Homebrew Hobgoblin (Variant) Species Details

Hobgoblins belong to a family of creatures called goblinoids. They are often found lording over their cousins, the smaller goblins and the ferocious bugbears.

A hobgoblin measures virtue by physical strength and martial prowess, caring about nothing except the opportunity to demonstrate skill and cunning in battle. Hobgoblins of high military rank attain their positions by force, then hold those positions by imposing authority through draconian measures. Hobgoblins train to fight with a variety of weapons, and have great skill at crafting arms, armor, siege engines, and other. military devices. Organized and disciplined, they take exceptional care of their weapons, armor, and personal possessions. They favor the bold colors associated with their tribes, and trim their often-elaborate uniforms with blood-red piping and leather dyed black.

Hobgoblins organize themselves into tribal bands known as legions. In their martial society, every hobgoblin has a rank, from the powerful leaders and champions, to the rank-and-file foot soldiers, to the goblins that find themselves driven into the front lines at spear point. A legion is headed by a warlord with several captains serving under its command. A hobgoblin warlord is a ruthless tyrant more interested in strategy, victory, glory, reputation, and dominion than leading troops into battle. As loyal and disciplined as hobgoblins are in their own legion, rival legions compete constantly for reputation and status. Meetings between legions erupt in violence if troops aren't restrained, and only exceptionally powerful leaders can force legions to cooperate on the battlefield.

Hobgoblin (Variant) Traits

Militaristic, strict, and ruthless, Hobgoblins are strong and intelligent and are generally found in organized social structures in which they are ordering around lesser goblinoids.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength, Constitution, and Intelligence scores each increase by 1

Age

Hobgoblins tend to reach adulthood in their early teens and have a lifespan similar to humans

Alignment

Hobgoblin society is very rigid and militaristic. As such they tend toward lawful alignments, usually evil.

Size

Hobgoblins are similar in height to humans, and are slightly heavier. Your size is Medium

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet

Darkvision

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.

Hobgoblin Martial Training

You have proficiency with light armor and two weapons of your choice

Martial Adept

Because of your training, you can perform special combat maneuvers. You gain the benefits of the Martial Adept feat

Military Genius

Hobgoblins are extremely cautious to never expose weakness, especially in other Goblinoids or others who might exploit this. If you miss with an attack roll or fail an ability check or a saving throw, you can gain a bonus to the roll equal to the number of allies you can see within 30 feet of you (maximum bonus of +5). Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Goblin.