The Hob: Parent of the Hobgoblin
by Sean MeaneyThe Hob is an Ancestor to the Elf (Specifically Elf, Sprite, Fairy) and the Hob is one of the parents to the Hobgoblin (the other being Goblin). But how do we get the Hob? Well we define the Hob as a Parent of the Hobgoblin – so let’s take the two D&D monsters we do have: The Goblin and the Hobgoblin, and generate a D&D Rules Cyclopaedia Entry we can build on.
| GOBLIN | HOBGOBLIN | HOB | |
| SIZE | Small | Medium | Large |
| AC | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| HD | 1-1 | 1+1 | 1+3* |
| MV | 90'(30') | 90'(30') | 90'(30') |
| AT | 1 Weapon | 1 Weapon | 1 Weapon + Curse |
| DA | Weapon +1 | Weapon +2 | Weapon +3 & Curse |
| NA | 2d6 (6d10) | 1d6 (4d6) | 0 (2d3) |
| SA | Normal Human | Fighter L1 | Fighter L2 |
| ML | 7-9 | 8-9 | 9 |
| TT | (R)C | (Q)D | (P)E |
| INT | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| AL | Chaotic | Chaotic | Chaotic |
| XP | 5 | 15 | 25 |
Here we have a Large creature – bigger than human so let’s say 6 ½’ – 7 ½’ tall. And on the family tree he is the ancestor of the Elf, Sprite, and Fairy and one of the two parents of the Hobgoblin so let’s look at the idea that the Sprite Curse power comes from its ancestor so we add a * to the HD of the Hob. But what of our Curse power? Well let’s look at the Hob as different from the Sprite who can put that curse on others – our Hob is the victim of a terrible curse that gets worse with experience. Now Goblins have a King with 3HD/15hp & 2HD bodyguards and Hobgoblins have a King with 5HD/22hp & 4HD Body guards – so our Hob should have a Hob king (Basically the Biggest Hob) with 7HD/29hp & 6HD Bodyguards.
Description: The Ancestor to elves, sprites, fairies and Hobgoblins; the Hob is the Neanderthal of Elves- physically stronger – and far larger even than humans (ranging from 6 ½’ – 7 ½’ tall).They are a damned people – where the Sprite has the power to curse others – the Hob is plagued by a horrible curse of increasing effect (see special abilities on experience progression table). The most powerful of the Hob is up to 7HD and defended by Bodyguards of 6HD.
Hob as a Character Class: Every Hob must have Strength and Constitution of 18 and may use any large weapon.
First off let’s look at what we do know – HD comes with a +3 bonus so let’s call that a 1d8+3 (or a +3 constitution bonus so a minimum Constitution of 18. Likewise Damage with a Weapon comes with a +3 Bonus so let’s call it a +3 Strength Bonus (or 18 Strength Minimum). His largest HD is equal to the King of Hobs so let’s call it 7HD limit. Our big Hob has a Save of Fighter L2 for every 1HD so let’s consider this guy to be big and tough – the Neanderthal of Elves. So his saving throws progress at twice the rate of the Fighter.
HOB EXPERIENCE PROGRESSION TABLE
| LEVEL | EXPERIENCE | TITLE | SPECIAL ABILITIES* |
| 1d8 | 0 | Hule-Bhe | Curse (sets fire to kindling or other dead/dry plant-matter on death) |
| 2d8 | 5,000 | Leaf-feller | Curse (cause the leaves to fall from a tree on death) |
| 3d8 | 10,000 | Tree-blighter | Curse (Causes a Tree to become blighted and diseased on death) |
| 4d8 | 20,000 | Wood-twister | Curse (causes a whole wood to become twisted and cruel on death) |
| 5d8 | 40,000 | Forest-plague | Curse (causes all the trees of a forest to become diseased on death) |
| 6d8 | 80,000 | Dynastic Guardian | Curse (A Black Unicorn emerges from corpse on death) |
| 7d8 | 160,000 | Erl-King | Curse (Limited Future Sight-can see own death 1/day) |
| 7d8+1hp | 240,000 | AR1 | Curse (Summer: Whole clan Ages +10 years – dominion territory becomes trapped in perpetual summer) |
| 7d8+2hp | 320,000 | AR2 | Curse (Autumn: Whole Clan age to Ancient on Death of Dynastic Heir-dominion territory becomes trapped in perpetual autumn if no new heir is produced within a year) |
| 7d8+3hp | 400,000 | AR3 | Curse (Winter: Whole Clan Perishes on Death without Dynastic Heir – all magical creatures in dominion territory die- dominion territory trapped in permanent winter) |
*CURSES CAN ONLY BE REMOVED BY A DRUID OF GREATER EXPERIENCE POINTS THAN CURSED HOB
HOB SAVING-THROW TABLE
| LEVEL | 1 | 2-3 | 4 | 5-6 | 7 | AR1 | AR2 | AR3 |
| POISON/DEATH-RAY | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| MAGIC WANDS | 13 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| TURN TO STONE/PARALYSIS | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| DRAGON BREATH | 15 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| SPELLS/MAGIC STAVES | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 |
ATTACK ROLL TABLE
| Level | AC9 | AC8 | AC7 | AC6 | AC5 | AC4 | AC3 | AC2 | AC1 | AC0 |
| 1 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 2 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 3 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| 4 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 7 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| AR1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| AR2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| AR3 | 2* | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
*Kill on a Natural 20
So anyway there is the Elder Elf - or Hob (which in proto-indoeuropean is Hule-Albho meaning 'Forest White or Forest Spirit - no that's not a spelling error- the Wight is originally White - a reference to 'albho' referring to Spirits, elves, etc. So a Barrow Wight of Lord of the Rings fame would originally be a Barrow Elf).