Difference between revisions of "Ghoul"
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| − | A '''ghoul''', {{monsym|ghoul}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. Ghouls are [[undead]] monsters that have two claw attacks, including one that can [[paralyze]] you briefly. They are also one of the few monsters to have [[sickness resistance]]. | + | A '''ghoul''', {{monsym|ghoul}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. Ghouls are [[undead]] monsters that have two claw attacks, including one that can [[paralyze]] you briefly. They are also one of the few monsters to have [[sickness resistance]], and the only one to be humanoid in shape. |
| − | + | Ghouls are considered [[inediate]] like the rest of the [[zombie]] [[monster class]], but are also the only monster in the group that can eat any kind of food: a special case allows tame ghouls to consume [[corpse]]s and [[egg]]s, with a preference for old meat and eggs.{{refsrc|src/dog.c|769|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} | |
| + | |||
| + | {{upcoming|3.7.0|Hostile ghouls will also eat any old corpses they come across.}} | ||
==Generation== | ==Generation== | ||
In addition to random generation, a ghoul will be summoned if you [[engrave]] on a [[headstone]]. | In addition to random generation, a ghoul will be summoned if you [[engrave]] on a [[headstone]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Ghouls always generate as [[hostile]] and [[Corpseless|will not leave a corpse]] upon death. | ||
==Strategy== | ==Strategy== | ||
| − | Ghouls can be somewhat dangerous to an early character if multiple other monsters are nearby. However, the duration of their paralysis attack is quite low, and ghouls are are often too slow to be a major threat. | + | Ghouls can be somewhat dangerous to an early character if multiple other monsters are nearby. However, the duration of their paralysis attack is quite low, and ghouls are are often too slow to be a major threat. [[Free action]] prevents paralysis entirely, while higher [[MC]] can reduce the frequency of paralysis. |
| − | As a polyform, ghouls are one of the few ways a player can obtain sickness resistance - in practice, it is | + | As a polyform, ghouls are one of the few ways a player can obtain sickness resistance, though they are too small to wear body armor and have a pitiful [[carrying capacity]] - in practice, it is more feasible to simply have a cure for sickness, such as a blessed [[unicorn horn]] or a [[potion of full healing]], for illness-inflicting threats such as [[Pestilence]] or [[Demogorgon]]. However, the ghoul polyform does have use for [[illiterate]] [[conduct]] players that are [[throne farming]] and do not mind breaking polyselfless conduct - if using a cursed unicorn horn as their source of confusion, they can polymorph into a ghoul and put on an [[amulet of unchanging]]. |
==History== | ==History== | ||
| − | Ghouls first appear in [[NetHack 3.3.0]]. | + | Ghouls first appear in [[NetHack-- 3.1.3]], and make their vanilla debut in [[NetHack 3.3.0]]. |
There was a [[bug]] which allowed the player to generate unlimited ghouls by engraving on the same headstone over and over again;<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.roguelike.nethack/msg/457a943d09dcc77c?dmode=source]</ref><ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.roguelike.nethack/msg/b28840f4782a6e6f?dmode=source]</ref> this bug was fixed in [[NetHack 3.4.0]]. | There was a [[bug]] which allowed the player to generate unlimited ghouls by engraving on the same headstone over and over again;<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.roguelike.nethack/msg/457a943d09dcc77c?dmode=source]</ref><ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.roguelike.nethack/msg/b28840f4782a6e6f?dmode=source]</ref> this bug was fixed in [[NetHack 3.4.0]]. | ||
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==Variants== | ==Variants== | ||
===SLASH'EM=== | ===SLASH'EM=== | ||
| − | In [[SLASH'EM]], ghouls have been made slightly more dangerous - their claw attack paralyzes for 1d6 turns and does 1d4 damage, and their base level is increased to 5. [[ | + | In [[SLASH'EM]], ghouls have been made slightly more dangerous - their claw attack paralyzes for 1d6 turns and does 1d4 damage, and their base level is increased to 5. Ghouls in SLASH'EM also leave corpses upon death, though these corpses will generate as old and thus unsafe to consume. Stronger ghoul monsters such as the [[ghoul mage]]s and [[ghoul queen]]s are also introduced, but ghouls cannot [[grow up]] into them. |
| + | |||
| + | [[Necromancer]]s start the game with a tame ghoul, and can use the [[raise zombies]] technique to create more ghouls from humanoid corpses that do not have a corresponding zombie type. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===dNetHack=== | ||
| + | In [[dNetHack]], players killed by [[gnoll ghoul]]s will raise as ghouls if a [[bones]] file is left. | ||
| − | [[ | + | ===SpliceHack=== |
| + | In [[SpliceHack]] and [[SpliceHack-Rewrite]], ghouls can grow up into [[ghast]]s. SpliceHack's pre-1.0.0 versions also had the [[Ghoul (starting race)|ghoul]] as a playable race. | ||
===SlashTHEM=== | ===SlashTHEM=== | ||
| − | In addition to SLASH'EM changes and additions, ghouls in [[SlashTHEM]] | + | In addition to SLASH'EM changes and additions, hostile ghouls in [[SlashTHEM]] will eat any old corpses they come across. Ghouls are also available as a playable race. |
==Encyclopedia entry== | ==Encyclopedia entry== | ||
Revision as of 01:24, 15 July 2023
Z ghoul 
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 5 |
| Attacks |
Claw 1d2 paralysis, Claw 1d3 |
| Base level | 3 |
| Base experience | 28 |
| 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, Sickness |
| Resistances conveyed |
None |
|
A ghoul:
| |
| Reference | monst.c#line2174 |
A ghoul, Z, is a type of monster that appears in NetHack. Ghouls are undead monsters that have two claw attacks, including one that can paralyze you briefly. They are also one of the few monsters to have sickness resistance, and the only one to be humanoid in shape.
Ghouls are considered inediate like the rest of the zombie monster class, but are also the only monster in the group that can eat any kind of food: a special case allows tame ghouls to consume corpses and eggs, with a preference for old meat and eggs.[1]
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.
Hostile ghouls will also eat any old corpses they come across.Contents
Generation
In addition to random generation, a ghoul will be summoned if you engrave on a headstone.
Ghouls always generate as hostile and will not leave a corpse upon death.
Strategy
Ghouls can be somewhat dangerous to an early character if multiple other monsters are nearby. However, the duration of their paralysis attack is quite low, and ghouls are are often too slow to be a major threat. Free action prevents paralysis entirely, while higher MC can reduce the frequency of paralysis.
As a polyform, ghouls are one of the few ways a player can obtain sickness resistance, though they are too small to wear body armor and have a pitiful carrying capacity - in practice, it is more feasible to simply have a cure for sickness, such as a blessed unicorn horn or a potion of full healing, for illness-inflicting threats such as Pestilence or Demogorgon. However, the ghoul polyform does have use for illiterate conduct players that are throne farming and do not mind breaking polyselfless conduct - if using a cursed unicorn horn as their source of confusion, they can polymorph into a ghoul and put on an amulet of unchanging.
History
Ghouls first appear in NetHack-- 3.1.3, and make their vanilla debut in NetHack 3.3.0.
There was a bug which allowed the player to generate unlimited ghouls by engraving on the same headstone over and over again;[2][3] this bug was fixed in NetHack 3.4.0.
Origin
Ghouls are depicted as a type of undead creature; the word originates in the Arabic "ghūl" (غول), an evil spirit. Their depiction and properties vary - they may be portrayed as more sophisticated zombies, or as a type of humanoid monster that eats humans.
Variants
SLASH'EM
In SLASH'EM, ghouls have been made slightly more dangerous - their claw attack paralyzes for 1d6 turns and does 1d4 damage, and their base level is increased to 5. Ghouls in SLASH'EM also leave corpses upon death, though these corpses will generate as old and thus unsafe to consume. Stronger ghoul monsters such as the ghoul mages and ghoul queens are also introduced, but ghouls cannot grow up into them.
Necromancers start the game with a tame ghoul, and can use the raise zombies technique to create more ghouls from humanoid corpses that do not have a corresponding zombie type.
dNetHack
In dNetHack, players killed by gnoll ghouls will raise as ghouls if a bones file is left.
SpliceHack
In SpliceHack and SpliceHack-Rewrite, ghouls can grow up into ghasts. SpliceHack's pre-1.0.0 versions also had the ghoul as a playable race.
SlashTHEM
In addition to SLASH'EM changes and additions, hostile ghouls in SlashTHEM will eat any old corpses they come across. Ghouls are also available as a playable race.
Encyclopedia entry
The forces of the gloom know each other, and are strangely
balanced by each other. Teeth and claws fear what they cannot
grasp. Blood-drinking bestiality, voracious appetites, hunger
in search of prey, the armed instincts of nails and jaws which
have for source and aim the belly, glare and smell out
uneasily the impassive spectral forms straying beneath a
shroud, erect in its vague and shuddering robe, and which seem
to them to live with a dead and terrible life. These
brutalities, which are only matter, entertain a confused fear
of having to deal with the immense obscurity condensed into an
unknown being. A black figure barring the way stops the wild
beast short. That which emerges from the cemetery intimidates
and disconcerts that which emerges from the cave; the
ferocious fear the sinister; wolves recoil when they encounter
a ghoul.
References
This page may need to be updated for the current version of NetHack.
It may contain text specific to NetHack 3.4.3. Information on this page may be out of date.
Editors: After reviewing this page and making necessary edits, please change the {{nethack-343}} tag to the current version's tag or {{noversion}} as appropriate.
