Goblin

The goblins (collectively known as goblinhood) are small green humanoids from the Isle of Kezan. Their love of money, explosives, and technology makes them a very dangerous race, both to their enemies and themselves. Most goblins have a neutral standpoint, preferring to sell their contraptions, knowledge and services to other races for the right price.

A number of trade princes rule over the various goblin holdings around the world. In turn, each controls rings of trade, mining, deforestation, slave rings, and poaching. Trade Prince Gazlowe is the leader of the Bilgewater Cartel of goblins who are part of the Horde.

Early history
In ancient times, the keeper Mimiron had discovered kaja'mite and, attempting to determinate its properties, he experimented on various races. He found that the ore was extremely potent and that it increased the intellect of his subjects. One of these subjects was a small primitive life race that roamed around the forests near Ulduar. By consuming kaja'mite, they were transformed into a new, highly intelligent race known as the goblins. The goblins share a common ancestor with pygmies.

During the War of the Ancients, Neltharion created the Demon Soul with the help of goblin artificers led by Meklo. The goblins also fashioned adamantium plates to hold Neltharion's body together when the Demon Soul's power began to overwhelm him, and the enslaved drogbar placed those plates onto his body.

When the Great Sundering happened thousands of years after the goblins' creation, they were cut from their supply of kaja'mite ore. In just a few short generations, most changes and boosts to their intelligence vanished. The goblins then took refuge on the Isle of Kezan and they had already forgotten the influence kaja'mite once had on their society.

After the Sundering, the Zandalari trolls that once ruled a large part of Azeroth started exploring numerous islands that dotted the newly formed sea. During one of these trips, they discovered Kezan and the goblin race, who were very primitive but still possessed some intellect. Initially the two races kept a distance as the Zandalari only came to the island in order to mine kaja'mite. They didn't really know too much about it, but they realized that is was very potent, so they saw it as a sacred component in their rituals and ceremonies. For many centuries the trolls mined and occasionally even paid goblins in trinkets in order to work for them, but this arrangement was soon to change. At some point the trolls, while digging, discovered that Kezan possessed an unimaginable deposit of kaja'mite underground, more than they would ever need. So rather than digging themselves, they enslaved the goblins and force them to drill in frightful conditions. For thousands of years the goblins, too weak to resist, suffered under the rule of the Zandalari.

Liberation and Trade Wars
Finally, it was kaja'mite that led the goblins to their salvation. Over time, the goblin workers breathed in the dust of the ore that clouded the mines they worked in and eventually it started to awake the goblins' intelligence. Secretly they plotted to start a rebellion, gathering any materials they can find and hide in order to create a wide range of weapons, traps and explosives. One hundred years before the opening of the Dark Portal, the troll overseers were caught completely off guard, when goblins masses stormed out from the mines, armed with technology that the Zandalari couldn't even imagine at the time. The trolls' hold over Kezan was shattered completely, their mining operation failed and the surviving Zandalari fled. The goblins were now free and in order to celebrate their liberation they turned on each other, creating chaos as countless allegiances were formed. Soon enough they were split into various different groups, and the most powerful of these groups were known as cartels. As the battles were getting completely out of hand and no one was actually winning, the cartels brokered a truce. However, the conflict would never really cease as the goblins would now turn to trade, battling in the economic arena. For the years to come the cartels were rivals, constantly outshining and outsmarting each other as they continued in their quest for wealth and power.

With their newfound intellect, goblins became renowned for producing a number of ingenious inventions. Eventually, kaja'mite supplies ran low and as the goblins' heightened intelligence vanished, their inventions became increasingly unreliable. As a result, the goblins turned to mercantilism as a source of income and transformed Kezan into a profitable trading hub.

Great Wars
By the time of the First War, the goblins of the Steamwheedle Cartel had taken over a Stranglethorn Vale settlement named Blackwater Cove that had been abandoned by Stormwind after it was overrun by trolls. Upon claiming the town as their own, the goblins renamed it Booty Bay.

During the war, the goblins witnessed the Old Horde's arrival and the conquest of Stormwind. With more conflicts in the horizon, they were determined to profit from it. Trade Prince Steamwheedle allied his Steamwheedle Cartel with Orgrim Doomhammer's Horde and offered aid in form of new technologies, maps, and other useful information to the orcs for the right price. Orgrim treated his new allies as equals, and paid them gold from Stormwind's coffers. The Warchief also hired them to oversee the construction of the Horde's fleet. However, following the war, the Steamwheedle Cartel and other goblins realized that it was much better to remain neutral due to thriving trades.

Approximately four years after the Second War, the goblin city of Gadgetzan had already been built in Tanaris on Kalimdor, as it was visited by Greydon Thorne. By the time of the Battle of Grim Batol, Deathwing also still had goblin servitors, just as he did during the War of the Ancients. The three known ones were Kryll, Nullyn, and Voyd.

World of Warcraft


The goblins of the Steamwheedle Cartel offered their services to the Alliance and Horde across the world. The Venture Company, however, began hostile campaigns in various territories, prompting various conflicts with the two factions.

Several goblins joined the Dark Horde stationed at Blackrock Mountain and its surroundings.

A group of goblins called B.O.O.M. operate their money-making schemes in Area 52 and the rest of the Netherstorm.

During the War Against the Nightmare, several goblins were part of the dreamform army.

After Magni Bronzebeard was turned into a diamond shortly before the Cataclysm, several goblin representatives attended the ceremony in Ironforge.

Cataclysm


The goblins of the Bilgewater Cartel, having recently created an intelligence-boosting beverage called Kaja'Cola, were going about their daily lives. Suddenly the dragon Deathwing appears over Bilgewater Port claiming that the Hour of Twilight will soon fall. Launching a molten projectile into Kezan's volcanic Mount Kajaro, Deathwing departs as suddenly as he arrived. The goblins, not very concerned with the vague threats, continued with their party preparations but it soon became increasingly clear that Mount Kajaro was about to erupt. Being goblins, many naturally tried to cash in on the ensuing disaster. Trade Prince Jastor Gallywix of the Bilgewater Cartel requested a bazillion macaroons from the CEO of the Kajaro Trading Company in order to save the civilians who came to him and lead them to safety, however, Gallywix was not true to his word and instead took the money only to make all of those civilians, and the CEO, slaves.

Gallywix and his new goblin slaves set sail for Azshara, but were spotted by Alliance ships attempting to capture the Horde Warchief Thrall. The goblin's ship is sunk and they become stranded on the Lost Isles. The survivors cobble together a small base on the shore and while scouting the island the discover an orcish journal mentioning a base camp established by the orc survivors. The goblins send a representative to ask for help from the orcs and Aggra agrees to assist the goblins in turn if they would assist the orcs. The human fleet too had made landfall on the smaller of the islands, but the combined orcs and goblins thwarted the Alliance agents and rescued Thrall.

The goblins later decided to go to the larger of the two isles and deployed a Town-In-A-Box so they could have a location to rest themselves, but were met with hostilities from local naga and pygmies, but were able to fight them back. The goblins looked to slay the pygmy's turtle "god" Volcanoth, but this makes the island's volcano violently erupt. The goblins, having incidentally caused the destruction of their Town-In-A-Box with the volcanic eruption, return to Thrall and the orcs just in time to help stave off the Alliance assault. Impressed with the goblins cunning and strength the orcs agreed to take the fight to Trade Prince Gallywix, which had enslaved the majority of the members of the Bilgewater Cartel and put them to work mining resources. After disrupting Gallywix's operations, the free goblins overthrow Gallywix himself with the assistance of Thrall. Surrendering himself, Gallywix promises the Bilgewater Cartel will reform and become a part of the Horde. Thrall accepts, offering to send a representative to the Horde's new Warchief Garrosh Hellscream and promises them a new home in Azshara and a place within the Horde. The goblins of the Bilgewater Cartel now reside chiefly in Azshara, which they have massively altered. Goblins have also been seen assisting their allies in other areas such as Northern Barrens, Stonetalon Mountains, and Felwood. The goblins have made a home in Orgrimmar where Boss Mida runs the Goblin Slums an area of filth, pollution, and technology, just how the goblins like it. Notably, during the Ashenvale war, they created a foul-smelling mist to halt the Alliance.

The Bilgewater Cartel goblins terraformed Azshara's coast to resemble the Horde symbol and established Bilgewater Harbor. In the mainland, they built the Rocketway and the Gallywix Pleasure Palace with a sculpted Jastor's giant head.

Mists of Pandaria


The goblins of the Bilgewater Cartel assisted the Horde in the Attack on Theramore Isle and then on the invasion campaign of Pandaria. Although they initially assisted Garrosh in excavating Pandaria, they ultimately joined the Darkspear Rebellion. Garrosh and the True Horde, however, hired the Blackfuse Company.

Warlords of Draenor
Although the Blackfuse Company was defeated in the Siege of Orgrimmar, the remaining goblins joined the Iron Horde on the. The Steamwheedle Cartel sent an expedition to the alternate world. Units of the Bilgewater Cartel followed the Horde to the alternate Draenor as well. The goblins of Ratchet also helped the Horde establish the Frostwall garrison.

In the Spires of Arak, the Steamwheedle Cartel built two settlements: Pinchwhistle Gearworks and Pinchwhistle Point. When Pinchwhistle Point is overwhelmed by invading fungus and its citizens zombified by fungal spores, the goblins of Pinchwhistle Gearworks ask for aid from the Alliance and Horde to save their brethren.

Legion
The Bilgewater Cartel defended Azshara during Legion Invasions and fought in the Battle for Broken Shore while the Steamwheedle Cartel defended Ratchet. The Horde goblins participated in the defense of the Burning Legion's third invasion of Azeroth, joining various class orders and battling on the Broken Shore.

In Silithus: The Wound Horde goblins are mining Azerite.

Battle for Azeroth


Bilgewater Cartel goblins are seen on Zandalar. In Zuldazar they discovered kaja'mite in Gorilla Gorge. The Gob Squad is sent to Nazmir to aid in the fight against the blood trolls.

It's implied that the Steamwheedle Cartel in Ratchet supported the Horde in the new war against the Alliance.

The Venture Company can be found in Stormsong Valley running an oil rig, they've come into conflict with the Tortollan Seekers. The Company also attacked Blackrock Depths and stole Ironfoe, earning the Dark Iron dwarves' and Alliance's ire. On Kezan, Mogul Razdunk started great dig sites in search of Azerite. The Company can show up on island expeditions looking for Azerite. Crapopolis is later seen as now belonging to the Bilgewater Cartel.

Near the very end of the Fourth War, Sylvanas and Gallywix abandoned their people following the rebellion of Varok Saurfang, leaving Thrall to promote Gazlowe as the successor to Gallywix as trade prince of the Bilgewater Cartel.

Appearance
Goblins are slight and wiry, with female goblins on average standing at 4'1" while males tend to be around 3'11", to 4 feet in height. Some goblins do reach a "tallish" height of 4'6". Female goblins are on average taller than males. They have three fingers and one thumb on one hand and four toes on one foot. Their noses grow larger as they age. Goblins' green skin can tan; Grizzek Fizzwrench's pale yellow-green skin turned into a rich forest-emerald due to exposure to the Tanaris sun. They apparently also have green blood. They have sharp teeth and small, pointed nails. Although small, they are extremely strong for their size.

Goblins that have hair often have it as mohawks, ponytails, or spiky.

Culture
Shrewd, greedy, and ruthless, goblins have a long-standing reputation for being neutral in the rest of the world, despite the Steamwheedle Cartel allying with the Old Horde during the Second War and the Bilgewater Cartel joining the Horde after the Cataclysm. Heroes of goblin society are not bastions of honor or integrity. Instead, goblins tend to admire the ruthless acquisition of profit, by any means necessary. Goblins are gifted engineers and accomplished seafarers, but are best known for their unabashed avarice.

Goblins have their own currency named macaroons. They refer to money as "moolah". Galleons were a beloved goblin currency until they were lost to time and newer forms of barter.

Technology


The many races of the Horde are far more primitive than those of the Alliance, and thus are not nearly as technologically advanced. Most advances have taken place in the field of war machines and weaponry, and the Horde had to employ technological "consultants" - goblins - to create the city of Orgrimmar. The permanent inclusion of goblins, with their emphasis on engineering and mechanical development, into the Horde has opened up tremendous technological potential. Today, the Horde is slowly realizing real gains through technology, both for military and domestic purposes.

Military tactics and forces
During the Second War, the daring goblins control the captured giant turtles and were dedicated to destroying enemy ships by launching hazardous, steam-driven canisters containing highly volatile liquids that can shred even the strongest of armor.

Among their most used war and work inventions are shredders.

Units

 * Ace, Bombardier, Bruiser, Buccaneer, Grunt, Sapper, Techno mage, Tinker, Engineer, Scout, Assassin
 * Alchemist
 * Gambler
 * Steam warrior, Potion doc, Epic tinker

Shops and trade operations

 * Goblin alchemist
 * Goblin laboratory
 * Goblin Merchant
 * Oil refinery
 * Goblin Workshop
 * Zeppelin Tower

Beliefs
When goblins die, tradition dictates that they be buried with their most valuable and favored possessions so they can enjoy them at the Everlasting Party, the goblin afterlife. The only thing more important than being buried with one's possessions is the burial gifts bequeathed to the dead by other goblins, which serve as a reflection of wealth and social standing and consist of everything from coins, pearls, furniture, and clothing to weapons, food, and alcohol. Wealthy funeral goers bring their gifts in chests or butler-pushed wheelbarrows that they then empty into the coffin (which can consist of a simple metal container hammered into a funerary shape). After the gifting ends, the attendees dance on top of the coffin to usher the deceased on to the Everlasting Party before placing it in a hole at a burial site. Prominent goblins serve as pallbearers at the head of the coffin, while goblins contractually obligated to serve as pack mules carry the rear. The burial is followed by partying and feasting; it's common knowledge that a goblin funeral is nothing more than an excuse to throw a party with someone else footing the bill.

Even the bravest goblins fear the Uninvited Guest, an invisible monster which is attracted to those who excessively flaunt their wealth. The Uninvited consumes thoughts of money and greed, compelling its victims to give away everything they own until they become completely penniless. The only way to protect oneself and one's fortune from the creature is to throw discs called tossaways behind oneself, and every smart goblin carries a few tossaways with them.

Games
Goblins took part in the Mirage Raceway with the Goblin Drag Car propior to the flooding of the Thousand Needles in the Cataclysm, after the flooding goblins take part in boat races at the Fizzle and Pozzik's Speedbarge located on the new Shimmering Deep. The goblins of Kezan played their own sport footbomb in Kajaro Field just prior to the Cataclysm.

Languages
Goblins speak Goblin, Orcish, and Common.

Relations
Goblins tolerate carrying armed passengers in their zeppelins, however, they don't transport cannons or heavy artillery in their zeppelins because that could compromise their neutrality.

Alliance
Goblins don't like gnomes much, as they are the two races that are best at engineering. It is hard to say who is the best at engineering, the goblins or gnomes. Despite this a rare marriage between a goblin and a gnome is known - Grizzek Fizzwrench and Sapphronetta Flivvers.

There is at least one goblin affiliated with the Alliance and that is SI:7 agent Renzik "The Shiv", Mathias Shaw's second in command.

Horde
Even before the Cataclysm, there were many goblins still working with the Horde found in Ashenvale, Orgrimmar, Camp Mojache, and Thousand Needles; even then, goblins working for the Horde run the zeppelin system. During the war against the Lich King some goblins joined the Warsong Offensive, some even displaying the Horde symbol on their tabard (Chief Engineer Leveny and Horde Infra-green Engineers) and fighting on the front lines (Injured Warsong Engineers). During the final battle in the Icecrown Citadel, goblin members of the Kor'kron (Kor'kron Rocketeer) were seen participating the gunship fight.

After the Cataclysm, the goblins of the Bilgewater Cartel joined the Horde after an encounter on the Lost Isles.

Other organizations
Other goblins are found in even the darker factions of the world Burning Blade, Black Dragonflight, and Dark Horde, very rarely are goblins truly loyal to their factions. Most goblins would likely trade sides for even the smallest boost in payment.

Subspecies

 * Hobgoblin — Mutated goblins altered by some foul alchemy to become bigger, tougher and dumber. Often act as guards in goblin settlements.
 * — Aquatic goblins mostly found in Nazjatar, Vashj'ir and a number of coastal areas.

Background
Goblins are small humanoids, crafty and shrewd, bearing an overwhelming interest in commerce and a strong curiosity about mechanical things. Goblin society is fragmented, defined chiefly by commerce and trade. The ultimate schemers and con artists, goblins are always in search of a better deal. Despite their seemingly chaotic natures, they exist in a fairly strict and straightforward hierarchy. Other races universally view goblins as inventors, merchants and, without exception, maniacs. Goblins value technology as a useful aspect of commerce. Some say that their advantage — and their curse — is to be the primary users of technology in a world governed by magic. While dwarves and gnomes share a similar gift, goblin technology is more far-reaching and sinister and makes a larger impact on the natural world.

Following their liberation on Kezan, goblins rapidly expanded their knowledge of technology. Goblins created Azeroth's first steam technologies. Rumors are that goblin technology back then was far more advanced than current dwarven technology. Goblins established themselves as master technicians, selling their goods on the open market. Desperate, goblins spread out into the world, attempting to find any pockets of kaja'mite they might have missed.

They employ vast teams of engineers who expand on current technology and produce gadgets to suit a wide array of applications. They constantly build and repair machines and work on new ideas. Unfortunately, goblins alternate passionate genius with wandering focus. Their lack of discipline means that many creations end up half finished as something else catches their attention. Goblin workmanship has a partially deserved reputation for unreliability, and a goblin device may explode simply because its creator forgot to add a vital release valve. Goblins are envious of the Ironforge dwarves' invention of firearms, both from a commercial and a technological standpoint. Goblins recognize that firearms represent a new source of power, and he who controls the source controls the gold — which is, to goblins, the ultimate power. Fortunately for the rest of the world, goblin firearm experimentation suffers from the race's normal laxity — and improperly tended gunpowder experiments continue to end the careers of many aspiring goblin tinkers. However, goblin ingenuity has paid off a few times; goblin gunpowder weapons tend to be inelegant and violently explosive (land mines, rockets and the like).

A number of trade princes rule over Azeroth's various goblin holdings. Though the trade princes all live in the goblin island city of Undermine far from Kalimdor and the eastern continents, each controls his own private army and trade fleet. Each trade prince has his own specialty, monopolizing trade in a certain area, such as mining, deforestation, slavery or poaching. The trade princes are the most cunning of their race and stop at nothing to amass their fortunes and power, whether through legitimate means or via black markets and treachery. Goblins encountered on Kalimdor and the eastern continents are freelancers, privateers or agents of Undermine's trade princes. Goblins are tenacious fighters. They attack from range with crossbows or firearms (making individual modifications to dwarf-made weapons) and use maces, short swords or bizarre, home-brewed steam weaponry in melee. When attacked in their warrens, they fight with tools as well. Goblins have a good grasp of tactics and strategy, and are masters of siege warfare. Their love of large machines makes them ideal mercenaries for attacking fortifications.

Goblins are shrewd in business, and clients who believe they walked away with the upper hand are almost always sorely mistaken. "To cheat a goblin" is a dwarven idiom meaning "to do what is practically impossible." ("Gamgi cheated a goblin when he escaped that cave-in!") Goblins are also consummate tricksters and con artists. Their mission in the world is to create incredible new inventions, accrue the resulting wealth, and cause as much subtle mischief as possible along the way.

Old friends, the goblins fought with the Horde in the First and Second Wars, but broke off when they realized that it's more profitable to work both sides. However, many goblins remember the fun of the Horde and are willing to lower mercenary prices to Thrall and his people. Goblins offer almost exclusive transport services for the Horde, whether in their steamboats or zeppelins. You're more likely to find a team of goblin sappers, who take great pleasure in the chaos the Horde creates, meshed into Horde forces than those of the Alliance. Perhaps with enough persuasion, the goblins could be convinced to rejoin the Horde for the first time since the Second War (although that could be just as harmful as helpful, knowing the goblins).

The Great Wars
Unfortunately, over the next few thousand years, up until roughly five hundred years before the First War, the goblins could find no further deposits of kaja'mite and goblin intelligence peaked. Without kaja'mite to strengthen their minds, goblins were unable to reproduce their brilliant technology or properly maintain it, and their works rapidly devolved into the crude jury rigged machines of today. The world began to fear the volatile machines, and sales dropped considerably. Goblins always had a love of money, however. With the loss of their intelligence and slow degradation of their technology, goblins embraced commerce. About two hundred years before the First War, the beginnings of Trade Fleets sailed out of Kezan and into the world. Goblins chose war as the perfect opportunity to cash in some gold, and began building their trade empire during the First War.

By the Second War, the goblins had established themselves as the traders of the world. Then, they became exclusive partners with the Horde. A Horde ambassador ventured forth and met with a single trade prince, asking for the goblins to provide machines and technology to the orcs, in exchange for spoils and gold. In the beginning, the arrangement seemed perfect. The goblin trade prince believed that the orcs would win the war, so he found it natural to join the winning side. As the profits flooded Undermine's coffers, the goblins expanded their slave markets. However, other goblins disagreed and remained neutral; thus, only this single trade prince and his subordinates joined the Horde. In the end, the trade prince realized his mistake and left the Horde, and the goblin race remembers the mistake and remains neutral to this day. A lot of the goblin race is. They discovered it was more profitable to play both sides against each other.

Trade
The goblins are also legendary for the sheer variety of trade in which they are willing to indulge and for their tenacity in bargaining. Goblins rarely let an item slip from their shelves for a single copper less than it is worth. The industrious goblins have established shacks and minor trading towns across much of Kalimdor in an impressively brief span of time. These outposts may vary in size and location, but all have a similarly impressive array of goods. The outposts get regular supply shipments (or as regular as possible, given the hazards of travel across Kalimdor), all coordinated by the goblin trade princes.

The trade princes are the most cunning of their race and will stop at nothing to amass their fortunes and power, whether through legitimate means or via black markets and treachery. Goblins encountered on Kalimdor or the Eastern Kingdoms are either privateers or agents of the various trade princes of Undermine.

Goblins are not purely mercenary. They are known to form strong bonds with individuals of other races. Their small forms and odd behavior make other races — elves in particular — ill at ease, but goblins do not seem to care much for the impression they make. They judge by deeds, befriending those who treat them as friends and standing apart from those who would offer them abuse.

Goblin Shops
At some point after the Second War, the goblins apparently grew tired of carrying explosives for the Horde and decided that they needed to take control of their own destinies. Surprisingly, they proved smart enough to know that building an army of their own would be an even bloodier choice for their race than sapping and planting mines. So they chose a different path.

The goblins have taken to the role of merchant with a vengeance, and now it's hard to travel for more than a day or two without stumbling across a goblin shop of some size. Goblin zeppelins fly across the continent, delivering goods, supplies, messages and passengers from one shop to another, and I've heard more than one goblin brag that if it isn't in his shop, he can have it on the shelves within a week. One joker challenged that claim and ordered a dozen shredders, only to find them waiting outside his cottage two days later.

Goblin shops can be found nearly anywhere on Azeroth, seemingly regardless of whether or not there are towns nearby and heedless of dangers such as the Scourge. The goblins will sell anything to anyone, at only slightly inflated prices.

Apparently, the proprietor of each goblin shop determines how to protect his business from theft. Some of the solutions employed include the hiring of mercenary fighters as security guards; complicated, tinker-built security systems; and, most notoriously, enormous bombs on a dead man's switch that can be detonated on a moment's notice if a goblin merchant feels threatened. After news spread of thieves and bullies entering shops that were replaced moments later by smoking craters, few have found the nerve to probe how a given shop might be protected.

Though many shops remain Independent, a growing number of them have signs declaring that they are owned and operated by the Venture Company, which the proprietors claim is headquartered in a faraway city ruled by goblins where the streets are paved with gold.

Goblin Forces


Goblin forces are terrifying to behold. The Trade Fleets are outfitted with the most fanatical and destructive creatures on Azeroth. The average person wonders why the trade princes require such powerful armies, if they are holding to their neutrality stance. It certainly seems excessive.

The simple truth is, the forces are not excessive. The life of those living on the South Seas is harsh, due to attacks from everything from pirates to rogue magical beasts. Conflict exists everywhere, and a trade prince is always in peril of death. Every day, a trade prince must test his food on three different people. There is only one way to become a trade prince, and that's to take out the competition. Thus, to prevent rivals from taking their thrones and to ensure that business may be conducted as normal, each trade prince enlists a hefty force of warriors. It's absolutely necessary to keep order in the goblin world.

The Trade Fleets also require extreme guards. Undermine's goods sail everywhere, especially into hostile or desolate territories to make a coin. Simply put, goblins go to dangerous places. Without strong guards, there would be no trade, because there would be only dead traders.

Despite appearances, goblins maintain rigid procedures and formations for battle. They only look disorganized. Goblins are intelligent, and they use their brains in battle. Confuse the enemy, and the enemy leaves blind spots. Slip in between the cracks and break the forces open from the inside. Many battles during the Second War were lost when Alliance forces underestimated goblin tactics.

Not surprisingly, all goblin forces use a wide and dizzying array of technological weaponry. From the simplest firearms to the largest steam-driven war instruments, goblin technology dominates war fields. Even magic has a difficult time creating as much destruction and havoc as goblin war machines.

When goblins fought in the Second War, they created three units especially for the war effort. Goblin zeppelins rode high above the terrain to scout out the area, and occasionally transported warriors. Goblins also lent their services as sappers, using explosives to take out enemy fortifications. Often the goblins went with the explosives, but this was of little consequence. Sappers were a copper a dozen.

Furthermore, during the war, goblins fought from all angles, especially the sea. The Stormreaver clan captured giant sea turtles native to the southern seas. Pacified by potent spells of control, these lumbering monstrosities were fitted with watertight canopies strapped onto the backs of their shells and were used as submersible orcish craft. By submerging under the waves, the giant turtles could steal upon unsuspecting enemy craft and report their position to the Horde fleet as they were visible solely to towers, creatures of the air, and other submersible vessels. The daring goblins who controlled them were dedicated to destroying enemy ships by launching hazardous, steam-driven canisters containing highly volatile liquids that shredded even the strongest armor.

During the Third War, goblins also fielded shredders to anyone who paid well enough. The pilots cared little about the actual war, preferring to chop down forests for their pay. However, when push came to shove, goblin shredders proved lethal in battle. The pilot's inexperience with battle was evened out by the shredder's armor and powerful steam saw, which cut down enemies as easily as trees. Goblins hired themselves to anyone with the gold, and alongside shredders, the goblins fielded sappers and zeppelins once again in battle. Even tinkers and alchemists joined the fight, granting explosive and chemical warfare to the highest bidder.

Relations
Goblins are a wily, cunning race of traders and tinkers whom adventurers typically encounter as parts of trading envoys or on pirate raids. Goblin ships frequent the seas, ferrying or seeking riches, slaves or exotic wares. Kalimdor's main goblin port is the party town of Ratchet, a harbor city located on the eastern shore of the Barrens directly between Durotar and Theramore. Goblin trade outposts are found everywhere, including all major cities and such inhospitable realms as Northrend and Stranglethorn Vale. Their zeppelins run a wealthy business ferrying passengers across kingdoms and continents.

Goblins are neutral and take pains to make sure their nearby customers play nice with each other. Goblin guards patrol Ratchet and a few of the other goblin settlements, keeping tabs on the various Horde and Alliance visitors. Despite these enforcers however, the goblins' neutral settlements can still be dangerous places, as members of either faction will often still attack each other in the belief that they can evade the guards. With the exception of Ratchet, their settlements generally have a consistent appearance and construction.

Traveling goblin merchants employ bodyguards to protect them and their wares. Goblins are independent. Goblins hired themselves out to the Horde in the Second War, but now they belong only to themselves and whoever pays them. Constantly building and inventing requires massive resources, both for creating the machines themselves and maintaining those that actually work. Cannibalizing old machines only partially sustains this fervent activity of creation, so goblins rely on trade with as many races and cultures as possible. They are the quintessential merchants, peddling all manner of exotic goods for the highest possible prices.

Goblin mechanical and mercantile pursuits are not always (or even often) performed within the bounds of polite society. Though not evil, goblins are willing to embark on shady business ventures - slavery, deforestation, poaching, smuggling and oil drilling, for example - to accomplish their goals. They are opportunists to the core and revel in bartering the better deal at every turn. Goblins try to get along with all other races. Doing so is part of their business. Nevertheless, everyone views goblins with justified suspicion. Night elves in particular dislike the goblins because the little creatures have no respect for nature or natural resources.

Goblins are a capitalistic bunch and most buy or sell anything to make a profit. Goblin merchants love to haggle, have excellent wares and are too smart to be cheated - or so they claim. Most big cities have at least one stationary goblin merchant shop, managed by a goblin family. The heads of the family run the shop while the younger goblins travel the land to find, buy or steal the inventory. They sell to anyone: Alliance, Horde, or Independent. Some even deal with demons if the price is right. Some goblins drive their carts from town to town, buying and selling as they go. These carts look rickety and secondhand, but the appearance is likely a diversion. A goblin's cart is usually in perfect driving condition; the goblin never knows when he may have to leave town quickly or outrun an enraged customer. These merchants are often less than reputable and more likely to have items that they cannot identify themselves. Goblin merchant houses are not necessarily places to avoid, however. Often a hero can discover hard-to-find items, even rare or magic items, within the walls. As long as the hero is able to spot a bad deal, it should be safe for him to enter.

The goblins are an unbending bunch, refusing any sort of barter and demanding to be paid only in gold. There is a saying around Ratchet: If a traveling goblin merchant were starving to death and someone offered to trade food for the goblin's merchandise, he'd starve before he accepted anything but gold. A customer who enters a goblin shop intending to barter finds himself laughed out into the street. The goblins do not even allow their employees to receive discounts or work for merchandise. Goblins deal only in gold. The merchants accept gold in any form and have precise scales to aid their customers. Goblins accept recently mined nuggets, panned dust or defaced Alliance gold coins that would be refused in other areas. They are grumpier about accepting silver, but do so.

Alliance and Horde
The goblins care little for the Alliance and Horde conflicts; what concerns them, as usual, is the effect these events have on their cash flow. The goblins do not, as a rule, like the Scourge, as the undead threatened to wipe out the entire populations of the Alliance and Horde, leaving the goblins with no customers. War is profitable for the goblins; annihilation is not. Once they served as suicide mercenaries for the Horde; now the goblins have made their place as the strongest merchant race in the world. If one wants to purchase something, whether it is supplies, equipment, weapons, magic items or even slaves, the goblins either have it or know where to get it. All that matters in their eyes is the price.

The goblins like a balance of power. Military conflicts make money for the goblins as the combatants purchase supplies, and if the two sides are evenly matched, conflicts could go on for generations. This promises fat purse bags for the goblins for years to come. The goblins helped out the Horde for years because of this, but now they feel the Horde has come to match the Alliance in power, and they rest in the neutral middle, satisfied to play mercenary and merchant to either side.

The goblins understand the Alliance better than they understand the neutral races, as they have a long history of dealings with the Alliance. As merchants, they are frequently found in Theramore, and as mercenaries, they may even be found among the Alliance armies. True business entrepreneurs, goblins understand their customers very well and almost always know what they want. Their favorite Alliance customers are the high elves, who jump at the chance to buy magical items. Although many in the Alliance consider the goblin mercenaries to be war profiteers, they are not above using them. If they have no tinkers, or their tinkers have died in a previous battle, they sometimes have to go to the goblins for repairs or supplies. And the goblins are always ready to help a customer, for the right price. The goblins' skills certainly don't stop at trade. Although not as talented at the invention of firearms as the Ironforge dwarves, the goblins have refined their inventing talents to create a handful of very useful tools that are, of course, for sale. Since the latest conflicts, the goblins have modified their marketing tactics to focus on pushing their deforestation operations to the night elves, of all races, to help clear out the cursed Felwood Forest. They also sell their zeppelins to the night elves, so that these customers can spot and put an end to deforestation. They made a great deal of money selling items to help the Alliance fight Illidan and his army of blood elves and naga, and constantly remind the Alliance members who travel through Ratchet that Illidan is still out there and supplies are always needed. Some merchants are able to mask the tone of glee in their voices while saying this, but most don't bother.

The Horde and the goblins get along fairly well, as the orcs remember the (well-paid) sacrifice of the goblins for their cause in earlier wars. They still purchase zeppelins and other goblin services. The goblins often enjoy the company of the orcs, and the war veterans from both races will get together and drink if offered the opportunity. Old friends, the goblins fought with the Horde in the Second War, but broke off when they realized that it's more profitable to work both sides. However, many goblins remember the fun of the Horde and are willing to lower mercenary prices to Thrall and his people. Goblins offer almost exclusive transport services for the Horde, whether in their steamboats or zeppelins. You're more likely to find a team of goblin sappers, who take great pleasure in the chaos the Horde creates, meshed into Horde forces than those of the Alliance. Perhaps with enough persuasion, the goblins could be convinced to rejoin the Horde for the first time since the Second War (although that could be just as harmful as helpful, knowing the goblins).

Perhaps the only remaining goblin scruple is that they will not betray a customer. While they understand each side of the war very well, if the Alliance is paying them for services, merchant or mercenaries, they will not act as double agents for the Horde. This is as close to honor as the goblins usually get.

Technology
Though once nothing but fodder for more taproom banter, goblin inventions have shown their worth in recent years. They're particularly fond of tinkering with mechanical things, alchemy, and explosives. Their love of mechanics often places them into direct competition with gnomes who enjoy similar devices. The "competition" between goblins and gnomes seems to be friendly, an example of this is in the shimmering flats where the two races are constantly competing (by racing) with one another. Whether clockwork "shredders" that allow a single goblin to do as much harvesting as 10 field hands or zeppelin-like "airships" that can ferry troops over otherwise impassable terrain, the goblins' inventions have become legendary. Such technological ingenuity is as central to the goblins' rise among the races as any trading prowess.

Even with the malfunctions and explosions that occur (not as frequent as tavern chatter suggests, but far from rare), goblin technology is proving to be of a quality that rivals the dwarves and their firearms. If they possessed physical strength and mystic power to match their inventiveness and cunning, they would be a force of some significance. Of course, the goblins claim that they are already — if not for their frail physical forms, goblins would rule the world. Then they laugh and say they prefer a challenge and offer to buy the taproom guests the next round.

Appearances
They weigh between 30 and 50 pounds. They have long, sharp noses, chins and ears, and green skin. Their arms are long and slender and their four fingers are deft. They tend to wear leather clothing, often cut into aprons to protect against caustic fluids. Goggles usually cover their eyes, and various technological devices are strapped across their bodies.

Faith
Goblins place their faith in themselves and in gold. They raise eyebrows at insubstantial concepts such as shamanism and the Holy Light, preferring gods they can see, weigh, and spend.

Language
Goblins know myriad languages in order to trade with as many races as possible.

Development


Warcraft III was originally planned to have six playable races. While the fifth race was planned to be the Burning Legion, "deciding on a sixth race was like a game of roulette, with the development ball stopping on various ideas", one of which were the goblins, who had been first introduced in Warcraft II. Early plans for a fleshed-out goblin race played up their kamikaze mentality with designs such as a catapult that flung units across the map. However, as six and even five races proved too difficult for Blizzard to balance, the amount of playable races was eventually scaled down to four; the goblins and Legion remained in the game, but not as fully playable factions.

Alongside demons and naga, goblins were also initially planned to be a playable race in classic World of Warcraft, which was developed at the same time as Warcraft III. Chris Metzen stated that Blizzard went back and forth on whether or not to make goblins or gnomes the fourth playable Alliance race. The developers all thought it would be very cool to play from the goblins' perspective, but since they were already widespread as neutral NPCs that got along well with both Alliance and Horde, it would be tough to fit them into a two-faction system, and so gnomes became a better fit.

Johnathan Staats also explained that the goblins proved "too intensive". Blizzard wanted to implement the goblin capital of Undermine, but due to a lack of goblin art assets, doing so would have required "a ton" of work, causing the playable goblins to be cut from classic WoW. He also stated that before they were cut, Blizzard considered the idea of making the goblins a neutral race that was neither Horde nor Alliance.

Years later, goblins were eventually implemented as a playable race in the Cataclysm expansion. During the development of Cataclysm, there were talks about goblins being available to both factions, with players picking a faction. In the end the goblins added more to the Horde than they would have added to the Alliance since the Alliance's pint-sized comic relief spot was already ably filled by gnomes. The concept of a neutral race would later be realized in Mists of Pandaria in the form of playable pandaren.

Notes and trivia

 * The goblins are rather fond of palm tree prints and other gaudy decorations, as can be seen by their old buildings and even their clothes.
 * Khadgar once read and said to Medivh that goblins, as a race, are insane. Medivh corrected him that only the smart ones are.
 * Some goblins live in the Last Forest of Desolace. Sometimes, they also visit Flayers' Point.
 * According to the gnome Gaxim Rustfizzle, goblins seem to reproduce like rabbits.
 * Bolik wanted his ship to be the best, so he hired goblins to build the Orgath'ar.
 * The adjective form of "goblin" is seemingly goblinoid.
 * Oftentimes, the jealous humans and dwarves ridiculed and compared the ears of high elves to those of donkeys, swine, and worst of all, goblins.
 * Apparently, "goblin" roughly translates to "parasite" in draenei.
 * Although goblins have existed in World of Warcraft since launch, the introduction of goblins as playable characters brought with it a new set of goblin models and soundbites. Upon the launch of Cataclysm, goblins throughout the game world were updated to the new version. However, some goblins can be found still using the old soundbites.
 * Prior to Cataclysm, the goblins borrow the basic skeleton from dwarves, although their profile photo is at a different angle; they also possess a unique dance and other different animations. The older goblin model used for shredder pilots and flight masters takes the basic skeleton from imps.
 * Before patch 2.3.0, goblins could not wear (or at least show) Head items. Kiz Coilspanner was the first to show this, followed by the helmed Irradiated Workers' models being switched from gnomes to goblins.
 * Goblin male guards are voiced by Anthony Perullo.
 * The presentation of goblins in Warcraft as intelligent, inventive, and cunning beings coincides with the franchise's break from traditional portrayals of orcs, goblins, and trolls as "all brawn, no brain".
 * In lore, goblins joined the Horde in the Second War, but they are never mentioned in the book Tides of Darkness, although it is referenced in Beyond the Dark Portal.
 * Some goblin NPC names have a second meaning, out of context with the game environment. As a, the goblin name is constructed of the words haughty, a form of disdainful arrogance, and modiste, a French word that means "fashion designer" or "fashion vendor". (On the other hand, haute couture is a form of high fashion, making it even more of a pun.) Likewise,  talks openly about escorting the player's character to the steamy jungles of Stranglethorn Vale, to "show [them] a real jungle cat."
 * Two of the greatest chefs in the game are goblins; Dirge Quikcleave and The Rokk. While unconfirmed, and possibly a coincidence, this could imply that goblins have a certain talent for cooking. Examples of goblin-invented dishes are Clamlette Surprise, Buzzard Bites, and Demon Broiled Surprise. Goblin Deviled Clams and Undermine Clam Chowder are likely invented by goblins as well.
 * In Hearthstone, the goblins card back was rewarded for achieving Rank 20 in Ranked Season 8, which took place during November 2014. The flavor text reads: "4 out of 5 goblins agree: This card back doesn't explode!"
 * Goblins are a combination of some Italian-American, Jewish, and New Yorker stereotypes, as well as based on European folklore and derivatives in other media.
 * Goblins are commonly heard speaking with a or -style accent.
 * In Cataclysm, male goblin NPCs sometimes say "G.T.L, friend...Gambling, Tinkering, Laundry!" when clicked upon. This is a reference to the show Jersey Shore, where G.T.L stands for "Gym, Tan, Laundry." It is most likely that the goblins' use of the word "laundry" implies the act of laundering money, and not washing clothes.
 * In real-life lore, a  is an evil, neurotic, or mischievous creature of European folklore, often described as a grotesquely disfigured human of short stature.
 * While the real-world association of goblins to money are due to folklore of goblin markets, immortalized in the 19th century poem, there are parallel dynamics of hook-nosed goblins as bankers or merchants due to antisemitic tropes in the 19th and early 20th century, as well as combining goblin folklore with antisemitic  stories. These depictions have survived in contemporary memes culture.
 * Goblins seem to take some inspiration or at least show similarities to: the, for their destructive nature and looks, and the Ferengi of , for their industrialized society, where a person's worth is equal to the belongings he can gather and hold, though this trait seemed to only develop after Warcraft II.
 * Though lacking in similarities, the global reach of goblin folklore that led to their use in Warhammer and Warcraft could be attributed to their featuring in Tolkien's books.

Gallery

 * World of Warcraft