Norker
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
roleplaying game, the norker is a type of fictional monster for player character
s to encounter.
(1981).
The norker appeared in second edition for the Greyhawk
setting in the Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Appendix (1990).
The norker appeared in third edition for the Greyhawk setting in Living Greyhawk Journal
#3 (February 2001). The norker also appeared in Dungeon
#98 / Polyhedron
#157 (May 2003). The norker appeared as a playable character race in Dragon
#343 (May 2006).
The norker appeared in fourth edition in the Monster Manual 3 (2010).
that are distantly related to hobgoblin
s. They are goblinoid
s with tough, armor-like hide.
. They raid and steal from other humanoids, being too lazy to do their own hunting. Sometimes norkers will be commanded by powerful groups of hobgoblins
, who will use the norkers as shock troops and cannon fodder.
. Their lairs include caves, old ruins, and villages taken by force from other races. They do not build themselves, at least nothing more complex than fences and gates. A norker lair contains one and a half times as many females as males, and twice as many young as males.
A norker's favored class is rogue.
has been breeding them in great numbers, valuing their tough hide that replaces the need for armor. It may be impossible to crossbreed them with goblins, or Iuz would likely have done so already in the hope of breeding lightly armored, fast-breeding warriors.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
roleplaying game, the norker is a type of fictional monster for player character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
s to encounter.
Publication history
The norker first appeared in the original first edition Fiend FolioFiend Folio
Fiend Folio is the title shared by three products published for successive editions of the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons...
(1981).
The norker appeared in second edition for the Greyhawk
Greyhawk
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
setting in the Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Appendix (1990).
The norker appeared in third edition for the Greyhawk setting in Living Greyhawk Journal
Living Greyhawk Journal
The Living Greyhawk Journal was a periodical published by the Role-Playing Games Association as a stand-alone magazine from 2000 to 2004. The publication was intended to supplement the RPGA's Living Greyhawk campaign, though many consider the content within to be canon for the Greyhawk setting in...
#3 (February 2001). The norker also appeared in Dungeon
Dungeon (magazine)
Dungeon Adventures, or simply Dungeon, was a magazine targeting consumers of role-playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons. It was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1986 as a bimonthly periodical. It went monthly in May 2003 and ceased print publication altogether in September 2007 with Issue 150...
#98 / Polyhedron
Polyhedron (magazine)
Polyhedron was a magazine which started out as the official publication of the RPGA . Publication began in the year 1981, and the target audience was players of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game...
#157 (May 2003). The norker appeared as a playable character race in Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#343 (May 2006).
The norker appeared in fourth edition in the Monster Manual 3 (2010).
Description
Norkers are a race of humanoidsHumanoid (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, humanoid is a type of creature, or "creature type". Humanoids are any creature shaped generally like a human , of Small or Medium size, with few or no supernatural or extraordinary abilities...
that are distantly related to hobgoblin
Hobgoblin (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, hobgoblins are a larger, stronger, smarter and more menacing form of goblins. They are smaller and weaker than bugbears, but better organized. Hobgoblins are humanoids that stand nearly 6'6" tall on average, a little taller than orcs...
s. They are goblinoid
Goblinoid
Goblinoids are a category of humanoid legendary creatures related to the goblin. The term originated in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, in which goblins and related creatures are a staple of random encounters. Goblinoids are typically barbaric foes of the various human and...
s with tough, armor-like hide.
Ecology
Norkers breed more slowly than goblinsGoblin (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, goblins are a very common and fairly weak race of evil humanoid monsters. Goblins and Kobolds are commonly non-human monsters that low-level player characters will face in combat. In D&D, goblins aren't smaller cousins of orcs, but are a part of...
. They raid and steal from other humanoids, being too lazy to do their own hunting. Sometimes norkers will be commanded by powerful groups of hobgoblins
Hobgoblin (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, hobgoblins are a larger, stronger, smarter and more menacing form of goblins. They are smaller and weaker than bugbears, but better organized. Hobgoblins are humanoids that stand nearly 6'6" tall on average, a little taller than orcs...
, who will use the norkers as shock troops and cannon fodder.
Environment
Norkers are found anywhere that goblins live, and are also found in the Bright DesertBright Desert
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, the Bright Desert is a fictional desert located in the central Flanaess...
. Their lairs include caves, old ruins, and villages taken by force from other races. They do not build themselves, at least nothing more complex than fences and gates. A norker lair contains one and a half times as many females as males, and twice as many young as males.
Typical physical characteristics
Norkers resemble goblins, except for their three-inch canines and hairless hides, which range from reddish brown to dark gray in hue. They are seldom seen in any clothing apart from a loincloth and a belt, which they use for hanging their favored possessions from.Society
Norkers live in tribes that rarely exert any influence beyond their leaders' immediate reach. These tribes are much smaller than a typical goblin or hobgoblin tribe. Different norker tribes rarely meet, but when they do they often come to blows until it is established which one is dominant. The victors take the fangs of the losers as trophies.A norker's favored class is rogue.
Greyhawk
IuzIuz
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Iuz is the chaotic evil demigod of Deceit, Evil, Oppression, Pain, and Wickedness. Iuz is variously called "The Old One" and "Old Wicked," among other titles. Unlike most Greyhawk deities, Iuz makes his home on...
has been breeding them in great numbers, valuing their tough hide that replaces the need for armor. It may be impossible to crossbreed them with goblins, or Iuz would likely have done so already in the hope of breeding lightly armored, fast-breeding warriors.