itch.io

Beasts making fights less dangerous is somewhat by design, as contradictory as that might seem. The targeting and activation rules are a little vague to allow you as Game Facilitator to have more flexibility when running bouts. Beasts are less dangerous than monster attacks, so typically I'll use them either because the scavengers are in a very rough spot and need an easing of the pressure to help them regroup or because they've done something to protect/minimize their exposure to the monster (perhaps they've regrouped to higher ground, taking a tactical withdrawal, they've stunned or restrained the monster, etc.).

During the Tempo Change, I do have every creature on the battlefield activate, both the monster and all the beasts, to keep the pressure up. Since monsters and beasts can aggro onto each other, all that hostile attention doesn't focus entirely on the scavengers, which keeps the situation dangerous without being (too) overwhelming.

Additionally, while this does feel a bit like a cop out, in the second edition of MONSTER GUTS, I expand on how nuisances (what beasts are called in 2e) and monsters interact and how/when they activate. Furthermore, weaker nuisances like Ancorhynch or Needleflies can also form packs that inflict Harm based on the size of the pack, so while a few nuisances don't pose much of a threat, they gradually become more and more dangerous to the scavengers if left unchecked. Unfortunately, I've been sick with COVID and so the 2e quickstart is not yet finished, but it's my highest priority right now as I finish recovering.