Star vampire (dNetHack) - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: touch-ups

2026-04-23T22:23:53Z

touch-ups

Umbire the Phantom: detail

2025-05-29T00:01:43Z

detail

Aximili: /* Origin */ "Star vampire" on Wikipedia now redirects to an Italian metal band

2025-03-16T23:28:06Z

‎Origin: "Star vampire" on Wikipedia now redirects to an Italian metal band

Umbire the Phantom: detailing...

2025-01-08T16:39:30Z

detailing...

Umbire the Phantom: for

2024-12-17T13:22:22Z

for

Umbire the Phantom: more detail!

2024-12-17T13:21:46Z

more detail!

Umbire the Phantom: and sure enough!

2024-12-17T13:20:03Z

and sure enough!

Umbire the Phantom: create

2024-12-17T13:11:07Z

create

New page

{{monster
|name=star vampire
|symbol={{cyan|V}}
|tile=
|difficulty=22
|level=18
|experience=747
|speed=18
|AC=-5
|MR=60
|align=-5
|frequency=1
|genocidable=Yes
|attacks=Claw 6d6 physical, Tentacle 6d6 [[Vampiric (damage type)|vampiric]]
|weight=1450
|nutr=400
|size=large
|resistances=[[cold]], [[sleep]], [[poison]]
|resistances conveyed=
|attributes={{attributes|A star vampire|fly=1|amphibious=1|breathless=1|noeyes=1|nohead=1|regen=1|pois=1|nopoly=1|neuter=1|hostile=1|stalk=1|nasty=1|strong=1|infravision=1|nocorpse=1|traitor=1}}
|reference=
}}

A '''star vampire''', {{cyan|V}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]]. The star vampire is a form of [[Vampire (monster class)|vampire]] that is extra-terrestrial rather than [[undead]] like the vampires of ''[[NetHack]]'', and [[Headless|lacks a head]] [[Eyeless|or eyes]]. Star vampires are [[strong]], [[amphibious]] and [[unbreathing]], are capable of [[flight]] and enhanced [[regeneration]], can be seen via [[infravision]], and can [[follow]] a [[hero]] to other levels if they are adjacent. [[Tame]] star vampires may turn [[traitor]].

A star vampire has a strong 'claw' attack and a [[Vampiric (damage type)|vampiric]] tentacle attack. Star vampires possess [[sleep resistance]], [[poison resistance]] and [[cold resistance]].

A star vampire is [[poisonous]] to consume, which primarily comes up if they are [[digested]] by another monster or subjected to [[Ahazu]].

==Generation==
Randomly-generated star vampires are always created hostile, and are always generated as permanently [[invisible]]. They are not a valid form for polymorph.

Star vampires [[Corpseless|do not leave a corpse]] upon death.

==Origin==
{{wikipedia|Star Vampire}}
The star vampire is based on a monster that originates from the horror short story "The Shambler from the Stars" by American writer Robert Bloch, which is first published in the September 1935 issue of Weird Tales. Though not a creation of [[H. P. Lovecraft]], the tale is written as part of the [[Cthulhu Mythos]], and Lovecraft would later write [[wikipedia:The Haunter of the Dark|"The Haunter of the Dark"]] as a sequel later that year and dedicate it to Bloch. The original short story was later included in 1945 as part of Bloch's first published book, ''The Opener of the Way'', and he eventually wrote his own sequel "The Shadow from the Steeple" in 1950.

In the story, a nameless narrator seeking forbidden knowledge comes across an occult volume known as ''De Vermis Mysteriis'', said to have been written by a Belgian sorcerer named Ludvig Prinn, who was burned at the stake during the witchcraft trials. Finding it to be written entirely in Latin, and not being able to speak the language, the narrator writes a New England mystic whom he established contact with during his search, and the mystic agrees to aid him in translating the book. While perusing the tome at the mystic's home in Providence, RI, the mystic inadvertently stumbles across a spell or invocation on a chapter dealing with familiars: he believes to be a summoning towards one of the invisible "star-sent servants" spoken of in the frightful stories surrounding Ludvig Prinn, and the narrator makes no attempt to stop the mystic from reading the inscription out loud.

This act is what summons the story's titular monster: the room immediately turns dreadfully cold, and an unearthly wind rushes in through the window, followed by a hideous laughter that heralds the arrival of an invisible vampiric monstrosity—the star vampire suddenly lifts the mystic into the air and begins feeding off of his blood until he is nothing more than a wrinkled, flabby corpse. As the creature continues to feed, it slowly becomes more and more visible until its monstrous form is fully revealed, causing the narrator to go mad; after the creature retreats back into the nameless cosmic gulfs it had come from, the book mysteriously vanishes, and the narrator sets the mystic's house on fire and wanders out into the streets. The story ends with the narrator struggling to move on from his ordeal, subconsciously fearing that the "shambler from the stars" will one day return for him.

The star vampire seen in variants of ''NetHack'' is obviously modeled after this monster, including its permanent invisibility, though it does not lose this invisibility upon feeding (presumably due to the difficulty involved in coding such a feature).
{{variant-343}}
[[Category:dNetHack monsters]]
[[Category:notdNetHack monsters]]
[[Category:notnotdNetHack monsters]]

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 A star vampire has a strong 'claw' attack, and a [[Vampiric (damage type)|vampiric]] tentacle attack that can drain up to three levels at a time and disables the star vampire's invisibility as mentioned previously. Star vampires possess [[sleep resistance]], [[poison resistance]] and [[cold resistance]].
-A star vampire is [[poisonous]] to consume, which primarily comes up if they are [[digested]] by another monster or subjected to [[Ahazu]].
+A star vampire is [[poisonous]] to consume, which primarily comes up if they are [[digested]] by another monster or subjected to [[Ahazu]] (which ignores harmful effects from consuming monsters via its abduction ability).
 ==Generation==

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 A star vampire [[Headless|lacks a head]] [[Eyeless|or eyes]], and possesses many tentacled limbs in lieu of [[hand]]s; it is [[strong]], [[amphibious]], [[unbreathing]], capable of [[flight]] and enhanced [[regeneration]], can be seen via [[infravision]], and can [[follow]] a hero to other levels if it is adjacent. [[Tame]] star vampires may turn [[traitor]].
-A star vampire has a strong 'claw' attack and a [[Vampiric (damage type)|vampiric]] tentacle attack that can drain up to three levels at a time. Star vampires possess [[sleep resistance]], [[poison resistance]] and [[cold resistance]].
+A star vampire has a strong 'claw' attack, and a [[Vampiric (damage type)|vampiric]] tentacle attack that can drain up to three levels at a time and disables the star vampire's invisibility as mentioned previously. Star vampires possess [[sleep resistance]], [[poison resistance]] and [[cold resistance]].
 A star vampire is [[poisonous]] to consume, which primarily comes up if they are [[digested]] by another monster or subjected to [[Ahazu]].

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
   |reference=
 }}
 A '''star vampire''', {{cyan|V}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]]. The star vampire is a form of [[Vampire (monster class)|vampire]] that is [[extra-terrestrial]] rather than [[undead]] like the vampires of ''[[NetHack]]'', though it still feeds on blood like typical vampires: it is also imperceptible to a [[hero]] unless they have at least 10 [[insight]], and is normally [[invisible]] at all times, only becoming visible for a temporary period after feeding on a victim.

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 }}
-A '''star vampire''', {{cyan|V}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]]. The star vampire is a form of [[Vampire (monster class)|vampire]] that is [[extra-terrestrial]] rather than [[undead]] like the vampires of ''[[NetHack]]'', though it still feeds on blood like typical vampires: it is also normally [[invisible]] at all times, only becoming visible for a temporary period after feeding on a victim.
+A '''star vampire''', {{cyan|V}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]]. The star vampire is a form of [[Vampire (monster class)|vampire]] that is [[extra-terrestrial]] rather than [[undead]] like the vampires of ''[[NetHack]]'', though it still feeds on blood like typical vampires: it is also imperceptible to a [[hero]] unless they have at least 10 [[insight]], and is normally [[invisible]] at all times, only becoming visible for a temporary period after feeding on a victim.
-A star vampire [[Headless|lacks a head]] [[Eyeless|or eyes]], and possesses many tentacled limbs in lieu of [[hand]]s; it is [[strong]], [[amphibious]], [[unbreathing]], capable of [[flight]] and enhanced [[regeneration]], can be seen via [[infravision]], and can [[follow]] a [[hero]] to other levels if it is adjacent. [[Tame]] star vampires may turn [[traitor]].
+A star vampire [[Headless|lacks a head]] [[Eyeless|or eyes]], and possesses many tentacled limbs in lieu of [[hand]]s; it is [[strong]], [[amphibious]], [[unbreathing]], capable of [[flight]] and enhanced [[regeneration]], can be seen via [[infravision]], and can [[follow]] a hero to other levels if it is adjacent. [[Tame]] star vampires may turn [[traitor]].
-A star vampire has a strong 'claw' attack and a [[Vampiric (damage type)|vampiric]] tentacle attack. Star vampires possess [[sleep resistance]], [[poison resistance]] and [[cold resistance]].
+A star vampire has a strong 'claw' attack and a [[Vampiric (damage type)|vampiric]] tentacle attack that can drain up to three levels at a time. Star vampires possess [[sleep resistance]], [[poison resistance]] and [[cold resistance]].
 A star vampire is [[poisonous]] to consume, which primarily comes up if they are [[digested]] by another monster or subjected to [[Ahazu]].

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
   |frequency=1
   |genocidable=Yes
-  |attacks=Claw 6d6 physical, Tentacle 6d6 [[Vampiric (damage type)|vampiric]]
+  |attacks=[[Claw attack|Claw]] 6d6 [[Physical damage|physical]], [[Tentacle attack|tentacle]] 6d6 [[Vampiric (damage type)|vampiric]]
   |weight=1450
   |nutr=400
   |size=large
-  |resistances=[[cold]], [[sleep]], [[poison]]
+  |resistances=[[cold resistance]], [[sleep resistance]], [[poison resistance]]
   |resistances conveyed=
   |attributes={{attributes|A star vampire|fly=1|amphibious=1|breathless=1|noeyes=1|nohead=1|regen=1|pois=1|nopoly=1|neuter=1|hostile=1|stalk=1|nasty=1|strong=1|infravision=1|nocorpse=1|traitor=1}}
   |reference=
 }}
-{{for|the monster in other variants|star vampire}}
+{{otheruses|the monster and dNetHack and its derivatives|the monster in other variants|star vampire}}
+A '''star vampire''', {{cyan|V}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]]. The star vampire is a form of [[Vampire (monster class)|vampire]] that is imperceptible to a [[hero]] unless they have at least 10 [[insight]]. Star vampires are [[extra-terrestrial]] rather than [[undead]] like the vampires of ''[[NetHack]]'', though they still feed on blood like typical vampires: they are also normally [[invisible]] at all times, only becoming visible for a temporary period after feeding on a victim.
 A star vampire [[Headless|lacks a head]] [[Eyeless|or eyes]], and possesses many tentacled limbs in lieu of [[hand]]s; it is [[strong]], [[amphibious]], [[unbreathing]], capable of [[flight]] and enhanced [[regeneration]], can be seen via [[infravision]], and can [[follow]] a hero to other levels if it is adjacent. [[Tame]] star vampires may turn [[traitor]].
-A star vampire has a strong 'claw' attack, and a [[Vampiric (damage type)|vampiric]] tentacle attack that can drain up to three levels at a time and disables the star vampire's invisibility as mentioned previously. Star vampires possess [[sleep resistance]], [[poison resistance]] and [[cold resistance]].
+A star vampire has a strong [[Claw attack|'claw' attack]], and also has a [[Vampiric (damage type)|vampiric]] [[tentacle attack]] that can drain up to three levels at a time and disables the star vampire's invisibility as mentioned previously. Star vampires possess [[sleep resistance]], [[poison resistance]] and [[cold resistance]].
 A star vampire is [[poisonous]] to consume, which primarily comes up if they are [[digested]] by another monster or subjected to [[Ahazu]] (which ignores harmful effects from consuming monsters via its abduction ability).
 ==Generation==
-Randomly-generated star vampires are always created hostile, and are always generated as permanently invisible. They are not a valid form for polymorph.
+Randomly-generated star vampires are always created hostile, and are always generated as invisible. They are not a valid polymorph form.
 Star vampires [[Corpseless|do not leave a corpse]] upon death.

@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 ==Origin==
-{{wikipedia|Star Vampire}}
+{{wikipedia|The Shambler from the Stars}}
 The star vampire is based on a monster that originates from the horror short story "The Shambler from the Stars" by American writer Robert Bloch, which is first published in the September 1935 issue of Weird Tales. Though not a creation of [[H. P. Lovecraft]], the tale is written as part of the [[Cthulhu Mythos]], and Lovecraft would later write [[wikipedia:The Haunter of the Dark|"The Haunter of the Dark"]] as a sequel later that year and dedicate it to Bloch. The original short story was later included in 1945 as part of Bloch's first published book, ''The Opener of the Way'', and he eventually wrote his own sequel "The Shadow from the Steeple" in 1950.

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 }}
-A '''star vampire''', {{cyan|V}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]]. The star vampire is a form of [[Vampire (monster class)|vampire]] that is extra-terrestrial rather than [[undead]] like the vampires of ''[[NetHack]]'', and [[Headless|lacks a head]] [[Eyeless|or eyes]]. Star vampires are [[strong]], [[amphibious]] and [[unbreathing]], are capable of [[flight]] and enhanced [[regeneration]], can be seen via [[infravision]], and can [[follow]] a [[hero]] to other levels if they are adjacent. [[Tame]] star vampires may turn [[traitor]].
+A '''star vampire''', {{cyan|V}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]]. The star vampire is a form of [[Vampire (monster class)|vampire]] that is [[extra-terrestrial]] rather than [[undead]] like the vampires of ''[[NetHack]]'', though it still feeds on blood like typical vampires: it is also normally [[invisible]] at all times, only becoming visible for a temporary period after feeding on a victim.
 A star vampire has a strong 'claw' attack and a [[Vampiric (damage type)|vampiric]] tentacle attack. Star vampires possess [[sleep resistance]], [[poison resistance]] and [[cold resistance]].
@@ Line 29: / Line 31: @@
 ==Generation==
-Randomly-generated star vampires are always created hostile, and are always generated as permanently [[invisible]]. They are not a valid form for polymorph.
+Randomly-generated star vampires are always created hostile, and are always generated as permanently invisible. They are not a valid form for polymorph.
 Star vampires [[Corpseless|do not leave a corpse]] upon death.
@@ Line 40: / Line 42: @@
 This act is what summons the story's titular monster: the room immediately turns dreadfully cold, and an unearthly wind rushes in through the window, followed by a hideous laughter that heralds the arrival of an invisible vampiric monstrosity&mdash;the star vampire suddenly lifts the mystic into the air and begins feeding off of his blood until he is nothing more than a wrinkled, flabby corpse. As the creature continues to feed, it slowly becomes more and more visible until its monstrous form is fully revealed, causing the narrator to go mad; after the creature retreats back into the nameless cosmic gulfs it had come from, the book mysteriously vanishes, and the narrator sets the mystic's house on fire and wanders out into the streets. The story ends with the narrator struggling to move on from his ordeal, subconsciously fearing that the "shambler from the stars" will one day return for him.
 {{variant-343}}
 [[Category:dNetHack monsters]]
 [[Category:notdNetHack monsters]]
 [[Category:notnotdNetHack monsters]]