Now they buy pigs

[Desdichado]

Though if it was my group, the whole "I use Animal Empathy on the sheep" phrase would bring the game to a crashing halt.

You make an excellent point, sir!

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

Better to use a small fatted calf, or some such. Even better, the Bag of Tricks.

Or a gnome.

 

[Rel]

I wanted to link that classic picture from the AD&D DMG about "One tough pig," but I cannot find it.

I'm pretty sure that this was from Dragon Magazine and not the DMG. But it was hilarious nonetheless. I seem to recall that the Cleric was unconscious or flat out dead and the Wizard's wand was broken.

And Henry, pigs are not naturally all that nasty. Again, left to their own devices they tend to stick to the forest where the foraging is good and it is shady. That's because pigs don't sweat or pant to keep cool. But since we humans insist upon keeping them in pens in the open where there isn't much shade, they roll in the mud so they can get cooling from the evaporation. And since they also tend to poop in there, they have the reputation as being filthy, crap smeared animals.

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

I'm pretty sure that this was from Dragon Magazine and not the DMG. But it was hilarious nonetheless. I seem to recall that the Cleric was unconscious or flat out dead and the Wizard's wand was broken.

And Henry, pigs are not naturally all that nasty. Again, left to their own devices they tend to stick to the forest where the foraging is good and it is shady. That's because pigs don't sweat or pant to keep cool. But since we humans insist upon keeping them in pens in the open where there isn't much shade, they roll in the mud so they can get cooling from the evaporation. And since they also tend to poop in there, they have the reputation as being filthy, crap smeared animals.

True dat. Pigs suffer from a lot of bad press. Granted, they'll eat ANYthing, but then so will most gamers I know. And left to their own devices, some gamers will still manage to wallow in their own filth, as evidenced by a guy standing next to me in Hastings the other day and trying to engage me in a LARP conversation.

 

[Joël of the FoS]

Would not work all the time with me as DM:

Reason #1: pigs aren't exactly docile, and would take a lot of time to herd properly. Lots of wasted time here.

Reason #2: Also, the pigs are not idiot and blind animals. If they understand danger is in the front, like after one of their kind is zapped, they won't go.

Reason #3: the noise they make. Nearly impossible for them to be silent.

Reason #4: the smell (them and their rejections) would attract all wandering monsters in two miles, perhaps more. Impossible to sleep with these pigs around.

Reason #5: magical traps can be set to react to a special alignement (let's say "good" aligned people), or type of creatures ("humanoid"); or normal traps can be set to work if the weight over the trap is at least 80 pounds, making a piglet pass but not a human. Be creative there!

Reason #6: if there is a druid in the party, he won't allow it.

Joël

 

[ShrooMofDooM]

This is just the best thread ever. Period. Clever idea.

 

[Zephrin the Lost]

So how high an intelligence does a monster need to have before the domesticated pig being shoved into it's underground lair signals a raid by an enemy and not a stroke of luck?

Also, how many pigs do they buy at one time? Do they go back for another pig after every darkmantle or 10' pit they encounter?

 

[kobold]

Way back in the olden days the Romans used incendiary pigs! I believe the pigs were covered naphtha, pointed at the enemy line and lit on fire. It must have been effective since they kept doing it. Certainly it would scare me- I mean a big old screaming, flaming pig running at me- yikes! Plus I think naphtha is akin to napalm and would rub off on people the pigs ran into and keep burning.
Actually I think my goblins just picked up a new tactic!

 

[ShrooMofDooM]

Flaming pigs!!! XD

 

[Rel]

Also, how many pigs do they buy at one time? Do they go back for another pig after every darkmantle or 10' pit they encounter?

Were I the GM in question, this is probably the main limiting factor I'd impose for this tactic. If the "dungeon" in question is not conveniently located near a farming community then the party would wind up spending a LOT of time going back and forth. And whatever monsters were in the dungeon in question would start to adopt an "ignore the pig, we'll eat him later" attitude after the first couple.

But I still have to say that I would probably seek to have the pig gain some level of intelligence through magic and be able to talk. The comic relief value is just too high. Pretty soon I'd start having the pig claim a share of the treasure and he'd certainly be bitching all the while about their casual disregard for his life.

"Back in the hole, PIG!"

"Yeah, yeah! I'm goin'!"