RACIAL GUIDES:
GOBLINS
Written by Flywheel
Faction: Bilgewater Cartel
Leader: Trade Prince Gallywix
Capital: Bilgewater Harbor, Azshara
Typical Goblin Characteristics
Age: 20 (young adult), 30 (middle aged), 40 (old), 70 (venerable)
Height: 3’5"- 4’0"
Weight: 50-100lb
Eye Color: Purple, red, pink, orange, green, blue
Hair Color: Black, blue, brown, red, blonde, white, pink, purple, grey
History:
The goblins in the distant past were originally slaves to an un-named tribe of jungle trolls and forced to mine. It is believed that their handling of the mineral Kaja’mite, over time gave them their advanced intelligence and eventually allowed them to turn the tables on their troll slave masters. They now enslave that tribe of trolls in the Kaja mines.
The goblins lived among the many islands in the South seas. The goblin home city is Undermine. They were ruled over by various Trade Princes, each which headed his/her own trade cartel. At the time of the Cataclysm (36 years since the opening of the Dark Portal) Deathwing flew over the island of Kezan just at the end goal of the historic Bilgewater Buccaneers vs. Steamwheedle Sharks footbomb match. Deathwing spoke of imminent doom and destruction before flying off. Shortly after, the volcano Mt. Kojaro exploded and sunk the island.
Examples of cartels
Bilgewater Cartel - Lead by Trade Prince Jastor Gallywix, and now based in Azshara. This cartel is aligned with the Horde. It is said that Bilgewater Cartel goblins were the first to discover and mine Azerite. Gallywix has a large Azerite crystal fashioned into the orb on the top of his cane.
Steamwheedle Cartel - The largest and most successful of the goblin cartels of Undermine. It is a neutral organization that controls several cities and towns around the world, and has allied themselves with a number of other groups such as the Blackwater Raiders in Booty Bay. The Steamwheedle Cartel has made a great deal of profit from maintaining neutrality in the conflict between the Horde and the Alliance. Barons include Gazlowe (Ratchet), Marin Noggenfogger (Gadgetzan), and Revilgaz (Booty Bay).
Venture Company or Venture Trading Company - A notorious goblin organization, deforesting and plundering the world for its natural resources. Mogul Razdunk owns and runs the Venture Company. It is an independent faction.
Culture:
Most things in a goblin’s life are based around money. The more gold and assets a particular goblin can gain, the greater their social ranking and status. The highest status a goblin could attain, would be to become rich enough to found his or her own cartel. The second highest priority to goblins would be invention and production - followed closely by explosive devices.
Goblins have a fondness ingrained in their systems for technology and alchemy. Their nature- unpredictable and cunning- is shown in their unusual, quirky, and often very volatile creations that appear to the layman as haphazard and chaotic. Their love of chemistry has produced many effective explosives and powerful combustion engines.
Footbomb is the goblins national sport. A game played on a field where each team dons shredders and attempts to throw bombs at one another. It appears to work mostly on a last man standing to win but does involve scoring goals as well.
Goblins have a very practical outlook on religion, “What can it do for me?”. Some goblins choose to harness the powers the elements bestow upon them, while others have found the path of the light. The one thing in common with all religious goblins is that all of their work comes at a price!
Goblins view themselves as more intelligent, and better at turning a profit than all other races. However, in general they harbor no direct dislike of them and are more than willing to work with or employ other races.
Further info:
https://eu.battle.net/forums/en/wow/topic/5723623840
(N.B. Much of this is copy/pasted or re-worked from other guides. Thanks Ignix and Adnaw for all your hard work!)