Ogre

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An ogre, O, is a type of monster that appears in NetHack. It is a large, strong and carnivorous humanoid that is the most basic form of ogre. An ogre has infravision, can be seen via infravision and will seek out gold, gems, weapons and armor to pick up.

An ogre has a single weapon attack.

Generation

Randomly generated ogres may be created peaceful towards chaotic characters, and can generate in small groups of two to four. An ogre can grow up into an ogre lord.

The ogre is the first quest monster for Barbarians, and makes up 96175 of the monsters randomly generated on the Barbarian quest. Several ogres are also generated on level creation for each floor of the quest: eleven on the home level, seven on the upper filler level, seventeen on the locate level, seven on the lower filler level(s), and sixteen on the goal level. Ogres may also appear among the random O that are part of the first quest monster class for the Barbarian quest, and make up 24175 of monsters that are randomly generated there.

They are generated with some gold and either a club (1112 chance) or a battle-axe (112 chance), and can generate with offensive, defensive and miscellaneous items.[1]

Strategy

Ogres are quite strong, but generally slow and can easily be picked off from a distance, especially with projectile weapons. Characters without the AC or weaponry to try and best an ogre in melee combat may prefer projectiles, though be mindful that ogres can often generate with wands. Wands themselves are a good option to use against ogres, since they lack any MR score.

Barbarians on their quest will want to be particularly mindful of the potential for wands - the flipside of this is that ogres make a good source of loot if they can be dispatched reliably and quickly. Ogre corpses are also a decently good source of nutrition for players and any carnivorous pets.

History

The ogre is introduced in NetHack 3.0.0.

From NetHack 3.1.0 to NetHack 3.2.3, ogres are the second quest monster for the defunct Elf role, making up 24175 of the monsters randomly generated on the Elf quest, and each level of the quest below the home level also generated some ogres at level creation: one on the upper filler level, four on the locate level, two in the lower filler level(s), and eight on the goal level. Ogres can also appear among the random O that are part of the second quest monster class and make up 6175 of the monsters randomly generated there.

Origin

An ogre (feminine: ogress) is a legendary monster depicted as a large, hideous humanoid being that eats ordinary humans, especially infants and children. Ogres frequently feature in mythology, folklore, literature, and fiction throughout the world, and are most often associated with fairy tales and legend. Ogres are also sometimes depicted with disproportionately large heads, abundant hair, unusually-colored skin, a voracious appetite, and a strong body. Tales featuring well-known ogres include "Puss in Boots" and "Hop-o'-My-Thumb".

Ogres are closely linked with giants and human cannibals in mythology; giants in both folklore and fiction are often given ogrish traits (e.g. the giants in "Jack and the Beanstalk" and "Jack the Giant Killer", the Giant Despair in The Pilgrim's Progress, and the Jötunn of Norse mythology), while ogres may be given giant-like traits. Ogres also appear in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game as large, powerful humanoids with slightly below average intelligence, and have occasionally featured as playable characters.

The ogres of NetHack derive their stats from the 1st Edition Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual, which describes ogres as ugly-tempered, voracious and fond of treasure. They can be found in virtually any terrain, including subterranean areas, and usually serve as mercenaries for orcs, gnolls and/or evil clerics. Ogres also freely dwell near the territories of trolls and some giants, and are sometimes enslaved by demons. Ogres range from "dull blackish-brawn to dead yellow" in color, and wear any sort of skins or furs; they are said to care well for their weapons and armor, despite the slovenly traits associated with them and other folkloric ogres.

Variants

SLASH'EM

In SLASH'EM, four ogres appear in the halls of Grund's Stronghold.

In older versions, ogres are the second quest monster for the defunct Gnome role, making up 24175 of the monsters randomly generated on the Gnome quest, and each level of the quest except for the lower filler level(s) also generate some ogres at level creation: ten on the home level, seven on the upper filler level, two on the locate level, and seven on the goal level. Ogres also appear among the random O that are part of the second quest monster class and make up 6175 of the monsters randomly generated there.

Ogres also appear on the defunct Hobbit quest, where four are generated on the locate level at level creation, and two are generated similarly on the lower filler level(s).

GruntHack

Main article: Ogre (starting race)

In GruntHack, ogres are a playable race and an eligible race for the various racial monsters that appear in the dungeon, which includes shopkeepers and soldiers as well as lords and kings.

dNetHack

In dNetHack, ogres may appear in the court of a throne room ruled by an ogre king.

The Chaos Temple variant of the Chaos Quest generates 2 ogres within the forest area of the Ancient Temple level, and 110 of the randomly generated monsters on that level will be ogres.

The revamped Elvish Racial Quest generates three ogres on the locate level of the branch at level creation, as well as generating some in the lower filler level(s).

SlashTHEM

Main article: Ogre (starting race)

SlashTHEM also features the ogre as a playable race, formerly called the ogro.

Encyclopedia entry

Anyone who has met a gluttonous, nude, angry ogre, will not
easily forget this encounter -- if he survives it at all.
Both male and female ogres can easily grow as tall as three
metres. Build and facial expressions would remind one of a
Neanderthal. Its small, pointy, keen teeth are striking.
Since ogres avoid direct sunlight, their ragged, unfurry
skin is as white as a sheet. They enjoy coating their body
with lard and usually wear nothing but a loin-cloth. An elf
would smell its rancid stench at ten metres distance.
Ogres are solitary creatures: very rarely one may encounter
a female with two or three young. They are the only real
carnivores among the humanoids, and its favourite meal is --
not surprisingly -- human flesh. They sometimes ally with
orcs or goblins, but only when they anticipate a good meaty
meal.

[ The Book of Rules; The Eye of the Master]

References