Kobolds in gaming

The first role-playing game, Dungeons & Dragons, depicted kobolds as a race of weak humanoid monsters formed into primitive tribes populating the sorts of beginning dungeons explored and looted by low-level adventurers. In other words, they were an early example of mooks, watered-down orcs with no real chance of winning any fight. As role-playing expanded into other game lines and eventually computer gaming, this precedent was carried over and kobolds are still almost always depicted as weak and ineffectual. The poor Kobold's role as the perennial loser of fantasy role-playing is so long established as to have become something of a recognized running gag among gamers.


 * For more information on kobolds in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, see Kobold (Dungeons & Dragons).


 * In many computer and video game based role-playing games, Kobolds are a race of anthropomorphic dogs that primarily dwell in forests and often use swords and bows as weapons. The Suikoden and Lufia series both use this depiction, as does the anime series Record of Lodoss War.


 * In the open-source, text-based game NetHack, kobolds are common, medium-sized monsters of weak power.


 * In Mythic Entertainment's Dark Age of Camelot players are able to play a Kobold character if they choose the Norse realm of Midgard. These Kobolds are not the yammering, doglike wimps portrayed by many modern games.  Dark Age of Camelot's Kobold race is blue-skinned, mischievous, and on a similar intellectual footing with the average Norseman.  Mythic was likely inspired by the likes of smurfs and gremlins.


 * The publication of Kobolds Ate My Baby by 9th Level Games features kobolds as dog-like, yet comical creatures with an insatiable omnivorous appetite. They are extremely stupid, lead by King Torg (All Hail King Torg!), and worship Vor the Big Red God of Anger.


 * In the Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game by Palladium Books, Kobolds are a race of accomplished smiths, who stand about 3-4 feet tall and are given to cruelty. The kobolds look mostly human, though with pointed features and ears.


 * In the video game series Xenosaga, Kobolds are portrayed as a type of Gnosis that resemble a humanoid lizard with long scythe-like claws.


 * In the video game series Quest for Glory, A Kobold Magic User has captured the Baronet Barnard von Spielburg and transformed him into a bear.


 * In the video game series suikoden theyare proud dog warriors that fights for the hero. They are living in the kobold district of the two-river city and kobold village mainly.


 * In the Warcraft series of games, Kobolds are a race of ratlike burrowers, who often appear as villains. However, the games also include goblins and gnomes, and the three races fit the same rough pattern (diminutive race which is skilled in early technology). Kobolds are less developed than gnomes and goblins. In World of Warcraft Kobolds are low level enemies generally found in caves and mines, who greatly treasure candles.


 * The Skaven fill a role similar to kobolds in the Warhammer Fantasy universe


 * In the MMORPG Ragnarok Online, Kobolds are small, blue dog-like creatures who walk on 2 legs and wield an array of weapons ( Axes, flails, etc ).


 * In Final Fantasy XI Kobolds are a race of earth spirits enslaved by Evil Weapons, which use them to more easily manipulate their environment.


 * In Magic: The Gathering Kobolds are a group of three 0 casting cost red creatures in the set Legends. There are the Crimson Kobolds, Kobolds of Kher Keep, and Crookshank Kobolds.  There are also three 2 casting cost creatures that give them either a +0/+1 toughness boost and trample (Kobold Drill Sergeant), first strike (Kobold Overlord), or a +1/+0 power boost (Kobold Taskmaster), all of which were printed in Legends as well.  It is important to note that the three creatures that enhance kobolds are not, in fact, kobolds themselves, and don't gain the bonus.  In addition, there is a legend, Rohgahh of Kher Keep, who gives all Kobolds of Kher Keep +2/+2, but if you don't pay {R}{R}{R} during your upkeep, an opponent gains control of Rohgahh and all your Kobolds of Kher Keep, tapped.