Goblin Inventions
by RobinThe Goblin Glider
This device enables goblins (and kobolds, heavier or larger humanoids cause a crash) to glide down from higher altitudes. Normally they have a 10 feet decent for each 20 feet forward momentum. As their hands are free, they can use missile weapons from their location. However, as surprising this attack method might be, it has its weakness, that, no brakes, parachute or similar device exists with the goblins, it is fabricated by random cloth or leather with crude stitches, and steering (no more than 1/8th of a circle left or right each 2nd round) is very difficult done by shifting weight. As thus the pilot needs some experience, or no steering is possible. Fabrics may tear while steering or descending, causing a fall. Also; the item is vulnerable to updrafts caused by fire, heat, or gust of wind spells, air elementals and such, and natural updrafts near mountains for example, leaving the goblin way higher up, with no means of defence. Falling damages are as normal.
The Goblin Balloon
Goblin on personal baloon with Goblin Gun
The goblin balloon is an idea stolen from Gnomes, but much cruder. Large animals with undamaged skins are de-boned, gutted, and emptied, stitched together and filled with volcanic gasses. There are two versions, a small one for a single goblin, with no additional ammunition or weight other than itself. This version tends to stay at one altitude, drifting with the winds.
The second version resembles (more or less) a common balloon.
From there up they can throw down rock and shout arrows. The problem is in the lack of sufficient altitude control. The balloon is set upon the weight of sand sacks, ammunition and its passengers, if either left the bucket, the balloon rises a 10’ for each 100 cn thus lost.
When they are too high to effectively affect a battle, one goblin has to climb up, and open a few stitched, slightly…if it tears open further a fall will follow. . if, done right, the balloon will sink at 20 feet each round, and will only rise with weight reduction…sometimes this means the weaker goblin has to go take flying lessons.
The items are very vulnerable to updrafts caused by fire, heat, or gust of wind spells, air elementals and such, and natural updrafts near mountains for example, leaving the goblin way higher up, with no means of defence. Falling damages are as normal.
Goblin Gun picture see above
This spring-loaded blowpipe can shoot darts up to 10 x the normal distance. Further there is no difference. It must be preloaded (taking 2 rounds for each dart), and has a load for 10, 12 or 16 shots. Normal blowpipe darts must be used; Goblins often coat these with some poison. Loading while hanging in the air on a personal balloon requires a dexterity check for each dart…if failed, roll again, or the dart is dropped. Each try loading while thus airborne requires 4 rounds. Each 7th shot has a 10% chance to jam(never to be used again) or 5% to cause the gun to explode, releasing the missiles in a 10'sphere in all directions.
Valued at 1gp per shot load capacity, weight 25, 35 or 55 cn.