Difference between revisions of "Caveman"
(rank titles) |
(→Strategy) |
||
| Line 44: | Line 44: | ||
== Strategy == | == Strategy == | ||
| − | The starting armor and weapons for cavemen are rather weak. Many choose to drop their [[flintstone]]s, [[rock]]s and [[sling]] as soon as they enter the dungeon. However, the sling can be very useful against [[floating eye]]s in the early game, | + | The starting armor and weapons for cavemen are rather weak. Many choose to drop their [[flintstone]]s, [[rock]]s and [[sling]] as soon as they enter the dungeon. However, the sling can be very useful against [[floating eye]]s in the early game, and is handy for wearing down and eventually killing powerful opponents that respect [[Elbereth]], or sessile monsters with passive attacks, such as [[blue jelly|blue jellies]]. A better course is to keep the sling with you, and as much ammunition as you can without become [[burdened]]. |
| − | [[Leather armor]] should be dumped for [[Mithril-coat|mithril]] as soon as possible. Leather rots, so stay away from puddings. | + | [[Leather armor]] should be dumped for anything better (hopefully [[Mithril-coat|mithril]]) as soon as possible. Your very poor starting AC can improve substantially if you use your pet to curse-test all the armor you find, and continually swap out worse pieces for better ones. Leather rots, so stay away from puddings while you are wearing your starting suit. |
| − | A [[club]] is a very weak weapon against large monsters, but it will do in the early game. If for some reason you want to keep it, typically a +3 - +4 one will work until [[Mines' End]] and maybe the quest. | + | A [[club]] is a very weak weapon against large monsters, but it will do in the early game. If for some reason you want to keep it, typically a +3 - +4 one will work until [[Mines' End]] and maybe the quest. |
| − | If you stumble over a [[spear]] (try to get a dwarvish one, but if you can't, [[soldier]]s usually carry them), you might want to make it your primary weapon. Cavemen are the only class that can get expert in spears. You don't really have to worry much about your weapon as long as it kills your quest nemesis, which is the [[Chromatic Dragon]]. After that, you get one of the best weapons in the game, [[The Sceptre of Might]]. | + | |
| + | Cavemen are notably limited in their weapon options. If you stumble over a [[spear]] (try to get a dwarvish one, but if you can't, [[soldier]]s usually carry them), you might want to make it your primary weapon. Cavemen are the only class that can get expert in spears. Another good option is a [[mace]], which is superior to a club and allows you to train mace skill in anticipation of your quest artifact. If you have access to a co-aligned altar, you may wish to sacrifice for an artifact weapon, as receiving a weapon from you god automatically un-restricts the corresponding skill. You don't really have to worry much about your weapon as long as it kills your quest nemesis, which is the [[Chromatic Dragon]]. After that, you get one of the best weapons in the game, [[The Sceptre of Might]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Heading in to the endgame, you must not rely on the Sceptre of Might as you only melee weapon or your only source of magic resistance, as the Sceptre can be stolen by the [[Wizard of Yendor]]. In case this happens, you need to be sure you have a backup weapon and a second source of magic resistance. | ||
Due to the nature of the quest leader, the caveman is guaranteed a co-aligned [[temple]] on the first level of the quest area. | Due to the nature of the quest leader, the caveman is guaranteed a co-aligned [[temple]] on the first level of the quest area. | ||
Revision as of 15:32, 5 January 2009
The caveman (cavewoman if female) is one of the player roles in NetHack. Cavemen can be either lawful or neutral, and can be humans, dwarves or gnomes.
Their special spell is dig, their default starting pet a little dog called Slasher. Cavemen do not suffer consequences from cannibalism. The guidebook has little to say about cavemen:
Cavemen and Cavewomen start with exceptional strength but,
unfortunately, with neolithic weapons.
Contents
Starting inventory
Each caveman starts with the following:[1]
- a +1 club
- a +2 sling
- 10 to 22 flint stones
- 18 to 33 rocks
- a +0 leather armor
Intrinsics
Cavemen gain intrinsics at these experience levels:[2]
Skills
| Caveman skills | |
|---|---|
| Max | Skills |
| Basic |
|
| Skilled | |
| Expert | |
| Master |
|
Quest
The Caveman quest sees you fighting the Chromatic Dragon for The Sceptre of Might. The Sceptre is based on a mace. You might want to corrode-proof this artifact since it is not immune to either water or acid.
Rank titles
The status line shows you to be one of the following ranks when you reach the specified experience level:
- XL 1-2: Troglodyte
- XL 3-5: Aborigine
- XL 6-9: Wanderer
- XL 10-13: Vagrant
- XL 14-17: Wayfarer
- XL 18-21: Roamer
- XL 22-25: Nomad
- XL 26-29: Rover
- XL 30: Pioneer
Strategy
The starting armor and weapons for cavemen are rather weak. Many choose to drop their flintstones, rocks and sling as soon as they enter the dungeon. However, the sling can be very useful against floating eyes in the early game, and is handy for wearing down and eventually killing powerful opponents that respect Elbereth, or sessile monsters with passive attacks, such as blue jellies. A better course is to keep the sling with you, and as much ammunition as you can without become burdened.
Leather armor should be dumped for anything better (hopefully mithril) as soon as possible. Your very poor starting AC can improve substantially if you use your pet to curse-test all the armor you find, and continually swap out worse pieces for better ones. Leather rots, so stay away from puddings while you are wearing your starting suit.
A club is a very weak weapon against large monsters, but it will do in the early game. If for some reason you want to keep it, typically a +3 - +4 one will work until Mines' End and maybe the quest.
Cavemen are notably limited in their weapon options. If you stumble over a spear (try to get a dwarvish one, but if you can't, soldiers usually carry them), you might want to make it your primary weapon. Cavemen are the only class that can get expert in spears. Another good option is a mace, which is superior to a club and allows you to train mace skill in anticipation of your quest artifact. If you have access to a co-aligned altar, you may wish to sacrifice for an artifact weapon, as receiving a weapon from you god automatically un-restricts the corresponding skill. You don't really have to worry much about your weapon as long as it kills your quest nemesis, which is the Chromatic Dragon. After that, you get one of the best weapons in the game, The Sceptre of Might.
Heading in to the endgame, you must not rely on the Sceptre of Might as you only melee weapon or your only source of magic resistance, as the Sceptre can be stolen by the Wizard of Yendor. In case this happens, you need to be sure you have a backup weapon and a second source of magic resistance.
Due to the nature of the quest leader, the caveman is guaranteed a co-aligned temple on the first level of the quest area.
Since cavemen can only be lawful or neutral, you will suffer consequences of murder, but not cannibalism.
Encyclopedia entry
Now it was light enough to leave. Moon-Watcher picked up
the shriveled corpse and dragged it after him as he bent
under the low overhang of the cave. Once outside, he
threw the body over his shoulder and stood upright - the
only animal in all this world able to do so.
Among his kind, Moon-Watcher was almost a giant. He was
nearly five feet high, and though badly undernourished
weighed over a hundred pounds. His hairy, muscular body
was halfway between ape and man, but his head was already
much nearer to man than ape. The forehead was low, and
there were ridges over the eye sockets, yet he unmistakably
held in his genes the promise of humanity.
[ 2001: A Space Odyssey, by Arthur C. Clarke ]
References
This page may need to be updated for the current version of NetHack.
It may contain text specific to NetHack 3.4.3. Information on this page may be out of date.
Editors: After reviewing this page and making necessary edits, please change the {{nethack-343}} tag to the current version's tag or {{noversion}} as appropriate.
