Platypus
z platypus 
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 6 |
| Attacks | |
| Base level | 4 |
| Base experience | 45 |
| Speed | 8 |
| Base AC | 8 |
| Base MR | 0 |
| Alignment | 0 (neutral) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | 1 (Very rare) |
| Genocidable | Yes |
| Weight | 20 |
| Nutritional value | 12 |
| Size | Tiny |
| Resistances | None |
| Resistances conveyed | None |
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A platypus:
| |
| Reference | SLASH'EM_0.0.7E7F2/monst.c#line1865 |
A platypus, z, is a type of monster that appears in SLASH'EM, SlashTHEM, SpliceHack, and Hack'EM. It is a carnivorous, oviparous and thick-skinned animal, and is the only zouthern animal capable of swimming.
A platypus possesses a claw attack and a somewhat unique kicking attack that is poisonous and can drain strength.
Strategy
The platypus is a potentially dangerous early monster due to its poisonous kick, which can cause unwanted stat loss and possibly even instadeath. Thankfully, its slow speed and poor defensive abilities generally make it easy to take out before it can get within melee range or land too many kicks, particularly with ranged weapons. The poisonous kick is also affected by magic cancellation - MC3 will render platypuses nearly harmless.
Origin
The platypus, sometimes referred to as the duck-billed platypus, is a semiaquatic and egg-laying mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. Both the platypus and the four species of echidna make up the monotremes: mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. It is one of the few species of venomous mammals - the male platypus has a spur on the hind foot that delivers an extremely painful venom.
The unusual appearance of this egg-laying, duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed mammal at first baffled European naturalists, to the point that in 1799, the first scientists to examine a preserved platypus body judged it as a fake made of several animals sewn together. The unique features of the platypus make it both an important figure in the study of evolutionary biology, and a recognizable and iconic symbol of Australia. It has appeared as a national mascot, features on the reverse of the Australian twenty-cent coin, and is an emblem of the state of New South Wales; it is culturally significant to several Aboriginal peoples, who also used to hunt it for food.
