Homebrew Kobold (Playable/variant) Species Details

A Kobold Bard wanders the streets, absently plucking a simple tune on a fiddle almost as tall as him.

"You're quite comical looking aren't you?" a female voice asks. A voice he knew well.

"Rim?" the Kobold asked, looking up, "that's a rather rude thing to say, don't you think?" The Tiefling he spoke to laughs before sweeping him off his feet into a tight embrace. The Kobold struggles for a second before returning the gesture.

"I've missed you Kesk, where you been?" the Tiefling asks, setting the Kobold back down again.

"I could ask you the same thing," Kesk says, brushing dirt off his clothes.

"Yeah, got into some Grimweld clan trouble again," Rim says.

"Again?"

"I know. What a surprise."

"Well, it's good to see you."

"You too. Shorty," Rim says with a snicker.

"Hmf… Maybe not entirely good." 

---

 

Kobolds are often dismissed as primitive, foolish, and weak, but these little reptilian creatures have a strong social structure that stresses devotion to the tribe, are clever with their hands, and cunningly and relentlessly work together to overcome their physical limitations. Whether they live as nomads, in the slums, in deep and complicated tunnel systems, or even made it in high society, Kobolds prove their worth in every situation they can.

Half-sized Dragon Kin

 

Kobolds stand roughly between two and three feet tall. They have a tail, something that sets them apart from Dragonborn, that normally is about a foot long but can grow to be just over two. Small horns dot their faces along their cheek-bones growing larger the higher up on the head they are. They normally have only three fingers and opposable thumbs, as well as four toes, including an opposable one, that helps with maneuverability all ended in sharp claws. Kobolds come in all sorts of colors based on the environments they're from (See chart on page _). They also showcase backward bending knees, sharp pointed teeth, and large, brightly colored reptilian eyes. 

Some kobolds are born with wings but most of the time they are too small for the Kobold to be able to fly. If they can fly they are slightly slower in the air than on the ground with a flying speed of 20. Kobolds with the capability of flight are often called Urds. Urds can be revered as one of the most useful of the pack or envied and spited by those around them.

Kobold fashion features a lot of layered and often colorful cloth. Both male and female Kobolds enjoy wearing elaborate turbans, often with beads, gold, and gems strung about as well. All Kobolds love gems and gold, much like the dragons they descend from, and love to flaunt and hoard as much as they can find… or steal.

 

Kobold Names

 

Kobold naming conventions come from short and clever words derived from ancient Draconic. A Kobold will generally only have one or two first names/nicknames, have family titles or surnames, and often add their tribe's name at the end if they have one. Often these family and tribal names are long and have more of a flourish to them. Nicknames can come from virtues, characteristics, or mannerisms and can be just as important as a Kobolds first name.

Male Names: Akk, Dok, Gerza, Jerix, Kesk, Kiff, Kop, Krou, Kun, Kurt, Quid, Riks, Senn, Skik, Ten, Vip.

Female Names: Asut, Bobo, Daei, Dim, Enit, Fen, Fiz, Fo, Izzo, Khel, Kitse, Kin, Taz, Tezz, Vix.

Nicknames: Acceptance, Green, Herb, Hunt, Javelin, Nip, Pelt, Prophet, Puzl, Quill, Quiver, Red, 'Scape, Silv, Stack, Trance, Trinket, Trust, Wick, Wit, Zeal.

Family/Tribal Names: Tzulin-Redfire, Searridan, Flanet-Odir, Molted-Kiln, Irontail, Jadesk-Storm, Wethonnd, Faarelost, Santreduul, Croufell-Wadertai, Tura’lu-Turalei, Tikth-Yellowmeadow.

 

A Lost God

 

While Kobolds revere Dragons, they used to have a god whom they still worship named Kurtulmak. He used to serve as the vassel of Tiamat, the Dragon queen in the Nine Hells. But one day the Gnome god Garl Glittergold stole a trinket from Tiamat and when she sent Kurtulmak to retrieve it he was tricked and buried in an endless maze. Kobolds still have a large distaste for Gnomes and pranks, and Kurtulmak's most dedicated worshippers devote themselves to finding and freeing their lost god from his prison maze.

 

Adventurers

 

Kobolds turn to adventure for a variety of reasons but for many, it's just a way of life. Many Kobolds have an inherent wanderlust and set out to make a name for themselves outside of their small-knit communities. Some find their way into dungeon delving, with their inherent familiarity with caves and tunnel systems. Or they may turn to thieving and pillaging, trying to make the treasure hoard they've always wanted. Others pick up jobs wherever they can find them. 

 

Kobold Color Chart

 

Red	Mountains/Canyons/ Mesa
Orange	All/Mesa
Yellow/Gold/Brown/ Sandy	Deserts/Savannah (Sunlight sensitivity doesn't apply)
Lime-Dark Green	All/Forests/Plains
Teal/Aqua-Green	Rivers/Coastal
Midnight Blue/Black	Underdark (Gives advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks or attack rolls in darkness.)
White/Silver	Tundra/Mountains

 

Uncommon Races

 

Unlike other uncommon races like Dragonborn, Tieflings, and Gnomes, there are a lot of  Kobold in the world. Still, they are considered uncommon since they have no real nations or any recognized unities with any other nations of the world. They are seen as marauders, bandits, pirates, travelers, hermits, but not unified peoples'. 

You may find a clan of Kobold in a dungeon you were set out to explore, or some may pass through your city or town for trade and as a resting place, but you'll probably never find a Kobold-made city with a population of  10,000-15,000 with trade routes and regulations with neighboring towns and cities. 

Different places view Kobolds differently since they all have their own experiences with them. Some small towns might not even know what they are at all. But, generally speaking, Kobolds aren't seen as a huge threat at first glance. If offputting by their draconian appearance, their small stature and physical quandaries might even rub off as comical to some.

(The images shown do not belong to me. Credit for the small avatar goes to Rosalie on Pinterest and the big one's credit is to Genarro Rogers on Pinterest.)

Kobold (Playable/variant) Traits

As a Kobold you have a couple of specific traits that reflect the strengths and weaknesses of this race.

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.

Age.

They can live to be 120 though most don't end up living past 40 or 50 due to often dangerous lives.

Alignment.

They also tend to be more on the lawful side, devoting to and relying on what is best for the clan is one of the main aspects of their culture.

Size.

Your size is Small.

Speed.

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Pack Tactics.

You have advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of your allies is within 5 feet of that creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.

Sunlight Sensitivity.

 You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.

Oposable Toes.

At level 3, you no longer need to use extra movement to climb up and down surfaces. Additionally, at level 5, you can use Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks to climb instead of Strength (Athletics) checks.

Languages.

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