Pack rat (Hack'EM)
r pack rat 
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 3 |
| Attacks |
Bite 1d3 physical, touch 1d1 item theft |
| Base level | 2 |
| Base experience | ? |
| Speed | 12 |
| Base AC | 7 |
| Base MR | 0 |
| Alignment | 0 (neutral) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | 0 (Not randomly generated) |
| Genocidable | Yes |
| Weight | 30 |
| Nutritional value | 30 |
| Size | Tiny |
| Resistances | None |
| Resistances conveyed | None |
|
A pack rat:
| |
| Reference | Hack'EM 1.3.2 - src/monst.c, line 2166 |
- For the monster in other variants, see pack rat.
A pack rat, r, is a type of monster that appears in Hack'EM. The pack rat is a tiny and carnivorous rodent that is strong, can be seen via infravision, and will seek out food and other items to pick up—these traits are carried over from the pack rat of SpliceHack.
A pack rat has a bite attack that deals physical damage and a touch attack which performs item theft similar to that of a monkey—these attacks use the same damage dice as the pack rat of SLASH'EM and SlashTHEM.
Generation
Pack rats are not randomly generated, and normally-created ones are always hostile.
Four pack rats are randomly generated on the SLASH'EM map of the rat level during level creation, and four pack rats are placed on specific squares of the rat level's sewer map during level creation.
The "raided" map of the Town branch's village level randomly places two pack rats during level creation.
Strategy
While barely much stronger than the black rats that they share a glyph with, pack rats can be annoyances due to their item theft and cannot be easily distinguished from their black rat cousins at a glance. Use the far look and call commands in order to keep track of which specific glyphs represent which monsters so that pack rats do not steal valuable items.
Origin
A pack rat or packrat, also called a woodrat or trade rat, is the name used for any species of rodent in the genus Neotoma. Pack rats get their name from their rat-like appearance, with long tails, large ears, and large, black eyes; they are noticeably larger than deer mice, harvest mice, and grasshopper mice, and are usually somewhat larger than cotton rats. Pack rats habitats can be found in North and Central America.
Pack rats are nest-building animals that use plant material such as twigs, sticks, and other available debris. They are particularly fond of shiny objects, and are known to drop what they are currently carrying upon finding something they want and "trade" that object for the new item. They can also be nusiances to humans that share their habitats, getting into everything from attics to car engines, damaging electrical wiring, and creating general noisy havoc. The term "pack rat" is also sometimes used to refer to anyone who exhibits compulsive hoarding disorders.
Encyclopedia entry
Rats are long-tailed rodents. They are aggressive,
omnivorous, and adaptable, often carrying diseases.
"The rat," said O'Brien, still addressing his invisible
audience, "although a rodent, is carnivorous. You are aware
of that. You will have heard of the things that happen in
the poor quarters of this town. In some streets a woman dare
not leave her baby alone in the house, even for five minutes.
The rats are certain to attack it. Within quite a small time
they will strip it to the bones. They also attack sick or
dying people. They show astonishing intelligence in knowing
when a human being is helpless."
