Difference between revisions of "Watcher in the Water"
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'''The Watcher in the Water''' is a unique, [[kraken]]-like [[sea monster]] which appears, in different forms, in [[UnNetHack]] and [[dNetHack]]. | '''The Watcher in the Water''' is a unique, [[kraken]]-like [[sea monster]] which appears, in different forms, in [[UnNetHack]] and [[dNetHack]]. | ||
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== UnNetHack == | == UnNetHack == | ||
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|experience= | |experience= | ||
|speed=9 | |speed=9 | ||
| − | |AC= | + | |AC=−2 |
|MR=30 | |MR=30 | ||
| − | |align= | + | |align=−3 |
|frequency=0 | |frequency=0 | ||
|genocidable=No | |genocidable=No | ||
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}} | }} | ||
|reference={{refsrc|src/monst.c|3917|unnethack=1986}} | |reference={{refsrc|src/monst.c|3917|unnethack=1986}} | ||
| − | }}In UnNetHack, the Watcher in the Water is found on the final level of the [[Ruins of Moria]]. | + | }} |
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| + | In UnNetHack, the Watcher in the Water is found on the final level of the [[Ruins of Moria]]. It is similar to an ordinary [[kraken]], but stronger and faster. It carries a [[magic lamp]] as a sort of prize for the player for reaching the end of the branch. | ||
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===Strategy=== | ===Strategy=== | ||
| − | The Watcher can be [[teleport | + | The Watcher can be [[teleport]]ed onto dry land to make it less dangerous. Killing it over land also ensures that its magic lamp can be retrieved. |
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===Encyclopedia entry=== | ===Encyclopedia entry=== | ||
{{Encyclopedia| | {{Encyclopedia| | ||
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|[ The Fellowship of the Ring, by J.R.R. Tolkien ] | |[ The Fellowship of the Ring, by J.R.R. Tolkien ] | ||
}} | }} | ||
| + | {{clear}} | ||
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== dNethack == | == dNethack == | ||
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|experience=1822 | |experience=1822 | ||
|speed=9 | |speed=9 | ||
| − | |AC= | + | |AC=−2 |
|MR=125 | |MR=125 | ||
| − | |align= | + | |align=−3 |
|frequency=0 | |frequency=0 | ||
|genocidable=No | |genocidable=No | ||
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|attributes={{attributes | |attributes={{attributes | ||
|The Watcher in the Water|= | |The Watcher in the Water|= | ||
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|swim=1 | |swim=1 | ||
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|amphibious=1 | |amphibious=1 | ||
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|nohands=1 | |nohands=1 | ||
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|animal=1 | |animal=1 | ||
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}} | }} | ||
|refline= | |refline= | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | The Watcher is the | + | The Watcher is the "mid boss" of the dwarf noble (Dnb) quest. The main body of the Watcher attempts to remain at least 3 squares from the player at all times, and attempts to avoid being on the same line in order to frustrate ranged attacks. The main body will spawn tentacles with its gaze attack; up to a maximum of 6 swarms of snaking tentacles and 2 long sinuous tentacles will be generated. If the Watcher's main body is killed, all the tentacles die as well. |
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
| − | === | + | === Swarm of snaking tentacles === |
{{monster | {{monster | ||
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|AC=6 | |AC=6 | ||
|MR=125 | |MR=125 | ||
| − | |align= | + | |align=−3 |
|frequency=0 | |frequency=0 | ||
|genocidable=No | |genocidable=No | ||
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|attributes={{attributes | |attributes={{attributes | ||
|A swarm of snaking tentacles|= | |A swarm of snaking tentacles|= | ||
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|swim=1 | |swim=1 | ||
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|amphibious=1 | |amphibious=1 | ||
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|nohands=1 | |nohands=1 | ||
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|nohead=1 | |nohead=1 | ||
|mindless=1 | |mindless=1 | ||
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}} | }} | ||
|refline= | |refline= | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | Swarms of snaking tentacles are generated by the Watcher in the Water, and will attempt to drown the player | + | Swarms of snaking tentacles are generated by the Watcher in the Water, and will attempt to drown the player. No more than 6 swarms will be generated at a time; however, destroyed tentacle swarms will be replaced by the Watcher's main body. |
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
| − | === | + | === Long sinuous tentacle === |
{{monster | {{monster | ||
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|AC=6 | |AC=6 | ||
|MR=125 | |MR=125 | ||
| − | |align= | + | |align=−3 |
|frequency=0 | |frequency=0 | ||
|genocidable=No | |genocidable=No | ||
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|attributes={{attributes | |attributes={{attributes | ||
|A long sinuous tentacle|= | |A long sinuous tentacle|= | ||
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|swim=1 | |swim=1 | ||
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|nohands=1 | |nohands=1 | ||
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|nohead=1 | |nohead=1 | ||
|mindless=1 | |mindless=1 | ||
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}} | }} | ||
|refline= | |refline= | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | Long sinuous tentacles are generated by the Watcher in the Water. | + | Long sinuous tentacles are generated by the Watcher in the Water. They do not have a drowning attack; however, they have a strong two-square reach attack. No more than 2 of these tentacles will be generated at a time, and destroyed tentacles will be replaced by the Watcher's main body. |
{{clear}} | {{clear}} | ||
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| + | == Mythology == | ||
| + | {{wikipedia|Watcher in the Water}} | ||
| + | The Watcher comes from the first part of ''The Lord of the Rings'': ''The Fellowship of the Ring''. It appears as a mysterious aquatic creature lurking in a pool outside the western entrance to the dwarvish realm of Moria, from which it attacks the main characters (the Fellowship) as they are about to enter. The encyclopedia entry describes the creature as it grabs Frodo, the protagonist, and tries to drag him underwater. The name "The Watcher in the Water" comes from a historical account the party discover later, which reveals that the monster also prevented Moria's defenders from escaping through that exit. | ||
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| + | Little is known about the exact nature of the creature, as the characters catch only a brief glimpse of it, but the detail of its having tentacles (at least twenty) suggests that it may be some kind of monstrous cephalopod. The passage describes the Watcher's tentacle as "fingered", which is inconsistent with real-life cephalopods, but this may simply be a metaphor meaning that the tentacle was curled like a finger. | ||
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| + | In vanilla NetHack, the passage describing the Watcher is used as the encyclopedia entry for the [[kraken]], implying that the Watcher is assumed to be representative of [[wikipedia:kraken|that legendary creature]], which is usually portrayed as a giant cephalopod. (UnNetHack changes the kraken's encyclopedia entry to an unrelated poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.) | ||
| + | |||
| + | In both UnNetHack and dNetHack, the Watcher appears as a "boss" at the surface end of a series of levels inspired by Moria. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
| − | [[Category: | + | |
| + | [[Category:UnNetHack monsters]] | ||
| + | [[Category:dNetHack monsters]] | ||
Revision as of 23:09, 5 September 2019
The Watcher in the Water is a unique, kraken-like sea monster which appears, in different forms, in UnNetHack and dNetHack.
Contents
UnNetHack
| ; Watcher in the Water File:Watcher in the Water.png | |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | |
| Attacks |
Claw 2d6 physical, Claw 2d6 physical, Bearhug 2d6 drowning, Bite 5d6 physical |
| Base level | 24 |
| Base experience | |
| Speed | 9 |
| Base AC | −2 |
| Base MR | 30 |
| Alignment | −3 (chaotic) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | 0 (Not randomly generated) |
| Genocidable | No |
| Weight | 2000 |
| Nutritional value | 1000 |
| Size | huge |
| Resistances | poison, sleep |
| Resistances conveyed |
sleep |
|
The Watcher in the Water:
| |
| Reference | [1] |
In UnNetHack, the Watcher in the Water is found on the final level of the Ruins of Moria. It is similar to an ordinary kraken, but stronger and faster. It carries a magic lamp as a sort of prize for the player for reaching the end of the branch.
Strategy
The Watcher can be teleported onto dry land to make it less dangerous. Killing it over land also ensures that its magic lamp can be retrieved.
Encyclopedia entry
Out from the water a long sinuous tentacle had crawled; it
was pale-green and luminous and wet. Its fingered end had
hold of Frodo's foot, and was dragging him into the water.
Sam on his knees was now slashing at it with a knife. The
arm let go of Frodo, and Sam pulled him away, crying out
for help. Twenty other arms came rippling out. The dark
water boiled, and there was a hideous stench.
dNethack
| ; Watcher in the Water File:Watcher in the Water.png | |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 30 |
| Attacks |
Claw 2d8 physical, Claw 2d8 physical, Bearhug 2d6 drowning, Bite 5d6 physical, Gaze attack 0d0 special, Explode on death 0d0 special |
| Base level | 24 |
| Base experience | 1822 |
| Speed | 9 |
| Base AC | −2 |
| Base MR | 125 |
| Alignment | −3 (chaotic) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | 0 (Not randomly generated) |
| Genocidable | No |
| Weight | 2000 |
| Nutritional value | 1000 |
| Size | huge |
| Resistances | disintegration, poison, petrification |
| Resistances conveyed | |
|
The Watcher in the Water:
| |
The Watcher is the "mid boss" of the dwarf noble (Dnb) quest. The main body of the Watcher attempts to remain at least 3 squares from the player at all times, and attempts to avoid being on the same line in order to frustrate ranged attacks. The main body will spawn tentacles with its gaze attack; up to a maximum of 6 swarms of snaking tentacles and 2 long sinuous tentacles will be generated. If the Watcher's main body is killed, all the tentacles die as well.
Swarm of snaking tentacles
| ; swarm of snaking tentacles File:Swarm of snaking tentacles.png | |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 22 |
| Attacks |
Tentacle 2d6 physical, Tentacle 2d6 physical, Bearhug 2d6 drowning |
| Base level | 20 |
| Base experience | 0 |
| Speed | 12 |
| Base AC | 6 |
| Base MR | 125 |
| Alignment | −3 (chaotic) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | 0 (Not randomly generated) |
| Genocidable | No |
| Weight | 1800 |
| Nutritional value | 1000 |
| Size | huge |
| Resistances | sleep, disintegration, poison, petrification |
| Resistances conveyed | |
|
A swarm of snaking tentacles:
| |
Swarms of snaking tentacles are generated by the Watcher in the Water, and will attempt to drown the player. No more than 6 swarms will be generated at a time; however, destroyed tentacle swarms will be replaced by the Watcher's main body.
Long sinuous tentacle
| w long sinuous tentacle File:Long sinuous tentacle.png | |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 21 |
| Attacks |
Reach 4d8 physical |
| Base level | 20 |
| Base experience | 0 |
| Speed | 12 |
| Base AC | 6 |
| Base MR | 125 |
| Alignment | −3 (chaotic) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | 0 (Not randomly generated) |
| Genocidable | No |
| Weight | 1800 |
| Nutritional value | 1000 |
| Size | huge |
| Resistances | sleep, disintegration, poison, petrification |
| Resistances conveyed | |
|
A long sinuous tentacle:
| |
Long sinuous tentacles are generated by the Watcher in the Water. They do not have a drowning attack; however, they have a strong two-square reach attack. No more than 2 of these tentacles will be generated at a time, and destroyed tentacles will be replaced by the Watcher's main body.
Mythology
The Watcher comes from the first part of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. It appears as a mysterious aquatic creature lurking in a pool outside the western entrance to the dwarvish realm of Moria, from which it attacks the main characters (the Fellowship) as they are about to enter. The encyclopedia entry describes the creature as it grabs Frodo, the protagonist, and tries to drag him underwater. The name "The Watcher in the Water" comes from a historical account the party discover later, which reveals that the monster also prevented Moria's defenders from escaping through that exit.
Little is known about the exact nature of the creature, as the characters catch only a brief glimpse of it, but the detail of its having tentacles (at least twenty) suggests that it may be some kind of monstrous cephalopod. The passage describes the Watcher's tentacle as "fingered", which is inconsistent with real-life cephalopods, but this may simply be a metaphor meaning that the tentacle was curled like a finger.
In vanilla NetHack, the passage describing the Watcher is used as the encyclopedia entry for the kraken, implying that the Watcher is assumed to be representative of that legendary creature, which is usually portrayed as a giant cephalopod. (UnNetHack changes the kraken's encyclopedia entry to an unrelated poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.)
In both UnNetHack and dNetHack, the Watcher appears as a "boss" at the surface end of a series of levels inspired by Moria.
