“ | The forgotten beast Oszit Genlathgakit has come! A great skinless dimetrodon. It has a pair of fan-like antennae, and it squirms and fidgets. Beware its deadly spittle. | „ |
~ A possible form of a randomly generated megabeast. |
The Megabeasts are major antagonists in the indie management simulation game Dwarf Fortress. They are extremely powerful and massive procedurally generated boss creatures.
Due to the procedural generation of the world in the game, coupled with the fact that many elements can be customized by the player, the strength and placement of megabeasts vary greatly.
Megabeasts come in various forms that differ on each playthrough, including variants known as semi-megabeasts. The forgotten beasts and titans can take literally any form imaginable, as they are completely customizable by the game's generation code.
History[]
Depending on the size of the generated world, as well as how many megabeasts are allowed in the game at once, the history generated for megabeasts shows a long kill list and acquire a near god-like reputation for how dangerous they are. It is not entirely clear as to how megabeasts are formed, but given that they can be attached to the spheres of deities, it is possible they were once spawned by deities for an unknown purpose.
All megabeasts claim a lair that act as a nexus for their hunting grounds, killing anyone that is remotely close to their lair. This even includes entire civilizations. It is possible for two megabeasts to reproduce, but the odds of this happening naturally are excruciatingly rare, due to the low likelihood of two megabeasts coming across each other.
The nearly unmatched power of megabeasts will almost always have them winning any encounter throughout history, but they will eventually be killed off due to how chance is calculated in the game. The longer the generated history of a playthrough, the more beasts will exist within it, including how many are defeated.
Gameplay[]
Players do not encounter megabeasts right away, as their dwarf fortress must accumulate a wealth value of 100,000☼ with a population of at least 80 dwarves. Even then, there is a chance that no megabeast will appear at all. Due to the "dice-roll" mechanic of deciding when megabeasts show up, quitting the game and reloading a save from days before a megabeast shows up can cause a completely different megabeast to appear.
After a megabeast attacks a fortress, dwarves may start to worship it in an attempt to appease it. Sadly, this never dissuades the megabeast from doing any damage. It is possible for an undead megabeast to appear, which can happen if the megabeast died in an evil location that resurrects the dead within its area, or if someone with powers of necromancy has something to do with them. This can make megabeasts far more dangerous (depending on what form they have), as undead have increased strength, resilience, feel no pain or exhaustion, but have less speed and virtually no intelligence.
Semi-megabeasts[]
Semi-megabeasts are smaller and less powerful versions of megabeasts, and are generated in the same procedural way as their larger counterparts. The requirements of semi-megabeasts showing up to a fortress is slightly different, as the wealth of a fortress must be 50,000☼, exported wealth also being 50,000☼ and the dwarf population must be at least 50.
Appearance[]
With the release of the premium version of the game, it is possible for megabeasts to have an assigned sprite. Unlike most creatures in the game having just one dedicated sprite, megabeasts can have one out of many sprites that is closest to the appearance details the game pre-generated for it. There are 19 possible sprites megabeasts can have. This also includes extra detail sprites, such as feathers, wings, stingers, spikes, etc.
For semi-megabeasts, the concept for having sprites is exactly the same as megabeasts, with the only difference being that the sprites are smaller.
Megabeasts are connected to the spheres of deities, usually evil ones. Their appearance will more or less relate to the aspects and spheres connected to deities said megabeasts they're attached to, which is randomly chosen by the game. For example, a megabeast connected to the spheres of "earth", "jewels" and "dance" may appear as a massive creature made of jet stone embedded with all kinds of gems, with the movement of the beast constantly jumping and dancing around in an odd rhythm.
A megabeast could even be connected to seemingly positive and benevolent spheres, which might even give the beast the look of beauty and/or give off a positive aura, but the beast will still be hostile. If a randomly-generated megabeast is undead, their sprite will appear the same, as there are no unique set of sprites that would visually indiciate that a megabeast is undead. In other words, they will still appear as mysteriously black and shadowy creatures.
Spheres[]
All the spheres in the game - and by extension - possible appearances and mannerisms of megabeasts, 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 |
Variants[]
In the premium version of the game, every creature listed below has its own graphic sprite, except for the forgotten beast and titan, which will have - as mentioned before - one of 19 sprites given to it based on the pre-generated appearance. If playing the original version of the game (without a graphics set), or if the player has turned on the "classic ASCII" graphics in their options in the premium version, creatures will be represented by a colored letter.
Megabeasts[]
- Dragon - Represented by a dark green "D" in ASCII/classic mode. Dragons are gigantic, wingless reptiles capable of breathing fire. They are capable of theft and being immune to all types of fire and magma. They also have a strong connection to wealth, as they show up to a fortress when one has accumulated enough of it. The fire they breathe is the hottest thing in the entire game.
- Hydra - Represented by a red "H" in ASCII/classic mode. Hydras are massive reptilian creatures with seven heads. They possess healing capabilities a hundred times faster than any other creature, and on top of this, never feel pain nor exhaustion, making them painfully difficult to kill.
- Roc - Represented by a white "R" in ASCII/classic mode. Rocs are gigantic birds that steal from and harass entire civilizations. Compared to the four megabeasts that have a non-randomized form, rocs are the least threatening, but are still a great danger to fortresses given their ability to fly and their horrific size.
- Bronze Colossus - Represented by a dark yellow "C" in ASCII/classic mode. Bronze colossi are gigantic humanoid bronze statues made entirely of metal. Because of this, the damage they take comes from wearing down their metal bodies, rather than hurting them, as they feel no pain. They can only be damaged by steel or adamantine weapons, or by weapons with a low contact-area such as crossbow bolts and whips. Can be smelted or used as a statue once defeated.
- Forgotten beast - Represented by a randomized letter of any color in ASCII/classic mode, or a randomized black sprite in the premium version; these beasts can take on literally any shape of any kind depending on what the game generates for them. Their attacks and threat level depend on the form they take. They always live underground.
- Titan - Represented by a randomized letter of any color in ASCII/classic mode, or a randomized black sprite in the premium version; titans are gigantic creatures that take the form of an animal or a generic shape with extra body parts. Their attacks and threat level depend on the form they take. Unlike forgotten beasts, they always live above ground.
Semi-megabeasts[]
- Cyclops - Represented by a red "C" in gameplay, cyclopes are large, single-eyed humanoids. They can destroy buildings and flatten creatures with ease, but possess no combat skills or tactics.
- Ettin - Represented by a yellow "E" in gameplay, ettins are two-headed humanoids. They are essentially a stronger version of a cyclops and cannot be stunned.
- Giant - Represented by a dark cyan "G" in gameplay, giants are massive, oversized humans capable of destroying buildings. Although they are the largest of the semi-megabeasts, they are not as much of a threat as ettins or minotaurs, as they possess the ability to be stunned and do not have proficient combat skills.
- Minotaur - Represented by a dark yellow "M" in gameplay, minotaurs are horned, half-man-half-bull humanoids. Like the other semi-megabeasts, they can destroy buildings and have moderately good combat skills. They are found in labyrinths in "Adventure Mode", and appear in "Fortress Mode" under the same circumstances of wealth and population as other semi-megabeasts.
Trivia[]
- Though excruciatingly rare, a morally-balanced and intelligent megabeast or semi-megabeast can visit a player's fortress under friendly circumstances.
- Despite being horrifying, randomly procedurally-generated hostile creatures, they are not part of the night creatures.
Gallery[]
Gameplay[]
Artwork[]
These images are example pre-generated forgotten beasts from the playthroughs of other players.
External Links[]
- Megabeast - Dwarf Fortress Wiki
[]
Villains | ||
Enemies Immortal & Undead Night Creatures Other |