I would like to start this review by thanking Aenarion’s Coven for sending us a digital copy of The Gluttony Coven; thanks to this supplement, we will have fun adding new original dangers to a D&D5e campaigns.
The Gluttony Coven is a product written by Italians, although entirely in English. It is a 14-page bestiary for D&D5e that showcases a coven of hags transformed both physically and mentally into monstrous beings (Gluttony Hags), hungry and insatiable, with a tendency to devour anything in their path.
You can find this small compendium only in digital format on DriveThruRPG, priced at around $5 (approximately €4.66 at the current exchange rate), or on Aenarion’s Coven Etsy profile, at the same price.
The Content of the Book
Inside The Gluttony Coven we can find the roles of the creatures inhabiting the lair of such a coven, along with its social structure, servants, and dynamics of the magic used by these creatures. The Gluttony Hags are the focal point of their coven; they command it and can be 3, 7, or even 13. However, they are certainly not the only danger present.
As any respectable coven cannot exist without servants, The Gluttony Coven includes two types of them. The first one, called The Hungry, is a small being of skin and bones with an insatiable hunger. It is weak on its own but becomes more dangerous in groups, which it often prefers. When a Hungry manages to kill and devour its prey, it transforms into the second type of servant. The Sated swells creatures reaching obesity and then continues to eat until it explodes, literally.
Considering that we are talking about a coven of hags, the cauldron is of fundamental importance. The power of a coven increases with the number of hags present, their proximity to each other, and the cauldron itself. Both it and the number of Gluttony Hags around it determine different difficulty levels and shared spell slots among the Gluttony Hags present.
Furthermore, The Gluttony Coven provides detailed descriptions of the lair of these creatures, including all its dangers. Some of them present environmental effects capable of corrupting even the most virtuous adventurers.
Lastly, I appreciate the mention of Hubesia, the first Gluttony Hag in history. It is from her that the power of all other hags of this kind derives, although very little is known about her.
Layout and Readability
The layout of The Gluttony Coven is visually appealing. The typical contrast of the text written in a classic font on two columns with a parchment-like background enhances readability. However, there are two letters inserted in the manual to make the reading more immersive, and while they seem written by a character, the reading experience might not flow as smoothly in those sections.
I found the images to be appropriate and pleasant; in particular, the lair map and a full-page illustration captured my attention and fueled my imagination.
Conclusions of The Gluttony Coven Review
The Gluttony Coven is not essential to play a D&D5e campaign, but it is an excellent addition for any hags-themed session. Its content is suitable for both side quests and as the focal point of larger campaigns.
Furthermore, I find this little manual particularly interesting for improvising a session on the fly, as it contains all the guidelines for constructing a lair and a coven in a few simple steps.