Ogre (monster class)
The ogre is a monster class that appears in NetHack, and is represented by an uppercase O glyph (O). Ogres are designated internally by the macro S_OGRE.[1]
The class contains the following monsters:[2]
Contents
Common traits
All ogres are chaotic, and may generate as peaceful towards chaotic player characters. They are large, carnivorous humanoids that can wield weapons and wear non-torso armor, and possess a single weapon attack. Ogres are gold lovers and will pick up gold and gems along with various other items.
Stronger ogre monsters have a proportionally higher attack die, faster movement speed, and higher MR score; the ogre king notably has slightly worse AC compared to the ogre lord.
Ogresmasher has +1d5 to-hit and doubled damage against all ogres.
Generation
Ogres are generated with some gold and either a club or a battle-axe, and stronger ogres are more likely to generate with battle-axes.[3]
Ogres are the first quest monster class for Barbarians, and make up 24⁄175 of the monsters that are randomly generated on the Barbarian quest. Random ogres are also generated on each level of the quest beyond the home floor at level creation: one each on the upper filler level, locate level and lower filler level(s), and two on the goal level. Various ogres may also be generated in the Castle's throne room.
Strategy
Ogres are quite strong, but can usually be picked off from a distance, especially with projectile weapons. Characters that lack the AC and/or weaponry to best ogres in melee may usually prefer this latter approach, but beware that they can generate with offensive wands and other inconvenient items to use against you - ogre lords and kings in particular are also as fast as you are at base speed (or faster in the case of kings). This also makes ogres a good source of loot if you can dispatch them quickly and with little trouble, and their corpses are quite filling as well at a range of 500-750 base nutrition.
The frequency of ogres with wands may warrant a source of reflection for Barbarians on their quest, unless they have the means required to tank or resist wand attacks and protect their inventory; ogre lords and kings are also eligible for a rare wand of death.
History
The ogre monster class is introduced in NetHack 3.0.0. Before this version, orcs used the O glyph, and were moved to the o glyph when ogres were introduced.
From NetHack 3.1.0 to NetHack 3.2.3, ogres were the second quest monster class for the Elf quest, composing 3% of randomly generated monsters in the branch. One random ogre was generated on the locate level of the branch at level creation, and another random ogre was similarly generated on the goal level.
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 in "Puss in Boots" and "Hop-o'-My-Thumb".
Ogres are closely linked with giants and with 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
SLASH'EM adds two new ogres to the monster class:
- O ogre mage
- O shadow ogre
Ogres were the second quest monster class for the defunct Gnome quest, composing 3% of randomly generated monsters in the branch. Random ogres were also generated on the levels between the home and goal floor of the branch at level creation: one on the upper filler level, seven on the locate level, and five on the lower filler level(s). A random ogre was also generated on the locate level of the defunct Hobbit quest.
GruntHack
In GruntHack, ogres are a playable race and an eligible race for the various racial monsters that appear in the dungeon, including shopkeepers and soldiers as well as lords and kings.
dNetHack
dNetHack introduces a few new ogres to the monster class:
- O ogre mage
- O ogre emperor
- O siege ogre
EvilHack
In EvilHack, the Infidel quest generates two random ogres in the upper filler level, and another random ogre is placed in a hidden room containing two chests on the locate level.
SlashTHEM
SlashTHEM retains the new ogres added in SLASH'EM and 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.
