Difference between revisions of "Vlad the Impaler"
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| − | '''Vlad the Impaler''', {{monsym|vlad_the_impaler}}, is a unique [[vampire]] notable in that he holds the [[Candelabrum of Invocation]]. He resides at the top of [[Vlad's Tower|his tower]] in [[Gehennom]]. Like his weaker brethren he possesses the abilities of [[flying|flight]] and [[magical breathing]]. He is also [[covetous]], | + | '''Vlad the Impaler''', {{monsym|vlad_the_impaler}}, is a unique [[vampire]] notable in that he holds the [[Candelabrum of Invocation]]. He resides at the top of [[Vlad's Tower|his tower]] in [[Gehennom]]. Like his weaker brethren he possesses the abilities of [[flying|flight]] and [[magical breathing]]. He is also [[covetous]], which means he will warp to the ladder down to heal. He is always [[monster starting inventory|generated with]] a [[two-handed sword]], a [[battle-axe]], a [[bow]] and 3-14 [[arrow]]s, or, with a 21% chance, nothing. |
==Strategy== | ==Strategy== | ||
| − | + | Vlad is the second fastest monster in the game, faster than a player with [[speed boots]]. His [[speed]] allows him to warp to you, hit you, bite you, and sometimes warp away again in a single turn before you get a chance to retaliate. And contrary to other covetous monsters, if you are standing on the ladder yourself, he will warp away a few steps when hurt instead of staying next to the ladder. If you take the bait and follow he may then escape down. This, combined with around 130 HP, makes it quite frustrating to fight him. | |
| − | + | He hits hard, and often gets multiple hits for each of yours. Above all he deals double damage during the midnight hour (0:00-0:59 server time) due to being undead. The quickest way to deal with him is to [[Cockatrice#Use_as_a_weapon|stone]] or [[potion of paralysis|paralyze]] him. If neither of the two is available, you need decent AC and and a well enchanted [[silver]] weapon to take him down quickly. Unfortunately he is immune to [[sleep]]. | |
| − | + | Be careful not to [[confuse]] Vlad: if he [[levelport]]s by a confused [[scroll of teleportation]], you get to look for him in his Tower, all of [[Gehennom]] above it, and the entire [[Dungeons of Doom]], which is very annoying. You better not use [[Magicbane]] on him. | |
| − | A variety of [[patch]]es | + | ==History== |
| + | |||
| + | Prior to 3.6.1, Vlad used to be significantly slower, weaker and wouldn't teleport away. He was widely regarded as being quite a feeble enemy to be a mandatory fight at the stage of the game when he is faced; he was not significantly stronger than the [[vampire lord]]s which appear as normal enemies. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Jokes abounded of fighting him with [[food ration]]s, [[rust|thoroughly rusty]] [[corrosion|thoroughly corroded]] [[tin opener]]s, or not moving every second turn while fighting him, or a variety of other absurd scenarios which would normally result in [[YASD]]s, and still easily defeating Vlad. The items used for such exploits had become known as '''Vladsbanes''' (or '''Vladbanes''' or '''Vladsmashers''', in a mockery of [[the Banes]]) and on the occasions when such an item is used it is often so #[[name]]d in tribute (see link below). The danger of confused [[levelport]] by Vlad even gave you a legitimate reason to use a Vladbane-type weapon instead of [[Magicbane]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | A variety of [[patch]]es had been written to address this issue by altering Vlad in some way. One of the better known ones was the aptly-named Vlad Balance patch. The [[Dudley's dungeon]] strip for [https://web.archive.org/web/20161006152020/http://www.nicolaas.net/dudley/index.php?f=20061130 30 November 2006] (via Wayback Machine) featured several humorous attempts to remake Vlad; see also the comments for the 30 November and 1 December strips. | ||
==Origin== | ==Origin== | ||
| Line 52: | Line 58: | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| + | * [http://www.codehappy.net/nethack/vladsbanes.htm A list of many humorous Vladsbanes from NAO games with 3.4.3] | ||
* [http://bilious.alt.org/?190 The Vlad Balance patch] | * [http://bilious.alt.org/?190 The Vlad Balance patch] | ||
| − | |||
{{nethack-361}} | {{nethack-361}} | ||
[[Category:Unique monsters]] | [[Category:Unique monsters]] | ||
[[Category:Monsters]] | [[Category:Monsters]] | ||
Revision as of 13:08, 7 November 2018
V Vlad the Impaler 
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 32 |
| Attacks |
Weapon 2d10, bite 1d12 drain life |
| Base level | 28 |
| Base experience | 1087 |
| Speed | 26 |
| Base AC | -6 |
| Base MR | 80 |
| Alignment | -10 (chaotic) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | Unique |
| Genocidable | No |
| Weight | 1450 |
| Nutritional value | 400 (human corpse) |
| Size | Medium |
| Resistances | Sleep, poison |
| Resistances conveyed |
None |
|
Vlad the Impaler:
| |
| Reference | monst.c#line1869 |
Vlad the Impaler, V, is a unique vampire notable in that he holds the Candelabrum of Invocation. He resides at the top of his tower in Gehennom. Like his weaker brethren he possesses the abilities of flight and magical breathing. He is also covetous, which means he will warp to the ladder down to heal. He is always generated with a two-handed sword, a battle-axe, a bow and 3-14 arrows, or, with a 21% chance, nothing.
Contents
Strategy
Vlad is the second fastest monster in the game, faster than a player with speed boots. His speed allows him to warp to you, hit you, bite you, and sometimes warp away again in a single turn before you get a chance to retaliate. And contrary to other covetous monsters, if you are standing on the ladder yourself, he will warp away a few steps when hurt instead of staying next to the ladder. If you take the bait and follow he may then escape down. This, combined with around 130 HP, makes it quite frustrating to fight him.
He hits hard, and often gets multiple hits for each of yours. Above all he deals double damage during the midnight hour (0:00-0:59 server time) due to being undead. The quickest way to deal with him is to stone or paralyze him. If neither of the two is available, you need decent AC and and a well enchanted silver weapon to take him down quickly. Unfortunately he is immune to sleep.
Be careful not to confuse Vlad: if he levelports by a confused scroll of teleportation, you get to look for him in his Tower, all of Gehennom above it, and the entire Dungeons of Doom, which is very annoying. You better not use Magicbane on him.
History
Prior to 3.6.1, Vlad used to be significantly slower, weaker and wouldn't teleport away. He was widely regarded as being quite a feeble enemy to be a mandatory fight at the stage of the game when he is faced; he was not significantly stronger than the vampire lords which appear as normal enemies.
Jokes abounded of fighting him with food rations, thoroughly rusty thoroughly corroded tin openers, or not moving every second turn while fighting him, or a variety of other absurd scenarios which would normally result in YASDs, and still easily defeating Vlad. The items used for such exploits had become known as Vladsbanes (or Vladbanes or Vladsmashers, in a mockery of the Banes) and on the occasions when such an item is used it is often so #named in tribute (see link below). The danger of confused levelport by Vlad even gave you a legitimate reason to use a Vladbane-type weapon instead of Magicbane.
A variety of patches had been written to address this issue by altering Vlad in some way. One of the better known ones was the aptly-named Vlad Balance patch. The Dudley's dungeon strip for 30 November 2006 (via Wayback Machine) featured several humorous attempts to remake Vlad; see also the comments for the 30 November and 1 December strips.
Origin
Vlad is a major vampire based mostly on the fictional Count Dracula, who is in turn based on the non-fictional Vlad Drăculea, a 15th century Romanian prince.
Variants
SporkHack
In SporkHack he's been beefed up significantly, most notably by arming him with an artifact two-handed sword named Lifestealer that has similar properties to Stormbringer.
GruntHack
GruntHack enhances Vlad's vital statistics (base level 28, base speed 24, stunning and confusion attacks) and give him a guaranteed thirsty spetum and a stack of cursed scrolls of teleportation.
SLASH'EM
Strangely, in SLASH'EM there is also the distinct Count Dracula as a quest nemesis. So they are two monsters, derived from the same non-fictional Vlad Drăculea.
External links
This page may need to be updated for the current version of NetHack.
It may contain text specific to NetHack 3.6.1. Information on this page may be out of date.
Editors: After reviewing this page and making necessary edits, please change the {{nethack-361}} tag to the current version's tag or {{noversion}} as appropriate.
