Spark bug
x spark bug 
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 4 |
| Attacks |
Bite shock 1d3 |
| Base level | 2 |
| Base experience | 19 |
| Speed | 12 |
| Base AC | 9 |
| Base MR | 0 |
| Alignment | 0 (neutral) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | 1 (Very rare) |
| Genocidable | Yes |
| Weight | 15 |
| Nutritional value | 10 |
| Size | Tiny |
| Resistances | shock, poison |
| Resistances conveyed |
None |
|
A spark bug:
| |
| Reference | SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2/monst.c#line1794 |
A spark bug, x, is a type of monster that appears in SLASH'EM, SpliceHack, SlashTHEM, and Hack'EM. It is an electric bug similar to the grid bug, with shock and poison resistance and a bite that inflicts shock damage; due to the bite's hit die being different from a grid bug's, it can actually destroy rings and wands.
In SLASH'EM and SlashTHEM, spark bugs hit as a +1 weapon. In SpliceHack, spark bugs are restricted to orthogonal movement like grid bugs.
Generation
Spark bugs are always generated hostile, and appear in small groups. They are not randomly generated in Gehennom. A spark bug does not leave a corpse upon death.
Grid bugs can grow up into spark bugs, and spark bugs can grow up into arc bugs.
Strategy
Since early sources of shock resistance are highly uncommon, it may be wise to stash or drop any wands you do not plan to use against spark bugs that you encounter, as well as any loose rings. In addition to avoiding losing valuable items to shock damage, wands that explode from shock in SLASH'EM and its variants have the same effect as breaking wands, making them far more likely to be detrimental or even lethal - this especially applies for early game characters. Acquiring a sack or oilskin sack is generally higher priority as a result.
Beyond the threat to your inventory, spark bugs are not especially strong, but groups of them should still be dealt with quickly by you or a pet.
Encyclopedia entry
"What was that?" cried Buck, rubbing his numb and tingling arm.
"Nature's revenge for bug zappers," replied his companion.
