A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement Tribes Most Foul: Hobgoblins

Tribes Most Foul: Hobgoblins by David Posener is a role playing game supplement published by Raging Swan Press 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.

The supplement is available from DriveThruRPG as a 14-page PDF for $1.99 but was purchased at a greatly reduced price as part of a special bundle. Two pages are the front and rear covers, three pages are the front matter, one page is the Contents, Stat Blocks by CR and Foreword, one page is on Reading Stat Blocks and one page the Open Game License. The PDF comes in two versions, one optimised for print and high-end devices, the other for low end and mobile.

Three different hobgoblin tribes are covered. Each has a brief introductory paragraph, society & organisation, ecology & lair, combat & tactics, notable personalities and tribal lore. Sidebars explain how to use a tribe in a campaign and give a roster and there are stat blocks for some notable members.

The Tainted Strain are an itinerant group of hobgoblins thrown out of their tribes as babies due to possessing magic. A majority of the tribe have magic suitable for combat, and this is one group of hobgoblins that uses magic to attack.

Silent Eclipse is a tribe that lives within a forest. Rather than seeking death in battle, these hobgoblins strive to survive to old age to join their undead ancestors.

Union of Seven is a female-dominated tribe of hobgoblins. They are described as being sexually dimorphic and the males are runty little things that are treated as goblins. There are never any more than 49 of the females, but there are attendant others.

Tribes Most Foul: Hobgoblins in Review

The PDF is well bookmarked with everything but sidebars linked. The Contents are less thorough but are hyperlinked. Navigation is very good, given the length. The text maintains a two-column format and appeared to be free of error. There is a single piece of stock art but each of the tribes has a, presumably custom, illustration of their banner. Presentation is very good.

These are three interesting, and very different, tribes of hobgoblins. Not only are they different from regular hobgoblin tribes but they are also different from each other. These are definitely not your typical hobgoblins. Tribes Most Foul: Hobgoblins is a great little supplement and it can be found by clicking here.