3.5e Kobolds are fodder

**agoraderek** · 06-25-2008, 12:53 AM

Originally Posted by tesral

Let's see. 0e D&D "Monsters and Treasure" Ugh, the monsters are not even in alphabetical order. How did we ever play this? By Hera's Hoary Hearthkeeping how? Well, no Kobolds. On to AD&D

they're there, they just lumped them in with goblins, look on the reference table under the listing "goblins/kobolds".

**Moritz** · 06-25-2008, 07:37 AM

I have always loved Kobolds. Kept them mostly intelligent and went along with the mythology that they were distant-distant relatives to dragons. Which motivated most of the Kobolds in my world to be more than just goblinoid grunts or cannon fodder. I've even used several as goodish/neutral NPC's which became party members. Often being sorcerers or rogues.

**tesral** · 06-25-2008, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by Moritz

I have always loved Kobolds. Kept them mostly intelligent and went along with the mythology that they were distant-distant relatives to dragons. Which motivated most of the Kobolds in my world to be more than just goblinoid grunts or cannon fodder. I've even used several as goodish/neutral NPC's which became party members. Often being sorcerers or rogues.

The Nag's Head Adventuring Club has a Kobold named Entree that is the club cook. He does a good job too.

**kaibrightwing** · 06-26-2008, 07:43 PM

i can make a small group of kobolds make mid-level adventuring group fear kobold and when you have a group of venten players say "oh shit" to kobold than you have a monster that good at any level.

**Greylond** · 07-08-2008, 11:43 PM

Two Words: Tucker's Kobolds
http://tuckerskobolds.com/

Anything less and you're doing a disservice to Kobolds...

**agoraderek** · 07-08-2008, 11:50 PM

Originally Posted by Greylond

Two Words: Tucker's Kobolds
http://tuckerskobolds.com/

Anything less and you're doing a disservice to Kobolds...

yep. that's what i'm talking about...

**Tomcat1066** · 07-09-2008, 05:21 AM

I've come to believe that in large enough numbers, anything goes from fodder to serious threat to most adventurers. Couple that with the tactics I've already learned from this thread, and kobolds will be dangerous in the hands of any DM

**Kilrex** · 07-09-2008, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by Greylond

Two Words: Tucker's Kobolds
http://tuckerskobolds.com/

Anything less and you're doing a disservice to Kobolds...

Very nice, my fav baddy is the Kobold and Tucker did proper service to them. As the group goes up in level, I don't make Kobolds more powerful, just smarter and better organized.

**fmitchell** · 07-09-2008, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by Greylond

Two Words: Tucker's Kobolds
http://tuckerskobolds.com/

Anything less and you're doing a disservice to Kobolds...

Yes, thanks for posting this. Players and GMs forget that knowing how to use the environment for tactical advantage can matter more than having a +5 Sword of Deep Hurting.

**Greylond** · 07-09-2008, 11:57 AM

One thing to keep in mind, a community of monsters of any kind is going to fight to protect their lair as viciously as they can. The ones that don't disappear. The ones that are left over are the most effective ones. Think of it as Evolution in Action...

**Dragon2605** · 08-06-2008, 07:57 AM

Kobolds can be quite dangerous when played by a really good DM. They can also cause party destruction by really bad rolling by the players.

**Thriondel Half-Elven** · 08-07-2008, 10:27 PM

i agree with ron. they are just fodder. Either being used to fill a low level dungeon. or used as fodder by a larger, more evil foe

**Dragon2605** · 08-08-2008, 03:45 AM

Tucker's Kobolds must have been a very painful experience. It goes to show what wienie lil kobolds in the hands of good DM can do to a party. However, they are generally fodder.

**DMMike** · 08-08-2008, 09:36 AM

Okay DMs, I want answers.

Why do kobolds need to be the fodder? There are plenty of humanoids to fill that half CR - humans, dwarves, hobgoblins...most of them, actually.

(d20SRD.org puts kobolds at 1/2CR, but my 3.0 MM puts them at 1/6...right next to donkeys)

**tesral** · 08-08-2008, 11:38 AM

It all comes down to how the DM handles the encounters. A badly run Dragon can be fodder. It really does comes down to how you do it, not the stats of the monster itself.

On the face of it, 1/2 CR, means fodder. Run them straight at the PCs in an endless line of direct frontal assaults and yea, fodder city. Place them in holes behind traps and attack sneaky like and not fodder.

I could clear Tucker's Kobods. It would be a major assault, It woul;d cost a bit of money. it would not leave much behind me, but there wouldn't be Kobolds any more either.

Yes and no, Koblds are as tough and sneaky as you make them, or not as the case may be.