Non-living: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 19:33, 5 February 2024

Non-living and unliving are terms that refer to creatures that have never been alive. The term non-living was introduced in the Shadow of Death manual, the only use of non-living in the manuals (used to describe creatures unaffected by the Elixir of Life). Unliving is not used at all in the manuals but replaces non-living in the in-game description of the Elixir of Life. The manual states that the artifact "does not work on undead or non-living creatures". Additionally, the non-undead creatures not affected by the health bonus of the Elixir of Life, (golems, elementals and gargoyles), have other immunities in common, which allows them to be considered one group of non-living creatures.

Stone gargoyle and obsidian gargoyle are also considered non-living, but they are still affected by morale and mind spells. In Horn of the Abyss, they are called "Bloodless" instead of non-living.

Although war machines as units on the battlefield can be considered non-living in some sense, they have their own system of immunities.

Crystal dragons are described as being "made entirely from red crystal and brought to life through magical means..." and are referred to as dragon golems in the campaign. Despite these references they don't have any features that would set them apart from any other living creatures.

NOTE: For comparison, living units are just units that are NOT non-living and NOT undead. See Undead vs Unliving for more explanation.

Non-living creatures[edit]

Golems[edit]

The only common trait of golems among all other non-living creatures is spell damage reduction.

Elementals[edit]

Gargoyles[edit]

Stone and Obsidian Gargoyles - NOTE: These actually use a modified version of non-living (i.e. Bloodless ) that allows them to be affected by morale and Mind spells.

Mechanicals[edit]

Mechanicals have identical attributes as other non-living creatures, but can be repaired by Mechanics and Engineers.

Immunities[edit]

All non-living creatures are unaffected by the 25% health bonus of the Elixir of Life, by morale (except for gargoyles), and the following spells and abilities:

Mind spells (except for gargoyles)[edit]

Creature abilities[edit]

Artifact effects[edit]

Horn of the Abyss: • Fangarm summon

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-'''Non-living''' (or sometimes '''unliving''') is a term that refers to all creatures that are not considered to be alive. All non-living creatures have similar traits that typically somehow concerns a lack of  "life force". For example, all non-living creatures are immune to [[Vampire Lord]]s' [[life drain]].
+'''Non-living''' and '''unliving''' are terms that refer to creatures that have never been alive. The term ''non-living'' was introduced in the {{sod}} manual, the only use of ''non-living'' in the manuals (used to describe creatures unaffected by the [[Elixir of Life]]). ''Unliving'' is not used at all in the manuals but replaces ''non-living'' in the in-game description of the [[Elixir of Life]]. The manual [[Shadow of Death Manual Page 26|states]] that the artifact "does not work on [[undead]] or ''non-living'' creatures". Additionally, the non-[[undead]] creatures not affected by the health bonus of the [[Elixir of Life]], (golems, elementals and gargoyles), have other immunities in common, which allows them to be considered one group of ''non-living'' creatures.
-The term non-living was officially introduced in {{sod}} manual, where in the description of [[Elixir of Life]] - a [[combination artifact]] stated that the artifact "does not work on [[Undead]] or ''non-living'' creatures". Although the description suggest that Undead would not be considered as non-living creatures, it is commonly acknowledged fact that Undead are also non-living beings. Additionally, [[Golem]]s and [[Elemental]]s are considered to be non-living creatures in {{homm3}}.
+{{u|Stone Gargoyle and Obsidian Gargoyle}} are also considered ''non-living'', but they are still affected by [[morale]] and mind spells. {{withhota}} In [[Horn of the Abyss]], they are called "Bloodless" instead of non-living.
-While [[Stone Gargoyle and Obsidian Gargoyle|Stone and Obsidian Gargoyles]] have traits similar to Golems, they are not Golems, as they are still affected by [[morale]]. Gargoyles are the only creatures in the game that are considered solely as non-living creatures.
+Although [[war machine]]s as units on the battlefield can be considered ''non-living'' in some sense, they have their own system of immunities.
-== Common features that apply to all non-living creatures ==
+{{u|Crystal Dragon}}s are described as being ''"made entirely from red crystal and brought to life through magical means..."'' and are referred to as dragon golems in the campaign. Despite these references they don't have any features that would set them apart from any other living creatures.
-=== Spell immunities ===
-:{{Sn|Resurrection}}
-:'''To [[Mind spells]]'''
+'''NOTE:''' For comparison, living units are just units that are NOT [[non-living]] and NOT [[undead]]. See [[Undead vs Unliving]] for more explanation.
-{{Mind spells}}
-'''To Creature abilities'''
+==Non-living creatures==
-* {{Cn|Zombie}} - [[Disease]]
+====Golems====
-* {{Cn|Vampire Lord}} - [[Life drain]]
+* {{cn|Stone Golem|noname=}}{{cn|Iron Golem|name=Stone and Iron Golems}}
-* {{Cn|Lich}} and [[Power Lich]] - [[Death cloud]]
+* {{cn|Gold Golem}}
-* {{Cn|Ghost Dragon}} - [[Aging]]
+* {{cn|Diamond Golem}}
-* {{Cn|Mighty Gorgon}} - [[Death stare]]
+* {{cn|Steel Golem}}{{-wh}}
-* {{Cn|Wyvern Monarch}} - [[Poison]]
-* {{Cn|Pit Lord}} - [[Summon demons]]
-* {{Cn|Azure Dragon}} - [[Fear]]
+The only common trait of golems among all other ''non-living'' creatures is [[spell damage reduction]].
+====Elementals====
+* {{Cn|Air Elemental|noname=}}{{Cn|Storm Elemental|name=Air and Storm Elementals}}
+* {{Cn|Water Elemental|noname=}}{{Cn|Ice Elemental|name=Water and Ice Elementals}}
+* {{Cn|Fire Elemental|noname=}}{{Cn|Energy Elemental|name=Fire and Energy Elementals}}
+* {{Cn|Earth Elemental|noname=}}{{Cn|Magma Elemental|name=Earth and Magma Elementals}}
+* {{Cn|Psychic Elemental|noname=}}{{Cn|Magic Elemental|name=Psychic and Magic Elementals}}
+====Gargoyles====
+* {{cn|Stone Gargoyle|noname=}}{{cn|Obsidian Gargoyle|name=Stone and Obsidian Gargoyles}} - NOTE: These actually use a modified version of non-living (i.e. [[Bloodless]] {{withhota}}) that allows them to be affected by [[morale]] and [[Mind spells]].
+====Mechanicals====
+* {{Cn|Automaton|noname=}}{{Cn|Sentinel Automaton|name=Automaton and Sentinel Automaton}}{{-wh}}
+* {{Cn|Dreadnought|noname=}}{{Cn|Juggernaut|name=Dreadnought and Juggernaut}}{{-wh}}
+Mechanicals have identical attributes as other non-living creatures, but can be repaired by [[Mechanic and Engineer|Mechanics and Engineers]].
+==Immunities==
+All ''non-living'' creatures are unaffected by the 25% health bonus of the [[Elixir of Life]], by [[morale]] (except for gargoyles), and the following spells and abilities:
+*{{Sn|Resurrection}}
+*{{Sn|Animate Dead}}
+*{{Sn|Destroy Undead}}
+*{{Sn|Sacrifice}}
+==== [[Mind spells]] <span style="font-weight:normal; font-style:italic;">(except for gargoyles)</span> ====
+* {{Sn|Berserk}}
+* {{Sn|Blind}}
+* {{Sn|Forgetfulness}}
+* {{Sn|Frenzy}}
+* {{Sn|Hypnotize}}
+* {{Sn|Mirth}}
+* {{Sn|Sorrow}}
+==== Creature abilities ====
+*{{Cn|Azure Dragon}}s: {{*}} [[fear]]
+*{{Cn|Ghost Dragon}}s: {{*}} [[aging]]
+*{{Cn|Lich|noname=}}{{cn|Power Lich|name=Lich and Power Lich}}s: {{*}} [[death cloud]]
+*{{Cn|Mighty Gorgon}}s: {{*}} [[death stare]]
+*{{Cn|Pit Lord}}s: {{*}} [[summon demons]]
+*{{Cn|Vampire Lord}}s: {{*}} [[life drain]]
+*{{Cn|Wyvern Monarch}}s: {{*}} [[poison]]
+*{{Cn|Sea Serpent|noname=}}{{Cn|Haspid|name=Sea Serpents and Haspids}}: {{*}} [[poison]] {{withhota}}
+*{{Cn|Zombie}}s: {{*}} [[disease]]
+==== Artifact effects ====
+*{{an|Horn of the Abyss|link=Horn of the Abyss (artifact)}}: {{*}} [[Fangarm]] summon{{-wh}}
+== See also ==
+*[[Undead vs Unliving]]
+*[[Creature abilities]]
 [[Category: Terms]]
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