Snotling
Encyclopedia
A Snotling is a fantasy creature from the universe of the Warhammer Fantasy
and Warhammer 40,000
books and games.
Snotlings are greenskin
s, and are cousins of Goblin
s (Gretchin) and Orc
s (Ork
s), smaller than the former and dumber than the latter, often used by them as cannon fodder, food or even cannon missiles. They are on the lowest rung of greenskin society and are bullied by all including grots. Snotlings often wield mushrooms or sticks into battle.
'Snotling fondler' is a commonly-used derogatory term used in the Gotrek and Felix
Slayer-series of books by William King
and Nathan Long
.
In the 1991 book Ere We Go (Subtitled "Space Orks in Warhammer 40,000") and in the Gorkamorka
rulebook, the Snotlings were revealed to be the original form of the entire Ork
species. They acquired intelligence after consuming a special fungus
and soon created genetically engineered slave races to support them; first the Gretchin, and then the Orks
themselves. Disaster struck, however, when the new races consumed all traces of the fungus, reducing the Snotlings to their near-feral
state. They are now only remembered as the legendary "Brain Boyz".
Recently, this origin has been changed. In current continuity the Orks were created by the Old Ones
as a weapon with which to fight the C'tan and Necron
s.
In the second edition of the game Snotlings were used as ammunition for warp-based catapults (Shokk Attack Guns), and while absent in the third edition, the weapon has reappeared for the latest version of Codex: Orks.
Warhammer Fantasy (setting)
Warhammer Fantasy is a fantasy setting, created by Games Workshop, which is used by many of the company's games. Some of the best-known games set in this world are: the table top wargame Warhammer Fantasy Battle, the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay pen-and-paper role-playing game, and the MMORPG...
and Warhammer 40,000
Warhammer 40,000
Warhammer 40,000 is a tabletop miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop, set in a dystopian science fantasy universe. Warhammer 40,000 was created by Rick Priestley in 1987 as the futuristic companion to Warhammer Fantasy Battle, sharing many game mechanics...
books and games.
Snotlings are greenskin
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, and are cousins of Goblin
Goblin (Warhammer)
Goblins, also known as "Gobbos", are among the smallest of the goblinoid "greenskin" races in the Warhammer Fantasy setting.They are smaller than the Orcs and the Hobgoblins but larger than the Gnoblar race and Snotlings...
s (Gretchin) and Orc
Orc (Warhammer)
Orcs are one of the races in Games Workshop's Warhammer Fantasy universe, and are related to goblins. The brutish orcs, though less intelligent, tend to dominate the meeker goblins...
s (Ork
Ork (Warhammer 40,000)
The Orks are a race from the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. They are described as being tall, muscular humanoids, with green skin and a penchant for violence. the orks live for war and constantly fight anything in sight, including each other...
s), smaller than the former and dumber than the latter, often used by them as cannon fodder, food or even cannon missiles. They are on the lowest rung of greenskin society and are bullied by all including grots. Snotlings often wield mushrooms or sticks into battle.
Warhammer
Snotlings are small, green creatures that often accompany orcs or orks and goblins in raids, waaaghs! or defense battles. They either fight in swarms or they are the crew of a snotling pump wagon.'Snotling fondler' is a commonly-used derogatory term used in the Gotrek and Felix
Gotrek and Felix
Gotrek and Felix are a pair of characters in the Warhammer Fantasy setting, appearing in a series of novels written primarily by William King, secondarily by Nathan Long....
Slayer-series of books by William King
William King (author)
William King also known as "Bill King" is the writer of a number of successful science-fiction and fantasy books, most notably in Games Workshop's Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 series, all published by GW's fiction arm, The Black Library...
and Nathan Long
Nathan Long (author)
Nathan Long is an American fantasy author. He is well known for his authorship of many of the Gotrek and Felix novels, along with The Blackhearts Trilogy.-Early history:...
.
Warhammer 40,000
In the Warhammer 40,000 game itself, Snotlings could be selected as units until the game's third edition, where their status as a troop type was removed. They continue to be incorporated into the background imagery of the Ork race, however.In the 1991 book Ere We Go (Subtitled "Space Orks in Warhammer 40,000") and in the Gorkamorka
Gorkamorka
Gorkamorka is a vehicle-using campaign game produced by Games Workshop, set on the desert world of Angelis, in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, prominently featuring Orks....
rulebook, the Snotlings were revealed to be the original form of the entire Ork
Ork (Warhammer 40,000)
The Orks are a race from the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. They are described as being tall, muscular humanoids, with green skin and a penchant for violence. the orks live for war and constantly fight anything in sight, including each other...
species. They acquired intelligence after consuming a special fungus
Fungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
and soon created genetically engineered slave races to support them; first the Gretchin, and then the Orks
Ork (Warhammer 40,000)
The Orks are a race from the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. They are described as being tall, muscular humanoids, with green skin and a penchant for violence. the orks live for war and constantly fight anything in sight, including each other...
themselves. Disaster struck, however, when the new races consumed all traces of the fungus, reducing the Snotlings to their near-feral
Feral
A feral organism is one that has changed from being domesticated to being wild or untamed. In the case of plants it is a movement from cultivated to uncultivated or controlled to volunteer. The introduction of feral animals or plants to their non-native regions, like any introduced species, may...
state. They are now only remembered as the legendary "Brain Boyz".
Recently, this origin has been changed. In current continuity the Orks were created by the Old Ones
Old Ones (Warhammer 40,000)
The Old Ones are a mythical and mysterious race or possibly a group of distinct species in the table-top wargame Warhammer 40,000. They played a pivotal role in the history of many races, including the Eldar, Jokaero, Humans, Orks and Necrons.- History :...
as a weapon with which to fight the C'tan and Necron
Necron
In the table-top wargame Warhammer 40,000, the Necrons are a mysterious skeletal robot-like race that have lain dormant and largely unknown by the other races of the universe for sixty four million years, and are reemerging in the distant future of the Warhammer 40,000 universe...
s.
In the second edition of the game Snotlings were used as ammunition for warp-based catapults (Shokk Attack Guns), and while absent in the third edition, the weapon has reappeared for the latest version of Codex: Orks.