So, I've never created a kobold character before...but I freaking love their look & style, perhaps more-so than Dragonborn.

During one of my gaming groups campaigns, one of my friends designed a kobold Sword Bard named Drazil...and he was LEGENDARY.

Obsessed with worshipping any "great" dragon, he was fond of rushing into combat, shouting "DRAZIIIIIL" while brandishing his blade...and he honestly was pretty damn good at dispensing damage.

He would bristle & grow belligerent if anyone referred to him as a "lizard"...he even had a "Magic Mouth" enchantment on his shield, so that if anyone said "lizard", it would correct them and say "Dragon!".

Pretty unique dynamic with our party, too...my character was a Gnome Fighter, so the two of us had a "hate / rivalry" with one another, which became begrudging respect...I suppose you could summarize it as the one time when Drazil slit my throat and ended up healing me for a massive amount (he had taken a Grave Cleric multiclass).

Anyway.

I want to test the waters of a kobold character...and I am at a loss to how to play it.

At a glance, they make good rogues...their Dexterity bonus is a good investment, and the loss of Strength doesn't really matter...plus, the rogue features mesh well with a kobolds innate preference for evading conflict.

If I were to go this route, I would consider either a "Scout" or a "Swashbuckler" rogue...and be your typical kobold who has been forced to fend for themselves on their own.

Then, there is Paladin...while not a Strength build, a kobold Dexterity-based paladin would be interesting...either flicking a whip or dual-wielding.

Roleplaying a kobold paladin opens up great opportunities for backstory...are they a kobold who worships Tiamat, and is a Conquest Paladin who seeks to dominate the land for their goddess?

Or are they a convert to Bahamut, which is why they have forsaken their own people, and now swear an Oath of Devotion or Ancients to preserve the land?

I'm entertaining the notion of a kobold spellcaster as well...using the "Inheritor" background, maybe they were taken in by a Wizard or Bard mentor, who educated them & showed them their Art...giving the kobold their spellbook or musical instrument upon their untimely demise (I like this concept; if only because it gives a heartfelt reason why a kobold is alone & adventuring).

The Unearthed Arcana "Order of Scribes" wizard would be particularly interesting...perhaps the kobolds mentor perished, but some part of them still lingers within the spellbook...thus, the kobold borrows their expertise when utilizing their own magic.

And then, there is Monk...the appeal of a small creature kicking ass with hands & feet is a cool concept...Open Hand gives the kobold credibility...but a Astral Self Monk is quite a unique concept for a kobold...perhaps their "astral arms" manifest as dragon claws, representing the kobolds desire to tap into their draconic ancestry.

I'd like some feedback on what classes or backgrounds suit a kobold character...anything you've found works well, or something I might have missed.

If nothing else, than to inspire some ideas.

When I saw this, I knew it was time:

"... when there are so many interesting and unique character options, like a kobold paladin who prays to asteroids right before they crush an unfortunate man's cabbage cart"

                     --- JoCat, slightly paraphrased

When people say funny kobold character, that is what I imagine.