: Carved into the Underdark and outfitted with booby traps. Excellent for housing slaves and launching raids. Remember that hobgoblins have darkvision.
- Forest Encampments: Temporary timber palisades and spiked ditches encircle vital forest resources. Rangers ambush intruders from the treetops. The camp position shifts frequently.
- Urban Garrisons: Stone towers house troops occupying a conquered city. Soldiers patrol the streets intimidating citizens into submission. Secret tunnels allow covert movement.
- Temples to Maglubiyet: Vast underground chambers adorned with bas-reliefs depicting conquests and blood rituals. Pilgrimages by high-ranking hobgoblins take place regularly.
Glory on the Battlefield: Notable Hobgoblin NPCs
Every great hobgoblin leader has tales of legendary exploits that inspire their soldiers. Here are some compelling antagonists:
- Urtok Steelshatter – A hobgoblin warlord encased in nigh-impenetrable black plate armor. He crushes foes with his mighty warhammer Skullthumper.
- Vyldara Shadowstep – A hobgoblin rogue who excels at infiltration and espionage. She can pose flawlessly as different humanoid races.
- Xanathar the Beholder – A tyrannical beholder crime lord served by legions of hobgoblin enforcers. He annihilates rivals with his disintegration eye ray.
- General Xaath of the Bloody Blade – A cunning tactician seeking to conquer an elf kingdom. She leads from the front atop her fiendish red dragon mount.
- Urdolim the Undying – A hobgoblin cleric who discovered the secret to lichdom. He terrorizes the land with undead shock troops.
- Vaniferax the Spell-Eater – A hideous hobgoblin demon summoner. He sacrifices captives to open portals that unleash horrors upon the world.
Conclusion: March Onward to Glory
With an understanding of their lore and tactics, hobgoblins become truly formidable foes and intriguing player characters. Their disciplined formations are thrilling to recreate on the tabletop. Remember that well-laid plans and strategy can challenge high-level parties more than any monster's brute force.
Next time your players hear regimented bootfalls, let them know that the sons of Maglubiyet march to war once more! Conquest awaits!
