Difference between revisions of "Fire vampire"

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The '''fire vampire''' is a new vampire introduced in [[SLASH'EM]]. It uses the [[Monster spell|fire attack]] which is a [[deferred feature]] in vanilla NetHack, a counterpart to the Angel's [[magic missile]] attack and [[Asmodeus]]' cold attack.
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The '''fire vampire''' is a type of vampire that appears in [[SLASH'EM]] and [[SlashTHEM]]. Unlike other members of the {{monclass|V}} [[monster class]], it is not [[undead]] and is instead an extraterrestrial being that is [[humanoid]] and [[infravisible]], though it still shares the vampire's [[regeneration]] abilities and resistances along with their weakness to [[silver]].  
  
==Strategy==
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Fire vampires are [[unbreathing]] and capable of [[flight]], and can [[follow]] you to other levels; they also possess [[fire resistance]] and [[cold resistance]]. They move at twice the speed of an unhasted, unburdened player character, and have five total attacks: two fire-element claw attacks, a [[life drain]]ing bite, an [[energy drain]]ing touch, and a ray-type fire [[monster spell]] similar to the [[magic missile]] attack of [[Angel]]s and [[Yeenoghu]] and the cold attack of [[Asmodeus]] - this spell is a [[deferred feature]] in vanilla ''[[NetHack]]'', and is similar to the [[fireball]] spell when used at a distance.
The fire vampire can be very dangerous to the unprepared. It is [[very fast]], with a [[speed]] of 24. Like all vampires, it has two claw attacks and a bite attack. It also has a touch that drains [[magic energy]], and the ability to cast a spell that will cause you to be 'enveloped by flames!'. This attack can do upwards to 60+ damage without [[fire resistance]]. Note that at a distance they will zap [[fireball]]s at you. These cannot be reflected, and can still damage items in your inventory even if you have fire resistance. Fire vampires are best avoided until you have fire resistance; in particular, they make the [[Chaotic Quest]] a place to avoid for those without it.
 
  
Fire vampires are not actually undead, and thus are not immune to [[drain life]], as proper vampires are.
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==Generation==
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A fire vampire always generates as hostile, and [[Corpseless|will never leave a corpse]] when killed.
  
Once you have [[fire resistance]], these monsters constitute a very good reason to turn off the '[[sparkle]]' [[option]].  They will usually get 3 fire attacks per turn, all of which will go through the sparkle animation, which can be quite distracting.
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In addition to random generation, fire vampires may be generated in any level or branch where random {{white|V}} are placed at level creation.
  
==As a Polymorph Form==
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==Strategy==
 
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The fire vampire can be very dangerous to the unprepared, as its 24 speed and melee-range fire spell can quickly burn through much of your HP; the fire spell  bypasses [[reflection]] at a distance and can also [[burn]] applicable items in your inventory. Additionally, they have a natural [[AC]] of 0 and are capable of wearing all armor. The [[Chaotic Quest]] in particular is a disaster waiting to happen for those without fire resistance, as fire vampires can generate among the random {{white|V}} placed on level creation.
If you have [[polymorph control]], a fire vampire is one of the best choices for self-polymorph, given their speed, regeneration, innate flying, extra damage, low armor class, and ability to wear all armor.
 
The major downsides are that the fire attack will sometimes destroy scrolls and potions in monsters' inventory, the danger of using an unintentional extra attack against stoning monsters (should not happen if you are wielding a weapon, but monks beware!), and the problems inherent to eating as a vampire.
 
  
==Origin==
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Fire resistance will blunt most of the damage from fire vampire attacks, though it will not protect your inventory; once you obtain fire resistance, you may want to turn off the '[[sparkle]]' [[option]] in order to shorten the time used on animations and lessen distractions during combat with them. As they are not undead, fire vampires lack [[drain resistance]] and can be weakened with the [[wand of draining]] among other similar items and effects, though they still have a solid [[Magic resistance (monster)|MR score]] of 50.
  
Fire vampires originate from Donald Wandrei's short story "The Fire Vampires", which is considered part of the [[Cthulhu]] mythos.
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==As a polyform==
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A fire vampire is one of the strongest polyforms for any character with a means of [[polymorph]] and a source of [[polymorph control]] due to their high speed, regeneration, flight, 0 AC, and ability to wear all armor. For a [[Doppelganger (starting race)|doppleganger]] in particular that gains polymorph control through experience levels or an external source, fire vampires represent a power boost that can buoy even weaker characters against high-level threats.
  
They are not related to the usual undead vampires, rather being two extraterrestrial monsters that share the same name: the flame Creatures of Cthugha that appear as many points of fiery light, and the fire Vampires of Fthaggua that appear as crimson bursts of lightning. Their tile in SLASH'EM could depict either, although strangely they are still considered [[humanoid]].
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Be careful not to rely too much on it in either case, however - in addition to [[Doppelganger (starting race)#Strategy|the perils of excessive shapechanging]] for dopplegangers in particular, fire vampires cannot utilize silver weapons and items, and monsters such as [[footrice]]s can result in an undignified [[instadeath]] by [[stoning]] if you are careless. Fire vampires can also only feed by draining the blood of other monsters like the rest of their vampire kin, and as such may make its use difficult in certain stages of the game. Finally, their fire attacks will destroy scrolls and potions in monsters' inventories, which is a variable concern depending on how much loot you seek out at a given point.
  
== Encyclopedia entry ==
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==Origin==
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{{wikipedia|Cthugha}}
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Fire vampires are extraterrestrial monsters that originate from Donald Wandrei's short story "The Fire Vampires", which is considered part of the [[Cthulhu Mythos]]. There are two distinct kinds of fire vampire: the flame Creatures of Cthugha that appear as many points of fiery light, and the fire Vampires of Fthaggua that appear as crimson bursts of lightning. Their tile and description in SLASH'EM could easily depict either; somewhat strangely, they are still considered humanoid.
  
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==Encyclopedia entry==
 
{{encyclopedia|
 
{{encyclopedia|
 
A swirling cloud of bright, burning motes, the fire vampire
 
A swirling cloud of bright, burning motes, the fire vampire
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they are in its deadly embrace.
 
they are in its deadly embrace.
 
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[[Category:SLASH'EM monsters]]
 
[[Category:SLASH'EM monsters]]
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[[Category:SlashTHEM monsters]]
 
[[Category:Cthulhu Mythos]]
 
[[Category:Cthulhu Mythos]]

Revision as of 22:21, 3 December 2022

The fire vampire is a type of vampire that appears in SLASH'EM and SlashTHEM. Unlike other members of the ​V vampire monster class, it is not undead and is instead an extraterrestrial being that is humanoid and infravisible, though it still shares the vampire's regeneration abilities and resistances along with their weakness to silver.

Fire vampires are unbreathing and capable of flight, and can follow you to other levels; they also possess fire resistance and cold resistance. They move at twice the speed of an unhasted, unburdened player character, and have five total attacks: two fire-element claw attacks, a life draining bite, an energy draining touch, and a ray-type fire monster spell similar to the magic missile attack of Angels and Yeenoghu and the cold attack of Asmodeus - this spell is a deferred feature in vanilla NetHack, and is similar to the fireball spell when used at a distance.

Generation

A fire vampire always generates as hostile, and will never leave a corpse when killed.

In addition to random generation, fire vampires may be generated in any level or branch where random V are placed at level creation.

Strategy

The fire vampire can be very dangerous to the unprepared, as its 24 speed and melee-range fire spell can quickly burn through much of your HP; the fire spell bypasses reflection at a distance and can also burn applicable items in your inventory. Additionally, they have a natural AC of 0 and are capable of wearing all armor. The Chaotic Quest in particular is a disaster waiting to happen for those without fire resistance, as fire vampires can generate among the random V placed on level creation.

Fire resistance will blunt most of the damage from fire vampire attacks, though it will not protect your inventory; once you obtain fire resistance, you may want to turn off the 'sparkle' option in order to shorten the time used on animations and lessen distractions during combat with them. As they are not undead, fire vampires lack drain resistance and can be weakened with the wand of draining among other similar items and effects, though they still have a solid MR score of 50.

As a polyform

A fire vampire is one of the strongest polyforms for any character with a means of polymorph and a source of polymorph control due to their high speed, regeneration, flight, 0 AC, and ability to wear all armor. For a doppleganger in particular that gains polymorph control through experience levels or an external source, fire vampires represent a power boost that can buoy even weaker characters against high-level threats.

Be careful not to rely too much on it in either case, however - in addition to the perils of excessive shapechanging for dopplegangers in particular, fire vampires cannot utilize silver weapons and items, and monsters such as footrices can result in an undignified instadeath by stoning if you are careless. Fire vampires can also only feed by draining the blood of other monsters like the rest of their vampire kin, and as such may make its use difficult in certain stages of the game. Finally, their fire attacks will destroy scrolls and potions in monsters' inventories, which is a variable concern depending on how much loot you seek out at a given point.

Origin

Fire vampires are extraterrestrial monsters that originate from Donald Wandrei's short story "The Fire Vampires", which is considered part of the Cthulhu Mythos. There are two distinct kinds of fire vampire: the flame Creatures of Cthugha that appear as many points of fiery light, and the fire Vampires of Fthaggua that appear as crimson bursts of lightning. Their tile and description in SLASH'EM could easily depict either; somewhat strangely, they are still considered humanoid.

Encyclopedia entry

A swirling cloud of bright, burning motes, the fire vampire
descends upon its victim and easily burns them to death once
they are in its deadly embrace.