problems with 'breeding' monsters

Halloween Jack · October 29, 2007, 15:46

hi there,

i've had problems in the past with seemingly never ending monsters. i had a huge number of spiders once on my case, i got through it, but only just. i just went up against giant white louses (lice?) and i keep going for ages (i killed over 140) but eventually they got me, there seemed to be loads left. the monster memory says they breed explosively. i guess this is the problem.

are there any tactics for killing these guys. i can't imagine how i could fought it better so i'm hoping there's some trick to it. i was level 8 and only on level 5.

any ideas?

Seany C · October 29, 2007, 15:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halloween Jack

hi there,

i've had problems in the past with seemingly never ending monsters. i had a huge number of spiders once on my case, i got through it, but only just. i just went up against giant white louses (lice?) and i keep going for ages (i killed over 140) but eventually they got me, there seemed to be loads left. the monster memory says they breed explosively. i guess this is the problem.

are there any tactics for killing these guys. i can't imagine how i could fought it better so i'm hoping there's some trick to it. i was level 8 and only on level 5.

any ideas?

The simple answer, particularly at low CLs, is to run once they get out of control. If they are in an open space and appear to be breeding faster than you can kill them then it's time to get out of there - back to the stairs or recall/TL off the level.

For spellcasters (or a Warrior with wands/rods), a cloud spell like Stinking Cloud can kill lice off pretty effectively if you have enough charges.
Better still, FAA (and O?) has a Druid spell that effectively kills off any monster in LOS with less than X HPs (not many, usually around 6-12, but it's enough to kill off lice and urchins)...

Halloween Jack · October 29, 2007, 16:03

ah thanks. they were way out of control, breeding in a large room. i fired off a stinking cloud and used rod (or wand) of wonder which gave me a couple of AoEs but they just kept coming. oh well, i know now. i'll run next time.

cheers

Mondkalb · October 29, 2007, 16:29

Don't ever forget about them! They are just a warning of things to come.

There are some really nasty breeders deep down in the dungeon.

Most of them should be killed immediately, if possible.

Psi · October 29, 2007, 16:31

Remember as well, that lice can't open doors.

Halloween Jack · October 29, 2007, 17:43

i see. good tip.

takkaria · November 1, 2007, 01:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halloween Jack

i can't imagine how i could fought it better so i'm hoping there's some trick to it. i was level 8 and only on level 5.

Breeders are there to teach you two somewhat related but very important lessons: sometimes, running is the best option; and that not all creatures are worth fighting.

Someone else here said "run when they get out of control" -- I'd say run before they get out of control, and shut doors behind you as you go. If you don't kill them off within a few turns of waking up, then the time you waste trying to kill them is better spent doing other things. The reward for killing louses is quantity is, to pun, lousy.

Mondkalb · November 1, 2007, 07:00

Breeders also can show up in vaults and greater vaults. Until then, you should be able to handle them, but they can nevertheless spread over the vault if not killed or removed soon.
Ball spells are one method, but unfotunately you might don't want to use them in a vault as they could destroy stuff on the ground you are desperately looking for.
Better ways: banish them or teleport away if only one or few in a row, haste yourself and try to kill them asap, use sleep spell/staff/wand/rod to calm them down until you reach them (this can be dangerous though, they may be woken up by breathing monsters behind them). (The loss of a few hitpoints is not the main problem, but some breeders can blind, confuse or poison you.)

ShinX3 · November 5, 2007, 03:37

If you meet a unique that likes to summon these guys are YOUR FRIENDS. Often they can't hurt you.. and they take up space.

... still annoying as heck tho.

TreeFrog · November 5, 2007, 07:33

I've picked up angband for the first time recently having played Moria and Omega in the past.

Looking at the breeding monsters thread - I started with a dwarf priest.

He was on Level 1, and encountered white worm mass in a room. I found I could just run through them, back and forth, back and forth, gaining levels as I went. I'd reached character level 7 before I got bored.

Is this cheating? A bug? Hm. Anyway, it seems that breeders can be useful to a starting character.

October 29, 2007, 15:46	#1
Halloween Jack Rookie Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 13	problems with 'breeding' monsters hi there, i've had problems in the past with seemingly never ending monsters. i had a huge number of spiders once on my case, i got through it, but only just. i just went up against giant white louses (lice?) and i keep going for ages (i killed over 140) but eventually they got me, there seemed to be loads left. the monster memory says they breed explosively. i guess this is the problem. are there any tactics for killing these guys. i can't imagine how i could fought it better so i'm hoping there's some trick to it. i was level 8 and only on level 5. any ideas?

October 29, 2007, 16:29	#4
Mondkalb Knight Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 981	Don't ever forget about them! They are just a warning of things to come. There are some really nasty breeders deep down in the dungeon. Most of them should be killed immediately, if possible. __________________ My Angband winners so far My FAangband efforts so far Last edited by Mondkalb; October 29, 2007 at 16:39.

November 1, 2007, 07:00	#8
Mondkalb Knight Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 981	Breeders also can show up in vaults and greater vaults. Until then, you should be able to handle them, but they can nevertheless spread over the vault if not killed or removed soon. Ball spells are one method, but unfotunately you might don't want to use them in a vault as they could destroy stuff on the ground you are desperately looking for. Better ways: banish them or teleport away if only one or few in a row, haste yourself and try to kill them asap, use sleep spell/staff/wand/rod to calm them down until you reach them (this can be dangerous though, they may be woken up by breathing monsters behind them). (The loss of a few hitpoints is not the main problem, but some breeders can blind, confuse or poison you.) __________________ My Angband winners so far My FAangband efforts so far Last edited by Mondkalb; November 1, 2007 at 07:18.

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October 29, 2007, 16:03	#3
Halloween Jack Rookie Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 13	ah thanks. they were way out of control, breeding in a large room. i fired off a stinking cloud and used rod (or wand) of wonder which gave me a couple of AoEs but they just kept coming. oh well, i know now. i'll run next time. cheers

October 29, 2007, 16:31	#5
Psi Knight Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Age: 47 Posts: 870	Remember as well, that lice can't open doors.

October 29, 2007, 17:43	#6
Halloween Jack Rookie Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 13	i see. good tip.

November 5, 2007, 03:37	#9
ShinX3 Rookie Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3	If you meet a unique that likes to summon these guys are YOUR FRIENDS. Often they can't hurt you.. and they take up space. ... still annoying as heck tho.

November 5, 2007, 07:33	#10
TreeFrog Rookie Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 5	I've picked up angband for the first time recently having played Moria and Omega in the past. Looking at the breeding monsters thread - I started with a dwarf priest. He was on Level 1, and encountered white worm mass in a room. I found I could just run through them, back and forth, back and forth, gaining levels as I went. I'd reached character level 7 before I got bored. Is this cheating? A bug? Hm. Anyway, it seems that breeders can be useful to a starting character.

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