Hobgoblins

The most numerous and organized of the Goblinoids. Hobgoblin society is built on fidelity to a rigid, unforgiving code of conduct. As such, they tend toward lawful evil.
War is the lifeblood of hobgoblins. Its glories are the dreams that inspire them. Its horrors don't feature in their nightmares. Cowardice is more terrible to hobgoblins than dying, for they carry their living acts into the afterlife. A hero in death becomes a hero eternal.
Young hobgoblins start soldiering when they can walk and heed the mustering call as soon as they can wield their weapons capably. Every legion in the hobgoblins' entire society forever stands prepared for war.

Basic Information

Growth Rate & Stages

Hobgoblins mature at the same rate as humans and have lifespans similar in length to theirs.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Hobgoblins hold themselves to high standards of military honor. The race has a long history of shared traditions, recorded and retold to keep the knowledge fresh for new generations. When hobgoblins aren't waging war, they farm, they build, and they practice both martial and arcane arts.
These trappings of civil society do little to conceal an underlying brutality that hobgoblins practice on each other and perfect upon other races. Punishment for infractions of hobgoblin law are swift and merciless. Beauty is something hobgoblins associate only with images of conflict and warfare.

Civilization and Culture

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

The iron grip their philosophy holds on their hearts blinds hobgoblins to the accomplishments of other peoples. Hobgoblins have little appreciation or patience for art. They leave little space for joy or leisure in their lives, and thus have no reserves of faith to call upon when in dire straits.
Other Goblinoids are frequently employed like Roman barbarian mercenaries.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Goblinoids

Average Height

4 feet 10 inches to 6 feet, 4 inches

Average Weight

114 to 270 pounds

Related Ethnicities

• Hobgoblin Empire residents

Hobgoblin

Ability Score Increase Constitution +2, Int +1.

Size Medium

Speed 30 ft

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Darkvision (Minor/Genetic). You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Martial Advantage (Major/Genetic). Once per turn, the hobgoblin can add their proficiency bonus to weapon damage to a creature it hits with a weapon Attack if that creature is within 5 ft. of an ally of the hobgoblin that isn't Incapacitated.
Ruthless Attacks (Major/Cultural). When you score a critical hit with a melee weapon Attack, you can roll one of the weapon’s damage dice one additional time and add it to the extra damage of the critical hit.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Elven and Goblin.