Wand of slow monster
| / | |
|---|---|
| Name | slow monster |
| Appearance | random |
| Abundance | 5% |
| Base price | 150 zm |
| Weight | 7 |
| Type | beam |
| Maximum charges | 8 |
| Spell | slow monster |
| Monster use | Will not be used by monsters. |
A wand of slow monster is a type of wand that appears in NetHack.
Contents
Generation
Wizards may be given a wand of slow monster as the random wand in their starting inventory.[1]
Wands of slow monster make up 1⁄20 (5%) of all randomly-generated wands. General stores and "quality apparel and accessories" shops can sell wands of slow monster.
Description
Zapping the wand has the same effect as the spell of slow monster: any targets hit by the beam lose intrinsic speed, and monsters without intrinsic speed will have their monster speed abnormally lowered to 2⁄3 of their normal speed[2]—monsters zapped with the wand can resist this effect dependent on their MR score, mimics will be uncloaked, and zapping a peaceful monster will anger them.[3] A hero that zaps a whirly monster engulfing them with the wand will disrupt their form if they do not resist the effects, forcing them to expel the hero.[4] A hero that zaps themselves with the wand will remove any intrinsic speed and abuse dexterity.[5]
A hero that slows down themselves or any monster with the wand will auto-identify it. Monsters will not zap this wand.
Engraving with a wand of slow monster gives a unique message if the hero is not blind, but does not auto-identify the wand.[6]
Strategy
The wand of slow monster is best used at range against faster low-MR threats such as soldier ants, leocrottas or winged gargoyles. Nymphs are also worth slowing with the wand to give a hero and/or their pet(s) more turns to kill them or else turn them away. Some of the more powerful hostile monsters may have a much higher MR score, and so are better handled through other means such as scaring or paralysis, while spellcasters are likely to re-cast haste self at the first opportunity.
Whirly monsters are immune to the wand of digging, making the wand of slow monster a valuable item for escaping their grasp: slowing whirly monsters such as energy vortices can let a faster hero (e.g. with speed boots) build up valuable distance to attack them at range. Most such monsters have an MR score of 30 at most—the fog cloud has an even lower score at 0, but already has the lowest possible speed for a monster and is hardly a danger to begin with. Air elementals are among the most worrisome of the whirlies, and still move at twice a player's normal speed even when slowed; though the wand still provides a valuable potential escape, the air elemental may potentially re-engulf you before you can get your bearings.
A wand of slow monster is trivial to identify via engraving, since no other wand will produce the same message.
History
The wand of slow monster appears in Hack 1.21 and Hack for PDP-11, which are both based on Jay Fenlason's Hack, and is included in the initial item list for Hack 1.0.
Messages
- The bugs on the <floor> slow down!
- You engraved with a charged wand of slow monster.
- <Monster> seems to be moving slower.
- You zapped and slowed a monster with the wand.
- You disrupt <monster>!
- A huge hole opens up...
- You zapped and slowed a whirly monster that was engulfing you, causing it to expel you.
- You slow down.
- You lost the speed intrinsic by zapping yourself with a wand of slow monster.
- Your quickness feels less natural.
- As above, but you still have extrinsic speed from another source.
Variants
FIQHack
In FIQHack, the wand of slow monster inflicts stronger slowing effects depending on the wand user's skill in wands, with a duration equal to (skill*d4) + (skill*5) turns:
- Zapping the wand at Unskilled slows a monster for 6-9 turns.
- Zapping the wand at Basic slows a monster for 12-19 turns.
- Zapping the wand at Skilled slows a monster for 18-29 turns and removes intrinsic speed.
- Zapping the wand at Expert slows a monster for 24-39 turns and removes intrinsic speed.
- Zapping the wand at Master slows a monster for 30-49 turns and removes both intrinsic speed and temporary extrinsic speed.
Free action blocks these effects 2⁄3 of the time, and blue dragon scale mail always blocks these effects.
EvilHack
In EvilHack, monsters will use the wand of slow monster offensively against the hero.
