Grue

From SWILwiki

It is very dark. You are likely to be eaten by a grue...

Monster name: Grue
Type: special 
Target area: none?
Dates used: never

Google image search doesn't help me here, guys.

Evolution and History

Date of Proposal: 17 June, 2003
Proposed by: ArthurChu

ArthurChu originally proposed the Grue, in a lengthy email in which he also proposed the Phoenix, and modifications to Orcs, Hobgoblins, Kobolds, and Turtles.

Grue: Okay, this is a very barebones idea. But
Grues are, frankly, cool. I envision them lurking
in the Dark--that is, guarding boundaries around
the field, and using their razor-sharp (foam) claws
to stop anyone who tries to trespass.

Perhaps make them a puzzle; have them guard something/
someone, require people to gain the approval of the
Phoenix to get him/her to dispel them with a flash.
(Doing silly poses, answering interview questions,
providing their opinion on a current event.)

Discussion on the hunt list decided that keeping players in-bounds was more an administrative function than a monster function, but Ben Newman liked the idea:

Or, if the Grue *isn't* guarding anything specific, but *is* inclined to
give chase, lure the Grue to the Phoenix, or to a lamppost, under which
condition it can be slain with a normal sword strike.
...
Riffing off of Arthur's Grue idea, the Grue could lurk only in those parts
of the play area which are particularly dark, visibly skirting lighted
areas.  However, if a player comes within range of the Grue, it will give
chase, and if lured within a certain radius of a lamppost or into the
presence of the Phoenix, the Grue becomes vulnerable.  I'm not sure what
the Grue should look like.  Actually, how could we be sure ;-)}}}

Ben later came up with a full-blown proposal for the monster, where he described the Grue as "an alternative to the Werewolf":

Equipment: hand-claws and a regular trashbag (like the Werewolf -- if we
       rotate between them regularly, or ever use both, they should have
       different *costumes*, but the actual equipment is the same).

Behavior: The Grue lurks around the dark edges of the field.  When
       approached, it murmurs "It issss dark... You are likely to be
       eaten by a Grue..." as it gives chase, relentlessly following the
       hunter who disturbed it until one of them is dead...

Rules: The Grue is invincible unless it is within the pool of light cast
       by a lamppost.  Within the light of a lamppost, the Grue can be
       killed with a standard sword like any other monster.

Kill Strategy: Obviously, hunters should lure the Grue to a lamppost and
       dispatch it there.

Caveats: The Grue depends critically on the lighting map of the play area.
       How crisp are the edges of those lamppost light pools, anyway?

The hunt list didn't think the Grue was sufficient to replace the crowd-control aspect of the werewolf, but continued to discuss the monster. It was playtested somewhat over the summer of '03. However, after playtesting and examination of the available terrain (at the time, pools of lammpost light on Sharples field by Magill Walk), it was concluded to be too difficult to implement, and set aside.

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