This post in a locked thread gave me an idea:

If I am playing a Paladin and uncover a goblin village, would I find that all of the goblins there are evil? What of the goblin women (who are oppressed by the males) and the children? If goblins are born evil would it be considered an evil act for a Paladin to kill a goblin baby or would it be considered a just act and ridding the world of evil?

Furthermore, if I am playing a Priest of Ilmater or Selune, for example, who tell their followers to be tolerant of everyone and to help all who need it, then how do goblins fit into this view? If they are born evil, can they be redeemed through RP by a Priest of Ilmater, who works to draw a goblin away from his evil ways? Or would such an action forever be impossible due to the fact that they are basically no different than demons or devils?

Also, does this apply to other races outside of goblins such as Drow? Can a Drow be redeemed? What about Duergar? Beholders? Illithid? Kobolds?

I think that could lead to some interesting conflict within the party that killed every goblin warrior and now has to decide what to do with their women and children...

Not to flame your suggestion for the purpose of, but what I think it will come down to is the same, one-way going RP every time you're in that situation. And it won't be fun after the second or third time. Oh yeah, they will probably have to be Neutral too, to even have some kind of moral debate going outside combat.

Hostile Goblin Clay and Peddle Armed Children & Mad Goblin Kitchen Wife swinging at your with forks and other tableware - that's a whole different story!

Are you implying that goblin women and children should not be as evil as adult male goblins?

Obedience Not to flame your suggestion for the purpose of, but what I think it will come down to is the same, one-way going RP every time you're in that situation. And it won't be fun after the second or third time. Oh yeah, they will probably have to be Neutral too, to even have some kind of moral debate going outside combat.

Are you implying that goblin women and children should not be as evil as adult male goblins?

I'm not sure I get it. You are attacking them -- why would they fiercely defend their territory?

I don't understand you. How does that answer to my post?

IMO, I think the following should come of this suggestion: Some new hostile NPC goblins should be added into our collect of Goblin spawns. Goblin children/youth could spawn in place of the gimpy 1HD goblins. Followed by replacing the title of Goblin Enchanter with, Angry Goblin House Wife. Maybe Goblin Elite should just be called 'Horny Goblin', and the 'Goblin Rogues' get named simply 'Sneaky Female Goblin'. It stands to reason that all gender and age of the vile beasts would try to eat your face when you attack. Assuming the a vast population fled prior, only to cook more babies to repopulate the quest for next time.

Snoteye You are attacking them -- why would they fiercely defend their territory?

Babies just like the rest of their goblin kin are born evil, so a paladin has every right to kill them. Of course, it is your choice to try and change that goblins life even though I do not see why anyone would. They -are- bloodthirsty demons from birth that have little chance of turning from that- it would be a very rare case in which someone would keep a goblin alive for the purpose of trying to "cleanse" them (of course, other reasons to keep them alive are available but most of them not a Paladin's style if you get me).

Snoteye

Snoteye You are attacking them -- why would they fiercely defend their territory?

I meant to say, why would they not fiercely defend their territory?

They -are- bloodthirsty demons from birth that have little chance of turning from that- it would be a very rare case

ShiftingAllegiances Babies just like the rest of their goblin kin are born evil, so a paladin has every right to kill them. Of course, it is your choice to try and change that goblins life even though I do not see why anyone would. They -are- bloodthirsty demons from birth that have little chance of turning from that- it would be a very rare case in which someone would keep a goblin alive for the purpose of trying to "cleanse" them (of course, other reasons to keep them alive are available but most of them not a Paladin's style if you get me).

If anyone wanted to "cleanse" a goblin, they would have to be borderline if not utterly mad. It is a simple fact, goblins are evil. They are monsters created by Gary Gygax to be hacked into pieces, and you don't have to question why, conveniently!

Now, throwing kobold babies into boiling water would be evil because you're inflicting undo pain. Crap, g2g. You get the idea.