The 2001 3E supplement Monsters of Faerun (WoTC) contains another example of the lengths some will go to degrade the goblin race. Ominously, one of the authors of this book is none other than Rob Heinsoo, lead designer of 4^th Edition D&D.  

The entry on Dekanter goblins notes that this new race bears “little resemblance to the small, cowardly humanoids from which they were created.” 

Which is it? Do goblins boldly attack all gnomes and dwarves on sight, or are they cowardly? Whichever makes them sound worse, it would seem.  

It is also worth noting at this time a crime of omission in the 2002 Deities and Demigods (WoTC). Apparently, goblinoids are so unimportant that their grand deity, Maglubiyet, the Mighty One, the Battle Lord, the Lord of Depths and Darkness . . . isn’t even worthy of mention. 

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We conclude our look into the history of prejudice against the Goblin race by considering the end-all be-all exemplar of what goblins have become in Dungeons and Dragons. I am, of course, speaking of the 3E module The Sunless Citadel (WOTC, 2000).

The goblins in the adventure live quietly in the Citadel. No mention is made of attacks on the nearby town of Oakhurst; the goblins do not ambush merchants, raid farms, or anything of that sort. There is mention of such things happening many, many years ago, but in the last forty years – nothing. 

No, all the goblins at the Citadel do at this point, as far as the humans are concerned, is “ransom” a magical piece of fruit to the highest bidder of the nearby town.  

One must wonder why the authors did not write “sell” instead of “ransom”; apparently these infesting goblins have no right to private property. Even more amusing is their description of the transaction: “Usually, the fruit sells for around 50gp, which is all the townspeople can bring themselves to pay a goblin.” Charming. This fruit heals those who suffer from disease or other ailment. How much does a Potion of Remove Disease run for, again? Oh, that’s right – 750gp. The only thing these goblins have done wrong is fail to read the section on magic item pricing in the Dungeon Master’s Guide.

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