Kobold

This page is about the player species. For the monster, see Kobold (monster).

Kobolds are small, ugly, violent creatures with few redeeming qualities (at least by human standards). The only being who can enjoy the company of a kobold is another kobold. They live as scavengers, surviving on carrion, which they can digest easily. Their carnivorous and violent nature is never far beneath the surface, however, and they are not above butchering other sentient species for meat when they can manage it.

Kobolds are a deceptively strong species. They are small and cannot handle heavy weapons, but they share a halfling's excellent aptitude for ranged weapons and sneaking, and can learn up-close Fighting more easily than most. Their ghoulish appetites also serve them well, as only the most vile meat can upset a kobold's stomach. Unlike the larger monstrous species, learning magic is not a lost cause for them, either. For all this, they advance in level as quickly as humans. Do not be fooled by the blade-fodder kobolds you mow down in the Dungeon; kobolds make vicious adventurers themselves.

Innate Abilities

• Kobolds recover from sickness quickly.
• Carnivore 3: Kobolds gain more sustenance from meat and can eat chunks at any time, but cannot eat anything but meat.
• Saprovore 2: Kobolds can eat rotten meat, and have less chance of getting sick from rotten or contaminated meat.
• Kobolds are small creatures, unable to wield large shields, bardiches, battleaxes, dire flails, executioner's axes, glaives, great maces, great swords, halberds, longbows, scythes, triple swords, giant clubs, giant spiked clubs, javelins, and throwing nets. One and a half handed weapons like katanas, broad axes, tridents, and double swords are two-handed weapons to them.

Preferred Backgrounds

Kobolds are among the most versatile species in the game. They can excel as Hunters, Assassins, Berserkers, Healers, Arcane Marksmen, Enchanters, Stalkers, Summoners, Necromancers, Fire Elementalists, Ice Elementalists, Air Elementalists, Earth Elementalists, Venom Mages, and Artificers.

Level Bonuses

• Kobolds get +1 strength or dexterity (equal chance) every 5 levels, starting at level 5.
• Kobolds have 20% less HP than average.
• Kobolds have average MP.
• Kobolds gain 3 magic resistance per level.

Starting Skills and Equipment

Kobolds receive the skills and equipment listed for their background, with the following exceptions:

• Meat rations replace bread rations.
• Stones replace throwing nets.

Difficulty of Play

Kobolds are a fairly easy race to play because of their excellent aptitudes in most "nimble assassin" skills. They play similarly to halflings, but have a leg up on them thanks to their considerably higher Fighting aptitude and their ability to eat almost any kind of meat at any time. This makes them excel as berserkers, as they will be so well fed most of the game that berserking often is easy to manage. They advance extremely quickly in experience compared to the more "powerful" races.

Skill aptitudes

The higher the value, the better the aptitude.

Skill	Aptitude	Skill	Aptitude	Skill	Aptitude
Attack		Miscellaneous		Magic
Fighting	+1	Armour	-2	Spellcasting	0
Short Blades	+3	Dodging	+2	Conjurations	-1
Long Blades	-2	Stealth	+3	Hexes	0
Axes	-1	Stabbing	+2	Charms	-2
Maces & Flails	0	Shields	-2	Summonings	0
Polearms	-2	Traps	0	Necromancy	0
Staves	-1			Translocations	0
Unarmed Combat	0			Transmutation	-1
		Fire Magic	0
Throwing	+3	Ice Magic	0	Invocations	0
Slings	+2	Air Magic	0	Evocations	+2
Bows	+1	Earth Magic	0
Crossbows	+2	Poison Magic	0	Experience	100

Trivia

Kobolds were originally creatures from Germanic mythology, but they are most well-known to gamers as low-level monsters in Dungeons & Dragons (which their depiction in Crawl most resembles).

Guides

• Hybrid's Kobold Berserker guide