Ghast
Z ghast 
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 6 |
| Attacks |
Claw 1d2 paralysis, Claw 1d4, Bite 1d6 |
| Base level | 4 |
| Base experience | 41 |
| Speed | 6 |
| Base AC | 10 |
| Base MR | 0 |
| Alignment | -2 (chaotic) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | 1 (Very rare) |
| Genocidable | Yes |
| Weight | 400 |
| Nutritional value | 50 |
| Size | Small |
| Resistances | cold, sleep, poison, level drain |
| Resistances conveyed |
None |
|
A ghast:
| |
| Reference | SLASH'EM_0.0.7E7F2/monst.c#line3427 |
A ghast is a monster particular to SLASH'EM. It is a carnivorous low-level undead being similar to a ghoul.
Contents
Generation
In addition to random generation, ghasts may be created by a necromancer using the raise zombies technique on a humanoid corpse without a matching zombie form: in this case, they will create a ghast 1⁄4th of the time; other times, they will create a ghoul.
Description
Ghasts have a slightly lower base level than SLASH'EM ghouls, as well as a shorter-duration paralysis attack, but they gain a bite attack in addition to the claw attack. Furthermore, they are able to follow you across levels when adjacent.
Like SLASH'EM ghouls, ghasts may leave an old corpse upon death.
Strategy
Ghasts are fairly non-threatening: at 1d2 turns, their paralysis attack is unlikely to cause too much harm unless you're already surrounded, and their melee attacks have very mediocre damage output. Furthermore, they move at half the speed of an unhasted player, and have no AC to speak of. Magic cancellation or free action will render their paralysis attack completely harmless.
Origin
Ghasts are purely a modern fantasy invention, derived simply from the word ghastly and its resemblance to ghost(ly); NetHack's ghasts specifically appear to derive from D&D. Curiously, the spelling of the word ghastly itself also derives from similar confusion with the word ghost: ghastly derives from an Old English root meaning "to torment, frighten" while "ghostly" comes from a root meaning "spirit", but during the standardization of English spelling in the 16th century, the words were both spelled with an initial gh due to their resemblance in both form and meaning.
