Monster attribute - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: pothole

2023-12-14T01:47:29Z

pothole

Umbire the Phantom: potholes, word choice

2023-11-22T17:58:04Z

potholes, word choice

Infinigon at 04:15, 10 January 2021

2021-01-10T04:15:36Z

Cherokee Jack: Monster attributes defined as innate properties set by flags in monst.c. Content based on existing (3.4.3) pages.

2016-03-16T01:24:04Z

Monster attributes defined as innate properties set by flags in monst.c. Content based on existing (3.4.3) pages.

New page

{{nethack-343}}
''This article is about innate attributes of monsters. For player attributes (or "stats") such as strength or intelligence, see [[Attribute]].''

'''Monster attributes''' are properties that [[NetHack]] monsters can have, depending on their individual "species".

The attributes of a monster describe, in non-quantitative terms, what that monster is ordinarily like:
* Humanoids have a head, arms, and a torso.
* Snakes and fish lack feet.
* Ghosts and vortices do not have solid bodies.

Within gameplay, monster attributes also determine many aspects of monster behavior.

==Definition==
On this wiki, the term "monster attributes" is usually used to describe monster properties that are qualitative and innate.

''Qualitative'' properties are descriptive and non-numerical. Quantitative properties such as [[monster difficulty]] and [[weight]] are excluded from the category of monster attributes. In the [[source code]], attributes are defined by Boolean flags rather than variables, which means that they are either present or absent for any given monster.

''Innate'' properties are characteristic of all monsters of that type from the moment they are generated. Properties like [[Speed#Intrinsic speed (fast)|intrinsic speed]] or acquired [[invisibility]] that monsters can obtain from items or spells are not considered monster attributes.

== Significance for gameplay ==
Monster attributes influence:

'''How a monster is able to interact with items and with its environment:'''
* Monsters that are ''[[humanoid]]'' have arms, so they are able to wield weapons if they have a weapon attack.
* Monsters that are ''[[strong]]'' get a bigger carrying capacity and can use two-handed weapons.
* Monsters that are ''[[slithy]]'' lack feet, so they cannot kick or wear boots.
* ''[[Tunneling monster]]s'' are able to dig through [[solid rock]], break closed [[door]]s, and cut down [[tree]]s. These are subdivided into those that require a tool ([[pick-axe]], [[mattock]], or [[axe]]) and those that do not.
* ''[[Flying]]'' monsters can pass over some traps and obstacles without being affected by them.
* Monsters that are ''[[whirly]]'' or ''[[amorphous]]'' can move through [[iron bars]].
* A monster's [[diet]] is defined by attributes. Monsters may eat [[Flesh|meaty]] food items and corpses (''[[carnivore]]''), fruits and [[vegan]] corpses (''[[herbivore]]''), both (''[[omnivore]]''), or metallic items (''[[metallivore]]''). Or they may be unable to eat any item, nor have any need to do so (''[[inediate]]'').

'''How the player may interact with the monster:'''
* Eating a monster that is ''[[human (monster attribute)|human]]'' will incur a penalty for [[cannibalism]] if you are playing as a [[human (starting race)|human]]. Likewise, eating monsters that are ''dwarves'' will be cannibalism for [[dwarf (starting race)|dwarves]], and eating ''[[elf (monster attribute)|elves]]'' will be cannibalism for [[elf (starting race)|elves]]. [[Orc (starting race)|Orcs]] are an exception; they will not be penalized for eating other ''[[Orc (monster attribute)|orcs]]''.
* [[Acid]]ic or [[poisonous]] monsters leave corpses that may be risky to eat without the proper resistances.
* Monsters that are [[kebabable]] or [[thick-skinned]] are affected differently by certain weapons.

'''How monsters tend to behave toward the player:'''
* Monsters that are ''[[covetous]]'' are motivated by their desire for your [[quest artifact]] or for one or more of the [[unique item]]s. They will pick up the item if they find it on the floor. If the item is in the possession of you or a monster, they will attack whoever has it, teleporting back and forth from the [[stairs]].
* Monsters with the ''[[follower]]'' attribute will pursue [[you]] to a new level if they are on an adjacent tile when you leave the level (by [[staircase]], [[level teleport]], [[trapdoor]], etc.)

'''How and where monsters are generated:'''
* ''[[Gold lover]]s'' may be generated with [[gold]] in their inventory.
* ''[[Strong]] [[humanoid]]'' monsters may be generated with a two-handed weapon, which they are able to wield.
* Some monsters are characteristically generated in ''[[group]]s'' of various sizes.
* Some monsters may not be generated in [[Gehennom]], while others are only generated in Gehennom.
* [[Egg]]s belonging to [[oviparous]] monsters may be found randomly generated, and hatch into their corresponding [[Growing up|juvenile forms]].

==Monster attributes and monster classes==
Monster attributes sometimes correlate to [[monster class]], but not strictly. To illustrate:
* All [[o]] have the [[orc (monster attribute)|orc]] attribute, but not all monsters with the orc attribute belong to that class. [[Orc zombie]]s and [[orc mummy|orc mummies]] are also orcish, but belong to the [[Z]] and [[M]] classes.
* All dwarf monsters except the [[dwarf zombie]] and [[dwarf mummy]] are [[h]] (members of the [[humanoid (monster class)|humanoid]] class), but a [[dwarf (starting race)|dwarf]] player can eat [[mind flayer]]s and [[bugbear]]s, other members of the same class, without committing cannibalism.
* All [[sea monster]]s are [[swimmer]]s, but many creatures that are not sea monsters can also survive underwater.

==Polymorphing==
If you [[polymorph]] into a monster, the attributes of that monster determine many of the properties of your new form.

Many useful [[intrinsic]] properties—including [[see invisible]], [[regeneration]], [[magical breathing]], [[flying]], [[teleportitis]], [[infravision]], [[reflection]], and most [[resistance]]s—can be obtained temporarily by polymorphing into monsters with the right attributes. See [[property]] for more details on how to obtain these intrinsics through polymorph.

Not all monster attributes translate into positive intrinsics. Polymorphing into a monster [[Eyeless|without eyes]] will cause you to be [[blind]], as long as you remain in that polymorph form.

Polymorphing into a [[strong]] monster sets your effective strength to 18/**.{{refsrc|src/polyself.c|662|version=NetHack 3.6.0}}

==Discovering monster attributes==

It is helpful to know the attributes of a given monster when you are trying to decide how to fight or avoid it, or determine whether it would make a good pet or polymorph form. Some of the most important attributes can be learned simply by experience, by paying attention to how the monsters behave in-game. If you don't mind being [[Spoiler|spoiled]], however, you can find a list of the attributes of any given monster in the information table in its respective article on this wiki.

==See also==
[[Template:Attributes]] – has a comprehensive table of all attributes, by their name in the source code and how they are indicated in the monster information table

==References==

[[Category:Monster attributes]]

@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
 If you [[polymorph]] into a monster, the attributes of that monster determine many of the properties of your new form.
-Many useful [[intrinsic]] properties&mdash;including [[see invisible]], [[regeneration]], [[magical breathing]], [[flying]], [[teleportitis]], [[infravision]], [[reflection]], and most [[resistance]]s&mdash;can be obtained temporarily by polymorphing into monsters with the right attributes.  See [[property]] for more details on how to obtain these intrinsics through polymorph.
+Many useful [[intrinsic]] properties&mdash;including [[see invisible]], [[regeneration]], [[breathless]]ness, [[flying]], [[teleportitis]], [[infravision]], [[reflection]], and most [[resistance]]s&mdash;can be obtained temporarily by polymorphing into monsters with the right attributes.  See [[property]] for more details on how to obtain these intrinsics through polymorph.
 Not all monster attributes translate into positive intrinsics.  Polymorphing into a monster [[Eyeless|without eyes]] will cause you to be [[blind]], as long as you remain in that polymorph form.

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 * Monsters that are ''[[strong]]'' get a bigger carrying capacity and can use two-handed weapons.
 * Monsters that are ''[[slithy]]'' lack feet, so they cannot kick or wear boots.
-* ''[[Tunneling monster]]s'' are able to dig through [[solid rock]], break closed [[door]]s, and cut down [[tree]]s.  These are subdivided into those that require a tool ([[pick-axe]], [[mattock]], or [[axe]]) and those that do not.
+* ''[[Tunneling monster]]s'' are able to dig through [[solid rock]], break closed [[door]]s, and cut down [[tree]]s.  These are subdivided into those that require a tool ([[pick-axe]], [[dwarvish mattock]], or [[axe]]) and those that do not.
 * ''[[Flying]]'' monsters can pass over some traps and obstacles without being affected by them.
 * Monsters that are ''[[whirly]]'' or ''[[amorphous]]'' can move through [[iron bars]].
@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 '''How the player may interact with the monster:'''
-* Eating a monster that is ''[[human (monster attribute)|human]]'' will incur a penalty for [[cannibalism]] if you are playing as a [[human (starting race)|human]].  Likewise, eating monsters that are ''dwarves'' will be cannibalism for [[dwarf (starting race)|dwarves]], and eating ''[[elf (monster attribute)|elves]]'' will be cannibalism for [[elf (starting race)|elves]].  [[Orc (starting race)|Orcs]] are an exception; they will not be penalized for eating other ''[[Orc (monster attribute)|orcs]]''.
+* Eating a monster that is [[human (monster attribute)|human]] will incur a penalty for [[cannibalism]] if you are playing as a [[human (starting race)|human]].  Likewise, eating monsters that are [[Dwarf (monster attribute)|dwarves]] will be cannibalism for [[dwarf (starting race)|dwarves]], eating [[elf (monster attribute)|elves]] will be cannibalism for [[elf (starting race)|elves]], and so on. [[Orc (starting race)|Orcs]] are an exception; they will not be penalized for eating other [[Orc (monster attribute)|orcs]].
 * [[Acid]]ic or [[poisonous]] monsters leave corpses that may be risky to eat without the proper resistances.
 * Monsters that are [[kebabable]] or [[thick-skinned]] are affected differently by certain weapons.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{nethack-343}}
-''This article is about innate attributes of monsters.  For player attributes (or "stats") such as strength or intelligence, see [[Attribute]].''
+{{otheruses|innate attributes of monsters|player attributes (or "stats") such as strength or intelligence|Attribute}}
 '''Monster attributes''' are properties that [[NetHack]] monsters can have, depending on their individual "species".