Difference between revisions of "Spellbook of create monster"

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{{spellbook|name=create monster|level=2|type=clerical|turns=3|direction=non-directional|equiv=[[scroll of create monster]]<br />[[wand of create monster]]|abundance=3.56%}}
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{{spellbook
Allows you to learn the create monster spell. Casting this spell has the same effect as reading an [[uncursed]] [[scroll of create monster|scroll of create monster]]; it has a 72/73 chance of creating a single monster, and a 1/73 chance of creating 2-5 monsters. The monsters will ''almost'' always have a difficulty level at or below your current level.  A group of monsters normally generated in groups (such as [[orc]]s or [[ant]]s) will count as a single monster for the purposes of this spell, so it is occasionally possible that many more than 5 monsters will be generated.
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|name=create monster
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|level=2
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|type=clerical
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|turns=3
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|direction=non-directional
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|equiv=[[scroll of create monster]]<br />[[wand of create monster]]
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|abundance=3.56%
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}}
  
== Strategy ==
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In ''[[NetHack]]'', the '''spellbook of create monster''' allows you to learn the '''spell of create monster'''. It is a level 2 [[clerical spell]], and the [[spellbook]] takes roughly 3 turns to read.
[[File:Extin.png|thumb|right|An extinctionist wizard has filled an entire level with monsters by repeatedly casting create monster.]]
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Create monster is a very useful utility spell.
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==Generation==
* By far the most common use is to create monsters for [[sacrificing]]. As you can generate an unlimited number of corpses to sacrifice (although you may have to wait for your power to recover in the middle), you can make yourself [[luck|extremely lucky]], and receive [[Altar#Gifts|weapons]] or [[Pray#Favors_and_gifts|favors]].
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Randomly generated spellbooks have a ~3.56% chance of being a spellbook of create monster.
* It mostly removes the threat of death by [[starvation]]; summoned monsters may leave [[corpses]], allowing you to cast the spell to generate food (although it still requires nutrition to cast if you do not have hungerless casting, and generated monsters are not guaranteed to leave corpses, so you should not wait until you are weak before trying this). You can also create a corpse to feed or tame a pet this way.
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* In the same vein, summoned monsters' corpses will also grant intrinsics. Thus the spell can be farmed for useful corpses, like [[giant]]s, [[wraith]]s, [[lizard]]s, [[dragon|black dragon]]s, [[floating eye]]s, and [[tengu]], as well as for other monsters that grant an intrinsic you do not yet have. However, note that it may take a lot of farming to generate the corpse that you want.
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[[Priest]]s may begin the game with a spellbook of create monster as one of their two starting spellbooks, while [[Wizard]]s may begin the game with this spellbooks as their starting non-{{spellbook of|force bolt}} spellbook.
* They can be farmed for XP and/or items: for instance, to reach level 14 just before the quest level, or to generate elves for their [[elven leather helm]]s.
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* This is the central spell for [[extinction]]ist players, as it is by far the most reliable method to create large amounts of monsters for the challenge.
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[[Aligned priest]]s have a chance of [[Monster starting inventory|being generated with]] a spellbook of create monster.
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==Description==
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When cast, the spell of create monster has a {{frac|72|73}} chance of creating a single monster or horde, and a 1/73 chance of creating 2-5 miscellaneous monsters, as with an [[uncursed]] [[scroll of create monster]]. The monsters will ''almost'' always have a difficulty level at or below your current level, and monsters normally generated in groups (such as [[orc]]s or [[ant]]s) will count as a single monster for the purposes of this spell; the created monsters will also be hostile or peaceful depending on your starting race and/or alignment.
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==Strategy==
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Create monster is a rather niche utility spell, of little use to most early-to-mid game players. The monsters it creates are the same ones the game is happy to throw at you with no expenditure of resources on your part. If you're near an altar and have [[energy]] to spare, you might get some [[Luck]] or an [[artifact weapon]] if the spell happens to generate monsters which leave corpses. The potential gains must be balanced against the risk of summoning something dangerous like a [[leocrotta]] or swarm of [[soldier ant]]s, especially if you've just expended the last of your energy on this very spell.
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Characters with little food available might be able to use this spell to generate [[nutrition]] from  either the monsters' corpses or their [[death drop]]s - ''if'' they can cast the spell reliably (as a failed cast still burns 20 nutrition), they will also need the monsters created to be able to leave corpses, be able to kill the monsters, actually obtain said corpses, and hope that they are safe to eat and are filling enough to be worth it. Non-[[Wizard]]s are unlikely to find the spell nutrition-positive before the depths where starvation ceases to be a threat.
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If your [[Quest]] generates monsters with useful corpses, this spell might create several of them more quickly than simply waiting for them to be generated.
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Like other low-level spells, this one can be used to train [[skill]] in [[clerical spells]], in preparation for casting the higher-level spells of {{spell of|remove curse}} and/or {{spell of|turn undead}}.
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Late-game characters with the [[Eye of the Aethiopica]] may use this spell for altar [[farming]].
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<!-- :''See also: [[farming]]''
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Create monster is a very useful utility spell, and is primarily employed for various types of [[farming]]. The most common such use by far is [[altar farming|farming]] at [[altar]]s: using repeated [[sacrifice]]s, a player can drive up their [[Luck]], obtain [[sacrifice gift]]s, and/or gather divine favors through [[pray]]er. While much more reusable compared to the scroll, spells cannot be cast while confused to create hordes of non-threatening [[acid blob]]s.
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If you plan to farm in place, a coaligned [[temple]] with the door locked is often best to prevent the summoned monsters from escaping; for lone altars, a lasting (usually burnt) [[Elbereth]] is highly recommended, as well as a means of [[teleportation]] or other on-command escape. Be sure not to trap yourself in a corner, especially with the chance of summoning hordes or groups granting high [[YASD]] potential! Lower-level players can also use this spell to farm for experience and/or items, e.g. to reach experience level 14 for the quest, or to procure spare armor (such as [[elven leather helm]]s) and/or [[polyfodder]].
  
The one downside is that, since spells cannot be cast while confused, you cannot use this spell to create hordes of [[acid blob]]s as you can with the [[scroll of create monster]].
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Though much less reliable, the spell can also be used are a source of food and intrinsics. Freshly generated monsters can be killed and served to a hungry [[pet]] (or pet-to-be); keep carnivorous pets away from [[shapeshifter]] corpses unless you're fine with allowing them to [[polymorph]], and be mindful of monsters with passives. While it can also provide food for the caster, casting the spell still uses up nutrition, and not all generated monsters will leave suitable corpses if they leave one at all; using this for intrinsic gain is similarly unreliable. However, this is dependent on the role, particularly due to the mechanics of [[quest]] [[branch]] monster generation.
  
If you plan on using this spell heavily, account for the fact that it may generate up to 5 monsters immediately next to you, which is potentially very dangerous and can result in [[YASD]]. Thus, always have a backup plan (a [[wand of teleportation]] or [[scroll of teleportation]] being the best choices), and if you are planning to farm in place, be sure to burn [[Elbereth]] before continuing.
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{{upcoming|3.7.0|Pets will no longer eat shapeshifter corpses unless they are starving or on the verge of untaming.}} -->
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===Extinction===
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[[File:Extin.png|thumb|right|An extinctionist wizard has filled an entire level with monsters by repeatedly casting create monster.]]
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The spell of create monster is the central spell for [[extinction]]ist players, as it is by far the most reliable method to create large amounts of monsters for the challenge. [[Wizard]]s and [[Priest]]s are not only the most adept casters for the spell by far, but can also farm [[wraith]]s with some reliably in order to increase their level and [[power]] reserves.
  
Also, if you have pets, be careful of any [[doppelganger]]s or [[chameleon]]s, which will change your pet in an undesirable way if they eat their corpses. This is not a problem if they do not eat corpses (ae. are vegetarian or do not eat). Also watch out for monsters with dangerous [[passive attack]]s, which a may kill a pet you can kill them.
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==See also==
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*[[scroll of create monster]]
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*[[wand of create monster]]
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*[[spellbook of create familiar]]: Creates a single monster, usually tame.
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*[[summon nasties]]
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*[[summon insects]]
  
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==Variants==
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===FIQHack===
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In [[FIQHack]], this spellbook is replaced with the [[spellbook of summoning]].
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{{nethack-366}}
 
[[Category:Spellbooks|Create monster]]
 
[[Category:Spellbooks|Create monster]]
{{nethack-343}}
 

Latest revision as of 20:54, 18 November 2023

spellbook of
+   create monster   Light green spellbook.png
Appearance random
Abundance 3.56%
Base price 200 zm
Weight 50
Turns to read 3
Ink to write 10–19
Spell type clerical
Level 2
Power cost 10 Pw
Direction non-directional
Equivalent scroll of create monster
wand of create monster

In NetHack, the spellbook of create monster allows you to learn the spell of create monster. It is a level 2 clerical spell, and the spellbook takes roughly 3 turns to read.

Generation

Randomly generated spellbooks have a ~3.56% chance of being a spellbook of create monster.

Priests may begin the game with a spellbook of create monster as one of their two starting spellbooks, while Wizards may begin the game with this spellbooks as their starting non-force bolt spellbook.

Aligned priests have a chance of being generated with a spellbook of create monster.

Description

When cast, the spell of create monster has a 7273 chance of creating a single monster or horde, and a 1/73 chance of creating 2-5 miscellaneous monsters, as with an uncursed scroll of create monster. The monsters will almost always have a difficulty level at or below your current level, and monsters normally generated in groups (such as orcs or ants) will count as a single monster for the purposes of this spell; the created monsters will also be hostile or peaceful depending on your starting race and/or alignment.

Strategy

Create monster is a rather niche utility spell, of little use to most early-to-mid game players. The monsters it creates are the same ones the game is happy to throw at you with no expenditure of resources on your part. If you're near an altar and have energy to spare, you might get some Luck or an artifact weapon if the spell happens to generate monsters which leave corpses. The potential gains must be balanced against the risk of summoning something dangerous like a leocrotta or swarm of soldier ants, especially if you've just expended the last of your energy on this very spell.

Characters with little food available might be able to use this spell to generate nutrition from either the monsters' corpses or their death drops - if they can cast the spell reliably (as a failed cast still burns 20 nutrition), they will also need the monsters created to be able to leave corpses, be able to kill the monsters, actually obtain said corpses, and hope that they are safe to eat and are filling enough to be worth it. Non-Wizards are unlikely to find the spell nutrition-positive before the depths where starvation ceases to be a threat.

If your Quest generates monsters with useful corpses, this spell might create several of them more quickly than simply waiting for them to be generated.

Like other low-level spells, this one can be used to train skill in clerical spells, in preparation for casting the higher-level spells of remove curse and/or turn undead.

Late-game characters with the Eye of the Aethiopica may use this spell for altar farming.

Extinction

An extinctionist wizard has filled an entire level with monsters by repeatedly casting create monster.

The spell of create monster is the central spell for extinctionist players, as it is by far the most reliable method to create large amounts of monsters for the challenge. Wizards and Priests are not only the most adept casters for the spell by far, but can also farm wraiths with some reliably in order to increase their level and power reserves.

See also

Variants

FIQHack

In FIQHack, this spellbook is replaced with the spellbook of summoning.