Ape
Y ape 
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 6 |
| Attacks |
Claw 1d3, Claw 1d3, Bite 1d6 |
| Base level | 4 |
| Base experience | 41 |
| Speed | 12 |
| Base AC | 6 |
| Base MR | 0 |
| Alignment | 0 (neutral) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | 2 (Quite rare) |
| Genocidable | Yes |
| Weight | 1100 |
| Nutritional value | 500 |
| Size | Large |
| Resistances | None |
| Resistances conveyed |
None |
|
An ape:
| |
| Reference | monst.c#line1923 |
An ape, Y, is a type of monster that appears in NetHack. It is a strong, omnivorous, humanoid animal with two claw attacks and a bite.
Apes can be tamed with bananas, and additionally consider them a treat.
Generation
Randomly generated apes may be peaceful towards neutral characters, and can appear in small groups.
Strategy
Apes can move as quickly as an unhasted, unburdened character, and deal decent amounts of melee damage - combined with their tendency to generate in groups, this makes them a somewhat dangerous early game threat. Fortunately, an ape has no MR score or any other resistances, and a decently-prepared character can bring them down with wands, spells and other items; a bulky and well-armored character can withstand their attacks and even overwhelm them in melee if they have the weapon and skill to.
Apes are also not difficult to escape from, thankfully: they respect Elbereth, and any means of scaring is guaranteed to make them flee. If you happen to have bananas, taming them is viable as a last resort.
As pets
Apes do not make particularly good pets, since they are slower than a large cat or large dog, and their damage potential is only marginally better than either monster. However, they are very easy to tame (provided you have bananas), and even a relatively weak pet can be a great help to a character early in the game.
History
The ape first appears in NetHack 3.0.0, which introduces the apelike creatures.
The ability to tame apes with thrown bananas is introduced in NetHack 3.6.1 via commit 1611858, with the original change credited to SporkHack.
Variants
SLASH'EM
In SLASH'EM, apes and other apelike creatures are considered domestic animals, and can be tamed with bananas.
Apes can be generated in real zoos.
Encyclopedia entry
The most highly evolved of all the primates, as shown by all their anatomical characters and particularly the development of the brain. Both arboreal and terrestrial, the apes have the forelimbs much better developed than the hind limbs. Tail entirely absent. Growth is slow and sexual maturity reached at quite an advanced age.
Aldo the gorilla had a plan. It was a good plan. It was right. He knew it. He smacked his lips in anticipation as he thought of it. Yes. Apes should be strong. Apes should be masters. Apes should be proud. Apes should make the Earth shake when they walked. Apes should _rule_ the Earth.
by David Gerrold ]
