Fort Ludios - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: punc

2025-10-30T00:14:24Z

punc

Tomsod: clarify that level range is non-inclusive

2025-10-29T16:33:42Z

clarify that level range is non-inclusive

Umbire the Phantom: /* Map */ copyedit

2025-09-29T00:30:03Z

‎Map: copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: /* Strategy */ potholes

2025-09-29T00:27:32Z

‎Strategy: potholes

Umbire the Phantom: /* Strategy */ still more

2025-09-29T00:27:02Z

‎Strategy: still more

Umbire the Phantom: /* Strategy */ punc

2025-09-29T00:25:35Z

‎Strategy: punc

Umbire the Phantom: /* Strategy */ copyedit

2025-09-29T00:25:19Z

‎Strategy: copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: /* UnNetHack */ pothole

2025-02-23T01:11:09Z

‎UnNetHack: pothole

Umbire the Phantom: variant copyedit

2024-04-21T17:55:04Z

variant copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: /* EvilHack */ basic strats

2024-02-18T09:21:05Z

‎EvilHack: basic strats

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 '''Fort Ludios''' is a [[branch]] of the [[Mazes of Menace]] in ''[[NetHack]]'', consisting of a single [[special level]]. The code internally refers to the level as '''Fort Knox'''.<ref>The file knox.des (or knox.lua in the upcoming 3.7.0) contains the map for Fort Ludios, as shown in some of the references below.</ref> Fort Ludios is ineligible to leave bones files, and is a [[no-teleport]] level.
-The branch is accessed through a [[magic portal]] found in a [[vault]] below dungeon level 10 and above [[Medusa's Island]]. Any vault generated in this range has a {{frac|3}} chance of containing the portal to Ludios, if it has not already been generated - the [[Rogue level]] and the [[Big Room]] cannot contain vaults, and a vault on the [[quest portal]] level will never contain a portal to Ludios.{{refsrc|src/mklev.c|1862|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} As such, it is accessible in 74.9% of all games.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.roguelike.nethack/browse_thread/thread/b7395a379bb32b0f Ludios exists in 74.9% of dungeons]</ref><ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.roguelike.nethack/browse_thread/thread/3e598759c183d3e9/1b812237cc31612b?q=ludios#1b812237cc31612b Ludios?]</ref>
+The branch is accessed through a [[magic portal]] found in a [[vault]] below dungeon level 10 and above [[Medusa's Island]]. Any vault generated in this range has a {{frac|3}} chance of containing the portal to Ludios, if it has not already been generated&mdash;the [[Rogue level]] and the [[Big Room]] cannot contain vaults, and a vault on the [[quest portal]] level will never contain a portal to Ludios.{{refsrc|src/mklev.c|1862|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} As such, it is accessible in 74.9% of all games.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.roguelike.nethack/browse_thread/thread/b7395a379bb32b0f Ludios exists in 74.9% of dungeons]</ref><ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.roguelike.nethack/browse_thread/thread/3e598759c183d3e9/1b812237cc31612b?q=ludios#1b812237cc31612b Ludios?]</ref>
 Within Fort Ludios lies the riches of [[Croesus]], who guards them zealously with a series of traps and hordes of monsters, including many [[Yendorian army]] fighters.

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 '''Fort Ludios''' is a [[branch]] of the [[Mazes of Menace]] in ''[[NetHack]]'', consisting of a single [[special level]]. The code internally refers to the level as '''Fort Knox'''.<ref>The file knox.des (or knox.lua in the upcoming 3.7.0) contains the map for Fort Ludios, as shown in some of the references below.</ref> Fort Ludios is ineligible to leave bones files, and is a [[no-teleport]] level.
-The branch is accessed through a [[magic portal]] found in a [[vault]] between dungeon level 10 and [[Medusa's Island]]. Any vault generated in this range has a {{frac|3}} chance of containing the portal to Ludios, if it has not already been generated - the [[Rogue level]] and the [[Big Room]] cannot contain vaults, and a vault on the [[quest portal]] level will never contain a portal to Ludios. As such, it is accessible in 74.9% of all games.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.roguelike.nethack/browse_thread/thread/b7395a379bb32b0f Ludios exists in 74.9% of dungeons]</ref><ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.roguelike.nethack/browse_thread/thread/3e598759c183d3e9/1b812237cc31612b?q=ludios#1b812237cc31612b Ludios?]</ref>
+The branch is accessed through a [[magic portal]] found in a [[vault]] below dungeon level 10 and above [[Medusa's Island]]. Any vault generated in this range has a {{frac|3}} chance of containing the portal to Ludios, if it has not already been generated - the [[Rogue level]] and the [[Big Room]] cannot contain vaults, and a vault on the [[quest portal]] level will never contain a portal to Ludios.{{refsrc|src/mklev.c|1862|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} As such, it is accessible in 74.9% of all games.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.roguelike.nethack/browse_thread/thread/b7395a379bb32b0f Ludios exists in 74.9% of dungeons]</ref><ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.roguelike.nethack/browse_thread/thread/3e598759c183d3e9/1b812237cc31612b?q=ludios#1b812237cc31612b Ludios?]</ref>
 Within Fort Ludios lies the riches of [[Croesus]], who guards them zealously with a series of traps and hordes of monsters, including many [[Yendorian army]] fighters.

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 </replacecharsblock></div>
-Entering Fort Ludios through the magic portal will place you on the other end at the bottom-left of the map, which is also used to exit the level. As soon as you enter the floor, an alarm will sound, waking up all monsters on the floor - this will continue to happen every time you enter until Croesus is dead.
+Entering Fort Ludios through the magic portal will place the [[hero]] on the other end at the bottom-left of the map, which is also used to exit the level. As soon as the hero enters the floor, an alarm will sound, waking up all monsters on the floor: this will continue to happen every time the hero enters until Croesus is dead.
-The zoo (with inhabitants marked "z"), fort, and barracks are lit; the other areas are unlit. All walls and floors are undiggable, but all walls and the solid rock at the outside of the level are [[phasing|phaseable]].
+The zoo (with inhabitants marked "z"), fort, and barracks are lit; the other areas are unlit. All walls and floors are undiggable, but all walls and the solid rock at the outside of the level can be crossed via [[phasing]].
-The barracks and zoo have typical monster and item generation for those room types, as does the central [[throne room]] - the inhabitants are marked with "t", and Croesus himself sits atop the [[throne|opulent throne]]. The door leading to the courtyard is locked, and there is a secret passage between the zoo in the southwest and the room in the northwest, which contains a single [[stone giant]]. Additionally, 16 [[soldier]]s and one [[lieutenant]] are generated in the courtyard around the fort; four [[dragon]]s are placed around the moat, with one for each cardinal direction; and four [[giant eel]]s are placed within the moat, with two on each side.
+The barracks and zoo have typical monster and item generation for those room types, as does the central [[throne room]]&mdash;the inhabitants are marked with "t", and Croesus himself sits atop the [[throne]]. The door leading to the courtyard is locked, and there is a secret passage between the zoo in the southwest and the room in the northwest, which contains a single [[stone giant]]. Additionally, 16 [[soldier]]s and one [[lieutenant]] are generated in the courtyard around the fort; four [[dragon]]s are placed around the moat, with one for each cardinal direction; and four [[giant eel]]s are placed within the moat, with two on each side. All monsters are placed at the marked locations shown above.
-The secret door into the throne room, Croesus on his throne, and the secret door to the treasure room each have an independent 50% chance of being shifted up one square. The four corner rooms of the fort contain precious [[gem]]s: rubies, diamonds, emeralds, and amethysts. The left half of the fort is filled with gold (600&ndash;899 zorkmids per square), but also with traps. Each square has a {{frac|3}} chance of containing a trap; of those that do, {{frac|2|3}} are [[land mine]]s and {{frac|3}} are [[spiked pit]]s. There are no other traps anywhere on the level.
+The secret door into the throne room, the throne Croesus occupies, and the secret door to the treasure room each have an independent {{frac|2}} chance of being shifted up one square. The four corner rooms of the fort contain precious [[gem]]s: rubies, diamonds, emeralds, and amethysts. The left half of the fort is filled with gold (600&ndash;899 zorkmids per square), but also with traps. Each square has a {{frac|3}} chance of containing a trap; of those that do, {{frac|2|3}} are [[land mine]]s and {{frac|3}} are [[spiked pit]]s. There are no other traps anywhere on the level.
 ==Strategy==

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 * If you are [[jumping]] across, you can blast through the door from afar with a [[force bolt]] from the spell or a [[wand of striking]], or raze the door with the [[spellbook of dig|spell]] or [[wand of digging]]. Additionally, if you detect the door with a [[wand of secret door detection]] or the {{spell of|detect unseen}} spell, one of the throne room inhabitants will open it shortly after.
 * Use a [[wand of cold]] to freeze the surrounding water. The soldiers are likely to have at least one spare wand, though it may prove difficult to obtain them before all the charges are used up.
-* Levitation or flight (e.g., using a [[flying]] steed) can carry you across fairly easily&mdash;in the former case, be mindful of any remaining giant eels and potential rays of [[lightning]] if using the [[ring of levitation]].
+* [[Levitation]] or [[flight]] (e.g., [[riding]] a flying steed) can carry you across fairly easily&mdash;in the former case, be mindful of any remaining giant eels and potential rays of [[lightning]] if using the [[ring of levitation]].
 Croesus can be a difficult opponent, especially if you are not [[unencumbered]]: he hits hard in melee combat and moves at 15 [[speed]], and the throne room monsters accompanying him can be quite dangerous and tough themselves&mdash;depending on when they were generated, the horde can include powerful [[troll]]s and dragons. The tactics mentioned above can be useful in clearing out the throne room, and Croesus himself can be dispatched with [[ranged attack]]s via wands or polearms from across the [[moat]], as indicated by the map to the upper right. Alternatively, you can use a wand of cold to form a bridge, then melt it with a [[wand of fire]] or some other source of [[Fire (element)|fire]] rays as he crosses to attack you, but beware that his speed may allow him to cross the ice before you can melt it.
-Come with a [[bag of holding]] if you plan on leaving with all of the gold. Fort Ludios contains around 50,000zm on average, which is about half of a strong character's total carrying capacity. [[Levitation]] will allow you to locate the traps with relative safety; otherwise, it is recommended to search all squares before moving in that area.
+Come with a [[bag of holding]] if you plan on leaving with all of the gold. Fort Ludios contains around 50,000zm on average, which is about half of a strong character's total carrying capacity. Levitation will allow you to locate the traps with relative safety; otherwise, it is recommended to search all squares before moving in that area.
 ==History==

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 * Levitation or flight (e.g., using a [[flying]] steed) can carry you across fairly easily&mdash;in the former case, be mindful of any remaining giant eels and potential rays of [[lightning]] if using the [[ring of levitation]].
-Croesus can be a difficult opponent, especially if you are not [[unencumbered]]: he hits hard in melee combat and moves at 15 [[speed]], and the throne room monsters accompanying him can be quite dangerous and tough themselves - depending on when they were generated, the horde can include powerful [[troll]]s and dragons. The tactics mentioned above can be useful in clearing out the throne room, and Croesus himself can be dispatched with [[ranged attack]]s via wands or polearms from across the [[moat]], as indicated by the map to the upper right. Alternatively, you can use a wand of cold to form a bridge, then melt it with a source of fire, e.g., a [[wand of fire]], as he crosses to attack you - beware that his speed may allow him to cross the ice before you can melt it.
+Croesus can be a difficult opponent, especially if you are not [[unencumbered]]: he hits hard in melee combat and moves at 15 [[speed]], and the throne room monsters accompanying him can be quite dangerous and tough themselves&mdash;depending on when they were generated, the horde can include powerful [[troll]]s and dragons. The tactics mentioned above can be useful in clearing out the throne room, and Croesus himself can be dispatched with [[ranged attack]]s via wands or polearms from across the [[moat]], as indicated by the map to the upper right. Alternatively, you can use a wand of cold to form a bridge, then melt it with a [[wand of fire]] or some other source of [[Fire (element)|fire]] rays as he crosses to attack you, but beware that his speed may allow him to cross the ice before you can melt it.
 Come with a [[bag of holding]] if you plan on leaving with all of the gold. Fort Ludios contains around 50,000zm on average, which is about half of a strong character's total carrying capacity. [[Levitation]] will allow you to locate the traps with relative safety; otherwise, it is recommended to search all squares before moving in that area.

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 ==Strategy==
 [[Image:Ludiosdoor.png|thumb|right|Using the door to your advantage ([[DECgraphics]] are enabled)]]
-It may be prudent to obtain [[reflection]] before entering in order to better handle the hordes of monsters, particularly the dragons and the Yendorian Army fighters armed with [[wand]]s. If you have a strong [[pet]], such as a [[vampire lord]], you may choose to whistle it across walls to have it fight the zoo monsters and soldiers without exposing yourself to them - monsters will not use their wands or other ranged attacks against your pet, preserving the wands' charges, though doing this will also make it difficult to monitor their health.
+It may be prudent to obtain [[reflection]] before entering in order to better handle the hordes of monsters, particularly the dragons and the Yendorian Army fighters armed with [[wand]]s. If you have a strong [[pet]], such as a [[vampire lord]], you may choose to whistle it across walls and have it fight the zoo monsters and soldiers without exposing yourself to them&mdash;monsters will not use their wands or other ranged attacks against your pet, preserving the wands' charges, though doing this will also make it difficult to monitor the pet's health.
-You can also use a source of [[conflict]] to have the zoo monsters and/or soldiers thin their own ranks - be careful not to get your pet caught in the crossfire, and mind your own health as well. A [[scroll of stinking cloud]] is also quite useful from a reasonable distance. Leftover wands from clearing out the soldiers can then be used against the [[giant eel]]s in the [[moat]], as can any leftover [[polearms]] and [[lance]]s. See also [[Movement tactics#Doors|Movement tactics § Doors]] for other general crowd-control tactics.
+You can also use a source of [[conflict]] to have the zoo monsters and/or soldiers thin their own ranks: be careful not to get your pet caught in the crossfire, and mind your own health as well! A [[scroll of stinking cloud]] is also quite useful from a reasonable distance. Leftover wands from clearing out the soldiers can then be used against the [[giant eel]]s in the [[moat]], as can any leftover [[polearms]] and [[lance]]s. See also [[Movement tactics#Doors|Movement tactics § Doors]] for other general crowd-control tactics.
-The fort has no drawbridge, so you will need some means of crossing water:
+The fort has no drawbridge, so you will need some means of crossing water to enter the throne room:
-* Fill the moat with boulders using a spare [[scroll of earth]]. The guaranteed giant in the stone passage also has a 50% chance of generating with a [[boulder]], though you will want to draw them away from the north wall if you plan to push it into the main area.
+* Fill the moat with [[boulder]]s using a spare [[scroll of earth]]. The guaranteed stone giant beyond the secret passage also has a {{frac|2}} chance of generating with a boulder as normal, though you will want to draw them away from the north wall if you plan to push it into the main area.
 * If you are [[jumping]] across, you can blast through the door from afar with a [[force bolt]] from the spell or a [[wand of striking]], or raze the door with the [[spellbook of dig|spell]] or [[wand of digging]]. Additionally, if you detect the door with a [[wand of secret door detection]] or the {{spell of|detect unseen}} spell, one of the throne room inhabitants will open it shortly after.
 * Use a [[wand of cold]] to freeze the surrounding water. The soldiers are likely to have at least one spare wand, though it may prove difficult to obtain them before all the charges are used up.

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 </replacecharsblock></div>
-The second new map also has a near-identical western structure which opens up into a courtyard divided by a pair of ringwalls; the entire level is lit unlike the other two maps. The map is internally named for [https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Minas_Tirith the city of Minas Tirith], a fortress-city located within Gondor in the setting of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s Middle-Earth.
+The second new map also has a near-identical western structure which opens up into a courtyard divided by a pair of ringwalls; the entire level is lit unlike the other two maps. The map is internally named for [[lotr:Minas Tirith|the city of Minas Tirith]], a fortress-city located within Gondor in the setting of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s Middle-Earth.
 Sixteen soldiers and two lieutenants are stationed between the entrance room and the first ringwall. Both ringwalls are filled with outposts surrounded by [[iron bars]] and blocked off by moats; as the level is undiggeable, the iron bars cannot be destroyed (though they can be phased through). These outposts are each populated by random hostile [[Centaur (monster class)|centaurs]], with eight in the first ringwall and sixteen in the second; each centaur also has a {{frac|2}} chance of a wand being generated on their square, which they will use alongside their bow and arrows to shoot at you from their outposts. Each ringwall also has three pairs of closed [[drawbridge]]s that block passage between the sections of the courtyard.
-The fort beyond the ringwalls is redesigned as well, with the barracks situated to the north and south of an open area that has a [[tree]] surrounded by [[fountain]]s in the middle; four [[Dragon (EvilHack)|dragons]] are placed in this courtyard at level creation. A long hallway connects the two barracks, and is populated by various hostile [[Elf (monster attribute)|elves]]: five [[Grey-elves]], five [[Woodland-elves]], three [[Green-elves]], an [[elf-lord]], and [[Elvenking]]. A secret door on the southern half of the hall leads into the throne room of the fort itself - both it and the treasure room in the north are more trapezoidal in shape. There are also six treasure rooms instead of four spread between the north and south portions of the fort, though only the four corner rooms will contain valuable gems as usual.
+The fort beyond the ringwalls is redesigned as well, with the barracks situated to the north and south of an open area that has a [[tree]] surrounded by [[fountain]]s in the middle; four [[Dragon (EvilHack)|dragons]] are placed in this courtyard at level creation. A long hallway connects the two barracks, and is populated by various hostile [[Elf (monster attribute)|elves]]: five [[Grey-elves]], five [[Woodland-elves]], three [[Green-elves]], an [[elf-lord]], and an [[Elvenking]]. A secret door on the southern half of the hall leads into the throne room of the fort itself - both it and the treasure room in the north are more trapezoidal in shape. There are also six treasure rooms instead of four spread between the north and south portions of the fort, though only the four corner rooms will contain valuable gems as usual.
 </simpletabs>

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 ==Variants==
 ===SLASH'EM===
-In [[SLASH'EM]], the four [[Dragon (SLASH'EM)|dragon]]s generated can also include baby dragons as well as any of the newly added species, such as the [[Drain life|life-draining]] deep dragons - [[drain resistance]] can prove quite important for those entering this branch. The building containing the barracks is made into a [[graveyard]] with [[headstone]]s, though there are no [[undead]] and the soldiers are still generated inside as normal; the tombs have no loot, but generate a corpse or an undead monster as normal if you dig them up.
+In [[SLASH'EM]], the four [[Dragon (SLASH'EM)|dragon]]s generated can also include baby dragons as well as any of the newly added species, such as the [[Drain life|life-draining]] deep dragons - [[drain resistance]] will prove quite important for characters entering the branch. The building containing the barracks is made into a [[graveyard]] with [[headstone]]s, though there are no [[undead]] and the soldiers are still generated inside as normal; the tombs have no loot, but generate a [[corpse]] or an undead monster as normal if dug up.
-Additionally, soldiers in SLASH'EM carry [[firearms]] and throw frag and gas [[grenade]]s, making them quite a bit more dangerous and likely making [[fire resistance]] and [[poison resistance]] necessary. The grenades can also set off other [[grenade]]s on the ground or in other soldiers' inventories, causing a chain reaction that can destroy both the enemy soldiers ''and'' potential loot. While much of the strategy used in vanilla ''NetHack'' also applies here, those looking to maximize their gains from Ludios pick up and throw armed grenades far from groups of soldiers and/or their loot.
+Soldiers in SLASH'EM carry [[firearms]] and throw frag and gas [[grenade]]s, making them quite a bit more dangerous and likely requiring [[fire resistance]] and [[poison resistance]] to deal with. The grenades can also set off other [[grenade]]s on the ground or in other soldiers' inventories, causing a chain reaction that can destroy both the enemy soldiers ''and'' potential loot. While much of the strategy used in vanilla ''NetHack'' also applies here, those looking to maximize their gains from Ludios should pick up and throw armed grenades far from groups of soldiers and/or their loot.
 ===UnNetHack===
-In [[UnNetHack]], the portal is much more likely to generate as of version 5.1.0: it will always be in the first vault below level 10, on a floor that does not contain the Quest portal. As of UnNetHack 6, a portal to the branch will generate on [[Medusa's Island]] if one does not appear in the main dungeon branch.
+In [[UnNetHack]], the portal is much more likely to generate as of version 5.1.0: it will always be in the first vault  generated below level 10, provided that floor does not contain the Quest portal. As of UnNetHack 6, a portal to the branch will generate on [[Medusa's Island]] if one does not appear in the main dungeon branch.
 Beginning in version 3.5.1, there are two new possible maps for the level:
@@ Line 193: / Line 193: @@
 ===EvilHack===
-In [[EvilHack]], the portal to Fort Ludios is also placed in the first available vault below level 10, similar to UnNetHack. EvilHack also uses the same selection maps for the level as UnNetHack, with the addition of the secret passage and stone giant from ''NetHack'' to the maps imported from UnNetHack. The third Fort Ludios map also replaces two of the Woodland-elves stationed in the hall between the barracks with [[elven wizard]]s.
+In [[EvilHack]], the portal to Fort Ludios is also placed in the first available vault generated below level 10, similar to UnNetHack. EvilHack also uses the same selection maps for the level as UnNetHack, with the addition of the secret passage and stone giant from ''NetHack'' to the maps imported from UnNetHack. The third Fort Ludios map also replaces two of the Woodland-elves stationed in the hall between the barracks with [[elven wizard]]s.
-The centaurs are a much bigger danger to crossing, since their bolts and arrows can have object properties, and they are able to use more wands against you, including the [[wand of slow monster]] and the potentially devastating [[wand of polymorph]].<!--more strategy to come-->
+The centaurs are a much bigger danger to crossing, since their bolts and arrows can have object properties, and they are able to use more wands against the character, including the [[wand of slow monster]] and the potentially devastating [[wand of polymorph]].<!--more strategy to come-->
 ==References==