By Alan McCoy from Dungeons & Dragons: Fundamentals
How to build challenging encounters against a Hobgoblin
Note: This has been prepared utilizing only the 5E Core Rules. The Hobgoblin can be found in the Monster Manual page 185-187. Hobgoblin Leaders (Such as those presented in Volo’s Guide) to include the Devastator (Battle-Wizard) or the Iron Shadow (Rogue-Monk) with other Character Classes would of course make for an even tougher encounter.
First things first: While the Goblin and Hobgoblin races share a language and some common ancestor, there is really very little in common between the races. To emphasize this fact, for the rest of this essay, I will be referring to the creature the book names Hobgoblin as a Hob. Hobs consider the term ‘Hobgoblin’ or any comparison to their distant cousins to be an insult.
Hobs are natural soldiers, tough and disciplined. Their culture is very militant, they are aggressive, and they tend to conquer and keep captured territory rather than merely raiding it. Hobs are known to use horses, oxen and wagons. Hobs have skill at creating military equipment, to include a great variety of high-quality personal weaponry as well as siege weaponry. They construct and maintain fortifications. Hobs have a strong grasp on tactics and discipline and can carry out sophisticated battle plans.
Hobs organize their tribal bands known as Legions. Each legion is named and has specific markings that are very bold in color scheme and can be used to identify the specific legion. Armor, banners, arrows and shield markings will all reflect Legion designation.
(NOT RAW LORE) Hob Legions have names that translate into descriptive warlike phrases, names of Hob heroes, special weapons or destructive forces have all been recorded. This name is often associated with the Warlord who leads the Legion. Examples: Black Flail Legion, Red Sword Legion, One-Eye’s Legion, Greencloaks’ Legion.
Hob Legions are led by a Warlord, who has several Captains under his command. Captains typically command a unit of 100 or more individual Hobs. Individual Units are highly aggressive and competitive with one another. It takes a very strong and ruthless leader to weld individual companies into a Legion, it takes an even more powerful leader to control multiple legions.
If Hobs have a racial weakness, it might be their unreasoned hatred of Elves. Hobs have been known to abandon their plan of attack to attack elves instead. Even when doing so is a tactical error. While a single Elf probably won’t inspire the Hobs to deviate from a plan, groups or units of Elves almost certainly will.
(NOT RAW LORE) This hatred seems to be linked to the worship of Maglubiyet. A Hob does not fear death, because they believe that if they die in battle, they will join Maglubiyet Legion. The Hobs believe that Elves are born without souls and have the power to destroy the souls of those they slay. Hobs believe that any Elf not only wants to slay their body, but their soul as well.
(NOT RAW LORE) The Hob military organization is built around the number twelve, as Hobs have four fingers and two thumbs on each hand.
Step 1) Let’s review what we know about the Hob.
Armed with Longsword and Shield, typically armored in chainmail or better. They have Darkvision. High Strength and above average Dexterity. Average Intelligence. They are proficient with the Longbow. Note that while the MM entry states Longsword, it is reasonable to replace it with another martial weapon.
Special Ability: Martial Advantage — 1/turn: Allows the Hob to deal and extra 2d6 damage on a successful hit if the target is within five feet of an active ally.
Hob have been known to dominate lesser humanoid races to use as shock troops and arrow fodder. Most commonly, these are Goblins, but bugbears, orcs, evil humans, ogres and even giants have been observed.
Step 2) Determine the probable Strategy.
Hob strategy is to dominate and control an area, to include area denial, to facilitate the acquisition of territory or desired resources. such as wood, metals, foodstuffs and slaves.
A Hob Warlord will conduct through reconnaissance prior to making an attack into an area by sending patrol units into the area to ascertain strongpoints, location of the desired resources, and the strengths and weaknesses of the opposing forces.
Step 3) Hob Organization
Note: Not all this information is RAW – I have based it on Historical Military Texts.
Hobs are highly militant and organized. Every Hob is a soldier, they have a unit, a job and a rank.
A Hob Legion consists of twelve Companies and is commanded by a Warlord.
A Hob Company consists of twelve Patrols and is commanded by a Captain.
A Hob Patrol consists of a leader and his deputy, two scout/runners, a ranged element of four, and an attack element. A patrol can be divided by the leader into two bands of six.
An undefined but important part of every Hobs training is the need for a Sword-Brother. Every Hob has one, if a fight is expected, they will be by each other’s side.
Step 4) Determine Tactics
Hobs prefer to move at night, so that they can use their Darkvision to best advantage. Note that this is a preference, they are perfectly capable of operating in full daylight, however, they tend to do so in greater numbers.
A Hob patrol knows that its first duty is to report unusual activity, and if any is encountered the leader will send one or both of his runners to carry word back to the company. If both are sent, they will travel by different routes.
Hobs recognize the value of interrogation and will always attempt to capture at least one (not Elven) prisoner.
I will not attempt to make an exhaustive study of situational Hob tactics; I could write a book and not be done. The following tactical fighting plan example is presented to help get you started.
Situation: A Hob Patrol group has discovered an enemy encampment or formation in motion.
If possible, the leader will remain out of contact with the enemy force, continue to observe, while they send a runner to the Company. The patrol will wait for darkness to fall, or for the runner to return with orders from the Captain.
Assuming orders to the contrary haven’t been received, the Patrol Leader will prepare his assault to be conducted once darkness has fallen, and the enemy seems unprepared.
— Detach the ranged element. They will set up in firing position roughly 100-120 feet from the expected combat area, well within the range of the Longbow, but not so close as to be something the enemy can rush.
— If necessary, prepare torches or other means of illuminating the combat area for the ranged element (outside range of Darkvision).
— The Attack element will attack in an “L” shaped formation from a direction that will avoid friendly fire from the ranged element.
— Any attack will include taking out any identified Elves FIRST.
–Hob Sword-Brothers will attack together, allowing them both to utilize “Martial Advantage” Ability.
–The Ranged Element will engage upon the leader’s signal. These Archers will also can use “Martial Advantage” on their ranged attacks as long as any active ally is within five feet of their target.
— A Runner and the deputy commander will remain out of contact to escape and report should things go badly. Additionally, they will engage if anyone runs their way.
— If things go badly, the Hobs will retreat in good order, with half utilizing the DISENGAGE Action and their full movement speed. The next round will see the other half of the unit disengage and fall back, covered by the bows of the first. The retreat will proceed by leapfrog until they reach the ranged element.
An Opinion: Of all the standard Humanoid Monsters, the Hob is the most dangerous. due to its military style tactics and organization, as well as its ability to build and maintain fortifications. Use these monsters with care.