Bugbear
h bugbear 
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 5 |
| Attacks |
Weapon 2d4 |
| Base level | 3 |
| Base experience | 33 |
| Speed | 9 |
| Base AC | 5 |
| Base MR | 0 |
| Alignment | -6 (chaotic) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | 1 (Very rare) |
| Genocidable | Yes |
| Weight | 1250 |
| Nutritional value | 250 |
| Size | Large |
| Resistances | None |
| Resistances conveyed | None |
|
A bugbear:
| |
| Reference | monst.c#line454 |
A bugbear, h, is a type of monster that appears in NetHack. It is a strong omnivorous humanoid that has infravision, can be seen via infravision, and will seek out and pick up items.
A bugbear has a single weapon attack.
Bugbears are the source of a couple of unique messages.
Contents
Generation
Randomly generated bugbears may be created as peaceful towards chaotic characters.
In addition to random generation, a bugbear may appear as the random h generated on each floor of the Gnomish Mines at level creation, except for Minetown and Mines' End.
Bugbears are among the various hostile monsters encountered in throne rooms, and sitting on a throne or else looting it while confused may also generate one or more bugbears, provided there is no chest on the level - bugbear generation from thrones does not respect extinction.[1]
The bugbear is the first quest monster for Cavepeople, and makes up 96⁄175 of the monsters randomly generated on the Caveman quest. Several bugbears are also generated on level creation for each floor of the quest above the goal level: twelve bugbears are distributed among the four eastern chambers of the home level; seventeen bugbears are generated on the locate floor; five bugbears are generated on the upper filler level; and four bugbears are generated on the lower filler level(s). Bugbear may also appear among the random h that are part of the first quest monster class for the Caveman quest, and make up 24⁄175 of monsters that are randomly generated there.
A bugbear can be generated with a random offensive item, miscellaneous item and/or defensive item.
Strategy
Bugbears can hit decently hard against early characters, but usually do not pose a significant threat to experienced players that can take advantage of their low speed. Even so, keep an eye out if they pick up armor, weapons or other items - a bugbear with an offensive wand will prove to be actual trouble for a fledgling character, and in a worst case could possibly spell a quick end to the game.
Bugbears may be an occasional target of strategic genocide for Cavemen that want to boost intelligence via eating mind flayer corpses - this is a double-edged sword in practice, as it also means more chances that you may end up forgetting several item identities or even be left without a brain.
History
The bugbear first appears in NetHack 3.0.0.
Origin
The bugbear is a classic Dungeons & Dragons monster that debuts in Greyhawk, the game's first supplement. The monster takes its name from a folkloric creature that is similar to the boogeyman (or bogeyman), particularly featuring in tales told by some cultures to frighten disobedient children; the name is derived from similar roots to the word "boogeyman" as well, and in a modern context is used to describe a pet peeve. In medieval England, the bugbear was depicted as a creepy bear that lurked in the woods to scare children.
Dungeons & Dragons popularized the depiction of bugbears as large, hairy beings that are either goblinoids or distantly related to them; they are usually chaotic evil, and may additionally have other bear-like traits such as clawed hands. Bugbears are as likely to make their homes above-ground as they are below it compared to the more subterranean goblins, and some live in loose bands of at least a dozen members. Bugbears generally arm themselves with second-hand gear, and despite seeming clumsy, they are capable of moving stealthily and quickly if the situation calls for it.
Messages
- You hear the roaring of a confused bear!
- An unseen bugbear got stuck in a web.
- You hear the roaring of an angry bear!
- An unseen bugbear got stuck in a bear trap.
- You howl in anger!
- You walked into a web or bear trap while polymorphed into a bugbear.
Variants
Some variants make bugbears members of the orc monster class.
UnNetHack
In UnNetHack, tigers replace bugbears as the first quest monster for the Caveman quest.
dNetHack
In dNetHack, bugbears are much less common in throne rooms due to the addition of specific court monsters for a throne room's given ruler.
In the Mordor Ruins variant of the Chaos Quest, eight bugbears are generated in the first cave of the Mordor Cracks upon level creation.
xNetHack
In xNetHack, bugbears are part of the orc monster class, o. Like other orcish monsters, they have poison resistance and are immune to the shrieks of Nazgul, and share a mutual grudge with elves.
EvilHack
In EvilHack, bugbears are part of the orc monster class, o. Like other orcish monsters, they have poison resistance and an aversion to mithril, and share a mutual grudge with elves. Bugbears are also generated with the orcish defaults for orcish armor and weapons, and gain a +1 AC bonus for each worn piece of orcish armor.
SlashTHEM
SlashTHEM adds the huge bugbear and bugbear chieftain, which first appear in NetHack-- 3.0.10 and NetHack-- 3.1.3 but were not carried forward to SLASH 6.
Encyclopedia entry
Bugbears are relatives of goblins, although they tend to be larger and more hairy. They are aggressive carnivores and sometimes kill just for the treasure their victims may be carrying.
