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Horrors Unbound: Stank Hog--RPG Review


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Horrors Unbound: Stank Hog is a brief book from Frog God games that contains stats and related information for one monster: the stank hog. The book has some great information about the creature's ecology, habits, and background. The book does a good job of presenting some of the material with some in-game exposition that sounds like something a character researching the monster would read from a book. As well, there are some great adventure hooks in the book and some suggested uses for parts of the monster, such as using it as a component for spells or poisons. The monster described, the stank hog, is a large-sized creature similar to a wild boar, but with one key difference--it's over-active anal gland. The animal is fairly tough in combat when encountered alone by lower-level parties. The real challenge it presents is the cloud of noxious gas it can produce through its 'mephitic gust' special action, which can be difficult for even higher-level adventurers. Characters who find themselves caught in the cloud don't face some sort of predictable, standard effect like the 'poisoned' condition, or even the effects of a Stinking Cloud spell, but something worse. Like a Stinking Cloud spell, those within the cloud must make a stamina (constitution) saving throw to act--and even then unless they flee out of the cloud, they must make another saving throw for EACH action they take. This is a pretty harsh penalty for remaining in the cloud. What's worse is that the hog rolls a D20--the result of which determines the size of the area of the cloud, and the DC agains which the players must roll their save. That makes this a tough creature to fight, but on a 10 or lower on the hog's D20 roll, the creature's 'mephitic gust' ability doesn't take effect, and can't be used for the encounter. This makes the creature something of a wildcard that might make for an easy fight in some cases, and potentially a major battle if the monster gets in a couple of really good rolls. A mid or high-level party might have a really tough time fighting a group of these monsters. Overall, this is a cool little book to add to your game if you're a dungeon master. Basically, it contains rules for a wild boar that can attack the party with its farts. Why wouldn't you want that as a dungeon master? It's an opportunity to create a memorable, and probably humorous encounter that will challenge your party while giving them a laugh.

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