Overlord

An overlord is a type of monster in NetHack that is considered to have a position of rulership among other monsters of the same kind or class, placing them above those monsters and even monster lords, and is designated by the M2_PRINCE monster flag (and the is_prince() macro that queries it).

Description

A monster overlord has the following traits:

• They gain a +2 multishot bonus when throwing or shooting projectiles.
• When generating monster starting inventory, if an overlord has a weapon attack and no special rules for their species, they are more likely to receive one of the default weapon sets (⁵⁄₈, versus ¹⁄₂ for lords and ⁵⁄₁₂ otherwise). Their weapon will always have a minimum enchantment of +1, and their armor will have a minimum enchantment of +0, explained in the code with the note "leaders don't tolerate inferior quality battle gear".
• Demon princes are major demons that are overlords to their kind, and can only be generated by demon gating from the melee attacks of other demon lords and princes.
• A hero in the form of a monster overlord receives a different message from having no effect when sitting on a throne.

The following traits are not directly a result of the overlord attribute, but are common among monster overlords:

• Monster overlords are often seen ruling over throne rooms—the monsters that are eligible to be placed on the throne are all overlords.
• They are often the final stage of growth for a monster that can grow up into them.

List of monsters

The following monsters are overlords:

• a queen bee
• h dwarf ruler
• G gnome ruler
• O ogre tyrant
• V Vlad the Impaler
• @ elven monarch
• @ high cleric
• @ Wizard of Yendor
• @ Croesus
• & Orcus
• & Geryon
• & Dispater
• & Baalzebub
• & Asmodeus
• & Demogorgon

Messages

You feel very comfortable here.

You sat on a throne while in the form of a monster that is an overlord to its kind, or after being crowned.

Variants

GruntHack

In GruntHack, kings and queens are used to create monster overlords via racial monster templates.

dNetHack

In dNetHack, notdNetHack and notnotdNetHack, monster overlords are designated by the MG_PRINCE monster flag.