Difference between revisions of "Psi bolt"
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| − | '''Psi bolt''' | + | '''Psi bolt'''{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|10|nethack=3.6.7|comment=the spell's name is never used in-game}} is a [[monster spell]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is a melee-range spell that inflicts direct damage, and can be by any monster that uses mage spells. |
| − | == | + | ==Description== |
| − | + | The psi bolt spell deals damage depending on the caster's level ('''ml'''), and the dice for that monster's specific spellcasting attack: If the attack's damage dice are non-zero, i.e. '''n'''d'''x''', then the spell does ({{frac|'''ml'''|2}} + '''n''')d'''x''' damage. Otherwise, the spell does ({{frac|'''ml'''|2}} + 1)d6 damage. If you have either [[half spell damage]] or [[magic resistance]], the damage is halved, and is reduced to {{frac|4}} if you have both properties (rounded up in both cases). | |
| − | + | Most monsters have either zero damage dice or 6-sided damage dice for their spellcasting attacks, allowing the "base" damage of this spell to be expressed as {{frac|'''ml'''|2}}d6 damage, with additional damage based on the monster that cast the spell: +8d6 for [[Orcus]] and [[Demogorgon]], +6d6 for [[Dispater]], +4d6 for [[Archon]]s and [[golden naga]], +2d6 for [[ki-rin]] and +1d6 for other monsters. [[Neferet the Green]] is the one exception, with her psi bolt dealing damage equal to ({{frac|'''ml'''|2}} + 2)d8 damage.{{refsrc|mcastu.c|261}} | |
| − | |||
| − | + | The higher the casting monster's level, the less likely that monster is to randomly select that spell: from levels 1 to 23, the odds decrease significantly from 100% to 4.3%. At level 24 and above, however, there is a chance that the [[touch of death]] will be replaced with a psi bolt if the player is immune to the former spell - this results in a ''slight'' bias of spell choice towards psi bolt, raising the chance to to 12% at level 25 in those cases and then to about 18% <!-- rough (and somewhat incorrect) estimate: p ~= 1/25 + 24/25*(p+3/25)/2, thus p ~= 61/325 ~= 18.8%, but actually it's lower than that --> at level 50.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|87|nethack=3.6.7}} | |
| − | + | ==Strategy== | |
| + | Psi bolts from high-level spellcasters can prove to be a major threat in the late game. Though the [[touch of death]] is more [[Instadeath|immediately]] run threatening, a strong enough psi bolt can still deal significant damage through magic resistance that would nullify the former spell completely. | ||
| − | == | + | ==History== |
| − | + | In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and earlier versions, including some various based on those versions, the this spell wasn't replacing touch of death, however, starting at level 24, its relative frequency would rapidly increase, passing 50% at level 44.{{refsrc|mcastu.c|83}} Thus, spellcasting monsters with a very high level (such as Demogorgon) would use this spell very often, which could be dangerous to the hero, as they can do a lot of damage with this spell (for example, 33d6 base damage for Demogorgon). | |
==Messages== | ==Messages== | ||
| Line 32: | Line 32: | ||
|} | |} | ||
| − | == | + | ==Variants== |
| − | + | ===SLASH'EM=== | |
| − | + | In [[SLASH'EM]], there are many new spellcasting monsters that can cast mage spells, the additional damages values (as explained above) are the following: +6d6 for [[ghoul mage]]s, +5d6 for [[Solar]]s, +4d6 for [[Planetar]]s and [[ghoul queen]]s, +2d6 for [[vampire mage]]s, and +1d6 for all others. As SLASH'EM is a 3.4.3 variant, high-level spellcasters are very likely to cast Psi bolt, including the now-guaranteed Demogorgon and Dispater. | |
| − | ==SLASH'EM== | ||
| − | In SLASH'EM, there are many new spellcasting monsters | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | <references /> | + | <references/> |
| − | + | {{nethack-343}} | |
[[Category:Monster spells]] | [[Category:Monster spells]] | ||
| − | |||
Revision as of 02:18, 26 October 2023
Psi bolt[1] is a monster spell that appears in NetHack. It is a melee-range spell that inflicts direct damage, and can be by any monster that uses mage spells.
Description
The psi bolt spell deals damage depending on the caster's level (ml), and the dice for that monster's specific spellcasting attack: If the attack's damage dice are non-zero, i.e. ndx, then the spell does (ml⁄2 + n)dx damage. Otherwise, the spell does (ml⁄2 + 1)d6 damage. If you have either half spell damage or magic resistance, the damage is halved, and is reduced to 1⁄4 if you have both properties (rounded up in both cases).
Most monsters have either zero damage dice or 6-sided damage dice for their spellcasting attacks, allowing the "base" damage of this spell to be expressed as ml⁄2d6 damage, with additional damage based on the monster that cast the spell: +8d6 for Orcus and Demogorgon, +6d6 for Dispater, +4d6 for Archons and golden naga, +2d6 for ki-rin and +1d6 for other monsters. Neferet the Green is the one exception, with her psi bolt dealing damage equal to (ml⁄2 + 2)d8 damage.[2]
The higher the casting monster's level, the less likely that monster is to randomly select that spell: from levels 1 to 23, the odds decrease significantly from 100% to 4.3%. At level 24 and above, however, there is a chance that the touch of death will be replaced with a psi bolt if the player is immune to the former spell - this results in a slight bias of spell choice towards psi bolt, raising the chance to to 12% at level 25 in those cases and then to about 18% at level 50.[3]
Strategy
Psi bolts from high-level spellcasters can prove to be a major threat in the late game. Though the touch of death is more immediately run threatening, a strong enough psi bolt can still deal significant damage through magic resistance that would nullify the former spell completely.
History
In NetHack 3.4.3 and earlier versions, including some various based on those versions, the this spell wasn't replacing touch of death, however, starting at level 24, its relative frequency would rapidly increase, passing 50% at level 44.[4] Thus, spellcasting monsters with a very high level (such as Demogorgon) would use this spell very often, which could be dangerous to the hero, as they can do a lot of damage with this spell (for example, 33d6 base damage for Demogorgon).
Messages
| Message | Damage dealt |
|---|---|
| "You get a slight <head>ache." | 0-5 |
| "Your brain is on fire!" (not to be confused with intelligence drain) | 6-10 |
| "Your <head> suddenly aches painfully!" | 11-20 |
| "Your <head> suddenly aches very painfully!" | 21+ |
Variants
SLASH'EM
In SLASH'EM, there are many new spellcasting monsters that can cast mage spells, the additional damages values (as explained above) are the following: +6d6 for ghoul mages, +5d6 for Solars, +4d6 for Planetars and ghoul queens, +2d6 for vampire mages, and +1d6 for all others. As SLASH'EM is a 3.4.3 variant, high-level spellcasters are very likely to cast Psi bolt, including the now-guaranteed Demogorgon and Dispater.
References
- ↑ src/mcastu.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 10: the spell's name is never used in-game
- ↑ mcastu.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 261
- ↑ src/mcastu.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 87
- ↑ mcastu.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 83
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.
