Difference between revisions of "Water demon"

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==Generation==
 
==Generation==
 
{{main|Fountain}}
 
{{main|Fountain}}
Water demons are not randomly generated, and only appear when [[quaff]]ing from or [[dip]]ping into a fountain, with a {{frac|30}} chance for either action. The water demon will be hostile with a probability of {{frac|(80 + LD)|100}}, where LD is your current [[level difficulty]] - if you have the [[Amulet of Yendor]], they will effectively always be hostile due to this calculation - and otherwise will generate peaceful and grant you a [[wish]].{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|70|nethack=3.6.7}} Water demons can also be [[Demon#Demons summoning demons|gated in]] by the melee attacks of other water demons. The [[Wizard of Yendor]] may create a clone of himself in the guise of a water demon via the [[Double Trouble]] [[monster spell]].
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Water demons are not randomly generated, and only appear when [[quaff]]ing from or [[dip]]ping into a fountain, with a {{frac|30}} chance for either action. The water demon will be hostile with a probability of {{frac|(80 + LD)|100}}, where LD is your current [[level difficulty]] - if you have the [[Amulet of Yendor]], they will effectively always be hostile due to this calculation - and otherwise will generate peaceful and grant you a [[wish]].{{refsrc|src/fountain.c|70|nethack=3.6.7}} Water demons can also be [[Demon#Demons summoning demons|gated in]] by the melee attacks of other water demons. The [[Wizard of Yendor]] may create a clone of himself in the guise of a water demon via the [[Double Trouble]] [[monster spell]].{{refsrc|src/wizard.c|50|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
  
 
A water demon has a chance to [[monster starting inventory|generate with]] any one of the following weapon sets: a [[two-handed sword]], a [[long sword]], a [[lucern hammer]], a [[battle-axe]], or a [[bow]] and 3-14 [[arrow]]s.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|512|version=NetHack 3.6.7|name="default"|common=Default set of cases for a strong monster's weapon generation}}
 
A water demon has a chance to [[monster starting inventory|generate with]] any one of the following weapon sets: a [[two-handed sword]], a [[long sword]], a [[lucern hammer]], a [[battle-axe]], or a [[bow]] and 3-14 [[arrow]]s.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|512|version=NetHack 3.6.7|name="default"|common=Default set of cases for a strong monster's weapon generation}}

Revision as of 23:06, 29 August 2023

A water demon, &, is a type of monster that appears in NetHack. It is a major demon that resides in fountains.

Water demons have a weapon attack, a claw attack, and a bite attack, along with the standard demonic resistances to fire, poison, draining attacks, and death magic.

Generation

Main article: Fountain

Water demons are not randomly generated, and only appear when quaffing from or dipping into a fountain, with a 130 chance for either action. The water demon will be hostile with a probability of (80 + LD)100, where LD is your current level difficulty - if you have the Amulet of Yendor, they will effectively always be hostile due to this calculation - and otherwise will generate peaceful and grant you a wish.[1] Water demons can also be gated in by the melee attacks of other water demons. The Wizard of Yendor may create a clone of himself in the guise of a water demon via the Double Trouble monster spell.[2]

A water demon has a chance to generate with any one of the following weapon sets: a two-handed sword, a long sword, a lucern hammer, a battle-axe, or a bow and 3-14 arrows.[3]

Water demons cannot be a target for genocide, and do not leave a corpse upon death like most demons. They are also not a valid form for polymorph.

Strategy

Though one of the less powerful major demons, their AC of -4 and gating abilities make the water demon more than capable of destroying early-game characters - a tougher player who cannot dispatch one quickly may also find themselves overwhelmed if a second or even third water demon is gated in. This is the result of code governing demon gating that makes monsters with a difficulty greater than the current dungeon level exponentially unlikely to generate, meaning that a majority of the gated demons will be other water demons and foocubi.[4] However, there is a 1260 chance of a water demon summoning Juiblex or Yeenoghu this way.

Starting characters should ideally avoid using fountains as much as possible until they have a solidly built kit of armor and weapons capable of standing against water demons and water moccasins - even then, a gated second water demon or even the presence of a demon lord or prince can turn the battle against you, making a kit of escape items and a source of speed all but necessary. Once you feel confident enough to take your chances with fountains, you can start dipping into fountains to try for a wish, starting from the topmost fountain in the main dungeon to better your odds; dipping is generally safer than quaffing, since at worst only your dipped item will be cursed rather than much of your inevntory.

Encyclopedia entry

[ The monkey king ] walked along the bank, around the pond. He examined the footprints of the animals that had gone into the water, and saw that none came out again! So he realized this pond must be possessed by a water demon. He said to the 80,000 monkeys, "This pond is possessed by a water demon. Do not let anybody go into it."

After a little while, the water demon saw that none of the monkeys went into the water to drink. So he rose out of the middle of the pond, taking the shape of a frightening monster. He had a big blue belly, a white face with bulging green eyes, and red claws and feet. He said, "Why are you just sitting around? Come into the pond and drink at once!"

The monkey king said to the horrible monster, "Are you the water demon who owns this pond?" "Yes, I am," said he. "Do you eat whoever goes into the water?" asked the king. "Yes, I do," he answered, "including even birds. I eat them all. And when you are forced by your thirst to come into the pond and drink, I will enjoy eating you, the biggest monkey, most of all!" He grinned, and saliva dripped down his hairy chin.

[ Buddhist Tales for Young and Old, Vol. 1 ]

References