Difference between revisions of "Croesus"

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'''Croesus''', {{monsym|croesus}}, is the rich owner of the [[Fort Ludios]] and of all [[vault]]s. He resides on a [[throne]] in the right half of Fort Ludios and can eliminate low-level characters quite easily with [[Monster_starting_inventory|his]] [[two-handed sword]]. Avoiding facing him in melee combat is a good idea for a mid-level character, as he can hit rather hard, has speed 15, and doesn't respect Elbereth. Croesus is susceptible to the effects of a [[wand of sleep]], after which he is more easily disposed of. Characters that are ready to go to the [[Castle]] should be able to deal with him, provided they exercise sufficient caution. His name can also be spelled '''Kroisos''' and, if your game has Tourists, as '''Creosote''', after a Discworld character based on Croesus.
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'''Croesus''', {{monsym|croesus}}, is a notable [[monster]] in [[NetHack]].
  
Because Croesus cannot swim, there are some simple strategies for defeating him based on ranged attacks; if you repeatedly hit him with non-cold-based attacks from across Fort Ludios' moat, he has no method of retaliation unless he happens to spawn with an attack wand (which he can use no more proficiently than the other human denizens of Ludios), and will eventually die to the cumulative chipping away of your ranged attacks. Cold-based attacks will freeze the moat, which gives an alternative method of defeating him: freeze the moat, wait for him to step onto it, then use a fire-based attack to melt the water again and drown him. Even a low-level character can defeat Croesus this way, unless he gets two actions in a row (which will happen in 1 out of every 4 turns) and crosses the moat before you have an opportunity to melt the ice.
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He is the rich owner of the [[Fort Ludios]] and of all [[vault]]s seen in the dungeon; if you encounter a [[guard]] while inside one of the vaults, you can enter Croesus in the prompt for your name, which will cause the guard to leave you alone. The name can also be spelled '''Kroisos''' and '''Creosote'''; the latter is the name of a ''[[Discworld]]'' character based on Croesus. For lawful [[Player|player characters]], this incurs a -1 [[alignment]] penalty for lying ''unless'' it is also their actual name.
  
A lawful [[Player|player character]] named Croesus (Kroisos, Creosote) can tell [[guard]]s that his or her name is Croesus (Kroisos, Creosote) without incurring an [[alignment]] penalty for lying.
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==Generation==
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Croesus resides in a [[throne room]] on the right half of Fort Ludios, occupying the throne himself; he [[Monster starting inventory|will always start with]] a [[two-handed sword]].
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==Strategy==
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Characters that are ready to go to the [[Castle]] should be able to deal with him with some caution; while Croesus has only one weapon attack, it hits for 4d10 damage, which can wipe out under-leveled or poorly armored characters in a few swings. He is faster than an unencumbered player character at base speed, and like all [[human (monster attribute)|humans]] does not respect Elbereth. Dispatching him at a distance is a good idea for mid-level characters, especially since he has no resistances; a [[wand of sleep]] will render him much easier to dispose of, although he does have some [[monster magic resistance|magic resistance]] and a decently low natural AC of 0.
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Because Croesus cannot swim, you can freely shoot wands and projectiles at him from from across Fort Ludios' [[moat]] and chip him down; he can only retaliate if he spawns with his own attack wand or else picks one up (usually from another monster killed by the ranged assault), and poses no more danger in this regard than the multiple [[soldier]]s you fight in order to reach that area. A [[ring of conflict]] can easily turn Croesus and the other throne room denizens against each other, and eventually one of them will kill him; at worst, he will be weakened enough that you can mop him and the other survivors up at your leisure.
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If you use a [[wand of cold]] or a [[frost horn]], you can cross the moat and take the fight to Croesus, though you must also contend with the throne room monsters; alternately, you can wait for him to step onto the newly created [[ice]], then use a fire-based attack (e.g. [[wand of fire]]) to melt it and drown him. Even a low-level character can defeat Croesus this way; however, he has a chance to get two actions in a row (which will happen in 1 out of every 4 turns on average) and cross the moat before you have an opportunity to melt the ice.
  
 
==Encyclopaedia entry==
 
==Encyclopaedia entry==
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his death.
 
his death.
 
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{{todo|Add info for variants}}
  
 
[[Category:Unique monsters]]
 
[[Category:Unique monsters]]
{{nethack-360}}
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{{nethack-364}}

Revision as of 04:09, 6 February 2020

Croesus, @, is a notable monster in NetHack.

He is the rich owner of the Fort Ludios and of all vaults seen in the dungeon; if you encounter a guard while inside one of the vaults, you can enter Croesus in the prompt for your name, which will cause the guard to leave you alone. The name can also be spelled Kroisos and Creosote; the latter is the name of a Discworld character based on Croesus. For lawful player characters, this incurs a -1 alignment penalty for lying unless it is also their actual name.

Generation

Croesus resides in a throne room on the right half of Fort Ludios, occupying the throne himself; he will always start with a two-handed sword.

Strategy

Characters that are ready to go to the Castle should be able to deal with him with some caution; while Croesus has only one weapon attack, it hits for 4d10 damage, which can wipe out under-leveled or poorly armored characters in a few swings. He is faster than an unencumbered player character at base speed, and like all humans does not respect Elbereth. Dispatching him at a distance is a good idea for mid-level characters, especially since he has no resistances; a wand of sleep will render him much easier to dispose of, although he does have some magic resistance and a decently low natural AC of 0.

Because Croesus cannot swim, you can freely shoot wands and projectiles at him from from across Fort Ludios' moat and chip him down; he can only retaliate if he spawns with his own attack wand or else picks one up (usually from another monster killed by the ranged assault), and poses no more danger in this regard than the multiple soldiers you fight in order to reach that area. A ring of conflict can easily turn Croesus and the other throne room denizens against each other, and eventually one of them will kill him; at worst, he will be weakened enough that you can mop him and the other survivors up at your leisure.

If you use a wand of cold or a frost horn, you can cross the moat and take the fight to Croesus, though you must also contend with the throne room monsters; alternately, you can wait for him to step onto the newly created ice, then use a fire-based attack (e.g. wand of fire) to melt it and drown him. Even a low-level character can defeat Croesus this way; however, he has a chance to get two actions in a row (which will happen in 1 out of every 4 turns on average) and cross the moat before you have an opportunity to melt the ice.

Encyclopaedia entry

Croesus (in Greek: Kroisos), the wealthy last king of Lydia;
his empire was destroyed when he attacked Cyrus in 549, after
the Oracle of Delphi (q.v.) had told him: "if you attack the
Persians, you will destroy a mighty empire". Herodotus
relates of his legendary conversation with Solon of Athens,
who impressed upon him that being rich does not imply being
happy and that no one should be considered fortunate before
his death.

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"Add info for variants"

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Editors: After reviewing this page and making necessary edits, please change the {{nethack-364}} tag to the current version's tag or {{noversion}} as appropriate.