Monster Menagerie Seasonal Stars: Pumpkin Stalker by Owen K.C. Stephens is a role playing game supplement published by Rogue Genius Games for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License and some parts are considered to be Open Game Content as a result. This is part of the Monster Menagerie series of themed bestiaries.
This is available as an 11-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $2.95 but was purchased at a greatly reduced price as part of a special bundle. One page is the front cover, one the Credits and one the Open Game License.
The Introduction states that the first in the Monster Menagerie series, Winter Ravagers, was a themed collection but, unfortunately was a bit rushed and not their best work. Which it wasn’t. Although they had been unable to put together an entire themed booklet of holiday monsters, a single template was done, which would be more useful. Especially for a monster that would probably be used once per year.
The Pumpkin Stalker can be added to almost any creature, and not just plants (probably plants; it actually says “plane”). They are created by magical energy and pain, rage, fear and unfortunate circumstance. Pumpkin Stalkers are evil and could also be called by other names.
Pumpkin Stalkers can fascinate creatures, cause fear and use hexes. They can also prevent wounds from healing and the creatures themselves are very difficult to destroy. In most cases a stalker will rejuvenate, and only by removing the reason for their creation can they be finally destroyed. There are then six situations that could have formed a pumpkin stalker, together with how to destroy them in each case.
Finally, there are three sample Pumpkin Stalkers. One based on an assassin vine, one on a wyvern and one on a mohrg.
Monster Menagerie Seasonal Stars: Pumpkin Stalker in Review
The PDF lacks bookmarks and is short enough that they aren’t really needed, but would have been appreciated. Navigation could be better. The text maintains a two-column full colour format and appeared to be mostly free of errors. Apart from the colour cover illustration, the others are stock black and white images, all related to pumpkins.
This supplement does have a useful monster than can be used at the appropriate time of year. A GM could use whichever of the three given examples is the most appropriate, or alternatively create their own Pumpkin Stalker of an appropriate CR. The template could be used to make an existing Halloween-themed adventure more dangerous. Or, one of the six adventure hooks provided could be used. Monster Menagerie Seasonal Stars: Pumpkin Stalker is a nice, fully-detailed, Halloween monster template and it can be found by clicking here.
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