From: djdaneh@pbhyc.PacBell.COM (Dan'l DanehyOakes)
Subject: Re: Kobolds (Re: Intelligent opponents)
Reply-To: djdaneh@PacBell.COM (Dan'l DanehyOakes)
Organization: Pacific * Bell, San Ramon, CA
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 18:34:55 GMT

In article <COVIN.92Oct13174755@despair.cs.uchicago.edu> covin@tartarus.uchicago.edu (David Covin) writes:

>Later articles from the original poster seem to explain that his
>kobolds are not very much like D&D kobolds, inasmuch as they are far
>more intelligent.  

Nonsense.  They may not be much like *A*D&D kobolds, but they're perfectly good
*D&D* kobolds.  You see, some of us old-timers (I've been playing this game for 
over 15 years) have never taken to these tricks by T$R to make us buy the same 
product, slightly modified, at higher prices, over and over again. 

Naturally, we've had to evolve some significant house rules to cover the overt
omissions and blatant stupidities in the original books -- but I gather that
this remains the case with the latest and "greatest" versions, too.


>why the other races on the world are unaware of how ingenious kobolds
>are.  Why do people think that they're stupid?  Is this a widespread
>prejudice, based on the fact that they're individually weak and easily
>cowed? 

Pretty much, yes.  Kind of the way Americans seemed to perceive Iraqis about
a year ago.


>If they are so intelligent, why aren't they more powerful as a race?
>(Or are they?).

They're perhaps a bit less intelligent than humans, and significantly less
ambitious.  Some tribes of kobolds are into raiding and partying -- your basic
barbaric types.  This was a relatively civilized tribe, that had evolved a way
of life that worked and just wanted to be left alone.  (Do all kobolds have to
be the same?  All humans aren't!)


>"They've had 10 thousand years to develop their lair's defenses"
>sounds awfully nice, but I don't really buy it, if individual kobolds
>live only a minute fraction of that time.  At least, I know of no 
>examples of human efforts continued in pursuit of a single purpose
>for even a tenth that long.

How about two-tenths?  There's this thing called the Catholic Church, which has
pursued a fairly consistent set of goals (with surface modifications to suit the
needs of the times) for just about 2K years now.  Human history simply doesn't
go _back_ 10K years in this world.

Arthur has history extending back at least 50K years, and some rather 
significant long-term projects have taken place in that time (including the
existence of a few wizards -- of various races --who have pursued private 
projects for substantial fractions of that 50K years; these are generally reffed
as "a wizard so old and so wise and so powerful that neither you nor I need 
worry about him").


>"Oh, kobolds can be really effective if they're played right"; this
>is sort of like saying "Oh, paladins can be very sadistic if they're
>played right," neglecting to mention that you mean, of course, Lawful
>*Neutral* paladins...

Well, I've generally disallowed paladins, but that's another argument...



		Until the philosophy that holds one race superior and another 
								inferior
		Is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned
		Everywhere is war
			-- Haile Selassie via Bob Marley

		FIGHT THE REAL ENEMY
			-- Sinnead O'Connor

Dan'l Danehy-Oakes, Net.Roach
My opinions do NOT represent Pacific Bell,
Professional Development, or anyone else.
But I'm willing to share.