agaricus5
Level: Smitemaster
Rank Points: 1838
Registered: 02-04-2003
IP: Logged
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The Fireball (0)
This monster is usually found in places near area of high volcanic activity, especially near constructive plate margins and their volcanoes where runny, basaltic, basic lava is found in abundance. It is a strange monster, similar to a tar baby that has adapted special enzymes and proteins that can withstand very high temperatures, and has also evolved a very efficient fuel storage mechanism that allows it to store a lot of fuel in its body and control its combustion. It usually sits in dark places and caves, with a layer of igniting fuel surrounding it entirely for protection and to catch and roast any unwary prey that accidentally falls or goes too near to the Fireball. Usually, it needs to eat often to keep its fuel supply topped up, and so does not like to travel far from sources of heat and volcanic activity, because this helps to conserve its energy when it is not doing anything. However, due to the increasing usage of longer hydrocarbons as fuels in lighting equipment, Fireballs have been able to utilise these sources of energy and so spread further from their original areas to populate dungeons further away.
Fireballs are not very clever monsters, and once they sense Beethro, will make for him like a roach will, being able to move in all eight directions. However, unlike Roaches, Fireballs are completely surrounded by a layer of igniting fuel, and so like their name suggests, looks like a walking fireball. Because of this, Fireballs can, and will, set alight anything flammable that they contact with. They will set any single–square monster (Multi–square monsters like serpents are invulnerable to it) they are next to horizontally, vertically or diagonally on fire. Monsters set on fire that can move, will immediately change behaviour, whatever monster they are, by running away directly from the Fireball in the same way a Roach Queen will to Beethro, irrespective of where Beethro is in the room. Monsters cannot burn indefinitely, so five moves after they have been set on fire, if they have not been killed already, they burn up completely. If a monster on fire touches (moves into a square adjacent to another flammable monster) another monster, or another monster moves into a square next to a monster on fire, then the one on fire will set fire to the other. Monsters that are flammable, but cannot move, such as brains, will still burn for five moves and can set light to passing monsters. If a sleeping Evil Eye or other monster is asleep when it is set on fire, it will wake immediately, and run away from the Fireball like any other monster will. Tar is, however, immune to Fire, although Tar Babies are not, and any wall or Tar based monster is also invulnerable to fire as Tar is not flammable, and things in walls cannot burn because they are not exposed to oxygen. The Fireball’s ability to burn things is such that it can set whole hordes of monsters on fire because it spreads quickly. However, monsters on fire and Fireballs will also destroy potions and other objects on the ground on contact.
Fire, however, is also lethal to Beethro, so if a monster on fire or a Fireball steps into a square next to Beethro or Beethro steps into a square next to a monster on fire, Beethro will himself catch fire and burn to death, unless he kills the monster when he moves into a square adjacent to the monster’s position. Beethro can therefore only kill monsters on fire or Fireballs by stepping towards them. Mimics cannot, however, be set on fire (for consistency in being ignored by monsters). If Beethro stabs a Fireball, it explodes, scattering three flaming fragments of it outwards, one in the direction of Beethro’s movement, and one to 45 degrees either side of this that will travel two squares before disintegrating. These fragments will also set things that they pass next to on fire, although if they directly hit anything, the monster is set on fire, but the fragment is destroyed.
Fireballs can also be killed by being engulfed in anything liquid, such as Tar or The Flow, so if it spreads forward and a Fireball occupies a square it will expand onto, the fireball will be killed and the liquid fill the square it was on previously. Fireballs cannot, however, set fire to walls, orbs, crumbly walls, trapdoors or other solid objects like doors.
I think that’s it for now, but I have one or two variations that I will post later when I have the time.
All comments you have on this will be very welcome.
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Resident Medic/Mycologist
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/dy
