Gnolls vs Orcs: The Epic Battle

by: Coyotee Sharptongue

Generic bad guys are hard to come by now a days. In a world of EverQuest II, where the good guys and the bad guys can be actual players, the role of "mass produced common enemy that you can whack the snot out of regardless of your chosen alignment" blurs and shifts as each race tries to claw its way to the top.

Luckily, we're able to break it down for you.

There are only three classes that easily fit into this category, and while some may argue this, they are not writing this article.

To start with the weakest of the three, you have your basic goblin. A skinny, scrawny looking midget troll thing, goblins are by far the most annoying. Sneaky, shiftless, treacherous creatures that would turn on their own mother for a shiny coin, some would argue that goblins are indeed the perfect "bad guy" class. Others would point out that their slight build, lack of organization, and habit of dying so easily that spawning can actually kill them, may work against them in this regard. Best class or not, Goblins are clearly in the running for sheer number and tenaciousness alone.

The next class would be the Gnoll. Delightfully versatile they can fill whatever role the game may need. Kobold, Gnoll, or even Egyptian inspired Anubis spawn; the dogs are a perfectly generic bad guy. Larger, sturdier, and more organized than goblins, one might consider the Gnoll a hands down winner. If it wasn't for the fact that these beasts are anything but intimidating. They lack the desperate malice of your common goblin, and carry an almost confused air to them, as if even they are unsure of the role that they are supposed to be fulfilling. Still - they hunt in large packs, and have been both the bane and the death of many a careless adventurer who thought he was fighting a lone dog man, but failed to see the three others basking on the opposite side of the rock. Pack hunters and vicious, Gnolls are truly a force to be reckoned with.

And lastly, we arrive at the Orcs. Intelligent, cruel and well armored these brutes are scattered through out the land of Norrath, taking on various forms but always remaining true to the imposing visage of which they were carved. With the ability to form ranks, military units, and strategies, Orcs could very well stand at the front of this competition and proudly proclaim themselves victor and few would disagree. However, as well weaponed and heavily armored as they can be, the can easily be caught alone, or wandering and are usually easily dispatched. While their size and strength makes them formidable foes, their arrogance and tendency to patrol alone work against them. In packs they would be devastating, a tactic that they could benefit from if borrowed from the Gnolls, but alone - while horrific, they seldom offer much of a fight.

So who is the winner? Who is the unconditional grand champion of this generic bad guy fight for dominance?

The Bullywug.

That's right, the Bullywugs from the old Dungeons and Dragons cartoon (Soon to be released on DVD). Giant armored frogmen who could pop out of thin air and tirelessly chase down our plucky heroes. Frogmen, who fought without tire in desserts, canyons, barren rock faces, and impossibly ancient dungeons. No matter where you were, you were never truly safe from the Bullywug.

They were an inspiration to generic bad guys everywhere, the epitome of perfect toady (no pun), and if they were in Everquest II, the world would be a quickly dominated place. So the next time you are battling a whining goblin, a befuddled Gnoll, or the loner/rebel Orc, remember..

If they were Bullywugs, you'd probably already be dead.