Goblin caves are generally small, twisted, and treacherous devilish holes. A good designer of goblin cave map for DnD 5e knows this. The identification of these human-like monsters filled dens is given through religious totems and ragged clothes in every corner of the place.

Inside these caverns, corridors leading to different paths are as common as passages that lead to places you’ve already seen before. Said corridors and narrow hallways are always a given when entering these lairs; Perfect to ambush adventurers who dare step within those walls.

Society

The Goblinoid’s society is led by power. It can be either physical strength or tactic intelligence – or both – but there’s always a leader. The goblins that get the leadership are usually the most powerful in the tribe. Given its violent nature, a hierarchy is quickly formed.

Privacy is almost unknown in a goblin den, so in their lairs, almost all of them sleep in the same space, consequently making it extremely difficult to perform an ambush while they’re asleep.

The leader in the goblin cave has access to a private sleeping chamber. A room made exclusively for them so they’re not obligated to sleep near their kin. These should all be factors in your goblin cave map.

Goblin cave map 5e DnD tips for DMs

It would be pleasant to highlight its narrow walls and numerous entrances, and also include multiple different noises coming from them. Exclusively to induce the sense of loss in your players.

Combat in the goblin cave

While playing as Goblinoids, there is a wide range of dirty tricks you may be able to engage players with. Sneaky ambushes, flanking and overwhelming their numbers, exploiting your traps positioning to deal huge bursts of damage. or even search for opportunities during battle to slay their weakest opponent in sight are their most preferred ways to deal with invaders.

Weapons

•    Goblins often uses War Picks, Spears, Short Swords, Morningstar and Slings
•   Bugbears often uses Morningstar and Javelins
•   Hobgoblins often uses Longswords and Longbow

Traps

Their morbid sense of humor reflects in their traps. Demoralizing enemies with cheap tricks and lethal traps are their most honorable way to fight. Some traps are simple and harmless – also undoubtedly unpleasant –, while some others are… well… 

Tables of Traps

Roll	Trap	DC	Damage
1	A spiked pit of 40 feet. Made with slippery mud and wooden stakes at their bottom. Pray to come out alive of it.	Dex 15	2d10
2 – 10	A stream of arrows. Various projectiles are shot in succession. You should run.	Dex 14	2d10
11 – 16	Boulders fall from above. How did they manage to put these up there…?	Dex 13	1d10
17 – 20	Turd. A flying turd.	Dex 20	1

Table for damage from traps

Char level	Setback	Dangerous	Deadly
1st – 4th	1d10	2d10	4d10
5th – 10th	2d10	4d10	10d10
11th – 16th	4d10	10d10	18d10
17th – 20th	10d10	18d10	24d10

Trap Danger	Save DC	Attack Bonus
Setback	10 – 11	+3 to +5
Dangerous	12 – 15	+6 to +8
Deadly	16 – 20	+9 to +12

ROLEPLAY in a DND goblin Cave

Goblins

Volatile, short-tempered and greedy beings. They are the most likely to be leaders since their survival comes first and will do anything to ensure that. Even backstab their own followers.

Hobgoblins

This variant doesn’t have many malicious characteristics compared to other goblinoids. They have their own method of doing things and generally follow their will without thinking about its consequences and how it’ll affect the life of other beings.

Bugbears

Known for their brutality and not so much by their brightness. Bugbears are beings of pure strength with little to no knowledge or cleverness. They enjoy cruelty on its purest form, and this includes: enslavement of weaker beings, torture of prisoners and eating other humanoids.

Although they are not the most intelligent variant, they also know very well when to flee from a hopeless battle.

Possible Encounters in a goblin cave map

Some encounters need to be balanced based on the party’s level. But you can find some below, considering the whole party is level 3.

 Table for Lucky Encounters

Roll	Encounters	Special Effects
1	1 Hobgoblin 2 Bugbears 2 Goblins	CD 16 Perception for stealth Bugbears.
2 – 5	2 Hobgoblins 4 Goblins	As the hobgoblin enters, an ominous blow of wind blasts from the entrance. Extinguishes any torches nearby.
6 – 10	8 Goblins	None
11 – 15	6 Goblins	None
16 – 19	4 Goblins	None
20	1 Hobgoblins 4 Goblins	The hobgoblin holds a shiny key. Upon its death, the players are able to open a passage to a new dungeon with more enemies and handy rewards. (Roll on DM’s table)

   3.2 Table for Boss

Roll	Encounters	Special Effects
1	4 Bugbears	CD 16 Perception for stealth Bugbears.
2 – 5	5 Hobgoblins	As the hobgoblin enters, an ominous blow of wind blasts from the entrance. Extinguishes any torches nearby.
6 – 10	2 Hobgoblins 4 Goblins	None
11 – 16	1 Hobgoblins 5 Goblins	None
17 – 19	3 Hobgoblins	The monsters were securing a lore artifact item. It can be either a Player’s or Goblin’s lore.
20	2 Bugbears	During the battle, once a Bugbear runs to take cover within the chamber, they reveal a magical weapon +1. It can be looted.

Goblin cave map 5e FAQ