Goblin kin and horses

[Dranso]

It always seems like orcs and goblins ride crazy animals like wargs and bulls. I've always wondered if it was acceptable roleplay to have and orc character ride a horse?

[Gwain]

There's all kinds of horses and saddles available in game, if you have a short goblin, you could easily ride a pony or a small horse.

[Harroghty]

I do not believe that any goblinoid would ride a horse. Mostly because it seems vastly out of character for goblinoid races. They are base and passionate, not careful enough to mind an animal that requires real tending; this is why, in part, I believe that they like boars and wargs (creatures who will eat anything and require little to no maintenance). The necessary training for a horse is outside of an orc's temper, I think, never mind the picking of hooves, brushing, shoeing, fitting harness, etc. But also in part because there is no real canonical example, be it in the Forgotten Realms or other popular settings (Warhammer, Lord of the Rings, etc.). (Despite this hint about it in The Two Towers.)

'We do not and we never have,' said Éomer with a flash of his eyes; 'though it comes to my ears that that lie has been told. Some years ago the Lord of the Black Land wished to purchase horses of us at great price, but we refused him, for he puts beasts to evil use. Then he sent plundering Orcs, and they carry off what they can, choosing always the black horses: few of these are now left. For that reason our feud with the Orcs is bitter.

There was an interesting thread recently on TMC about goblins where more than a few argued for the novelty of having a nice goblin, or one with more human character. The trouble though is that a nice, behaved goblin is just a human with green skin (or brown or what-have-you) and goblins are not really any different than humans save in their height if everyone plays theirs this way.

I believe that an equestrian goblinoid is similarly dangerous towards the role-play of goblins at large.

[Dranso]

I was wondering why I had the idea of orcs stealing horses in my head and that quote answers the question. What about underdark creatures like riding lizards or giant spiders?

[Gwain]

Now that I think of it, the only fantasy setting I've seen goblins ride horses in is Dragonlance. The goblins from there tend to closely resemble hobgoblins and there are no orcs in that world. Bigger goblins.

[Alitar]

As far as I'm concerned, Goblinkin see horses as food; not transportation.

[Rhangalas]

There was an interesting thread recently on TMC about goblins where more than a few argued for the novelty of having a nice goblin, or one with more human character.

The only example I have ever heard of was from a novel. It was something about finding an abandoned goblin infant and raising it as a goodly race, but it still turned out evil, leading them to believe that goblins are inherently evil and do not possess the capacity for anything else.

I forgot the name of the book, unfortunately.

This is what canon has to say:

Goblins who turn away from evil often find it difficult to overcome this short fuse and have a sense of greed that makes it difficult for them to act altruistic. Those that do often make use of their ill-gained talents as rogues or fighters.

Though goblins have a poor reputation overall, not all goblins are dim-witted or evil. Some goblins have risen to become heroes, gaining enough renown to be accepted into the civilized world of other, more commonly good races. Those goblins who seek this path may find it difficult to overcome their temper and greed, as well as the cultural influence of their brethren, but those who do often find it can be more rewarding, in the long run at least, to serve good than to serve evil. Many goblins who leave for a life among other races are females, driven away by the rigidly structured role of motherhood they are expected to play. Other expatriate goblins will try to recreate the circumstances of their culture, preying on the weaknesses of others in non-goblin communities.

In any case, I don't think FK needs humane goblins.