The comic's setting is based on a Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and parodies these games, in that the rules of reality follow game mechanics; characters are aware of this and can take advantage of these rules. The story follows both a group of goblins, including Chief, Big Ears, Fumbles, Thaco and Complains-of-Names. It also follows Minmax and Forgath, "adventurers" based on RPG player characters. Goblins mixes comedy with bleak situations and gruesome violence.