Kobold
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Kobolds are spirits of German folklore. The name comes from the German word kobalt or kobold meaning "evil spirit", and is often translated in English as goblin.
The most common version, Heinzelmännchen, is similar to Robin Goodfellow and brownies: as household elves of ambivalent nature, they sometimes perform domestic chores, but play malicious tricks if not appeased (Hinzelmann is a particular example).
Kobold is often used in German to translate the word 'Leprechaun', a type of Irish fairy goblin.
Another type of kobold, more similar to the gnome, haunts mines and other underground places. The name of the element cobalt comes from kobold, after the poisonous and troublesome nature of the typical arsenical ores of this metal (cobaltite and smaltite) which polluted other mined elements (compare nickel).
For kobolds in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, see Kobold (Dungeons & Dragons).
- Conversely, in many computer and video game based RPGs, Kobolds are a race of anthromorphic 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.
- Neil Gaiman's novel American Gods returns to the traditional legend, depicting Hinzelmann as a benevolent, yet "closet-vengeful-homicidal" spirit that guards an apparently perfect small Wisconsin town at a price.
- 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 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.
- The Skaven fill a role similar to kobolds in the Warhammer Fantasy universe
- In the fantasy novel Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke, one of the main characters is a kobold. However, she is called a "Brownie" in the English version. (She has a humanoid shape, but furr and a head like a cat)
- In the fantasy novel Revenge of the Shadow King by J S Lewis and Derek Benz, kobolds are mercenaries hired by Morgan La Fey. They can see through solid objects and are resistant to iron, which kills other faeries. They are a kind of goblin with armor, used to working in mines.
- In the MMORPG Ragnarok Online, Kobolds are small, blue dog-like creatures who walk on 2 legs and weild an array of weapons ( Axes, flails, etc ).