Orc-captain
o orc-captain 
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 7 |
| Attacks |
Weapon 2d4, weapon 2d4 |
| Base level | 5 |
| Base experience | 66 |
| Speed | 5 |
| Base AC | 10 |
| Base MR | 0 |
| Alignment | -5 (chaotic) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | 1 (Very rare) |
| Genocidable | Yes |
| Weight | 1350 |
| Nutritional value | 350 |
| Size | Medium |
| Resistances | None |
| Resistances conveyed |
None |
|
An orc-captain:
| |
| Reference | monst.c#line712 |
An orc-captain, o, is a type of monster that appears in NetHack. It is the strongest type of orc that can be encountered in the dungeons.
The following information pertains to an upcoming version (3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that it is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate this information.
As part of resolving issue #679 regarding congruence between non-player monsters and their player counterparts, commit b6a3d4b gives poison resistance to all orcs, except for the goblin and hobgoblin (in order to distinguish them from other orcs). All strong orcs are also capped at 18/50 strength for purposes of polyself, with the exception of the Uruk-hai (whose form still provides 18/** strength).Contents
Generation
Unlike their brethren, the orc-captain is never randomly generated in groups; they may be peaceful towards player orcs. Orc-captains may appear among the hostile o that generate in throne rooms, as well as the various monsters that can be randomly generated by looting a throne while confused and carrying gold (provided there is no chest on the level).
Hill orcs, Uruk-hai, Mordor orcs, and ordinary orcs can all grow up into orc-captains.[1]
An orc-captain can be generated with the equipment of either a Mordor orc or Uruk-hai:[2][3][4]
- Mordor orc items are a scimitar, an orcish shield, a knife, and an orcish chain mail, with an independent 1⁄3 chance of each item.
- Uruk-hai items are an orcish cloak, an orcish short sword, a pair of iron shoes, an orcish bow and stack of 3–14 poisoned orcish arrows, and an Uruk-hai shield, with an independent 1⁄3 chance of each item.
In a game that has Orcish Town, several orc-captains will appear within the town walls, and are flavored as the leaders of a rival horde.[5][6] A named orc-captain can appear elsewhere in the Gnomish Mines and the main branch - they are considered the leader of the invading horde, and will usually carry the most valuable of the Minetown loot, including the watch captain's weapon, shiny rings, and some fruit named either "paddle cactus" or "dwarven root".[7][8][9][10][11]
Strategy
While the orc-captain is not significantly stronger than a Mordor orc or Uruk-hai in terms of base stats, their ability to attack twice per turn and potential for good armor can offset their low speed - an orc-captain with a decent weapon can deal unexpected melee damage, particularly if you are lacking in AC. Their starting inventory may contain an orcish bow and poisoned arrows; be sure to have poison resistance by the time you encounter one, especially if you are raiding Orctown.
Fortunately, they are not poison resistant themselves, and orcs may also hit their comrades with the arrows; a patient player can use this knowledge to outwit and defeat the captain. A heavily armored player should also have no trouble meeting an orc-captain in melee with a good enough weapon on hand.
History
The orc-captain is introduced in NetHack 3.0.0, where the various orcish monsters are first differentiated from each other.
Origin
Many of the orcs in NetHack are derived from their portrayal in the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, either directly or through their adaptation into Dungeons & Dragons.
Variants
In variants that implement AC bonuses for wearing racial equipment, orc-captains may prove tougher foes than in vanilla NetHack.
SLASH'EM
In SLASH'EM, orc-captains will be given an orcish dagger if they do not generate with an orcish short sword. They can also hit as a +1 weapon.
Two orc-captains appear in the outer open area of Grund's Stronghold.
Orc-captains were the first quest monster for the defunct Dwarf quest, composing 55% of randomly-generated monsters in the branch; the branch also generates eight orc-captains at level creation on the locate level, and four orc-captains at level creation on the lower filler level(s).
dNetHack
In dNetHack, orc-captains may appear as the ruler of a throne room, and may also appear in the court of one ruled by an ogre king.
The Chaos Quest generates several orc-captains on level creation for various floors in two of its variants:
- The Mordor Ruins variant of the Chaos Quest generates an orc-captain on the level in the main dungeon containing the branch's magic portal. Three orc-captains are also generated at the Mordor Wall, while two are generated in the Mordor Fortress.
- The Chaos Temple Quest generates an orc-captain within the forest area of the Ancient Temple level; 1⁄10 of the randomly generated monsters on that level will be orc-captains.
xNetHack
In xNetHack, orc-captains are considered lords to their kind, and have their base speed raised to 9; they also have poison resistance like player orcs.
For weapon generation, orc-captains that roll Mordor orc equipment have a 1⁄3 chance of either generating with a scimitar (2⁄3 chance) or an orcish spear (⁄3 chance); orc-captains that roll Uruk-hai equipment instead have a 1⁄3 chance of either generating with an orcish short sword (2⁄3 chance) or an orcish spear (⁄3 chance).
EvilHack
In EvilHack, orc-captains have poison resistance like player orcs and gain AC bonuses for wearing proper racial equipment like the player and other monsters - orc-captains that roll Mordor orc equipment have a 1⁄3 chance of generating with an orcish scimitar as their weapon, rather than a standard one; orc-captains that roll Uruk-hai equipment have a 1⁄3 chance of getting orcish boots rather than dwarvish boots (which replace iron shoes from NetHack).
Hack'EM
In Hack'EM, orc-captains have poison resistance. They have 9 speed and are lords to their kind as in xNetHack, and may also generate with orcish scimitars and orcish boots as in EvilHack.
References
- ↑ src/mondata.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 965
- ↑ src/makemon.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 402: armor and weapons for Mordor orcs
- ↑ src/makemon.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 412: armor and weapons for Uruk-Hai
- ↑ src/makemon.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 400: switch for orc-captains
- ↑ dat/mines.des in NetHack 3.6.7, line 160
- ↑ src/mkmaze.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 774
- ↑ src/mkmaze.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 672: boolean
is_captain - ↑ src/mkmaze.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 692: orc leader has guaranteed shiny rings
- ↑ src/mkmaze.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 760: orc leader also has watch captain's weapons
- ↑ src/mkmaze.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 631: looted fruit name
- ↑ src/mkmaze.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 711: looted fruit gen
