Difference between revisions of "Mancubus"

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== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
  
* The latex [[models|model]] of the monster used as a base for the sprite has three pairs of nipples. [http://romero.smugmug.com/gallery/480/1/12524879#12524879_K2jT2] Although the extra nipples are not really distinguishable in the in-game representation, where only the upper "normal" ones are seen.
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* The latex [[models|model]] of the monster used as a base for the sprite, [http://romero.smugmug.com/keyword/mancubus seen here], has three pairs of nipples. Although the extra nipples are not really distinguishable in the in-game representation, where only the upper "normal" ones are seen.
  
 
* The mancubus's face is very similar to that found in the [[megasphere]].
 
* The mancubus's face is very similar to that found in the [[megasphere]].

Revision as of 07:21, 25 June 2010

Template:Doom 3 also in

A gathering of mancubi in MAP07: Dead Simple, in Doom II.

The mancubus is a heavily-obese yet formidable demonic monster shambling about on sturdy, stumpy elephant-like legs, glaring at opponents through hateful green eyes, while dribbling the remains of its victims from a lusting mouth, displaying sharp yellow fangs. To make things worse, its arms have been replaced by huge flamethrowers capable of spouting a rapid series of scathing bursts of flame, which are powered by a pair of fuel tanks grafted onto the obese monster's back. The game manual describes the mancubus as follows: "The only good thing about fatso is that he's a nice wide target. Good thing, because it takes a lot of hits to puncture him. He pumps out fireballs like there was no tomorrow.".

This monstrous creature makes its first appearance in MAP07: Dead Simple of Doom II, where the player is forced to fight them to break through a fortified area controlled by the enemy.

Tactical analysis

Mancubi are dangerous opponents, but have a number of exploitable weaknesses. They are slow, and make large targets, so are easy to kill with rapid-fire weapons. The rocket launcher is possibly the most effective weapon against the mancubi. Furthermore, because they pause briefly before attacking, and also give out their distinctive battle cry before firing, it is pretty easy to prevent them from attacking using slower weapons, even the super shotgun. When they do attack, it is helpful to attempt to keep one's distance. Otherwise, the player might take two fireballs instead of just one. When dodging from a greater distance, it is important to avoid over-dodging. With the first two attacks from the mancubus, one fireball will go straight toward the player while the other will fly off diagonally to the other side (left or right, depending on the player's location); in the third volley, one will go left and one right. This pattern can be figured out and used to avoid mancubus attacks.

Once a mancubus has begun to attack its target, it continues to fire (if it remains unhurt while firing) until all six bursts have been discharged, even if the target has moved out of its sight. This characteristic of their attack can be abused to cause monster infighting.

Notes

  • The latex model of the monster used as a base for the sprite, seen here, has three pairs of nipples. Although the extra nipples are not really distinguishable in the in-game representation, where only the upper "normal" ones are seen.
  • The mancubus's face is very similar to that found in the megasphere.
  • A fitting explanation for the name of the monster seems to be a bastardized combination of the termination of the medieval demon names succubus or incubus preceded by the root of the Latin word mancus, which means "maimed" or "with a crippled or missing hand" (a derived word that is used in English is manque [1]).

Data

Attributes
ID # 67 (decimal), 43 (hex)
Hit points 600
Speed 8 map units per frame
(70.0 map units per second)
Width 96
Height 64
Reaction time 8
Pain chance 80 (31.25%)
Pain time 6 tics
Mass 1000
Bits 4194310
Bits list

1: Obstacle

2: Shootable

22: Affects Kill %

Sprites & sounds
Sprite name FATT
Alert sound DSMANSIT
Action sound DSPOSACT
Pain sound DSMNPAIN
Death sound DSMANDTH
Ranged attack
Type Projectile
Speed 20 map units per tic
(700 map units per second)
Damage 8-64 (per fireball)
48-384 (total)
Width 6
Height 8
Sprite name MANF (in flight)
BEXP (impact)
Sound DSMANATK (loading)
DSFIRSHT (firing)
DSFIRXPL (impact)
Damage done by a full fireball volley
Blows needed to kill1 Mean Standard
deviation
Min Max
Player (100%
health, no armor)
3.37 0.88 2 6
Player (100%
health, security armor)
4.78 1.04 3 8
Player (200%
health, combat armor)
11.68 1.70 8 16
Barrel 1.27 0.51 1 3
Trooper 1.27 0.51 1 3
Sergeant 1.44 0.60 1 4
Wolfenstein SS 2.04 0.77 1 5
Imp 2.25 0.76 1 5
Chaingunner 2.56 0.73 2 5
Lost soul 3.37 0.88 2 6
Commander Keen 3.37 0.88 2 6
Demon 4.78 1.04 3 8
Spectre 4.78 1.04 3 8
Romero's head2 7.66 1.32 5 11
Revenant 9.04 1.46 6 13
Cacodemon 11.68 1.70 8 16
Pain elemental 11.68 1.70 8 16
Hell knight 14.55 1.88 10 19
Arachnotron 14.55 1.88 10 19
Mancubus3
Arch-vile 20.10 2.11 14 25
Baron of hell 28.43 2.43 23 34
Spiderdemon 84.14 2.60 79 93
Cyberdemon 112.12 2.48 107 117

  1. This table assumes that all calls to P_Random for damage, pain chance, impact animations, and backfire checks are consecutive. In real play, this is never the case: counterattacks and AI pathfinding must be handled, and of course the map may contain additional moving monsters and other randomized phenomena (such as flickering lights). Any resulting errors are probably toward the single-shot average, as they introduce noise into the correlation between the indices of "consecutive" calls.
  2. Assumes that direct hits are possible, which does not occur in any stock map.
  3. Hardcoded exception to infighting negates damage (excepting indirect damage caused by exploding barrels).

Appearance statistics

In classic Doom, the mancubus is first encountered on these maps:

Game ITYTD and HNTR HMP UV and NM
Doom II MAP07: Dead Simple MAP07: Dead Simple MAP07: Dead Simple
TNT: Evilution MAP03: Power Control MAP03: Power Control MAP03: Power Control
Plutonia MAP01: Congo MAP01: Congo MAP01: Congo

The IWADs contain the following numbers of mancubi:

Game ITYTD and HNTR HMP UV and NM
Doom II 15 36 66
TNT: Evilution 21 53 84
Plutonia 92 113 140

Other games

Doom 64

While their function in Doom 64 is unchanged, their appearance is greatly altered. They have less fat and a more bear-like face, are taller and wear a metal body harness.

Doom RPG

In Doom RPG, the mancubus appears as a class of monster. There are three variations, identified by color:

  • Behemoth (blue with red eyes)
  • Mancubus (normal colors)
  • Druj (red)

This monster class is weak against rockets.

See also