Difference between revisions of "Zombie (GruntHack)"

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(second pass for typos and corrections/additional notes for zombie sickness and disposal)
(last touch-ups)
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==Strategy==
 
==Strategy==
Zombies are extremely dangerous early in the game, due to their bite attack. Consumables such as [[eucalyptus leaves]], potions of {{! of|holy water|extra healing|full healing}} can cure sickness, but are rare and in limited supply, while the [[spell of cure sickness]] requires skill in [[healing spells]] and enough energy to use them. A priority for an early character should be to acquire a [[unicorn horn]]; they cure illness and [[restore ability|restore lost attributes]], and allow the player to reliably cure illnesses inflicted in combat.
+
Zombies are extremely dangerous early in the game, due to their bite attack. Consumables such as [[eucalyptus leaves]], potions of {{! of|holy water|extra healing|full healing}} can cure sickness, but are rare and in limited supply, while the [[spell of cure sickness]] requires skill in [[healing spells]] and enough energy to use them. A priority for an early character should be to acquire a [[unicorn horn]]: they cure illness and restore lost attributes, and allow the player to reliably cure illnesses inflicted in combat.
  
 
Ranged attacks can be used to fight zombies without the risk of [[instadeath]]; [[roles]] such as [[Ranger]] or [[Wizard]] start with powerful ranged options. More melee-focused roles may wish to gather a small stack of [[missile]] weapons such as [[daggers]] or [[darts]] to use against zombies.
 
Ranged attacks can be used to fight zombies without the risk of [[instadeath]]; [[roles]] such as [[Ranger]] or [[Wizard]] start with powerful ranged options. More melee-focused roles may wish to gather a small stack of [[missile]] weapons such as [[daggers]] or [[darts]] to use against zombies.
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All non-undead monsters grudge zombies, so leading them to a powerful monster like a [[shopkeeper]] or [[aligned priest]] can be effective in dealing with them - this makes areas such as [[Minetown]] generally safer when fighting zombies, but it is also possible for the zombies to kill off weaker monsters if combat rolls are in their favor.
 
All non-undead monsters grudge zombies, so leading them to a powerful monster like a [[shopkeeper]] or [[aligned priest]] can be effective in dealing with them - this makes areas such as [[Minetown]] generally safer when fighting zombies, but it is also possible for the zombies to kill off weaker monsters if combat rolls are in their favor.
  
'''Do not''' attempt to dispose of zombie corpses by eating them - zombie corpses are still treated as corpses of variable age that also inflict illness when eaten regardless of age, and a rotten food effect from such a corpse can render you unconscious and [[YASD|put an end to your game]]. A [[tinning kit]] or a [[container]] that you can lock and unlock is most ideal for preventing zombie corpses from reviving.
+
'''Do not''' attempt to dispose of zombie corpses by eating them: since they are still treated as corpses of variable age and inflict illness when eaten regardless of age, a rotten food effect from such a corpse can render you unconscious and [[YASD|put an end to your game]]. A [[tinning kit]] or a [[container]] that you can lock and unlock is most ideal for preventing zombie corpses from reviving.
  
 
==Encyclopedia entry==
 
==Encyclopedia entry==

Revision as of 19:28, 6 November 2023

In GruntHack, zombies are a type of monster that can be generated as any monster race. They are significantly more dangerous than their counterparts in NetHack: a zombie possesses a sickness-inducing bite attack which has a 15 chance of draining intelligence similar to the mind flayer.

Zombies can revive from their corpses (as per trolls and the Riders), and have a mutual grudge against living monsters; racial monsters killed by a zombie or the illness they can inflict will turn into zombies themselves.

Eating a zombie corpse will confer terminal illness in addition to the normal effects of eating an aged corpse.

Generation

Randomly generated zombies are always hostile.

A zombie will leave an aged corpse of whatever racial monster they were upon death.

Strategy

Zombies are extremely dangerous early in the game, due to their bite attack. Consumables such as eucalyptus leaves, potions of holy water, extra healing, full healing can cure sickness, but are rare and in limited supply, while the spell of cure sickness requires skill in healing spells and enough energy to use them. A priority for an early character should be to acquire a unicorn horn: they cure illness and restore lost attributes, and allow the player to reliably cure illnesses inflicted in combat.

Ranged attacks can be used to fight zombies without the risk of instadeath; roles such as Ranger or Wizard start with powerful ranged options. More melee-focused roles may wish to gather a small stack of missile weapons such as daggers or darts to use against zombies.

All non-undead monsters grudge zombies, so leading them to a powerful monster like a shopkeeper or aligned priest can be effective in dealing with them - this makes areas such as Minetown generally safer when fighting zombies, but it is also possible for the zombies to kill off weaker monsters if combat rolls are in their favor.

Do not attempt to dispose of zombie corpses by eating them: since they are still treated as corpses of variable age and inflict illness when eaten regardless of age, a rotten food effect from such a corpse can render you unconscious and put an end to your game. A tinning kit or a container that you can lock and unlock is most ideal for preventing zombie corpses from reviving.

Encyclopedia entry

The zombi ... is a soulless human corpse, still dead, but taken from the grave and endowed by sorcery with a mechanical semblance of life, -- it is a dead body which is made to walk and act and move as if it were alive.

[ W. B. Seabrook ]