Difference between revisions of "Chameleon"
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| − | + | A '''chameleon''', {{monsym|chameleon}}, is the most common and well-known [[shapeshifter]] [[monster]] in ''[[NetHack]]''. | |
| − | [[Eating]] a chameleon [[corpse]] causes [[ | + | Chameleons have a {{frac|6}} chance per turn of changing forms: chameleons will change into an [[animal]] {{frac|2|3}} of the time, and a random monster the rest of the time. Shapeshifted chameleons will take on all the traits of its current form, and spells cast on itself will persist across forms; a chameleon is immune to [[system shock]] from being [[polymorph]]ed while they are already shapeshifted. |
| + | |||
| + | [[Eating]] a chameleon [[corpse]] causes [[you]] to polymorph, unless you have [[unchanging]]. | ||
==Generation== | ==Generation== | ||
Several chameleons are guaranteed to appear on the home level of the [[Rogue quest]]. | Several chameleons are guaranteed to appear on the home level of the [[Rogue quest]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Chameleons can leave their [[corpse]] upon death as normal, regardless of their current form. | ||
==Strategy== | ==Strategy== | ||
| − | Chameleons are quite capable of imitating [[summon nasties|summonable "nasties"]], most infamously [[arch-liches]] | + | Chameleons are quite capable of imitating various [[summon nasties|summonable "nasties"]] and/or monsters capable of casting the spell, most infamously [[arch-liches]] - this and many of the other possible forms can also spell death for the unfortunate, particularly in the early game up to [[Sokoban]] where many of the most dangerous forms are out-of-depth. As you progress throughout the dungeon and assemble your kit, chameleons gradually become less of potential game-ender, but they remain an obstacle throughout the majority of the game, especially for [[Rogue]]s in particular. |
| + | |||
| + | A suspected chameleon should be dealt with quickly whenever possible: wearing a [[ring of protection from shape changers]] or [[canceling]] them will force them to remain in their base form, which has weak defenses and can only do 8 damage at most by biting. A chameleon trapped in its base form will be permanently polymorphed if hit by a [[wand of polymorph|wand]], [[spell of polymorph|spell]], or [[potion of polymorph]], and is vulnerable to system shock. | ||
| + | |||
| + | A chameleon in the form of a [[domestic animal]] can be tamed with the appropriate food, and will remain tame even as it changes forms. Unfortunately, its usefulness as a pet is heavily limited, since it cannot be predicted when it will change into a useful form or one that is weak or else self-destructs to attack; it is typically better to polymorph them into another form using protection from shape changers. | ||
| − | + | Carnivorous pets eating a chameleon corpse may polymorph into something weaker or useless - try to avoid leaving those pets (especially [[purple worm]]s) near chameleons or their freshly-made corpses. It also pays to mind what corpses you eat yourself, lest you cause yourself a lot of misery and lost [[armor]]. | |
{{upcoming|3.7.0|Pets will no longer eat shapeshifter corpses unless they are starving or on the verge of untaming.}} | {{upcoming|3.7.0|Pets will no longer eat shapeshifter corpses unless they are starving or on the verge of untaming.}} | ||
| − | + | ==History== | |
| + | The chameleon has been present in the game since Hack 1.21, a variant of [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]]. | ||
| − | ==SLASH'EM== | + | ==Origin== |
| − | Because polymorphed monsters return to their natural form upon death, pet chameleons are much more useful; while they can still die in their chameleon form, dying or self-destructing while polymorphed will allow them to shapeshift again eventually, and there is more value in their more powerful forms as a result. | + | {{wikipedia|Chameleon}} |
| + | Chameleons (or chamaeleons) are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of Old World lizards, with more than 200 species in in the family ''Chamaeleonidae''. Chameleons are best known for their distinct range of colors and the ability to shift those colors, with variability from a shift in brightness or hues to employing a plethora of color-combinations - this is employed to avoid alerting prey or other predators such as birds and snakes, as well as in social signaling and reactions to temperature and other conditions, which depend on the species. Chameleons live in warm habitats that range from rainforest to desert conditions - various species occur in the mainland of Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar, as well as in southern Europe and across southern Asia as far as Sri Lanka, and some species have been introduced to Hawaii, California, and Florida. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Chameleons vary greatly in size and body structure, and are generally adapted for climbing, with a laterally-compressed body designed to distribute their weight, four-toed feet that have a pair of toes each facing forward and back, and a prehensile tail used to maintain stability. A chameleon's length can vary from as small as 15 mm (0.59 in) to 68.5 cm (27.0 in). The head of a chameleon often has a distinctive shape, and may include crests or horns on their brow and snout - their eyes are independently mobile, providing two separate, individual images of the chameleon’s environment for the brain to analyze; when hunting prey, they focus forward in order to coordinate more stereoscopic vision. Chameleons are primarily insectivores that feed using projectile tongues with a specialized bone and muscle structure to capture distant prey in as little as 0.07 seconds; some species can project their tongues more than twice the length of their body. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In fiction, the chameleon's camouflauge is subject to varying levels of exaggeration, with some fantasy works such as the ''Xanth'' series (from which the [[encyclopedia]] entry originates) extending this to full-on shapeshifting - the chameleon of ''NetHack'' clearly takes more inspiration from this latter "school" of portrayals. Chameleons are also often associated with subterfuge and deceit, and are commonly employed as spy motifs. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Variants== | ||
| + | ===SLASH'EM=== | ||
| + | In [[SLASH'EM]], polymorphed monsters return to their base form upon death much like the player - this makes hostile chameleons far more dangerous and tam chameleons far more useful. Because polymorphed monsters return to their natural form upon death, pet chameleons are much more useful; while they can still die in their chameleon form, dying or self-destructing while polymorphed will allow them to shapeshift again eventually, and there is more value in their more powerful forms as a result. | ||
{{todo|More variant info on chameleons.}} | {{todo|More variant info on chameleons.}} | ||
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| − | |||
| − | |||
==Encyclopaedia entry== | ==Encyclopaedia entry== | ||
| − | |||
{{encyclopedia| | {{encyclopedia| | ||
A small lizard perched on a brown stone. Feeling threatened by | A small lizard perched on a brown stone. Feeling threatened by | ||
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[ A Spell for Chameleon, by Piers Anthony ] | [ A Spell for Chameleon, by Piers Anthony ] | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | + | {{nethack-367}} | |
[[Category:Monsters]] | [[Category:Monsters]] | ||
| − | |||
Revision as of 08:51, 8 June 2023
: chameleon 
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 7 |
| Attacks |
Bite 4d2 |
| Base level | 6 |
| Base experience | 73 |
| Speed | 5 |
| Base AC | 6 |
| Base MR | 10 |
| Alignment | 0 (neutral) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | 2 (Quite rare) |
| Genocidable | Yes |
| Weight | 100 |
| Nutritional value | 100 |
| Size | Tiny |
| Resistances | None |
| Resistances conveyed |
Causes polymorph |
|
A chameleon:
| |
| Reference | monst.c#line2676 |
A chameleon, :, is the most common and well-known shapeshifter monster in NetHack.
Chameleons have a 1⁄6 chance per turn of changing forms: chameleons will change into an animal 2⁄3 of the time, and a random monster the rest of the time. Shapeshifted chameleons will take on all the traits of its current form, and spells cast on itself will persist across forms; a chameleon is immune to system shock from being polymorphed while they are already shapeshifted.
Eating a chameleon corpse causes you to polymorph, unless you have unchanging.
Generation
Several chameleons are guaranteed to appear on the home level of the Rogue quest.
Chameleons can leave their corpse upon death as normal, regardless of their current form.
Strategy
Chameleons are quite capable of imitating various summonable "nasties" and/or monsters capable of casting the spell, most infamously arch-liches - this and many of the other possible forms can also spell death for the unfortunate, particularly in the early game up to Sokoban where many of the most dangerous forms are out-of-depth. As you progress throughout the dungeon and assemble your kit, chameleons gradually become less of potential game-ender, but they remain an obstacle throughout the majority of the game, especially for Rogues in particular.
A suspected chameleon should be dealt with quickly whenever possible: wearing a ring of protection from shape changers or canceling them will force them to remain in their base form, which has weak defenses and can only do 8 damage at most by biting. A chameleon trapped in its base form will be permanently polymorphed if hit by a wand, spell, or potion of polymorph, and is vulnerable to system shock.
A chameleon in the form of a domestic animal can be tamed with the appropriate food, and will remain tame even as it changes forms. Unfortunately, its usefulness as a pet is heavily limited, since it cannot be predicted when it will change into a useful form or one that is weak or else self-destructs to attack; it is typically better to polymorph them into another form using protection from shape changers.
Carnivorous pets eating a chameleon corpse may polymorph into something weaker or useless - try to avoid leaving those pets (especially purple worms) near chameleons or their freshly-made corpses. It also pays to mind what corpses you eat yourself, lest you cause yourself a lot of misery and lost armor.
The following information pertains to an upcoming version (3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that it is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate this information.
Pets will no longer eat shapeshifter corpses unless they are starving or on the verge of untaming.History
The chameleon has been present in the game since Hack 1.21, a variant of Jay Fenlason's Hack.
Origin
Chameleons (or chamaeleons) are a distinctive and highly specialized clade of Old World lizards, with more than 200 species in in the family Chamaeleonidae. Chameleons are best known for their distinct range of colors and the ability to shift those colors, with variability from a shift in brightness or hues to employing a plethora of color-combinations - this is employed to avoid alerting prey or other predators such as birds and snakes, as well as in social signaling and reactions to temperature and other conditions, which depend on the species. Chameleons live in warm habitats that range from rainforest to desert conditions - various species occur in the mainland of Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar, as well as in southern Europe and across southern Asia as far as Sri Lanka, and some species have been introduced to Hawaii, California, and Florida.
Chameleons vary greatly in size and body structure, and are generally adapted for climbing, with a laterally-compressed body designed to distribute their weight, four-toed feet that have a pair of toes each facing forward and back, and a prehensile tail used to maintain stability. A chameleon's length can vary from as small as 15 mm (0.59 in) to 68.5 cm (27.0 in). The head of a chameleon often has a distinctive shape, and may include crests or horns on their brow and snout - their eyes are independently mobile, providing two separate, individual images of the chameleon’s environment for the brain to analyze; when hunting prey, they focus forward in order to coordinate more stereoscopic vision. Chameleons are primarily insectivores that feed using projectile tongues with a specialized bone and muscle structure to capture distant prey in as little as 0.07 seconds; some species can project their tongues more than twice the length of their body.
In fiction, the chameleon's camouflauge is subject to varying levels of exaggeration, with some fantasy works such as the Xanth series (from which the encyclopedia entry originates) extending this to full-on shapeshifting - the chameleon of NetHack clearly takes more inspiration from this latter "school" of portrayals. Chameleons are also often associated with subterfuge and deceit, and are commonly employed as spy motifs.
Variants
SLASH'EM
In SLASH'EM, polymorphed monsters return to their base form upon death much like the player - this makes hostile chameleons far more dangerous and tam chameleons far more useful. Because polymorphed monsters return to their natural form upon death, pet chameleons are much more useful; while they can still die in their chameleon form, dying or self-destructing while polymorphed will allow them to shapeshift again eventually, and there is more value in their more powerful forms as a result.
A user has suggested improving this page or section as follows:
"More variant info on chameleons."
Encyclopaedia entry
A small lizard perched on a brown stone. Feeling threatened by
the approach of human beings along the path, it metamorphosed
into a stingray beetle, then into a stench-puffer, then into a
fiery salamander.
Bink smiled. These conversions weren't real. It had assumed
the forms of obnoxious little monsters, but not their essence.
It could not sting, stink or burn. It was a chameleon, using
its magic to mimic creatures of genuine threat.
Yet as it shifted into the form of a basilisk it glared at him
with such ferocity that Bink's mirth abated. If its malice
could strike him, he would be horribly dead.
[ A Spell for Chameleon, by Piers Anthony ]
