Difference between revisions of "Dragon (SLASH'EM)"

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(Reword, explain why it's harder to level up dragons in SLASH'EM)
(→‎Common traits: this makes more sense)
 
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{{monster
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In [[SLASH'EM]] and [[SlashTHEM]], the '''[[dragon]]''' [[monster class]] is significantly changed from ''[[NetHack]]''.
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|name=shimmering dragon
 
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|symbol={{monsym|shimmering_dragon}}
 
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|tile=[[Image:Shimmering Dragon.png]]
 
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|difficulty=25
 
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|level=18
 
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|experience=696
 
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|speed=9
 
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|AC=-8
 
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|MR=20
 
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|align=4
 
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|frequency=3
 
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|genocidable=Yes
 
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|attacks=Breath 4d6 [[Magic missile|magic missiles]], bite 3d8, claw 1d4, claw 1d4
 
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|weight=4500
 
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|nutr=1500
 
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|size=Gigantic
 
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|resistances=None
 
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|resistances conveyed=None
 
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|attributes={{attributes|A shimmering dragon|fly=1|thick=1|nohands=1|seeinvis=1|oviparous=1|carnivore=1|hostile=1|strong=1|nasty=1|greedy=1|jewels=1|magic=1}}
 
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|reference=[[SLASH'EM_0.0.7E7F2/monst.c#line2242]]
 
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}}
 
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{{monster
 
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|name=deep dragon
 
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|symbol={{monsym|deep_dragon}}
 
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|tile=[[Image:Deep dragon.png|Deep dragon]]
 
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|difficulty=27
 
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|level=18
 
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|experience=720
 
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|speed=9
 
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|AC=-4
 
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|MR=20
 
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|align=-6
 
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|frequency=3
 
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|genocidable=Yes
 
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|attacks=Breath 4d10 [[Poison|poisonous]], bite 4d8 [[drain life]], claw 3d4, claw 3d4
 
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|weight=4500
 
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|nutr=1500
 
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|size=Gigantic
 
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|resistances=level drain, poison
 
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|resistances conveyed=poison (100%)
 
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|attributes={{attributes|A deep dragon|fly=1|thick=1|nohands=1|seeinvis=1|oviparous=1|carnivore=1|pois=1|hostile=1|strong=1|nasty=1|greedy=1|jewels=1|magic=1|traitor=1|hitasthree=1}}
 
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|reference=[[SLASH'EM_0.0.7E7F2/monst.c#line2252]]
 
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}}
 
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{{monster
 
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|name=baby shimmering dragon
 
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|symbol={{monsym|baby_shimmering_dragon}}
 
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|tile=[[Image:Baby shimmering dragon.png|Baby shimmering dragon]]
 
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|difficulty=6
 
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|level=4
 
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|experience=63
 
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|speed=9
 
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|AC=-4
 
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|MR=10
 
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|align=0
 
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|frequency=2
 
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|genocidable=Yes
 
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|attacks=Bite 2d6
 
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|weight=500
 
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|nutr=500
 
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|size=Huge
 
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|resistances=None
 
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|resistances conveyed=None
 
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|attributes={{attributes|A baby shimmering dragon|fly=1|thick=1|nohands=1|carnivore=1|hostile=1|strong=1|greedy=1|jewels=1}}
 
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|reference=[[SLASH'EM_0.0.7E7F2/monst.c#line2160]]
 
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}}
 
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{{monster
 
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|name=baby deep dragon
 
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|symbol={{monsym|baby_deep_dragon}}
 
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|tile=[[Image:Baby deep dragon.png|Baby deep dragon]]
 
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|difficulty=6
 
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|level=4
 
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|experience=52
 
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|speed=9
 
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|AC=0
 
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|MR=10
 
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|align=0
 
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|frequency=2
 
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|genocidable=Yes
 
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|attacks=Bite 2d6 [[Poison|poisonous]]
 
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|weight=500
 
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|nutr=500
 
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|size=Huge
 
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|resistances=None
 
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|resistances conveyed=None
 
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|attributes={{attributes|A baby deep dragon|fly=1|thick=1|nohands=1|carnivore=1|hostile=1|strong=1|greedy=1|jewels=1}}
 
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|reference=[[SLASH'EM_0.0.7E7F2/monst.c#line2167]]
 
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}}
 
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There are a few significant differences between '''dragons''' in vanilla NetHack and dragons in [[SLASH'EM]].
 
  
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==New dragon varieties==
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==List of dragons==
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SLASH'EM adds two new dragons to the nine present in NetHack: the '''Shimmering''' {{cyan|D}} and '''Deep''' {{magenta|D}} dragons. Dragon scale mail made from their scales provide [[displacement]] and [[drain resistance]] respectively.
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The following dragons are present in SLASH'EM, with new monsters highlighted in bold:{{refsrc|monst.c|2135|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}
  
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While [[shimmering dragon scale mail]] gives displacement, the dragons themselves do not have displacement in the sense that the [[displacer beast]] or a player wearing a [[cloak of displacement]] does. Rather, they have a lower armor class than the typical dragon, -8 instead of -4, and are thus harder to hit, simulating displacement. Shimmering dragons' breath attack is magic missiles, and they thus possess [[magic resistance|player-style magic resistance]].<ref>See [[SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2/mondata.c#line80]]; this is how monsters gain intrinsic magic resistance, with baby gray dragons being a special case</ref> Their corpses do not confer any intrinsics. They are also a [[deferred feature]] in vanilla NetHack.
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* Adult dragons
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** {{monsymlink|gray dragon}}
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** {{monsymlink|silver dragon}}
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** {{monsymlink|red dragon}}
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** {{monsymlink|white dragon}}
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** {{monsymlink|orange dragon}}
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** {{monsymlink|black dragon}}
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** {{monsymlink|blue dragon}}
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** {{monsymlink|green dragon}}
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** {{monsymlink|yellow dragon}}
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** '''{{monsymlink|shimmering dragon|variant=SLASH'EM}}'''
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** '''{{monsymlink|deep dragon|variant=SLASH'EM}}'''
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* Baby dragons
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** {{monsymlink|baby gray dragon}}
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** {{monsymlink|baby silver dragon}}
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** {{monsymlink|baby red dragon}}
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** {{monsymlink|baby white dragon}}
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** {{monsymlink|baby orange dragon}}
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** {{monsymlink|baby black dragon}}
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** {{monsymlink|baby blue dragon}}
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** {{monsymlink|baby green dragon}}
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** {{monsymlink|baby yellow dragon}}
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** '''{{monsymlink|baby shimmering dragon|variant=SLASH'EM}}'''
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** '''{{monsymlink|baby deep dragon|variant=SLASH'EM}}'''
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* Other dragons
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** '''{{monsymlink|wyvern}}'''
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** '''{{monsymlink|hydra}}'''
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* [[Unique monster]]s
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** {{monsymlink|Chromatic Dragon}}
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** {{monsymlink|Ixoth}}
  
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Deep dragons have [[drain resistance]] and [[poison resistance]], and their breath attack is poison gas. Their bite attack can also drain levels from their victims. Their corpses are poisonous, but have a 100% chance of giving poison resistance. Wearing [[deep dragon scale mail]] confers drain resistance, a property of considerably more importance in SLASH'EM than in vanilla, given the abundance of wands of draining.
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===SlashTHEM===
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SlashTHEM retains the monsters listed above and adds the following to the monster class:
  
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==Differences between NetHack dragons and SLASH'EM dragons==
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* Adult dragons
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SLASH'EM baby dragons have a base level of 4 instead of 12. Also, unlike in NetHack, where baby dragons are never randomly generated except in aligned dungeon levels and branches (Oracle, Gnomish Mines, Sokoban, Medusa, Vlad's Tower), SLASH'EM randomly generates baby dragons on ordinary levels (with a frequency of "2"). This means that a SLASH'EM player will encounter baby dragons earlier and more frequently than a NetHack player. On the other hand, SLASH'EM adult dragons have a base level of 18 instead of 15, and many places that normally have guaranteed adult dragons in NetHack, such as [[Fort Ludios]] or [[Castle|The Castle]], can now have baby dragons as well. As a result of the changed monster polymorph rules, increased difficulty of adult dragons, removal of most guaranteed adult dragons, and increased level difference between adult and baby forms, dragon scale mail is significantly harder to come across in SLASH'EM without using [[Genocide#reverse_genocide|reverse genocide]] or a [[wish]].
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** {{yellow|D}} [[golden dragon]]
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** {{gray|D}} [[stone dragon]]
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* Baby dragons
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** {{yellow|D}} [[baby golden dragon]]
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** {{gray|D}} [[baby stone dragon]]
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* Other dragons
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** {{white|D}} [[ancient multi-hued dragon]]
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** {{black|D}} [[undead dragon]]
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** {{magenta|D}} [[Dragon Lord]]
  
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SLASH'EM dragons also have additional characteristics not present in NetHack. For example, most baby dragons (all of them except deep, silver, shimmering) hit as a +1 weapon, and most adult dragons (all of them except silver and shimmering) hit as a +3 weapon.
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==Common traits==
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All of the dragons from ''NetHack'' (including the [[deferred]] [[shimmering dragon]]) have their stats improved: the baby dragons have their base [[monster level]] lowered to 4 from 12, and their [[monster difficulty|difficulty]] is lowered to 5 or 6 from 13; adult dragons have their base level raised to 15 from 18, with their difficulty typically raised to 25, and their melee attacks are made stronger. The newly added dragons that have adult and baby forms follow the same patterns in both cases.
  
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Interestingly, deep, blue, black, white, red, and orange adult dragons have a chance of turning [[pet (SLASH'EM)#treachery|traitor]], while shimmering, gray, silver, green, and yellow ones do not. In other words, chaotic dragons can turn traitor, and lawful ones cannot, with one exception (orange).
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Most baby dragons in both SLASH'EM and SlashTHEM [[Hits creatures as +x weapon|hit as +1 weapons]] with the exception of baby deep, silver and shimmering dragons, while most adult dragons in both variants hit as +3 weapons with the exception of silver and shimmering dragons; of the newly-introduced dragons that lack baby forms, the hydra, wyvern and undead dragon all hit as +2 weapons.
  
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==Raising SLASH'EM baby dragons into adults==
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Chaotic adult dragons have a chance of turning [[traitor]] while [[tame]], while lawful adult dragons with the exception of the orange dragon do not.
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The much greater difference in base level between baby and adult dragons in SLASH'EM makes it significantly more difficult for tame baby dragons to gain enough experience to [[grow up]] into adults. The [[rat level]], with its large number of weak, slow monsters is a safe place to let pets gain a large amount of experience.  Note that the [[Rat King]] himself can still be quite dangerous.
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===Generation===
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All randomly-generated dragons are normally created [[hostile]].
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Baby dragons can randomly generate on ordinary dungeon levels with a [[Monster frequency|frequency]] of 2: in ''NetHack'', they are only generated in aligned dungeon levels and branches such as the [[Oracle]] and the [[Gnomish Mines]]. Being randomly generated also makes baby dragons eligible to appear on any of the levels that generate {{white|D}} at level creation. Adult dragons have their frequency raised to 3, but are still relatively rare outside of certain circumstances due to their increased difficulty.
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As in ''NetHack'', hostile dragons can be generated in [[throne room]]s, and can also appear among the monsters randomly generated by [[looting]] a [[throne]] while [[confused]] and carrying gold (provided there is no [[chest]] on the level).{{refsrc|mkroom.c|783|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}} Various dragons also appear in [[dragon lair]]s and [[the Wyrm Caves]].{{refsrc|mkroom.c|335|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}
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==Strategy==
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Several of the listed changes to dragons and overall changes to mechanics such as [[Polymorph#SLASH'EM|polymorph]] make the stronger dragons harder to encounter reliably and make procuring [[dragon scale mail]] from them much more difficult as well: polymorphed monsters return to their previous form when killed, and baby dragons take much longer to raise to adulthood, making killing them for [[dragon scales]] impractical. This leaves [[reverse genocide]] and [[wishing]] as some of the more reliable means to procure dragon scales or scale mail.
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 +
The addition of new dragon scale and dragon scale mail types also make certain dragons more desirable to seek out: [[deep dragon scales]] and [[deep dragon scale mail]] in particular grant [[drain resistance]] while worn, which make them an ideal counter to the many additional sources of [[level drain]] in SLASH'EM and SlashTHEM, e.g. the [[wand of draining]]. [[Yellow dragon scales]] and [[yellow dragon scale mail]] also become much more desirable due to the presence of much stronger acidic monsters such as the [[giant shoggoth]].
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===As pets===
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While dragons are generally better pets than in ''NetHack'', the difference in base level between baby and adult dragons make it much harder for tame baby dragons to gain enough experience to [[grow up]] into adults. The [[rat level]] has several weak and slow monsters that pets can gain experience from with little risk, though [[The Rat King (SLASH'EM)|the Rat King]] and [[rabid rat]]s can still pose a danger to a [[hero]]'s pets or the hero themselves.
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
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{{slashem-7E7}}
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{{slashem-7E7|offset=1}}
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[[Category:SLASH'EM monsters]]
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{{variant-343}}
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[[Category:SLASH'EM monster classes]]
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[[Category:SlashTHEM monster classes]]

Latest revision as of 11:44, 28 June 2024

In SLASH'EM and SlashTHEM, the dragon monster class is significantly changed from NetHack.

List of dragons

The following dragons are present in SLASH'EM, with new monsters highlighted in bold:[1]

SlashTHEM

SlashTHEM retains the monsters listed above and adds the following to the monster class:

Common traits

All of the dragons from NetHack (including the deferred shimmering dragon) have their stats improved: the baby dragons have their base monster level lowered to 4 from 12, and their difficulty is lowered to 5 or 6 from 13; adult dragons have their base level raised to 15 from 18, with their difficulty typically raised to 25, and their melee attacks are made stronger. The newly added dragons that have adult and baby forms follow the same patterns in both cases.

Most baby dragons in both SLASH'EM and SlashTHEM hit as +1 weapons with the exception of baby deep, silver and shimmering dragons, while most adult dragons in both variants hit as +3 weapons with the exception of silver and shimmering dragons; of the newly-introduced dragons that lack baby forms, the hydra, wyvern and undead dragon all hit as +2 weapons.

Chaotic adult dragons have a chance of turning traitor while tame, while lawful adult dragons with the exception of the orange dragon do not.

Generation

All randomly-generated dragons are normally created hostile.

Baby dragons can randomly generate on ordinary dungeon levels with a frequency of 2: in NetHack, they are only generated in aligned dungeon levels and branches such as the Oracle and the Gnomish Mines. Being randomly generated also makes baby dragons eligible to appear on any of the levels that generate D at level creation. Adult dragons have their frequency raised to 3, but are still relatively rare outside of certain circumstances due to their increased difficulty.

As in NetHack, hostile dragons can be generated in throne rooms, and can also appear among the monsters randomly generated by looting a throne while confused and carrying gold (provided there is no chest on the level).[2] Various dragons also appear in dragon lairs and the Wyrm Caves.[3]

Strategy

Several of the listed changes to dragons and overall changes to mechanics such as polymorph make the stronger dragons harder to encounter reliably and make procuring dragon scale mail from them much more difficult as well: polymorphed monsters return to their previous form when killed, and baby dragons take much longer to raise to adulthood, making killing them for dragon scales impractical. This leaves reverse genocide and wishing as some of the more reliable means to procure dragon scales or scale mail.

The addition of new dragon scale and dragon scale mail types also make certain dragons more desirable to seek out: deep dragon scales and deep dragon scale mail in particular grant drain resistance while worn, which make them an ideal counter to the many additional sources of level drain in SLASH'EM and SlashTHEM, e.g. the wand of draining. Yellow dragon scales and yellow dragon scale mail also become much more desirable due to the presence of much stronger acidic monsters such as the giant shoggoth.

As pets

While dragons are generally better pets than in NetHack, the difference in base level between baby and adult dragons make it much harder for tame baby dragons to gain enough experience to grow up into adults. The rat level has several weak and slow monsters that pets can gain experience from with little risk, though the Rat King and rabid rats can still pose a danger to a hero's pets or the hero themselves.

References

  1. ↑ monst.c in SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2, line 2135
  2. ↑ mkroom.c in SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2, line 783
  3. ↑ mkroom.c in SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2, line 335
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