ROUS
| Navigation: | Main Page → Creatures → ROUS | |||
| Rodents Threat level 5 | |||||||
| ROUS | |||||||
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| Basic statistics | |||||||
| Disposition | Hostile | ||||||
| Armor Class | C2 | ||||||
| Pain Sensitivity | 5% | ||||||
| Max Blood | 48 | ||||||
| Agility | +3 | ||||||
| Limb groups | |||||||
| HEAD | Head - 20 HP | ||||||
| BODY | Body - 140 HP | ||||||
| LIMB | 4 legs - 40 HP | ||||||
| EXTREMITY | N/A | ||||||
| WEAK POINTS | 2 eyes (Head) | ||||||
| Secondary statistics | |||||||
| Skeleton type | 
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| Can use Weapons/LBE? | 
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| Can use Clothing and armor? |
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The ROUS (an acronym for Rodent Of Unusual Size, pronounced rouse) is a creature belonging to the Rodents category.
Attacks and techniques
This creature has four attacks: Bite, FP Ripping Bite, Claws, and FP Tearing Claws
Bite
| Damage type | Range | MAPT | IS | LDV | Pain (C1) | Pain (C2) | Pain (A1) | Pain (A2) | Pain (A3) | Pain (A4) | Pain (A5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piercing | Melee | 2 | 9 | +4 | 62% | 56% | 43% | 34% | 25% | 12% | 2% |
FP Ripping Bite
| Damage type | Range | MAPT | IS | LDV | Pain (C1) | Pain (C2) | Pain (A1) | Pain (A2) | Pain (A3) | Pain (A4) | Pain (A5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piercing | Melee | 1 | 14 | +6 | 156% | 140% | 48% | 37% | 27% | 14% | 2% |
- FP stands for flesh-piercing. This attack is more efficient against unarmored ACs than against armored ACs to reflect an effect similar to expanding ammunition.
Claws
| Damage type | Range | MAPT | IS | LDV | Pain (C1) | Pain (C2) | Pain (A1) | Pain (A2) | Pain (A3) | Pain (A4) | Pain (A5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharp | Melee | 4 | 5 | +2 | 32% | 29% | 22% | 18% | 13% | 6% | 1% |
FP Tearing Claws
| Damage type | Range | MAPT | IS | LDV | Pain (C1) | Pain (C2) | Pain (A1) | Pain (A2) | Pain (A3) | Pain (A4) | Pain (A5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharp | Melee | 2 | 9 | +3 | 81% | 74% | 25% | 19% | 14% | 7% | 1% |
- FP stands for flesh-piercing. This attack is more efficient against unarmored ACs than against armored ACs to reflect an effect similar to expanding ammunition.
Other information
Creature traits:
- Drops items on death: Upon being defeated, this creature will drop the following items:
- Non-combat skills: Expert (Evasion), Unskilled (all other non-combat skills)
Overview
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This article or section contains lore-related information. Though not strictly necessary for playing the game, you are encouraged to read this section if you wish to have a better understanding of the game's universe. |
The Rodent Of Unusual Size, or ROUS, is the largest, and by far, the most dangerous rodent creature in the Mazes. It physically resembles an even more enlarged version of a giant rat, standing at 5 feet 5 inches tall, 7 feet long, equipped with an 8 feet long tail, and weighing about 600 to 650 pounds. It is well-known for its dark red eyes, its maw full of sharp teeth, and its equally sharp claws. Although it is a massive creature in size and weight, the ROUS is no less limber and agile than its smaller relatives, and can suddenly run and leap at speeds of up to 60 ft/s (~41 mph).
The ROUS's agility is further showcased when the creature is in combat, where it does not resort to all-out attacks, but is instead a cunning, evasive creature that primarily fights by observing its opponents, evading incoming blows, and counter-attacking as fiercely as possible. Many of the evasion techniques the ROUS is capable of employing have been likened to moves used in martial arts, suggesting these creatures are intelligent enough to develop their own, formalized fighting style, or at the very least, be sufficiently aware of their movements and that of opponents to develop countermeasures and strategies actively.
The only creatures the ROUS is not overtly hostile towards include other ROUSes, giant rats, and regular rats. It is currently unknown if they recognize murid halflings as one of their own. The Science Team of Biology has expressed the theory that all rat-like creatures in the Mazes, excluding murid halflings, form a natural hierarchy, with the ROUS at the top. However, this theory is not entirely viewed as sound, with detractors often stating the theory sounds like a "very scientific way of retelling the story about the leader of the rats who makes all of the rules."
The ROUS is one of the most deceptively challenging creatures an adventurer can face. Although they have no armor, natural or otherwise, these creatures appear to be almost entirely impervious to pain. While expanding ammunition works best against them, it will likely require numerous well-placed shots even to get close to inflicting it any significant amounts of pain. The standard strategy is to target its head and apply enough firepower to destroy it outright. However, doing so may prove challenging, due to its highly evasive tendencies.
If you are lucky or skilled enough to kill a ROUS, hunters recommend against spending the effort to butcher it. While it can produce large quantities of meat, it is much unlike the giant beaver or giant capybara. ROUS meat is no different from giant rat meat: it tastes unremarkable, there is just more of it.
