Ballistomycete

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Revision as of 13:33, 4 August 2012 by Petzl (talk) (fixed stats)
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ballistomycete fBallistomycete.png
HP 20 - 32
HD 4
XP 500 (when colony is destroyed)
"(whencolonyisdestroyed)" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 500.
Speed 0
AC 1
EV 0
Will Immune



Resistances rPois+, rN+, rTorm
Vulnerabilities none
Habitat land
Intelligence Plant
Uses Uses nothing
Holiness Plant
Size Tiny
Type fungus, ballistomycete
Flags Stationary
No experience gain (until colony destroyed)
A lumpy reddish fungus covered in knobbly rhizome growths, growing well in the dank underground dungeon.

Useful Info

A ballistomycete is a plant-type monster, capable of spawning giant spores for both reproductive and combat purposes. Although seemingly harmless, they can become a serious menace if left unchecked, taking over the level and spitting out explosive spores at you endlessly. They give no experience individually, but offer a large chunk for killing off the entire colony.

Ballistomycete Life Cycle

  • After wandering for 40 turns, crashing into a player, or taking damage, a spore will explode, dealing damage, confusion, and food destruction. This also creates a random number of new inactive ballistomycetes in the blast radius (2~3 on average)
  • When this explosion occurs, a random ballistomycete on the level is activated. Roughly 500 turns later, it will create a new spore, continuing the cycle.
  • If you kill an active ballistomycete, a random number of other ballistomycetes will activate.
  • There can be up to 25 ballistomycetes on a floor at any given time. Any spore explosions beyond that will cause damage and confusion, but nothing else.
  • Killing the entire colony will display the message:
Having destroyed the fungal colony, you feel a bit more experienced.

Tips & Tricks

  • Giant spores leave a trail of moss behind them which lights a trail when a new ballistomycete activates, giving you a good idea of where to go next.
  • Killing inactive ballistomycetes does not cause others to immediately become active, as is the case when you kill active ballistomycetes. Because of this, it's possible to "prune" an out-of-control outbreak without dooming yourself.
  • Conservation will protect your food from contamination, and clarity will stop you from being confused, but it's best not to get caught in spore explosions at all. A wand of magic darts can reliably one-shot them.