Goblins have been anonymous, filthy, rapidly breeding menaces in all versions of D&D, albeit to varying degrees. Before Deekin and Shadows of Undrentide Kobolds were just killable creatures for low level adventurers. Read the often painfully unimaginative and repetitive Monster Manuals from earlier D&D; Kobolds are cowardly but very industrious creatures who worship Kurtelmak, who hates all non Kobolds, etc, etc, etc. Shadows finally gave Kobolds some depth, and around that time their draconic nature was stressed (BG1 made them into rat kangaroos for mass killing, the player's journal even refers to "the fine sport.of Kobold hunting" [killing for fun]). Don't even get me started about Gaider's Xvarts; all adult males, no children to present troubling issues, and their camps are strategically positioned to railroad the player into Xvart genocide.
Gnomes were and are a whole different story. Originally depicted as obscure and vaguely described Dwarven kin, they were subsequently expanded into eccentric but extremely intelligent, geeky, and super analytical but often pompous and arrogant small humanoid beings.
