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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[]

Df experiment portrait anim

Many potential Adventure Mode portraits of experiments.

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[]

Experiment sprites

Four possible sprites (out of many) for experiments. The bottom five are Adventure Mode sprites.

Df experiment body preview

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.

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