Trapper
t trapper 
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 14 |
| Attacks | |
| Base level | 12 |
| Base experience | 270 |
| Speed | 3 |
| Base AC | 3 |
| Base MR | 0 |
| Alignment | 0 (neutral) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | 2 (Quite rare) |
| Genocidable | Yes |
| Weight | 800 |
| Nutritional value | 350 |
| Size | Huge |
| Resistances | None |
| Resistances conveyed |
None |
|
A trapper:
| |
| Reference | monst.c#line807 |
A trapper, t, is a type of monster that appears in NetHack. It is one of the two eponymous monsters that make up the trapper or lurker above monster class. The trapper has a slightly stronger digestion attack compared to the lurker above, but cannot fly and instead hides itself on the floor of the dungeon to take its targets by surprise.
Generation
Trappers are always generated hostile.
Strategy
Like the lurker above, a trapper can easily be detected via telepathy or warning, and its very low speed of 3 makes them less threatening, especially if you are decently equipped. However, do not let any of your pets near one - digestion attacks will instantly kill pets that are small enough, so be sure to scout for trappers beforehand when navigating a floor.
History
The trapper first appears in Hack for PDP-11, a variant of Jay Fenlason's Hack, and is included in the initial bestiary for Hack 1.0. From these versions to NetHack 2.3e, the trapper used the comma, ,, as its glyph; NetHack 3.0.0 moves the trapper to its current glyph.
Origin
The trapper originates from Dungeons & Dragons, where it first appears in TSR Games' official newsletter The Strategic Review as an addition to the original 1974 edition's bestiary. It is one of the classic examples of the franchise's "gotcha monsters", creatures that are primarily designed with the purpose of tricking and killing adventuring parties - for this reason, both it and the lurker above are often ranked among the most obnoxious monsters by players.
The trapper is a carnivorous relative of the lurker, being a large and flat manta ray-like creature with tough exterior skin that resembles stone in density and texture. The average trapper's body covers over 400 square feet (37 square meters) and could grow as large as 600 square feet (56 square meters). Trappers are primarily found in caves, caverns, and dark locations such as dungeons, and can attach themselves to walls and ceilings with ease, mimicking their surroundings by shapeshifting the texture and color of their outer body to blend in with earthen, stone, or wooden surfaces.
When hunting, a trapper often forms a box-like protrusion in their center to lure in prey; once prey wanders near or onto the center of their body, the trapper suddenly forms a ball around them in order to crush and smother them to death. A trapper will not release its prey unless facing certain death or killed outright. Once the prey is killed, its flesh is digested - bones, metal and other indigestible materials are left where it once stood. Trappers are known to use these remains as bait, and hibernate whenever prey became scarce (though they remain aware of anything that approaches them); they will also remain in an area for extended periods of time if food is plentiful.
In the 3rd and 4th Editions, trappers and their lurker 'relatives' were eventually phased out in favor of the similar darkmantle, though they would return alongside it for the 5th Edition.
Variants
In variants that incorporate the Convict role, several trappers can be found in the lower filler level(s) of the Convict quest.
dNetHack
In dNetHack, trappers can be repelled with the Elder Sign and Cerulean Sign wards.
Encyclopedia entry
The trapper is a creature which has evolved a chameleon-like ability to blend into the dungeon surroundings. It captures its prey by remaining very still and blending into the surrounding dungeon features, until an unsuspecting creature passes by. It wraps itself around its prey and digests it.
