Difference between revisions of "Yendorian army"

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  |reference=[[monst.c#line2258]]
 
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:''"[[Sergeant]]" redirects here. For other uses of the term, see [[Sergeant (disambiguation)]].
+
:''"Sergeant" redirects here. For other uses of the term, see [[Sergeant (disambiguation)]].''
  
The '''Yendorian army''' is composed of
+
The '''Yendorian army''' is a group of [[Human (monster attribute)|human]]s encountered in ''[[NetHack]]''. According to their [[encyclopedia]] entry, they are employed and often trained directly by the [[Wizard of Yendor]] himself. The Yendorian army is composed of:
* {{monsym|soldier}} soldiers
+
* {{monsym|soldier}} '''soldiers'''
* {{monsym|sergeant}} sergeants
+
* {{monsym|sergeant}} '''sergeants'''
* {{monsym|lieutenant}} lieutenants
+
* {{monsym|lieutenant}} '''lieutenants'''
* {{monsym|captain}} captains
+
* {{monsym|captain}} '''captains'''
  
They are [[Monster starting inventory|generated with]] weaponry varying from [[short sword]]s to [[silver saber]]s and armor varying from [[leather armor]] to [[crystal plate mail]] (depending on their experience and rank); most can also be generated with [[gloves]], [[boots]], [[helmet]]s, [[shield]]s, [[wand]]s, and [[C-ration|C-]] or [[K-ration]]s. Those ranked above soldier also have a chance of carrying a [[bugle]], which they can use to awaken all mercenaries on the level.
+
All Yendorian Army members are [[chaotic]], are not valid [[polymorph]] forms, and can [[follow]] the player to other levels; like other humans, they do not respect [[Elbereth]]. They have low [[monster magic resistance]], and possess at least one weapon attack per turn; lieutenants and captains are capable of two per turn.
  
[[Barracks]] are populated entirely by mercenaries; very large contingents of mercenaries and barracks are guaranteed to appear in the [[castle]] and [[Fort Ludios]], especially the latter. Regular soldiers are therefore quite likely to become [[extinct]] if you reach the Fort.  
+
==Generation==
 +
{{main|Mercenary}}
 +
All members of the army are considered [[mercenaries]], which among other things governs how their [[Monster starting inventory|starting inventory]] is generated. All soldiers are eligible for [[offensive item]]s.  
  
Mercenaries can be [[bribe]]d, turning them [[peaceful]], by throwing a certain amount of gold at them.  The amount of gold necessary for this is as follows:
+
Yendorian army soldiers and sergeants are frequently generated in small [[group]]s. [[Barracks]] are [[special room]]s populated entirely by mercenaries; very large contingents of soldiers and barracks are guaranteed to appear in the [[castle]] and [[Fort Ludios]].
X + ((gold left in inventory) + (1 to 5 times your [[experience level]])) / [[charisma]]
 
'X' is 150 for soldiers, 250 for sergeants, 500 for lieutenants, and 750 for captains.  Mercenaries only have a two in three chance of accepting the offer.{{refsrc|dokick.c|299}}
 
  
==Equipment==
 
 
===Weapons===
 
===Weapons===
Ordinary soldiers have a {{frac|3}} chance of being generated with a random weapon from the set of all [[polearm]]s, plus [[lance]]s and [[mattock]]s. If this is the case, they will always get a secondary weapon: either a knife or a [[dagger]] (50% chance each).{{refsrc|makemon.c|190}} Otherwise, a plain soldier's primary weapon will be either an ordinary [[spear]] or an ordinary [[short sword]], with equal probability. These soldiers have a {{frac|3|4}} chance of taking a knife as a secondary weapon, or else have no secondary weapon at all.
+
Ordinary soldiers have a {{frac|3}} chance of being generated with a random weapon from the set of all [[polearm]]s, plus [[lance]]s and [[dwarvish mattock]]s; if this is the case, they will always get either a knife or a [[dagger]] as a secondary weapon, with equal probability.{{refsrc|makemon.c|190}} Otherwise, a plain soldier's primary weapon will have be either an ordinary [[spear]] or an ordinary [[short sword]] with equal probability; these soldiers have a {{frac|3|4}} chance of taking a knife as a secondary weapon.
  
Higher-ranked soldiers randomly take one of two primary weapons, with equal probability. Sergeants choose either a [[flail]] or a [[mace]]. Lieutenants choose either an ordinary [[broadsword]] or a [[long sword]]. Captains choose either a long sword or a [[silver saber]]. All of these higher-ranked soldiers also have a {{frac|3|4}} chance of taking a knife as a secondary weapon.
+
{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Lances and mattocks no longer generate as starting weapons on watchmen and soldiers.<ref>[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/commit/da859c5eb88e17d04ec2bb37e2c12842e9f4c4a9 fix github issue #623 - soldiers and mattocks]</ref>}}
  
Like many other monsters, soldiers of all ranks are eligible to be given a random [[offensive item]], such as an attack [[wand]] or an offensive [[potion]]. This will occur if the monster's level is greater than or equal to the roll of a ''d75''.{{refsrc|makemon.c|464}} This makes them potentially dangerous to face without a means of handling magical attacks, but a strong enough player can also use them as a source of wands if so desired.
+
Higher-ranked soldiers randomly take one of two primary weapons, with equal probability. Sergeants choose either a [[flail]] or a [[mace]]; lieutenants choose either an ordinary [[broadsword]] or a [[long sword]]; and captains choose either a long sword or a [[silver saber]]. All of these higher-ranked soldiers also have a {{frac|3|4}} chance of taking a knife as a secondary weapon.
  
 
===Armor===
 
===Armor===
Line 118: Line 117:
 
|}
 
|}
  
The game uses a complicated procedure to outfit each soldier with a selection of armor giving roughly the target AC. If the soldier is unlucky, he might be given less armor; if he is lucky, he might be given enchanted armor that takes him beyond the target.
+
The game uses a complicated procedure to outfit each mercenary with a selection of armor giving roughly the target AC. If the soldier is unlucky, they might be given less armor; if they are lucky, they might be given enchanted armor that takes them beyond the target. Each mercenary is generated with one suit of body armor, and will always receive [[leather armor]] at bare minimum. All ranks are eligible for [[ring mail]] or [[studded leather armor]]; sergeants and above are eligible for [[splint mail]] or [[banded mail]]; and lieutenants and captains are eligible for [[plate mail]] or [[crystal plate mail]].
  
Each soldier is generated with one suit of body armor. Lieutenants and captains are eligible for (but not guaranteed) [[plate mail]] or [[crystal plate mail]]. Sergeants and above are eligible for [[splint mail]] or [[banded mail]]. All ranks are eligible for [[ring mail]] or [[studded leather armor]]. Soldiers of all ranks are guaranteed to receive at least [[leather armor]].
+
In addition, soldiers  of all ranks may be randomly generated with any of the items from the following list:
  
In addition, soldiers of all ranks can be randomly generated with zero or more items from the following list: [[helmet]], [[dented pot]], [[small shield]], [[large shield]], [[low boots]], [[high boots]], [[leather gloves]], [[leather cloak]]. There is no guarantee that any particular slot will be filled, and soldiers will be given multiple items for any slot. As a majority of soldiers normally wear gloves, they can wield [[cockatrice]] corpses against you.
+
<div class="div-col columns column-width" style="-moz-column-width: 30em; -webkit-column-width: 30em; column-width: 30em;">
 +
*[[helmet]]
 +
*[[dented pot]]
 +
*[[small shield]]
 +
*[[large shield]]
 +
*[[low boots]]
 +
*[[high boots]]
 +
*[[leather gloves]]
 +
*[[leather cloak]]
 +
</div>
  
===Other equipment===
+
There is no guarantee that any particular non-body armor slot will be filled; soldiers can be given multiple items for any slot.
Soldiers of all ranks have a {{frac|3}} chance of being generated with a [[K-ration]], and an independent {{frac|2}} chance of being generated with a [[C-ration]]. Sergeants and above also have a {{frac|3}} chance of being generated with a [[bugle]].{{refsrc|makemon.c|549}}
 
Unlike all other monster types, ordinary soldiers have a {{frac|12|13}} chance of missing all of the rolls for being generated with random [[defensive item]]s, [[miscellaneous item]]s, and [[gold]].{{refsrc|makemon.c|653}} Other ranks are unaffected.
 
  
==Description==
+
===Other items===
 +
Soldiers of all ranks have a {{frac|3}} chance of being generated with a [[K-ration]], and an independent {{frac|2}} chance of being generated with a [[C-ration]]. Sergeants and above also have a {{frac|3}} chance of being generated with a [[bugle]].{{refsrc|makemon.c|549}} Ordinary soldiers are only {{frac|13}}th as likely as other monsters to receive a [[defensive item]], [[miscellaneous item]], or [[gold]];{{refsrc|makemon.c|653}} other ranks are unaffected.
 +
 
 +
==Strategy==
 +
The usual tactics for handling groups of monsters applies; drawing soldiers into a corridor is effective for both reducing vulnerability and thinning their ranks, especially since they will likely be caught in the path of their allies' attack wands. However, said wands also make them potentially dangerous to face without [[reflection]] or [[magic resistance]] in later levels, especially Fort Ludios; on the other hand, a strong enough player can also use them as a source of such wands if so desired. As a majority of soldiers normally wear gloves, they can wield [[footrice]] corpses against you; be wary of this if you kill one in their presence, especially in [[Gehennom]].
 +
 
 +
Due to the potential frequency of barracks outside of the guaranteed set in the Castle, soldiers may become [[extinct]] in a game where you reach Fort Ludios.
 +
 
 +
In addition to wands, the armor, weapons and items dropped from killing Yendorian army fighters are a good source of [[polyfodder]] and can also replace your own eroded or lower-enchantment armor. In addition, their corpses will keep you carnivorous pet full, and are plentiful food sources; you can stash the C-rations and K-rations for later use, since they take only one turn to eat. Additionally, non-humans and human [[Cavemen]] can get half a [[food ration]]'s worth of nutrition from eating their corpses without worrying about [[cannibalism]].
 +
 
 +
===Bribery===
 +
Yendorian Army soldiers, as well as any monster with the <code>M2_MERC</code> flag in their code, can be [[bribe]]d by throwing a certain amount of gold at them, turning them [[peaceful]]. Bribing a soldier can be used to block off a hallway in areas such as the Castle; hostile monsters will not route their movement past peaceful ones.{{refsrc|dokick.c|319}} This can then be used to herd and eliminate groups of monsters with other crowd control strategies&mdash;a knight can [[pound]] away at foes with a [[lance]] without disturbing the peaceful merc between them, and [[wizard]]s can cast skilled {{spell of|fireball}} or {{spell of|cone of cold}} with impunity. This will not stop [[teleport]]ing or covetous foes, and the soldier can still die from enemy ranged attacks - a human shield won't do much good against a [[black dragon]]'s [[disintegration]] breath.
 +
 
 +
==Variant==
 +
===SLASH'EM===
 +
In [[SLASH'EM]], soldiers always wield [[firearm]]s of some kind.
 +
 
 +
==Encyclopedia entry==
 
{{encyclopedia|
 
{{encyclopedia|
The soldiers of Yendor are well-trained in the art of war,
+
The soldiers of Yendor are well-trained in the art of war, many trained by the [[Wizard of Yendor|Wizard]] himself.  Some say the soldiers are explorers who were unfortunate enough to be captured, and put under the Wizard's spell.  Those who have survived encounters with soldiers say they travel together in platoons, and are fierce fighters.  Because of the load of their combat gear, however, one can usually run away from them, and doing so is considered a wise thing.}}
many trained by the [[Wizard of Yendor|Wizard]] himself.  Some say the soldiers
 
are explorers who were unfortunate enough to be captured,
 
and put under the Wizard's spell.  Those who have survived
 
encounters with soldiers say they travel together in platoons,
 
and are fierce fighters.  Because of the load of their combat
 
gear, however, one can usually run away from them, and doing
 
so is considered a wise thing.
 
}}
 
  
==SLASH'EM==
+
==References==
In [[SLASH'EM]], mercenaries always wield [[firearm]]s of some kind.
+
<references/>
  
==References==
 
<references />
 
 
[[Category:Monsters]]
 
[[Category:Monsters]]
{{nethack-360}}
+
{{nethack-364}}

Latest revision as of 17:34, 22 November 2023

"Sergeant" redirects here. For other uses of the term, see Sergeant (disambiguation).

The Yendorian army is a group of humans encountered in NetHack. According to their encyclopedia entry, they are employed and often trained directly by the Wizard of Yendor himself. The Yendorian army is composed of:

  • @ soldiers
  • @ sergeants
  • @ lieutenants
  • @ captains

All Yendorian Army members are chaotic, are not valid polymorph forms, and can follow the player to other levels; like other humans, they do not respect Elbereth. They have low monster magic resistance, and possess at least one weapon attack per turn; lieutenants and captains are capable of two per turn.

Generation

Main article: Mercenary

All members of the army are considered mercenaries, which among other things governs how their starting inventory is generated. All soldiers are eligible for offensive items.

Yendorian army soldiers and sergeants are frequently generated in small groups. Barracks are special rooms populated entirely by mercenaries; very large contingents of soldiers and barracks are guaranteed to appear in the castle and Fort Ludios.

Weapons

Ordinary soldiers have a 13 chance of being generated with a random weapon from the set of all polearms, plus lances and dwarvish mattocks; if this is the case, they will always get either a knife or a dagger as a secondary weapon, with equal probability.[1] Otherwise, a plain soldier's primary weapon will have be either an ordinary spear or an ordinary short sword with equal probability; these soldiers have a 34 chance of taking a knife as a secondary weapon.

The following information pertains to an upcoming version (NetHack 3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that it is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate this information.

Lances and mattocks no longer generate as starting weapons on watchmen and soldiers.[2]

Higher-ranked soldiers randomly take one of two primary weapons, with equal probability. Sergeants choose either a flail or a mace; lieutenants choose either an ordinary broadsword or a long sword; and captains choose either a long sword or a silver saber. All of these higher-ranked soldiers also have a 34 chance of taking a knife as a secondary weapon.

Armor

Each rank of soldier has a particular target AC as follows:

Rank Target AC
soldier 3
sergeant 0
lieutenant −2
captain −3

The game uses a complicated procedure to outfit each mercenary with a selection of armor giving roughly the target AC. If the soldier is unlucky, they might be given less armor; if they are lucky, they might be given enchanted armor that takes them beyond the target. Each mercenary is generated with one suit of body armor, and will always receive leather armor at bare minimum. All ranks are eligible for ring mail or studded leather armor; sergeants and above are eligible for splint mail or banded mail; and lieutenants and captains are eligible for plate mail or crystal plate mail.

In addition, soldiers of all ranks may be randomly generated with any of the items from the following list:

There is no guarantee that any particular non-body armor slot will be filled; soldiers can be given multiple items for any slot.

Other items

Soldiers of all ranks have a 13 chance of being generated with a K-ration, and an independent 12 chance of being generated with a C-ration. Sergeants and above also have a 13 chance of being generated with a bugle.[3] Ordinary soldiers are only 113th as likely as other monsters to receive a defensive item, miscellaneous item, or gold;[4] other ranks are unaffected.

Strategy

The usual tactics for handling groups of monsters applies; drawing soldiers into a corridor is effective for both reducing vulnerability and thinning their ranks, especially since they will likely be caught in the path of their allies' attack wands. However, said wands also make them potentially dangerous to face without reflection or magic resistance in later levels, especially Fort Ludios; on the other hand, a strong enough player can also use them as a source of such wands if so desired. As a majority of soldiers normally wear gloves, they can wield footrice corpses against you; be wary of this if you kill one in their presence, especially in Gehennom.

Due to the potential frequency of barracks outside of the guaranteed set in the Castle, soldiers may become extinct in a game where you reach Fort Ludios.

In addition to wands, the armor, weapons and items dropped from killing Yendorian army fighters are a good source of polyfodder and can also replace your own eroded or lower-enchantment armor. In addition, their corpses will keep you carnivorous pet full, and are plentiful food sources; you can stash the C-rations and K-rations for later use, since they take only one turn to eat. Additionally, non-humans and human Cavemen can get half a food ration's worth of nutrition from eating their corpses without worrying about cannibalism.

Bribery

Yendorian Army soldiers, as well as any monster with the M2_MERC flag in their code, can be bribed by throwing a certain amount of gold at them, turning them peaceful. Bribing a soldier can be used to block off a hallway in areas such as the Castle; hostile monsters will not route their movement past peaceful ones.[5] This can then be used to herd and eliminate groups of monsters with other crowd control strategies—a knight can pound away at foes with a lance without disturbing the peaceful merc between them, and wizards can cast skilled fireball or cone of cold with impunity. This will not stop teleporting or covetous foes, and the soldier can still die from enemy ranged attacks - a human shield won't do much good against a black dragon's disintegration breath.

Variant

SLASH'EM

In SLASH'EM, soldiers always wield firearms of some kind.

Encyclopedia entry

The soldiers of Yendor are well-trained in the art of war, many trained by the Wizard himself. Some say the soldiers are explorers who were unfortunate enough to be captured, and put under the Wizard's spell. Those who have survived encounters with soldiers say they travel together in platoons, and are fierce fighters. Because of the load of their combat gear, however, one can usually run away from them, and doing so is considered a wise thing.

References

This page may need to be updated for the current version of NetHack.

It may contain text specific to NetHack 3.6.4. Information on this page may be out of date.

Editors: After reviewing this page and making necessary edits, please change the {{nethack-364}} tag to the current version's tag or {{noversion}} as appropriate.