Water moccasin - Revision history

Ion frigate: remove unneeded qualifier (fraction is exact), use shorter one for percentage

2025-03-16T08:32:55Z

remove unneeded qualifier (fraction is exact), use shorter one for percentage

Umbire the Phantom: copyedit

2025-03-16T08:02:15Z

copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ extra

2024-01-29T20:20:18Z

‎Generation: extra

Umbire the Phantom: word choice, potholes, punc

2024-01-29T20:19:56Z

word choice, potholes, punc

Umbire the Phantom: /* Origin */ expand

2024-01-02T09:33:11Z

‎Origin: expand

Umbire the Phantom: /* Variants */ thanks Chris

2024-01-02T05:11:02Z

‎Variants: thanks Chris

Umbire the Phantom: pasto, finish page work now that the new year's in

2024-01-01T12:01:53Z

pasto, finish page work now that the new year's in

Umbire the Phantom: followup + formatting + copyedit pt. 1

2024-01-01T04:57:14Z

followup + formatting + copyedit pt. 1

Ion frigate: the difficulty function was rather arcane, for even in death its artifacts remain

2023-12-31T10:36:03Z

the difficulty function was rather arcane, for even in death its artifacts remain

Ion frigate: refsrc, lgroup never actually relevant; expand strategy a bit to encompass some unfortunate excalibur deaths of mine

2023-12-31T10:13:14Z

refsrc, lgroup never actually relevant; expand strategy a bit to encompass some unfortunate excalibur deaths of mine

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 A water moccasin has a single [[poison]]ous bite attack, and possesses [[poison resistance]].
-A water moccasin [[corpse]] is poisonous to [[eat]], and eating a water moccasin corpse or [[tin]] has a roughly {{frac|4|15}} chance (26%) of granting poison resistance.
+A water moccasin [[corpse]] is poisonous to [[eat]], and eating a water moccasin corpse or [[tin]] has a {{frac|4|15}} chance (~26%) of granting poison resistance.
 ==Generation==

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
   |nutr=80
   |size=Small
-  |resistances=Poison
+  |resistances=[[Poison resistance]]
-  |resistances conveyed=Poison (27%)
+  |resistances conveyed=[[Poison resistance]] (26%)
   |attributes={{attributes|A water moccasin|lgroup=1|swim=1|conceal=1|nolimbs=1|animal=1|slithy=1|pois=1|carnivore=1|oviparous=1|notake=1|hostile=1}}
   |reference=[[monst.c#line1760]]
 }}
-A '''water moccasin''', {{monsym|water moccasin}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appear in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is a type of [[Snake (monster class)|snake]] that is nearly identical to the standard [[snake]], but is somewhat heavier. Water moccasins can [[swim]] and will [[hide]] under items like most snakes.
+A '''water moccasin''', {{monsym|water moccasin}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appear in ''[[NetHack]]''. The water moccasin is a type of [[Snake (monster class)|snake]] that is nearly identical to the standard [[snake]], but is somewhat heavier. Water moccasins can [[swim]] and will [[hide]] under items like most snakes.
 A water moccasin has a single [[poison]]ous bite attack, and possesses [[poison resistance]].
-A water moccasin [[corpse]] is poisonous to eat, but eating a water moccasin corpse or tin has a roughly {{frac|3|11}} chance of conveying poison resistance.
+A water moccasin [[corpse]] is poisonous to [[eat]], and eating a water moccasin corpse or [[tin]] has a roughly {{frac|4|15}} chance (26%) of granting poison resistance.
 ==Generation==
-Water moccasins are not randomly generated, and are always created hostile.
+Water moccasins are not randomly generated, though they are designated as generating in large [[group]]s, and normally-created ones are always hostile.
-Water moccasins can only be generated by [[dipping]] or [[quaffing]] from a [[fountain]]: each action has a {{frac|30}} chance of generating a [[group]] of 2-6 water moccasins.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|36|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} While water moccasins are designated as generating in large groups, this only applies to random generation: in addition to water moccasins not using random generation, fountain generation is a separate set of code.
+Water moccasins can only be generated by [[dipping]] into or [[quaffing]] from a [[fountain]]: each action has a {{frac|30}} chance of generating a group of 2-6 water moccasins.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|36|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 ==Strategy==
-Individually, water moccasins are similar enough to snakes that they can be dispatched through the same methods - however, the normal method of encountering moccasins will usually result in a character being surrounded by quite a few of them. This makes it a potent source of deaths for unsuspecting low-level characters that gamble on fountains; moccasins are also a primary reason that characters seeking to dip for [[Excalibur]] will want poison resistance beforehand. Moccasins were previously the fourth most frequent cause of death on [[nethack.alt.org]] (after [[soldier ant]]s, [[jackal]]s, and [[wand]]s), and it is still common for some users to exclaim "Go team fountain!" when a water moccasin death is announced in the #nethack channel on [[Libera]].
+Individually, water moccasins are similar enough to snakes that they can be dispatched through the same methods&mdash;however, the normal method of encountering moccasins will usually result in a [[hero]] being surrounded by quite a few of them. This makes it a potent source of deaths for unsuspecting low-level characters that gamble on fountains; moccasins are also a primary reason that those seeking to dip for [[Excalibur]] will want poison resistance beforehand. Water moccasins have ranked as high the fourth most frequent cause of death on [[nethack.alt.org]] (after [[soldier ant]]s, [[jackal]]s, and [[wand]]s), and as of March 2025 it is still within the top 10: it is still common for some users in the present day to exclaim "Go team fountain!" when a water moccasin death is announced in the #nethack channel on [[Libera]].
-Engraving [[Elbereth]] is a good escape tactic for moccasin attacks, but the fountain square cannot be engraved on: in some cases, a character moving to a free square may also give the moccasins enough time to poison and/or kill them. [[Pool]]s of water generated previously by the same fountain can also impede escape, and water moccasins generated from the fountains in [[Delphi]] can also easily trap a character due to the lack of open squares.
+Engraving [[Elbereth]] is a good escape tactic for moccasin attacks, but the fountain square cannot be engraved on, and in some cases a hero moving to a free square may also give the moccasins enough time to poison and/or kill them. [[Pool]]s of water generated previously by the same fountain can also impede escape, and water moccasins generated from the fountains in [[Delphi]] can also easily trap a hero due to the lack of open squares.
-One of the easiest ways for a character to deal with water moccasins is to simply avoid interacting with fountains until they are ready to fight off a swarm of snakes or even a [[water demon]].
+One of the easiest ways for a hero to deal with water moccasins is to simply avoid interacting with fountains until they are ready to fight off a swarm of snakes or even a [[water demon]].
 ==History==
@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 ==Variants==
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]], water moccasins can be randomly generated on the Water Temple level of the [[Chaos Temple Quest]], where they make up {{frac|3|10}} of the monsters randomly generated there.
+In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], water moccasins can be randomly generated on the Water Temple level of the [[Chaos Temple Quest]], where they make up {{frac|3|10}} of the monsters randomly generated there.
 ===EvilHack===
-In [[EvilHack]], the deeper now-sewage levels of the [[Gnomish Mines]] may generate water moccasins in the watery areas at level creation.
+In [[EvilHack]], levels generated within the [[Gnomish Mines]] may place water moccasins in the watery areas at level creation.
 ==Encyclopedia entry==

@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 Water moccasins are not randomly generated, and are always created hostile.
-Water moccasins can only be generated by [[dipping]] or [[quaffing]] from a [[fountain]]: each action has a {{frac|30}} chance of generating a [[group]] of 2-6 water moccasins.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|36|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} While water moccasins are designated as generating in large [[group]]s, this only applies to random generation: in addition to water moccasins not using random generation, fountain generation is a separate set of code.
+Water moccasins can only be generated by [[dipping]] or [[quaffing]] from a [[fountain]]: each action has a {{frac|30}} chance of generating a [[group]] of 2-6 water moccasins.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|36|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} While water moccasins are designated as generating in large groups, this only applies to random generation: in addition to water moccasins not using random generation, fountain generation is a separate set of code.
 ==Strategy==

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 }}
-A '''water moccasin''', {{monsym|water moccasin}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appear in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is a type of [[Snake (monster class)|snake]] that is nearly identical to the standard snake, but is somewhat heavier. Water moccasins can [[swim]] and will [[hide]] under items like most snakes.
+A '''water moccasin''', {{monsym|water moccasin}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appear in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is a type of [[Snake (monster class)|snake]] that is nearly identical to the standard [[snake]], but is somewhat heavier. Water moccasins can [[swim]] and will [[hide]] under items like most snakes.
 A water moccasin has a single [[poison]]ous bite attack, and possesses [[poison resistance]].
@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 Water moccasins are not randomly generated, and are always created hostile.
-Water moccasins can only be generated by [[dipping]] or [[quaffing]] from a [[fountain]], which has a {{frac|30}} chance of generating a [[group]] of 2-6 water moccasins.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|36|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} While water moccasins are designated as generating in large group, this only applies to random generation: in addition to water moccasins not using random generation, fountain generation is a separate set of code.
+Water moccasins can only be generated by [[dipping]] or [[quaffing]] from a [[fountain]]: each action has a {{frac|30}} chance of generating a [[group]] of 2-6 water moccasins.{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|36|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} While water moccasins are designated as generating in large [[group]]s, this only applies to random generation: in addition to water moccasins not using random generation, fountain generation is a separate set of code.
 ==Strategy==

@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 ==Origin==
 {{wikipedia|Water moccasin}}
-Water moccasins are a species of venomous snake that are well known in the southeastern United States.
+"Water moccasin" (''Agkistrodon piscivorus'') is one of many common names for a species of pit viper in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae - the scientific name translates from Greek and Latin to "hook-toothed fish-eater". The species' other common names include "cottonmouth", "northern cottonmouth", "swamp moccasin", and "black moccasin": many of these refer to its threat display, in which it often stands its ground and gapes at an intruder, exposing the white lining of its mouth. The use of the term can lead to confusion between the venomous cottonmouth and nonvenomous water snakes, particularly in scientific disciplines.
 ==Variants==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{monster
   |difficulty=7
@@ Line 20: / Line 19: @@
 }}
-A '''water moccasin''', {{monsym|water moccasin}}, is a variety of [[snake]], virtually identical to the normal snake<ref>''Apart from the weight of their corpses, they are identical; water moccasins' unused G_LGROUP flag (generated in large groups) is responsible for their higher difficulty.''</ref> but not generated at random. Like regular snakes, water moccasins will hide under items, are poisonous to eat, and have a 27% chance of imparting [[poison resistance]].
+A '''water moccasin''', {{monsym|water moccasin}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appear in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is a type of [[Snake (monster class)|snake]] that is nearly identical to the standard snake, but is somewhat heavier. Water moccasins can [[swim]] and will [[hide]] under items like most snakes.
 ==Generation==
-Moccasins are only generated, in [[group]]s of 2-6{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|36|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=While they are listed as being generated in large groups, this never actually happens; the code that generates them around fountains is separate.}}, by quaffing from (or dipping an item into) a [[fountain]]; their presence in the absence of fountain quaffing is indicative of [[bones]], a [[shapeshifter]], or [[polymorph]] of some kind.
+Water moccasins are not randomly generated, and are always created hostile.
 ==Strategy==
-Individually, water moccasins are similar enough to snakes that they can be dispatched in a similar manner. However, on top of necessitating poison resistance as usual, their decent speed and appearance in swarms will require efficient crowd control tactics, which may be further complicated if previous uses of the fountain caused pools of water to form.  Engraving [[Elbereth]] as an escape tactic may prove impossible if the fountain that generated them doesn't dry up, as one cannot engrave on a fountain.
+Individually, water moccasins are similar enough to snakes that they can be dispatched through the same methods - however, the normal method of encountering moccasins will usually result in a character being surrounded by quite a few of them. This makes it a potent source of deaths for unsuspecting low-level characters - moccasins were once the fourth most frequent cause of death on [[nethack.alt.org]] (next to [[soldier ant]]s, [[jackal]]s, and [[wand]]s), and it is common for some users to exclaim "Go team fountain!" when a water moccasin death is announced in the #nethack channel on [[Libera]].
-Due to their affiliation with fountain quaffing, they are the fourth most frequent cause of death on [[nethack.alt.org]] (next to [[soldier ant]]s, [[jackal]]s, and [[wand]]s); it is common in the #nethack channel on [[Libera]] to exclaim "Go team fountain!" on hearing of a water moccasin death.
+One of the easiest ways for a character to deal with water moccasins is to simply avoid interacting with fountains until they have poison resistance and a means of effectively dealing with the snakes or escaping otherwise. [[Pool]]s of water generated previously by the same fountain can impede escape - engraving [[Elbereth]] can work as an escape tactic, the fountain square cannot be engraved on and moving to a free square may be enough time for one of the moccasins to poison a character. Water moccasins from the fountains in [[Delphi]] can easily trap the player, due to the lack of open adjacent squares.
 ==Origin==
 Water moccasins are a species of venomous snake well known in the southeastern United States.
@@ Line 42: / Line 44: @@
 ==References==
 <references/>
+{{nethack-367}}
 [[Category:Monsters]]