Difference between revisions of "Oracle (monster)"
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| − | The '''Oracle''', {{monsym|oracle}}, is a | + | The '''Oracle''', {{monsym|oracle}}, is a [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. She is a [[unique]] [[Human (monster attribute)|human]] that can be seen via infravision, and is completely [[sessile]]. |
The Oracle has a passive magic missile attack that only triggers if the [[player]] character attacks her in melee. She possesses [[magic resistance]] due to the aforementioned attack. | The Oracle has a passive magic missile attack that only triggers if the [[player]] character attacks her in melee. She possesses [[magic resistance]] due to the aforementioned attack. | ||
Revision as of 20:04, 22 May 2024
@ Oracle 
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 13 |
| Attacks |
Passive 0d4 magic missile |
| Base level | 12 |
| Base experience | 286 |
| Speed | 0 |
| Base AC | 0 |
| Base MR | 50 |
| Alignment | 0 (neutral) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | Unique |
| Genocidable | No |
| Weight | 1450 |
| Nutritional value | 400 |
| Size | Medium |
| Resistances | None |
| Resistances conveyed |
None |
|
The Oracle:
| |
| Reference | monst.c#line2203 |
- For the level this monster is found on, see Oracle (level).
The Oracle, @, is a monster that appears in NetHack. She is a unique human that can be seen via infravision, and is completely sessile.
The Oracle has a passive magic missile attack that only triggers if the player character attacks her in melee. She possesses magic resistance due to the aforementioned attack.
Contents
Generation
The Oracle is always created peaceful, and is not a valid form for polymorph.
The Oracle is always generated on her special level, with the exception of a bones file where she was killed.
Consultations
The Oracle offers two consultations services, both of which cost money. Minor consultations are simply true rumors, while a major consultation is an extended description of some aspect of the game. An example of a major consultation is shown below:
Behold the cockatrice, whose diminutive stature belies its hidden might. The cockatrice can petrify any ordinary being it contacts--save those wise adventurers who eat a dead lizard or blob of acid when they feel themselves slowly turning to stone.
The first major and the first minor consultation you buy each increases your score[1] and gives experience points.[2] Buying a consultation of a type you've already bought gives neither experience nor score. If you take a major consultation, but do not have enough money to pay for it, the Oracle will take all your money and give a special oracularity which refers to Oracle machines; this will "use up" the experience points gain for major consultations.
If the Oracle is killed by any means, you will not have access to consultations for the rest of that game. If angered, she will not give consultations ("The Oracle is no mood for consultations"), but she can be pacified, after which she will give consultations normally.
| First consultation bought | Type | Cost | Score | Experience points | Cost/Score | Cost/XP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor | Minor | 50 | 21 | 5 | 2.38 | 10 |
| Major | 500 + (50 × XL) | 90 + (9 × XL) | 20 + (2 × XL) | 5.56 | 25 | |
| Major | Major | 500 + (50 × XL) | 210 + (21 × XL) | 50 + (5 × XL) | 2.38 | 10 |
| Minor | 50 | 9 | 2 | 5.56 | 25 |
Lists of consultations
The Oracle's consultations are stored in plain text in the source code:
Strategy
The Oracle is intended to be the primary means by which unspoiled players learn about the game.
Those looking to dispose of the Oracle for whatever reason (e.g. extinctionist conduct) can kill her with ranged attacks without any retaliation, but this will incur murder penalties for non-chaotic characters. Due to the fact her magic missile passive does not apply to monsters, any pet at level 11 or higher can attack the Oracle and may kill her.
Be mindful of having enough for a major consultation when leveling a pacifist character - additionally, if you have obtained a powerful pet early on, be sure to keep it well away from the Oracle for the above reasons if you have not yet obtained any consultations.
History
The Oracle first appears in NetHack 3.0.0.
Origin
The Oracle and her level are primarily based on the Pythia, the priestess who presided over the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi; the NetHack Oracle will welcome the character to "Delphi" upon seeing them.
Variants
Many variants enable the Oracle's passive attack to be used against other monsters, and several of them also cause woodchucks to attack the Oracle on sight as part of Nephi's grudge patch.
SLASH'EM
In SLASH'EM, the Oracle is able to use her passive attack on other monsters. If a woodchuck attacks the Oracle, the message associated with the attack is "ZOT!"[3]
Be careful with pets around the Oracle: her passive attack is disproportionately strong for her level, meaning most pets that attack her will die in the process. Lawful characters may actually find this useful: they can receive minions such as movanic devas which may carry a shield of reflection, and even if they don't are guaranteed to have an erodeproof long sword and large shield. Bringing these minions to the Oracle is a good way to obtain their equipment without incurring any penalties for directly killing a pet.
UnNetHack
In UnNetHack, woodchucks will attack the Oracle on sight, and the Oracle is able to use her passive attack on other monsters.
NetHack Fourk
In NetHack Fourk, the Oracle can grant enlightenment at a price equal to 20 times the character's experience level.
dNetHack
dNetHack and notdNetHack include more options for consultations for the Oracle:
- Enlightenment, at a cost of 200 + (20*XL) zm.
- "Glimpses of things to come", which cost 150 zm each and hint at some randomized aspects of the dungeon and what they are set to for that game.
Sightings of the eladrin nobility -- tells you which Eladrin Caste there are
| Tulani Caste | Oracle |
|---|---|
| Tulani Eladrin | "They say radiant spheres roam the land." |
| Gae Eladrin | "They say (aestival/vernal/hibernal/autumnal) spirits roam the land." |
| Brighid | "They say the deep nobility has emerged to roam the land." |
| Uiscerre | "They say the deep nobility has surfaced to roam the land." |
| Caillea | "They say the winter witches have come down from the mountains.") |
Talk of the castle in the air -- is Bahamut's Tower in the Law Quest
| Has Bahamut's tower been generated | Oracle |
|---|---|
| Yes | "They say Bahamut's palace has been sighted from afar." |
| No | "Rumors of Bahamut's palace have been greatly exaggerated." |
The location of the primordial ones -- tells you the Eladrin Precursor race, if any
| Precursor Type | Oracle |
|---|---|
| Dracae | "They say the ancient eladrin mothers have been seen once again." |
| Polyp | "There's been rumors of invisible shapeshifters in the (deserts/forests)" |
| otherwise | "I've been considering expanding my statue collection. I hear Oona has quite the variety... |
Knowledge of those who came before -- which chaos quest variant
| Chaos Quest Variant | Oracle |
|---|---|
| Final Fantasy | "Some adventurer came through here the other day, all dressed in blue and muttering about 'Materia'?" |
| Mithardir | "Some adventurer came through here the other day, wearing the oddest white headscarf." |
| Mordor | "A pair of short adventurers came through here just the other day... there was an odd wretched creature following them though." |
| Mordor (alternate) | "A pair of short adventurers came through here the other day, apparently in search of a volcano?" -- Mordor |
Impressions of the Queen of the Fae -- which Oona
| Oona's Elemental Type | Oracle |
|---|---|
| Fire | "They say Oona has a bit of a fiery personality..." |
| Cold | "They say Oona can be a bit cold at first...") |
| Electric | "They say meeting Oona can be a bit of a shock..." |
FIQhack
In FIQhack, the Oracle provides enlightenment similar to Fourk.
xNetHack
In xNetHack, woodchucks and the Oracle attack each other on sight.
The Oracle has many new consultations, and she also has a 2⁄3 chance of generating with a potion of hallucination - this is another allusion to the shrine at Delphi, which had chemical vapors emitting from a spring-made cleft that is speculated to have induced "prophetic" trances.
EvilHack
In EvilHack, the Oracle can use her passive attack on other monsters and will become mobile if angered, with the ability to break boulders while moving. Her attack routine is changed as well: she can cast one clerical and one mage monster spell during each of her turns, and her magic missile passive's dice is changed to 8d8. Changes to magic resistance mean that it will no longer block the Oracle's magic missile passive, though half spell damage still reduces its damage output, and reflection can partially reduce its damage.
The Oracle generates with the Magic 8-Ball, an artifact that divulges rumors based on its beatitude and grants warning while carried - it is implied to be the source of her knowledge, and her abilities are altered as above in recent versions due to how desirable the artifact is. The Oracle's consultations are also one of the possible sources of Elbereth for a character.
Encyclopedia entry
Delphi under towering Parnassus, where Apollo's oracle was,
plays an important part in mythology. Castalia was its
sacred spring; Cephissus its river. It was held to be the
center of the world, so many pilgrims came to it, from
foreign countries as well as Greece. No other shrine rivaled
it. The answers to the questions asked by the anxious
seekers for Truth were delivered by a priestess who went into
a trance before she spoke.
References
This page is based on a spoiler by Dylan O'Donnell. The original license is:
Redistribution, copying, and editing of these spoilers, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
- The original contributors to any spoiler must continue to be credited.
- Any modifications to the spoiler must be acknowledged and credited.
This page may need to be updated for the current version of NetHack.
It may contain text specific to NetHack 3.4.3. Information on this page may be out of date.
Editors: After reviewing this page and making necessary edits, please change the {{nethack-343}} tag to the current version's tag or {{noversion}} as appropriate.
