Hellhounds

[CunningGabe]

Hellhounds first appear at DL35 alone, and then at DL78 in packs. They are otherwise identical. Are they really *that* much more dangerous in packs than alone?

I am working on adding a flag for monsters that first appear alone and then in packs later. For the novices, there is a difference of 4 DLs, and for Mumaks and carrion crawlers, there is a difference of 8-9 DLs. I find it hard to believe that Hellhounds need a difference of more than 40 DLs.

Should solitary hellhounds be deeper, or should hellhounds in packs occur earlier? (or some combination of the two)

[d_m]

Hellhounds first appear at DL35 alone, and then at DL78 in packs. They are otherwise identical. Are they really *that* much more dangerous in packs than alone?

I am working on adding a flag for monsters that first appear alone and then in packs later. For the novices, there is a difference of 4 DLs, and for Mumaks and carrion crawlers, there is a difference of 8-9 DLs. I find it hard to believe that Hellhounds need a difference of more than 40 DLs.

Should solitary hellhounds be deeper, or should hellhounds in packs occur earlier? (or some combination of the two)

They should be in packs earlier!

[Derakon]

Agreed, especially since solitary hellhounds aren't very threatening in the first place. I always think "oh crap! A hellhound! Must deal with carefully!" and then it dies quickly and I go "oh right, they're more like heckpuppies."

[camlost]

Agreed, especially since solitary hellhounds aren't very threatening in the first place. I always think "oh crap! A hellhound! Must deal with carefully!" and then it dies quickly and I go "oh right, they're more like heckpuppies."

Sounds like their HP should be increased. I take S hellhounds seriously -- they breathe for ~100 damage and take a while to kill. I frequently bail on them early.

[d_m]

Sounds like their HP should be increased. I take S hellhounds seriously -- they breathe for ~100 damage and take a while to kill. I frequently bail on them early.

Either that or maybe rename V's Hellhound to "Lesser Hellhound" and add a "Greater Hellhound"

[Derakon]

Well, currently they have 352HP. Compare acidic cytoplasms at 352, mumak at 495, silent watches at 1040, all at equivalent depth; or 5-headed hydras which show up 7 levels earlier and have 450HP. So yeah, a boost wouldn't be out of the question. Bring them up to 700HP and their breaths would deal 77 damage, resisted.

They're also fast and have 3 3d12 fire attacks. I can't remember if elemental melee attacks are pure-element or half-and-half physical/elemental; assuming the latter resistance would mean that you'd take 13 damage average per blow, or up to 78 in melee assuming all hit and you're at normal speed. 5-headed hydras are also fast and have 4 4d4 poison bites, dealing on average 80 damage/round if you have no poison resist (likely). No inventory destruction though.

[camlost]

Either that or maybe rename V's Hellhound to "Lesser Hellhound" and add a "Greater Hellhound"

Heckpuppies would be way funnier. They come in gaggles, though. Not packs.

[d_m]

Heckpuppies would be way funnier. They come in gaggles, though. Not packs.

The Heckpuppy drools on you
The Heckpuppy sniffs your crotch (x2)
Your Pants of Special Occasion [4, +6] burn up!
-more-

[Nick]

I think you could have a whole variant here. Hellhounds become Heckpuppies, Killer Slicer Beetles become Nasty Scratchy Bugs, Death Knights become Mean Soldiers, White Icky Things become, umm, ...

[CunningGabe]

Okay, thanks for the feedback everyone. I think for starters I won't tinker with them too much except to have their packs appear much earlier. We'll see how dangerous a pack of fast fire-breathers is around DL40-45.

[Timo Pietilä]

Okay, thanks for the feedback everyone. I think for starters I won't tinker with them too much except to have their packs appear much earlier. We'll see how dangerous a pack of fast fire-breathers is around DL40-45.

Change fire to plasma and you are set. Fire breath isn't very dangerous, but plasma is unresistable and causes stunning if you don't have sound resist.

[Atarlost]

Silent Watchers look like they're getting premium HP for their immobility. Mumaks are mostly harmless balls of XP wrapped in HP. I'd try them at 500 HP before 700 unless everything is suffering HP inflation.

[Derakon]

Atarlost: why undercorrect when you can overcorrect? Much more fun that way.

[d_m]

Okay, thanks for the feedback everyone. I think for starters I won't tinker with them too much except to have their packs appear much earlier. We'll see how dangerous a pack of fast fire-breathers is around DL40-45.

Sounds good. I think I might take Timo's correction and create Greater Hellhounds that breathe plasma!

[Bostock]

White Icky Things become, umm, ...

...Bright Happy Memories!