Stonesaga: Nature of the Beast
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FroGames — Moments You'll Remember
The bird returns to camp with the berry you need. The wolf growls to warn you. And when the bear falls, someone stands up and silently leaves the table.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
When animals become part of the tribe
Max Brooke and Luke Eddy bring animal companions into Stonesaga, the cooperative prehistoric adventure published by Open Owl Studios. Nature of the Beast is not just a collection of cards: it's a system that transforms animals into true members of the tribe, each with unique personalities and abilities.
Each character can form a bond with an animal — from the small scout bird to the mighty predator. Companions help with challenges, transport resources, and explore the valley. And when something goes wrong, the emotional weight is real. The expansion also adds a new region to explore, with unprecedented challenges, structures, and foraging opportunities.
What they say abroad
An expansion that adds emotional depth without overcomplicating the rules.
— FroGames
Animal companions turn every game into a story of bonds and losses.
— FroGames
Stonesaga: Nature of the Beast
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, international reviews and game sessionsYour companions
Four souls traveling with you
Scout birds
Small, fast, indispensable. They explore the valley before you and return with information that can save the tribe. To read them is to learn to listen.
Fierce predators
Wolves, lynxes, felines: raw power and instinct. They help in the most dangerous hunts, but demand food and respect. A bond to be earned, not imposed.
Beasts of burden
They transport resources, lighten the burden of travel, allowing the tribe to move further. Less spectacular, often decisive.
Colossal beasts
Bears, mammoths: game-changing companions. Expensive to maintain, devastating when unleashed. Losing them leaves an emptiness felt at the table.
Recommended sleeves 74 cards in 2 sizes ▼
If you play often, we recommend protecting the cards with transparent sleeves to make them last longer.
| Size | Quantity |
|---|---|
| 56 × 87 mm | 66 |
| 70 × 120 mm | 8 |
| Total cards | 74 |
In a few hours your hawk will have a name. And when it falls, you'll feel the weight of that loss. It always happens with true companions.
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
The Encounter
First turns: the tribe explores, finds tracks. Someone decides to follow them. An animal card appears, the table stops to read. No one knows yet if it will be an ally or a threat.
The Bond
Someone invests resources to create a bond. The companion joins, has a name, an ability. It starts doing things: carrying, exploring, warning. The table begins to protect it as if it were a character.
The First Challenge Together
The tribe faces a serious difficulty: hunger, predators, bad weather. The companion helps, perhaps decisively. Someone says "thanks to the wolf we are alive". And everyone laughs, but it's true.
The Moment of Risk
A difficult choice: send the companion on a dangerous reconnaissance, or sacrifice valuable time? Someone says "I'll send it", someone else replies "no, it's too risky". The table discusses as if it were a real tribe member.
End of Game
The campaign concludes, or the journey reaches a key chapter. Surviving companions have stories to tell. Those who fell leave a palpable void. Someone will have a photo of the deck on their phone.
How companions work
The game cycle with animals
Nature of the Beast integrates companions into Stonesaga's existing flow, without adding extra phases.
During exploration or foraging, you draw companion cards. You can try to create a bond by spending resources or passing a test.
A character establishes a personal bond with the animal. From that moment on, the companion is controlled by that player and follows the tribe.
Each companion has specific abilities: helping with challenges, carrying items, exploring dangerous areas. Some abilities are active, others passive.
Companions can be injured or lost. Maintaining them requires resources and attention. Losing them has both a mechanical and a real emotional weight.
Why it's different from others
Six reasons why companions change Stonesaga
Personal bonds, not generic cards
Each companion is linked to a specific character. They are not shared resources: they are individuals with an owner. When someone loses their wolf, the loss is theirs. The table feels it.
Emergent personality
The cards suggest character traits: loyalty, shyness, aggressiveness. Players begin to interpret them. The hawk becomes "the one who always saves us", the bear "the one who eats everything".
Seamless integration
Companions are integrated into existing mechanics. They don't add phases, they don't complicate turns. They simply offer new choices at key moments.
New region to explore
The expansion includes an uncharted area of the valley: new environmental challenges, structures to build, resources to gather. Animal companions shine here, where exploration is more dangerous.
Tactical versatility
Birds for exploration, predators for hunting, pack animals for transport. Each type solves different problems. Choosing which to bond with is a truly strategic decision.
Weight of consequences
When a companion dies, it's not just a card leaving the game. It's a loss that the table feels. Nature of the Beast makes choices harder, successes sweeter, defeats harsher.
How the campaign changes
What companions bring in the long term
Animal companions don't change Stonesaga's victory or defeat conditions, but they transform how you get there.
Amplified successes
- Overcoming impossible challenges thanks to a loyal companion
- Exploring dangerous areas with the help of animal scouts
- Building a stronger, more resilient tribe through bonds
Heavy losses
- Seeing a companion fall in a failed hunt
- Not having resources to feed animals and having to release them
- Sacrificing a bond to save the tribe
Nature of the Beast doesn't add complexity: it adds meaning. Every animal is a story, every bond a choice, every loss a moment you'll remember.
Frequently asked questions
Stonesaga: Nature of the Beast FAQ
Is the Stonesaga base game required to play?
Yes, Nature of the Beast is an expansion. It requires the Stonesaga base game to be played. It is not standalone.
Do animal companions complicate the rules?
No. The mechanics are simple and integrate into the existing flow. Each companion has 1-2 clear abilities, no complex tables or exceptions. They add depth, not weight.
How many companions can the tribe have at once?
Each character can bond with one companion at a time. The practical limit depends on resources: feeding and managing multiple animals requires attention and food. It's not a collection, it's a responsibility.
Do companions survive between sessions?
Yes, as long as they are alive. Stonesaga is a legacy/campaign game: surviving companions continue to travel with the tribe. Their stories intertwine with those of the characters across multiple games.
Is it available in Italian?
This edition is in English. The game has text on the cards (names, companion abilities, challenge descriptions). A good understanding of English is required to fully enjoy it.
Stonesaga: Nature of the Beast is the expansion for Stonesaga designed by Max Brooke and Luke Eddy, published by Open Owl Studios. It introduces animal companions linked to characters: scout birds, fierce predators, pack animals, and colossal beasts. Each companion offers unique abilities and creates deep emotional bonds, transforming the game into an even more immersive narrative experience. The expansion also includes a new region to explore, with new environmental challenges, structures, and foraging opportunities. The mechanics are simple and integrated: companions help with challenges, transport resources, and explore dangerous areas. Losing an animal has a real weight, both tactical and emotional. English language edition. Available on FroGames.it.
Stonesaga: Nature of the Beast
Frequently Asked Questions
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