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“ | A very large scaly armless biped. It has four long, spiral horns. Its charcoal scales are small and close-set. This night creature was first created accidentally by the dwarven necromancer Rith Goldone of Walledposts after horrible experiments gone wrong on horses in Pinepeak in the year 70. | „ |
~ A possible generated appearance of an unsuccessful experiment. |
Experiments are possible minor or major antagonists, or possibly protagonists, in the indie construction and management simulation video game Dwarf Fortress. Experiments are a unique creature in the game, as they are not born, but created by a malicious figure and forced to be a minion of said figure. An experiment is many creature body parts combined to create a hostile abomination. They are one of the night creatures.
Due to the procedural generation of the world and civilizations in the game, coupled with the fact that many elements can be customized by the player, the strength, placement, goals, creator and how experiments are created will all vary greatly.
They appear in both the game's "Fortress Mode" and "Adventure Mode". Experiments are one of - if not the most frighteningly grotesque creatures in the game. If an experiment escapes its creator and joins a civilization, they can be a potential playable character in Adventure Mode.
Despite these creatures being created by someone else - upon existing - they will suddenly be attached to a malevolent deity with the spheres of "deformity" and "night". They may have additional spheres attached to them, giving them further appearance changes and/or extra abilities.
Creation[]
As mentioned before, an experiment will never be born as such, and must be created by either a necromancer or a goblin leader from unfortunate, captured animals or citizens. If playing the game using the "advanced world generation" option, the number of allowed experiments can be customized or disabled outright.
There are two types of experiments: successful and failure. The successful ones will have a definite form, and therefore, a very good sense of mobility, combat and even intelligence. The failed experiments will have a more inefficient and sluggish appearance, such as being a worm or blob-like. In Adventure Mode, experiments that are selectable as playable characters will always be humanoids, and live independently from their creators. The amount of experiments available in that gamemode is random, as their existence depends on how and if the world's history generates them.
Up to four species/creation types can be made: one sapient humanoid, one small quadruped, one large quadruped and one giant amalgamation. If one of the first three are made, only one creature is used in the creation. If the amalgamation is made, multiple creatures are used. They can even have the ability to fly if their bodies are built for it.
The game also has spheres of influence that creatures are a part of, with experiments unsurprisingly being part of deformity and night. An experiment cannot be a vampire, werebeast nor a necromancer, due to experiments never being supernatural. They can, however, be infected ghouls as well, which are a variant of undead that spread infections through bites.
Appearance[]
In the original version of the game, or if classic ASCII graphics are enabled in the premium version, all creatures in the game are represented by a colored letter or character that remains constant. Experiments, however, can be represented by different letters. Successful and intelligent experiments are red, whereas failed ones are green. Also, the letters being upper or lowercase depend on the experiment's size.
With the release of the premium version of the game, it is possible for experiments to have an assigned sprite. Unlike most creatures in the game having just one dedicated sprite, experiments can have one out of many sprites that is closest to the appearance details the game pre-generated for it, which take on the appearance of black, mysterious-looking sprites in Fortress Mode. There are 19 possible sprites experiments can have. This also includes extra detail sprites, such as feathers, wings, stingers, spikes, etc. However, in Adventure Mode, experiments can be given a unique humanoid sprite, which is also based on their generated appearance.
In Adventure Mode, the upper part of an experiment can be seen in greater detail, due to any character created by the player having a portrait of their own. Much like their sprite, their appearance in their portrait will match what details are procedurally generated for them.
In the case of the black, shadow-looking sprites, this graphical setup is similar to how megabeasts, bogeymen and demons are visually generated. How experiments appear in Adventure Mode is completely unique to them.
Spheres[]
All the spheres in the game - and by extension - possible appearances and mannerisms of experiments, can be seen here:
Sphere | Parent spheres | Child spheres | Friend spheres | Precluded spheres | Associated string and properties |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AGRICULTURE | FOOD, FERTILITY, RAIN | it looks constantly to the sky for rain | |||
ANIMALS | NATURE | FISH | PLANTS | it growls, buzzes, clicks and generally makes a varied racket | |
ART | DANCE, MUSIC, PAINTING, POETRY, SONG |
INSPIRATION, BEAUTY | it is decorated with intricate patterns | ||
BALANCE | it is perfectly symmetric | ||||
BEAUTY | ART | BLIGHT, DEFORMITY, DISEASE, MUCK | it is strikingly beautiful | ||
BIRTH | CHILDREN, CREATION, FAMILY, MARRIAGE, PREGNANCY, REBIRTH, YOUTH |
it is covered with a filmy sac | |||
BLIGHT | DISEASE, DEATH | BEAUTY, FOOD, FERTILITY, HEALING | nearby vegetation seem(sic) to shrink away from it | ||
BOUNDARIES | COASTS | the pieces of its body are carefully separated by markings | |||
CAVERNS | MOUNTAINS, EARTH | its moans seem to echo no matter where it resides | |||
CHAOS | WAR | DISCIPLINE, ORDER, LAWS | it spins wildly, lurching and howling | ||
CHARITY | GENEROSITY, SACRIFICE | JEALOUSY | it seems very pleasant | ||
CHILDREN | BIRTH, FAMILY, YOUTH, PREGNANCY | it never misses an opportunity to jump in puddles | |||
COASTS | BOUNDARIES | LAKES, OCEANS | it appears to be covered with rocky crags | ||
CONSOLATION | MISERY | it radiates a sad kindness | |||
COURAGE | VALOR | it makes those around it feel brave | |||
CRAFTS | CREATION, LABOR, METALS | it appears constructed | |||
CREATION | CRAFTS, BIRTH, PREGNANCY, REBIRTH | small objects seem to pop into existence around it | |||
DANCE | ART | FESTIVALS, MUSIC, REVELRY | it whirls, skips and jumps whenever it moves | ||
DARKNESS | NIGHT | DAWN, DAY, LIGHT, TWILIGHT, SUN | it is difficult to see clearly even in bright light | ||
DAWN | SUN, TWILIGHT | NIGHT, DAY, DARKNESS | it always turns to welcome the rise of the sun | ||
DAY | LIGHT, SUN | DARKNESS, NIGHT, DAWN, DUSK DREAMS, NIGHTMARES, TWILIGHT |
it hums pleasantly when the sun is high in the sky | ||
DEATH | BLIGHT, DISEASE, MURDER, REBIRTH, SUICIDE, WAR |
HEALING, LONGEVITY, YOUTH | it has a rattling exhale | ||
DEFORMITY | DISEASE | BEAUTY | its body is bent and misshapen | ||
DEPRAVITY | LUST | LAWS | it slavers uncontrollably | ||
DISCIPLINE | LAWS, ORDER | CHAOS | it moves with great focus | ||
DISEASE | BLIGHT, DEATH, DEFORMITY | BEAUTY, HEALING | it bears malodorous pustules [ODOR_STRING:death][ODOR_LEVEL:100] | ||
DREAMS | NIGHT, NIGHTMARES | DAY | the details of its form are easily forgotten without deliberate concentration | ||
DUSK | TWILIGHT | NIGHT, DAY | it never looks toward the sun | ||
DUTY | ORDER | it is utterly still when not taking deliberate action | |||
EARTH | METALS, MINERALS, SALT | CAVERNS, MOUNTAINS, VOLCANOS | it looks very solid and stocky | ||
FAMILY | BIRTH, CHILDREN, MARRIAGE, PREGNANCY | it appears to be closely related to every other of its kind | |||
FAME | RUMORS | SILENCE | fanfare follows it wherever it goes | ||
FATE | LUCK | it never appears to be perturbed or surprised by any happening | |||
FERTILITY | AGRICULTURE, FOOD, RAIN | BLIGHT | it appears to be very healthy | ||
FESTIVALS | DANCE, MUSIC, REVELRY, SONG | MISERY | it skips and twirls as it moves | ||
FIRE | METALS, SUN, VOLCANOS | WATER, OCEANS, LAKES, RIVERS | a sheen around it always seems to rise upward | ||
FISH | ANIMALS | OCEANS, LAKES, RIVERS, WATER, FISHING | it only looks comfortable when it is in the water | ||
FISHING | FISH, HUNTING | it always moves carefully around water | |||
FOOD | AGRICULTURE, FERTILITY | BLIGHT | it has the delicious smell of freshly-baked goods [ODOR_STRING:freshly-baked goods][ODOR_LEVEL:100] | ||
FORGIVENESS | MERCY | REVENGE | it is impossible to hold a grudge near it | ||
FORTRESSES | WAR | it is very sturdy-looking | |||
FREEDOM | ORDER | it eagerly moves from place to place | |||
GAMBLING | GAMES, LUCK | it changes between two colors intermittently | |||
GAMES | GAMBLING, LUCK | it giggles at random | |||
GENEROSITY | CHARITY, SACRIFICE | it makes those around it want to give up their possessions | |||
HAPPINESS | REVELRY | MISERY | it seems to smile constantly | ||
HEALING | DISEASE, BLIGHT, DEATH | it is surrounded by a gentle atmosphere | |||
HOSPITALITY | it radiates an aura of welcoming | ||||
HUNTING | FISHING | it inspects the ground intently as it moves | |||
INSPIRATION | ART, PAINTING, POETRY | flashes of energy pulse across its surface intermittently | |||
JEALOUSY | CHARITY | it appears to be a very bitter creature | |||
JEWELS | MINERALS, WEALTH | its whole body appears to be faceted in a symmetric fashion | |||
JUSTICE | LAWS | it seems eager to pronounce judgment on others | |||
LABOR | CRAFTS | it appears very deliberate in its actions | |||
LAKES | WATER | COASTS, FISH, OCEANS, RIVERS | FIRE | it moves ponderously | |
LAWS | DISCIPLINE, JUSTICE, OATHS, ORDER | CHAOS, DEPRAVITY, MURDER, THEFT | it has a very stark look about it | ||
LIES | TREACHERY, TRICKERY | TRUTH | it seems unerringly honest if one does not concentrate | ||
LIGHT | DAY, RAINBOWS, SUN | DARKNESS, TWILIGHT | it returns surrounding light with a new vibrance and intensity | ||
LIGHTNING | WEATHER | RAIN, STORMS, THUNDER | it crackles with energy | ||
LONGEVITY | YOUTH | DEATH | it always seems to be looking far into the distance | ||
LOVE | it stares longingly at those nearby | ||||
LOYALTY | OATHS | TREACHERY | it never abandons its companions | ||
LUCK | GAMBLING, GAMES | FATE | it changes direction suddenly at times | ||
LUST | DEPRAVITY | it has an unnerving stare | |||
MARRIAGE | BIRTH, FAMILY, OATHS, PREGNANCY | it heckles those it meets that are not married | |||
MERCY | FORGIVENESS | REVENGE | it always seems like it is on the verge of crying | ||
METALS | EARTH | CRAFTS, FIRE, MINERALS | it appears to have sharp shimmering edges on many parts of its body | ||
MINERALS | EARTH | JEWELS, METALS | it has an angular appearance | ||
MISERY | TORTURE | CONSOLATION, FESTIVALS, REVELRY, HAPPINESS | it has a distinctly depressing moan | ||
MIST | it is difficult to see clearly | ||||
MOON | NIGHT, SKY | it changes color with the phases of the moon | |||
MOUNTAINS | CAVERNS, EARTH, VOLCANOS | it is very solidly built | |||
MUCK | BEAUTY | there is a foul reek about it | |||
MURDER | DEATH | LAWS | it cannot abide anything that lives | ||
MUSIC | ART | DANCE, FESTIVALS, REVELRY, SONG | SILENCE | it sounds clear tones as its body moves in time | |
NATURE | ANIMALS, PLANTS | RAIN, SUN, WATER, WEATHER | it seems most at ease when it is outdoors | ||
NIGHT | DARKNESS, DREAMS, MOON, NIGHTMARES, STARS | DAY, DAWN, DUSK, TWILIGHT | it eerily reflects the light of the stars and moon | ||
NIGHTMARES | DREAMS, NIGHT | DAY | it reminds those that look upon it of their most unpleasant memories | ||
OATHS | LAWS, LOYALTY, MARRIAGE | TREACHERY | it cannot look directly at somebody that has broken an oath | ||
OCEANS | WATER | COASTS, FISH, LAKES, RIVERS, SALT | FIRE | it always raises a part of its body toward the moon | |
ORDER | DISCIPLINE, DUTY, LAWS | CHAOS, FREEDOM | it moves very stiffly | ||
PAINTING | ART | INSPIRATION | its surface is always enlivened with a refreshing play of color | ||
PEACE | it has an incredibly calm demeanor | ||||
PERSUASION | POETRY, SPEECH | it rocks back and forth whenever somebody changes their mind in its presence | |||
PLANTS | NATURE | TREES | ANIMALS, RAIN | it always seems to point toward the sun when it is in the sky | |
POETRY | ART | INSPIRATION, PERSUASION, SONG, WRITING | it recites verses in a strange language on occasion | ||
PREGNANCY | BIRTH, CHILDREN, CREATION, FAMILY, MARRIAGE | it appears to be expecting | |||
RAIN | WATER, WEATHER | AGRICULTURE, FERTILITY, LIGHTNING, NATURE, PLANTS, RAINBOWS, STORMS, THUNDER, TREES |
it leaves water wherever it goes | ||
RAINBOWS | WEATHER | LIGHT, RAIN, SKY | it is strikingly colored | ||
REBIRTH | BIRTH, CREATION, DEATH | it alternates from instant to instant between sluggishness and extreme vibrancy | |||
REVELRY | DANCE, FESTIVALS, HAPPINESS, MUSIC, SONG | MISERY | it moves with a bouncing rhythm | ||
REVENGE | FORGIVENESS, MERCY | it has a fixed and unblinking gaze when interacting | |||
RIVERS | WATER | FISH, LAKES, OCEANS | FIRE | its outer surface seems to flow about its body | |
RULERSHIP | it is hard to disobey | ||||
RUMORS | FAME | it always nods eagerly when somebody is speaking | |||
SACRIFICE | CHARITY, GENEROSITY | WEALTH | it inspires those around it to acts of great sacrifice | ||
SALT | EARTH | OCEANS | it makes nearby water undrinkable | ||
SCHOLARSHIP | WISDOM, WRITING | it always seems to be deep in thought | |||
SEASONS | its form is ever-changing | ||||
SILENCE | FAME, MUSIC | it makes absolutely no sound | |||
SKY | MOON, RAINBOWS, SUN, STARS, WEATHER, WIND | it has a slowly shifting pattern on its surface | |||
SONG | ART | FESTIVALS, MUSIC, POETRY, REVELRY | it sings beautiful songs endlessly | ||
SPEECH | PERSUASION | it pays attention carefully to anybody that is speaking | |||
STARS | NIGHT, SKY | it appears to sparkle after night falls | |||
STORMS | WEATHER | LIGHTNING, RAIN, THUNDER | its movement is the sound of wind and rain | ||
STRENGTH | it looks solidly built | ||||
SUICIDE | DEATH | it mutters to itself about death | |||
SUN | DAWN, DAY, FIRE, LIGHT, NATURE, SKY | DARKNESS | it is difficult to look at directly | ||
THEFT | LAWS, TRADE | it always seems to have its attention on the most valuable object in the area | |||
THRALLDOM | its movements sound like the rattling of chains | ||||
THUNDER | WEATHER | LIGHTNING, RAIN, STORMS | it is incredibly noisy | ||
TORTURE | MISERY | it appears to be covered with sharp hooks and barbs | |||
TRADE | WEALTH | THEFT | it seems most content when a fair wind is blowing | ||
TRAVELERS | it never stops moving completely | ||||
TREACHERY | LIES, TRICKERY | LOYALTY, OATHS | it is unsettling to be around | ||
TREES | PLANTS | RAIN | it is top-heavy | ||
TRICKERY | LIES, TREACHERY | TRUTH | it has a tendency to laugh quietly to itself every so often | ||
TRUTH | LIES, TRICKERY | it tenses up throughout its entire body whenever somebody tells a falsehood in its presence | |||
TWILIGHT | DAWN, DUSK | LIGHT, DARKNESS, DAY, NIGHT | it chitters briefly before sunrise and just after nightfall | ||
VALOR | COURAGE | WAR | it always tries to embolden any fighting in its presence with exhortations of bravery, even its foes | ||
VICTORY | WAR | it looks very proud of itself | |||
VOLCANOS | EARTH, FIRE, MOUNTAINS | it seems to glow brightly from within | |||
WAR | CHAOS, DEATH, FORTRESSES, VALOR, VICTORY | it bellows and cheers without pause | |||
WATER | LAKES, OCEANS, RIVERS, RAIN | FISH, NATURE | FIRE | it seems to flow as it moves | |
WEALTH | JEWELS, TRADE | SACRIFICE | it always seems to be counting something | ||
WEATHER | LIGHTNING, RAIN, RAINBOWS, STORMS, THUNDER, WIND |
NATURE, SKY | it changes appearance based on the clouds and precipitation above | ||
WIND | WEATHER | SKY | it is surrounded by an everpresent rush of wind | ||
WISDOM | SCHOLARSHIP | it acts with unwavering calm | |||
WRITING | POETRY, SCHOLARSHIP | it is covered with divine writing | |||
YOUTH | BIRTH, CHILDREN, LONGEVITY | DEATH | it appears spry and vigorous |
Behavior[]
Experiments are blindly loyal to their creator, and will even likely be named after them in some way. For example, if an experiment's creator's name is Koran, the experiment's name would be something like "Koran's Warrior" or "Koran's Hand". Otherwise, the name will just be something threatening and generic. There are rare cases where an experiment may not necessarily be evil, manage to escape its creator and even join a civilization if it's intelligent enough, or escape its creator and do evil things completely on its own.
Experiments are very powerful, and possess many traits that make them relentless, dangerous creatures: they feel no pain, don't need sustenance, never get exhausted from overexertion, are immune to nausea and fevers, cannot be stunned, don't feel dizziness and don't drown. There's also a possibility that they can be capable of destroying buildings, immune to getting stuck in traps and have full 360° vision, which makes it impossible to sneak up on them.
Some may be capable of inflicting an ailment known as "night sickness", in which the symptoms are random depending on how the experiment is created. It is possible to play as an experiment in the game's adventure mode, but only in specific conditions where an experiment has escaped its abusive creator.
Trivia[]
- The experiments draw a strong parallel to Victor Frankenstein's monster, due to the fact that both entities are constructed creatures made from a patchwork of body parts. Both are also deeply tragic creatures, as experiments are usually innocent creatures that have been horribly experimented on and mutated, and are forced to be the pawns of others. In Fortress Mode, experiments are often mindless and hostile creatures, whereas in Adventure Mode, they can think for themselves and make their own futures based on the player's choices.
Gallery[]
External Links[]
- Experiment - Dwarf Fortress Wiki
[]
Villains | ||
Enemies Immortal & Undead Night Creatures Other |