Farrow Beast 5E Tactics

I've decided to deal with these two creatures together as they actually have very similar characteristics and behaviors, one being essentially a large variant of the other. Their real usage comes into play when bonded with a farrow warlock but I'll have to create one in a separate post and then discuss how this changes the base creature tactics as the effect of Fury and Forcing can be quite complex.

Brute (Boar)

The lore behind the giant farrow such as brute boars is interesting and their relationship with their smaller cousins is key to their role within a campaign. They are rarely if ever encountered alone, and although wilder untamed versions certainly exist they are still considered humanoids and given they are neutral are unlikely to attack unless provoked or directed to as part of their warband's response.

Unsurprisingly, these creatures are Large sized brutes with the typical high STR and CON dominated ability contour - compared to a typical farrow, only very basic INT but preserved average WIS - essentially it's purely instinctive, suggesting it is unsophisticated in combat using a standard approach and unselectively choosing targets, fleeing when it reaches 40% of its hit points (24 hp) unless strongly compelled to do otherwise by a farrow leader or warlock. Their lowish AC, standard movement, and reasonable hit dice don't change this approach significantly.

Like most farrow kin they have Keen Smell and proficiency with Perception but lack the Survival proficiency of their smaller cousins, making them poor hunters on their own and giving them sufficient reason to ally with farrow to ensure a supply of food. They only speak Grun, the devolved farrow language, increasing their dependence on their smaller kin.

There are no resistances, immunities, vulnerabilities, passive traits, or spellcasting to worry about so let's skip to their combat actions and deal with their attack options in reverse order. 

Oddly, for a classic brute with only average DEX, this beast has a significant ranged attack with its mounted cannon, which has a decent medium distance range and potential damage but is less effective than its instinctive melee options, particularly once you factor in Charge. So apart from opening salvos as it closes into melee, the brute will only use the cannon if specifically directed by a trainer or warlock.

Like most creatures with Multiattack, the boar has a set tusk and claw combination and no ranged option with only minor differences between them given the same attack bonus (slashing vs piercing, 2 points greater damage for tusks), and although each alone has less damage potential than the cannon, in *combination* they ensure melee is the clear default option. Add in the Charge option, which adds 7 points of damage and also the potential to knock an opponent prone on a successful tusk attack.

So in summary, simple brutes that charge into combat and wail away at the nearest opponent with their tusks and claws. Sure, they may get off a cannon shot or two if starting at a distance but as a default, they are unsophisticated hulks of wild hog. 

However, when directed they are a different story...

Giant (Hog)

Essentially these hogs are just somewhat stronger variants of brute boars, minus the cannons. Sure they have slightly better AC, higher STR and CON, and 3 more hit dice but the basics are the same - same movement, mental characteristics (although only understands Grun but can't speak it), no immunities or resistances, and same (lack of) proficiencies. 

Sure, their Multiattack adds an extra claw attack and the damage and reach of both melee options is further and slightly higher respectively, but their Charge trait still does the same damage and knocks an opponent prone, albeit with a slightly higher STR save DC. These guys are oddly still Large in size despite being called "giant" but this is on par with a common troll with similar Hit Dice and ability contour even though the flavour text implies they can potentially reach even larger size...

Relentless gives them slightly more staying power (they still instinctively retreat at 40% ie 41 hp) but unless driven by a trainer or warlock they are still going to break off attacking if moderately wounded.

Overall, this makes them even simpler than their brute boar cousins to run as they are inclined to just close and maul to the death, although again if controlled by a warlock their tactical options will change somewhat (see later post).

Even Bigger Hogs?  

When I first read the description for giant hogs I was a bit surprised they weren't Huge in size, but given the relative strengths compared to other warbeasts their Large size fits OK - there are actually very few creatures in the 5E Monsternomicon of the higher size category other than some of the larger drakes. An even larger farrow beast is relatively easy to scale up, extrapolating along the lines of the changes from common troll to dire troll as follows, increasing the AC slightly, adding 5 more Hit Dice, adding 4 to each of STR and CON, and changing the damage dice from multiples of two to multiples of three.

This "goliath" is roughly on par with a common troll in terms of CR actually, for a dire troll equivalent I'd suggest adding 3 to its Hit Dice, STR and CON while pushing up its AC to 16 to reflect its dense flesh while retaining the same Large size. Adding in the latter troll's Snacking trait (perhaps renamed as "Bacon Bits" if they snack on other farrow) and an equivalent bite attack that allows *swallowing* would be fun too...

Dr Arkadius's Creations

This iconic Hordes warlock is a favourite, I'm hoping a future supplement details some of his background and creations soon enough. Sadly, these creatures aren't detailed in any of the current 5E resources sadly, but I can imagine coming up with variants of Road Hogs and War Hogs by readily mixing in some of the warjack rules from the IK:R corebook aand combining with the giant hogs above. I'm interested in mocking up as a homebrew, but they are not something I'm familiar enough to mod up easily, so I may have to return to the challenge in a later post.