Races of the Source vs the First and those unique to each

[Enkidoh]

I think the Hobgoblins are very clearly meant to be the First's Goblins, not a separate race at all. They answer the age-old question (dating back to FFXI!) of just what a Goblin looks like with its mask off. (The answer? They look like classic FF goblins, of course!)

They're probably as surly as they are due to having to smell us stinky humans all the time. Kind of makes me want to be the entrepreneur who introduces breathing masks filled with fragrant herbs to the Hobgoblins. Totes should have been part of the Facet questlines, given we did the same for Amal'ja gauntlets and such. It could revolutionize human/Kobold relations - and become gillionaires in the process!

Well, there is old concept art from FFXI that supposedly shows a FFXI/FFXIV goblin without it's mask, which looks nothing like the 'classic' FFI style goblin, but I doubt the accuracy/canocity of the piece in question (the goblin in the image has glowing yellow eyes, where as goblins have large dark eyes (which could be seen on the 'goblin tinkerer' type goblins, the ones in silver armour whose helmets allowed their eyes to be visible.). Either way, if that image is to be believed, goblins are green-skinned, vaguely boar-like creatures, unlike the hobgoblins of the First (and FFI's goblins) that are rather ugly vaguely human-looking gnome-like creatures, not surprising given FFI was basically a Japanese clone of Dungeons and Dragons, but I digress...

Also, in regards to their masks, has it been mentioned anywhere here in FFXIV that the reason goblins wear their masks is the same reason they did in FFXI? (That is, they cannot stand the smell of the 'enlightened races' and so their masks contain odour filters to remove them.). I do know they do filter odours in any event, but I just don't know if they can't stand our scent! (It would explain how they can stand repugnant odours like that smelly cheese the Illuminati stole from Brayflox, their masks filter out the smell!).

I'm getting off topic though.

[LineageRazor]

Also, in regards to their masks, has it been mentioned anywhere here in FFXIV that the reason goblins wear their masks is the same reason they did in FFXI? (That is, they cannot stand the smell of the 'enlightened races' and so their masks contain odour filters to remove them.). I do know they do filter odours in any event, but I just don't know if they can't stand our scent! (It would explain how they can stand repugnant odours like that smelly cheese the Illuminati stole from Brayflox, their masks filter out the smell!).

Actually, yes! There's a Gnath Beast Tribes repeatable quest in which you procure the herbs for the mask, and it explains why the Goblins need them. While Upworlder stench is not the only reason, it's one of them.