I couldn't find an online version of that module, Dragon Mountain. But the detail the writers went into for kobolds was DEEP. Breathtakingly deep. They really fleshed what they thought a kobold was or wasn't, and its behavior out. Here is all I got back from the 1993 module, when I googled, maybe you can find more.
http://www.rpg.net/reviews/view-printable.phtml?reviewNumber=9589I in no way want DF to be AD&D. Lordy Lordy, no. But why waste time, hashing over something small, hehe, that was already fleshed out; elsewhere. No I'm not saying copy it word for word. But the portrayal of kobolds in that module really felt koboldy, to me. Anyway.
They weren't pests like fly's the adventurer had to swat away with his sword, by the dozens. Well not unless they were unclanned, or from a weak caste. There was a whole army breakdown of them in there if I remember, and some were quite sinister, especially that ones that were rolled up, with loot stolen straight from the red dragons hoard.
Like some lil fella being drug around by a cursed kitchen fork. Trying to give it to an adventurer, instead of fight.
"HELP! Me you must! Take this bundle of cooking supplies, PLEASE!"
All in order to setup the party to enter a room and eat poisoned food, or whatever, kobolds in my view are highly social. Of course I wouldn't want to neglect the stray loner, outcaste, if one happened to appear. But I would think their very size would make them clannish, more so than anything else.
Survival of the Fittest. Little fellas can not scavenge food without stealth. After the first two died to something larger, their bravery would have to flicker, falter and fail. And stealth comes at a steep steep price in games usually because of its omnipotency. Just look at the ONE rings power. Vanish.
Why didn't the other magic rings crafted in Mt Doom, provide vanish, you know the the lesser rings, that were gonna be bound in the darkness? Ever wonder they too didn't have the ability to vanish its wielder when put on? I did.
Sincerely,
Knutor