How To Use Kobold Tactics
These beings are often seen as Small, weak, and too easy for player characters to respect or fear. It’s time to fix that!
“Any creature that has evolved to survive in a given environment instinctively knows how to make the best use of its particular adaptations.”~Keith Ammann
Mobs of any species fight battles by charging out into the open to bite/claw/hit/kick/shoot at each other. Trained warriors, no matter their level of civilization, don’t. They know to use projectiles and shoot from cover. They will aim to take the high ground to see farther, shoot more easily, or launch a change as going downhill is a powerful advantage.
A group of warriors will split into at least two groups so that one can advance from cover to cover while the second group stays put, watches for danger, and is ready to shoot/deal with a threat. Predators have well-honed hunting instincts. They use cover and stealth to get close enough to launch their attack.
Let’s apply this to kobolds.
Stepping Out of the Shadows
A kobold’s eyes are sensitive to sunlight. This makes them not only prefer the night but also require it to thrive. However, this does not prevent them from daring the daylight. Here on Earth, we have tools called snow goggles. These are made of wood or bone with narrow slits that protect the eyes from being blinded by light reflecting off snow and ice. Surprise the players with kobolds wearing these during the day.
Remember, deep forests and jungles can provide enough shade and shadows for kobolds to wander through during the day unhindered, as long as they avoid clearings and other such openings. Perhaps have a party of kobolds hiding from the day in a patch of shadows.
Getting Crafty
Kobolds make simple yet effective traps. Even when hiding out in a shady spot during the day, they will at the very least set snares. They can tie back a branch, sharpen its twigs into spikes, then set a trip wire at the perimeter of their chosen hiding spot. In their more permanent places, they will have deadfalls and pit traps with spikes, vipers, or other nasty surprises at the bottom. A simple cover strong enough to hold a kobold but not anything larger can prove very hazardous.
Beastly Bonds
Kobolds love to domesticate aggressive wild animals. Some of these include:
Dire Weasles and Rats
Owls and Hawks
Giant Spiders and Toads
Lizards and Snakes
When they have these beasts, the kobolds will begin by launching their projectile attacks with javelins, rocks, or small crossbows. In the very next round, they will release their beasts while continuing their bombardment before charging in to attack. Kobolds attack as a pack. They are highly cooperative and never attack a single target alone. If they are alone or do not outnumber the enemy, they will run away.
to the Skies
Some kobolds have wings. These ones will keep up their projectile bombardments as long as they keep out of reach from a grounded foe. They will be bolder with these attacks but be less inclined to charge in than their wingless cousins. When they do, they will do fly-by attacks in swarms. They are also more likely to use nets, especially if they are in a group that is a mix of winged and non-winged kobolds.
Hauling off prisoners to be taunted for entertainment is a very plausible outcome if they defeat the party. Looting fallen players while keeping the rest of the players at bay is also a much-loved goal. If they can loot one player and then fly away with the loot, it’s a successful hunt!
May these tactics gain the kobolds of your adventures the greater respect they deserve.
