A lone Hobgoblin walks into a bar... (Land of Linnorm Kings)

[ShoulderPatch]

I have a player interested in playing a LN or N Hobgoblin (Fighter) in an adventure set in the Linnorm Kingdoms.

I'm considering letting him go for it but I'm curious if the reaction to his character in an 'average' establishment would be... well, let's face it, "friendly" is probably out...
+leave him alone/ignore (no love but, if he pays and leaves others alone, he gets left alone)
+subtle cold shoulders (little higher on costs, best room and gear never available for him, not invited to reindeer games, but nothing outright aggresive)
+passive aggresive (the 'accidental' spilled beer, attempts to provoke but not outright attack first, up to 'your kind can't enter here' )
+outright attacks to some degree (wait until he leaves and ambush him, '[no words, just weapons start getting drawn and he's charged]).

I'd assumed the middle options in most places, cold shoulders and higher prices and prob. some passive aggresive moves.

Not that it makes a huge diff. but he is openly a follower of Gorum (wears a holy symbol he paid for, etc) and (backstory) he has belonged to a (mostly ulfen) group of long boat raiders before (so he does 'look the look' and can 'talk the talk' of the Ulfen people).

The game will travel through the Kingdoms, though the other PCs have no love for most of Southmoor or Broken Bay so if people there don't like him the rest of the group would probably take that as a good sign. He will however be alone for parts of some of the adventures and that's what I'm mainly interested in. (When he's not alone the group has a party face that by level 3 or 4 can prob. defuse any common situation).

Anyway. Opinions? Should I let him do it? Or, staying true to setting, would it mean I'd have to have him getting attacked all the time?

[Carter Lockhart]

I think Linnorm Kingdoms is a place you could get away with such a character. Ulfen customs particularly value strength and loyalty. So if he's a warrior, and has a few ulfen arm-bands from his raiding days, he might fit in as good as any. An example of how bestial characters work is how lycanthropes and skinchangers are generally respected amongst the Ulfen as having the power and connection to nature.

That being said, the appropriate responce is probably a mix of each really. But in general, especially if he's traveling with a group of humanish races, he should probably be accepted as any traveler to the kingdoms, fairly neutral, maybe an eye kept on him, but no disrespect for him or his coin unless given a reason.

[Helaman]

The Limnorn fight each other with not much by way of excuse. I'd think a hobgoblin would be on the bottom end of your spectrum.

Why does the character want a Hobgoblin? Is it the 'power' factor (really not that much of one)? Is it the 'snow flake' factor - them just wanting to be 'special'? Is it the thrill of playing a monster (the Gorumite angle seems to indicate they aren't trying to soften or civilise their character).

How tied to their desired level of 'fun' is this character? Could they have the same fun if you offered a customised half-elf or human or something that gave much of the same features or does it have to be a Hobgoblin?

How tied to 'fun' is your desire to stick to some verisimilitude to the setting? If it grates you the wrong way, will it still be fun for you?

If you don't give a toss? Or its meh? Then just throw in a background feature that from time to time small groups of Hobgoblins go civilised and move to the human lands, selling the only commodity they have - their skills at war, and become Mercenaries. They are rare but not unheard of.

Then you can hang in the ignore or cold shoulders region most of the time.

It boils down to the why does the player want to do this, what do they want to do with this and will this blow your fun. If its just for fun and rule of cool? And its not going to rain on your parade? Sure.

Just set some ground rules that you are both comfortable with. Afterall the land of the Limnorm is populated by the Golarian equivilent of Vikings and Hells Angels (in Longships), so him thinking he is so badass may not end up so well for them - they should be warned.

[ShoulderPatch]

Carter Lockhart wrote:

I think Linnorm Kingdoms is a place you could get away with such a character. Ulfen customs particularly value strength and loyalty. So if he's a warrior, and has a few ulfen arm-bands from his raiding days, he might fit in as good as any. An example of how bestial characters work is how lycanthropes and skinchangers are generally respected amongst the Ulfen as having the power and connection to nature.

That being said, the appropriate responce is probably a mix of each really . But in general, especially if he's traveling with a group of humanish races, he should probably be accepted as any traveler to the kingdoms, fairly neutral, maybe an eye kept on him, but no disrespect for him or his coin unless given a reason.

Good point about the lycanthropes/skinchangers.

I would imagine any specific region or city that has specific issues with Hobgoblins (and prob. Goblins, Bugbears, and Orcs ['they all look alike to me']) would be less forgiving but, specific locales aside, in a nation beset by Trolls and Giants with Irrisen next door I can't imagine deep fear, resentment, and hatred lands at lowly Hobgoblins feet who are often organized raiders themselves.
[I picture it a bit like a Mongol, who'd spent time on a Viking crew, in a land of Vikings... not entirely fitting in but, compared to more civilized lands, not a walking target for execution either.]

I don't imagine much love exists, and if a group of Hobgoblins showed up I'd think the locals would be arms before words without some showing of non-violent intent, but a lone Hobgoblin walking into a bar... my general assumption I think is accurate enough. Don't expect hospitality but don't expect extraordinary violence either. Pay the bill, end fights but don't start them, be strong but not stupid about it, you can get by.

[avr]

Passive aggression would be unlikely IMO, using it's just asking to get bullied in what I understand of their culture. Jacking the prices up is as far as that would be likely to go.

I could see hotheads getting into a brawl more than sneak attacks in a dark alley.

[Blakmane]

Having travelled to some odd areas for a caucasian to be IRL, I can tell you that, if you are an extremely unusual sight in an area you are more likely to be stared at and then semi-ignored rather than actively approached or bullied - I can imagine even more so for an obviously armed and capable fighter.

Racism isn't a very fun thing to roleplay most of the time. Be careful 'bullying the character' doesn't become 'bullying the player' accidentally. Make sure you and he are on the same page in terms of the social agreement.

Remember also, being unhelpful towards your players for any reason, justified or not, often ends with them becoming unhelpful in return, either in character or out of character. Don't perpetuate a situation where the hobgoblin becomes disruptive because you won't let him be productive.