Why Do Goblins Need Gold?

This topic came up when we were recording recently. There are some dark implications if goblins are people.

Goblins are kind of like a cross between humans and rats. They're like vermin, but they have a language and culture (kind of). They’re known for operating in tribes or gangs, and they often kill and steal from travelers on the road. As far as I know, Goblins don’t have farms or a complex society. It makes me wonder what they do at all. Essentially they’re a race of unintelligent, childish, violent bandits.

How would goblins spend gold? Do they have trade networks? Do they trade with other goblins? In every roleplaying book I can think of, they drop gold as loot. Why do they need it? Do they simply enjoy shiny things?

I’m trying to figure out how a goblin would go about spending gold, and I can imagine a few scenarios, but they have problems.

1. Goblins are aware that money has value, but don’t understand economics. They use this gold to trade with other creatures for weapons and food. To a goblin, the more gold you have, the more powerful you are. They don’t understand why that isn’t exactly true.

2. Goblins have some degree of trade with humans or other cultures. I imagine a farmer having a deal with goblins where they meet every few weeks to trade for furs and game. The problem is that doing business with goblins is extremely dangerous due to their complete lack of empathy (like chimpanzees) and tendency to fly into a rage over any perceived wrongdoing.

3. Goblins don’t need gold. Goblins just steal things from people they kill. It’s just as, if not less valuable, than a pile of animal furs or a horse to eat. Any time a goblin owns gold, it’s combined with other “treasures,” such as pig’s feet, bone necklaces and socks.


This raises some interesting questions about goblin society, or lack thereof.