1 .\" $NHDT-Branch: NetHack-3.6-Mar2020 $:$NHDT-Revision: 1.347 $ $NHDT-Date: 1583508684 2020/03/06 15:31:24 $
3 .\" This is an excerpt from the 'roff' man page from the 'groff' package.
4 .\" NetHack's Guidebook.mn currently does *not* adhere to these guidelines.
6 .\"| o Never include empty or blank lines in a roff document. Instead, use
7 .\"| the empty request (a line consisting of a dot only) or a line comment
8 .\"| .\" if a structuring element is needed.
9 .\"| o Never start a line with whitespace because this can lead to unexpect-
10 .\"| ed behavior. Indented paragraphs can be constructed in a controlled
11 .\"| way by roff requests.
12 .\"| o Start each sentence on a line of its own, for the spacing after a dot
13 .\"| is handled differently depending on whether it terminates an abbrevi-
14 .\"| ation or a sentence. To distinguish both cases, do a line break af-
15 .\"| ter each sentence.
19 .so tmac.nh \" extra macros which aren't in tmac.n
21 .ds h0 "NetHack Guidebook
27 .ds f2 "February 3, 2023
29 .\" A note on some special characters:
30 .\" \(lq = left double quote
31 .\" \(rq = right double quote \(dq = double quote character
32 .\" \(oq = left (open) single quote
33 .\" \(cq = right (close) single quote \(aq = apostrophe / single quote
34 .\" - = hyphen \- = minus sign
35 .\" \(em = M-sized dash
36 .\" ^ = small circumflex punctuation \(ha = larger circumflex character
37 .\" ~ = small tilde punctuation \(ti = larger tilde character
40 .\" finally, start the actual Guidebook...
43 A Guide to the Mazes of Menace
44 (Guidebook for NetHack)
46 Original version - Eric S. Raymond
47 (Edited and expanded for 3.6 by Mike Stephenson and others)
53 Recently, you have begun to find yourself unfulfilled and distant
54 in your daily occupation. Strange dreams of prospecting, stealing,
55 crusading, and combat have haunted you in your sleep for many months,
56 but you aren't sure of the reason. You wonder whether you have in
57 fact been having those dreams all your life, and somehow managed to
58 forget about them until now. Some nights you awaken suddenly
59 and cry out, terrified at the vivid recollection of the strange and
60 powerful creatures that seem to be lurking behind every corner of the
61 dungeon in your dream. Could these details haunting your dreams be real?
62 As each night passes, you feel the desire to enter the mysterious caverns
63 near the ruins grow stronger. Each morning, however, you quickly put
64 the idea out of your head as you recall the tales of those who entered
65 the caverns before you and did not return. Eventually you can resist
66 the yearning to seek out the fantastic place in your dreams no longer.
67 After all, when other adventurers came back this way after spending time
68 in the caverns, they usually seemed better off than when they passed
69 through the first time. And who was to say that all of those who did
70 not return had not just kept going?
73 Asking around, you hear about a bauble, called the Amulet of Yendor by some,
74 which, if you can find it, will bring you great wealth. One legend you were
75 told even mentioned that the one who finds the amulet will be granted
76 immortality by the gods. The amulet is rumored to be somewhere beyond the
77 Valley of Gehennom, deep within the Mazes of Menace. Upon hearing the
78 legends, you immediately realize that there is some profound and
79 undiscovered reason that you are to descend into the caverns and seek
80 out that amulet of which they spoke. Even if the rumors of the amulet's
81 powers are untrue, you decide that you should at least be able to sell the
82 tales of your adventures to the local minstrels for a tidy sum, especially
83 if you encounter any of the terrifying and magical creatures of
84 your dreams along the way. You spend one last night fortifying yourself
85 at the local inn, becoming more and more depressed as you watch the odds
86 of your success being posted on the inn's walls getting lower and lower.
89 In the morning you awake, collect your belongings, and
90 set off for the dungeon. After several days of uneventful
91 travel, you see the ancient ruins that mark the entrance to the
92 Mazes of Menace. It is late at night, so you make camp at the entrance
93 and spend the night sleeping under the open skies. In the morning, you
94 gather your gear, eat what may be your last meal outside, and enter the
98 What is going on here?
100 You have just begun a game of NetHack. Your goal is to grab as much
101 treasure as you can, retrieve the Amulet of Yendor, and escape the
102 Mazes of Menace alive.
104 Your abilities and strengths for dealing with the hazards of adventure
105 will vary with your background and training:
107 \fIArcheologists\fP understand dungeons pretty well; this enables them
108 to move quickly and sneak up on the local nasties. They start equipped
109 with the tools for a proper scientific expedition.
111 \fIBarbarians\fP are warriors out of the hinterland, hardened to battle.
112 They begin their quests with naught but uncommon strength, a trusty hauberk,
113 and a great two-handed sword.
115 \fICavemen\fP and \fICavewomen\fP start with exceptional strength but,
116 unfortunately, with neolithic weapons.
118 \fIHealers\fP are wise in medicine and apothecary. They know the
119 herbs and simples that can restore vitality, ease pain, anesthetize,
120 and neutralize poisons; and with their instruments, they can divine a
121 being's state of health or sickness. Their medical practice earns them
122 quite reasonable amounts of money, with which they enter the dungeon.
124 \fIKnights\fP are distinguished from the common skirmisher by their
125 devotion to the ideals of chivalry and by the surpassing excellence of
128 \fIMonks\fP are ascetics, who by rigorous practice of physical and mental
129 disciplines have become capable of fighting as effectively without weapons
130 as with. They wear no armor but make up for it with increased mobility.
132 \fIPriests\fP and \fIPriestesses\fP are clerics militant, crusaders
133 advancing the cause of righteousness with arms, armor, and arts
134 thaumaturgic. Their ability to commune with deities via prayer
135 occasionally extricates them from peril, but can also put them in it.
137 \fIRangers\fP are most at home in the woods, and some say slightly out
138 of place in a dungeon. They are, however, experts in archery as well
139 as tracking and stealthy movement.
141 \fIRogues\fP are agile and stealthy thieves, with knowledge of locks,
142 traps, and poisons. Their advantage lies in surprise, which they employ
145 \fISamurai\fP are the elite warriors of feudal Nippon. They are lightly
146 armored and quick, and wear the \fIdai-sho\fP, two swords of the deadliest
149 \fITourists\fP start out with lots of gold (suitable for shopping with),
150 a credit card, lots of food, some maps, and an expensive camera. Most
151 monsters don't like being photographed.
153 \fIValkyries\fP are hardy warrior women. Their upbringing in the harsh
154 Northlands makes them strong, inures them to extremes of cold, and instills
155 in them stealth and cunning.
157 \fIWizards\fP start out with a knowledge of magic, a selection of magical
158 items, and a particular affinity for dweomercraft. Although seemingly weak
159 and easy to overcome at first sight, an experienced Wizard is a deadly foe.
161 You may also choose the race of your character (within limits; most
162 roles have restrictions on which races are eligible for them):
164 \fIDwarves\fP are smaller than humans or elves, but are stocky and solid
165 individuals. Dwarves' most notable trait is their great expertise in mining
166 and metalwork. Dwarvish armor is said to be second in quality not even to the
167 mithril armor of the Elves.
169 \fIElves\fP are agile, quick, and perceptive; very little of what goes
170 on will escape an Elf. The quality of Elven craftsmanship often gives
171 them an advantage in arms and armor.
173 \fIGnomes\fP are smaller than but generally similar to dwarves. Gnomes are
174 known to be expert miners, and it is known that a secret underground mine
175 complex built by this race exists within the Mazes of Menace, filled with
176 both riches and danger.
178 \fIHumans\fP are by far the most common race of the surface world, and
179 are thus the norm to which other races are often compared. Although
180 they have no special abilities, they can succeed in any role.
182 \fIOrcs\fP are a cruel and barbaric race that hate every living thing
183 (including other orcs). Above all others, Orcs hate Elves with a passion
184 unequalled, and will go out of their way to kill one at any opportunity.
185 The armor and weapons fashioned by the Orcs are typically of inferior quality.
187 What do all those things on the screen mean?
189 On the screen is kept a map of where you have
190 been and what you have seen on the current dungeon level; as you
191 explore more of the level, it appears on the screen in front of you.
193 When NetHack's ancestor \fIrogue\fP first appeared, its screen
194 orientation was almost unique among computer fantasy games. Since
195 then, screen orientation has become the norm rather than the
196 exception; NetHack continues this fine tradition. Unlike text
197 adventure games that accept commands in pseudo-English sentences and
198 explain the results in words, NetHack commands are all one or two
199 keystrokes and the results are displayed graphically on the screen. A
200 minimum screen size of 24 lines by 80 columns is recommended; if the
201 screen is larger, only a 21x80 section will be used for the map.
203 NetHack can even be played by blind players, with the assistance of Braille
204 readers or speech synthesisers. Instructions for configuring NetHack for
205 the blind are included later in this document.
207 NetHack generates a new dungeon every time you play it; even the
208 authors still find it an entertaining and exciting game despite
209 having won several times.
211 NetHack offers a variety of display options. The options available to you
212 will vary from port to port, depending on the capabilities of your
213 hardware and software, and whether various compile-time options were
214 enabled when your executable was created. The three possible display
215 options are: a monochrome character interface, a color character interface,
216 and a graphical interface using small pictures called tiles. The two
217 character interfaces allow fonts with other characters to be substituted,
218 but the default assignments use standard ASCII characters to represent
219 everything. There is no difference between the various display options
220 with respect to game play. Because we cannot reproduce the tiles or
221 colors in the Guidebook, and because it is common to all ports, we will
222 use the default ASCII characters from the monochrome character display
223 when referring to things you might see on the screen during your game.
225 In order to understand what is going on in NetHack, first you must
226 understand what NetHack is doing with the screen.
228 replaces the \(lqYou see ...\(rq descriptions of text adventure games.
229 Figure 1 is a sample of what a NetHack screen might look like.
230 The way the screen looks for you depends on your platform.
233 .ft CR \" set font to constant-width Roman
248 Player the Rambler St:12 Dx:7 Co:18 In:11 Wi:9 Ch:15 Neutral
249 Dlvl:1 $:0 HP:9(12) Pw:3(3) AC:10 Exp:1/19 T:257 Weak
251 .ft \" revert to previous font
256 The status lines (bottom)
258 The bottom two lines of the screen contain several cryptic pieces of
259 information describing your current status. If either status line
260 becomes longer than the width of the screen, you might not see all of
261 it. Here are explanations of what the various status items mean
262 (though your configuration may not have all the status items listed
265 Your character's name and professional ranking (based on the
266 experience level, see below).
268 A measure of your character's strength; one of your six basic
269 attributes. A human character's attributes can range from 3 to 18 inclusive;
270 non-humans may exceed these limits
271 (occasionally you may get super-strengths of the form 18/xx, and magic can
272 also cause attributes to exceed the normal limits). The
273 higher your strength, the stronger you are. Strength affects how
274 successfully you perform physical tasks, how much damage you do in
275 combat, and how much loot you can carry.
277 Dexterity affects your chances to hit in combat, to avoid traps, and
278 do other tasks requiring agility or manipulation of objects.
280 Constitution affects your ability to recover from injuries and other
281 strains on your stamina.
282 When strength is low or modest, constitution also affects how much you
283 can carry. With sufficiently high strength, the contribution to
284 carrying capacity from your constitution no longer matters.
286 Intelligence affects your ability to cast spells and read spellbooks.
288 Wisdom comes from your practical experience (especially when dealing with
289 magic). It affects your magical energy.
291 Charisma affects how certain creatures react toward you. In
292 particular, it can affect the prices shopkeepers offer you.
294 \fBLawful\fP, \fBNeutral\fP, or \fBChaotic\fP. Often, Lawful is
295 taken as good and Chaotic as evil, but legal and ethical do not always
296 coincide. Your alignment influences how other
297 monsters react toward you. Monsters of a like alignment are more likely
298 to be non-aggressive, while those of an opposing alignment are more likely
299 to be seriously offended at your presence.
301 How deep you are in the dungeon. You start at level one and the number
302 increases as you go deeper into the dungeon. Some levels are special,
303 and are identified by a name and not a number. The Amulet of Yendor is
304 reputed to be somewhere beneath the twentieth level.
306 The number of gold pieces you are openly carrying. Gold which you have
307 concealed in containers is not counted.
309 Your current and maximum hit points. Hit points indicate how much
310 damage you can take before you die. The more you get hit in a fight,
311 the lower they get. You can regain hit points by resting, or by using
312 certain magical items or spells. The number in parentheses is the maximum
313 number your hit points can reach.
315 Spell points. This tells you how much mystic energy (\fImana\fP)
316 you have available for spell casting. Again, resting will regenerate the
319 A measure of how effectively your armor stops blows from unfriendly
320 creatures. The lower this number is, the more effective the armor; it
321 is quite possible to have negative armor class.
323 Your current experience level and experience points. As you
324 adventure, you gain experience points. At certain experience point
325 totals, you gain an experience level. The more experienced you are,
326 the better you fight and withstand magical attacks. Many dungeons
327 show only your experience level here.
329 The number of turns elapsed so far, displayed if you have the
334 your current hunger status.
335 Values are \fBSatiated\fP, \fBNot Hungry\fP (or \fBNormal\fP),
336 \fBHungry\fP, \fBWeak\fP, and \fBFainting\fP.
337 .\" not mentioned: Fainted
338 Not shown when \fBNormal\fP.
341 an indication of how what you are carrying affects your ability to move.
342 Values are \fBUnencumbered\fP, \fBEncumbered\fP, \fBStressed\fP,
343 \fBStrained\fP, \fBOvertaxed\fP, and \fBOverloaded\fP.
344 Not shown when \fBUnencumbered\fP.
347 \fBStone\fP (aka \fBPetrifying\fP, turning to stone),
348 \fBSlime\fP (turning into green slime),
349 \fBStrngl\fP (being strangled),
350 \fBFoodPois\fP (suffering from acute food poisoning),
351 \fBTermIll\fP (suffering from a terminal illness).
353 Non-fatal conditions:
354 \fBBlind\fP (can't see), \fBDeaf\fP (can't hear),
355 \fBStun\fP (stunned), \fBConf\fP (confused), \fBHallu\fP (hallucinating).
358 \fBLev\fP (levitating), \fBFly\fP (flying), \fBRide\fP (riding).
360 Other conditions and modifiers exist, but there isn't enough room to
361 display them with the other status fields.
362 The \(oq\(haX\(cq command shows all relevant status conditions.
364 The message line (top)
366 The top line of the screen is reserved for messages that describe
367 things that are impossible to represent visually.
369 \(lq\fB\-\-More\-\-\fP\(rq on the top line, this means that NetHack has
370 another message to display on the screen, but it wants to make certain
371 that you've read the one that is there first.
372 To read the next message, just press the space bar.
374 To change how and what messages are shown on the message line,
375 see \(lqConfiguring Message Types\(rq and the
379 The map (rest of the screen)
381 The rest of the screen is the map of the level as you have explored it
382 so far. Each symbol on the screen represents something. You can set
383 various graphics options to change some of the symbols the game uses;
384 otherwise, the game will use default symbols. Here is a list of what the
385 default symbols mean:
387 The walls of a room, or an open door. Or a grave (|).
389 The floor of a room, ice, or a doorless doorway.
391 A corridor, or iron bars, or a tree, or possibly a kitchen sink (if
392 your dungeon has sinks), or a drawbridge.
394 Stairs down: a way to the next level.
396 Stairs up: a way to the previous level.
398 A closed door, or a spellbook containing a spell you may be able to learn.
400 Your character or a human.
404 A trap (once you have detected it).
408 A suit or piece of armor.
410 Something edible (not necessarily healthy).
420 A useful item (pick-axe, key, lamp...).
421 .lp \(dq \" \(dq == double quote
422 An amulet or a spider web.
424 A gem or rock (possibly valuable, possibly worthless).
430 An altar, or an iron chain.
434 A pool of water or moat or a pool of lava.
437 .lp "a-zA-Z and other symbols"
438 Letters and certain other symbols represent the various inhabitants
439 of the Mazes of Menace. Watch out, they can be nasty and vicious.
440 Sometimes, however, they can be helpful.
442 This marks the last known location of an invisible or otherwise unseen
443 monster. Note that the monster could have moved.
444 The \(oqF\(cq and \(oqm\(cq commands may be useful here.
446 You need not memorize all these symbols; you can ask the game what any
447 symbol represents with the \(oq/\(cq command (see the next section for
453 Commands can be initiated by typing one or two characters to which
454 the command is bound to, or typing the command name in the extended
456 Some commands, like \(lqsearch\(rq, do not require that any more
457 information be collected by NetHack.
458 Other commands might require additional information, for
459 example a direction, or an object to be used.
460 For those commands that
461 require additional information, NetHack will present you with either a
462 menu of choices or with a command line prompt requesting information.
463 Which you are presented with will depend chiefly on how you have set the
467 For example, a common question, in the form \(lqWhat do you want to
468 use?\ [a\-zA\-Z\ ?*]\(rq, asks you to choose an object you are carrying.
469 Here, \(lqa\-zA\-Z\(rq are the inventory letters of your possible choices.
470 Typing \(oq?\(cq gives you an inventory list of these items, so you can see
471 what each letter refers to.
472 In this example, there is also a \(oq*\(cq
473 indicating that you may choose an object not on the list, if you
474 wanted to use something unexpected.
475 Typing a \(oq*\(cq lists your entire
476 inventory, so you can see the inventory letters of every object you're
478 Finally, if you change your mind and decide you don't want
479 to do this command after all, you can press the ESC key to abort the
482 You can put a number before some commands to repeat them that many
483 times; for example, \(lq10s\(rq will search ten times.
486 option set, you must type \(oqn\(cq to prefix a count, so the example above
487 would be typed \(lqn10s\(rq instead.
488 Commands for which counts make no sense ignore them.
489 In addition, movement commands can be prefixed for
490 greater control (see below).
491 To cancel a count or a prefix, press the ESC key.
493 The list of commands is rather long, but it can be read at any time
494 during the game through the \(oq?\(cq command, which accesses a menu of
496 Here are the default key bindings for your reference:
498 Help menu: display one of several help texts available.
500 The \(lqwhatis\(rq command, to tell what a symbol represents.
501 You may choose to specify a location
502 or type a symbol (or even a whole word) to explain.
503 Specifying a location is done by moving the cursor to a particular spot
504 on the map and then pressing one of \(oq.\(cq, \(oq,\(cq, \(oq;\(cq,
506 \(oq.\(cq will explain the symbol at the chosen location,
507 conditionally check for \(lqMore info?\(rq depending upon whether the
509 option is on, and then you will be asked to pick another location;
510 \(oq,\(cq will explain the symbol but skip any additional
511 information, then let you pick another location;
512 \(oq;\(cq will skip additional info and also not bother asking
513 you to choose another location to examine; \(oq:\(cq will show additional
514 info, if any, without asking for confirmation.
515 When picking a location,
516 pressing the ESC key will terminate this command, or pressing \(oq?\(cq will
517 give a brief reminder about how it works.
521 option is on, a short description of what you see at each location is
522 shown as you move the cursor.
523 Typing \(oq#\(cq while picking a location will
524 toggle that option on or off.
527 option controls whether the short description includes map coordinates.
529 Specifying a name rather than a location
530 always gives any additional information available about that name.
532 You may also request a description of nearby monsters,
533 all monsters currently displayed, nearby objects, or all objects.
536 option controls which format of map coordinate is included with their
539 Tell what a command does.
541 Go up to the previous level (if you are on a staircase or ladder).
543 Go down to the next level (if you are on a staircase or ladder).
545 Go one step in the direction indicated (see Figure 2). If you sense
547 a monster there, you will fight the monster instead. Only these
548 one-step movement commands cause you to fight monsters; the others
549 (below) are \(lqsafe.\(rq
551 .\" note: the two number pad layouts are separated by a tab on each line;
552 .\" converting those tabs to spaces will screw up the formatting;
553 .\" the '(if ... set)' line starts with <backslash><space><tab>
554 .\" and is intended to line up with the right hand layout rather
555 .\" than be centered.
564 \ (if \fBnumber_pad\fP is set)
571 Go in that direction until you hit a wall or run into something.
573 Prefix: move without picking up objects or fighting (even if you remember
576 A few non-movement commands use the \(oqm\(cq prefix to request operating
577 via menu (to temporarily override the
578 .op menustyle:Traditional
580 Primarily useful for \(oq,\(cq (pickup) when there is only one class of
581 objects present (where there won't be any \(lqwhat kinds of objects?\(rq
583 so no opportunity to answer \(oqm\(cq at that prompt).
585 A few other commands (eat food, offer sacrifice, apply tinning-kit) use
586 the \(oqm\(cq prefix to skip checking for applicable objects on the floor
587 and go straight to checking inventory,
588 or (for \(lq#loot\(rq to remove a saddle),
589 skip containers and go straight to adjacent monsters.
591 make \(lq#travel\(rq command show a menu of interesting targets in sight.
592 In debug mode (aka \(lqwizard mode\(rq), the \(oqm\(cq prefix may also be
593 used with the \(lq#teleport\(rq and \(lq#wizlevelport\(rq commands.
595 Prefix: fight a monster (even if you only guess one is there).
597 Prefix: move far, no pickup.
599 Prefix: move until something interesting is found.
600 .lp "G[yuhjklbn] or <CONTROL->[yuhjklbn]"
601 Prefix: same as \(oqg\(cq, but forking of corridors is not considered
604 Travel to a map location via a shortest-path algorithm.
607 is computed over map locations the hero knows about (e.g. seen or
608 previously traversed).
609 If there is no known path, a guess is made instead.
611 the same conditions as the \(oqG\(cq command, but without picking up
612 objects, similar to the \(oqM\(cq command.
614 support, the command is also invoked when a mouse-click takes place on a
615 location other than the current position.
617 Wait or rest, do nothing for one turn.
619 Apply (use) a tool (pick-axe, key, lamp...).
621 If used on a wand, that wand will be broken, releasing its magic in the
622 process. Confirmation is required.
624 Remove one or more worn items, such as armor.
626 Use \(oqT\(cq (take off) to take off only one piece of armor
627 or \(oqR\(cq (remove) to take off only one accessory.
629 Redo the previous command.
633 Call (name) a monster, an individual object, or a type of object.
635 Same as extended command \(lq#name\(rq.
637 Panic button. Quit the game.
641 For example \(lqd7a\(rq means drop seven items of object \fIa\fP.
645 In answer to the question
647 \(lqWhat kinds of things do you want to drop? [!%= BUCXaium]\(rq
649 you should type zero or more object symbols possibly followed by
650 \(oqa\(cq and/or \(oqi\(cq and/or \(oqu\(cq and/or \(oqm\(cq.
651 In addition, one or more of
652 the blessed/uncursed/cursed groups may be typed.
655 drop all objects known to be blessed.
657 drop all objects known to be uncursed.
659 drop all objects known to be cursed.
661 drop all objects of unknown B/U/C status.
663 drop all objects, without asking for confirmation.
665 examine your inventory before dropping anything.
667 drop only unpaid objects (when in a shop).
669 use a menu to pick which object(s) to drop.
671 drop only unpaid food.
673 The last example shows a combination.
674 There are three categories of object filtering: class (\(oq!\(cq for
675 potions, \(oq?\(cq for scrolls, and so on), shop status (\(oqu\(cq for
676 unpaid, in other words, owned by the shop), and bless/curse state
677 (\(oqB\(cq, \(oqU\(cq, \(oqC\(cq, and \(oqX\(cq as shown above).
678 If you specify more than one value in a category (such as \(lq!?\(rq for
679 potions and scrolls or \(lqBU\(rq for blessed and uncursed), an inventory
680 object will meet the criteria if it matches any of the specified
681 values (so \(lq!?\(rq means \(oq!\(cq or \(oq?\(cq).
682 If you specify more than one category, an inventory object must meet
683 each of the category criteria (so \(lq%u\(rq means class \(oq%\(cq and
685 Lastly, you may specify multiple values within multiple categories:
686 \(lq!?BU\(rq will select all potions and scrolls which are known to be
688 (In versions prior to 3.6, filter combinations behaved differently.)
690 Kick something (usually a door).
694 Normally checks for edible item(s) on the floor, then if none are found
695 or none are chosen, checks for edible item(s) in inventory.
696 Precede \(oqe\(cq with the \(oqm\(cq prefix to bypass attempting to eat
697 anything off the floor.
699 If you attempt to eat while already satiated, you might choke to death.
700 If you risk it, you will be asked whether
701 to \(lqcontinue eating?\(rq \fIif you survive the first bite\fP.
703 .op paranoid_confirmation:eating
704 option to require a response of \f(CRyes\fP instead of just \f(CRy\fP.
706 .\" Make sure Elbereth is not hyphenated below, the exact spelling matters
709 Engrave a message on the floor.
712 E\- - write in the dust with your fingers.
716 Engraving the word \(lqElbereth\(rq will cause most monsters to not attack
717 you hand-to-hand (but if you attack, you will rub it out); this is
718 often useful to give yourself a breather.
720 Fire (shoot or throw) one of the objects placed in your quiver (or
721 quiver sack, or that you have at the ready).
722 You may select ammunition with a previous \(oqQ\(cq command, or let the
723 computer pick something appropriate if
727 See also \(oqt\(cq (throw) for more general throwing and shooting.
729 List your inventory (everything you're carrying).
731 List selected parts of your inventory, usually be specifying the character
732 for a particular set of objects, like \(oq[\(cq for armor or \(oq!\(cq for
736 list all gems in inventory;
738 list all unpaid items;
740 list all used up items that are on your shopping bill;
742 list all items known to be blessed;
744 list all items known to be uncursed;
746 list all items known to be cursed;
748 list all items whose bless/curse status is unknown;
757 A menu showing the current option values will be displayed.
758 You can change most values simply by selecting the menu
759 entry for the given option (ie, by typing its letter or clicking upon
760 it, depending on your user interface).
761 For the non-boolean choices,
762 a further menu or prompt will appear once you've closed this menu.
763 The available options
764 are listed later in this Guidebook.
765 Options are usually set before the game rather than with the \(oqO\(cq
766 command; see the section on options below.
770 Shortcut for \(lq#overview\(rq: list interesting dungeon levels visited.
772 (Prior to 3.6.0, \(oq\(haO\(cq was a debug mode command which listed
773 the placement of all special levels.
774 Use \(lq#wizwhere\(rq to run that command.)
776 Pay your shopping bill.
778 Put on an accessory (ring, amulet, or blindfold).
780 This command may also be used to wear armor.
781 The prompt for which inventory item to use will only list accessories,
782 but choosing an unlisted item of armor will attempt to wear it.
783 (See the \(oqW\(cq command below.
784 It lists armor as the inventory
785 choices but will accept an accessory and attempt to put that on.)
787 Repeat previous message.
789 Subsequent \(oq\(haP\(cqs repeat earlier messages.
790 For some interfaces, the behavior can be varied via the
794 Quaff (drink) something (potion, water, etc).
796 Select an object for your quiver, quiver sack, or just generally at
797 the ready (only one of these is available at a time).
798 You can then throw this (or one of these) using the \(oqf\(cq command.
800 (In versions prior to 3.3 this was the command to quit
801 the game, which has been moved to \(lq#quit\(rq.)
803 Read a scroll or spellbook.
805 Remove a worn accessory (ring, amulet, or blindfold).
807 If you're wearing more than one, you'll be prompted for which one to
809 When you're only wearing one, then by default it will be removed
810 without asking, but you can set the
811 .op paranoid_confirmation
812 option to require a prompt.
814 This command may also be used to take off armor.
815 The prompt for which inventory item to remove only lists worn
816 accessories, but an item of worn armor can be chosen.
817 (See the \(oqT\(cq command below.
818 It lists armor as the inventory
819 choices but will accept an accessory and attempt to remove it.)
823 Search for secret doors and traps around you.
824 It usually takes several tries to find something.
826 Can also be used to figure out whether there is still a monster at
827 an adjacent \(lqremembered, unseen monster\(rq marker.
829 Save the game (which suspends play and exits the program).
830 The saved game will be restored automatically the next time you play
831 using the same character name.
833 In normal play, once a saved game is restored the file used to hold
834 the saved data is deleted.
835 In explore mode, once restoration is accomplished you are asked whether
836 to keep or delete the file.
837 Keeping the file makes it feasible to play for a while then quit
838 without saving and later restore again.
840 There is no \(lqsave current game state and keep playing\(rq command, not
841 even in explore mode where saved game files can be kept and re-used.
843 Throw an object or shoot a projectile.
845 There's no separate \(lqshoot\(rq command.
846 If you throw an arrow while wielding a bow, you are shooting
847 that arrow and any weapon skill bonus or penalty for bow applies.
848 If you throw an arrow while not wielding a bow, you are throwing
849 it by hand and it will generally be less effective than when shot.
851 See also \(oqf\(cq (fire) for throwing or shooting an item pre-selected
852 via the \(oqQ\(cq (quiver) command.
856 If you're wearing more than one piece, you'll be prompted for which
857 one to take off. (Note that this treats a cloak covering a suit
858 and/or a shirt, or a suit covering a shirt, as if the underlying items
860 When you're only wearing one, then by default it will
861 be taken off without asking, but you can set the
862 .op paranoid_confirmation
863 option to require a prompt.
865 This command may also be used to remove accessories.
866 The prompt for which inventory item to take off only lists worn armor,
867 but a worn accessory can be chosen.
868 (See the \(oqR\(cq command above.
869 It lists accessories as the inventory
870 choices but will accept an item of armor and attempt to take it off.)
872 Teleport, if you have the ability.
874 Display version number.
876 Display the game history.
881 w\- - wield nothing, use your bare (or gloved) hands.
884 Some characters can wield two weapons at once; use the \(oqX\(cq command
885 (or the \(lq#twoweapon\(rq extended command) to do so.
889 This command may also be used to put on an accessory (ring, amulet, or
890 blindfold). The prompt for which inventory item to use will only list
891 armor, but choosing an unlisted accessory will attempt to put it on.
892 (See the \(oqP\(cq command above.
893 It lists accessories as the inventory
894 choices but will accept an item of armor and attempt to wear it.)
896 Exchange your wielded weapon with the item in your alternate weapon slot.
898 The latter is used as your secondary weapon when engaging in
899 two-weapon combat. Note that if one of these slots is empty,
900 the exchange still takes place.
902 Toggle two-weapon combat, if your character can do it. Also available
903 via the \(lq#twoweapon\(rq extended command.
905 (In versions prior to 3.6 this was the command to switch from normal
906 play to \(lqexplore mode\(rq, also known as \(lqdiscovery mode\(rq,
907 which has now been moved to \(lq#exploremode\(rq.)
909 Display basic information about your character.
911 Displays name, role, race, gender (unless role name makes that
912 redundant, such as \fICaveman\fP or \fIPriestess\fP), and alignment,
913 along with your patron deity and his or her opposition.
915 shows most of the various items of information from the status line(s)
916 in a less terse form, including several additional things which don't
917 appear in the normal status display due to space considerations.
919 In normal play, that's all that \(oq\(haX\(cq displays.
920 In explore mode, the role and status feedback is augmented by the
921 information provided by \fIenlightenment\fP magic.
926 z. - to aim at yourself, use \(oq\.\(cq for the direction.
933 Z. - to cast at yourself, use \(oq\.\(cq for the direction.
938 .\" .UX: print "UNIX" now and a trademark footnote at bottom of current page;
939 .\" 2nd arg (literal '(') _precedes_ it, 1st arg (quoted string) follows it
940 .UX " versions with job control only)." (
942 Look at what is here.
944 Show what type of thing a visible symbol corresponds to.
946 Pick up some things from the floor beneath you.
948 May be preceded by \(oqm\(cq to force a selection menu.
954 Ask for the type of an adjacent trap you found earlier.
956 Tell what weapon you are wielding.
958 Tell what armor you are wearing.
960 Tell what rings you are wearing.
961 .lp \(dq \" \(dq == double quote
962 Tell what amulet you are wearing.
964 Tell what tools you are using.
966 Tell what equipment you are using.
968 Combines the preceding five type-specific
971 Count your gold pieces.
973 List the spells you know.
975 Using this command, you can also rearrange
976 the order in which your spells are listed, either by sorting the entire
977 list or by picking one spell from the menu then picking another to swap
979 Swapping pairs of spells changes their casting letters,
980 so the change lasts after the current \(oq+\(cq command finishes.
981 Sorting the whole list is temporary.
982 To make the most recent sort order persist
983 beyond the current \(oq+\(cq command, choose the sort option again and then
984 pick \(lqreassign casting letters\(rq.
985 (Any spells learned after that will
986 be added to the end of the list rather than be inserted into the sorted
989 Show what types of objects have been discovered.
991 Show discovered types for one class of objects.
995 Perform an extended command.
998 As you can see, the authors of NetHack
999 used up all the letters, so this is a way to introduce the less frequently
1001 What extended commands are available depends on what features the game was
1004 .\" Pad short entries out to 1+8 characters. This will make sure that
1005 .\" the text description starts on its own line like long named entries
1006 .\" instead of sometimes being on the same line for short name ones.
1007 .\" The document will be longer, but mixing the two is harder to read.
1008 .\" (For plain text output, the old 1+4 was sufficient. For Postscript,
1009 .\" several need at least 1+7 due to narrow letters or ligatures.)
1012 Adjust inventory letters (most useful when the
1014 option is \(lqon\(rq).
1016 Default key is \(oqM-a\(cq.
1018 This command allows you to move an item from one particular inventory
1019 slot to another so that it has a letter which is more meaningful for you
1020 or that it will appear in a particular location when inventory listings
1022 You can move to a currently empty slot, or if the destination is
1023 occupied \(em and won't merge \(em the item there will swap slots with the one
1025 \(lq#adjust\(rq can also be used to split a stack of objects; when
1026 choosing the item to adjust, enter a count prior to its letter.
1028 Adjusting without a count used to collect all compatible stacks when
1029 moving to the destination.
1030 That behavior has been changed; to gather
1031 compatible stacks, \(lq#adjust\(rq a stack into its own inventory slot.
1032 If it has a name assigned, other stacks with the same name or with
1033 no name will merge provided that all their other attributes match.
1034 If it does not have a name, only other stacks with no name are eligible.
1035 In either case, otherwise compatible stacks with a different name
1037 This contrasts with using \(lq#adjust\(rq to move
1038 from one slot to a different slot.
1039 In that situation, moving (no
1040 count given) a compatible stack will merge if either stack has a
1041 name when the other doesn't and give that name to the result, while
1042 splitting (count given) will ignore the source stack's name when
1043 deciding whether to merge with the destination stack.
1045 Allows you to specify one line of text to associate with the current
1047 All levels with annotations are displayed by the
1048 \(lq#overview\(rq command.
1050 Default key is \(oqM-A\(cq, and also \(oq\(haN\(cq if
1054 Apply (use) a tool such as a pick-axe, a key, or a lamp.
1055 Default key is \(oqa\(cq.
1057 If the tool used acts on items on the floor, using the \(oqm\(cq prefix skips
1060 If used on a wand, that wand will be broken, releasing its magic in the
1062 Confirmation is required.
1064 Show your attributes.
1065 Default key is \(oq\(haX\(cq.
1070 Default key is \(oq@\(cq.
1072 Call (name) a monster, or an object in inventory, on the floor,
1073 or in the discoveries list, or add an annotation for the
1074 current level (same as \(lq#annotate\(rq).
1075 Default key is \(oqC\(cq.
1078 Default key is \(oqZ\(cq.
1081 Default key is \(oqM-c\(cq.
1084 Default key is \(oqc\(cq.
1086 List voluntary challenges you have maintained.
1088 Default key is \(oqM-C\(cq.
1090 See the section below entitled \(lqConduct\(rq for details.
1092 Dip an object into something.
1094 Default key is \(oqM-d\(cq.
1096 Go down a staircase.
1097 Default key is \(oq>\(cq.
1100 Default key is \(oqd\(cq.
1102 Drop specific item types.
1103 Default key is \(oqD\(cq.
1106 Default key is \(oqe\(cq.
1107 The \(oqm\(cq prefix skips eating items on the floor.
1109 Engrave writing on the floor.
1110 Default key is \(oqE\(cq.
1112 Advance or check weapon and spell skills.
1114 Default key is \(oqM-e\(cq.
1116 Enter the explore mode.
1118 Requires confirmation; default response is \f(CRn\fP (no).
1119 To really switch to explore mode, respond with \f(CRy\fP.
1121 .op paranoid_confirmation:quit
1122 option to require a response of \f(CRyes\fP instead.
1124 Fire ammunition from quiver.
1125 Default key is \(oqf\(cq.
1129 Default key is \(oqM-f\(cq.
1131 Show what type of thing a map symbol corresponds to.
1132 Default key is \(oq;\(cq.
1135 Default key is \(oq?\(cq, and also \(oqh\(cq if
1139 Show a menu of possible actions in your current location.
1141 Show long version and game history.
1142 Default key is \(oqV\(cq.
1144 Show your inventory.
1145 Default key is \(oqi\(cq.
1147 Inventory specific item types.
1148 Default key is \(oqI\(cq.
1150 Invoke an object's special powers.
1152 Default key is \(oqM-i\(cq.
1154 Jump to another location.
1156 Default key is \(oqM-j\(cq, and also \(oqj\(cq if
1161 Default key is \(oq\(haD\(cq, and \(oqk\(cq if
1165 Show what object types have been discovered.
1166 Default key is \(oq\\\(cq.
1168 Show discovered types for one class of objects.
1169 Default key is \(oq\`\(cq.
1171 Change your experience level.
1175 Show mobile light sources.
1179 Look at what is here, under you.
1180 Default key is \(oq:\(cq.
1182 Loot a box or bag on the floor beneath you, or the saddle
1183 from a steed standing next to you.
1185 Precede with the \(oqm\(cq prefix to skip containers at your location
1186 and go directly to removing a saddle.
1187 Default key is \(oqM-l\(cq, and also \(oql\(cq if
1191 Use a monster's special ability (when polymorphed into monster form).
1193 Default key is \(oqM-m\(cq.
1195 Name a monster, an individual object, or a type of object.
1196 Same as \(lq#call\(rq.
1198 Default keys are \(oqN\(cq, \(oqM-n\(cq, and \(oqM-N\(cq.
1199 .lp "#offer " \" `ff' ligature is narrow
1200 Offer a sacrifice to the gods.
1202 Default key is \(oqM-o\(cq.
1204 You'll need to find an altar to have any chance at success.
1205 Corpses of recently killed monsters are the fodder of choice.
1207 The \(oqm\(cq prefix skips offering any items which are on the altar.
1210 Default key is \(oqo\(cq.
1212 Show and change option settings.
1213 Default key is \(oqO\(cq.
1215 Display information you've discovered about the dungeon.
1217 level (unless forgotten due to amnesia) with an annotation is included,
1218 and many things (altars, thrones, fountains, and so on; extra stairs
1219 leading to another dungeon branch) trigger an automatic annotation.
1220 If dungeon overview is chosen during end-of-game disclosure, every visited
1221 level will be included regardless of annotations.
1223 Default keys are \(oq\(haO\(cq, and \(oqM-O\(cq.
1226 Test the panic routine.
1227 Terminates the current game.
1231 Asks for confirmation; default is \f(CRn\fP (no); continue playing.
1232 To really panic, respond with \f(CRy\fP.
1234 .op paranoid_confirmation:quit
1235 option to require a response of \f(CRyes\fP instead.
1237 Pay your shopping bill.
1238 Default key is \(oqp\(cq.
1240 Pick up things at the current location.
1241 Default key is \(oq,\(cq.
1242 The \(oqm\(cq prefix forces use of a menu.
1248 Pray to the gods for help.
1250 Default key is \(oqM-p\(cq.
1252 Praying too soon after receiving prior help is a bad idea.
1253 (Hint: entering the dungeon alive is treated as having received help.
1254 You probably shouldn't start off a new game by praying right away.)
1255 Since using this command by accident can cause trouble, there is an
1256 option to make you confirm your intent before praying.
1257 It is enabled by default, and you can reset the
1258 .op paranoid_confirmation
1259 option to disable it.
1261 Show previously displayed game messages.
1262 Default key is \(oq\(haP\(cq.
1264 Put on an accessory (ring, amulet, etc).
1265 Default key is \(oqP\(cq.
1267 Quaff (drink) something.
1268 Default key is \(oqq\(cq.
1270 Quit the program without saving your game.
1272 Default key is \(oqM-q\(cq.
1274 Since using this command by accident would throw away the current game,
1275 you are asked to confirm your intent before quitting.
1276 Default response is \f(CRn\fP (no); continue playing.
1277 To really quit, respond with \f(CRy\fP.
1279 .op paranoid_confirmation:quit
1280 option to require a response of \f(CRyes\fP instead.
1282 Select ammunition for quiver.
1283 Default key is \(oqQ\(cq.
1285 Read a scroll, a spellbook, or something else.
1286 Default key is \(oqr\(cq.
1289 Default key is \(oq\(haR\(cq, and also \(oq\(haL\(cq if
1293 Remove an accessory (ring, amulet, etc).
1294 Default key is \(oqR\(cq.
1296 Ride (or stop riding) a saddled creature.
1298 Default key is \(oqM-R\(cq.
1300 Rub a lamp or a stone.
1302 Default key is \(oqM-r\(cq.
1304 Save the game and exit the program.
1305 Default key is \(oqS\(cq.
1307 Search for traps and secret doors around you.
1308 Default key is \(oqs\(cq.
1310 Show all equipment in use.
1311 Default key is \(oq*\(cq.
1313 Show the amulet currently worn.
1314 Default key is \(oq\(dq\(cq. \" double quote
1316 Show the armor currently worn.
1317 Default key is \(oq[\(cq.
1320 Default key is \(oq$\(cq.
1326 Show the ring(s) currently worn.
1327 Default key is \(oq=\(cq.
1329 List and reorder known spells.
1330 Default key is \(oq+\(cq.
1332 Show the tools currently in use.
1333 Default key is \(oq(\(cq.
1335 Show the type of an adjacent trap.
1336 Default key is \(oq\(ha\(cq. \" 'hat' (circumflex character)
1338 Show the weapon currently wielded.
1339 Default key is \(oq)\(cq.
1342 Default key is \(oq!\(cq.
1346 Default key is \(oqM-s\(cq.
1348 Show memory usage statistics.
1353 Default key is \(oq\(haZ\(cq.
1355 Swap wielded and secondary weapons.
1356 Default key is \(oqx\(cq.
1358 Take off one piece of armor.
1359 Default key is \(oqT\(cq.
1362 Default key is \(oqA\(cq.
1364 Teleport around the level.
1365 Default key is \(oq\(haT\(cq.
1367 Show bare map without displaying monsters, objects, or traps.
1370 Show a menu of possible actions in a location next to you.
1373 Default key is \(oqt\(cq.
1375 Look at the timeout queue.
1379 Tip over a container (bag or box) to pour out its contents.
1381 Default key is \(oqM-T\(cq.
1382 The \(oqm\(cq prefix makes the command use a menu.
1384 Travel to a specific location on the map.
1385 Default key is \(oq_\(cq. \" underscore
1386 Using the \(lqrequest menu\(rq prefix shows a menu of interesting targets
1387 in sight without asking to move the cursor.
1388 When picking a target with cursor and the
1390 option is on, the top line will show \(lq(no travel path)\(rq if
1391 your character does not know of a path to that location.
1395 Default key is \(oqM-t\(cq.
1397 Toggle two-weapon combat on or off.
1399 Default key is \(oqX\(cq, and also \(oqM-2\(cq if
1404 use suitable weapons for this type of combat, or it will
1405 be automatically turned off.
1407 Untrap something (trap, door, or chest).
1408 Default key is \(oqM-u\(cq, and \(oqu\(cq if
1412 In some circumstances it can also be used to rescue trapped monsters.
1415 Default key is \(oq<\(cq.
1417 List vanquished monsters.
1421 Print compile time options for this version of NetHack.
1423 Default key is \(oqM-v\(cq.
1425 Show version string.
1426 Default key is \(oqv\(cq.
1432 Rest one move while doing nothing.
1433 Default key is \(oq.\(cq, and also \(oq\ \(cq if
1437 Wear a piece of armor.
1438 Default key is \(oqW\(cq.
1440 Tell what a key does.
1441 Default key is \(oq&\(cq.
1443 Show what type of thing a symbol corresponds to.
1444 Default key is \(oq/\(cq.
1447 Default key is \(oqw\(cq.
1451 Default key is \(oqM-w\(cq.
1453 Bury objects under and around you.
1457 Search for hidden things (secret doors or traps or unseen monsters)
1458 within a modest radius.
1461 Default key is \(oq\(haE\(cq.
1464 May be prefixed by a count to create more than one.
1467 Default key is \(oq\(haG\(cq.
1469 Identify all items in inventory.
1472 Default key is \(oq\(haI\(cq.
1474 Set one or more intrinsic attributes.
1478 Teleport to another level.
1481 Default key is \(oq\(haV\(cq.
1486 Default key is \(oq\(haF\(cq.
1488 Verify rumor boundaries.
1496 Show locations of special levels.
1503 Default key is \(oq\(haW\(cq.
1510 Default key is \(oqz\(cq.
1512 Help menu: get the list of available extended commands.
1515 If your keyboard has a meta key (which, when pressed in combination
1516 with another key, modifies it by setting the \(lqmeta\(rq [8th,
1517 or \(lqhigh\(rq] bit), you can invoke many extended commands by meta-ing
1518 the first letter of the command.
1520 In \fINT\fP, \fIOS/2\fP, \fIPC\fP and \fIST\fP \fINetHack\fP,
1521 the \(lqAlt\(rq key can be used in this fashion;
1522 on the \fIAmiga\fP, set the
1524 option to get this behavior.
1525 On other systems, if typing \(lqAlt\(rq plus another key transmits a
1526 two character sequence consisting of an \fBEscape\fP
1527 followed by the other key, you may set the
1529 option to have NetHack combine them into meta+key.
1531 #? (not supported by all platforms)
1533 #twoweapon (unless the
1588 option is on, some additional letter commands are available:
1605 Rooms and corridors in the dungeon are either lit or dark.
1606 Any lit areas within your line of sight will be displayed;
1607 dark areas are only displayed if they are within one space of you.
1608 Walls and corridors remain on the map as you explore them.
1610 Secret corridors are hidden. You can find them with the \(oqs\(cq (search)
1615 Doorways connect rooms and corridors. Some doorways have no doors;
1616 you can walk right through. Others have doors in them, which may be
1617 open, closed, or locked. To open a closed door, use the \(oqo\(cq (open)
1618 command; to close it again, use the \(oqc\(cq (close) command.
1620 You can get through a locked door by using a tool to pick the lock
1621 with the \(oqa\(cq (apply) command, or by kicking it open with
1622 the \(oq\(haD\(cq (kick) command.
1624 Open doors cannot be entered diagonally; you must approach them
1625 straight on, horizontally or vertically. Doorways without doors are
1626 not restricted in this fashion.
1628 Doors can be useful for shutting out monsters. Most monsters cannot
1629 open doors, although a few don't need to (for example, ghosts can walk through
1632 Secret doors are hidden. You can find them with the \(oqs\(cq (search)
1633 command. Once found they are in all ways equivalent to normal doors.
1635 Traps (\(oq\(ha\(cq)
1637 There are traps throughout the dungeon to snare the unwary delver.
1638 For example, you may suddenly fall into a pit and be stuck for a few
1639 turns trying to climb out.
1640 Traps don't appear on your map until you
1641 see one triggered by moving onto it, see something fall into it, or you
1642 discover it with the \(oqs\(cq (search) command.
1643 Monsters can fall prey to
1644 traps, too, which can be a very useful defensive strategy.
1646 There is a special pre-mapped branch of the dungeon based on the
1647 classic computer game \(lqSokoban.\(rq
1648 The goal is to push the boulders into the pits or holes.
1649 With careful foresight, it is possible to complete all of the levels
1650 according to the traditional rules of Sokoban.
1651 Some allowances are permitted in case the player gets stuck;
1652 however, they will lower your luck.
1654 Stairs and ladders (\(oq<\(cq, \(oq>\(cq)
1656 In general, each level in the dungeon will have a staircase going up
1657 (\(oq<\(cq) to the previous level and another going down (\(oq>\(cq) to
1659 There are some exceptions though.
1660 For instance, fairly early
1661 in the dungeon you will find a level with two down staircases, one
1662 continuing into the dungeon and the other branching into an area
1663 known as the Gnomish Mines.
1664 Those mines eventually hit a dead end,
1665 so after exploring them (if you choose to do so), you'll need to
1666 climb back up to the main dungeon.
1668 When you traverse a set of stairs, or trigger a trap which sends you
1669 to another level, the level you're leaving will be deactivated and
1670 stored in a file on disk.
1671 If you're moving to a previously visited level, it will be loaded from
1672 its file on disk and reactivated.
1673 If you're moving to a level which has not yet been visited, it will be
1674 created (from scratch for most random levels, from a template for
1675 some \(lqspecial\(rq levels, or loaded from the remains of an earlier game
1676 for a \(lqbones\(rq level as briefly described below).
1677 Monsters are only active on the current level; those on other levels
1678 are essentially placed into stasis.
1680 Ordinarily when you climb a set of stairs, you will arrive on the
1681 corresponding staircase at your destination. However, pets (see below)
1682 and some other monsters will follow along if they're close enough when
1683 you travel up or down stairs, and occasionally one of these creatures
1684 will displace you during the climb. When that occurs, the pet or other
1685 monster will arrive on the staircase and you will end up nearby.
1687 Ladders serve the same purpose as staircases, and the two types of
1688 inter-level connections are nearly indistinguishable during game play.
1692 Occasionally you will run across a room with a shopkeeper near the door
1693 and many items lying on the floor.
1694 You can buy items by picking them up and then using the \(oqp\(cq command.
1695 You can inquire about the price of an item prior to picking it up by
1696 using the \(lq#chat\(rq command while standing on it.
1697 Using an item prior to paying for it will incur a
1698 charge, and the shopkeeper won't allow you to leave the shop until you
1699 have paid any debt you owe.
1701 You can sell items to a shopkeeper by dropping them to the floor while
1702 inside a shop. You will either be offered an amount of gold and asked
1703 whether you're willing to sell, or you'll be told that the shopkeeper
1704 isn't interested (generally, your item needs to be compatible with the
1705 type of merchandise carried by the shop).
1707 If you drop something in a shop by accident, the shopkeeper will usually
1708 claim ownership without offering any compensation. You'll have to buy
1709 it back if you want to reclaim it.
1711 Shopkeepers sometimes run out of money. When that happens, you'll be
1712 offered credit instead of gold when you try to sell something. Credit
1713 can be used to pay for purchases, but it is only good in the shop where
1714 it was obtained; other shopkeepers won't honor it. (If you happen to
1715 find a \(lqcredit card\(rq in the dungeon, don't bother trying to use it in
1716 shops; shopkeepers will not accept it.)
1718 The \(oq$\(cq command, which reports the amount of gold you are carrying
1719 (in inventory, not inside bags or boxes), will also show current shop
1720 debt or credit, if any.
1721 The \(lqIu\(rq command lists unpaid items
1722 (those which still belong to the shop) if you are carrying any.
1723 The \(lqIx\(rq command shows an inventory-like display of any unpaid
1724 items which have been used up, along with other shop fees, if any.
1728 Several aspects of shop behavior might be unexpected.
1729 .\" note: using * instead of \(bu is better for plain text output
1731 The price of a given item can vary due to a variety of factors.
1733 A shopkeeper treats the spot immediately inside the door as if it were
1736 While the shopkeeper watches you like a hawk, he will generally ignore
1737 any other customers.
1739 If a shop is \(lqclosed for inventory,\(rq it will not open of its own accord.
1741 Shops do not get restocked with new items, regardless of inventory depletion.
1746 Monsters you cannot see are not displayed on the screen. Beware!
1747 You may suddenly come upon one in a dark place. Some magic items can
1748 help you locate them before they locate you (which some monsters can do
1751 The commands \(oq/\(cq and \(oq;\(cq may be used to obtain information
1752 about those monsters who are displayed on the screen.
1753 The command \(lq#name\(rq (by default bound to \(oqC\(cq), allows you
1754 to assign a name to a monster, which may be useful to help distinguish
1755 one from another when multiple monsters are present.
1756 Assigning a name which is just a space will remove any prior name.
1758 The extended command \(lq#chat\(rq can be used to interact with an adjacent
1760 There is no actual dialog (in other words, you don't get to
1761 choose what you'll say), but chatting with some monsters such as a
1762 shopkeeper or the Oracle of Delphi can produce useful results.
1766 If you see a monster and you wish to fight it, just attempt to walk
1767 into it. Many monsters you find will mind their own business unless
1768 you attack them. Some of them are very dangerous when angered.
1769 Remember: discretion is the better part of valor.
1771 In most circumstances, if you attempt to attack a peaceful monster by
1772 moving into its location, you'll be asked to confirm your intent.
1773 By default an answer of \(oqy\(cq acknowledges that intent,
1774 which can be error prone if you're using \(oqy\(cq to move.
1776 .op paranoid_confirmation
1777 option to require a response of \(lqyes\(rq instead.
1779 If you can't see a monster (if it is invisible, or if you are blinded),
1780 the symbol \(oqI\(cq will be shown when you learn of its presence.
1781 If you attempt to walk into it, you will try to fight it just like
1782 a monster that you can see; of course,
1783 if the monster has moved, you will attack empty air.
1784 If you guess that the monster has moved and you don't wish to fight,
1785 you can use the \(oqm\(cq command to move without fighting;
1786 likewise, if you don't remember a monster but want to try fighting anyway,
1787 you can use the \(oqF\(cq command.
1791 You start the game with a little dog (\(oq\fBd\fP\(cq),
1792 kitten (\(oq\fBf\fP\(cq), or pony (\(oq\fBu\fP\(cq), which
1793 follows you about the dungeon and fights monsters with you.
1794 Like you, your pet needs food to survive.
1795 Dogs and cats usually feed themselves on fresh carrion and other meats;
1796 horses need vegetarian food which is harder to come by.
1797 If you're worried about your pet or want to train it, you
1798 can feed it, too, by throwing it food.
1799 A properly trained pet can be very useful under certain circumstances.
1801 Your pet also gains experience from killing monsters, and can grow
1802 over time, gaining hit points and doing more damage. Initially, your
1803 pet may even be better at killing things than you, which makes pets
1804 useful for low-level characters.
1806 Your pet will follow you up and down staircases if it is next to you
1807 when you move. Otherwise your pet will be stranded and may become
1808 wild. Similarly, when you trigger certain types of traps which alter
1809 your location (for instance, a trap door which drops you to a lower
1810 dungeon level), any adjacent pet will accompany you and any non-adjacent
1811 pet will be left behind. Your pet may trigger such traps itself; you
1812 will not be carried along with it even if adjacent at the time.
1816 Some types of creatures in the dungeon can actually be ridden if you
1817 have the right equipment and skill.
1818 Convincing a wild beast to let
1819 you saddle it up is difficult to say the least.
1821 has had to resort to magic and wizardry in order to forge the alliance.
1822 Once you do have the beast under your control however, you can
1823 easily climb in and out of the saddle with the \(lq#ride\(rq command.
1824 Lead the beast around the dungeon when riding, in the same manner as
1825 you would move yourself.
1826 It is the beast that you will see displayed on the map.
1828 Riding skill is managed by the \(lq#enhance\(rq command.
1829 See the section on Weapon proficiency for more information about that.
1831 Use the \(oqa\(cq (apply) command and pick a saddle in your inventory to
1832 attempt to put that saddle on an adjacent creature.
1833 If successful, it will be transferred to that creature's inventory.
1835 Use the \(lq#loot\(rq command while adjacent to a saddled creature to
1836 try to remove the saddle from that creature.
1837 If successful, it will be transferred to your inventory.
1841 You may encounter the shades and corpses of other adventurers (or even
1842 former incarnations of yourself!) and their personal effects. Ghosts
1843 are hard to kill, but easy to avoid, since they're slow and do little
1844 damage. You can plunder the deceased adventurer's possessions;
1845 however, they are likely to be cursed. Beware of whatever killed the
1846 former player; it is probably still lurking around, gloating over its
1850 Persistence of Monsters
1852 Monsters (a generic reference which also includes humans and pets) are only
1853 shown while they can be seen or otherwise sensed.
1854 Moving to a location where you can't see or sense a monster any more
1855 will result in it disappearing from your map, similarly if it is the
1856 one who moved rather than you.
1858 However, if you encounter a monster which you can't see or sense \(em
1859 perhaps it is invisible and has just tapped you on the noggin \(em
1860 a special \(lqremembered, unseen monster\(rq marker will be displayed at
1861 the location where you think it is.
1862 That will persist until you have
1863 proven that there is no monster there, even if the unseen monster
1864 moves to another location or you move to a spot where the marker's
1865 location ordinarily wouldn't be seen any more.
1870 When you find something in the dungeon, it is common to want to pick
1871 it up. In NetHack, this is accomplished automatically by walking over
1872 the object (unless you turn off the
1874 option (see below), or move with the \(oqm\(cq prefix (see above)), or
1875 manually by using the \(oq,\(cq command.
1877 If you're carrying too many items, NetHack will tell you so and you won't
1878 be able to pick up anything more.
1879 Otherwise, it will add the object(s) to your pack and tell
1880 you what you just picked up.
1882 As you add items to your inventory, you also add the weight of that object
1883 to your load. The amount that you can carry depends on your strength and
1884 your constitution. The
1885 stronger and sturdier
1886 you are, the less the additional load will affect you. There comes
1887 a point, though, when the weight of all of that stuff you are carrying around
1888 with you through the dungeon will encumber you. Your reactions
1889 will get slower and you'll burn calories faster, requiring food more frequently
1890 to cope with it. Eventually, you'll be so overloaded that you'll either have
1891 to discard some of what you're carrying or collapse under its weight.
1893 NetHack will tell you how badly you have loaded yourself.
1894 If you are encumbered, one of the conditions
1895 \(lq\fIBurdened\fP\(rq, \(lq\fIStressed\fP\(rq, \(lq\fIStrained\fP\(rq,
1896 \(lq\fIOvertaxed\fP\(rq or \(lq\fIOverloaded\fP\(rq will be
1897 shown on the bottom line status display.
1899 When you pick up an object, it is assigned an inventory letter. Many
1900 commands that operate on objects must ask you to find out which object
1901 you want to use. When NetHack asks you to choose a particular object
1902 you are carrying, you are usually presented with a list of inventory
1903 letters to choose from (see Commands, above).
1905 Some objects, such as weapons, are easily differentiated. Others, like
1906 scrolls and potions, are given descriptions which vary according to
1907 type. During a game, any two objects with the same description are
1908 the same type. However, the descriptions will vary from game to game.
1910 When you use one of these objects, if its effect is obvious, NetHack
1911 will remember what it is for you.
1912 If its effect isn't extremely obvious, you will be asked what you want
1913 to call this type of object so you will recognize it later.
1914 You can also use the \(lq#name\(rq
1915 command, for the same purpose at any time, to name
1916 all objects of a particular type or just an individual object.
1917 When you use \(lq#name\(rq on an object which has already been named,
1918 specifying a space as the value will remove the prior name instead
1919 of assigning a new one.
1921 Curses and Blessings
1923 Any object that you find may be cursed, even if the object is
1924 otherwise helpful. The most common effect of a curse is being stuck
1925 with (and to) the item. Cursed weapons weld themselves to your hand
1926 when wielded, so you cannot unwield them. Any cursed item you wear
1927 is not removable by ordinary means. In addition, cursed arms and armor
1928 usually, but not always, bear negative enchantments that make them
1929 less effective in combat. Other cursed objects may act poorly or
1930 detrimentally in other ways.
1932 Objects can also be blessed. Blessed items usually work better or
1933 more beneficially than normal uncursed items. For example, a blessed
1934 weapon will do more damage against demons.
1936 Objects which are neither cursed nor blessed are referred to as uncursed.
1937 They could just as easily have been described as unblessed, but the
1938 uncursed designation is what you will see within the game.
1939 A \(lqglass half full versus glass half empty\(rq situation; make of
1942 There are magical means of bestowing or removing curses upon objects,
1943 so even if you are stuck with one, you can still have the curse
1944 lifted and the item removed. Priests and Priestesses have an innate
1945 sensitivity to this property in any object, so they can more easily avoid
1946 cursed objects than other character roles.
1948 An item with unknown status will be reported in your inventory with no prefix.
1949 An item which you know the state of will be distinguished in your inventory
1950 by the presence of the word \(lqcursed\(rq, \(lquncursed\(rq or
1951 \(lqblessed\(rq in the description of the item.
1952 In some cases \(lquncursed\(rq will be omitted as being redundant when
1953 enough other information is displayed.
1955 .op implicit_uncursed
1956 option can be used to control this; toggle it off to have \(lquncursed\(rq
1957 be displayed even when that can be deduced from other attributes.
1961 Given a chance, most monsters in the Mazes of Menace will gratuitously try to
1963 You need weapons for self-defense (killing them first).
1965 weapon, you do only 1-2 hit points of damage (plus bonuses, if any).
1966 Monk characters are an exception; they normally do more damage with
1967 bare (or gloved) hands than they do with weapons.
1969 There are wielded weapons, like maces and swords, and thrown weapons,
1970 like arrows and spears. To hit monsters with a weapon, you must wield it and
1971 attack them, or throw it at them. You can simply elect to throw a spear.
1972 To shoot an arrow, you should first wield a bow, then throw the arrow.
1973 Crossbows shoot crossbow bolts. Slings hurl rocks and (other) stones
1976 Enchanted weapons have a \(lqplus\(rq (or \(lqto hit enhancement\(rq
1977 which can be either positive or negative) that adds to your chance to
1978 hit and the damage you do to a monster.
1979 The only way to determine a weapon's
1980 enchantment is to have it magically identified somehow.
1981 Most weapons are subject to some type of damage like rust.
1982 Such \(lqerosion\(rq damage can be repaired.
1984 The chance that an attack will successfully hit a monster, and the amount
1985 of damage such a hit will do, depends upon many factors. Among them are:
1986 type of weapon, quality of weapon (enchantment and/or erosion), experience
1987 level, strength, dexterity, encumbrance, and proficiency (see below). The
1988 monster's armor class \(em a general defense rating, not necessarily due to
1989 wearing of armor \(em is a factor too; also, some monsters are particularly
1990 vulnerable to certain types of weapons.
1992 Many weapons can be wielded in one hand; some require both hands.
1993 When wielding a two-handed weapon, you can not wear a shield, and
1995 When wielding a one-handed weapon, you can have another
1996 weapon ready to use by setting things up with the \(oqx\(cq command, which
1997 exchanges your primary (the one being wielded) and alternate weapons.
1998 And if you have proficiency in the \(lqtwo weapon combat\(rq skill, you
1999 may wield both weapons simultaneously as primary and secondary; use the
2000 \(oqX\(cq command to engage or disengage that.
2001 Only some types of characters (barbarians, for instance) have the
2002 necessary skill available.
2003 Even with that skill, using two weapons at once incurs
2004 a penalty in the chance to hit your target compared to using just one
2007 There might be times when you'd rather not wield any weapon at all.
2008 To accomplish that, wield \(oq\-\(cq, or else use the \(oqA\(cq command which
2009 allows you to unwield the current weapon in addition to taking off
2012 Those of you in the audience who are AD&D players, be aware that each
2013 weapon which existed in AD&D does roughly the same damage to monsters in
2015 Some of the more obscure weapons (such as the \fIaklys\fP,
2016 \fIlucern hammer\fP, and \fIbec-de-corbin\fP) are defined in an
2017 appendix to \fIUnearthed Arcana\fP, an AD&D supplement.
2019 The commands to use weapons are \(oqw\(cq (wield), \(oqt\(cq (throw),
2020 \(oqf\(cq (fire, an alternate way of throwing), \(oqQ\(cq (quiver),
2021 \(oqx\(cq (exchange), \(oqX\(cq (twoweapon), and \(lq#enhance\(rq
2024 Throwing and shooting
2026 You can throw just about anything via the \(oqt\(cq command. It will prompt
2027 for the item to throw; picking \(oq?\(cq will list things in your inventory
2028 which are considered likely to be thrown, or picking \(oq*\(cq will list
2029 your entire inventory.
2030 After you've chosen what to throw, you will
2031 be prompted for a direction rather than for a specific target.
2032 The distance something can be thrown depends mainly on the type of object
2034 Arrows can be thrown by hand, but can be thrown
2035 much farther and will be more likely to hit when thrown while you are
2038 You can simplify the throwing operation by using the \(oqQ\(cq command to
2039 select your preferred \(lqmissile\(rq, then using the \(oqf\(cq command to
2041 You'll be prompted for a direction as above, but you don't
2042 have to specify which item to throw each time you use \(oqf\(cq.
2043 There is also an option,
2045 which has NetHack choose another item to automatically fill your
2046 quiver (or quiver sack, or have at the ready) when the inventory slot used
2047 for \(oqQ\(cq runs out.
2049 Some characters have the ability to fire a volley of multiple items in a
2051 Knowing how to load several rounds of ammunition at
2052 once \(em or hold several missiles in your hand \(em and still hit a
2053 target is not an easy task.
2054 Rangers are among those who are adept
2055 at this task, as are those with a high level of proficiency in the
2056 relevant weapon skill (in bow skill if you're wielding one to
2057 shoot arrows, in crossbow skill if you're wielding one to shoot bolts,
2058 or in sling skill if you're wielding one to shoot stones).
2059 The number of items that the character has a chance to fire varies from
2061 You can explicitly limit the number of shots by using a
2062 numeric prefix before the \(oqt\(cq or \(oqf\(cq command.
2063 For example, \(lq2f\(rq (or \(lqn2f\(rq if using
2065 mode) would ensure that at most 2 arrows are shot
2066 even if you could have fired 3.
2068 a larger number than would have been shot (\(lq4f\(rq in this example),
2069 you'll just end up shooting the same number (3, here) as if no limit
2071 Once the volley is in motion, all of the items
2072 will travel in the same direction; if the first ones kill a monster,
2073 the others can still continue beyond that spot.
2077 You will have varying degrees of skill in the weapons available.
2078 Weapon proficiency, or weapon skills, affect how well you can use
2079 particular types of weapons, and you'll be able to improve your skills
2080 as you progress through a game, depending on your role, your experience
2081 level, and use of the weapons.
2083 For the purposes of proficiency, weapons have
2084 been divided up into various groups such as daggers, broadswords, and
2085 polearms. Each role has a limit on what level of proficiency a character
2086 can achieve for each group. For instance, wizards can become highly
2087 skilled in daggers or staves but not in swords or bows.
2089 The \(lq#enhance\(rq extended command is used to review current weapons
2091 (also spell proficiency) and to choose which skill(s) to improve when
2092 you've used one or more skills enough to become eligible to do so.
2093 The skill rankings are \(lqnone\(rq (sometimes also referred to as
2094 \(lqrestricted\(rq, because you won't be able to advance),
2095 \(lqunskilled\(rq, \(lqbasic\(rq, \(lqskilled\(rq, and \(lqexpert\(rq.
2096 Restricted skills simply will not appear in the list shown by
2098 (Divine intervention might unrestrict a particular
2099 skill, in which case it will start at unskilled and be limited to basic.)
2100 Some characters can enhance their barehanded combat or martial arts skill
2101 beyond expert to \(lqmaster\(rq or \(lqgrand master\(rq.
2103 Use of a weapon in which you're restricted or unskilled
2104 will incur a modest penalty in the chance to hit a monster and also in
2105 the amount of damage done when you do hit; at basic level, there is no
2106 penalty or bonus; at skilled level, you receive a modest bonus in the
2107 chance to hit and amount of damage done; at expert level, the bonus is
2109 A successful hit has a chance to boost your training towards
2110 the next skill level (unless you've already reached the limit for this
2112 Once such training reaches the threshold for that next level,
2113 you'll be told that you feel more confident in your skills.
2114 At that point you can use \(lq#enhance\(rq to increase one or more skills.
2116 are not increased automatically because there is a limit to your total
2117 overall skills, so you need to actively choose which skills to enhance
2118 and which to ignore.
2122 Some characters can use two weapons at once. Setting things up to
2123 do so can seem cumbersome but becomes second nature with use.
2124 To wield two weapons, you need to use the \(lq#twoweapon\(rq command.
2125 But first you need to have a weapon in each hand.
2126 (Note that your two weapons are not fully equal; the one in the
2127 hand you normally wield with is considered primary and the other
2128 one is considered secondary. The most noticeable difference is
2129 after you stop \(em or before you begin, for that matter \(em wielding
2130 two weapons at once. The primary is your wielded weapon and the
2131 secondary is just an item in your inventory that's been designated
2132 as alternate weapon.)
2134 If your primary weapon is wielded but your off hand is empty or has
2135 the wrong weapon, use the sequence \(oq\fBx\fP\(cq, \(oq\fBw\fP\(cq,
2136 \(oq\fBx\fP\(cq to first swap your
2137 primary into your off hand, wield whatever you want as secondary
2138 weapon, then swap them both back into the intended hands.
2139 If your secondary or alternate weapon is correct but your primary
2140 one is not, simply use \(oq\fBw\fP\(cq to wield the primary.
2141 Lastly, if neither hand holds the correct weapon,
2142 use \(oq\fBw\fP\(cq, \(oq\fBx\fP\(cq, \(oq\fBw\fP\(cq
2143 to first wield the intended secondary, swap it to off hand, and then
2146 The whole process can be simplified via use of the
2149 When it is enabled, then using \(oqw\(cq to wield something
2150 causes the currently wielded weapon to become your alternate weapon.
2151 So the sequence \(oq\fBw\fP\(cq, \(oq\fBw\fP\(cq can be used to first
2152 wield the weapon you
2153 intend to be secondary, and then wield the one you want as primary
2154 which will push the first into secondary position.
2156 When in two-weapon combat mode, using the \(oqX\(cq command
2157 toggles back to single-weapon mode.
2158 Throwing or dropping either of the
2159 weapons or having one of them be stolen or destroyed will also make you
2160 revert to single-weapon combat.
2164 Lots of unfriendly things lurk about; you need armor to protect
2165 yourself from their blows. Some types of armor offer better
2166 protection than others. Your armor class is a measure of this
2167 protection. Armor class (AC) is measured as in AD&D, with 10 being
2168 the equivalent of no armor, and lower numbers meaning better armor.
2169 Each suit of armor which exists in AD&D gives the same protection in
2170 NetHack. Here is an (incomplete) list of the armor classes provided by
2171 various suits of armor:
2178 crystal plate mail 3
2182 dwarvish mithril-coat 4
2183 elven mithril-coat 5
2188 studded leather armor 7
2196 You can also wear other pieces of armor (for example helmets, boots, shields, cloaks)
2197 to lower your armor class even further, but you can only wear one item
2198 of each category (one suit of armor, one cloak, one helmet, one
2199 shield, and so on) at a time.
2201 If a piece of armor is enchanted, its armor protection will be better
2202 (or worse) than normal, and its \(lqplus\(rq (or minus) will subtract from
2204 For example, a +1 chain mail would give you
2205 better protection than normal chain mail, lowering your armor class one
2207 When you put on a piece of armor, you immediately
2208 find out the armor class and any \(lqplusses\(rq it provides.
2209 Cursed pieces of armor usually have negative enchantments (minuses) in
2210 addition to being unremovable.
2212 Many types of armor are subject to some kind of damage like rust. Such
2213 damage can be repaired. Some types of armor may inhibit spell casting.
2215 The commands to use armor are \(oqW\(cq (wear) and \(oqT\(cq (take off).
2216 The \(oqA\(cq command can also be used to take off armor as well as other
2221 Food is necessary to survive.
2222 If you go too long without eating you
2223 will faint, and eventually die of starvation.
2224 Some types of food will
2225 spoil, and become unhealthy to eat, if not protected.
2227 ice boxes or tins (\(lqcans\(rq) will usually stay fresh, but
2228 ice boxes are heavy, and tins take a while to open.
2230 When you kill monsters, they usually leave corpses which are also
2232 Many, but not all, of these are edible; some also give you
2233 special powers when you eat them.
2234 A good rule of thumb is \(lqyou are what you eat.\(rq
2236 Some character roles and some monsters are vegetarian. Vegetarian monsters
2237 will typically never eat animal corpses, while vegetarian players can,
2238 but with some rather unpleasant side-effects.
2240 You can name one food item after something you like to eat with the
2244 The command to eat food is \(oqe\(cq.
2248 Scrolls are labeled with various titles, probably chosen by ancient wizards
2249 for their amusement value (for example \(lqREAD ME,\(rq or \(lqTHANX MAUD\(rq
2251 Scrolls disappear after you read them (except for blank ones, without
2252 magic spells on them).
2254 One of the most useful of these is the \fIscroll of identify\fP, which
2255 can be used to determine what another object is, whether it is cursed or
2256 blessed, and how many uses it has left. Some objects of subtle
2257 enchantment are difficult to identify without these.
2259 A mail daemon may run up and deliver mail to you as a
2260 \fIscroll of mail\fP (on versions compiled with this feature).
2261 To use this feature on versions where NetHack mail delivery is triggered
2262 by electronic mail appearing in your system mailbox,
2263 you must let NetHack know where to look for new mail by setting
2264 the \(lqMAIL\(rq environment variable to the file name of your mailbox.
2265 You may also want to set the \(lqMAILREADER\(rq environment
2266 variable to the file name of your favorite reader, so NetHack can shell to it
2267 when you read the scroll.
2268 On versions of NetHack where mail is randomly generated internal to the game,
2269 these environment variables are ignored.
2270 You can disable the mail daemon by turning off the
2274 The command to read a scroll is \(oqr\(cq.
2278 Potions are distinguished by the color of the liquid inside the flask.
2279 They disappear after you quaff them.
2281 Clear potions are potions of water.
2282 Sometimes these are blessed or cursed, resulting in holy or unholy water.
2283 Holy water is the bane of the undead, so
2284 potions of holy water are good things to throw (\(oqt\(cq) at them.
2286 sometimes very useful to dip (\(lq#dip\(rq) an object into a potion.
2288 The command to drink a potion is \(oqq\(cq (quaff).
2292 Wands usually have multiple magical charges.
2293 Some types of wands require a direction in which to zap them.
2294 You can also zap them at yourself (just give a \(oq.\(cq or \(oqs\(cq
2296 Be warned, however, for this is often unwise.
2297 Other types of wands don't require a direction.
2298 The number of charges in a wand is random and
2299 decreases by one whenever you use it.
2301 When the number of charges left in a wand becomes zero, attempts to use the
2302 wand will usually result in nothing happening. Occasionally, however, it may
2303 be possible to squeeze the last few mana points from an otherwise spent wand,
2304 destroying it in the process. A wand may be recharged by using suitable
2305 magic, but doing so runs the risk of causing it to explode. The chance
2306 for such an explosion starts out very small and increases each time the
2309 In a truly desperate situation, when your back is up against the wall, you
2310 might decide to go for broke and break your wand. This is not for the faint
2311 of heart. Doing so will almost certainly cause a catastrophic release of
2314 When you have fully identified a particular wand, inventory display will
2315 include additional information in parentheses: the number of times it has
2316 been recharged followed by a colon and then by its current number of charges.
2317 A current charge count of -1 is a special case indicating that the wand
2320 The command to use a wand is \(oqz\(cq (zap).
2321 To break one, use the \(oqa\(cq (apply) command.
2325 Rings are very useful items, since they are relatively permanent
2326 magic, unlike the usually fleeting effects of potions, scrolls, and
2329 Putting on a ring activates its magic. You can wear only two
2330 rings, one on each ring finger.
2332 Most rings also cause you to grow hungry more rapidly, the rate
2333 varying with the type of ring.
2335 The commands to use rings are \(oqP\(cq (put on) and \(oqR\(cq (remove).
2337 Spellbooks (\(oq+\(cq)
2339 Spellbooks are tomes of mighty magic.
2340 When studied with the \(oqr\(cq (read)
2341 command, they transfer to the reader the knowledge of a spell (and
2342 therefore eventually become unreadable) \(em unless the attempt backfires.
2343 Reading a cursed spellbook or one with mystic runes beyond
2344 your ken can be harmful to your health!
2346 A spell (even when learned) can also backfire when you cast it.
2348 attempt to cast a spell well above your experience level, or if you have
2349 little skill with the appropriate spell type, or cast it at
2350 a time when your luck is particularly bad, you can end up wasting both the
2351 energy and the time required in casting.
2353 Casting a spell calls forth magical energies and focuses them with
2355 Some of the magical energy released comes from within you.
2356 Casting temporarily drains your magical power, which will slowly be
2357 recovered, and causes you to need additional food.
2358 Casting of spells also requires practice.
2360 skill in each category of spell casting will improve. Over time, however,
2361 your memory of each spell will dim, and you will need to relearn it.
2363 Some spells require a direction in which to cast them, similar to wands.
2364 To cast one at yourself, just give a \(oq.\(cq or \(oqs\(cq for the direction.
2365 A few spells require you to pick a target location rather than just specify
2366 a particular direction.
2367 Other spells don't require any direction or target.
2369 Just as weapons are divided into groups in which a character can become
2370 proficient (to varying degrees), spells are similarly grouped.
2371 Successfully casting a spell exercises its skill group; using the
2372 \(lq#enhance\(rq command to advance a sufficiently exercised skill
2373 will affect all spells within the group.
2374 Advanced skill may increase the
2375 potency of spells, reduce their risk of failure during casting attempts,
2376 and improve the accuracy of the estimate for how much longer they will
2377 be retained in your memory.
2378 Skill slots are shared with weapons skills.
2379 (See also the section on \(lqWeapon proficiency\(rq.)
2381 Casting a spell also requires flexible movement, and wearing various types
2382 of armor may interfere with that.
2384 The command to read a spellbook is the same as for scrolls, \(oqr\(cq (read).
2385 The \(oq+\(cq command lists each spell you know along with its level, skill
2386 category, chance of failure when casting, and an estimate of how strongly
2388 The \(oqZ\(cq (cast) command casts a spell.
2392 Tools are miscellaneous objects with various purposes. Some tools
2393 have a limited number of uses, akin to wand charges. For example, lamps burn
2394 out after a while. Other tools are containers, which objects can
2395 be placed into or taken out of.
2397 The command to use a tool is \(oqa\(cq (apply).
2401 You may encounter bags, boxes, and chests in your travels.
2403 this sort can be opened with the \(lq#loot\(rq extended command when
2404 you are standing on top of it (that is, on the same floor spot),
2405 or with the \(oqa\(cq (apply) command when you are carrying it.
2406 However, chests are often locked, and are in any case unwieldy objects.
2407 You must set one down before unlocking it by
2408 using a key or lock-picking tool with the \(oqa\(cq (apply) command,
2409 by kicking it with the \(oq\(haD\(cq command, or by using a weapon to force
2410 the lock with the \(lq#force\(rq extended command.
2412 Some chests are trapped, causing nasty things to happen when you
2413 unlock or open them.
2414 You can check for and try to deactivate traps
2415 with the \(lq#untrap\(rq extended command.
2419 Amulets are very similar to rings, and often more powerful. Like
2420 rings, amulets have various magical properties, some beneficial,
2421 some harmful, which are activated by putting them on.
2423 Only one amulet may be worn at a time, around your neck.
2425 The commands to use amulets are the same as for rings, \(oqP\(cq (put on)
2426 and \(oqR\(cq (remove).
2430 Some gems are valuable, and can be sold for a lot of gold. They are also
2431 a far more efficient way of carrying your riches. Valuable gems increase
2432 your score if you bring them with you when you exit.
2434 Other small rocks are also categorized as gems, but they are much less
2435 valuable. All rocks, however, can be used as projectile weapons (if you
2436 have a sling). In the most desperate of cases, you can still throw them
2439 Large rocks (\(oq\`\(cq)
2441 Statues and boulders are not particularly useful, and are generally
2442 heavy. It is rumored that some statues are not what they seem.
2444 Very large humanoids (giants and their ilk) have been known to use boulders
2447 For some configurations of the program, statues are no longer shown as
2448 \(oq\f(CR\`\fP\(cq but by the letter representing the monster they depict
2453 Gold adds to your score, and you can buy things in shops with it.
2455 of monsters in the dungeon that may be influenced by the amount of gold
2456 you are carrying (shopkeepers aside).
2459 Persistence of Objects
2461 Normally, if you have seen an object at a particular map location and
2462 move to another location where you can't directly see that object any
2463 more, it will continue to be displayed on your map.
2464 That remains the case even if it is not actually there any more \(em
2465 perhaps a monster has picked it up or it has rotted away \(em
2466 until you can see or feel that location again.
2467 One notable exception is that if the object gets covered by the
2468 \(lqremembered, unseen monster\(rq marker.
2469 When that marker is later removed
2470 after you've verified that no monster is there, you will forget that
2471 there was any object there regardless of whether the unseen monster
2472 actually took the object.
2473 If the object is still there, then once you see or feel that location
2474 again you will re-discover the object and resume remembering it.
2476 The situation is the same for a pile of objects, except that only the
2477 top item of the pile is displayed.
2480 option can be enabled in order to show an item differently when it is
2481 the top one of a pile.
2486 As if winning NetHack were not difficult enough, certain players
2487 seek to challenge themselves by imposing restrictions on the
2488 way they play the game.
2489 The game automatically tracks some of
2490 these challenges, which can be checked at any time with the #conduct
2491 command or at the end of the game.
2492 When you perform an action which
2493 breaks a challenge, it will no longer be listed.
2494 This gives players extra \(lqbragging rights\(rq for winning the game
2495 with these challenges.
2496 Note that it is perfectly acceptable to win the game
2497 without resorting to these restrictions and that it is unusual for
2498 players to adhere to challenges the first time they win the game.
2500 Several of the challenges are related to eating behavior. The most
2501 difficult of these is the foodless challenge. Although creatures
2502 can survive long periods of time without food, there is a physiological
2503 need for water; thus there is no restriction on drinking beverages,
2504 even if they provide some minor food benefits.
2505 Calling upon your god for help with starvation does
2506 not violate any food challenges either.
2508 A strict vegan diet is one which avoids any food derived from animals.
2509 The primary source of nutrition is fruits and vegetables.
2510 The corpses and tins of blobs (\(oqb\(cq), jellies (\(oqj\(cq), and
2511 fungi (\(oqF\(cq) are also considered to be vegetable matter.
2513 food is prepared without animal products; namely, lembas wafers, cram
2514 rations, food rations (gunyoki), K-rations, and C-rations.
2515 Metal or another normally indigestible material eaten while polymorphed
2516 into a creature that can digest it is also considered vegan food.
2517 Note however that eating such items still counts against foodless conduct.
2519 Vegetarians do not eat animals;
2520 however, they are less selective about eating animal byproducts than vegans.
2521 In addition to the vegan items listed above, they may eat any kind
2522 of pudding (\(oqP\(cq) other than the black puddings,
2523 eggs and food made from eggs (fortune cookies and pancakes),
2524 food made with milk (cream pies and candy bars), and lumps of
2525 royal jelly. Monks are expected to observe a vegetarian diet.
2527 Eating any kind of meat violates the vegetarian, vegan, and foodless
2528 conducts. This includes tripe rations, the corpses or tins of any
2529 monsters not mentioned above, and the various other chunks of meat
2530 found in the dungeon. Swallowing and digesting a monster while polymorphed
2531 is treated as if you ate the creature's corpse.
2532 Eating leather, dragon hide, or bone items while
2533 polymorphed into a creature that can digest it, or eating monster brains
2534 while polymorphed into a mind flayer, is considered eating
2535 an animal, although wax is only an animal byproduct.
2537 Regardless of conduct, there will be some items which are indigestible,
2538 and others which are hazardous to eat.
2539 Using a swallow-and-digest
2540 attack against a monster is equivalent to eating the monster's corpse.
2541 Please note that the term \(lqvegan\(rq is used here only in the context of
2543 You are still free to choose not to use or wear items derived
2544 from animals (e.g. leather, dragon hide, bone, horns, coral), but the
2545 game will not keep track of this for you.
2546 Also note that \(lqmilky\(rq
2547 potions may be a translucent white, but they do not contain milk,
2548 so they are compatible with a vegan diet.
2550 player-defined \(lqfruits\(rq, although they could be anything
2551 from \(lqcherries\(rq to \(lqpork chops\(rq, are also assumed to be vegan.
2553 An atheist is one who rejects religion. This means that you cannot
2554 #pray, #offer sacrifices to any god, #turn undead, or #chat with a priest.
2555 Particularly selective readers may argue that playing Monk or Priest
2556 characters should violate this conduct; that is a choice left to the
2557 player. Offering the Amulet of Yendor to your god is necessary to
2558 win the game and is not counted against this conduct. You are also
2559 not penalized for being spoken to by an angry god, priest(ess), or
2560 other religious figure; a true atheist would hear the words but
2561 attach no special meaning to them.
2563 Most players fight with a wielded weapon (or tool intended to be
2564 wielded as a weapon). Another challenge is to win the game without
2565 using such a wielded weapon. You are still permitted to throw,
2566 fire, and kick weapons; use a wand, spell, or other type of item;
2567 or fight with your hands and feet.
2569 In NetHack, a pacifist refuses to cause the death of any other monster
2570 (i.e. if you would get experience for the death). This is a particularly
2571 difficult challenge, although it is still possible to gain experience
2574 An illiterate character cannot read or write.
2575 This includes reading
2576 a scroll, spellbook, fortune cookie message, or t-shirt; writing a
2577 scroll; or making an engraving of anything other than a single \(lqX\(rq
2578 (the traditional signature of an illiterate person).
2579 Reading an engraving,
2580 or any item that is absolutely necessary to win the game, is not counted
2581 against this conduct.
2582 The identity of scrolls and spellbooks (and
2583 knowledge of spells) in your starting inventory is assumed to be
2584 learned from your teachers prior to the start of the game and isn't
2587 There are several other challenges tracked by the game.
2589 to eliminate one or more species of monsters by genocide; playing without
2590 this feature is considered a challenge.
2591 When the game offers you an
2592 opportunity to genocide monsters, you may respond with the monster type
2593 \(lqnone\(rq if you want to decline.
2594 You can change the form of an item into
2595 another item of the same type (\(lqpolypiling\(rq) or the form of your own
2596 body into another creature (\(lqpolyself\(rq) by wand, spell, or potion of
2597 polymorph; avoiding these effects are each considered challenges.
2598 Polymorphing monsters, including pets, does not break either of these
2600 Finally, you may sometimes receive wishes; a game without an attempt to
2601 wish for any items is a challenge, as is a game without wishing for
2602 an artifact (even if the artifact immediately disappears).
2603 When the game offers you an opportunity to make a wish for an item,
2604 you may choose \(lqnothing\(rq if you want to decline.
2609 Due to variations in personal tastes and conceptions of how NetHack
2610 should do things, there are options you can set to change how NetHack
2615 Options may be set in a number of ways.
2616 Within the game, the \(oqO\(cq
2617 command allows you to view all options and change most of them.
2618 You can also set options automatically by placing them in a configuration
2619 file, or in the NETHACKOPTIONS environment variable.
2620 Some versions of NetHack also have front-end programs that allow
2621 you to set options before starting the game or a global configuration
2622 for system administrators.
2624 Using a configuration file
2626 .\" hw: don't hyphenate file names
2627 .hw .nethackrc defaults.nh nethack.exe nethackW.exe
2628 The default name of the configuration file varies on different
2634 and Mac OS X it is \(lq.nethackrc\(rq in the user's home directory.
2635 The file may not exist, but it is a normal ASCII text file and
2636 can be created with any text editor.
2638 On Windows, it is \(lq.nethackrc\(rq in the folder
2639 \(lq\\%USERPROFILE%\\NetHack\\(rq. The file may not exist,
2640 but it is a normal ASCII text file can can be created with any
2642 After running NetHack for the first time, you should find a default
2643 template for the configuration file named \(lq.nethackrc.template\(rq
2644 in \(lq\\%USERPROFILE%\\NetHack\\(rq.
2645 If you had not created the configuration file, NetHack will create
2646 the configuration file for you using the default template file.
2648 On MS-DOS, it is \(lqdefaults.nh\(rq in the same folder as nethack.exe.
2650 Any line in the configuration file starting with \(oq#\(cq is treated
2652 Empty lines are ignored.
2654 Any line beginning with \(oq[\(cq and ending in \(oq]\(cq is considered
2656 The text between the square brackets is the section name.
2657 Lines after a section marker belong to that section, and are
2658 ignored unless a CHOOSE statement was used to select that section.
2659 Section names are case insensitive.
2661 You can use different configuration statements in the file, some
2662 of which can be used multiple times.
2663 In general, the statements are
2664 written in capital letters, followed by an equals sign, followed by
2665 settings particular to that statement.
2667 Here is a list of allowed statements:
2669 There are two types of options, boolean and compound options.
2670 Boolean options toggle a setting on or off, while compound options
2671 take more diverse values.
2672 Prefix a boolean option with \(lqno\(rq or \(oq!\(cq to turn it off.
2673 For compound options, the option name and value are separated by a colon.
2674 Some options are persistent, and apply only to new games.
2675 You can specify multiple OPTIONS statements, and multiple options
2676 separated by commas in a single OPTIONS statement.
2677 (Comma separated options are processed from right to left.)
2682 OPTIONS=dogname:Fido
2683 .\" '\(dq' == double quote; including a literal double quote here works
2684 .\" for formatting but confuses Emacs' nroff-mode
2685 OPTIONS=!legacy,autopickup,pickup_types:$\(dq=/!?+
2689 Default location of files NetHack needs. On Windows HACKDIR
2690 defaults to the location of the NetHack.exe or NetHackw.exe file
2691 so setting HACKDIR to override that is not usually necessary or recommended.
2693 The location that in-progress level files are stored. Defaults to HACKDIR,
2696 The location where saved games are kept. Defaults to HACKDIR, must be
2699 The location that bones files are kept. Defaults to HACKDIR, must be
2702 The location that file synchronization locks are stored. Defaults to
2703 HACKDIR, must be writable.
2705 The location that a record of game aborts and self-diagnosed game problems
2706 is kept. Defaults to HACKDIR, must be writable.
2708 .\" config file entries beyond this point are shown alphabetically
2711 Enable or disable an extended command autocompletion.
2712 Autocompletion has no effect for the X11 windowport.
2713 You can specify multiple autocompletions.
2714 To enable autocompletion, list the extended command.
2715 Prefix the command with \(lq!\(rq to disable the autocompletion
2720 \f(CRAUTOCOMPLETE=zap,!annotate\fP
2722 .lp AUTOPICKUP_EXCEPTION
2723 Set exceptions to the
2726 See the \(lqConfiguring Autopickup Exceptions\(rq section.
2728 Change the key bindings of some special keys, menu accelerators, or
2730 You can specify multiple bindings.
2731 Format is key followed by the command, separated by a colon.
2732 See the \(lqChanging Key Bindings\(rq section for more information.
2736 \f(CRBIND=\(haX:getpos.autodescribe\fP
2739 Chooses at random one of the comma-separated parameters as an active
2740 section name. Lines in other sections are ignored.
2744 .ft CR \" constant-width Roman
2746 CHOOSE=char A,char B
2748 OPTIONS=role:arc,race:dwa,align:law,gender:fem
2750 OPTIONS=role:wiz,race:elf,align:cha,gender:mal
2751 .ft \" revert to previous font
2754 Highlight menu lines with different colors.
2755 See the \(lqConfiguring Menu Colors\(rq section.
2757 Change the way messages are shown in the top status line.
2758 See the \(lqConfiguring Message Types\(rq section.
2760 Custom symbols for for the rogue level's symbol set.
2761 See \fISYMBOLS\fP below.
2763 Define a sound mapping.
2764 See the \(lqConfiguring User Sounds\(rq section.
2766 Define the directory that contains the sound files.
2767 See the \(lqConfiguring User Sounds\(rq section.
2769 Override one or more symbols in the symbol set used for all dungeon
2770 levels except for the special rogue level.
2771 See the \(lqModifying NetHack Symbols\(rq section.
2775 \f(CR# replace small punctuation (tick marks) with digits\fP
2776 \f(CRSYMBOLS=S_boulder:0,S_golem:7\fP
2779 Debug mode only: extra items to add to initial inventory.
2780 Value is the name of a text file containing a list of item names,
2781 one per line, up to a maximum of 128 lines.
2782 Each line is processed by the function that handles wishing.
2786 \f(CRWIZKIT=\(ti/wizkit.txt\fP \" \(ti == '~'
2790 \ \" dummy paragraph to force some separation [.BR isn't working as intended]
2792 .SD n \" suppress indentation
2793 Here is an example of configuration file contents:
2795 .\" [conditional indentation; see description of NETHACKOPTIONS below]
2796 .ds sD i \" assume proportional, indentation acceptable and preferred
2797 .\" Check for fixed-width font; 'f' will be same width as 'F'.
2798 .if (\w'f'p)=(\w'F'p) .ds sD n \" if same width, suppress indentation
2799 .SD \*(sD \" string variable sD will expand to either 'i' or 'n'
2800 .ft CR \" set font to constant-width Roman
2801 # Set your character's role, race, gender, and alignment.
2802 OPTIONS=role:Valkyrie, race:Human, gender:female, align:lawful
2804 # Turn on autopickup, set automatically picked up object types
2805 OPTIONS=autopickup,pickup_types:$"=/!?+
2808 OPTIONS=color # Display things in color if possible
2809 OPTIONS=lit_corridor # Show lit corridors differently
2810 OPTIONS=hilite_pet,hilite_pile
2811 # Replace small punctuation (tick marks) with digits
2812 SYMBOLS=S_boulder:0,S_golem:7
2814 # No startup splash screen. Windows GUI only.
2815 OPTIONS=!splash_screen
2816 .ft \" revert to previous font
2819 \ \" another dummy paragraph [.BR 2]
2821 Using the NETHACKOPTIONS environment variable
2823 The NETHACKOPTIONS variable is a comma-separated list of initial
2824 values for the various options.
2825 Some can only be turned on or off.
2826 You turn one of these on by adding the name of the option to the list,
2827 and turn it off by typing a \(oq\f(CR!\fP\(cq or \(lq\f(CRno\fP\(rq
2829 Others take a character string as a value.
2830 You can set string options by typing
2831 the option name, a colon or equals sign, and then the value of the string.
2832 The value is terminated by the next comma or the end of string.
2834 For example, to set up an environment variable so that
2835 \fIcolor\fP is \f(CRon\fP,
2836 \fIlegacy\fP is \f(CRoff\fP,
2837 character \fIname\fP is set to \(lq\f(CRBlue Meanie\fP\(rq,
2838 and named \fIfruit\fP is set to \(lq\f(CRlime\fP\(rq,
2839 you would enter the command
2840 .\" Guidebook.ps looks better with the normal indentation for .sd (.SD i)
2841 .\" but the 'setenv' example is too wide for Guidebook.txt unless the
2842 .\" indentation is suppressed (.SD n). Even though the second example
2843 .\" can be indented, it should match the first or they'll both look odd.
2844 .\" groff has a built-in register allowing recognition of '-T', but we
2845 .\" can't rely on that. Assume Guidebook.ps uses a proportional font
2846 .\" and Guidebook.txt a fixed-width one and test which sort we're using.
2847 .ds sD i \" assume proportional, indentation acceptable and preferred
2848 .\" Check for fixed-width font; 'f' will be same width as 'F'.
2849 .if (\w'f'p)=(\w'F'p) .ds sD n \" if same width, suppress indentation
2851 \f(CR% setenv NETHACKOPTIONS "color,\\!leg,name:Blue Meanie,fruit:lime"\fP
2853 in \fIcsh\fP (note the need to escape the \(oq!\(cq since it's special
2854 to that shell), or the pair of commands
2856 \f(CR$ NETHACKOPTIONS="color,!leg,name:Blue Meanie,fruit:lime"\fP
2857 \f(CR$ export NETHACKOPTIONS\fP
2859 in \fIsh\fP, \fIksh\fP, or \fIbash\fP.
2861 The NETHACKOPTIONS value is effectively the same as a single OPTIONS
2862 statement in a configuration file.
2863 The \(lqOPTIONS=\(rq prefix is implied and comma separated options are
2864 processed from right to left.
2865 Other types of configuration statements such as BIND or MSGTYPE are
2868 Instead of a comma-separated list of options,
2869 NETHACKOPTIONS can be set to the full name of a configuration file you
2871 If that full name doesn't start with a slash, precede it with \(oq\f(CR@\fP\(cq
2872 (at-sign) to let NetHack know that the rest is intended as a file name.
2873 If it does start with \(oq\f(CR/\fP\(cq, the at-sign is optional.
2875 Customization options
2877 Here are explanations of what the various options do.
2878 Character strings that are too long may be truncated.
2879 Some of the options listed may be inactive in your dungeon.
2881 Some options are persistent, and are saved and reloaded along with
2882 the game. Changing a persistent option in the configuration file
2883 applies only to new games.
2885 Enable messages about what your character hears (default on).
2886 Note that this has nothing to do with your computer's audio capabilities.
2889 Your starting alignment (align:lawful, align:neutral, or align:chaotic).
2890 You may specify just the first letter.
2891 The default is to randomly pick an appropriate alignment.
2892 If you prefix the value with \(oq!\(cq or \(lqno\(rq, you will
2893 exclude that alignment from being picked randomly.
2894 Cannot be set with the \(oqO\(cq command.
2897 Automatically describe the terrain under cursor when asked to get a location
2898 on the map (default true).
2901 option controls whether the description includes map coordinates.
2903 Automatically dig if you are wielding a digging tool and moving into a place
2904 that can be dug (default false). Persistent.
2906 Walking into a door attempts to open it (default true). Persistent.
2908 Automatically pick up things onto which you move (default on). Persistent.
2911 to refine the behavior.
2913 This option controls what happens when you attempt the \(oqf\(cq (fire)
2914 command when nothing is quivered or readied (default false).
2915 When true, the computer will fill
2916 your quiver or quiver sack or make ready some suitable weapon.
2917 Note that it will not take
2918 into account the blessed/cursed status, enchantment, damage, or
2919 quality of the weapon; you are free to manually fill your quiver
2920 or quiver sack or make ready
2921 with the \(oqQ\(cq command instead.
2922 If no weapon is found or the option is
2923 false, the \(oqt\(cq (throw) command is executed instead.
2926 Start the character permanently blind (default false).
2929 Allow saving and loading bones files (default true).
2932 Set the character used to display boulders (default is the \(lqlarge rock\(rq
2933 class symbol, \(oq\`\(cq).
2935 Name your starting cat (for example \(lqcatname:Morris\(rq).
2936 Cannot be set with the \(oqO\(cq command.
2938 Synonym for \(lqrole\(rq to pick the type of your character
2939 (for example \(lqcharacter:Monk\(rq).
2944 Save game state after each level change, for possible recovery after
2945 program crash (default on). Persistent.
2947 Check free disk space before writing files to disk (default on).
2948 You may have to turn this off if you have more than 2 GB free space
2949 on the partition used for your save and level files
2950 (because too much space might overflow the calculation and end up
2951 looking like insufficient space).
2952 Only applies when MFLOPPY was defined during compilation.
2954 Allows looking at things on the screen by navigating the mouse
2955 over them and clicking the right mouse button (default off).
2957 Have the game provide some additional command assistance for
2958 new players if it detects some anticipated mistakes (default on).
2960 Have user confirm attacks on pets, shopkeepers, and other
2961 peaceable creatures (default on). Persistent.
2963 Show out-of-sight areas of lit rooms (default on). Persistent.
2965 Controls what information the program reveals when the game ends.
2966 Value is a space separated list of prompting/category pairs
2967 (default is \(lq\fBni na nv ng nc no\fP\(rq,
2968 prompt with default response of \(oq\fBn\fP\(cq for each candidate).
2970 The possibilities are:
2973 .CC i "disclose your inventory;"
2974 .CC a "disclose your attributes;"
2975 .CC v "summarize monsters that have been vanquished;"
2976 .CC g "list monster species that have been genocided;"
2977 .CC c "display your conduct;"
2978 .CC o "display dungeon overview."
2981 Each disclosure possibility can optionally be preceded by a prefix which
2982 lets you refine how it behaves. Here are the valid prefixes:
2985 .CC y "prompt you and default to yes on the prompt;"
2986 .CC n "prompt you and default to no on the prompt;"
2987 .CC + "disclose it without prompting;"
2988 .CC \- "do not disclose it and do not prompt."
2991 The listing of vanquished monsters can be sorted,
2992 so there are two additional choices for \(oqv\(cq:
2995 .CC ? "prompt you and default to ask on the prompt;"
2996 .CC # "disclose it without prompting, ask for sort order."
2999 Asking refers to picking one of the orderings from a menu.
3000 The \(oq+\(cq disclose without prompting choice,
3001 or being prompted and answering \(oqy\(cq rather than \(oqa\(cq,
3002 will default to showing monsters in the traditional order,
3003 from high level to low level.
3005 Omitted categories are implicitly added with \(oqn\(cq prefix.
3006 Specified categories with omitted prefix implicitly use \(oq+\(cq prefix.
3007 Order of the disclosure categories does not matter, program display for
3008 end-of-game disclosure follows a set sequence.
3010 (for example \(lqdisclose:yi na +v -g o\(rq)
3012 \fBinventory\fP to \fIprompt\fP and default to \fIyes\fP,
3013 \fBattributes\fP to \fIprompt\fP and default to \fIno\fP,
3014 \fBvanquished\fP to \fIdisclose without prompting\fP,
3015 \fBgenocided\fP to \fInot disclose\fP and \fInot prompt\fP,
3016 \fBconduct\fP to implicitly \fIprompt\fP and default to \fIno\fP, and
3017 \fBoverview\fP to \fIdisclose without prompting\fP.
3019 Note that the vanquished monsters list includes all monsters killed by
3020 traps and each other as well as by you.
3021 And the dungeon overview shows all levels you had visited but does not
3022 reveal things about them that you hadn't discovered.
3024 Name your starting dog (for example \(lqdogname:Fang\(rq).
3025 Cannot be set with the \(oqO\(cq command.
3027 Changes the extended commands interface to pop-up a menu of available
3029 It is keystroke compatible with the traditional interface except that it
3030 does not require that you hit \fIEnter\fP.
3031 It is implemented for the tty interface (default off).
3033 For the X11 interface, which always uses a menu for choosing an extended
3034 command, it controls whether the menu shows all available commands (on)
3035 or just the subset of commands which have traditionally been considered
3036 extended ones (off).
3038 An obsolete synonym for \(lqgender:female\(rq.
3039 Cannot be set with the \(oqO\(cq command.
3041 An object's inventory letter sticks to it when it's dropped (default on).
3042 If this is off, dropping an object shifts all the remaining inventory letters.
3045 Commands asking for an inventory item show a menu instead of
3046 a text query with possible menu letters. Default is off.
3048 Name a fruit after something you enjoy eating (for example \(lqfruit:mango\(rq)
3049 (default \(lqslime mold\(rq).
3050 Basically a nostalgic whimsy that NetHack uses from time to time.
3051 You should set this to something you find more appetizing than slime mold.
3052 Apples, oranges, pears, bananas, and melons
3053 already exist in NetHack, so don't use those.
3055 Your starting gender (gender:male or gender:female).
3056 You may specify just the first letter.
3058 still denote your gender using the \(lqmale\(rq and \(lqfemale\(rq
3059 options, the \(lqgender\(rq option will take precedence.
3060 The default is to randomly pick an appropriate gender.
3061 If you prefix the value with \(oq!\(cq or \(lqno\(rq, you will
3062 exclude that gender from being picked randomly.
3063 Cannot be set with the \(oqO\(cq command.
3066 When filtering objects based on bless/curse state (BUCX), whether to
3067 treat gold pieces as X (unknown bless/curse state, when \(lqon\(rq)
3068 or U (known to be uncursed, when \(lqoff\(rq, the default).
3069 Gold is never blessed or cursed, but it is not described as \(lquncursed\(rq
3071 .op implicit_uncursed
3072 option is \(lqoff\(rq.
3074 If more information is available for an object looked at
3075 with the \(oq/\(cq command, ask if you want to see it (default on).
3076 Turning help off makes just looking at things faster, since you aren't
3077 interrupted with the \(lqMore info?\(rq prompt, but it also means that
3078 you might miss some interesting and/or important information.
3081 When using a windowport that supports mouse and clicking on yourself or
3082 next to you, show a menu of possible actions for the location.
3083 Same as \(lq#herecmdmenu\(rq and \(lq#therecmdmenu\(rq commands.
3085 Visually distinguish pets from similar animals (default off).
3086 The behavior of this option depends on the type of windowing you use.
3087 In text windowing, text highlighting or inverse video is often used;
3088 with tiles, generally displays a heart symbol near pets.
3090 With the curses interface, the
3092 option controls how to highlight pets and setting it will turn the
3094 option on or off as warranted.
3096 Visually distinguish piles of objects from individual objects (default off).
3097 The behavior of this option depends on the type of windowing you use.
3098 In text windowing, text highlighting or inverse video is often used;
3099 with tiles, generally displays a small plus-symbol beside the object
3100 on the top of the pile.
3102 Show a hit point bar graph behind your name and title.
3103 Only available for TTY and Windows GUI, and only when statushilites is on.
3105 Name your starting horse (for example \(lqhorsename:Trigger\(rq).
3106 Cannot be set with the \(oqO\(cq command.
3108 Ignore interrupt signals, including breaks (default off). Persistent.
3109 .lp implicit_uncursed
3110 Omit "uncursed" from inventory lists, if possible (default on).
3112 Display an introductory message when starting the game (default on).
3115 Show corridor squares seen by night vision or a light source held by your
3116 character as lit (default off). Persistent.
3118 When using a menu to interact with a container,
3119 use the old \(oqa\(cq, \(oqb\(cq, and \(oqc\(cq keyboard shortcuts
3120 rather than the mnemonics \(oqo\(cq, \(oqi\(cq, and \(oqb\(cq
3124 Enable mail delivery during the game (default on). Persistent.
3126 An obsolete synonym for \(lqgender:male\(rq.
3127 Cannot be set with the \(oqO\(cq command.
3129 Give feedback when walking against a wall (default off).
3131 Enable coloring menu lines (default off).
3132 See \(lqConfiguring Menu Colors\(rq on how to configure the colors.
3134 Controls the interface used when you need to choose various objects (in
3135 response to the Drop command, for instance). The value specified should
3136 be the first letter of one of the following: traditional, combination,
3138 Traditional was the only interface available for
3139 early versions; it consists of a prompt for object class characters,
3140 followed by an object-by-object prompt for all items matching the selected
3142 Combination starts with a prompt for object class(es)
3143 of interest, but then displays a menu of matching objects rather than
3144 prompting one-by-one.
3145 Full displays a menu of
3146 object classes rather than a character prompt, and then a menu of matching
3147 objects for selection.
3148 Partial skips the object class filtering and
3149 immediately displays a menu of all objects.
3151 .lp menu_deselect_all
3152 Menu character accelerator to deselect all items in a menu.
3153 Implemented by the Amiga, Gem, X11 and tty ports.
3155 .lp menu_deselect_page
3156 Menu character accelerator to deselect all items on this page of a menu.
3157 Implemented by the Amiga, Gem and tty ports.
3160 Menu character accelerator to jump to the first page in a menu.
3161 Implemented by the Amiga, Gem and tty ports.
3162 Default \(oq\(ha\(cq.
3164 Controls how the headings in a menu are highlighted.
3165 Values are \(lqnone\(rq, \(lqbold\(rq, \(lqdim\(rq, \(lqunderline\(rq,
3166 \(lqblink\(rq, or \(lqinverse\(rq.
3167 Not all ports can actually display all types.
3169 Menu character accelerator to invert all items in a menu.
3170 Implemented by the Amiga, Gem, X11 and tty ports.
3172 .lp menu_invert_page
3173 Menu character accelerator to invert all items on this page of a menu.
3174 Implemented by the Amiga, Gem and tty ports.
3175 Default \(oq\(ti\(cq. \" ~
3177 Menu character accelerator to jump to the last page in a menu.
3178 Implemented by the Amiga, Gem and tty ports.
3181 Menu character accelerator to goto the next menu page.
3182 Implemented by the Amiga, Gem and tty ports.
3185 Show object symbols in menu headings in menus where
3186 the object symbols act as menu accelerators (default off).
3188 Do not clear the screen before drawing menus, and align
3189 menus to the right edge of the screen. Only for the tty port.
3191 .lp menu_previous_page
3192 Menu character accelerator to goto the previous menu page.
3193 Implemented by the Amiga, Gem and tty ports.
3196 Menu character accelerator to search for a menu item.
3197 Implemented by the Amiga, Gem, X11 and tty ports.
3200 Menu character accelerator to select all items in a menu.
3201 Implemented by the Amiga, Gem, X11 and tty ports.
3203 .lp menu_select_page
3204 Menu character accelerator to select all items on this page of a menu.
3205 Implemented by the Amiga, Gem and tty ports.
3208 ." Format menu entries using TAB to separate columns (default off).
3209 ." Only applicable to some menus, and only useful to some interfaces.
3212 Prompt for new form whenever any monster changes shape (default off).
3215 Allow use of the mouse for input and travel.
3220 .CC 1 "enabled and make OS adjustments to support mouse use"
3221 .CC 2 "like 1 but does not make any OS adjustments"
3224 Omitting a value is the same as specifying 1
3227 is the same as specifying 0.
3229 The number of top line messages to keep (and be able to recall
3230 with \(oq\(haP\(cq) (default 20).
3231 Cannot be set with the \(oqO\(cq command.
3233 Allows you to change the way recalled messages are displayed.
3234 Currently it is only supported for tty (all four choices) and for curses
3235 (\(oq\f(CRf\fP\(cq and \(oq\f(CRr\fP\(cq choices, default \(oq\f(CRr\fP\(cq).
3236 The possible values are:
3239 .CC s "single message (default; only choice prior to 3.4.0);"
3240 .CC c "combination, two messages as \(lqsingle\(rq, then as \(lqfull\(rq;"
3241 .CC f "full window, oldest message first;"
3242 .CC r "full window reversed, newest message first."
3245 For backward compatibility, no value needs to be specified (which defaults
3246 to \(lqfull\(rq), or it can be negated (which defaults to \(lqsingle\(rq).
3248 Set your character's name (defaults to your user name). You can also
3249 set your character's role by appending a dash and one or more letters of
3250 the role (that is, by suffixing one of
3251 .op "\-A \-B \-C \-H \-K \-M \-P \-Ra \-Ro \-S \-T \-V \-W" ).
3254 is used for the role, then a random one will be automatically chosen.
3255 Cannot be set with the \(oqO\(cq command.
3257 Read the NetHack news file, if present (default on).
3258 Since the news is shown at the beginning of the game, there's no point
3259 in setting this with the \(oqO\(cq command.
3261 Start the character with no armor (default false). Persistent.
3263 Send padding nulls to the terminal (default on). Persistent.
3265 Use digit keys instead of letters to move (default 0 or off).
3269 move by letters; \(lq\f(CRyuhjklbn\fP\(rq \" \f(CR = constant-width Roman font
3271 move by numbers; digit \(oq5\(cq acts as \(oqG\(cq movement prefix
3273 like 1 but \(oq5\(cq works as \(oqg\(cq prefix instead of as \(oqG\(cq
3275 by numbers using phone key layout; 123 above, 789 below
3277 combines 3 with 2; phone layout plus MS-DOS compatibility
3279 by letters but use \(oqz\(cq to go northwest, \(oqy\(cq to zap wands
3281 For backward compatibility, omitting a value is the same as specifying 1
3284 is the same as specifying 0.
3285 (Settings 2 and 4 are for compatibility with MS-DOS or old PC Hack;
3286 in addition to the different behavior for \(oq5\(cq, \(oqAlt-5\(cq acts
3287 as \(oqG\(cq and \(oqAlt-0\(cq acts as \(oqI\(cq.
3288 Setting -1 is to accommodate some QWERTZ keyboards which have the
3289 location of the \(oqy\(cq and \(oqz\(cq keys swapped.)
3290 When moving by numbers, to enter a count prefix for those commands
3291 which accept one (such as \(lq12s\(rq to search twelve times), precede it
3292 with the letter \(oqn\(cq (\(lqn12s\(rq).
3294 .\" \(dq == double quote; literal '"' formats ok but confuses Emacs' nroff-mode
3295 Specify the order to list object types in (default \(lq\(dq)[%?+!=/(*\`0_\(rq).
3296 The value of this option should be a string containing the
3297 symbols for the various object types.
3298 Any omitted types are filled in at the end from the previous order.
3299 .lp paranoid_confirmation
3300 A space separated list of specific situations where alternate
3301 prompting is desired. The default is paranoid_confirmation:pray.
3304 for any prompts which are set to require \(lqyes\(rq rather than \(oqy\(cq,
3305 also require \(lqno\(rq to reject instead of accepting any non-yes response
3308 require \(lqyes\(rq rather than \(oqy\(cq to confirm quitting
3309 the game or switching into non-scoring explore mode;
3311 require \(lqyes\(rq rather than \(oqy\(cq to confirm dying (not
3312 useful in normal play; applies to explore mode);
3314 require \(lqyes\(rq rather than \(oqy\(cq to confirm saving
3315 bones data when dying in debug mode;
3317 require \(lqyes\(rq rather than \(oqy\(cq to confirm attacking a peaceful monster;
3319 require \(lqyes\(rq rather than \(oqy\(cq to confirm breaking a wand;
3321 require \(lqyes\(rq rather than \(oqy\(cq to confirm whether to continue eating;
3323 require \(lqyes\(rq rather than \(oqy\(cq to confirm changing form due to lycanthropy
3324 when hero has polymorph control;
3326 require \(oqy\(cq to confirm an attempt to pray rather
3327 than immediately praying; on by default;
3329 require selection from inventory for \(oqR\(cq and \(oqT\(cq
3330 commands even when wearing just one applicable item.
3332 turn on all of the above.
3334 By default, the pray choice is enabled, the others disabled.
3335 To disable it without setting
3336 any of the other choices, use \(lqparanoid_confirmation:none\(rq.
3338 it enabled while setting any of the others, include it in the list,
3339 such as \(lqparanoid_confirmation:attack pray Remove\(rq.
3341 If true, always display your current inventory in a window. This only
3342 makes sense for windowing system interfaces that implement this feature.
3343 .\" petattr is a wincap option but we'll document it here...
3345 Specifies one or more text highlighting attributes to use when showing
3347 Effectively a superset of the
3350 Curses interface only; value is one or more of the following letters.
3353 .CC n "Normal text (no highlighting)"
3354 .CC i "Inverse video (default)"
3356 .CC u "Underlined text"
3357 .CC k "blinKing text"
3360 .CC l "Left line indicator"
3361 .CC r "Right line indicator"
3364 Some of those choices might not work, particularly the final three,
3365 depending upon terminal hardware or terminal emulation software.
3367 Currently multiple highlight-style letters can be combined by simply
3368 stringing them together (for example, \(lqbk\(rq), but in the future
3369 they might require being separated by plus signs (such as \(lqb+k\(rq,
3370 which works already).
3371 When using the \(oqn\(cq choice, it should be specified on its own,
3372 not in combination with any of the other letters.
3374 Specify the type of your initial pet, if you are playing a character class
3375 that uses multiple types of pets; or choose to have no initial pet at all.
3376 Possible values are \(lqcat\(rq, \(lqdog\(rq, \(lqhorse\(rq, and \(lqnone\(rq.
3377 If the choice is not allowed for the role you are currently playing,
3378 it will be silently ignored.
3379 For example, \(lqhorse\(rq will only be honored when playing a knight.
3380 Cannot be set with the \(oqO\(cq command.
3382 When you pick up an item that would exceed this encumbrance
3383 level (Unencumbered, Burdened, streSsed, straiNed, overTaxed,
3384 or overLoaded), you will be asked if you want to continue.
3385 (Default \(oqS\(cq).
3388 If this option is on and
3390 is also on, try to pick up things that you threw, even if they aren't in
3392 or match an autopickup exception. Default is on. Persistent.
3394 Specify the object types to be picked up when
3396 is on. Default is all types. You can use
3397 .op autopickup_exception
3398 configuration file lines to further refine
3400 behavior. Persistent.
3402 When walking across a pile of objects on the floor, threshold at which
3403 the message \(lqthere are few/several/many objects here\(rq is given instead
3404 of showing a popup list of those objects.
3405 A value of 0 means \(lqno limit\(rq
3406 (always list the objects); a value of 1 effectively means \(lqnever show
3407 the objects\(rq since the pile size will always be at least that big;
3411 Values are \(lqnormal\(rq, \(lqexplore\(rq, or \(lqdebug\(rq.
3412 Allows selection of explore mode (also known as discovery mode) or debug
3413 mode (also known as wizard mode) instead of normal play.
3414 Debug mode might only be allowed for someone logged in under a particular
3415 user name (on multi-user systems) or specifying a particular character
3416 name (on single-user systems) or it might be disabled entirely. Requesting
3417 it when not allowed or not possible results in explore mode instead.
3418 Default is normal play.
3420 Using the \(oqw\(cq (wield) command when already wielding
3421 something pushes the old item into your alternate weapon slot (default off).
3422 Likewise for the \(oqa\(cq (apply) command if it causes the applied item to
3426 Selects your race (for example, \(lqrace:human\(rq).
3428 If you prefix the value with \(oq!\(cq or \(lqno\(rq, you will
3429 exclude that race from being picked randomly.
3430 Cannot be set with the \(oqO\(cq command.
3433 Make the space bar a synonym for the \(oq.\(cq (#wait) command (default off).
3436 Pick your type of character (for example \(lqrole:Samurai\(rq);
3437 synonym for \(lqcharacter\(rq.
3438 See \(lqname\(rq for an alternate method of specifying your role.
3439 Normally only the first letter of the value is examined; \(oqr\(cq is an
3440 exception with \(lqRogue\(rq, \(lqRanger\(rq, and \(lqrandom\(rq values.
3441 If you prefix the value with \(oq!\(cq or \(lqno\(rq, you will
3442 exclude that role from being picked randomly.
3443 Cannot be set with the \(oqO\(cq command.
3446 This option may be used to select one of the named symbol sets found
3447 within \(lqsymbols\(rq to alter the symbols displayed on the screen
3450 When writing out a save file, perform run length compression of the map.
3451 Not all ports support run length compression. It has no
3452 effect on reading an existing save file.
3454 Controls the amount of screen updating for the map window when engaged
3455 in multi-turn movement (running via shift+direction or control+direction
3456 and so forth, or via the travel command or mouse click).
3457 The possible values are:
3460 update the map after movement has finished;
3462 update the map after every seven or so steps;
3464 update the map after each step;
3466 like walk, but pause briefly after each step.
3468 This option only affects the game's screen display, not the actual
3470 The default is \(lqrun\(rq; versions prior to 3.4.1 used \(lqteleport\(rq only.
3471 Whether or not the effect is noticeable will
3472 depend upon the window port used or on the type of terminal.
3475 Prevent you from (knowingly) attacking your pets (default on).
3478 Evaluate monsters, objects, and map prior to each turn (default off).
3481 Control what parts of the score list you are shown at the end (for example
3482 \(lqscores:5 top scores/4 around my score/own scores\(rq).
3483 Only the first letter of each category (\(oqt\(cq, \(oqa\(cq, or \(oqo\(cq)
3487 Show your accumulated experience points on bottom line (default off).
3490 Display yourself as the glyph for your race, rather than the glyph
3491 for your role (default off). Note that this setting affects only
3492 the appearance of the display, not the way the game treats you.
3495 Show your approximate accumulated score on bottom line (default off).
3498 Suppress terminal beeps (default on). Persistent.
3500 Controls the sorting behavior of the pickup lists for inventory
3501 and #loot commands and some others. Persistent.
3502 The possible values are:
3505 always sort the lists;
3507 only sort the lists that don't use inventory letters, like with
3508 the #loot and pickup commands;
3510 show lists the traditional way without sorting.
3513 Sort the pack contents by type when displaying inventory (default on).
3516 Display a sparkly effect when a monster (including yourself) is hit by an
3517 attack to which it is resistant (default on).
3520 Boldface monsters and \(lq\fB\-\-More\-\-\fP\(rq (default off).
3523 Controls how many turns status hilite behaviors highlight the field.
3524 If negated or set to zero, disables status hiliting.
3525 See \(lqConfiguring Status Hilites\(rq for further information.
3527 Allow updates to the status lines at the bottom of the screen (default true).
3529 This option may be set to a NetHack version level to suppress
3530 alert notification messages about feature changes for that
3531 and prior versions (for example \(lqsuppress_alert:3.3.1\(rq).
3533 This option may be used to select one of the named symbol sets found within
3534 \(lqsymbols\(rq to alter the symbols displayed on the screen.
3535 Use \(lqsymset:default\(rq to explicitly select the default symbols.
3537 Show the elapsed game time in turns on bottom line (default off).
3540 When pausing momentarily for display effect, such as with explosions and
3541 moving objects, use a timer rather than sending extra characters to the
3543 (Applies to \(lqtty\(rq interface only; \(lqX11\(rq interface always
3544 uses a timer based delay.
3545 The default is on if configured into the program.)
3548 Draw a tombstone graphic upon your death (default on).
3551 Put the ending display in a NetHack window instead of on stdout (default off).
3552 Setting this option makes the score list visible when a windowing version
3553 of NetHack is started without a parent window, but it no longer leaves
3554 the score list around after game end on a terminal or emulating window.
3556 Allow the travel command (default on). Turning this option off will
3557 prevent the game from attempting unintended moves if you make inadvertent
3558 mouse clicks on the map window. Persistent.
3560 ." Display intended path during each step of travel (default off).
3563 Provide more commentary during the game (default on). Persistent.
3565 When using the \(oq/\(cq or \(oq;\(cq commands to look around on the map with
3567 on, display coordinates after the description.
3568 Also works in other situations where you are asked to pick a location.
3570 The possible settings are:
3573 .CC c "compass (\(lqeast\(rq or \(lq3s\(rq or \(lq2n,4w\(rq);"
3574 .CC f "full compass (\(lqeast\(rq or \(lq3south\(rq or \(lq2north,4west\(rq);"
3575 .CC m "map <x,y> (map column x=0 is not used);"
3576 .CC s "screen [row,column] (row is offset to match tty usage);"
3577 .CC n "none (no coordinates shown) [default]."
3582 option is also used with the \(lq/m\(rq, \(lq/M\(rq, \(lq/o\(rq,
3583 and \(lq/O\(rq sub-commands of \(oq/\(cq,
3584 where the \(lqnone\(rq setting is overridden with \(lqmap\(rq.
3586 When getting a location on the map, and using the keys to cycle through
3587 next and previous targets, allows filtering the possible targets.
3590 .CC n "no filtering [default]"
3591 .CC v "in view only"
3592 .CC a "in same area only"
3595 The area-filter tries to be slightly predictive \(em if you're standing
3597 it will consider the area on the side of the door you were last moving towards.
3599 Filtering can also be changed when getting a location with the
3600 \(lqgetpos.filter\(rq key.
3602 When getting a location on the map, and using a key to cycle through
3603 next and previous targets, use a menu instead to pick a target.
3606 When getting a location on the map, and using shifted movement keys or
3607 meta-digit keys to fast-move, instead of moving 8 units at a time,
3608 move by skipping the same glyphs.
3611 When the program has been built to support multiple interfaces,
3612 select which one to use, such as \(lqtty\(rq or \(lqX11\(rq
3613 (default depends on build-time settings; use \(lq#version\(rq to check).
3614 Cannot be set with the \(oqO\(cq command.
3616 When used, it should be the first option set since its value might
3617 enable or disable the availability of various other options.
3618 For multiple lines in a configuration file, that would be the first
3620 For a comma-separated list in NETHACKOPTIONS or an OPTIONS line in a
3623 be the \fIrightmost\fP option in the list.
3625 Augment object descriptions with their objects' weight (default off).
3628 When writing out a save file, perform zero-comp compression of the
3629 contents. Not all ports support zero-comp compression. It has no effect
3630 on reading an existing save file.
3632 Window Port Customization options
3634 Here are explanations of the various options that are
3635 used to customize and change the characteristics of the
3636 windowtype that you have chosen.
3637 Character strings that are too long may be truncated.
3638 Not all window ports will adjust for all settings listed
3639 here. You can safely add any of these options to your configuration
3640 file, and if the window port is capable of adjusting to
3641 suit your preferences, it will attempt to do so. If it
3642 can't it will silently ignore it. You can find out if an
3643 option is supported by the window port that you are currently
3644 using by checking to see if it shows up in the Options list.
3645 Some options are dynamic and can be specified during the game
3646 with the \(oqO\(cq command.
3648 Where to align or place the message window (top, bottom, left, or right)
3650 Where to align or place the status window (top, bottom, left, or right).
3652 If NetHack can, it should display an ascii character map if it can.
3654 If NetHack can, it should display color if it can for different monsters,
3655 objects, and dungeon features.
3657 If NetHack can, it should pass eight-bit character values (for example,
3660 option) straight through to your terminal (default off).
3662 if NetHack can, it should use a font by the chosen name for the map window.
3664 If NetHack can, it should use a font by the chosen name for menu windows.
3666 If NetHack can, it should use a font by the chosen name for the message window.
3668 If NetHack can, it should use a font by the chosen name for the status window.
3670 If NetHack can, it should use a font by the chosen name for text windows.
3672 If NetHack can, it should use this size font for the map window.
3674 If NetHack can, it should use this size font for menu windows.
3675 .lp font_size_message
3676 If NetHack can, it should use this size font for the message window.
3677 .lp font_size_status
3678 If NetHack can, it should use this size font for the status window.
3680 If NetHack can, it should use this size font for text windows.
3682 If NetHack can, it should try and display on the entire screen rather than
3685 Use color text and/or highlighting attributes when displaying some
3686 non-map data (such as menu selector letters).
3687 Curses interface only; default is on.
3689 If NetHack can, it should use a large font.
3691 If NetHack can, it should display the map in the manner specified.
3692 .lp player_selection
3693 If NetHack can, it should pop up dialog boxes, or use prompts for character
3696 If NetHack can, it should pop up dialog boxes for input.
3698 If NetHack can, it should preload tiles into memory.
3699 For example, in the protected mode MS-DOS version, control whether tiles
3700 get pre-loaded into RAM at the start of the game. Doing so
3701 enhances performance of the tile graphics, but uses more memory. (default on).
3702 Cannot be set with the \(oqO\(cq command.
3704 If NetHack can, it should scroll the display by this number of cells
3705 when the hero reaches the scroll_margin.
3707 If NetHack can, it should scroll the display when the hero or cursor
3708 is this number of cells away from the edge of the window.
3710 If NetHack can, it should display a menu of existing saved games for the
3711 player to choose from at game startup, if it can.
3712 Not all ports support this option.
3714 Display an onscreen keyboard.
3715 Handhelds are most likely to support this option.
3717 If NetHack can, it should display an opening splash screen when it starts
3720 Number of lines for traditional below-the-map status display.
3721 Acceptable values are 2 and 3 (default is 2).
3722 Curses and tty interfaces only.
3723 .lp "term_cols\ \ \fIand\fP"
3725 Curses interface only.
3726 Number of columns and rows to use for the display.
3727 Curses will attempt to resize to the values specified but will settle
3728 for smaller sizes if they are too big.
3729 Default is the current window size.
3731 If NetHack can, it should display a tiled map if it can.
3733 Specify the name of an alternative tile file to override the default.
3735 Specify the preferred height of each tile in a tile capable port.
3737 Specify the preferred width of each tile in a tile capable port
3739 Use bold black instead of blue for black glyphs (TTY only).
3741 If NetHack can, it should display inverse when the game specifies it.
3743 If NetHack can, it should display this number of messages at a time in
3746 Whether to draw boxes around the map, status area, message area, and
3747 persistent inventory window if enabled.
3748 Curses interface only.
3749 Acceptable values are
3752 .CC 0 "off, never show borders"
3753 .CC 1 "on, always show borders"
3754 .CC 2 "auto, on if display is at least (24+2)x(80+2)\ \ (default)"
3758 (The 26x82 size threshold for \(oq2\(cq refers to number of rows and
3759 columns of the display.
3760 A width of at least 110 columns (80+2+26+2) is needed for
3762 set to \f(CRleft\fP or \f(CRright\fP.)
3764 If NetHack can, it should display windows with the specified
3765 foreground/background colors. Windows GUI only. The format is
3767 .lp "OPTION=windowcolors:wintype foreground/background"
3770 where wintype is one of \(lqmenu\(rq, \(lqmessage\(rq, \(lqstatus\(rq,
3771 or \(lqtext\(rq, and
3772 foreground and background are colors, either a hexadecimal \\'#rrggbb',
3773 one of the named colors (black, red, green, brown,
3774 blue, magenta, cyan, orange, brightgreen, yellow, brightblue,
3775 brightmagenta, brightcyan, white, trueblack, gray, purple,
3776 silver, maroon, fuchsia, lime, olive, navy, teal, aqua),
3777 or one of Windows UI colors (activeborder, activecaption,
3778 appworkspace, background, btnface, btnshadow, btntext,
3779 captiontext, graytext, greytext, highlight, highlighttext,
3780 inactiveborder, inactivecaption, menu, menutext, scrollbar,
3781 window, windowframe, windowtext).
3783 If NetHack can, it should wrap long lines of text if they don't fit in
3784 the visible area of the window.
3786 Platform-specific Customization options
3788 Here are explanations of options that are used by specific platforms or ports
3789 to customize and change the port behavior.
3791 Select an alternate way to handle keystrokes (Win32 tty NetHack only).
3792 The name of the handling type is one of \(lqdefault\(rq, \(lqray\(rq,
3795 On Amiga, this option controls whether typing \(lqAlt\(rq plus another key
3796 functions as a meta-shift for that key (default on).
3798 On other (non-Amiga) systems where this option is available, it can be
3799 set to tell NetHack to convert a two character sequence beginning with
3800 ESC into a meta-shifted version of the second character (default off).
3802 This conversion is only done for commands, not for other input prompts.
3803 Note that typing one or more digits as a count prefix prior to a
3804 command \(em preceded by \fBn\fP if the
3806 option is set \(em is also subject to this conversion, so attempting to
3807 abort the count by typing ESC will leave NetHack waiting for another
3808 character to complete the two character sequence.
3809 Type a second ESC to finish cancelling such a count.
3810 At other prompts a single ESC suffices.
3812 Use BIOS calls to update the screen
3813 display quickly and to read the keyboard (allowing the use of arrow
3814 keys to move) on machines with an IBM PC compatible BIOS ROM (default off,
3815 OS/2, PC, and ST NetHack only).
3817 (default off, Amiga NetHack only).
3819 (default on, Mac NetHack only).
3821 (default on, Mac NetHack only).
3823 Force raw (non-cbreak) mode for faster output and more
3824 bulletproof input (MS-DOS sometimes treats \(oq\(haP\(cq as a printer toggle
3825 without it) (default off, OS/2, PC, and ST NetHack only).
3826 Note: DEC Rainbows hang if this is turned on.
3827 Cannot be set with the \(oqO\(cq command.
3829 (default on, PC NetHack only).
3830 Cannot be set with the \(oqO\(cq command.
3832 (Win32 tty NetHack only).
3833 May be used to alter the value of keystrokes that the operating system
3834 returns to NetHack to help compensate for international keyboard issues.
3835 OPTIONS=subkeyvalue:171/92
3836 will return 92 to NetHack, if 171 was originally going to be returned.
3837 You can use multiple subkeyvalue statements in the configuration file
3839 Cannot be set with the \(oqO\(cq command.
3841 Set the video mode used (PC NetHack only).
3842 Values are \(lqautodetect\(rq, \(lqdefault\(rq, or \(lqvga\(rq.
3843 Setting \(lqvga\(rq (or \(lqautodetect\(rq with vga hardware present)
3844 will cause the game to display tiles.
3845 Cannot be set with the \(oqO\(cq command.
3847 Set the color palette for PC systems using NO_TERMS
3848 (default 4-2-6-1-5-3-15-12-10-14-9-13-11, (PC NetHack only).
3849 The order of colors is red, green, brown, blue, magenta, cyan,
3850 bright.white, bright.red, bright.green, yellow, bright.blue,
3851 bright.magenta, and bright.cyan.
3852 Cannot be set with the \(oqO\(cq command.
3854 Set the intensity level of the three gray scales available
3855 (default dark normal light, PC NetHack only).
3856 If the game display is difficult to read, try adjusting these scales;
3857 if this does not correct the problem, try !color.
3858 Cannot be set with the \(oqO\(cq command.
3862 Regular expressions are normally POSIX extended regular expressions. It is
3863 possible to compile NetHack without regular expression support on a platform
3864 where there is no regular expression library. While this is not true of any
3865 modern platform, if your NetHack was built this way, patterns are instead glob
3866 patterns. This applies to Autopickup exceptions, Message types, Menu colors,
3869 Configuring Autopickup Exceptions
3871 You can further refine the behavior of the
3873 option beyond what is available through the
3878 .op autopickup_exception
3879 lines in your configuration
3880 file, you can define patterns to be checked when the game is about to
3881 autopickup something.
3882 .lp autopickup_exception
3883 Sets an exception to the
3887 .op autopickup_exception
3888 option should be followed by a regular expression to be used as a pattern to
3889 match against the singular form of the description of an object at your
3892 In addition, some characters are treated specially if they occur as the first
3893 character in the pattern, specifically:
3896 .CC < "always pickup an object that matches rest of pattern;"
3897 .CC > "never pickup an object that matches rest of pattern."
3901 .op autopickup_exception
3902 rules are processed in the order in which they appear in your configuration
3903 file, thus allowing a later rule to override an earlier rule.
3905 Exceptions can be set with the \(oqO\(cq command, but because they are not
3906 included in your configuration file, they won't be in effect if you save
3907 and then restore your game.
3908 .op autopickup_exception
3909 rules and not saved with the game.
3910 .\" end of ``.lp autopickup_exception'' entry; continue enclosing page...
3911 .\" use .lp "text" to make an unindented paragraph ("text" should be short)
3912 .lp "Here are some examples:"
3915 autopickup_exception="<*arrow"
3916 autopickup_exception=">*corpse"
3917 autopickup_exception=">* cursed*"
3920 .\" (this paragraph would look better unindented but can't use .lp hack...)
3922 The first example above will result in autopickup of any type of arrow.
3923 The second example results in the exclusion of any corpse from autopickup.
3924 The last example results in the exclusion of items known to be cursed from
3927 Changing Key Bindings
3929 It is possible to change the default key bindings of some special commands,
3930 menu accelerator keys, and extended commands, by using BIND stanzas in the
3932 Format is key, followed by the command to bind to, separated by a colon.
3933 The key can be a single character (\(lqx\(rq), a control key (\(lq\(haX\(rq,
3934 \(lqC-x\(rq), a meta key (\(lqM-x\(rq), or a three-digit decimal ASCII code.
3939 BIND=\(haX:getpos.autodescribe
3940 BIND={:menu_first_page
3945 .lp "Extended command keys"
3946 You can bind multiple keys to the same extended command.
3947 Unbind a key by using \(lqnothing\(rq as the extended command to bind to.
3948 You can also bind the \(lq<esc>\(rq, \(lq<enter>\(rq, and \(lq<space>\(rq keys.
3949 .lp "Menu accelerator keys"
3950 The menu control or accelerator keys can also be rebound via OPTIONS lines
3951 in the configuration file.
3952 You cannot bind object symbols into menu accelerators.
3953 .lp "Special command keys"
3954 Below are the special commands you can rebind.
3955 Some of them can be bound to
3956 same keys with no problems, others are in the same \(lqcontext\(rq,
3957 and if bound to same keys, only one of those commands will be available.
3958 Special command can only be bound to a single key.
3961 Prefix key to start a count, to repeat a command this many times.
3965 Default is \(oqn\(cq.
3971 Default is \(oq0\(cq.
3973 Prefix key to force fight a direction.
3974 Default is \(oqF\(cq.
3976 Prefix key to force fight a direction.
3980 Default is \(oq\-\(cq.
3982 When asked for a direction, the key to show the help.
3983 Default is \(oq?\(cq.
3985 When asked for a direction, the key to target yourself.
3986 Default is \(oq.\(cq.
3988 When asked for a direction, the key to target yourself.
3989 Default is \(oqs\(cq.
3990 .lp getpos.autodescribe
3991 When asked for a location, the key to toggle autodescribe.
3992 Default is \(oq#\(cq.
3994 When asked for a location, the key to go to next closest interesting thing.
3995 Default is \(oqa\(cq.
3997 When asked for a location, the key to go to previous closest interesting
3999 Default is \(oqA\(cq.
4000 .lp getpos.door.next
4001 When asked for a location, the key to go to next closest door or doorway.
4002 Default is \(oqd\(cq.
4003 .lp getpos.door.prev
4004 When asked for a location, the key to go to previous closest door or doorway.
4005 Default is \(oqD\(cq.
4007 When asked for a location, the key to show help.
4008 Default is \(oq?\(cq.
4010 When asked for a location, the key to go to next closest monster.
4011 Default is \(oqm\(cq.
4013 When asked for a location, the key to go to previous closest monster.
4014 Default is \(oqM\(cq.
4016 When asked for a location, the key to go to next closest object.
4017 Default is \(oqo\(cq.
4019 When asked for a location, the key to go to previous closest object.
4020 Default is \(oqO\(cq.
4022 When asked for a location, and using one of the next or previous keys to
4023 cycle through targets, toggle showing a menu instead.
4024 Default is \(oq!\(cq.
4026 When asked for a location, and using the shifted movement keys or meta-digit
4027 keys to fast-move around, move by skipping the same glyphs instead of
4029 Default is \(oq*\(cq.
4031 When asked for a location, change the filtering mode when using one of
4032 the next or previous keys to cycle through targets.
4034 filtering, in view only, and in the same area only.
4035 Default is \(oq\(dq\(cq. \" double quote
4037 When asked for a location, the key to choose the location, and possibly
4039 Default is \(oq.\(cq.
4040 .lp getpos.pick.once
4041 When asked for a location, the key to choose the location, and skip asking
4043 Default is \(oq,\(cq.
4044 .lp getpos.pick.quick
4045 When asked for a location, the key to choose the location, skip asking for
4046 more info, and exit the location asking loop.
4047 Default is \(oq;\(cq.
4048 .lp getpos.pick.verbose
4049 When asked for a location, the key to choose the location, and show more
4050 info without asking.
4051 Default is \(oq:\(cq.
4053 When asked for a location, the key to go to your location.
4054 Default is \(oq@\(cq.
4055 .lp getpos.unexplored.next
4056 When asked for a location, the key to go to next closest unexplored location.
4057 Default is \(oqx\(cq.
4058 .lp getpos.unexplored.prev
4059 When asked for a location, the key to go to previous closest unexplored
4061 Default is \(oqX\(cq.
4063 When asked for a location, the key to go to show valid target locations.
4064 Default is \(oq$\(cq.
4065 .lp getpos.valid.next
4066 When asked for a location, the key to go to next closest valid location.
4067 Default is \(oqz\(cq.
4068 .lp getpos.valid.prev
4069 When asked for a location, the key to go to previous closest valid location.
4070 Default is \(oqZ\(cq.
4072 Prefix key to move without picking up items.
4073 Default is \(oqm\(cq.
4075 Key to redraw the screen.
4076 Default is \(oq\(haR\(cq.
4078 Key to redraw the screen.
4082 Default is \(oq\(haL\(cq.
4084 Key to repeat previous command.
4085 Default is \(oq\(haA\(cq.
4087 Prefix key to request menu from some commands.
4088 Default is \(oqm\(cq.
4090 Prefix key to run towards a direction.
4091 Default is \(oqG\(cq.
4093 Prefix key to run towards a direction without picking up items on the way.
4094 Default is \(oqM\(cq.
4096 Prefix key to run towards a direction.
4100 Default is \(oq5\(cq.
4102 Prefix key to rush towards a direction.
4103 Default is \(oqg\(cq.
4105 Configuring Message Types
4107 You can change the way the messages are shown in the message area, when
4108 the message matches a user-defined pattern.
4110 In general, the configuration file entries to describe the message types
4113 MSGTYPE=type "pattern"
4117 how the message should be shown;
4119 the pattern to match.
4122 The pattern should be a regular expression.
4127 show message normally;
4129 never show the message;
4131 wait for user with more-prompt;
4133 show the message once, but not again if no other message is shown in between.
4136 Here's an example of message types using NetHack's internal
4137 pattern matching facility:
4140 MSGTYPE=stop "You feel hungry."
4141 MSGTYPE=hide "You displaced *."
4144 specifies that whenever a message \(lqYou feel hungry\(rq is shown,
4145 the user is prompted with more-prompt, and a message matching
4146 \(lqYou displaced <something>.\(rq is not shown at all.
4147 .\" historical trivia: "You displaced Fido." was the sort of message you
4148 .\" got when swapping places with your pet, but that was changed long ago...
4150 The order of the defined MSGTYPE lines is important; the last matching
4151 rule is used. Put the general case first, exceptions below them.
4153 Configuring Menu Colors
4155 Some platforms allow you to define colors used in menu lines when the
4156 line matches a user-defined pattern.
4157 At this time the tty, curses, win32tty and
4158 win32gui interfaces support this.
4160 In general, the configuration file entries to describe the menu color mappings
4163 .lp MENUCOLOR="pattern"=color&attribute
4167 the pattern to match;
4169 the color to use for lines matching the pattern;
4171 the attribute to use for lines matching the pattern. The attribute is
4172 optional, and if left out, you must also leave out the preceding ampersand.
4173 If no attribute is defined, no attribute is used.
4176 The pattern should be a regular expression.
4178 Allowed colors are black, red, green, brown, blue, magenta, cyan, gray,
4179 orange, light-green, yellow, light-blue, light-magenta, light-cyan, and white.
4180 And \f(CRno-color\fP, the default foreground color, which isn't necessarily
4181 the same as any of the other colors.
4183 Allowed attributes are none, bold, dim, underline, blink, and inverse.
4184 \(lqNormal\(rq is a synonym for \(lqnone\(rq.
4185 Note that the platform used may interpret the attributes any way it
4188 Here's an example of menu colors using NetHack's internal
4189 pattern matching facility:
4192 MENUCOLOR="* blessed *"=green
4193 MENUCOLOR="* cursed *"=red
4194 MENUCOLOR="* cursed *(being worn)"=red&underline
4197 .\" note backslash-quoted spaces to prevent line breaks within " word "
4198 specifies that any menu line with \(lq\ blessed\ \(rq contained
4199 in it will be shown in green color, lines with \(lq\ cursed\ \(rq will be
4200 shown in red, and lines with \(lq\ cursed\ \(rq followed
4201 by \(lq(being worn)\(rq
4202 on the same line will be shown in red color and underlined.
4203 You can have multiple MENUCOLOR entries in your configuration file,
4204 and the last MENUCOLOR line that matches
4205 a menu line will be used for the line.
4207 Note that if you intend to have one or more color specifications match
4208 \(lq\ uncursed\ \(rq, you will probably want to turn the
4209 .op implicit_uncursed
4210 option off so that all items known to be uncursed are actually
4211 displayed with the \(lquncursed\(rq description.
4213 Configuring User Sounds
4215 Some platforms allow you to define sound files to be played when a message
4216 that matches a user-defined pattern is delivered to the message window.
4217 At this time the Qt port and the win32tty and win32gui ports support the
4220 The following configuration file entries are relevant to mapping user sounds
4223 The directory that houses the sound files to be played.
4225 An entry that maps a sound file to a user-specified message pattern.
4226 Each SOUND entry is broken down into the following parts:
4229 message window mapping (the only one supported in 3.6);
4231 the pattern to match;
4233 the sound file to play;
4235 the volume to be set while playing the sound file.
4238 The pattern should be a POSIX extended regular expression.
4241 Configuring Status Hilites
4243 Your copy of NetHack may have been compiled with support for
4244 \(lqStatus Hilites\(rq.
4245 If so, you can customize your game display by setting thresholds to
4246 change the color or appearance of fields in the status display.
4248 The format for defining status colors is:
4250 \f(CROPTION=hilite_status:\fIfield-name\fP/\fIbehavior\fP/\fIcolor\fP&\fIattributes\fP\fP
4253 For example, the following line in your configuration file will cause
4254 the hitpoints field to display in the color red if your hitpoints
4255 drop to or below a threshold of 30%:
4257 \f(CROPTION=hilite_status:hitpoints/<=30%/red/normal\fP
4259 (That example is actually specifying \f(CRred&normal\fP for <=30%
4260 and \f(CRno-color&normal\fP for >30%.)
4262 For another example, the following line in your configuration file will cause
4263 wisdom to be displayed red if it drops and green if it rises:
4265 \f(CROPTION=hilite_status:wisdom/down/red/up/green\fP
4268 Allowed colors are black, red, green, brown, blue, magenta, cyan, gray,
4269 orange, light-green, yellow, light-blue, light-magenta, light-cyan, and white.
4270 And \(lqno-color\(rq, the default foreground color on the display, which
4271 is not necessarily the same as black or white or any of the other colors.
4273 Allowed attributes are none, bold, dim, underline, blink, and inverse.
4274 \(lqNormal\(rq is a synonym for \(lqnone\(rq; they should not be used in
4275 combination with any of the other attributes.
4277 To specify both a color and an attribute, use \(oq&\(cq to combine them.
4278 To specify multiple attributes, use \(oq+\(cq to combine those.
4279 For example: \(lqmagenta&inverse+dim\(rq.
4281 Note that the display may substitute or ignore particular attributes
4282 depending upon its capabilities, and in general may interpret the
4283 attributes any way it wants.
4284 For example, on some display systems a request for bold might yield
4285 blink or vice versa.
4286 On others, issuing an attribute request while another is already
4287 set up will replace the earlier attribute rather than combine with it.
4288 Since NetHack issues attribute requests sequentially (at least with
4289 the \f(CRtty\fP interface) rather than all at once, the only way a
4290 situation like that can be controlled is to specify just one attribute.
4292 You can adjust the appearance of the following status fields:
4297 title dungeon-level experience-level
4298 strength gold experience
4299 dexterity hitpoints HD
4300 constitution hitpoints-max time
4301 intelligence power hunger
4302 wisdom power-max carrying-capacity
4303 charisma armor-class condition
4305 .\"TABLE_END Do not delete this line.
4308 The pseudo-field \(lqcharacteristics\(rq can be used to set all six
4309 of Str, Dex, Con, Int, Wis, and Cha at once. \(lqHD\(rq is \(lqhit dice\(rq,
4310 an approximation of experience level displayed when polymorphed.
4311 \(lqexperience\(rq, \(lqtime\(rq, and \(lqscore\(rq are conditionally
4312 displayed depending upon your other option settings.
4314 Instead of a behavior, \(lqcondition\(rq takes the following condition flags:
4315 stone, slime, strngl, foodpois, termill, blind, deaf, stun, conf, hallu,
4317 You can use \(lqmajor_troubles\(rq as an alias
4318 for stone through termill, \(lqminor_troubles\(rq for blind through hallu,
4319 \(lqmovement\(rq for lev, fly, and ride, and \(lqall\(rq for every condition.
4321 Allowed behaviors are \(lqalways\(rq, \(lqup\(rq, \(lqdown\(rq,
4322 \(lqchanged\(rq, a percentage or absolute number threshold, or
4323 text to match against.
4326 \(lqalways\(rq will set the default attributes for that field.
4328 \(lqup\(rq, \(lqdown\(rq set the field attributes for when the field
4329 value changes upwards or downwards.
4330 This attribute times out after
4334 \(lqchanged\(rq sets the field attribute for when the field value changes.
4335 This attribute times out after
4338 (If a field has both a \(lqchanged\(rq rule and an \(lqup\(rq or \(lqdown\(rq
4339 rule which matches a change in the field's value,
4340 the \(lqup\(rq or \(lqdown\(rq one takes precedence.)
4342 percentage sets the field attribute when the field value
4343 matches the percentage.
4344 It is specified as a number between 0 and 100, followed by \(oq%\(cq
4346 If the percentage is prefixed with \(oq<=\(cq or \(oq>=\(cq,
4347 it also matches when value is below or above the percentage.
4348 Use prefix \(oq<\(cq or \(oq>\(cq to match when strictly below or above.
4349 (The numeric limit is relaxed slightly for those: \f(CR>-1%\fP
4350 and \f(CR<101%\fP are allowed.)
4351 Only four fields support percentage rules.
4352 Percentages for \(lqhitpoints\(rq and \(lqpower\(rq are
4353 straightforward; they're based on the corresponding maximum field.
4354 Percentage highlight rules are also allowed for \(lqexperience level\(rq
4355 and \(lqexperience points\(rq (valid when the
4358 For those, the percentage is based on the progress from the start of
4359 the current experience level to the start of the next level.
4360 So if level 2 starts at 20 points and level 3 starts at 40 points,
4361 having 30 points is 50% and 35 points is 75%.
4362 100% is unattainable for experience because you'll gain a level and
4363 the calculations will be reset for that new level, but a rule for
4364 \f(CR=100%\fP is allowed and matches the special case of being
4365 exactly 1 experience point short of the next level.
4366 .\" (If you manage to reach level 30, there is no next level and the
4367 .\" percentage will remain at 0% no matter have many additional experience
4368 .\" points you earn.)
4370 absolute value sets the attribute when the field value matches
4372 The number must be 0 or higher, except for \(lqarmor-class\(cq which
4373 allows negative values, and may optionally be preceded by \(oq=\(cq.
4374 If the number is preceded by \(oq<=\(cq or \(oq>=\(cq instead,
4375 it also matches when value is below or above.
4376 If the prefix is \(oq<\(cq or \(oq>\(cq, only match when strictly
4379 text match sets the attribute when the field value
4381 Text matches can only be used for \(lqalignment\(rq,
4382 \(lqcarrying-capacity\(rq, \(lqhunger\(rq, \(lqdungeon-level\(rq,
4384 For title, only the role's rank title
4385 is tested; the character's name is ignored.
4388 The in-game options menu can help you determine the correct syntax for a
4391 The whole feature can be disabled by setting option
4398 OPTION=hilite_status: gold/up/yellow/down/brown
4399 OPTION=hilite_status: characteristics/up/green/down/red
4400 OPTION=hilite_status: hitpoints/100%/gray&normal
4401 OPTION=hilite_status: hitpoints/<100%/green&normal
4402 OPTION=hilite_status: hitpoints/<66%/yellow&normal
4403 OPTION=hilite_status: hitpoints/<50%/orange&normal
4404 OPTION=hilite_status: hitpoints/<33%/red&bold
4405 OPTION=hilite_status: hitpoints/<15%/red&inverse
4406 OPTION=hilite_status: condition/major/orange&inverse
4407 OPTION=hilite_status: condition/lev+fly/red&inverse
4412 Modifying NetHack Symbols
4414 NetHack can load entire symbol sets from the symbol file.
4416 The options that are used to select a particular symbol set from the
4419 Set the name of the symbol set that you want to load.
4421 Set the name of the symbol set that you want to load for display
4424 You can also override one or more symbols using the SYMBOLS and
4425 ROGUESYMBOLS configuration file options.
4426 Symbols are specified as name:value pairs.
4428 NetHack escape-processes the value string in conventional C fashion.
4429 This means that \\ is a prefix to take the following character literally.
4430 Thus \\ needs to be represented as \\\\.
4431 The special prefix form \\m switches on the meta bit in the symbol value,
4432 and the \(ha prefix causes the following character to be treated as a
4435 .\" Table is centered.
4436 .\" First line (title) is left justified and spans second and third columns;
4437 .\" it used to be centered but tended to look as if too far to the right.
4438 .\" Remaining lines are left justified in each of three columns. First
4439 .\" line (second overall) contains column labels; the first column has a
4440 .\" dummy label of two spaces. (That used to be "Default" but it made all
4441 .\" the lines wider because of the label's width and caused several lines
4442 .\" to be too wide when generating plain text output. Two spaces leaves
4443 .\" some room between the symbol character and name.) Entries in first
4444 .\" column now use constant-width Roman font to approximate TeX tt font.
4451 \ \ Symbol Name Description
4455 \(dq S_amulet (amulet)
4456 A S_angel (angelic being)
4457 a S_ant (ant or other insect)
4458 \(ha S_anti_magic_trap (anti-magic field)
4459 [ S_armor (suit or piece of armor)
4460 [ S_armour (suit or piece of armor)
4461 \(ha S_arrow_trap (arrow trap)
4462 0 S_ball (iron ball)
4463 # S_bars (iron bars)
4464 B S_bat (bat or bird)
4465 \(ha S_bear_trap (bear trap)
4466 \- S_blcorn (bottom left corner)
4468 + S_book (spellbook)
4469 ) S_boomleft (boomerang open left)
4470 ( S_boomright (boomerang open right)
4471 \` S_boulder (boulder)
4472 \- S_brcorn (bottom right corner)
4473 C S_centaur (centaur)
4474 \&_ S_chain (iron chain)
4476 c S_cockatrice (cockatrice)
4477 $ S_coin (pile of coins)
4480 # S_darkroom (dark room)
4481 \(ha S_dart_trap (dart trap)
4482 & S_demon (major demon)
4483 * S_digbeam (dig beam)
4484 > S_dnladder (ladder down)
4485 > S_dnstair (staircase down)
4486 d S_dog (dog or other canine)
4488 ; S_eel (sea monster)
4489 E S_elemental (elemental)
4490 / S_explode1 (explosion top left)
4491 \- S_explode2 (explosion top center)
4492 \\ S_explode3 (explosion top right)
4493 | S_explode4 (explosion middle left)
4494 \ S_explode5 (explosion middle center)
4495 | S_explode6 (explosion middle right)
4496 \\ S_explode7 (explosion bottom left)
4497 \- S_explode8 (explosion bottom center)
4498 / S_explode9 (explosion bottom right)
4499 e S_eye (eye or sphere)
4500 \(ha S_falling_rock_trap (falling rock trap)
4501 f S_feline (cat or other feline)
4502 \(ha S_fire_trap (fire trap)
4503 ! S_flashbeam (flash beam)
4504 % S_food (piece of food)
4505 { S_fountain (fountain)
4506 F S_fungus (fungus or mold)
4507 * S_gem (gem or rock)
4509 H S_giant (giant humanoid)
4513 g S_gremlin (gremlin)
4514 \- S_hbeam (horizontal beam [zap animation])
4515 # S_hcdbridge (horizontal raised drawbridge)
4516 + S_hcdoor (closed door in horizontal wall)
4517 \. S_hodbridge (horizontal lowered drawbridge)
4518 | S_hodoor (open door in horizontal wall)
4520 @ S_human (human or elf)
4521 h S_humanoid (humanoid)
4522 \- S_hwall (horizontal wall)
4524 i S_imp (imp or minor demon)
4525 I S_invisible (invisible monster)
4526 J S_jabberwock (jabberwock)
4529 K S_kop (Keystone Kop)
4530 \(ha S_land_mine (land mine)
4531 } S_lava (molten lava)
4532 l S_leprechaun (leprechaun)
4533 \(ha S_level_teleporter (level teleporter)
4536 # S_litcorr (lit corridor)
4538 \\ S_lslant (diagonal beam [zap animation])
4539 \(ha S_magic_portal (magic portal)
4540 \(ha S_magic_trap (magic trap)
4542 ] S_mimic_def (mimic)
4545 \. S_ndoor (doorway without door)
4549 p S_piercer (piercer)
4551 # S_poisoncloud (poison cloud)
4552 \(ha S_polymorph_trap (polymorph trap)
4555 P S_pudding (pudding or ooze)
4556 q S_quadruped (quadruped)
4557 Q S_quantmech (quantum mechanic)
4559 \` S_rock (boulder or statue)
4561 \(ha S_rolling_boulder_trap (rolling boulder trap)
4562 \. S_room (floor of a room)
4563 / S_rslant (diagonal beam [zap animation])
4564 \(ha S_rust_trap (rust trap)
4565 R S_rustmonst (rust monster or disenchanter)
4568 \(ha S_sleeping_gas_trap (sleeping gas trap)
4570 s S_spider (arachnid or centipede)
4571 \(ha S_spiked_pit (spiked pit)
4572 \(ha S_squeaky_board (squeaky board)
4573 0 S_ss1 (magic shield 1 of 4)
4574 # S_ss2 (magic shield 2 of 4)
4575 @ S_ss3 (magic shield 3 of 4)
4576 * S_ss4 (magic shield 4 of 4)
4577 \(ha S_statue_trap (statue trap)
4578 \ S_stone (solid rock or unexplored terrain
4579 \ \ \ or dark part of a room)
4580 ] S_strange_obj (strange object)
4581 \- S_sw_bc (swallow bottom center)
4582 \\ S_sw_bl (swallow bottom left)
4583 / S_sw_br (swallow bottom right)
4584 | S_sw_ml (swallow middle left)
4585 | S_sw_mr (swallow middle right)
4586 \- S_sw_tc (swallow top center)
4587 / S_sw_tl (swallow top left)
4588 \\ S_sw_tr (swallow top right)
4590 \(ha S_teleportation_trap (teleportation trap)
4591 \\ S_throne (opulent throne)
4592 \- S_tlcorn (top left corner)
4594 ( S_tool (useful item (pick-axe, key, lamp...))
4595 \(ha S_trap_door (trap door)
4596 t S_trapper (trapper or lurker above)
4597 \- S_trcorn (top right corner)
4602 U S_umber (umber hulk)
4603 u S_unicorn (unicorn or horse)
4604 < S_upladder (ladder up)
4605 < S_upstair (staircase up)
4606 V S_vampire (vampire)
4607 | S_vbeam (vertical beam [zap animation])
4608 # S_vcdbridge (vertical raised drawbridge)
4609 + S_vcdoor (closed door in vertical wall)
4610 \. S_venom (splash of venom)
4611 \(ha S_vibrating_square (vibrating square)
4612 \. S_vodbridge (vertical lowered drawbridge)
4613 \- S_vodoor (open door in vertical wall)
4615 | S_vwall (vertical wall)
4621 \(ti S_worm_tail (long worm tail)
4623 x S_xan (xan or other extraordinary insect)
4625 Y S_yeti (apelike creature)
4628 \ S_pet_override (any pet if ACCESSIBILITY=1 is set)
4629 \ S_hero_override (hero if ACCESSIBILITY=1 is set)
4630 .\"TABLE_END Do not delete this line.
4632 .\" don't hyphenate file name across lines
4637 Several symbols in this table appear to be blank.
4638 They are the space character, except for S_pet_override
4639 and S_hero_override which don't have any default value
4640 and can only be used if enabled in the \(lqsysconf\(rq file.
4642 S_rock is misleadingly named; rocks and stones use S_gem.
4643 Statues and boulders are the rock being referred to, but since
4644 version 3.6.0, statues are displayed as the monster they depict.
4645 So S_rock is only used for boulders and not used at all if
4646 overridden by the more specific S_boulder.
4649 Configuring NetHack for Play by the Blind
4651 NetHack can be set up to use only standard ASCII characters for making
4652 maps of the dungeons. This makes the MS-DOS versions of NetHack completely
4653 accessible to the blind who use speech and/or Braille access technologies.
4654 Players will require a good working knowledge of their screen-reader's
4655 review features, and will have to know how to navigate horizontally and
4656 vertically character by character. They will also find the search
4657 capabilities of their screen-readers to be quite valuable. Be certain to
4658 examine this Guidebook before playing so you have an idea what the screen
4659 layout is like. You'll also need to be able to locate the PC cursor. It is
4660 always where your character is located. Merely searching for an @-sign will
4661 not always find your character since there are other humanoids represented
4662 by the same sign. Your screen-reader should also have a function which
4663 gives you the row and column of your review cursor and the PC cursor.
4664 These co-ordinates are often useful in giving players a better sense of the
4665 overall location of items on the screen.
4667 NetHack can also be compiled with support for sending the game messages
4668 to an external program, such as a text-to-speech synthesizer.
4669 If the \(lq#version\(rq extended command shows \(lqexternal program as a
4670 message handler\(rq, your NetHack has been compiled with the capability.
4671 When compiling NetHack from source on Linux and other POSIX systems,
4672 define MSGHANDLER to enable it.
4674 the capability, set the environment variable NETHACK_MSGHANDLER to an
4675 executable, which will be executed with the game message as the program's
4678 While it is not difficult for experienced users to edit the \fBdefaults.nh\fP
4679 file to accomplish this, novices may find this task somewhat daunting.
4680 Included within the \(lqsymbols\(rq file of all official distributions
4681 of NetHack is a symset called \fBNHAccess\fP.
4682 Selecting that symset in your
4683 configuration file will cause the game to run in a manner accessible
4685 After you have gained some experience with the game
4686 and with editing files, you may want to alter settings via \fBSYMBOLS=\fP
4687 and \fBROGUESYMBOLS=\fP
4688 in your configuration file to better suit your preferences.
4689 See the previous section for the special symbols S_pet_override
4690 to force a consistent symbol for all pets and
4691 S_hero_override to force a unique symbol for the player character
4692 if \fBaccessibility\fP is enabled in the sysconf file.
4694 The most crucial settings to make the game more accessible are:
4697 Load a symbol set appropriate for use by blind players.
4698 .lp roguesymset:NHAccess
4699 Load a symbol set for the rogue level that is appropriate for
4700 use by blind players.
4701 .lp menustyle:traditional
4702 This will assist in the interface to speech synthesizers.
4704 Show menus on a cleared screen and aligned to the left edge.
4706 A lot of speech access programs use the number-pad to review the screen.
4707 If this is the case, disable the
4709 option and use the traditional
4710 Rogue-like commands.
4712 Automatically describe the terrain under the cursor when targeting.
4714 Give feedback messages when walking towards a wall or when travel command
4716 .lp whatis_coord:compass
4717 When targeting with cursor, describe the cursor position with coordinates
4718 relative to your character.
4719 .lp whatis_filter:area
4720 When targeting with cursor, filter possible locations so only those in
4721 the same area (eg. same room, or same corridor) are considered.
4723 When targeting with cursor and using fast-move, skip the same glyphs instead
4724 of moving 8 units at a time.
4725 .lp nostatus_updates
4726 Prevent updates to the status lines at the bottom of the screen, if
4727 your screen-reader reads those lines. The same information can be
4728 seen via the \(lq#attributes\(rq command.
4730 Global Configuration for System Administrators
4732 If NetHack is compiled with the SYSCF option, a system administrator
4733 should set up a global configuration; this is a file in the
4734 same format as the traditional per-user configuration file (see above).
4735 This file should be named sysconf and placed in the same directory as
4736 the other NetHack support files.
4737 The options recognized in this file are listed below. Any option not
4738 set uses a compiled-in default (which may not be appropriate for your
4741 .\" '\ =\ Word' follow each option name with space+equals+space+first
4742 .\" word of sentence in a way that won't have spaces inserted
4743 .\" there if that line is padded from left to right;
4744 .\" essentially, "OPTION = Word" becomes one token as far
4745 .\" as filling and justifying are concerned
4747 WIZARDS\ =\ A space-separated list of user names who are allowed to
4748 play in debug mode (commonly referred to as wizard mode).
4750 asterisk (*) allows anyone to start a game in debug mode.
4752 SHELLERS\ =\ A list of users who are allowed to use the shell
4753 escape command (!). The syntax is the same as WIZARDS.
4755 EXPLORERS\ =\ A list of users who are allowed to use the explore mode.
4756 The syntax is the same as WIZARDS.
4758 MAXPLAYERS\ =\ Limit the maximum number of games that can be running
4761 SUPPORT\ =\ A string explaining how to get local support (no default value).
4763 RECOVER\ =\ A string explaining how to recover a game on this system
4766 SEDUCE\ =\ 0 or 1 to disable or enable, respectively, the SEDUCE option.
4767 When disabled, incubi and succubi behave like nymphs.
4769 CHECK_PLNAME\ =\ Setting this to 1 will make the EXPLORERS, WIZARDS, and
4770 SHELLERS check for the player name instead of the user's login name.
4772 CHECK_SAVE_UID\ =\ 0 or 1 to disable or enable, respectively, the UID
4773 (used identification number) checking for save files (to verify that the
4774 user who is restoring is the same one who saved).
4776 The following options affect the score file:
4779 PERSMAX\ =\ Maximum number of entries for one person.
4781 ENTRYMAX\ =\ Maximum number of entries in the score file.
4783 POINTSMIN\ =\ Minimum number of points to get an entry in the score file.
4785 PERS_IS_UID\ =\ 0 or 1 to use user names or numeric userids, respectively,
4786 to identify unique people for the score file.
4788 MAX_STATUENAME_RANK\ =\ Maximum number of score file entries to use for
4789 random statue names (default is 10).
4791 ACCESSIBILITY\ =\ 0 or 1 to disable or enable, respectively, the ability for players
4792 to set S_pet_override and S_hero_override symbols in their configuration file.
4794 PORTABLE_DEVICE_PATHS\ =\ 0 or 1 Windows OS only, the game will look
4795 for all of its external files, and write to all of its output files in one place
4796 rather than at the standard locations.
4798 DUMPLOGFILE\ =\ A filename where the end-of-game dumplog is saved.
4799 Not defining this will prevent dumplog from being created. Only available
4800 if your game is compiled with DUMPLOG. Allows the following placeholders:
4801 .\" note: %M is not an entry in the table, but 'M' is the widest letter
4803 .\" \f(CR = set font to constant-width Roman; approximation of {\tt ...} in TeX
4805 literal \(oq\f(CR%\fP\(cq
4807 version (eg. \(lq\f(CR3.6.3\-0\fP\(rq)
4811 game start time, UNIX timestamp format
4813 current time, UNIX timestamp format
4815 game start time, YYYYMMDDhhmmss format
4817 current time, YYYYMMDDhhmmss format
4821 first character of player name
4827 NetHack maintains a list of the top scores or scorers on your machine,
4828 depending on how it is set up. In the latter case, each account on
4829 the machine can post only one non-winning score on this list. If
4830 you score higher than someone else on this list, or better your
4831 previous score, you will be inserted in the proper place under your
4832 current name. How many scores are kept can also be set up when
4833 NetHack is compiled.
4835 Your score is chiefly based upon how much experience you gained, how
4836 much loot you accumulated, how deep you explored, and how the game
4837 ended. If you quit the game, you escape with all of your gold intact.
4838 If, however, you get killed in the Mazes of Menace, the guild will
4839 only hear about 90% of your gold when your corpse is discovered
4840 (adventurers have been known to collect finder's fees). So, consider
4841 whether you want to take one last hit at that monster and possibly
4842 live, or quit and stop with whatever you have. If you quit, you keep
4843 all your gold, but if you swing and live, you might find more.
4845 If you just want to see what the current top players/games list is, you
4846 can type \fBnethack \-s all\fP on most versions.
4851 NetHack is an intricate and difficult game.
4852 Novices might falter
4853 in fear, aware of their ignorance of the means to survive.
4855 Your dungeon comes equipped with an \(lqexplore\(rq or \(lqdiscovery\(rq
4856 mode that enables you to keep old save files and cheat death, at the
4857 paltry cost of not getting on the high score list.
4859 There are two ways of enabling explore mode.
4860 One is to start the game with the
4862 command-line switch or with the
4863 .op playmode:explore
4865 The other is to issue the \(lq#exploremode\(rq extended command while
4866 already playing the game.
4867 Starting a new game in explore mode provides your
4868 character with a wand of wishing in initial inventory; switching
4869 during play does not.
4870 The other benefits of explore mode are left for
4871 the trepid reader to discover.
4876 Debug mode, also known as wizard mode, is undocumented aside from this
4877 brief description and the various \(lqdebug mode only\(rq commands listed
4878 among the command descriptions.
4879 It is intended for tracking down problems within the
4880 program rather than to provide god-like powers to your character, and
4881 players who attempt debugging are expected to figure out how to use it
4883 It is initiated by starting the game with the
4885 command-line switch or with the
4889 For some systems, the player must be logged in
4890 under a particular user name to be allowed to use debug mode; for others,
4891 the hero must be given a particular character name (but may be any role;
4892 there's no connection between \(lqwizard mode\(rq and the Wizard role).
4893 Attempting to start a game in debug mode when not allowed
4894 or not available will result in falling back to explore mode instead.
4899 The original \fIhack\fP game was modeled on the Berkeley
4901 \fIrogue\fP game. Large portions of this paper were shamelessly
4902 cribbed from \fIA Guide to the Dungeons of Doom\fP, by Michael C. Toy
4903 and Kenneth C. R. C. Arnold. Small portions were adapted from
4904 \fIFurther Exploration of the Dungeons of Doom\fP, by Ken Arromdee.
4906 NetHack is the product of literally dozens of people's work.
4907 Main events in the course of the game development are described below:
4910 \fBJay Fenlason\fP wrote the original Hack, with help from
4911 \fBKenny Woodland\fP, \fBMike Thome\fP and \fBJon Payne\fP.
4913 \fBAndries Brouwer\fP did a major re-write, transforming Hack into a
4914 very different game, and published (at least) three versions (1.0.1,
4915 1.0.2, and 1.0.3) for
4917 machines to the Usenet.
4919 \fBDon G. Kneller\fP ported Hack 1.0.3 to Microsoft C and MS-DOS, producing PC
4920 HACK 1.01e, added support for DEC Rainbow graphics in version 1.03g, and went
4921 on to produce at least four more versions (3.0, 3.2, 3.51, and 3.6).
4923 \fBR. Black\fP ported PC HACK 3.51 to Lattice C and the Atari 520/1040ST,
4924 producing ST Hack 1.03.
4926 \fBMike Stephenson\fP merged these various versions back together,
4927 incorporating many of the added features, and produced NetHack 1.4.
4928 He then coordinated a cast of thousands in enhancing and debugging
4929 NetHack 1.4 and released NetHack versions 2.2 and 2.3.
4931 Later, Mike coordinated a major rewrite of the game, heading a
4932 team which included \fBKen Arromdee\fP, \fBJean-Christophe Collet\fP, \fBSteve
4933 Creps\fP, \fBEric Hendrickson\fP, \fBIzchak Miller\fP, \fBJohn Rupley\fP,
4934 \fBMike Threepoint\fP, and \fBJanet Walz\fP, to produce NetHack 3.0c.
4936 NetHack 3.0 was ported to the Atari by \fBEric R. Smith\fP, to OS/2 by
4937 \fBTimo Hakulinen\fP, and to VMS by \fBDavid Gentzel\fP. The three of them
4938 and \fBKevin Darcy\fP later joined the main NetHack Development Team to produce
4939 subsequent revisions of 3.0.
4941 \fBOlaf Seibert\fP ported NetHack 2.3 and 3.0 to the Amiga.
4942 \fBNorm Meluch\fP, \fBStephen Spackman\fP and \fBPierre Martineau\fP designed
4943 overlay code for PC NetHack 3.0. \fBJohnny Lee\fP ported
4944 NetHack 3.0 to the Macintosh. Along with various other Dungeoneers, they
4945 continued to enhance the PC, Macintosh, and Amiga ports through the later
4948 Headed by \fBMike Stephenson\fP and coordinated by \fBIzchak Miller\fP and
4949 \fBJanet Walz\fP, the NetHack Development Team which now included \fBKen Arromdee\fP,
4950 \fBDavid Cohrs\fP, \fBJean-Christophe Collet\fP, \fBKevin Darcy\fP,
4951 \fBMatt Day\fP, \fBTimo Hakulinen\fP, \fBSteve Linhart\fP, \fBDean Luick\fP,
4952 \fBPat Rankin\fP, \fBEric Raymond\fP, and \fBEric Smith\fP undertook a radical
4953 revision of 3.0. They re-structured the game's design, and re-wrote major
4954 parts of the code. They added multiple dungeons, a new display, special
4955 individual character quests, a new endgame and many other new features, and
4956 produced NetHack 3.1.
4958 \fBKen Lorber\fP, \fBGregg Wonderly\fP and \fBGreg Olson\fP, with help
4959 from \fBRichard Addison\fP, \fBMike Passaretti\fP, and \fBOlaf Seibert\fP,
4960 developed NetHack 3.1 for the Amiga.
4962 \fBNorm Meluch\fP and \fBKevin Smolkowski\fP, with help from
4963 \fBCarl Schelin\fP, \fBStephen Spackman\fP, \fBSteve VanDevender\fP,
4964 and \fBPaul Winner\fP, ported NetHack 3.1 to the PC.
4966 \fBJon W{tte\fP and \fBHao-yang Wang\fP, with help from \fBRoss Brown\fP,
4967 \fBMike Engber\fP, \fBDavid Hairston\fP, \fBMichael Hamel\fP,
4968 \fBJonathan Handler\fP, \fBJohnny Lee\fP, \fBTim Lennan\fP, \fBRob Menke\fP,
4969 and \fBAndy Swanson\fP, developed NetHack 3.1 for the Macintosh,
4970 porting it for MPW. Building on their development, \fBBart House\fP
4971 added a Think C port.
4973 \fBTimo Hakulinen\fP ported NetHack 3.1 to OS/2. \fBEric Smith\fP
4974 ported NetHack 3.1 to the Atari. \fBPat Rankin\fP, with help from
4975 \fBJoshua Delahunty\fP, was responsible for the VMS version of NetHack 3.1.
4976 \fBMichael Allison\fP ported NetHack 3.1 to Windows NT.
4978 \fBDean Luick\fP, with help from \fBDavid Cohrs\fP, developed NetHack
4980 \fBWarwick Allison\fP wrote a tiled version of NetHack for the Atari;
4981 he later contributed the tiles to the NetHack Development Team and tile support was
4982 then added to other platforms.
4984 The 3.2 NetHack Development Team, comprised of \fBMichael Allison\fP, \fBKen
4985 Arromdee\fP, \fBDavid Cohrs\fP, \fBJessie Collet\fP, \fBSteve Creps\fP,
4986 \fBKevin Darcy\fP, \fBTimo Hakulinen\fP, \fBSteve Linhart\fP, \fBDean
4987 Luick\fP, \fBPat Rankin\fP, \fBEric Smith\fP, \fBMike Stephenson\fP,
4988 \fBJanet Walz\fP, and \fBPaul Winner\fP, released version 3.2 in April of
4991 Version 3.2 marked the tenth anniversary of the formation of the development
4992 team. In a testament to their dedication to the game, all thirteen members
4993 of the original NetHack Development Team remained on the team at the start of work
4994 on that release. During the interval between the release of 3.1.3
4995 and 3.2, one of the founding members of the NetHack Development Team, \fBDr. Izchak
4996 Miller\fP, was diagnosed with cancer and passed away. That release of the
4997 game was dedicated to him by the development and porting teams.
4999 During the lifespan of NetHack 3.1 and 3.2, several enthusiasts
5001 their own modifications to the game and made these \(lqvariants\(rq publicly
5004 \fBTom Proudfoot\fP and \fBYuval Oren\fP created NetHack++,
5005 which was quickly renamed NetHack--.
5006 Working independently, \fBStephen White\fP wrote NetHack Plus.
5007 \fBTom Proudfoot\fP later merged NetHack Plus
5008 and his own NetHack-- to produce SLASH.
5009 \fBLarry Stewart-Zerba\fP and \fBWarwick Allison\fP improved the spell
5010 casting system with the Wizard Patch.
5011 \fBWarwick Allison\fP also ported NetHack to use the Qt interface.
5013 \fBWarren Cheung\fP combined SLASH with the Wizard Patch to produce Slash'EM,
5014 and with the help of \fBKevin Hugo\fP, added more features.
5015 Kevin later joined the
5016 NetHack Development Team and incorporated the best of these ideas in NetHack 3.3.
5018 The final update to 3.2 was the bug fix release 3.2.3, which was released
5019 simultaneously with 3.3.0 in December 1999 just in time for the Year 2000.
5021 The 3.3 NetHack Development Team, consisting of
5022 \fBMichael Allison\fP, \fBKen Arromdee\fP,
5023 \fBDavid Cohrs\fP, \fBJessie Collet\fP, \fBSteve Creps\fP, \fBKevin Darcy\fP,
5024 \fBTimo Hakulinen\fP, \fBKevin Hugo\fP, \fBSteve Linhart\fP, \fBKen Lorber\fP,
5025 \fBDean Luick\fP, \fBPat Rankin\fP, \fBEric Smith\fP, \fBMike Stephenson\fP,
5026 \fBJanet Walz\fP, and \fBPaul Winner\fP, released 3.3.0 in
5027 December 1999 and 3.3.1 in August of 2000.
5029 Version 3.3 offered many firsts. It was the first version to separate race
5030 and profession. The Elf class was removed in preference to an elf race,
5031 and the races of dwarves, gnomes, and orcs made their first appearance in
5032 the game alongside the familiar human race. Monk and Ranger roles joined
5033 Archeologists, Barbarians, Cavemen, Healers, Knights, Priests, Rogues,
5035 Tourists, Valkyries and of course, Wizards. It was also the first version
5036 to allow you to ride a steed, and was the first version to have a publicly
5037 available web-site listing all the bugs that had been discovered. Despite
5038 that constantly growing bug list, 3.3 proved stable enough to last for
5039 more than a year and a half.
5041 The 3.4 NetHack Development Team initially consisted of
5042 \fBMichael Allison\fP, \fBKen Arromdee\fP,
5043 \fBDavid Cohrs\fP, \fBJessie Collet\fP, \fBKevin Hugo\fP, \fBKen Lorber\fP,
5044 \fBDean Luick\fP, \fBPat Rankin\fP, \fBMike Stephenson\fP,
5045 \fBJanet Walz\fP, and \fBPaul Winner\fP, with \fB Warwick Allison\fP joining
5046 just before the release of NetHack 3.4.0 in March 2002.
5048 As with version 3.3, various people contributed to the game as a whole as
5049 well as supporting ports on the different platforms that NetHack runs on:
5051 \fBPat Rankin\fP maintained 3.4 for VMS.
5053 \fBMichael Allison\fP maintained NetHack 3.4 for the MS-DOS platform.
5054 \fBPaul Winner\fP and \fBYitzhak Sapir\fP provided encouragement.
5056 \fBDean Luick\fP, \fBMark Modrall\fP, and \fBKevin Hugo\fP maintained
5057 and enhanced the Macintosh port of 3.4.
5059 \fBMichael Allison\fP, \fBDavid Cohrs\fP, \fBAlex Kompel\fP,
5060 \fBDion Nicolaas\fP, and
5061 \fBYitzhak Sapir\fP maintained and enhanced 3.4 for the Microsoft Windows
5063 \fBAlex Kompel\fP contributed a new graphical interface for the Windows port.
5064 \fBAlex Kompel\fP also contributed a Windows CE port for 3.4.1.
5066 \fBRon Van Iwaarden\fP was the sole maintainer of NetHack for OS/2 the past
5067 several releases. Unfortunately Ron's last OS/2 machine stopped working in
5068 early 2006. A great many thanks to Ron for keeping NetHack alive on OS/2
5071 \fBJanne Salmijarvi\fP and \fBTeemu Suikki\fP maintained and
5072 enhanced the Amiga port of 3.4 after \fBJanne Salmijarvi\fP resurrected
5075 \fBChristian \(lqMarvin\(rq Bressler\fP maintained 3.4 for the Atari after he
5076 resurrected it for 3.3.1.
5078 The release of NetHack 3.4.3 in December 2003 marked the beginning of a
5079 long release hiatus. 3.4.3 proved to be a remarkably stable version that
5080 provided continued enjoyment by the community for more than a decade. The
5081 NetHack Development Team slowly and quietly continued to work on the game behind the scenes
5082 during the tenure of 3.4.3. It was during that same period that several new
5083 variants emerged within the NetHack community. Notably sporkhack by
5084 \fBDerek S. Ray\fP, unnethack by \fBPatric Mueller\fP, nitrohack and its
5085 successors originally by \fBDaniel Thaler\fP and then by \fBAlex Smith\fP,
5086 and Dynahack by \fBTung Nguyen\fP. Some of those variants continue to be
5087 developed, maintained, and enjoyed by the community to this day.
5089 In September 2014, an interim snapshot of the code under development was
5090 released publicly by other parties. Since that code was a work-in-progress
5091 and had not gone through the process of debugging it as a suitable release,
5092 it was decided that the version numbers present on that code snapshot would
5093 be retired and never used in an official NetHack release. An announcement
5094 was posted on the NetHack Development Team's official
5096 website to that effect,
5097 stating that there would never be a 3.4.4, 3.5, or 3.5.0 official release
5100 In January 2015, preparation began for the release of NetHack 3.6.
5102 At the beginning of development for what would eventually get released
5103 as 3.6.0, the NetHack Development Team consisted of \fBWarwick Allison\fP,
5104 \fBMichael Allison\fP, \fBKen Arromdee\fP,
5105 \fBDavid Cohrs\fP, \fBJessie Collet\fP,
5106 \fBKen Lorber\fP, \fBDean Luick\fP, \fBPat Rankin\fP,
5107 \fBMike Stephenson\fP, \fBJanet Walz\fP, and \fBPaul Winner\fP.
5108 In early 2015, ahead of the release of 3.6.0, new members
5109 \fBSean Hunt\fP, \fBPasi Kallinen\fP, and \fBDerek S. Ray\fP
5110 joined the NetHack Development Team.
5112 Near the end of the development of 3.6.0, one of the significant inspirations for many of
5113 the humorous and fun features found in the game, author Terry Pratchett,
5114 passed away. NetHack 3.6.0 introduced a tribute to him.
5116 3.6.0 was released in December 2015, and merged work done by the development
5117 team since the release of 3.4.3 with some of the beloved community
5118 patches. Many bugs were fixed and some code was restructured.
5120 The NetHack Development Team, as well as \fBSteve VanDevender\fP and
5121 \fBKevin Smolkowski\fP, ensured that NetHack 3.6 continued to operate on
5124 flavors and maintained the X11 interface.
5126 \fBKen Lorber\fP, \fBHaoyang Wang\fP, \fBPat Rankin\fP, and \fBDean Luick\fP
5127 maintained the port of NetHack 3.6 for Mac OSX.
5129 \fBMichael Allison\fP, \fBDavid Cohrs\fP, \fBBart House\fP,
5130 \fBPasi Kallinen\fP, \fBAlex Kompel\fP, \fBDion Nicolaas\fP,
5131 \fBDerek S. Ray\fP and \fBYitzhak Sapir\fP maintained the port of
5132 NetHack 3.6 for Microsoft Windows.
5134 \fBPat Rankin\fP attempted to keep the VMS port running for NetHack 3.6,
5135 hindered by limited access. \fBKevin Smolkowski\fP has updated and tested it
5136 for the most recent version of OpenVMS (V8.4 as of this writing) on Alpha
5137 and Integrity (aka Itanium aka IA64) but not VAX.
5139 \fBRay Chason\fP resurrected the msdos port for 3.6 and contributed the
5140 necessary updates to the community at large.
5142 In late April 2018, several hundred bug fixes for 3.6.0 and
5143 some new features were assembled and released as NetHack 3.6.1.
5144 The NetHack Development Team at the time of release of 3.6.1 consisted of
5145 \fBWarwick Allison\fP, \fBMichael Allison\fP, \fBKen Arromdee\fP,
5146 \fBDavid Cohrs\fP, \fBJessie Collet\fP, \fBPasi Kallinen\fP,
5147 \fBKen Lorber\fP, \fBDean Luick\fP, \fBPatric Mueller\fP,
5148 \fBPat Rankin\fP, \fBDerek S. Ray\fP, \fBAlex Smith\fP,
5149 \fBMike Stephenson\fP, \fBJanet Walz\fP, and \fBPaul Winner\fP.
5151 In early May 2019, another 320 bug fixes along with some enhancements and
5152 the adopted curses window port, were released as 3.6.2.
5154 \fBBart House\fP, who had contributed to the game as a porting team
5155 participant for decades, joined the NetHack Development Team in late May 2019.
5157 NetHack 3.6.3 was released on December 5, 2019 containing over 190 bug
5158 fixes to NetHack 3.6.2.
5160 NetHack 3.6.4 was released on December 18, 2019 containing a security fix
5161 and a few bug fixes.
5163 NetHack 3.6.5 was released on January 27, 2020 containing some security fixes
5164 and a small number of bug fixes.
5166 NetHack 3.6.6 was released on March 8, 2020 containing a security fix and
5169 NetHack 3.6.7 was released in February 2023 containing a security fix and
5172 The official NetHack web site is maintained by \fBKen Lorber\fP
5174 .UR https://www.nethack.org/ .
5179 On behalf of the NetHack community, thank you very much once
5180 again to \fBM. Drew Streib\fP and \fBPasi Kallinen\fP for providing a
5181 public NetHack server at nethack.alt.org. Thanks to \fBKeith Simpson\fP
5182 and \fBAndy Thomson\fP for hardfought.org. Thanks to all those
5183 unnamed dungeoneers who invest their time and effort into annual
5184 NetHack tournaments such as Junethack, The November NetHack Tournament
5185 and in days past, devnull.net (gone for now, but not forgotten).
5188 - - - - - - - - - -\ \ \ \ \" when centered, the dashes look a little too far
5189 . \" to the right, so pad them with a few spaces
5191 From time to time, some depraved individual out there in netland sends a
5192 particularly intriguing modification to help out with the game. The NetHack
5193 Development Team sometimes makes note of the names of the worst of these
5194 miscreants in this, the list of Dungeoneers:
5200 Adam Aronow J. Ali Harlow Mikko Juola
5201 Alex Kompel Janet Walz Nathan Eady
5202 Alex Smith Janne Salmijarvi Norm Meluch
5203 Andreas Dorn Jean-Christophe Collet Olaf Seibert
5204 Andy Church Jeff Bailey Pasi Kallinen
5205 Andy Swanson Jochen Erwied Pat Rankin
5206 Andy Thomson John Kallen Patric Mueller
5207 Ari Huttunen John Rupley Paul Winner
5208 Bart House John S. Bien Pierre Martineau
5209 Benson I. Margulies Johnny Lee Ralf Brown
5210 Bill Dyer Jon W{tte Ray Chason
5211 Boudewijn Waijers Jonathan Handler Richard Addison
5212 Bruce Cox Joshua Delahunty Richard Beigel
5213 Bruce Holloway Karl Garrison Richard P. Hughey
5214 Bruce Mewborne Keizo Yamamoto Rob Menke
5215 Carl Schelin Keith Simpson Robin Bandy
5216 Chris Russo Ken Arnold Robin Johnson
5217 David Cohrs Ken Arromdee Roderick Schertler
5218 David Damerell Ken Lorber Roland McGrath
5219 David Gentzel Ken Washikita Ron Van Iwaarden
5220 David Hairston Kevin Darcy Ronnen Miller
5221 Dean Luick Kevin Hugo Ross Brown
5222 Del Lamb Kevin Sitze Sascha Wostmann
5223 Derek S. Ray Kevin Smolkowski Scott Bigham
5224 Deron Meranda Kevin Sweet Scott R. Turner
5225 Dion Nicolaas Lars Huttar Sean Hunt
5226 Dylan O'Donnell Leon Arnott Stephen Spackman
5227 Eric Backus M. Drew Streib Stefan Thielscher
5228 Eric Hendrickson Malcolm Ryan Stephen White
5229 Eric R. Smith Mark Gooderum Steve Creps
5230 Eric S. Raymond Mark Modrall Steve Linhart
5231 Erik Andersen Marvin Bressler Steve VanDevender
5232 Fredrik Ljungdahl Matthew Day Teemu Suikki
5233 Frederick Roeber Merlyn LeRoy Tim Lennan
5234 Gil Neiger Michael Allison Timo Hakulinen
5235 Greg Laskin Michael Feir Tom Almy
5236 Greg Olson Michael Hamel Tom West
5237 Gregg Wonderly Michael Sokolov Warren Cheung
5238 Hao-yang Wang Mike Engber Warwick Allison
5239 Helge Hafting Mike Gallop Yitzhak Sapir
5240 Irina Rempt-Drijfhout Mike Passaretti
5241 Izchak Miller Mike Stephenson
5242 .\"TABLE_END Do not delete this line.
5245 .\"Microsoft and MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
5246 .\"Lattice is a trademark of Lattice, Inc.
5247 .\"Atari and 1040ST are trademarks of Atari, Inc.
5248 .\"Amiga is a trademark of Commodore-Amiga, Inc
5249 .sm "Brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks \
5250 of their respective holders."
OSDN Git Service
