Grid bug - Revision history

Ray Chason: Add nohands flag

2026-05-14T03:49:35Z

Add nohands flag

Umbire the Phantom: word choice

2024-02-11T15:08:00Z

word choice

Umbire the Phantom: tweaks

2024-02-06T23:02:08Z

tweaks

Umbire the Phantom: followup

2023-12-17T18:59:37Z

followup

Ion frigate: debatable with newts

2023-12-17T18:57:16Z

debatable with newts

Umbire the Phantom: temp

2023-08-25T11:50:31Z

temp

Umbire the Phantom: /* Origin */ word choice

2023-08-25T11:50:17Z

‎Origin: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: word choice, etc.

2023-06-26T09:19:11Z

word choice, etc.

Umbire the Phantom: Formatting + copyedit

2023-06-02T02:50:38Z

Formatting + copyedit

Actual-nh: /* Strategy */ Grammar/style

2021-09-12T19:22:21Z

‎Strategy: Grammar/style

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
   |resistances=Shock, poison
   |resistances conveyed=None
-  |attributes={{attributes|A grid bug|sgroup=1|animal=1|hostile=1|infravisible=1|nocorpse=1}}
+  |attributes={{attributes|A grid bug|sgroup=1|animal=1|nohands=1|hostile=1|infravisible=1|nocorpse=1}}
   |reference=[[monst.c#line1021]]
 }}

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 A grid bug has a a single, weak bite that [[Shock|zaps]] you, but is too weak to actually damage your [[inventory]]. Grid bugs possess [[shock resistance]] and [[poison resistance]].
-One [[demonic malediction]] from a hostile [[demon]] mentions [[polymorph]]ing into a grid bug to give you a "fighting chance".
+One [[demonic malediction]] mentions [[polymorph]]ing into a grid bug to give you a "fighting chance".
 ==Generation==

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 }}
-A '''grid bug''', {{monsym|grid bug}}, is one of the weakest [[monster]]s that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. As indicated by a pair of [[true rumors]], grid bugs are unique in that they cannot move or attack diagonally - this also applies to [[you]] if you are polymorphed into a grid bug. Some have proposed moving like a grid bug as an [[Unofficial conduct#Grid bug|unofficial conduct]].
+A '''grid bug''', {{monsym|grid bug}}, is one of the weakest [[monster]]s that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. As indicated by a pair of [[true rumors]], grid bugs are unique in that they cannot move or attack diagonally - this also applies to [[you]] if you are [[polymorph]]ed into a grid bug. Some have proposed moving like a grid bug as an [[Unofficial conduct#Grid bug|unofficial conduct]].
-A grid bug has a a single, weak bite that [[Shock|zaps]] you, but is too weak to actually damage your [[inventory]]. Grid bugs possess [[Shock resistance|shock]] and [[poison resistance]].
+A grid bug has a a single, weak bite that [[Shock|zaps]] you, but is too weak to actually damage your [[inventory]]. Grid bugs possess [[shock resistance]] and [[poison resistance]].
 One [[demonic malediction]] from a hostile [[demon]] mentions [[polymorph]]ing into a grid bug to give you a "fighting chance".
 ==Generation==
-Grid bugs are among the first monsters you will see in the dungeon, if not the very first themselves. They always generate hostile, often appear in small [[group]]s, and [[Corpseless|do not leave a corpse]] upon death.
+Randomly generated grid bugs are always created hostile, and can appear in small [[group]]s.
 ==Strategy==
-Grid bugs are easily handled by all but the most unfortunate beginning characters - they move at the same [[speed]] as you, but their directional restrictions and weak attacks ultimately serve to quickly introduce players to the strategic benefits of diagonal movement. Grid bugs usually deal no damage at all with their bite, and are usually nothing to worry about once you reach or pass [[experience level]] 2; if you need to train up a [[weapon]] [[skill]], they can be useful as target practice. Otherwise, grid bugs are best left as fodder for a [[pet]] you want to train, since they gain at least one maximum HP per kill as opposed to the pitiful single experience point you will get.
+As one of the first monsters that can be encountered, grid bugs are easily handled by all but the most unfortunate beginning characters - they move at the same [[speed]] as you, but are slowed by their directional restrictions, and serve to quickly introduce players to the strategic benefits of diagonal movement. Grid bugs usually deal no damage at all with their bite, and are nothing to worry about once you reach or pass [[experience level]] 2; if you need to train up a [[weapon]] [[skill]], they can be useful as target practice. Otherwise, grid bugs are best left as fodder for a [[pet]] you want to train, since they gain at least one maximum HP per kill as opposed to the pitiful single experience point you will get.
-Of note is that the bite attack's damage dice is equal to its current level, usually 0 - if a grid bug manages to successfully kill another monster (e.g. while under the influence of an early source of [[conflict]]) and gain a level, the shock damage from its bite becomes capable of destroying [[ring]]s and [[wand]]s in a target's inventory.
+Of note is that the bite attack uses a number of damage dice equal to its current level, usually 0 - if a grid bug manages to successfully kill another monster (e.g., while under the influence of an early source of [[conflict]]) and gain a level, the bite's shock damage becomes capable of destroying [[ring]]s and [[wand]]s in a target's inventory.
 ==History==

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 }}
-A '''grid bug''', {{monsym|grid bug}}, is one of the weakest [[monster]]s that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. A grid bug has a monster level of 0 and a difficulty of 1 - its sole attack is a single, weak bite that [[Shock|zaps]] you, but is too weak to actually damage your [[inventory]]. They have [[Shock resistance|shock]] and [[poison resistance]].
+A '''grid bug''', {{monsym|grid bug}}, is one of the weakest [[monster]]s that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. As indicated by a pair of [[true rumors]], grid bugs are unique in that they cannot move or attack diagonally - this also applies to [[you]] if you are polymorphed into a grid bug. Some have proposed moving like a grid bug as an [[Unofficial conduct#Grid bug|unofficial conduct]].
-As indicated by a pair of [[true rumors]], grid bugs are unique in that they cannot move or attack diagonally - this also applies to [[you]] if you are polymorphed into a grid bug. Some have proposed moving like a grid bug as an [[Unofficial conduct#Grid bug|unofficial conduct]].
+A grid bug has a a single, weak bite that [[Shock|zaps]] you, but is too weak to actually damage your [[inventory]]. Grid bugs possess [[Shock resistance|shock]] and [[poison resistance]].
 One [[demonic malediction]] from a hostile [[demon]] mentions [[polymorph]]ing into a grid bug to give you a "fighting chance".
@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 Grid bugs are easily handled by all but the most unfortunate beginning characters - they move at the same [[speed]] as you, but their directional restrictions and weak attacks ultimately serve to quickly introduce players to the strategic benefits of diagonal movement. Grid bugs usually deal no damage at all with their bite, and are usually nothing to worry about once you reach or pass [[experience level]] 2; if you need to train up a [[weapon]] [[skill]], they can be useful as target practice. Otherwise, grid bugs are best left as fodder for a [[pet]] you want to train, since they gain at least one maximum HP per kill as opposed to the pitiful single experience point you will get.
-Of note is that if a grid bug manages to successfully kill another monster (e.g. while under the influence of an early source of [[conflict]]) and gain a level, the shock damage from its bite becomes capable of destroying [[ring]]s and [[wand]]s in a target's inventory.
+Of note is that the bite attack's damage dice is equal to its current level, usually 0 - if a grid bug manages to successfully kill another monster (e.g. while under the influence of an early source of [[conflict]]) and gain a level, the shock damage from its bite becomes capable of destroying [[ring]]s and [[wand]]s in a target's inventory.
 ==History==

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 }}
-A '''grid bug''', {{monsym|grid bug}}, is the weakest [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. A grid bug has a monster level of 0 and a difficulty of 1 - its sole attack is a single, weak bite that [[Shock|zaps]] you, but is too weak to actually damage your [[inventory]]. They have [[Shock resistance|shock]] and [[poison resistance]].
+A '''grid bug''', {{monsym|grid bug}}, is one of the weakest [[monster]]s that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. A grid bug has a monster level of 0 and a difficulty of 1 - its sole attack is a single, weak bite that [[Shock|zaps]] you, but is too weak to actually damage your [[inventory]]. They have [[Shock resistance|shock]] and [[poison resistance]].
 As indicated by a pair of [[true rumors]], grid bugs are unique in that they cannot move or attack diagonally - this also applies to [[you]] if you are polymorphed into a grid bug. Some have proposed moving like a grid bug as an [[Unofficial conduct#Grid bug|unofficial conduct]].

@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 The concept of gridbugs originates from the [[wikipedia:Tron (franchise)|''Tron'' franchise]], which began with the 1982 Disney film ''[[wikipedia:Tron (film)|Tron]]''. Despite this, gridbugs themselves only make a brief appearance in the original film; earlier drafts indicate there was going to be a major scene featuring a gridbug swarm as a significant threat, which did not make it into the final script. Gridbugs are digital creatures that cause glitches and often appear in swarms, and are capable of "derezzing" programs and causing havoc throughout an entire system; their size varies depending on the portrayal, but they are usually depicted as four-legged "insects".
-Gridbugs feature more prominently in the ''Tron'' arcade game from 1982, which was in development before the script was finalized: they appear in the I/O Tower sub-game, where the player must guide Tron to the flashing circle of an Input/Output Tower within a set time limit while avoiding or destroying gridbugs. Their inclusion in ''NetHack'' plays off the idea of the player character as a "hacker", referring as much to the "hack 'n' slash" genre as it does to programmer and geek culture.
+Gridbugs feature more prominently in the ''Tron'' arcade game from 1982, which was in development before the script was finalized: they appear in the I/O Tower sub-game, where the player must guide Tron to the flashing circle of an Input/Output Tower within a set time limit while avoiding or destroying gridbugs. Their inclusion in ''NetHack'' plays off the idea of the player character as a "hacker", which refers as much to programmer and geek culture as it does to the "hack 'n' slash" genre.
 ==Messages==

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
   |resistances=Shock, poison
   |resistances conveyed=None
-  |attributes={{attributes|A grid bug|=
+  |attributes={{attributes|A grid bug=|sgroup=1|animal=1|hostile=1|infravisible=1|nocorpse=1}}
   |reference=[[monst.c#line1021]]
 }}
-'''Grid bugs''' are one of the weakest [[monster]]s that appear in ''[[NetHack]]''. They are unique in that they cannot move or attack diagonally, which naturally extends to their polyform. Some have proposed moving like a grid bug as an [[Unofficial conduct#Grid bug|unofficial conduct]].
+A '''grid bug''', {{monsym|grid bug}}, is the weakest [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. A grid bug has a monster level of 0 and a difficulty of 1 - its sole attack is a single, weak bite that [[Shock|zaps]] you, but is too weak to actually damage your [[inventory]]. They have [[Shock resistance|shock]] and [[poison resistance]].
-One [[demonic malediction]] mentions [[polymorph]]ing into a grid bug to give the player a "fighting chance".
+As indicated by a pair of [[true rumors]], grid bugs are unique in that they cannot move or attack diagonally - this also applies to [[you]] if you are polymorphed into a grid bug. Some have proposed moving like a grid bug as an [[Unofficial conduct#Grid bug|unofficial conduct]].
 ==Strategy==
-Grid bugs are easily handled by all but the most unfortunate beginning characters - they usually deal no damage at all, unless they manage to zap you as well, and even then the damage is very small. This electric attack cannot break your rings and wands unless the grid bug manages to gain a level above zero.
+Grid bugs are easily handled by all but the most unfortunate beginning characters - they ultimately serve to quickly introduce players to the strategic benefits of diagonal movement. Grid bugs usually deal no damage at all even with their bite, and are usually nothing to worry about once you pass [[experience level]] 2: if you need to train up a [[weapon]] [[skill]], they can be useful as target practice. Otherwise, grid bugs are best left as fodder for a [[pet]] you want to train, since they gain at least one maximum HP per kill as opposed to the pitiful single experience point you will get.
-As such, they are nothing to worry about once you pass [[experience level]] 2, and are best left as fodder for a [[pet]] you want to train, since they gain at least one maximum HP per kill. If you need to train up a weapon skill, grid bugs can also be useful as target practice.
+Gridbugs feature more prominently in the ''Tron'' arcade game from 1982, which was in development before the script was finalized: they appear in the I/O Tower subgame, where the player must guide Tron to the flashing circle of an Input/Output Tower within a set time limit while avoiding or destroying gridbugs. Their inclusion in ''NetHack'' plays off the idea of the player character as a "hacker", referring as much to the "hack 'n' slash" genre as it does to programmer and geek culture.
 ==Messages==
 {{message|You can't get there from here...|You attempted to move or attack diagonally while polymorphed into a grid bug.}}
-==Origin==
+==Variants==
-{{wikipedia|Tron (film)}}
+===SLASH'EM===
-The concept of grid bugs came from the 1982 Disney film [[wikipedia:Tron (film)|Tron]].
+In [[SLASH'EM]], grid bugs gain the ability to [[Monsters with hits creatures as a %2Bx weapon (SLASH'EM)|hit as a +1 weapon]], but are otherwise the same as in vanilla. Grid bugs will also not generate in Gehennom.
 ==Encyclopedia entry==
@@ Line 52: / Line 68: @@
 {{right-align|[ Tron, novel by Brian Daley, story by Steven Lisberger ]}}
 </poem>}}
-{{nethack-366}}
+{{nethack-367}}
 [[Category:Monsters]]