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While checking what enemy minis I need for the upcoming solo fantasy Lasting Tales I spotted that hobgoblins are also listed there. That led me to creating this topic. I am very curious about people's views of the hobgoblins. Please share your thoughts about them, like what is a hobgoblin to you, how should it look or be armed etc. Also what minis do you use or are looking for.

Let us begin with the obvious answer.

 Inquisitor Gideon wrote:
Let us begin with the obvious answer.

I mean t really depends on what game/system I'm playing.

If it's WHFB, then they are just slightly larger, lankier goblins and are armed similarly. Or like the Hobgrots from the Dominions starter which I am REALLY thankful for as getting old metal Sneaky Gits for my Chaos Dwarfs is prohibitively expensive.

In D&D, I mean the Monster Manual describes them as a more marshal culture wearing heavy armour and are skilled Beast Masters. So most likely they will either be riding strange mounts or leading packs of animals into battle.

My general and totally non scientific feeling has always been Hobgoblin is to Goblin what Black Orc is to Orc.

My first exposure to Hobgoblins was in 1st grade, 1980. A kid at the play ground was describing the scene of a dungeons and dragons game being played, where someone was tied to a tree and a hobgoblin was viciously butchering its victim.

So, my entire impression of them is tainted by that introduction.

Though honestly after that, everything that has used the Hobgoblin name outside of those early days of D&D has been a disservice to the concept. They seem little more than speedbumps on the way to bigger prizes. Lacking any unique qualities or even character to distinguish them from a goblin or an orc or a gnoll or any other thing that has been later collected into what is known known as "Goblinoids".

They have no resemblance to their ancient folklore roots of a diminutive hairy fairie/goblin in any later use of their concept.

They are an ephemeral concept without a solid conceptual home. Shame.

The first time I remember seeing hobgoblins was, I think, in baldur's gate, back in the day.

So I definitely have an image of them as being sort beefy red guys with horns.

I don't know what a hobgoblin is and at this point I'm too afraid to ask.

 lord_blackfang wrote:
I don't know what a hobgoblin is and at this point I'm too afraid to ask.

A goblin with a hobby

 Azreal13 wrote:
My general and totally non scientific feeling has always been Hobgoblin is to Goblin what Black Orc is to Orc.

I think this is sort of what wargaming makes of it. In folklore, they were basically fae folk, but starting with Tolkien the idea of Hobgoblins being goblins +1 is fairly consistent. They're part of a sort of continuity of evil humanoids: kobold<goblin><hobgoblin><orc><black orc><gnoll><ogre><giant

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