Monster Menagerie: Winter Ravagers by R. Hyrum Savage and 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.
The supplement is available as a 14-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $3.99 although it was purchased at a greatly reduced price as part of a special bundle. One page is the front cover and one the Credits and Open Game License.
The single page Foreword explains that this is the first in a new series, and therefore it was decided to make it different from future products – and comments on how this is odd. The monsters in this supplement are linked to the winter season.
The first monster is the Autumn King – which really has nothing to do with winter, being a Halloween-themed jack o’lantern headed creature – and is the most dangerous, a fey ruler whose behaviour is a cross between that of the Summer and Winter Kings.
The Badalisc is a snake-like creature that spreads vile rumours with the intention of causing villagers to murder each other.
Cobbler Elves are helpful fey who will provide their skills in exchange for food and drink, but will become upset if insufficient work or rewards are provided.
The Dire Flying Reindeer is a large reindeer whose digestive system creates natural fly potions from the food they eat.
The Grinj is a large, green, furry creature that dislikes revelry (yes, this would appear to be the Grinch).
The Krampus is simply a monstrous humanoid, rather than the powerful evil being it is normally depicted as.
The Perchta is an ugly evil humanoid rumoured to be connected to the Wild Hunt before they were corrupted by demons.
The Whip Father is an evil creature that steals children and kills anyone else.
Monster Menagerie: Winter Ravagers in Review
The PDF lacks bookmarks and, even though it is quite short, these would have been appreciated. Navigation is poor. The text follows a two-column format and an error was noted in the Badalisc, which is called Basalisc in the stat block; the stat blocks themselves looked as if they might have problems. Each monster has its own colour illustration, which is good. The illustrations are a bit too cartoonish, even for the evil ones, which isn’t so great. Presentation is okay.
This, as the first in the series, is not great. The statement that it is different to later entries is a promising sign and, indeed, later entries are substantially superior. Adding a Halloween-themed monster to a winter-themed collection is odd, the Cobbler Elves don’t appear to be the ones from the story but more likely Santa’s little helpers, the Krampus is a yeti with attitude and even the Whip Father doesn’t come across as all that evil. The cheeky smirk on the image doesn’t help. If you are looking for an inspiring collection of winter monsters, this sadly isn’t it. Monster Menagerie: Winter Ravagers can be found by clicking here.
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