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42 \title{\LARGE A Guide to the Mazes of Menace:\\
43 \Large Guidebook for {\it NetHack\/}}
46 \author{Original version - Eric S. Raymond\\
47 (Edited and expanded for 3.6 by Mike Stephenson and others)}
48 \date{February 3, 2023}
54 \section{Introduction}
58 Recently, you have begun to find yourself unfulfilled and distant
59 in your daily occupation. Strange dreams of prospecting, stealing,
60 crusading, and combat have haunted you in your sleep for many months,
61 but you aren't sure of the reason. You wonder whether you have in
62 fact been having those dreams all your life, and somehow managed to
63 forget about them until now. Some nights you awaken suddenly
64 and cry out, terrified at the vivid recollection of the strange and
65 powerful creatures that seem to be lurking behind every corner of the
66 dungeon in your dream. Could these details haunting your dreams be real?
67 As each night passes, you feel the desire to enter the mysterious caverns
68 near the ruins grow stronger. Each morning, however, you quickly put
69 the idea out of your head as you recall the tales of those who entered
70 the caverns before you and did not return. Eventually you can resist
71 the yearning to seek out the fantastic place in your dreams no longer.
72 After all, when other adventurers came back this way after spending time
73 in the caverns, they usually seemed better off than when they passed
74 through the first time. And who was to say that all of those who did
75 not return had not just kept going?
78 Asking around, you hear about a bauble, called the Amulet of Yendor by some,
79 which, if you can find it, will bring you great wealth. One legend you were
80 told even mentioned that the one who finds the amulet will be granted
81 immortality by the gods. The amulet is rumored to be somewhere beyond the
82 Valley of Gehennom, deep within the Mazes of Menace. Upon hearing the
83 legends, you immediately realize that there is some profound and
84 undiscovered reason that you are to descend into the caverns and seek
85 out that amulet of which they spoke. Even if the rumors of the amulet's
86 powers are untrue, you decide that you should at least be able to sell the
87 tales of your adventures to the local minstrels for a tidy sum, especially
88 if you encounter any of the terrifying and magical creatures of
89 your dreams along the way. You spend one last night fortifying yourself
90 at the local inn, becoming more and more depressed as you watch the odds
91 of your success being posted on the inn's walls getting lower and lower.
94 \nd In the morning you awake, collect your belongings, and
95 set off for the dungeon. After several days of uneventful
96 travel, you see the ancient ruins that mark the entrance to the
97 Mazes of Menace. It is late at night, so you make camp at the entrance
98 and spend the night sleeping under the open skies. In the morning, you
99 gather your gear, eat what may be your last meal outside, and enter the
103 \section{What is going on here?}
106 You have just begun a game of {\it NetHack}. Your goal is to grab as much
107 treasure as you can, retrieve the Amulet of Yendor, and escape the
108 Mazes of Menace alive.
111 Your abilities and strengths for dealing with the hazards of adventure
112 will vary with your background and training:
117 \item[\bb{Archeologists}]%
118 understand dungeons pretty well; this enables them
119 to move quickly and sneak up on the local nasties. They start equipped
120 with the tools for a proper scientific expedition.
123 \item[\bb{Barbarians}]%
124 are warriors out of the hinterland, hardened to battle.
125 They begin their quests with naught but uncommon strength, a trusty hauberk,
126 and a great two-handed sword.
129 \item[\bb{Cavemen {\rm and} Cavewomen}]
130 start with exceptional strength, but unfortunately, neolithic weapons.
134 are wise in medicine and apothecary. They know the
135 herbs and simples that can restore vitality, ease pain, anesthetize,
137 poisons; and with their instruments, they can divine a being's state
138 of health or sickness. Their medical practice earns them quite reasonable
139 amounts of money, with which they enter the dungeon.
143 are distinguished from the common skirmisher by their
144 devotion to the ideals of chivalry and by the surpassing excellence of
149 are ascetics, who by rigorous practice of physical and mental
150 disciplines have become capable of fighting as effectively without weapons
151 as with. They wear no armor but make up for it with increased mobility.
154 \item[\bb{Priests {\rm and} Priestesses}]%
155 are clerics militant, crusaders
156 advancing the cause of righteousness with arms, armor, and arts
157 thaumaturgic. Their ability to commune with deities via prayer
158 occasionally extricates them from peril, but can also put them in it.
162 are most at home in the woods, and some say slightly out
163 of place in a dungeon. They are, however, experts in archery as well
164 as tracking and stealthy movement.
168 are agile and stealthy thieves, with knowledge of locks,
169 traps, and poisons. Their advantage lies in surprise, which they employ
174 are the elite warriors of feudal Nippon. They are lightly
175 armored and quick, and wear the %
176 {\it dai-sho}, two swords of the deadliest
180 \item[\bb{Tourists}]%
181 start out with lots of gold (suitable for shopping with),
182 a credit card, lots of food, some maps, and an expensive camera. Most
183 monsters don't like being photographed.
186 \item[\bb{Valkyries}]%
187 are hardy warrior women. Their upbringing in the harsh
188 Northlands makes them strong, inures them to extremes of cold, and instills
189 in them stealth and cunning.
193 start out with a knowledge of magic, a selection of magical
194 items, and a particular affinity for dweomercraft. Although seemingly weak
195 and easy to overcome at first sight, an experienced Wizard is a deadly foe.
199 You may also choose the race of your character (within limits; most
200 roles have restrictions on which races are eligible for them):
206 are smaller than humans or elves, but are stocky and solid
207 individuals. Dwarves' most notable trait is their great expertise in mining
208 and metalwork. Dwarvish armor is said to be second in quality not even to the
209 mithril armor of the Elves.
213 are agile, quick, and perceptive; very little of what goes
214 on will escape an Elf. The quality of Elven craftsmanship often gives
215 them an advantage in arms and armor.
219 are smaller than but generally similar to dwarves. Gnomes are
220 known to be expert miners, and it is known that a secret underground mine
221 complex built by this race exists within the Mazes of Menace, filled with
222 both riches and danger.
226 are by far the most common race of the surface world, and
227 are thus the norm to which other races are often compared. Although
228 they have no special abilities, they can succeed in any role.
232 are a cruel and barbaric race that hate every living thing
233 (including other orcs). Above all others, Orcs hate Elves with a passion
234 unequalled, and will go out of their way to kill one at any opportunity.
235 The armor and weapons fashioned by the Orcs are typically of inferior quality.
239 \section{What do all those things on the screen mean?}
241 On the screen is kept a map of where you have been and what you have
242 seen on the current dungeon level; as you explore more of the level,
243 it appears on the screen in front of you.
246 When {\it NetHack\/}'s ancestor {\it rogue\/} first appeared, its screen
247 orientation was almost unique among computer fantasy games. Since
248 then, screen orientation has become the norm rather than the
249 exception; {\it NetHack\/} continues this fine tradition. Unlike text
250 adventure games that accept commands in pseudo-English sentences and
251 explain the results in words, {\it NetHack\/} commands are all one or two
252 keystrokes and the results are displayed graphically on the screen. A
253 minimum screen size of 24 lines by 80 columns is recommended; if the
254 screen is larger, only a $21\times80$ section will be used for the map.
257 {\it NetHack\/} can even be played by blind players, with the assistance of
258 Braille readers or speech synthesisers. Instructions for configuring
259 {\it NetHack\/} for the blind are included later in this document.
262 {\it NetHack\/} generates a new dungeon every time you play it; even the
263 authors still find it an entertaining and exciting game despite
264 having won several times.
267 {\it NetHack\/} offers a variety of display options. The options available to
268 you will vary from port to port, depending on the capabilities of your
269 hardware and software, and whether various compile-time options were
270 enabled when your executable was created. The three possible display
271 options are: a monochrome character interface, a color character interface,
272 and a graphical interface using small pictures called tiles. The two
273 character interfaces allow fonts with other characters to be substituted,
274 but the default assignments use standard ASCII characters to represent
275 everything. There is no difference between the various display options
276 with respect to game play. Because we cannot reproduce the tiles or
277 colors in the Guidebook, and because it is common to all ports, we will
278 use the default ASCII characters from the monochrome character display
279 when referring to things you might see on the screen during your game.
281 In order to understand what is going on in {\it NetHack}, first you must
282 understand what {\it NetHack\/} is doing with the screen. The {\it NetHack\/}
283 screen replaces the ``You see \ldots'' descriptions of text adventure games.
284 Figure 1 is a sample of what a {\it NetHack\/} screen might look like.
285 The way the screen looks for you depends on your platform.
301 Player the Rambler St:12 Dx:7 Co:18 In:11 Wi:9 Ch:15 Neutral
302 Dlvl:1 $:0 HP:9(12) Pw:3(3) AC:10 Exp:1/19 T:257 Weak
310 \subsection*{The status lines (bottom)}
313 The bottom two lines of the screen contain several cryptic pieces of
314 information describing your current status. If either status line
315 becomes longer than the width of the screen, you might not see all of
316 it. Here are explanations of what the various status items mean
317 (though your configuration may not have all the status items listed
323 Your character's name and professional ranking (based on the
324 experience level, see below).
327 A measure of your character's strength; one of your six basic
328 attributes. A human character's attributes can range from 3 to 18 inclusive;
329 non-humans may exceed these limits
330 (occasionally you may get super-strengths of the form 18/xx, and magic can
331 also cause attributes to exceed the normal limits). The
332 higher your strength, the stronger you are. Strength affects how
333 successfully you perform physical tasks, how much damage you do in
334 combat, and how much loot you can carry.
336 \item[\bb{Dexterity}]
337 Dexterity affects your chances to hit in combat, to avoid traps, and
338 do other tasks requiring agility or manipulation of objects.
340 \item[\bb{Constitution}]
341 Constitution affects your ability to recover from injuries and other
342 strains on your stamina.
343 When strength is low or modest, constitution also affects how much you
344 can carry. With sufficiently high strength, the contribution to
345 carrying capacity from your constitution no longer matters.
347 \item[\bb{Intelligence}]
348 Intelligence affects your ability to cast spells and read spellbooks.
351 Wisdom comes from your practical experience (especially when dealing with
352 magic). It affects your magical energy.
355 Charisma affects how certain creatures react toward you. In
356 particular, it can affect the prices shopkeepers offer you.
358 \item[\bb{Alignment}]
360 {\it Lawful}, {\it Neutral\/} or {\it Chaotic}. Often, Lawful is
361 taken as good and Chaotic is evil, but legal and ethical do not always
362 coincide. Your alignment influences how other
363 monsters react toward you. Monsters of a like alignment are more likely
364 to be non-aggressive, while those of an opposing alignment are more likely
365 to be seriously offended at your presence.
367 \item[\bb{Dungeon Level}]
368 How deep you are in the dungeon. You start at level one and the number
369 increases as you go deeper into the dungeon. Some levels are special,
370 and are identified by a name and not a number. The Amulet of Yendor is
371 reputed to be somewhere beneath the twentieth level.
374 The number of gold pieces you are openly carrying. Gold which you have
375 concealed in containers is not counted.
377 \item[\bb{Hit Points}]
378 Your current and maximum hit points. Hit points indicate how much
379 damage you can take before you die. The more you get hit in a fight,
380 the lower they get. You can regain hit points by resting, or by using
381 certain magical items or spells. The number in parentheses is the maximum
382 number your hit points can reach.
385 Spell points. This tells you how much mystic energy ({\it mana\/})
386 you have available for spell casting. Again, resting will regenerate the
389 \item[\bb{Armor Class}]
390 A measure of how effectively your armor stops blows from unfriendly
391 creatures. The lower this number is, the more effective the armor; it
392 is quite possible to have negative armor class.
394 \item[\bb{Experience}]
395 Your current experience level and experience points. As you
396 adventure, you gain experience points. At certain experience point
397 totals, you gain an experience level. The more experienced you are,
398 the better you fight and withstand magical attacks. Many dungeons
399 show only your experience level here.
402 The number of turns elapsed so far, displayed if you have the
403 {\it time\/} option set.
407 your current hunger status.
408 Values are {\it Satiated}, {\it Not~Hungry\/} (or {\it Normal\/}),
409 {\it Hungry}, {\it Weak}, and {\it Fainting}.
410 %.\" not mentioned: Fainted
411 Not shown when {\it Normal}.
415 an indication of how what you are carrying affects your ability to move.
416 Values are {\it Unencumbered}, {\it Encumbered}, {\it Stressed},
417 {\it Strained}, {\it Overtaxed}, and {\it Overloaded}.
418 Not shown when {\it Unencumbered}.
422 {\it Stone\/} (aka {\it Petrifying}, turning to stone),
423 {\it Slime\/} (turning into green slime),
424 {\it Strngl\/} (being strangled),
425 {\it FoodPois\/} (suffering from acute food poisoning),
426 {\it TermIll\/} (suffering from a terminal illness).
429 Non-fatal~conditions:
430 {\it Blind\/} (can't see), {\it Deaf\/} (can't hear),
431 {\it Stun\/} (stunned), {\it Conf\/} (confused), {\it Hallu\/} (hallucinating).
435 {\it Lev\/} (levitating), {\it Fly\/} (flying), {\it Ride\/} (riding).
438 Other conditions and modifiers exist, but there isn't enough room to
439 display them with the other status fields. The `{\tt \^{}X}' command shows
440 all relevant status conditions.
444 \subsection*{The message line (top)}
447 The top line of the screen is reserved for messages that describe
448 things that are impossible to represent visually. If you see a
449 ``{\tt --More--}'' on the top line, this means that {\it NetHack\/} has
450 another message to display on the screen, but it wants to make certain
451 that you've read the one that is there first. To read the next message,
452 just press the space bar.
455 To change how and what messages are shown on the message line,
456 see ``{\it Configuring Message Types\/}`` and the {\it verbose\/}
460 \subsection*{The map (rest of the screen)}
463 The rest of the screen is the map of the level as you have explored it
464 so far. Each symbol on the screen represents something. You can set
466 options to change some of the symbols the game uses; otherwise, the
467 game will use default symbols. Here is a list of what the default
472 \item[\tb{- {\rm and} |}]
473 The walls of a room, or an open door. Or a grave ({\tt |}).
476 The floor of a room, ice, or a doorless doorway.
479 A corridor, or iron bars, or a tree, or possibly a kitchen sink (if
480 your dungeon has sinks), or a drawbridge.
483 Stairs down: a way to the next level.
486 Stairs up: a way to the previous level.
489 A closed door, or a spellbook containing a spell you may be able to learn.
492 Your character or a human.
498 A trap (once you have detected it).
504 A suit or piece of armor.
507 Something edible (not necessarily healthy).
522 A useful item (pick-axe, key, lamp \ldots).
525 An amulet or a spider web.
528 A gem or rock (possibly valuable, possibly worthless).
537 An altar, or an iron chain.
543 A pool of water or moat or a pool of lava.
545 \item[\tb{$\backslash$}]
548 \item[\tb{a-zA-Z {\rm \& other symbols}}]
549 Letters and certain other symbols represent the various inhabitants
550 of the Mazes of Menace. Watch out, they can be nasty and vicious.
551 Sometimes, however, they can be helpful.
554 This marks the last known location of an invisible or otherwise unseen
555 monster. Note that the monster could have moved.
556 The `{\tt F}' and `{\tt m}' commands may be useful here.
560 You need not memorize all these symbols; you can ask the game what any
561 symbol represents with the `{\tt /}' command (see the next section for
568 Commands can be initiated by typing one or two characters to which
569 the command is bound to, or typing the command name in the extended
570 commands entry. Some commands,
571 like ``{\tt search}'', do not require that any more information be collected
572 by {\it NetHack\/}. Other commands might require additional information, for
573 example a direction, or an object to be used. For those commands that
574 require additional information, {\it NetHack\/} will present you with either
575 a menu of choices, or with a command line prompt requesting information.
576 Which you are presented with will depend chiefly on how you have set the
581 For example, a common question in the form ``{\tt What do you want to
582 use? [a-zA-Z\ ?*]}'', asks you to choose an object you are carrying.
583 Here, ``{\tt a-zA-Z}'' are the inventory letters of your possible choices.
584 Typing `{\tt ?}' gives you an inventory list of these items, so you can see
585 what each letter refers to. In this example, there is also a `{\tt *}'
586 indicating that you may choose an object not on the list, if you
587 wanted to use something unexpected. Typing a `{\tt *}' lists your entire
588 inventory, so you can see the inventory letters of every object you're
589 carrying. Finally, if you change your mind and decide you don't want
590 to do this command after all, you can press the `ESC' key to abort the
594 You can put a number before some commands to repeat them that many
595 times; for example, ``{\tt 10s}'' will search ten times. If you have the
596 {\it number\verb+_+pad\/}
597 option set, you must type `{\tt n}' to prefix a count, so the example above
598 would be typed ``{\tt n10s}'' instead. Commands for which counts make no
599 sense ignore them. In addition, movement commands can be prefixed for
600 greater control (see below). To cancel a count or a prefix, press the
604 The list of commands is rather long, but it can be read at any time
605 during the game through the `{\tt ?}' command, which accesses a menu of
606 helpful texts. Here are the default key bindings for your reference:
611 Help menu: display one of several help texts available.
614 The {\tt whatis} command, to
615 tell what a symbol represents. You may choose to specify a location
616 or type a symbol (or even a whole word) to explain.
617 Specifying a location is done by moving the cursor to a particular spot
618 on the map and then pressing one of `{\tt .}', `{\tt ,}', `{\tt ;}',
619 or `{\tt :}'. `{\tt .}' will explain the symbol at the chosen location,
620 information, then let you pick another location;
621 conditionally check for ``{\tt More info?}'' depending upon whether the
623 option is on, and then you will be asked to pick another location;
624 `{\tt ,}' will explain the symbol but skip any additional
625 `{\tt ;}' will skip additional info and also not bother asking
626 you to choose another location to examine; `{\tt :}' will show additional
627 info, if any, without asking for confirmation. When picking a location,
628 pressing the {\tt ESC} key will terminate this command, or pressing `{\tt ?}'
629 will give a brief reminder about how it works.
634 option is on, a short description of what you see at each location is
635 shown as you move the cursor. Typing `{\tt \#}' while picking a location will
636 toggle that option on or off.
638 {\it whatis\verb+_+coord\/}
639 option controls whether the short description includes map coordinates.
642 Specifying a name rather than a location
643 always gives any additional information available about that name.
646 You may also request a description of nearby monsters,
647 all monsters currently displayed, nearby objects, or all objects.
649 {\it whatis\verb+_+coord\/}
650 option controls which format of map coordinate is included with their
654 Tell what a command does.
657 Go up to the previous level (if you are on a staircase or ladder).
660 Go down to the next level (if you are on a staircase or ladder).
662 \item[\tb{[yuhjklbn]}]
663 Go one step in the direction indicated (see Figure 2). If you sense
665 a monster there, you will fight the monster instead. Only these
666 one-step movement commands cause you to fight monsters; the others
667 (below) are ``safe.''
671 \verb+ y k u + & \verb+ 7 8 9 +\\
672 \verb+ \ | / + & \verb+ \ | / +\\
673 \verb+ h- . -l + & \verb+ 4- . -6 +\\
674 \verb+ / | \ + & \verb+ / | \ +\\
675 \verb+ b j n + & \verb+ 1 2 3 +\\
676 & (if {\it number\verb+_+pad\/} set)
684 \item[\tb{[YUHJKLBN]}]
685 Go in that direction until you hit a wall or run into something.
687 \item[\tb{m[yuhjklbn]}]
688 Prefix: move without picking up objects or fighting (even if you remember
691 A few non-movement commands use the `{\tt m}' prefix to request operating
692 via menu (to temporarily override the
693 {\it menustyle:Traditional\/}
695 Primarily useful for `{\tt ,}' (pickup) when there is only one class of
696 objects present (where there won't be any ``what kinds of objects?'' prompt,
697 so no opportunity to answer `{\tt m}' at that prompt).\\
699 A few other commands (eat food, offer sacrifice, apply tinning-kit) use
700 the `{\tt m}' prefix to skip checking for applicable objects on the floor
701 and go straight to checking inventory,
702 or (for ``{\tt \#loot}'' to remove a saddle),
703 skip containers and go straight to adjacent monsters. The prefix will
704 make ``{\tt \#travel}'' command show a menu of interesting targets in sight.
705 In debug mode (aka ``wizard mode''), the `{\tt m}' prefix may also be
706 used with the ``{\tt \#teleport}'' and ``{\tt \#wizlevelport}'' commands.
708 \item[\tb{F[yuhjklbn]}]
709 Prefix: fight a monster (even if you only guess one is there).
711 \item[\tb{M[yuhjklbn]}]
712 Prefix: Move far, no pickup.
714 \item[\tb{g[yuhjklbn]}]
715 Prefix: Move until something interesting is found.
717 \item[\tb{G[yuhjklbn] {\rm or} <CONTROL->[yuhjklbn]}]
718 Prefix: Same as `{\tt g}', but forking of corridors is not considered
722 Travel to a map location via a shortest-path algorithm.\\
725 is computed over map locations the hero knows about (e.g. seen or
726 previously traversed). If there is no known path, a guess is made instead.
728 the same conditions as the `G' command, but without picking up
729 objects, similar to the `M' command. For ports with mouse
730 support, the command is also invoked when a mouse-click takes place on a
731 location other than the current position.
734 Wait or rest, do nothing for one turn.
737 Apply (use) a tool (pick-axe, key, lamp \ldots).\\
739 If used on a wand, that wand will be broken, releasing its magic in the
740 process. Confirmation is required.
743 Remove one or more worn items, such as armor.\\
745 Use `{\tt T}' (take off) to take off only one piece of armor
746 or `{\tt R}' (remove) to take off only one accessory.
749 Redo the previous command.
755 Call (name) a monster, an individual object, or an object type.\\
757 Same as extended command ``{\tt \#name}''.
760 Panic button. Quit the game.
764 For example {\tt d7a} --- drop seven items of object
768 Drop several things.\\
770 In answer to the question\\
771 ``{\tt What kinds of things do you want to drop? [!\%= BUCXaium]}''\\
772 you should type zero or more object symbols possibly followed by
773 `{\tt a}' and/or `{\tt i}' and/or `{\tt u}' and/or `{\tt m}'.
774 In addition, one or more of
775 the bless\-ed/\-un\-curs\-ed/\-curs\-ed groups may be typed.\\
778 {\tt DB} --- drop all objects known to be blessed.\\
779 {\tt DU} --- drop all objects known to be uncursed.\\
780 {\tt DC} --- drop all objects known to be cursed.\\
781 {\tt DX} --- drop all objects of unknown B/U/C status.\\
782 {\tt Da} --- drop all objects, without asking for confirmation.\\
783 {\tt Di} --- examine your inventory before dropping anything.\\
784 {\tt Du} --- drop only unpaid objects (when in a shop).\\
785 {\tt Dm} --- use a menu to pick which object(s) to drop.\\
786 {\tt D\%u} --- drop only unpaid food.
791 Kick something (usually a door).
796 Normally checks for edible item(s) on the floor, then if none are found
797 or none are chosen, checks for edible item(s) in inventory.
798 Precede `{\tt e}' with the `{\tt m}' prefix to bypass attempting to eat
799 anything off the floor.\\
801 If you attempt to eat while already satiated, you might choke to death.
802 If you risk it, you will be asked whether
803 to ``continue eating?'' {\it if you survive the first bite\/}.
805 {\it paranoid\verb+_+confirmation:eating\/}
806 option to require a response of ``{\tt yes}'' instead of just `{\tt y}'.
808 % Make sure Elbereth is not hyphenated below, the exact spelling matters.
809 % (Only specified here to parallel Guidebook.mn; use of \tt font implicity
810 % prevents automatic hyphenation in TeX and LaTeX.)
811 \hyphenation{Elbereth} %override the deduced syllable breaks
813 Engrave a message on the floor.\\
816 {\tt E-} --- write in the dust with your fingers.\\
820 Engraving the word ``{\tt Elbereth}'' will cause most monsters to not attack
821 you hand-to-hand (but if you attack, you will rub it out); this is
822 often useful to give yourself a breather.
825 Fire (shoot or throw) one of the objects placed in your quiver (or
826 quiver sack, or that you have at the ready).
827 You may select ammunition with a previous `{\tt Q}' command, or let the
828 computer pick something appropriate if {\it autoquiver\/} is true.\\
830 See also `{\tt t}' (throw) for more general throwing and shooting.
833 List your inventory (everything you're carrying).
836 List selected parts of your inventory, usually be specifying the character
837 for a particular set of objects, like `{\tt [}' for armor or `{\tt !}'
841 {\tt I*} --- list all gems in inventory;\\
842 {\tt Iu} --- list all unpaid items;\\
843 {\tt Ix} --- list all used up items that are on your shopping bill;\\
844 {\tt IB} --- list all items known to be blessed;\\
845 {\tt IU} --- list all items known to be uncursed;\\
846 {\tt IC} --- list all items known to be cursed;\\
847 {\tt IX} --- list all items whose bless/curse status is unknown;\\
848 {\tt I\$} --- count your money.
858 A menu showing the current option values will be
859 displayed. You can change most values simply by selecting the menu
860 entry for the given option (ie, by typing its letter or clicking upon
861 it, depending on your user interface). For the non-boolean choices,
862 a further menu or prompt will appear once you've closed this menu.
863 The available options
864 are listed later in this Guidebook. Options are usually set before the
865 game rather than with the `{\tt O}' command; see the section on options below.
870 Shortcut for the ``{\tt \#overview}'':
871 list interesting dungeon levels visited.\\
873 (Prior to 3.6.0, `{\tt \^{}O}' was a debug mode command which listed
874 the placement of all special levels.
875 Use ``{\tt \#wizwhere}'' to run that command.)
878 Pay your shopping bill.
881 Put on an accessory (ring, amulet, blindfold).\\
883 This command may also be used to wear armor. The prompt for
884 which inventory item to use will only list accessories, but choosing
885 an unlisted item of armor will attempt to wear it.
886 (See the `{\tt W}' command below. It lists armor as the inventory
887 choices but will accept an accessory and attempt to put that on.)
890 Repeat previous message.\\
892 Subsequent {\tt \^{}P}'s repeat earlier messages.
893 For some interfaces, the behavior can be varied via the
894 {\it msg\verb+_+window\/} option.
897 Quaff (drink) something (potion, water, etc).
900 Select an object for your quiver, quiver sack, or just generally at
901 the ready (only one of these is available at a time). You can then throw
902 this (or one of these) using
905 (In versions prior to 3.3 this was the command to quit
906 the game, which has been moved to ``{\tt \#quit}''.)
909 Read a scroll or spellbook.
912 Remove a worn accessory (ring, amulet, or blindfold).\\
914 If you're wearing more than one, you'll be prompted for which one to
915 remove. When you're only wearing one, then by default it will be removed
916 without asking, but you can set the
917 {\it paranoid\verb+_+confirmation\/}
918 option to require a prompt.\\
920 This command may also be used to take off armor. The prompt for which
921 inventory item to remove only lists worn accessories, but an item of
922 worn armor can be chosen.
923 (See the `{\tt T}' command below. It lists armor as the inventory
924 choices but will accept an accessory and attempt to remove it.)
930 Search for secret doors and traps around you.
931 It usually takes several tries to find something.\\
933 Can also be used to figure out whether there is still a monster at
934 an adjacent ``remembered, unseen monster'' marker.
937 Save the game (which suspends play and exits the program).
938 The saved game will be restored automatically the next time you play
939 using the same character name.\\
941 In normal play, once a saved game is restored the file used to hold
942 the saved data is deleted.
943 In explore mode, once restoration is accomplished you are asked whether
944 to keep or delete the file.
945 Keeping the file makes it feasible to play for a while then quit
946 without saving and later restore again.\\
948 There is no ``save current game state and keep playing'' command, not
949 even in explore mode where saved game files can be kept and re-used.
952 Throw an object or shoot a projectile.\\
954 There's no separate ``shoot'' command.
955 If you ``throw'' an arrow while wielding a bow, you are shooting
956 that arrow and any weapon skill bonus or penalty for bow applies.
957 If you ``throw'' an arrow while not wielding a bow, you are throwing
958 it by hand and it will generally be less effective than when shot.\\
960 See also `{\tt f}' (fire) for throwing or shooting an item pre-selected
961 via the `{\tt Q}' (quiver) command.
966 If you're wearing more than one piece, you'll be prompted for which
967 one to take off. (Note that this treats a cloak covering a suit
968 and/or a shirt, or a suit covering a shirt, as if the underlying items
970 When you're only wearing one, then by default it will
971 be taken off without asking, but you can set the
972 {\it paranoid\verb+_+confirmation\/}
973 option to require a prompt.\\
975 This command may also be used to remove accessories. The prompt
976 for which inventory item to take off only lists worn armor, but a worn
977 accessory can be chosen.
978 (See the `{\tt R}' command above. It lists accessories as the inventory
979 choices but will accept an item of armor and attempt to take it off.)
982 Teleport, if you have the ability.
985 Display version number.
988 Display the game history.
994 {\tt w-} --- wield nothing, use your bare (or gloved) hands.\\
997 Some characters can wield two weapons at once; use the `{\tt X}' command
998 (or the ``{\tt \#twoweapon}'' extended command) to do so.
1003 This command may also be used to put on an accessory (ring, amulet, or
1004 blindfold). The prompt for which inventory item to use will only list
1005 armor, but choosing an unlisted accessory will attempt to put it on.
1006 (See the `{\tt P}' command above. It lists accessories as the inventory
1007 choices but will accept an item of armor and attempt to wear it.)
1010 Exchange your wielded weapon with the item in your alternate weapon slot.\\
1012 The latter is used as your secondary weapon when engaging in
1013 two-weapon combat. Note that if one of these slots is empty,
1014 the exchange still takes place.
1017 Toggle two-weapon combat, if your character can do it. Also available
1018 via the ``{\tt \#twoweapon}'' extended command.\\
1020 (In versions prior to 3.6 this was the command to switch from normal
1021 play to ``explore mode'', also known as ``discovery mode'', which has now
1022 been moved to ``{\tt \#exploremode}''.)
1025 Display basic information about your character.\\
1027 Displays name, role, race, gender (unless role name makes that
1028 redundant, such as {\tt Caveman} or {\tt Priestess}), and alignment,
1029 along with your patron deity and his or her opposition. It also
1030 shows most of the various items of information from the status line(s)
1031 in a less terse form, including several additional things which don't
1032 appear in the normal status display due to space considerations.\\
1034 In normal play, that's all that `{\tt \^{}X}' displays.
1035 In explore mode, the role and status feedback is augmented by the
1036 information provided by {\it enlightenment\/} magic.
1042 {\tt z.} --- to aim at yourself, use `{\tt .}' for the direction.
1047 Zap (cast) a spell.\\
1050 {\tt Z.} --- to aim at yourself, use `{\tt .}' for the direction.
1055 Suspend the game (UNIX versions with job control only).
1058 Look at what is here.
1061 Show what type of thing a visible symbol corresponds to.
1064 Pick up some things.\\
1066 May be preceded by `{\tt m}' to force a selection menu.
1069 Toggle the {\it autopickup\/} option on and off.
1072 Ask for the type of an adjacent trap you found earlier.
1075 Tell what weapon you are wielding.
1078 Tell what armor you are wearing.
1081 Tell what rings you are wearing.
1084 Tell what amulet you are wearing.
1087 Tell what tools you are using.
1090 Tell what equipment you are using.\\
1092 Combines the preceding five type-specific
1096 Count your gold pieces.
1099 List the spells you know.\\
1101 Using this command, you can also rearrange
1102 the order in which your spells are listed, either by sorting the entire
1103 list or by picking one spell from the menu then picking another to swap
1104 places with it. Swapping pairs of spells changes their casting letters,
1105 so the change lasts after the current `{\tt +}' command finishes. Sorting
1106 the whole list is temporary. To make the most recent sort order persist
1107 beyond the current `{\tt +}' command, choose the sort option again and then
1108 pick ``reassign casting letters''. (Any spells learned after that will
1109 be added to the end of the list rather than be inserted into the sorted
1112 \item[\tb{$\backslash$}]
1113 Show what types of objects have been discovered.
1116 Show discovered types for one class of objects.
1122 Perform an extended command.\\
1124 As you can see, the authors of {\it NetHack\/}
1125 used up all the letters, so this is a way to introduce the less frequently
1127 What extended commands are available depends on what features
1128 the game was compiled with.
1130 \item[\tb{\#adjust}]
1131 Adjust inventory letters (most useful when the
1133 option is ``on''). Autocompletes. Default key is `{\tt M-a}'.\\
1135 This command allows you to move an item from one particular inventory
1136 slot to another so that it has a letter which is more meaningful for you
1137 or that it will appear in a particular location when inventory listings
1139 You can move to a currently empty slot, or if the destination is
1140 occupied---and won't merge---the item there will swap slots with the one
1142 ``{\tt \#adjust}'' can also be used to split a stack of objects; when
1143 choosing the item to adjust, enter a count prior to its letter.\\
1145 Adjusting without a count used to collect all compatible stacks when
1146 moving to the destination. That behavior has been changed; to gather
1147 compatible stacks, ``{\tt \#adjust}'' a stack into its own inventory slot.
1148 If it has a name assigned, other stacks with the same name or with
1149 no name will merge provided that all their other attributes match.
1150 If it does not have a name, only other stacks with no name are eligible.
1151 In either case, otherwise compatible stacks with a different name
1152 will not be merged. This contrasts with using ``{\tt \#adjust}'' to move
1153 from one slot to a different slot. In that situation, moving (no
1154 count given) a compatible stack will merge if either stack has a
1155 name when the other doesn't and give that name to the result, while
1156 splitting (count given) will ignore the source stack's name when
1157 deciding whether to merge with the destination stack.
1159 \item[\tb{\#annotate}]
1160 Allows you to specify one line of text to associate with the current
1161 dungeon level. All levels with annotations are displayed by the
1162 ``{\tt \#overview}'' command. Autocompletes.
1163 Default key is `{\tt M-A}',
1164 and also `{\tt \^{}N}' if {\it number\verb+_+pad\/} is on.
1167 Apply (use) a tool such as a pick-axe, a key, or a lamp.
1168 Default key is `{\tt a}'.\\
1170 If the tool used acts on items on the floor, using the `{\tt m}' prefix
1171 skips those items.\\
1173 If used on a wand, that wand will be broken, releasing its magic in the
1174 process. Confirmation is required.
1176 \item[\tb{\#attributes}]
1177 Show your attributes. Default key is `{\tt \^{}X}'.
1179 \item[\tb{\#autopickup}]
1180 Toggle the {\it autopickup\/} option. Default key is `{\tt @}'.
1183 Call (name) a monster, or an object in inventory, on the floor,
1184 or in the discoveries list, or add an annotation for the
1185 current level (same as ``{\tt \#annotate}''). Default key is `{\tt C}'.
1188 Cast a spell. Default key is `{\tt Z}'.
1191 Talk to someone. Default key is `{\tt M-c}'.
1194 Close a door. Default key is `{\tt c}'.
1196 \item[\tb{\#conduct}]
1197 List voluntary challenges you have maintained. Autocompletes.
1198 Default key is `{\tt M-C}'.\\
1200 See the section below entitled ``Conduct'' for details.
1203 Dip an object into something. Autocompletes. Default key is `{\tt M-d}'.
1206 Go down a staircase. Default key is `{\tt >}'.
1209 Drop an item. Default key is `{\tt d}'.
1211 \item[\tb{\#droptype}]
1212 Drop specific item types. Default key is `{\tt D}'.
1215 Eat something. Default key is `{\tt e}'.
1216 The `{\tt m}' prefix skips eating items on the floor.
1218 \item[\tb{\#engrave}]
1219 Engrave writing on the floor. Default key is `{\tt E}'.
1221 \item[\tb{\#enhance}]
1222 Advance or check weapon and spell skills. Autocompletes.
1223 Default key is `{\tt M-e}'.
1225 \item[\tb{\#exploremode}]
1226 Enter the explore mode.\\
1228 Requires confirmation; default response is `{\tt n}' (no).
1229 To really switch to explore mode, respond with `{\tt y}'.
1231 {\it paranoid\verb+_+confirmation:quit\/}
1232 option to require a response of ``{\tt yes}'' instead.
1235 Fire ammunition from quiver. Default key is `{\tt f}'.
1238 Force a lock. Autocompletes. Default key is `{\tt M-f}'.
1240 \item[\tb{\#glance}]
1241 Show what type of thing a map symbol corresponds to. Default key is `{\tt ;}'.
1245 Default key is `{\tt ?}',
1246 and also `{\tt h}' if {\it number\verb+_+pad\/} is on.
1248 \item[\tb{\#herecmdmenu}]
1249 Show a menu of possible actions in your current location.
1251 \item[\tb{\#history}]
1252 Show long version and game history. Default key is `{\tt V}'.
1254 \item[\tb{\#inventory}]
1255 Show your inventory. Default key is `{\tt i}'.
1257 \item[\tb{\#inventtype}]
1258 Inventory specific item types. Default key is `{\tt I}'.
1260 \item[\tb{\#invoke}]
1261 Invoke an object's special powers. Autocompletes. Default key is `{\tt M-i}'.
1264 Jump to another location. Autocompletes.
1265 Default key is `{\tt M-j}',
1266 and also `{\tt j}' if {\it number\verb+_+pad\/} is on.
1270 Default key is `{\tt \^{}D}',
1271 and also `{\tt k}' if {\it number\verb+_+pad\/} is on.
1274 Show what object types have been discovered.
1275 Default key is `{\tt $\backslash$}'.
1277 \item[\tb{\#knownclass}]
1278 Show discovered types for one class of objects.
1279 Default key is `{\tt `}'.
1281 \item[\tb{\#levelchange}]
1282 Change your experience level.
1286 \item[\tb{\#lightsources}]
1287 Show mobile light sources.
1292 Look at what is here, under you. Default key is `{\tt :}'.
1295 Loot a box or bag on the floor beneath you, or the saddle
1296 from a steed standing next to you. Autocompletes.
1297 Default key is `{\tt M-l}',
1298 and also `{\tt l}' if {\it number\verb+_+pad\/} is on.
1299 Precede with the `{\tt m}' prefix to skip containers at your location
1300 and go directly to removing a saddle.
1302 \item[\tb{\#monster}]
1303 Use a monster's special ability (when polymorphed into monster form).
1304 Autocompletes. Default key is `{\tt M-m}'.
1307 Name a monster, an individual object, or a type of object.
1308 Same as ``{\tt \#call}''.
1310 Default keys are `{\tt N}', `{\tt M-n}', and `{\tt M-N}'.
1313 Offer a sacrifice to the gods. Autocompletes. Default key is `{\tt M-o}'.\\
1315 You'll need to find an altar to have any chance at success.
1316 Corpses of recently killed monsters are the fodder of choice.
1318 The `{\tt m}' prefix skips offering any items which are on the altar.\\
1321 Open a door. Default key is `{\tt o}'.
1323 \item[\tb{\#options}]
1324 Show and change option settings. Default key is `{\tt O}'.
1326 \item[\tb{\#overview}]
1327 Display information you've discovered about the dungeon. Any visited
1328 level (unless forgotten due to amnesia) with an annotation is included,
1329 and many things (altars, thrones, fountains, and so on; extra stairs
1330 leading to another dungeon branch) trigger an automatic annotation.
1331 If dungeon overview is chosen during end-of-game disclosure, every visited
1332 level will be included regardless of annotations. Autocompletes.
1333 Default keys are `{\tt \^{}O}', and `{\tt M-O}'.
1337 Test the panic routine.
1338 Terminates the current game.
1342 Asks for confirmation; default is `{\tt n}' (no); continue playing.
1343 To really panic, respond with `{\tt y}'.
1345 {\it paranoid\verb+_+confirmation:quit\/}
1346 option to require a response of ``{\tt yes}'' instead.
1349 Pay your shopping bill. Default key is `{\tt p}'.
1351 \item[\tb{\#pickup}]
1352 Pick up things at the current location. Default key is `{\tt ,}'.
1353 The `{\tt m}' prefix forces use of a menu.
1355 \item[\tb{\#polyself}]
1361 Pray to the gods for help. Autocompletes. Default key is `{\tt M-p}'.\\
1363 Praying too soon after receiving prior help is a bad idea.
1364 (Hint: entering the dungeon alive is treated as having received help.
1365 You probably shouldn't start off a new game by praying right away.)
1366 Since using this command by accident can cause trouble, there is an
1367 option to make you confirm your intent before praying. It is enabled
1368 by default, and you can reset the
1369 {\it paranoid\verb+_+confirmation\/}
1370 option to disable it.
1372 \item[\tb{\#prevmsg}]
1373 Show previously displayed game messages. Default key is `{\tt \^{}P}'.
1376 Put on an accessory (ring, amulet, etc). Default key is `{\tt P}'.
1379 Quaff (drink) something. Default key is `{\tt q}'.
1382 Quit the program without saving your game. Autocompletes.
1383 Default key is `{\tt M-q}'.\\
1385 Since using this command by accident would throw away the current game,
1386 you are asked to confirm your intent before quitting.
1387 Default response is `{\tt n}' (no); continue playing.
1388 To really quit, respond with `{\tt y}'.
1390 {\it paranoid\verb+_+confirmation:quit\/}
1391 option to require a response of ``{\tt yes}'' instead.
1393 \item[\tb{\#quiver}]
1394 Select ammunition for quiver. Default key is `{\tt Q}'.
1397 Read a scroll, a spellbook, or something else. Default key is `{\tt r}'.
1399 \item[\tb{\#redraw}]
1401 Default key is `{\tt \^{}R}',
1402 and also `{\tt \^{}L}' if {\it number\verb+_+pad\/} is on.
1404 \item[\tb{\#remove}]
1405 Remove an accessory (ring, amulet, etc). Default key is `{\tt R}'.
1408 Ride (or stop riding) a saddled creature. Autocompletes.
1409 Default key is `{\tt M-R}'.
1412 Rub a lamp or a stone. Autocompletes. Default key is `{\tt M-r}'.
1415 Save the game and exit the program.
1416 Default key is `{\tt S}'.
1418 \item[\tb{\#search}]
1419 Search for traps and secret doors around you. Default key is `{\tt s}'.
1421 \item[\tb{\#seeall}]
1422 Show all equipment in use. Default key is `{\tt *}'.
1424 \item[\tb{\#seeamulet}]
1425 Show the amulet currently worn. Default key is `{\tt "}'.
1427 \item[\tb{\#seearmor}]
1428 Show the armor currently worn. Default key is `{\tt [}'.
1430 \item[\tb{\#seegold}]
1431 Count your gold. Default key is `{\tt \$}'.
1438 \item[\tb{\#seerings}]
1439 Show the ring(s) currently worn. Default key is `{\tt =}'.
1441 \item[\tb{\#seespells}]
1442 List and reorder known spells. Default key is `{\tt +}'.
1444 \item[\tb{\#seetools}]
1445 Show the tools currently in use. Default key is `{\tt (}'.
1447 \item[\tb{\#seetrap}]
1448 Show the type of an adjacent trap. Default key is `{\tt \^{}}'.
1450 \item[\tb{\#seeweapon}]
1451 Show the weapon currently wielded. Default key is `{\tt )}'.
1454 Do a shell escape. Default key is `{\tt !}'.
1457 Sit down. Autocompletes. Default key is `{\tt M-s}'.
1460 Show memory usage statistics.
1464 \item[\tb{\#suspend}]
1465 Suspend the game. Default key is `{\tt \^{}Z}'.
1468 Swap wielded and secondary weapons. Default key is `{\tt x}'.
1470 \item[\tb{\#takeoff}]
1471 Take off one piece of armor. Default key is `{\tt T}'.
1473 \item[\tb{\#takeoffall}]
1474 Remove all armor. Default key is `{\tt A}'.
1476 \item[\tb{\#teleport}]
1477 Teleport around the level. Default key is `{\tt \^{}T}'.
1479 \item[\tb{\#terrain}]
1480 Show bare map without displaying monsters, objects, or traps.
1483 \item[\tb{\#therecmdmenu}]
1484 Show a menu of possible actions in a location next to you.
1487 Throw something. Default key is `{\tt t}'.
1489 \item[\tb{\#timeout}]
1490 Look at the timeout queue.
1495 Tip over a container (bag or box) to pour out its contents.
1496 Autocompletes. Default key is `{\tt M-T}'.
1497 The `{\tt m}' prefix makes the command use a menu.
1499 \item[\tb{\#travel}]
1500 Travel to a specific location on the map.
1501 Default key is `{\tt \verb+_+}'.
1502 Using the ``request menu'' prefix shows a menu of interesting targets in sight
1503 without asking to move the cursor.
1504 When picking a target with cursor and the {\it autodescribe\/}
1505 option is on, the top line will show ``(no travel path)'' if
1506 your character does not know of a path to that location.
1509 Turn undead away. Autocompletes. Default key is `{\tt M-t}'.
1511 \item[\tb{\#twoweapon}]
1512 Toggle two-weapon combat on or off. Autocompletes.
1513 Default key is `{\tt X}',
1514 and also `{\tt M-2}' if {\it number\verb+_+pad\/} is off.\\
1517 use suitable weapons for this type of combat, or it will
1518 be automatically turned off.
1520 \item[\tb{\#untrap}]
1521 Untrap something (trap, door, or chest).
1522 Default key is `{\tt M-u}', and `{\tt u}' if {\it number\verb+_+pad\/} is on.\\
1524 In some circumstances it can also be used to rescue trapped monsters.
1527 Go up a staircase. Default key is `{\tt <}'.
1529 \item[\tb{\#vanquished}]
1530 List vanquished monsters.
1534 \item[\tb{\#version}]
1535 Print compile time options for this version of {\it NetHack\/}.
1536 Autocompletes. Default key is `{\tt M-v}'.
1538 \item[\tb{\#versionshort}]
1539 Show version string. Default key is `{\tt v}'.
1541 \item[\tb{\#vision}]
1547 Rest one move while doing nothing.
1548 Default key is `{\tt .}', and also `{\tt{ }}' if
1549 {\it rest\verb+_+on\verb+_+space\/} is on.
1552 Wear a piece of armor. Default key is `{\tt W}'.
1554 \item[\tb{\#whatdoes}]
1555 Tell what a key does. Default key is `{\tt \&}'.
1557 \item[\tb{\#whatis}]
1558 Show what type of thing a symbol corresponds to. Default key is `{\tt /}'.
1561 Wield a weapon. Default key is `{\tt w}'.
1564 Wipe off your face. Autocompletes. Default key is `{\tt M-w}'.
1566 \item[\tb{\#wizbury}]
1567 Bury objects under and around you.
1571 \item[\tb{\#wizdetect}]
1572 Search for hidden things (secret doors or traps or unseen monsters)
1573 within a modest radius.
1576 Default key is `{\tt \^{}E}'.
1578 \item[\tb{\#wizgenesis}]
1580 May be prefixed by a count to create more than one.
1583 Default key is `{\tt \^{}G}'.
1585 \item[\tb{\#wizidentify}]
1586 Identify all items in inventory.
1589 Default key is `{\tt \^{}I}'.
1591 \item[\tb{\#wizintrinsic}]
1592 Set one or more intrinsic attributes.
1596 \item[\tb{\#wizlevelport}]
1597 Teleport to another level.
1600 Default key is `{\tt \^{}V}'.
1602 \item[\tb{\#wizmap}]
1606 Default key is `{\tt \^{}F}'.
1608 \item[\tb{\#wizrumorcheck}]
1609 Verify rumor boundaries.
1613 \item[\tb{\#wizsmell}]
1618 \item[\tb{\#wizwhere}]
1619 Show locations of special levels.
1623 \item[\tb{\#wizwish}]
1627 Default key is `{\tt \^{}W}'.
1635 Zap a wand. Default key is `{\tt z}'.
1638 Help menu: get the list of available extended commands.
1642 \nd If your keyboard has a meta key (which, when pressed in combination
1643 with another key, modifies it by setting the `meta' [8th, or `high']
1644 bit), you can invoke many extended commands by meta-ing the first
1645 letter of the command.
1646 In {\it NT, OS/2, PC\/ {\rm and} ST NetHack},
1647 the `Alt' key can be used in this fashion;
1648 on the {\it Amiga}, set the {\it altmeta\/} option to get this behavior.
1649 On other systems, if typing `Alt' plus another key transmits a
1650 two character sequence consisting of an {\tt Escape}
1651 followed by the other key, you may set the {\it altmeta\/}
1652 option to have {\it NetHack\/} combine them into meta\+key.
1656 {\tt\#?} (not supported by all platforms)
1659 {\tt\#twoweapon} (unless the {\it number\verb+_+pad\/} option is enabled)
1735 \nd If the {\it number\verb+_+pad\/} option is on, some additional letter commands
1759 \section{Rooms and corridors}
1762 Rooms and corridors in the dungeon are either lit or dark.
1763 Any lit areas within your line of sight will be displayed;
1764 dark areas are only displayed if they are within one space of you.
1765 Walls and corridors remain on the map as you explore them.
1768 Secret corridors are hidden. You can find them with the `{\tt s}' (search)
1772 \subsection*{Doorways}
1775 Doorways connect rooms and corridors. Some doorways have no doors;
1776 you can walk right through. Others have doors in them, which may be
1777 open, closed, or locked. To open a closed door, use the `{\tt o}' (open)
1778 command; to close it again, use the `{\tt c}' (close) command.
1781 You can get through a locked door by using a tool to pick the lock
1782 with the `{\tt a}' (apply) command, or by kicking it open with the
1783 `{\tt \^{}D}' (kick) command.
1786 Open doors cannot be entered diagonally; you must approach them
1787 straight on, horizontally or vertically. Doorways without doors are
1788 not restricted in this fashion.
1791 Doors can be useful for shutting out monsters. Most monsters cannot
1792 open doors, although a few don't need to (for example, ghosts can walk through
1796 Secret doors are hidden. You can find them with the `{\tt s}' (search)
1797 command. Once found they are in all ways equivalent to normal doors.
1800 \subsection*{Traps (`{\tt \^{}}')}
1803 There are traps throughout the dungeon to snare the unwary delver.
1804 For example, you may suddenly fall into a pit and be stuck for a few
1805 turns trying to climb out. Traps don't appear on your map until you
1806 see one triggered by moving onto it, see something fall into it, or you
1807 discover it with the `{\tt s}' (search) command. Monsters can fall prey to
1808 traps, too, which can be a very useful defensive strategy.
1811 There is a special pre-mapped branch of the dungeon based on the
1812 classic computer game ``{\tt Sokoban}.'' The goal is to push the boulders
1813 into the pits or holes. With careful foresight, it is possible to
1814 complete all of the levels according to the traditional rules of
1815 Sokoban. Some allowances are permitted in case the player gets stuck;
1816 however, they will lower your luck.
1819 \subsection*{Stairs and ladders (`{\tt <}', `{\tt >}')}
1822 In general, each level in the dungeon will have a staircase going up
1823 (`{\tt <}') to the previous level and another going down (`{\tt >}')
1825 level. There are some exceptions though. For instance, fairly early
1826 in the dungeon you will find a level with two down staircases, one
1827 continuing into the dungeon and the other branching into an area
1828 known as the Gnomish Mines. Those mines eventually hit a dead end,
1829 so after exploring them (if you choose to do so), you'll need to
1830 climb back up to the main dungeon.
1833 When you traverse a set of stairs, or trigger a trap which sends you
1834 to another level, the level you're leaving will be deactivated and
1835 stored in a file on disk. If you're moving to a previously visited
1836 level, it will be loaded from its file on disk and reactivated. If
1837 you're moving to a level which has not yet been visited, it will be
1838 created (from scratch for most random levels, from a template for
1839 some ``special'' levels, or loaded from the remains of an earlier game
1840 for a ``bones'' level as briefly described below). Monsters are only
1841 active on the current level; those on other levels are essentially
1845 Ordinarily when you climb a set of stairs, you will arrive on the
1846 corresponding staircase at your destination. However, pets (see below)
1847 and some other monsters will follow along if they're close enough when
1848 you travel up or down stairs, and occasionally one of these creatures
1849 will displace you during the climb. When that occurs, the pet or other
1850 monster will arrive on the staircase and you will end up nearby.
1853 Ladders serve the same purpose as staircases, and the two types of
1854 inter-level connections are nearly indistinguishable during game play.
1857 \subsection*{Shops and shopping}
1860 Occasionally you will run across a room with a shopkeeper near the door
1861 and many items lying on the floor. You can buy items by picking them
1862 up and then using the `{\tt p}' command. You can inquire about the price
1863 of an item prior to picking it up by using the ``{\tt \#chat}'' command
1864 while standing on it. Using an item prior to paying for it will incur a
1865 charge, and the shopkeeper won't allow you to leave the shop until you
1866 have paid any debt you owe.
1869 You can sell items to a shopkeeper by dropping them to the floor while
1870 inside a shop. You will either be offered an amount of gold and asked
1871 whether you're willing to sell, or you'll be told that the shopkeeper
1872 isn't interested (generally, your item needs to be compatible with the
1873 type of merchandise carried by the shop).
1876 If you drop something in a shop by accident, the shopkeeper will usually
1877 claim ownership without offering any compensation. You'll have to buy
1878 it back if you want to reclaim it.
1881 Shopkeepers sometimes run out of money. When that happens, you'll be
1882 offered credit instead of gold when you try to sell something. Credit
1883 can be used to pay for purchases, but it is only good in the shop where
1884 it was obtained; other shopkeepers won't honor it. (If you happen to
1885 find a ``credit card'' in the dungeon, don't bother trying to use it in
1886 shops; shopkeepers will not accept it.)
1889 The {\tt \$} command, which reports the amount of gold you are carrying
1890 (in inventory, not inside bags or boxes), will also show current shop
1891 debt or credit, if any. The {\tt Iu} command lists unpaid items
1892 (those which still belong to the shop) if you are carrying any.
1893 The {\tt Ix} command shows an inventory-like display of any unpaid
1894 items which have been used up, along with other shop fees, if any.
1897 \subsubsection*{Shop idiosyncrasies}
1900 Several aspects of shop behavior might be unexpected.
1903 % note: a bullet is the default item label so we could omit [$\bullet$] here
1906 The price of a given item can vary due to a variety of factors.
1909 A shopkeeper treats the spot immediately inside the door as if it were
1913 While the shopkeeper watches you like a hawk, he will generally ignore
1914 any other customers.
1917 If a shop is ``closed for inventory,'' it will not open of its own accord.
1920 Shops do not get restocked with new items, regardless of inventory depletion.
1927 Monsters you cannot see are not displayed on the screen. Beware!
1928 You may suddenly come upon one in a dark place. Some magic items can
1929 help you locate them before they locate you (which some monsters can do
1933 The commands `{\tt /}' and `{\tt ;}' may be used to obtain information
1935 monsters who are displayed on the screen. The command ``{\tt \#name}''
1936 (by default bound to `{\tt C}'), allows you
1937 to assign a name to a monster, which may be useful to help distinguish
1938 one from another when multiple monsters are present. Assigning a name
1939 which is just a space will remove any prior name.
1942 The extended command ``{\tt \#chat}'' can be used to interact with an adjacent
1943 monster. There is no actual dialog (in other words, you don't get to
1944 choose what you'll say), but chatting with some monsters such as a
1945 shopkeeper or the Oracle of Delphi can produce useful results.
1948 \subsection*{Fighting}
1951 If you see a monster and you wish to fight it, just attempt to walk
1952 into it. Many monsters you find will mind their own business unless
1953 you attack them. Some of them are very dangerous when angered.
1954 Remember: discretion is the better part of valor.
1957 In most circumstances, if you attempt to attack a peaceful monster by
1958 moving into its location, you'll be asked to confirm your intent. By
1959 default an answer of `{\tt y}' acknowledges that intent,
1960 which can be error prone if you're using `{\tt y}' to move. You can set the
1961 {\it paranoid\verb+_+confirmation\/}
1962 option to require a response of ``{\tt yes}'' instead.
1965 If you can't see a monster (if it is invisible, or if you are blinded),
1966 the symbol `I' will be shown when you learn of its presence.
1967 If you attempt to walk into it, you will try to fight it just like
1968 a monster that you can see; of course,
1969 if the monster has moved, you will attack empty air. If you guess
1970 that the monster has moved and you don't wish to fight, you can use the `m'
1971 command to move without fighting; likewise, if you don't remember a monster
1972 but want to try fighting anyway, you can use the `F' command.
1975 \subsection*{Your pet}
1978 You start the game with a little dog (`{\tt d}'), kitten (`{\tt f}'),
1979 or pony (`{\tt u}'), which follows
1980 you about the dungeon and fights monsters with you.
1981 Like you, your pet needs food to survive.
1982 Dogs and cats usually feed themselves on fresh carrion and other meats;
1983 horses need vegetarian food which is harder to come by.
1984 If you're worried about your pet or want to train it, you
1985 can feed it, too, by throwing it food.
1986 A properly trained pet can be very useful under certain circumstances.
1989 Your pet also gains experience from killing monsters, and can grow
1990 over time, gaining hit points and doing more damage. Initially, your
1991 pet may even be better at killing things than you, which makes pets
1992 useful for low-level characters.
1995 Your pet will follow you up and down staircases if it is next to you
1996 when you move. Otherwise your pet will be stranded and may become
1997 wild. Similarly, when you trigger certain types of traps which alter
1998 your location (for instance, a trap door which drops you to a lower
1999 dungeon level), any adjacent pet will accompany you and any non-adjacent
2000 pet will be left behind. Your pet may trigger such traps itself; you
2001 will not be carried along with it even if adjacent at the time.
2004 \subsection*{Steeds}
2007 Some types of creatures in the dungeon can actually be ridden if you
2008 have the right equipment and skill. Convincing a wild beast to let
2009 you saddle it up is difficult to say the least. Many a dungeoneer
2010 has had to resort to magic and wizardry in order to forge the alliance.
2011 Once you do have the beast under your control however, you can
2012 easily climb in and out of the saddle with the ``{\tt \#ride}'' command. Lead
2013 the beast around the dungeon when riding, in the same manner as
2014 you would move yourself. It is the beast that you will see displayed
2018 Riding skill is managed by the ``{\tt \#enhance}'' command. See the section
2019 on Weapon proficiency for more information about that.
2022 Use the `{\tt a}' (apply) command and pick a saddle in your inventory to
2023 attempt to put that saddle on an adjacent creature. If successful,
2024 it will be transferred to that creature's inventory.
2027 Use the ``{\tt \#loot}'' command while adjacent to a saddled creature to
2028 try to remove the saddle from that creature. If successful, it will
2029 be transferred to your inventory.
2032 \subsection*{Bones levels}
2035 You may encounter the shades and corpses of other adventurers (or even
2036 former incarnations of yourself!) and their personal effects. Ghosts
2037 are hard to kill, but easy to avoid, since they're slow and do little
2038 damage. You can plunder the deceased adventurer's possessions;
2039 however, they are likely to be cursed. Beware of whatever killed the
2040 former player; it is probably still lurking around, gloating over its
2044 \subsection*{Persistence of Monsters}
2047 Monsters (a generic reference which also includes humans and pets) are only
2048 shown while they can be seen or otherwise sensed.
2049 Moving to a location where you can't see or sense a monster any more
2050 will result in it disappearing from your map, similarly if it is the
2051 one who moved rather than you.
2054 However, if you encounter a monster which you can't see or
2055 sense---perhaps it is invisible and has just tapped you on the
2056 noggin---a special ``remembered, unseen monster'' marker will be displayed at
2057 the location where you think it is.
2058 That will persist until you have
2059 proven that there is no monster there, even if the unseen monster
2060 moves to another location or you move to a spot where the marker's
2061 location ordinarily wouldn't be seen any more.
2067 When you find something in the dungeon, it is common to want to pick
2068 it up. In {\it NetHack}, this is accomplished automatically by walking over
2069 the object (unless you turn off the {\it autopickup\/}
2070 option (see below), or move with the `{\tt m}' prefix (see above)), or
2071 manually by using the `{\tt ,}' command.
2073 If you're carrying too many items, {\it NetHack\/} will tell you so and you
2074 won't be able to pick up anything more. Otherwise, it will add the object(s)
2075 to your pack and tell you what you just picked up.
2077 As you add items to your inventory, you also add the weight of that object
2078 to your load. The amount that you can carry depends on your strength and
2079 your constitution. The
2080 stronger and sturdier
2081 you are, the less the additional load will affect you. There comes
2082 a point, though, when the weight of all of that stuff you are carrying around
2083 with you through the dungeon will encumber you. Your reactions
2084 will get slower and you'll burn calories faster, requiring food more frequently
2085 to cope with it. Eventually, you'll be so overloaded that you'll either have
2086 to discard some of what you're carrying or collapse under its weight.
2088 {\it NetHack\/} will tell you how badly you have loaded yourself.
2089 If you are encumbered, one of the conditions
2090 ``{\it Burdened\/}'', ``{\it Stressed\/}'', ``{\it Strained\/}'',
2091 ``{\it Overtaxed\/}'' or ``{\it Overloaded\/}'' will be
2092 shown on the bottom line status display.
2095 When you pick up an object, it is assigned an inventory letter. Many
2096 commands that operate on objects must ask you to find out which object
2097 you want to use. When {\it NetHack\/} asks you to choose a particular object
2098 you are carrying, you are usually presented with a list of inventory
2099 letters to choose from (see Commands, above).
2102 Some objects, such as weapons, are easily differentiated. Others, like
2103 scrolls and potions, are given descriptions which vary according to
2104 type. During a game, any two objects with the same description are
2105 the same type. However, the descriptions will vary from game to game.
2108 When you use one of these objects, if its effect is obvious, {\it NetHack\/}
2109 will remember what it is for you. If its effect isn't extremely
2110 obvious, you will be asked what you want to call this type of object
2111 so you will recognize it later. You can also use the ``{\tt \#name}''
2112 command, for the same purpose at any time, to name
2113 all objects of a particular type or just an individual object.
2114 When you use ``{\tt \#name}'' on an object which has already been named,
2115 specifying a space as the value will remove the prior name instead
2116 of assigning a new one.
2119 \subsection*{Curses and Blessings}
2122 Any object that you find may be cursed, even if the object is
2123 otherwise helpful. The most common effect of a curse is being stuck
2124 with (and to) the item. Cursed weapons weld themselves to your hand
2125 when wielded, so you cannot unwield them. Any cursed item you wear
2126 is not removable by ordinary means. In addition, cursed arms and armor
2127 usually, but not always, bear negative enchantments that make them
2128 less effective in combat. Other cursed objects may act poorly or
2129 detrimentally in other ways.
2132 Objects can also be blessed. Blessed items usually work better or
2133 more beneficially than normal uncursed items. For example, a blessed
2134 weapon will do more damage against demons.
2137 Objects which are neither cursed nor blessed are referred to as uncursed.
2138 They could just as easily have been described as unblessed, but the
2139 uncursed designation is what you will see within the game. A ``glass
2140 half full versus glass half empty'' situation; make of that what you will.
2143 There are magical means of bestowing or removing curses upon objects,
2144 so even if you are stuck with one, you can still have the curse
2145 lifted and the item removed. Priests and Priestesses have an innate
2146 sensitivity to this property in any object, so they can more easily avoid
2147 cursed objects than other character roles.
2150 An item with unknown status will be reported in your inventory with no prefix.
2151 An item which you know the state of will be distinguished in your inventory
2152 by the presence of the word ``cursed'', ``uncursed'' or ``blessed'' in the
2153 description of the item.
2154 In some cases ``uncursed'' will be omitted as being redundant when
2155 enough other information is displayed.
2157 {\it implicit\verb+_+uncursed\/}
2158 option can be used to control this; toggle it off to have ``uncursed''
2159 be displayed even when that can be deduced from other attributes.
2162 \subsection*{Weapons (`{\tt )}')}
2165 Given a chance, most monsters in the Mazes of Menace will gratuitously try to
2167 You need weapons for self-defense (killing them first).
2169 weapon, you do only 1--2 hit points of damage (plus bonuses, if any).
2170 Monk characters are an exception; they normally do more damage with
2171 bare (or gloved) hands than they do with weapons.
2174 There are wielded weapons, like maces and swords, and thrown weapons,
2175 like arrows and spears. To hit monsters with a weapon, you must wield it and
2176 attack them, or throw it at them. You can simply elect to throw a spear.
2177 To shoot an arrow, you should first wield a bow, then throw the arrow.
2178 Crossbows shoot crossbow bolts. Slings hurl rocks and (other) stones
2182 Enchanted weapons have a ``plus'' (or ``to hit enhancement'' which can be
2183 either positive or negative) that adds to your chance to
2184 hit and the damage you do to a monster. The only way to determine a weapon's
2185 enchantment is to have it magically identified somehow.
2186 Most weapons are subject to some type of damage like rust. Such
2187 ``erosion'' damage can be repaired.
2190 The chance that an attack will successfully hit a monster, and the amount
2191 of damage such a hit will do, depends upon many factors. Among them are:
2192 type of weapon, quality of weapon (enchantment and/or erosion), experience
2193 level, strength, dexterity, encumbrance, and proficiency (see below). The
2194 monster's armor class---a general defense rating, not necessarily due to
2195 wearing of armor---is a factor too; also, some monsters are particularly
2196 vulnerable to certain types of weapons.
2199 Many weapons can be wielded in one hand; some require both hands.
2200 When wielding a two-handed weapon, you can not wear a shield, and
2201 vice versa. When wielding a one-handed weapon, you can have another
2202 weapon ready to use by setting things up with the `{\tt x}' command, which
2203 exchanges your primary (the one being wielded) and alternate weapons.
2204 And if you have proficiency in the ``two weapon combat'' skill, you
2205 may wield both weapons simultaneously as primary and secondary; use the
2206 `{\tt X}' command to engage or disengage that.
2207 Only some types of characters (barbarians, for instance) have the necessary
2208 skill available. Even with that skill, using two weapons at once incurs
2209 a penalty in the chance to hit your target compared to using just one
2213 There might be times when you'd rather not wield any weapon at all.
2214 To accomplish that, wield `{\tt -}', or else use the `{\tt A}' command which
2215 allows you to unwield the current weapon in addition to taking off
2219 Those of you in the audience who are AD\&D players, be aware that each
2220 weapon which existed in AD\&D does roughly the same damage to monsters in
2221 {\it NetHack}. Some of the more obscure weapons (such as the %
2222 {\it aklys}, {\it lucern hammer}, and {\it bec-de-corbin\/}) are defined
2223 in an appendix to {\it Unearthed Arcana}, an AD\&D supplement.
2226 The commands to use weapons are `{\tt w}' (wield), `{\tt t}' (throw),
2227 `{\tt f}' (fire, an alternate way of throwing), `{\tt Q}' (quiver),
2228 `{\tt x}' (exchange), `{\tt X}' (twoweapon), and ``{\tt \#enhance}''
2232 \subsection*{Throwing and shooting}
2235 You can throw just about anything via the `{\tt t}' command. It will prompt
2236 for the item to throw; picking `{\tt ?}' will list things in your inventory
2237 which are considered likely to be thrown, or picking `{\tt *}' will list
2238 your entire inventory. After you've chosen what to throw, you will
2239 be prompted for a direction rather than for a specific target. The
2240 distance something can be thrown depends mainly on the type of object
2241 and your strength. Arrows can be thrown by hand, but can be thrown
2242 much farther and will be more likely to hit when thrown while you are
2246 You can simplify the throwing operation by using the `{\tt Q}' command to
2247 select your preferred ``missile'', then using the `{\tt f}' command to
2248 throw it. You'll be prompted for a direction as above, but you don't
2249 have to specify which item to throw each time you use `{\tt f}'. There is
2252 which has {\it NetHack\/} choose another item to automatically fill your
2253 quiver (or quiver sack, or have at the ready) when the inventory slot used
2254 for `{\tt Q}' runs out.
2257 Some characters have the ability to fire a volley of multiple items in a
2258 single turn. Knowing how to load several rounds of ammunition at
2259 once---or hold several missiles in your hand---and still hit a
2260 target is not an easy task. Rangers are among those who are adept
2261 at this task, as are those with a high level of proficiency in the
2262 relevant weapon skill (in bow skill if you're wielding one to
2263 shoot arrows, in crossbow skill if you're wielding one to shoot bolts,
2264 or in sling skill if you're wielding one to shoot stones).
2265 The number of items that the character has a chance to fire varies from
2266 turn to turn. You can explicitly limit the number of shots by using a
2267 numeric prefix before the `{\tt t}' or `{\tt f}' command.
2268 For example, ``{\tt 2f}'' (or ``{\tt n2f}'' if using
2269 {\it number\verb+_+pad\/}
2270 mode) would ensure that at most 2 arrows are shot
2271 even if you could have fired 3. If you specify
2272 a larger number than would have been shot (``{\tt 4f}'' in this example),
2273 you'll just end up shooting the same number (3, here) as if no limit
2274 had been specified. Once the volley is in motion, all of the items
2275 will travel in the same direction; if the first ones kill a monster,
2276 the others can still continue beyond that spot.
2279 \subsection*{Weapon proficiency}
2282 You will have varying degrees of skill in the weapons available.
2283 Weapon proficiency, or weapon skills, affect how well you can use
2284 particular types of weapons, and you'll be able to improve your skills
2285 as you progress through a game, depending on your role, your experience
2286 level, and use of the weapons.
2289 For the purposes of proficiency, weapons have
2290 been divided up into various groups such as daggers, broadswords, and
2291 polearms. Each role has a limit on what level of proficiency a character
2292 can achieve for each group. For instance, wizards can become highly
2293 skilled in daggers or staves but not in swords or bows.
2296 The ``{\tt \#enhance}'' extended command is used to review current weapons
2298 (also spell proficiency) and to choose which skill(s) to improve when
2299 you've used one or more skills enough to become eligible to do so. The
2300 skill rankings are ``none'' (sometimes also referred to as ``restricted'',
2301 because you won't be able to advance), ``unskilled'', ``basic'', ``skilled'',
2302 and ``expert''. Restricted skills simply will not appear in the list
2303 shown by ``{\tt \#enhance}''.
2304 (Divine intervention might unrestrict a particular
2305 skill, in which case it will start at unskilled and be limited to basic.)
2306 Some characters can enhance their barehanded combat or martial arts skill
2307 beyond expert to ``master'' or ``grand master''.
2310 Use of a weapon in which you're restricted or unskilled
2311 will incur a modest penalty in the chance to hit a monster and also in
2312 the amount of damage done when you do hit; at basic level, there is no
2313 penalty or bonus; at skilled level, you receive a modest bonus in the
2314 chance to hit and amount of damage done; at expert level, the bonus is
2315 higher. A successful hit has a chance to boost your training towards
2316 the next skill level (unless you've already reached the limit for this
2317 skill). Once such training reaches the threshold for that next level,
2318 you'll be told that you feel more confident in your skills. At that
2319 point you can use ``{\tt \#enhance}'' to increase one or more skills.
2321 are not increased automatically because there is a limit to your total
2322 overall skills, so you need to actively choose which skills to enhance
2323 and which to ignore.
2326 \subsection*{Two-Weapon combat}
2329 Some characters can use two weapons at once. Setting things up to
2330 do so can seem cumbersome but becomes second nature with use.
2331 To wield two weapons, you need to use the ``{\tt \#twoweapon}'' command.
2332 But first you need to have a weapon in each hand.
2333 (Note that your two weapons are not fully equal; the one in the
2334 hand you normally wield with is considered primary and the other
2335 one is considered secondary. The most noticeable difference is
2336 after you stop---or before you begin, for that matter---wielding
2337 two weapons at once. The primary is your wielded weapon and the
2338 secondary is just an item in your inventory that's been designated
2339 as alternate weapon.)
2342 If your primary weapon is wielded but your off hand is empty or has
2343 the wrong weapon, use the sequence `{\tt x}', `{\tt w}', `{\tt x}' to
2345 primary into your off hand, wield whatever you want as secondary
2346 weapon, then swap them both back into the intended hands.
2347 If your secondary or alternate weapon is correct but your primary
2348 one is not, simply use `{\tt w}' to wield the primary.
2349 Lastly, if neither hand holds the correct weapon,
2350 use `{\tt w}', `{\tt x}', `{\tt w}'
2351 to first wield the intended secondary, swap it to off hand, and then
2355 The whole process can be simplified via use of the
2357 option. When it is enabled, then using `{\tt w}' to wield something
2358 causes the currently wielded weapon to become your alternate weapon.
2359 So the sequence `{\tt w}', `{\tt w}' can be used to first wield the weapon you
2360 intend to be secondary, and then wield the one you want as primary
2361 which will push the first into secondary position.
2364 When in two-weapon combat mode, using the `{\tt X}' command
2365 toggles back to single-weapon mode.
2366 Throwing or dropping either of the
2367 weapons or having one of them be stolen or destroyed will also make you
2368 revert to single-weapon combat.
2371 \subsection*{Armor (`{\tt [}')}
2374 Lots of unfriendly things lurk about; you need armor to protect
2375 yourself from their blows. Some types of armor offer better
2376 protection than others. Your armor class is a measure of this
2377 protection. Armor class (AC) is measured as in AD\&D, with 10 being
2378 the equivalent of no armor, and lower numbers meaning better armor.
2379 Each suit of armor which exists in AD\&D gives the same protection in
2380 {\it NetHack}. Here is an (incomplete) list of the armor classes provided by
2381 various suits of armor:
2384 \begin{tabular}{lllll}
2385 dragon scale mail & 1 & \makebox[20mm]{} & plate mail & 3\\
2386 crystal plate mail & 3 & & bronze plate mail & 4\\
2387 splint mail & 4 & & banded mail & 4\\
2388 dwarvish mithril-coat & 4 & & elven mithril-coat & 5\\
2389 chain mail & 5 & & orcish chain mail & 6\\
2390 scale mail & 6 & & dragon scales & 7\\
2391 studded leather armor & 7 & & ring mail & 7\\
2392 orcish ring mail & 8 & & leather armor & 8\\
2393 leather jacket & 9 & & no armor & 10\\
2398 \nd You can also wear other pieces of armor (for example, helmets, boots,
2400 to lower your armor class even further, but you can only wear one item
2401 of each category (one suit of armor, one cloak, one helmet, one
2402 shield, and so on) at a time.
2405 If a piece of armor is enchanted, its armor protection will be better
2406 (or worse) than normal, and its ``plus'' (or minus) will subtract from
2407 your armor class. For example, a +1 chain mail would give you
2408 better protection than normal chain mail, lowering your armor class one
2409 unit further to 4. When you put on a piece of armor, you immediately
2410 find out the armor class and any ``plusses'' it provides. Cursed
2411 pieces of armor usually have negative enchantments (minuses) in
2412 addition to being unremovable.
2415 Many types of armor are subject to some kind of damage like rust. Such
2416 damage can be repaired. Some types of armor may inhibit spell casting.
2419 The commands to use armor are `{\tt W}' (wear) and `{\tt T}' (take off).
2420 The `{\tt A}' command can also be used to take off armor as well as other
2424 \subsection*{Food (`{\tt \%}')}
2427 Food is necessary to survive. If you go too long without eating you
2428 will faint, and eventually die of starvation.
2429 Some types of food will spoil, and become unhealthy to eat,
2431 Food stored in ice boxes or tins (``cans'')
2432 will usually stay fresh, but ice boxes are heavy, and tins
2433 take a while to open.
2436 When you kill monsters, they usually leave corpses which are also
2437 ``food.'' Many, but not all, of these are edible; some also give you
2438 special powers when you eat them. A good rule of thumb is ``you are
2442 Some character roles and some monsters are vegetarian. Vegetarian monsters
2443 will typically never eat animal corpses, while vegetarian players can,
2444 but with some rather unpleasant side-effects.
2447 You can name one food item after something you like to eat with the
2448 {\it fruit\/} option.
2451 The command to eat food is `{\tt e}'.
2454 \subsection*{Scrolls (`{\tt ?}')}
2457 Scrolls are labeled with various titles, probably chosen by ancient wizards
2458 for their amusement value (for example, ``READ ME,'' or ``THANX MAUD'' backwards).
2459 Scrolls disappear after you read them (except for blank ones, without
2460 magic spells on them).
2463 One of the most useful of these is the %
2464 {\it scroll of identify}, which
2465 can be used to determine what another object is, whether it is cursed or
2466 blessed, and how many uses it has left. Some objects of subtle
2467 enchantment are difficult to identify without these.
2470 A mail daemon may run up and deliver mail to you as a %
2471 {\it scroll of mail} (on versions compiled with this feature).
2472 To use this feature on versions where {\it NetHack\/}
2473 mail delivery is triggered by electronic mail appearing in your system mailbox,
2474 you must let {\it NetHack\/} know where to look for new mail by setting the
2475 ``MAIL'' environment variable to the file name of your mailbox.
2476 You may also want to set the ``MAILREADER'' environment variable to the
2477 file name of your favorite reader, so {\it NetHack\/} can shell to it when you
2479 On versions of {\it NetHack\/} where mail is randomly
2480 generated internal to the game, these environment variables are ignored.
2481 You can disable the mail daemon by turning off the
2482 {\it mail\/} option.
2485 The command to read a scroll is `{\tt r}'.
2488 \subsection*{Potions (`{\tt !}')}
2491 Potions are distinguished by the color of the liquid inside the flask.
2492 They disappear after you quaff them.
2495 Clear potions are potions of water. Sometimes these are
2496 blessed or cursed, resulting in holy or unholy water. Holy water is
2497 the bane of the undead, so potions of holy water are good things to
2498 throw (`{\tt t}') at them. It is also sometimes very useful to dip
2499 (``{\tt \#dip}'') an object into a potion.
2502 The command to drink a potion is `{\tt q}' (quaff).
2505 \subsection*{Wands (`{\tt /}')}
2508 Wands usually have multiple magical charges.
2509 Some types of wands require a direction in which to zap them.
2511 zap them at yourself (just give a `{\tt .}' or `{\tt s}' for the direction).
2512 Be warned, however, for this is often unwise.
2513 Other types of wands
2514 don't require a direction. The number of charges in a
2515 wand is random and decreases by one whenever you use it.
2518 When the number of charges left in a wand becomes zero, attempts to use the
2519 wand will usually result in nothing happening. Occasionally, however, it may
2520 be possible to squeeze the last few mana points from an otherwise spent wand,
2521 destroying it in the process. A wand may be recharged by using suitable
2522 magic, but doing so runs the risk of causing it to explode. The chance
2523 for such an explosion starts out very small and increases each time the
2527 In a truly desperate situation, when your back is up against the wall, you
2528 might decide to go for broke and break your wand. This is not for the faint
2529 of heart. Doing so will almost certainly cause a catastrophic release of
2533 When you have fully identified a particular wand, inventory display will
2534 include additional information in parentheses: the number of times it has
2535 been recharged followed by a colon and then by its current number of charges.
2536 A current charge count of {\tt -1} is a special case indicating that the wand
2540 The command to use a wand is `{\tt z}' (zap). To break one, use the `{\tt a}'
2544 \subsection*{Rings (`{\tt =}')}
2547 Rings are very useful items, since they are relatively permanent
2548 magic, unlike the usually fleeting effects of potions, scrolls, and
2552 Putting on a ring activates its magic. You can wear only two
2553 rings, one on each ring finger.
2556 Most rings also cause you to grow hungry more rapidly, the rate
2557 varying with the type of ring.
2560 The commands to use rings are `{\tt P}' (put on) and `{\tt R}' (remove).
2563 \subsection*{Spellbooks (`{\tt +}')}
2566 Spellbooks are tomes of mighty magic. When studied with the `{\tt r}' (read)
2567 command, they transfer to the reader the knowledge of a spell (and
2568 therefore eventually become unreadable)---unless the attempt backfires.
2569 Reading a cursed spellbook or one with mystic runes beyond
2570 your ken can be harmful to your health!
2573 A spell (even when learned) can also backfire when you cast it. If you
2574 attempt to cast a spell well above your experience level, or if you have
2575 little skill with the appropriate spell type, or cast it at
2576 a time when your luck is particularly bad, you can end up wasting both the
2577 energy and the time required in casting.
2580 Casting a spell calls forth magical energies and focuses them with
2581 your naked mind. Some of the magical energy released comes from within
2583 Casting temporarily drains your magical power, which will slowly be
2584 recovered, and causes you to need additional food.
2585 Casting of spells also requires practice. With practice, your
2586 skill in each category of spell casting will improve. Over time, however,
2587 your memory of each spell will dim, and you will need to relearn it.
2590 Some spells require a direction in which to cast them, similar to wands.
2591 To cast one at yourself, just give a `{\tt .}' or `{\tt s}' for the direction.
2592 A few spells require you to pick a target location rather than just specify
2593 a particular direction.
2594 Other spells don't require any direction or target.
2597 Just as weapons are divided into groups in which a character can become
2598 proficient (to varying degrees), spells are similarly grouped.
2599 Successfully casting a spell exercises its skill group; using the
2600 ``{\tt \#enhance}'' command to advance a sufficiently exercised skill
2601 will affect all spells within the group. Advanced skill may increase the
2602 potency of spells, reduce their risk of failure during casting attempts,
2603 and improve the accuracy of the estimate for how much longer they will
2604 be retained in your memory.
2605 Skill slots are shared with weapons skills. (See also the section on
2606 ``Weapon proficiency''.)
2609 Casting a spell also requires flexible movement, and wearing various types
2610 of armor may interfere with that.
2613 The command to read a spellbook is the same as for scrolls, `{\tt r}' (read).
2614 The `{\tt +}' command lists each spell you know along with its level, skill
2615 category, chance of failure when casting, and an estimate of how strongly
2617 The `{\tt Z}' (cast) command casts a spell.
2620 \subsection*{Tools (`{\tt (}')}
2623 Tools are miscellaneous objects with various purposes. Some tools
2624 have a limited number of uses, akin to wand charges. For example, lamps burn
2625 out after a while. Other tools are containers, which objects can
2626 be placed into or taken out of.
2629 The command to use tools is `{\tt a}' (apply).
2632 \subsection*{Containers}
2635 You may encounter bags, boxes, and chests in your travels. A tool of
2636 this sort can be opened with the ``{\tt \#loot}'' extended command when
2637 you are standing on top of it (that is, on the same floor spot),
2638 or with the `{\tt a}' (apply) command when you are carrying it. However,
2639 chests are often locked, and are in any case unwieldy objects.
2640 You must set one down before unlocking it by
2641 using a key or lock-picking tool with the `{\tt a}' (apply) command,
2642 by kicking it with the `{\tt \^{}D}' command,
2643 or by using a weapon to force the lock with the ``{\tt \#force}''
2647 Some chests are trapped, causing nasty things to happen when you
2648 unlock or open them. You can check for and try to deactivate traps
2649 with the ``{\tt \#untrap}'' extended command.
2652 \subsection*{Amulets (`{\tt "}')}
2655 Amulets are very similar to rings, and often more powerful. Like
2656 rings, amulets have various magical properties, some beneficial,
2657 some harmful, which are activated by putting them on.
2660 Only one amulet may be worn at a time, around your neck.
2663 The commands to use amulets are the same as for rings, `{\tt P}' (put on)
2664 and `{\tt R}' (remove).
2667 \subsection*{Gems (`{\tt *}')}
2670 Some gems are valuable, and can be sold for a lot of gold. They are also
2671 a far more efficient way of carrying your riches. Valuable gems increase
2672 your score if you bring them with you when you exit.
2675 Other small rocks are also categorized as gems, but they are much less
2676 valuable. All rocks, however, can be used as projectile weapons (if you
2677 have a sling). In the most desperate of cases, you can still throw them
2681 \subsection*{Large rocks (`{\tt `}')}
2683 Statues and boulders are not particularly useful, and are generally
2684 heavy. It is rumored that some statues are not what they seem.
2687 Very large humanoids (giants and their ilk) have been known to use boulders
2691 For some configurations of the program, statues are no longer shown
2693 but by the letter representing the monster they depict instead.
2696 \subsection*{Gold (`{\tt \$}')}
2699 Gold adds to your score, and you can buy things in shops with it.
2701 of monsters in the dungeon that may be influenced by the amount of gold
2702 you are carrying (shopkeepers aside).
2705 \subsection*{Persistence of Objects}
2708 Normally, if you have seen an object at a particular map location and
2709 move to another location where you can't directly see that object any
2710 more, it will continue to be displayed on your map.
2711 That remains the case even if it is not actually there any
2712 more---perhaps a monster has picked it up or it has rotted
2713 away---until you can see or feel that location again.
2714 One notable exception is that if the object gets covered by the
2715 ``remembered, unseen monster'' marker.
2716 When that marker is later removed
2717 after you've verified that no monster is there, you will forget that
2718 there was any object there regardless of whether the unseen monster
2719 actually took the object.
2720 If the object is still there, then once you see or feel that location
2721 again you will re-discover the object and resume remembering it.
2724 The situation is the same for a pile of objects, except that only the
2725 top item of the pile is displayed.
2727 {\it hilite\verb+_+pile\/}
2728 option can be enabled in order to show an item differently when it is
2729 the top one of a pile.
2735 As if winning {\it NetHack\/} were not difficult enough, certain players
2736 seek to challenge themselves by imposing restrictions on the
2737 way they play the game. The game automatically tracks some of
2738 these challenges, which can be checked at any time with the {\tt \#conduct}
2739 command or at the end of the game. When you perform an action which
2740 breaks a challenge, it will no longer be listed. This gives
2741 players extra ``bragging rights'' for winning the game with these
2742 challenges. Note that it is perfectly acceptable to win the game
2743 without resorting to these restrictions and that it is unusual for
2744 players to adhere to challenges the first time they win the game.
2747 Several of the challenges are related to eating behavior. The most
2748 difficult of these is the foodless challenge. Although creatures
2749 can survive long periods of time without food, there is a physiological
2750 need for water; thus there is no restriction on drinking beverages,
2751 even if they provide some minor food benefits.
2752 Calling upon your god for help with starvation does
2753 not violate any food challenges either.
2756 A strict vegan diet is one which avoids any food derived from animals.
2757 The primary source of nutrition is fruits and vegetables. The
2758 corpses and tins of blobs (`b'), jellies (`j'), and fungi (`F') are
2759 also considered to be vegetable matter. Certain human
2760 food is prepared without animal products; namely, lembas wafers, cram
2761 rations, food rations (gunyoki), K-rations, and C-rations.
2762 Metal or another normally indigestible material eaten while polymorphed
2763 into a creature that can digest it is also considered vegan food.
2764 Note however that eating such items still counts against foodless conduct.
2767 Vegetarians do not eat animals;
2768 however, they are less selective about eating animal byproducts than vegans.
2769 In addition to the vegan items listed above, they may eat any kind
2770 of pudding (`P') other than the black puddings,
2771 eggs and food made from eggs (fortune cookies and pancakes),
2772 food made with milk (cream pies and candy bars), and lumps of
2773 royal jelly. Monks are expected to observe a vegetarian diet.
2776 Eating any kind of meat violates the vegetarian, vegan, and foodless
2777 conducts. This includes tripe rations, the corpses or tins of any
2778 monsters not mentioned above, and the various other chunks of meat
2779 found in the dungeon. Swallowing and digesting a monster while polymorphed
2780 is treated as if you ate the creature's corpse.
2781 Eating leather, dragon hide, or bone items while
2782 polymorphed into a creature that can digest it, or eating monster brains
2783 while polymorphed into a mind flayer, is considered eating
2784 an animal, although wax is only an animal byproduct.
2787 Regardless of conduct, there will be some items which are indigestible,
2788 and others which are hazardous to eat. Using a swallow-and-digest
2789 attack against a monster is equivalent to eating the monster's corpse.
2790 Please note that the term ``vegan'' is used here only in the context of
2791 diet. You are still free to choose not to use or wear items derived
2792 from animals (e.g. leather, dragon hide, bone, horns, coral), but the
2793 game will not keep track of this for you. Also note that ``milky''
2794 potions may be a translucent white, but they do not contain milk,
2795 so they are compatible with a vegan diet. Slime molds or
2796 player-defined ``fruits'', although they could be anything
2797 from ``cherries'' to ``pork chops'', are also assumed to be vegan.
2800 An atheist is one who rejects religion. This means that you cannot
2801 {\tt \#pray}, {\tt \#offer} sacrifices to any god,
2802 {\tt \#turn} undead, or {\tt \#chat} with a priest.
2803 Particularly selective readers may argue that playing Monk or Priest
2804 characters should violate this conduct; that is a choice left to the
2805 player. Offering the Amulet of Yendor to your god is necessary to
2806 win the game and is not counted against this conduct. You are also
2807 not penalized for being spoken to by an angry god, priest(ess), or
2808 other religious figure; a true atheist would hear the words but
2809 attach no special meaning to them.
2812 Most players fight with a wielded weapon (or tool intended to be
2813 wielded as a weapon). Another challenge is to win the game without
2814 using such a wielded weapon. You are still permitted to throw,
2815 fire, and kick weapons; use a wand, spell, or other type of item;
2816 or fight with your hands and feet.
2819 In {\it NetHack}, a pacifist refuses to cause the death of any other monster
2820 (i.e. if you would get experience for the death). This is a particularly
2821 difficult challenge, although it is still possible to gain experience
2825 An illiterate character cannot read or write. This includes reading
2826 a scroll, spellbook, fortune cookie message, or t-shirt; writing a
2827 scroll; or making an engraving of anything other than a single ``X'' (the
2828 traditional signature of an illiterate person). Reading an engraving,
2829 or any item that is absolutely necessary to win the game, is not counted
2830 against this conduct. The identity of scrolls and spellbooks (and
2831 knowledge of spells) in your starting inventory is assumed to be
2832 learned from your teachers prior to the start of the game and isn't
2836 There are several other challenges tracked by the game. It is possible
2837 to eliminate one or more species of monsters by genocide; playing without
2838 this feature is considered a challenge. When the game offers you an
2839 opportunity to genocide monsters, you may respond with the monster type
2840 ``none'' if you want to decline. You can change the form of an item into
2841 another item of the same type (``polypiling'') or the form of your own
2842 body into another creature (``polyself'') by wand, spell, or potion of
2843 polymorph; avoiding these effects are each considered challenges.
2844 Polymorphing monsters, including pets, does not break either of these
2846 Finally, you may sometimes receive wishes; a game without an attempt to
2847 wish for any items is a challenge, as is a game without wishing for
2848 an artifact (even if the artifact immediately disappears). When the
2849 game offers you an opportunity to make a wish for an item, you may
2850 choose ``nothing'' if you want to decline.
2856 Due to variations in personal tastes and conceptions of how {\it NetHack\/}
2857 should do things, there are options you can set to change how {\it NetHack\/}
2861 \subsection*{Setting the options}
2864 Options may be set in a number of ways. Within the game, the `{\tt O}'
2865 command allows you to view all options and change most of them.
2866 You can also set options automatically by placing them in a configuration
2867 file, or in the ``NETHACKOPTIONS'' environment variable.
2868 Some versions of {\it NetHack\/} also have front-end programs that allow
2869 you to set options before starting the game or a global configuration
2870 for system administrators.
2873 \subsection*{Using a configuration file}
2876 The default name and location of the configuration file varies on different
2877 operating systems.\\
2880 On Unix, Linux and Mac OS X it is \mbox{``.nethackrc''} in the user's home
2881 directory. The file may not exist, but it is a normal ASCII text file and
2882 can be created with any text editor.\\
2885 On Windows, it is \mbox{``.nethackrc''} in the folder
2886 \mbox{{``\%USERPROFILE\%\textbackslash NetHack\textbackslash''}}. The
2887 file may not exist, but it is a normal ASCII text file and can be created
2888 with any text editor.
2889 After runing {\it NetHack\/} for the first time, you should find a default
2890 template for ths configuration file named \mbox{``.nethackrc.template''} in
2891 \mbox{{``\%USERPROFILE\%\textbackslash NetHack\textbackslash''}}.
2892 If you had not created the configuration file, {\it NetHack\/} will create
2893 the configuration file for you using the default template file.
2896 On MS-DOS it is \mbox{``defaults.nh''} in the same folder as
2897 \mbox{{\it nethack.exe\/}}.\\
2900 Any line in the configuration file starting with `{\tt \#}' is treated as a comment.
2901 Empty lines are ignored. Any line beginning with `{\tt [}' and ending in `{\tt ]}' is considered a section
2902 marker. The text between the square brackets is the section name.
2903 Lines after a section marker belong to that section, and are
2904 ignored unless a CHOOSE -statement was used to select that section.
2905 Section names are case insensitive.
2908 You can use different configuration statements in the file, some
2909 of which can be used multiple times.
2910 In general, the statements are
2911 written in capital letters, followed by an equals sign, followed by
2912 settings particular to that statement.
2915 Here is a list of allowed statements:
2920 There are two types of options, boolean and compound options.
2921 Boolean options toggle a setting on or off, while compound options
2922 take more diverse values.
2923 Prefix a boolean option with `no' or `!' to turn it off.
2924 For compound options, the option name and value are separated by a colon.
2925 Some options are persistent, and apply only to new games.
2926 You can specify multiple OPTIONS statements, and multiple options
2927 separated by commas in a single OPTIONS statement.
2928 (Comma separated options are processed from right to left.)
2934 OPTIONS=dogname:Fido
2935 OPTIONS=!legacy,autopickup,pickup_types:$"=/!?+
2941 Default location of files {\it NetHack\/} needs. On Windows HACKDIR
2942 defaults to the location of the {\it NetHack.exe\/} or {\it NetHackw.exe\/} file
2943 so setting HACKDIR to override that is not usually necessary or recommended.
2945 \item[\bb{LEVELDIR}]
2946 The location that in-progress level files are stored. Defaults to HACKDIR,
2950 The location where saved games are kept. Defaults to HACKDIR, must be
2953 \item[\bb{BONESDIR}]
2954 The location that bones files are kept. Defaults to HACKDIR, must be
2958 The location that file synchronization locks are stored. Defaults to
2959 HACKDIR, must be writable.
2961 \item[\bb{TROUBLEDIR}]
2962 The location that a record of game aborts and self-diagnosed game problems
2963 is kept. Defaults to HACKDIR, must be writable.
2965 % config file entries beyond this point are shown alphabetically
2968 \item[\bb{AUTOCOMPLETE}]
2969 Enable or disable an extended command autocompletion.
2970 Autocompletion has no effect for the X11 windowport.
2971 You can specify multiple autocompletions. To enable
2972 autocompletion, list the extended command. Prefix the
2973 command with ``{{\tt !}}'' to disable the autocompletion
2980 AUTOCOMPLETE=zap,!annotate
2985 \item[\bb{AUTOPICKUP\_EXCEPTION}]
2986 Set exceptions to the {{\it pickup\_types\/}}
2987 option. See the ``Configuring Autopickup Exceptions'' section.
2989 \item[\bb{BINDINGS}]
2990 Change the key bindings of some special keys, menu accelerators, or
2991 extended commands. You can specify multiple bindings. Format is key
2992 followed by the command, separated by a colon.
2993 See the ``Changing Key Bindings`` section for more information.
2999 BIND=^X:getpos.autodescribe
3005 Chooses at random one of the comma-separated parameters as an active
3006 section name. Lines in other sections are ignored.
3013 CHOOSE=char A,char B
3015 OPTIONS=role:arc,race:dwa,align:law,gender:fem
3017 OPTIONS=role:wiz,race:elf,align:cha,gender:mal
3022 \item[\bb{MENUCOLOR}]
3023 Highlight menu lines with different colors.
3024 See the ``Configuring Menu Colors`` section.
3027 Change the way messages are shown in the top status line.
3028 See the ``Configuring Message Types`` section.
3030 \item[\bb{ROGUESYMBOLS}]
3031 Custom symbols for for the rogue level's symbol set.
3032 See {\it SYMBOLS} below.
3035 Define a sound mapping.
3036 See the ``Configuring User Sounds'' section.
3038 \item[\bb{SOUNDDIR}]
3039 Define the directory that contains the sound files.
3040 See the ``Configuring User Sounds'' section.
3043 Override one or more symbols in the symbol set used for all dungeon
3044 levels except for the special rogue level.
3045 See the ``Modifying {\it NetHack\/} Symbols'' section.
3052 # replace small punctuation (tick marks) with digits
3053 SYMBOLS=S_boulder:0,S_golem:7
3059 Debug mode only: extra items to add to initial inventory.
3060 Value is the name of a text file containing a list of item names,
3061 one per line, up to a maximum of 128 lines.
3062 Each line is processed by the function that handles wishing.
3075 Here is an example of configuration file contents:
3078 # Set your character's role, race, gender, and alignment.
3079 OPTIONS=role:Valkyrie, race:Human, gender:female, align:lawful
3081 # Turn on autopickup, set automatically picked up object types
3082 OPTIONS=autopickup,pickup_types:$"=/!?+
3085 OPTIONS=color # Display things in color if possible
3086 OPTIONS=lit_corridor # Show lit corridors differently
3087 OPTIONS=hilite_pet,hilite_pile
3088 # Replace small punctuation (tick marks) with digits
3089 SYMBOLS=S_boulder:0,S_golem:7
3091 # No startup splash screen. Windows GUI only.
3092 OPTIONS=!splash_screen
3098 \subsection*{Using the NETHACKOPTIONS environment variable}
3101 The NETHACKOPTIONS variable is a comma-separated list of initial
3102 values for the various options. Some can only be turned on or off.
3103 You turn one of these on by adding the name of the option to the list,
3104 and turn it off by typing a `{\tt !}' or ``{\tt no}'' before the name.
3106 character string as a value. You can set string options by typing
3107 the option name, a colon or equals sign, and then the value of the string.
3108 The value is terminated by the next comma or the end of string.
3111 For example, to set up an environment variable so that
3112 {\it color\/} is {\tt on},
3113 {\it legacy\/} is {\tt off},
3114 character {\it name\/} is set to ``{\tt Blue Meanie}'',
3115 and named {\it fruit\/} is set to ``{\tt lime}'',
3116 you would enter the command
3119 setenv NETHACKOPTIONS "color,\!leg,name:Blue Meanie,fruit:lime"
3124 (note the need to escape the `!' since it's special
3125 to that shell), or the pair of commands
3128 NETHACKOPTIONS="color,!leg,name:Blue Meanie,fruit:lime"
3129 export NETHACKOPTIONS
3133 \nd in {\it sh}, {\it ksh}, or {\it bash}.
3136 The NETHACKOPTIONS value is effectively the same as a single OPTIONS
3137 statement in a configuration file.
3138 The ``OPTIONS='' prefix is implied and comma separated options are
3139 processed from right to left.
3140 Other types of configuration statements such as BIND or MSGTYPE are
3144 Instead of a comma-separated list of options,
3145 NETHACKOPTIONS can be set to the full name of a configuration file you
3147 If that full name doesn't start with a slash, precede it with `{\tt @}'
3148 (at-sign) to let NetHack know that the rest is intended as a file name.
3149 If it does start with `{\tt /}', the at-sign is optional.
3152 \subsection*{Customization options}
3155 Here are explanations of what the various options do.
3156 Character strings that are too long may be truncated.
3157 Some of the options listed may be inactive in your dungeon.
3160 Some options are persistent, and are saved and reloaded along with
3161 the game. Changing a persistent option in the configuration file
3162 applies only to new games.
3166 \item[\ib{acoustics}]
3167 Enable messages about what your character hears (default on).
3168 Note that this has nothing to do with your computer's audio capabilities.
3172 Your starting alignment ({\tt align:lawful}, {\tt align:neutral},
3173 or {\tt align:chaotic}). You may specify just the first letter.
3174 The default is to randomly pick an appropriate alignment.
3175 If you prefix the value with `{\tt !}' or ``{\tt no}'', you will
3176 exclude that alignment from being picked randomly.
3177 Cannot be set with the `{\tt O}' command. Persistent.
3179 \item[\ib{autodescribe}]
3180 Automatically describe the terrain under cursor when asked to get a location
3181 on the map (default true).
3182 The {\it whatis\verb+_+coord\/}
3183 option controls whether the description includes map coordinates.
3186 Automatically dig if you are wielding a digging tool and moving into a place
3187 that can be dug (default false). Persistent.
3189 \item[\ib{autoopen}]
3190 Walking into a door attempts to open it (default true). Persistent.
3192 \item[\ib{autopickup}]
3193 Automatically pick up things onto which you move (default on). Persistent.
3194 See ``{\it pickup\verb+_+types\/}'' to refine the behavior.
3196 \item[\ib{autoquiver}]
3197 This option controls what happens when you attempt the `f' (fire)
3198 command when nothing is quivered or readied (default false).
3199 When true, the computer will fill
3200 your quiver or quiver sack or make ready some suitable weapon.
3201 Note that it will not take
3202 into account the blessed/cursed status, enchantment, damage, or
3203 quality of the weapon; you are free to manually fill your quiver
3204 or quiver sack or make ready
3205 with the `Q' command instead.
3206 If no weapon is found or the option is
3207 false, the `t' (throw) command is executed instead. Persistent.
3210 Start the character permanently blind (default false). Persistent.
3213 Allow saving and loading bones files (default true). Persistent.
3216 Set the character used to display boulders (default is the ``large rock''
3217 class symbol, `{\tt `}').
3220 Name your starting cat (for example, ``{\tt catname:Morris}'').
3221 Cannot be set with the `{\tt O}' command.
3223 \item[\ib{character}]
3224 Pick your type of character (for example, ``{\tt character:Monk}'');
3225 synonym for ``{\it role\/}''. See {\it role\/} for more details.
3227 \item[\ib{checkpoint}]
3228 Save game state after each level change, for possible recovery after
3229 program crash (default on). Persistent.
3231 \item[\ib{checkspace}]
3232 Check free disk space before writing files to disk (default on).
3233 You may have to turn this off if you have more than 2 GB free space
3234 on the partition used for your save and level files
3235 (because too much space might overflow the calculation and end up
3236 looking like insufficient space).
3237 Only applies when MFLOPPY was defined during compilation.
3239 \item[\ib{clicklook}]
3240 Allows looking at things on the screen by navigating the mouse
3241 over them and clicking the right mouse button (default off).
3243 \item[\ib{cmdassist}]
3244 Have the game provide some additional command assistance for new
3245 players if it detects some anticipated mistakes (default on).
3248 Have user confirm attacks on pets, shopkeepers, and other
3249 peaceable creatures (default on). Persistent.
3252 \item[\ib{dark\verb+_+room}]
3253 Show out-of-sight areas of lit rooms (default on). Persistent.
3254 \item[\ib{disclose}]
3255 Controls what information the program reveals when the game ends.
3256 Value is a space separated list of prompting/category pairs
3257 (default is `{\tt ni na nv ng nc no}',
3258 prompt with default response of `{\tt n}' for each candidate).
3260 The possibilities are:
3264 {\tt i} --- disclose your inventory;\\
3265 {\tt a} --- disclose your attributes;\\
3266 {\tt v} --- summarize monsters that have been vanquished;\\
3267 {\tt g} --- list monster species that have been genocided;\\
3268 {\tt c} --- display your conduct;\\
3269 {\tt o} --- display dungeon overview.
3273 Each disclosure possibility can optionally be preceded by a prefix which
3274 lets you refine how it behaves. Here are the valid prefixes:
3278 {\tt y} --- prompt you and default to yes on the prompt;\\
3279 {\tt n} --- prompt you and default to no on the prompt;\\
3280 {\tt +} --- disclose it without prompting;\\
3281 {\tt -} --- do not disclose it and do not prompt.
3285 The listing of vanquished monsters can be sorted,
3286 so there are two additional choices for `{\tt v}':
3289 {\tt ?} --- prompt you and default to ask on the prompt;\\
3290 {\tt\#} --- disclose it without prompting, ask for sort order.
3294 Asking refers to picking one of the orderings from a menu.
3295 The `{\tt +}' disclose without prompting choice,
3296 or being prompted and answering `{\tt y}' rather than `{\tt a}',
3297 will default to showing monsters in the traditional order,
3298 from high level to low level.\\
3302 (for example, ``{\tt disclose:yi na +v -g o}'')
3304 {\tt inventory} to {\it prompt\/} and default to {\it yes\/},
3305 {\tt attributes} to {\it prompt\/} and default to {\it no\/},
3306 {\tt vanquished} to {\it disclose without prompting\/},
3307 {\tt genocided} to {\it not disclose\/} and {\it not prompt\/},
3308 {\tt conduct} to implicitly {\it prompt\/} and default to {\it no\/},
3309 {\tt overview} to {\it disclose without prompting\/}.
3312 Note that the vanquished monsters list includes all monsters killed by
3313 traps and each other as well as by you.
3314 And the dungeon overview shows all levels you had visited but does not
3315 reveal things about them that you hadn't discovered.
3318 Name your starting dog (for example, ``{\tt dogname:Fang}'').
3319 Cannot be set with the `{\tt O}' command.
3322 Changes the extended commands interface to pop-up a menu of available commands.
3323 It is keystroke compatible with the traditional interface except that it does
3324 not require that you hit Enter.
3325 It is implemented for the tty interface (default off).
3327 For the X11 interface, which always uses a menu for choosing an extended
3328 command, it controls whether the menu shows all available commands (on)
3329 or just the subset of commands which have traditionally been considered
3330 extended ones (off).
3333 An obsolete synonym for ``{\tt gender:female}''. Cannot be set with the
3337 An object's inventory letter sticks to it when it's dropped (default on).
3338 If this is off, dropping an object shifts all the remaining inventory letters.
3341 \item[\ib{force\_invmenu}]
3342 Commands asking for an inventory item show a menu instead of
3343 a text query with possible menu letters. Default is off.
3346 Name a fruit after something you enjoy eating (for example, ``{\tt fruit:mango}'')
3347 (default ``{\tt slime mold}''). Basically a nostalgic whimsy that
3348 {\it NetHack\/} uses from time to time. You should set this to something you
3349 find more appetizing than slime mold. Apples, oranges, pears, bananas, and
3350 melons already exist in {\it NetHack\/}, so don't use those.
3353 Your starting gender ({\tt gender:male} or {\tt gender:female}).
3354 You may specify just the first letter. Although you can
3355 still denote your gender using the ``{\tt male}'' and ``{\tt female}''
3356 options, the ``{\tt gender}'' option will take precedence.
3357 The default is to randomly pick an appropriate gender.
3358 If you prefix the value with `{\tt !}' or ``{\tt no}'', you will
3359 exclude that gender from being picked randomly.
3360 Cannot be set with the `{\tt O}' command. Persistent.
3363 When filtering objects based on bless/curse state (BUCX), whether to
3364 treat gold pieces as {\tt X} (unknown bless/curse state, when `on')
3365 or {\tt U} (known to be uncursed, when `off', the default).
3366 Gold is never blessed or cursed, but it is not described as ``uncursed''
3367 even when the {\it implicit\verb+_+uncursed\/} option is `off'.
3370 If more information is available for an object looked at
3371 with the `{\tt /}' command, ask if you want to see it (default on).
3372 Turning help off makes just looking at things faster, since you aren't
3373 interrupted with the ``{\tt More info?}'' prompt, but it also means that you
3374 might miss some interesting and/or important information. Persistent.
3376 \item[\ib{herecmd\verb+_+menu}]
3377 When using a windowport that supports mouse and clicking on yourself or
3378 next to you, show a menu of possible actions for the location.
3379 Same as ``{\tt \#herecmdmenu}'' and ``{\tt \#therecmdmenu}'' commands.
3381 \item[\ib{hilite\verb+_+pet}]
3382 Visually distinguish pets from similar animals (default off).
3383 The behavior of this option depends on the type of windowing you use.
3384 In text windowing, text highlighting or inverse video is often used;
3385 with tiles, generally displays a heart symbol near pets.
3387 With the curses interface, the {\it petattr\/}
3388 option controls how to highlight pets and setting it will turn the
3389 {\it hilite\verb+_+pet\/} option on or off as warranted.
3391 \item[\ib{hilite\verb+_+pile}]
3392 Visually distinguish piles of objects from individual objects (default off).
3393 The behavior of this option depends on the type of windowing you use.
3394 In text windowing, text highlighting or inverse video is often used;
3395 with tiles, generally displays a small plus-symbol beside the object
3396 on the top of the pile.
3398 \item[\ib{horsename}]
3399 Name your starting horse (for example, ``{\tt horsename:Trigger}'').
3400 Cannot be set with the `{\tt O}' command.
3402 \item[\ib{hitpointbar}]
3403 Show a hit point bar graph behind your name and title.
3404 Only available for TTY and Windows GUI, and only when statushilites is on.
3407 Ignore interrupt signals, including breaks (default off). Persistent.
3409 \item[\ib{implicit\verb+_+uncursed}]
3410 Omit ``uncursed'' from inventory lists, if possible (default on).
3413 Display an introductory message when starting the game (default on).
3416 \item[\ib{lit\verb+_+corridor}]
3417 Show corridor squares seen by night vision or a light source held by your
3418 character as lit (default off). Persistent.
3421 When using a menu to interact with a container,
3422 use the old `{\tt a}', `{\tt b}', and `{\tt c}' keyboard shortcuts
3423 rather than the mnemonics `{\tt o}', `{\tt i}', and `{\tt b}' (default off).
3427 Enable mail delivery during the game (default on). Persistent.
3430 An obsolete synonym for ``{\tt gender:male}''. Cannot be set with the
3433 \item[\ib{mention\verb+_+walls}]
3434 Give feedback when walking against a wall (default off).
3436 \item[\ib{menucolors}]
3437 Enable coloring menu lines (default off).
3438 See ``{\it Configuring Menu Colors\/}'' on how to configure the colors.
3440 \item[\ib{menustyle}]
3441 Controls the interface used when you need to choose various objects (in
3442 response to the Drop command, for instance). The value specified should
3443 be the first letter of one of the following: traditional, combination,
3445 Traditional was the only interface available for
3446 early versions; it consists of a prompt for object class characters,
3447 followed by an object-by-object prompt for all items matching the selected
3449 Combination starts with a prompt for object class(es)
3450 of interest, but then displays a menu of matching objects rather than
3451 prompting one-by-one.
3452 Full displays a menu of
3453 object classes rather than a character prompt, and then a menu of matching
3454 objects for selection.
3455 Partial skips the object class filtering and
3456 immediately displays a menu of all objects.
3458 \item[\ib{menu\verb+_+deselect\verb+_+all}]
3459 Menu character accelerator to deselect all items in a menu.
3460 Implemented by the Amiga, Gem, X11 and tty ports.
3462 \item[\ib{menu\verb+_+deselect\verb+_+page}]
3463 Menu character accelerator to deselect all items on this page of a menu.
3464 Implemented by the Amiga, Gem and tty ports.
3466 \item[\ib{menu\verb+_+first\verb+_+page}]
3467 Menu character accelerator to jump to the first page in a menu.
3468 Implemented by the Amiga, Gem and tty ports.
3470 \item[\ib{menu\verb+_+headings}]
3471 Controls how the headings in a menu are highlighted.
3472 Values are ``{\tt none}'', ``{\tt bold}'', ``{\tt dim}'',
3473 ``{\tt underline}'', ``{\tt blink}'', or ``{\tt inverse}''.
3474 Not all ports can actually display all types.
3475 \item[\ib{menu\verb+_+invert\verb+_+all}]
3476 Menu character accelerator to invert all items in a menu.
3477 Implemented by the Amiga, Gem, X11 and tty ports.
3479 \item[\ib{menu\verb+_+invert\verb+_+page}]
3480 Menu character accelerator to invert all items on this page of a menu.
3481 Implemented by the Amiga, Gem and tty ports.
3483 \item[\ib{menu\verb+_+last\verb+_+page}]
3484 Menu character accelerator to jump to the last page in a menu.
3485 Implemented by the Amiga, Gem and tty ports.
3487 \item[\ib{menu\verb+_+next\verb+_+page}]
3488 Menu character accelerator to goto the next menu page.
3489 Implemented by the Amiga, Gem and tty ports.
3491 \item[\ib{menu\verb+_+objsyms}]
3492 Show object symbols in menu headings in menus where
3493 the object symbols act as menu accelerators (default off).
3494 \item[\ib{menu\verb+_+overlay}]
3495 Do not clear the screen before drawing menus, and align
3496 menus to the right edge of the screen. Only for the tty port.
3498 \item[\ib{menu\verb+_+previous\verb+_+page}]
3499 Menu character accelerator to goto the previous menu page.
3500 Implemented by the Amiga, Gem and tty ports.
3502 \item[\ib{menu\verb+_+search}]
3503 Menu character accelerator to search for a menu item.
3504 Implemented by the Amiga, Gem, X11 and tty ports.
3506 \item[\ib{menu\verb+_+select\verb+_+all}]
3507 Menu character accelerator to select all items in a menu.
3508 Implemented by the Amiga, Gem, X11 and tty ports.
3510 \item[\ib{menu\verb+_+select\verb+_+page}]
3511 Menu character accelerator to select all items on this page of a menu.
3512 Implemented by the Amiga, Gem and tty ports.
3515 % \item[\ib{menu\verb+_+tab\verb+_+sep}]
3516 % Format menu entries using TAB to separate columns (default off).
3517 % Only applicable to some menus, and only useful to some interfaces.
3520 \item[\ib{monpolycontrol}]
3521 Prompt for new form whenever any monster changes shape (default off).
3524 \item[\ib{mouse\verb+_+support}]
3525 Allow use of the mouse for input and travel.
3530 {\tt 0} --- disabled\\
3531 {\tt 1} --- enabled and make OS adjustment to support mouse use\\
3532 {\tt 2} --- enabled like {\tt 1}, but does not make any OS adjustments\\
3536 Omitting a value is the same as specifying {\tt 1}
3538 {\it mouse\verb+_+support\/}
3539 is the same as specifying {\tt 0}.
3541 \item[\ib{msghistory}]
3542 The number of top line messages to save (and be able to recall
3543 with `{\tt \^{}P}') (default 20).
3544 Cannot be set with the `{\tt O}' command.
3546 \item[\ib{msg\verb+_+window}]
3547 Allows you to change the way recalled messages are displayed.
3548 Currently it is only supported for tty (all four choices) and for curses
3549 (`{\tt f}' and `{\tt r}' choices, default `{\tt r}').
3550 The possible values are:
3554 {\tt s} --- single message (default; only choice prior to 3.4.0);\\
3555 {\tt c} --- combination, two messages as {\it single\/}, then as {\it full\/};\\
3556 {\tt f} --- full window, oldest message first;\\
3557 {\tt r} --- full window reversed, newest message first.
3561 For backward compatibility, no value needs to be specified (which
3562 defaults to {\it full\/}), or it can be negated (which defaults
3566 Set your character's name (defaults to your user name). You can also
3567 set your character's role by appending a dash and one or more letters of
3568 the role (that is, by suffixing one of
3569 ``{\tt -A -B -C -H -K -M -P -Ra -Ro -S -T -V -W}'').
3570 If ``{\tt -@}'' is used for the role, then a random one will be
3571 automatically chosen.
3572 Cannot be set with the `{\tt O}' command.
3575 Read the {\it NetHack\/} news file, if present (default on).
3576 Since the news is shown at the beginning of the game, there's no point
3577 in setting this with the `{\tt O}' command.
3580 Start the character with no armor (default false). Persistent.
3583 Send padding nulls to the terminal (default on). Persistent.
3585 \item[\ib{number\verb+_+pad}]
3586 Use digit keys instead of letters to move (default 0 or off).\\
3592 \settowidth{\mwidth}{\tt -0}
3593 \newcommand{\numbox}[1]{\makebox[\mwidth][r]{{\tt #1}}}
3594 \numbox{0} --- move by letters; `{\tt yuhjklbn}'\\
3595 \numbox{1} --- move by numbers; digit `{\tt 5}' acts as `{\tt G}' movement prefix\\
3596 \numbox{2} --- like {\tt 1} but `{\tt 5}' works as `{\tt g}' prefix instead of as `{\tt G}'\\
3597 \numbox{3} --- by numbers using phone key layout; {\tt 123} above, {\tt 789} below\\
3598 \numbox{4} --- combines {\tt 3} with {\tt 2}; phone layout plus MS-DOS compatibility\\
3599 \numbox{-1} --- by letters but use `{\tt z}' to go northwest, `{\tt y}' to zap wands
3603 For backward compatibility, omitting a value is the same as specifying {\tt 1}
3605 {\it number\verb+_+pad\/}
3606 is the same as specifying {\tt 0}.
3607 (Settings {\tt 2} and {\tt 4} are for compatibility with MS-DOS or old PC Hack;
3608 in addition to the different behavior for `{\tt 5}', `{\tt Alt-5}' acts as `{\tt G}'
3609 and `{\tt Alt-0}' acts as `{\tt I}'.
3610 Setting {\tt -1} is to accommodate some QWERTZ keyboards which have the
3611 location of the `{\tt y}' and `{\tt z}' keys swapped.)
3612 When moving by numbers, to enter a count prefix for those commands
3613 which accept one (such as ``{\tt 12s}'' to search twelve times), precede it
3614 with the letter `{\tt n}' (``{\tt n12s}'').
3616 \item[\ib{packorder}]
3617 Specify the order to list object types in (default
3618 ``\verb&")[%?+!=/(*`0_&''). The value of this option should be a string
3619 containing the symbols for the various object types. Any omitted types
3620 are filled in at the end from the previous order.
3622 \item[\ib{paranoid\verb+_+confirmation}]
3623 A space separated list of specific situations where alternate
3624 prompting is desired. The default is ``{\it paranoid\verb+_+confirmation:pray}''.
3627 \newlength{\pcwidth}
3628 \settowidth{\pcwidth}{\tt Were-change}
3629 \addtolength{\pcwidth}{\labelsep}
3630 \blist{\leftmargin \pcwidth \topsep 1mm \itemsep 0mm}
3631 \item[{\tt Confirm}]
3632 for any prompts which are set to require ``yes''
3633 rather than `y', also require ``no'' to reject instead
3634 of accepting any non-yes response as no;
3635 \item[{\tt quit~~~}]
3636 require ``{\tt yes}'' rather than `{\tt y}' to confirm quitting
3637 the game or switching into non-scoring explore mode;
3638 \item[{\tt die~~~~}]
3639 require ``{\tt yes}'' rather than `{\tt y}' to confirm dying (not
3640 useful in normal play; applies to explore mode);
3641 \item[{\tt bones~~}]
3642 require ``{\tt yes}'' rather than `{\tt y}' to confirm saving
3643 bones data when dying in debug mode
3644 \item[{\tt attack~}]
3645 require ``{\tt yes}'' rather than `{\tt y}' to confirm attacking
3647 \item[{\tt wand-break}]
3648 require ``{\tt yes}'' rather than `{\tt y}' to confirm breaking
3651 require ``{\tt yes}'' rather than `{\tt y}' to confirm whether to
3653 \item[{\tt Were-change}]
3654 require ``{\tt yes}'' rather than `{\tt y}' to confirm changing form
3656 when hero has polymorph control;
3657 \item[{\tt pray~~~}]
3658 require `{\tt y}' to confirm an attempt to pray rather
3659 than immediately praying; on by default;
3660 \item[{\tt Remove~}] require selection from inventory for `{\tt R}'
3662 commands even when wearing just one applicable item.
3663 \item[{\tt all~~~~}]
3664 turn on all of the above.
3668 By default, the pray choice is enabled, the others disabled.
3669 To disable it without setting
3670 any of the other choices, use ``{\it paranoid\verb+_+confirmation:none}''. To keep
3671 it enabled while setting others, include it in the list,
3672 such as ``{\it par\-a\-noid\verb+_+con\-fir\-ma\-tion:attack~pray~Remove}''.
3674 \item[\ib{perm\verb+_+invent}]
3675 If true, always display your current inventory in a window. This only
3676 makes sense for windowing system interfaces that implement this feature.
3678 %.\" petattr is a wincap option but we'll document it here...
3680 Specifies one or more text highlighting attributes to use when showing
3682 Effectively a superset of the {\it hilite\verb+_+pet\/} boolean option.
3683 Curses interface only; value is one or more of the following letters.
3687 {\tt n} --- Normal text (no highlighting)\\
3688 {\tt i} --- Inverse video (default)\\
3689 {\tt b} --- Bold text\\
3690 {\tt u} --- Underlined text\\
3691 {\tt k} --- blinKing text\\
3692 {\tt d} --- Dim text\\
3693 {\tt t} --- iTalic text\\
3694 {\tt l} --- Left line indicator\\
3695 {\tt r} --- Right line indicator\\
3699 Some of those choices might not work, particularly the final three,
3700 depending upon terminal hardware or terminal emulation software.
3703 Currently multiple highlight-style letters can be combined by simply
3704 stringing them together (for example, ``bk''), but in the future
3705 they might require being separated by plus signs (such as ``b\verb&+&k'',
3706 which works already).
3707 When using the `n' choice, it should be specified on its own,
3708 not in combination with any of the other letters.
3712 Specify the type of your initial pet, if you are playing a character class
3713 that uses multiple types of pets; or choose to have no initial pet at all.
3714 Possible values are ``{\tt cat}'', ``{\tt dog}'', ``{\tt horse}''
3716 If the choice is not allowed for the role you are currently playing,
3717 it will be silently ignored. For example, ``{\tt horse}'' will only be
3718 honored when playing a knight.
3719 Cannot be set with the `{\tt O}' command.
3721 \item[\ib{pickup\verb+_+burden}]
3722 When you pick up an item that would exceed this encumbrance
3723 level (Unencumbered, Burdened, streSsed, straiNed, overTaxed,
3724 or overLoaded), you will be asked if you want to continue.
3725 (Default `S'). Persistent.
3727 \item[\ib{pickup\verb+_+thrown}]
3728 If this option is on and ``{\it autopickup\/}'' is also on, try to pick up
3729 things that you threw, even if they aren't in
3730 ``{\it pickup\verb+_+types\/}'' or
3731 match an autopickup exception. Default is on. Persistent.
3733 \item[\ib{pickup\verb+_+types}]
3734 Specify the object types to be picked up when ``{\it autopickup\/}''
3735 is on. Default is all types. You can use
3736 ``{\it autopickup\verb+_+exception\/}''
3737 configuration file lines to further refine ``{\it autopickup\/}'' behavior.
3740 \item[\ib{pile\verb+_+limit}]
3741 When walking across a pile of objects on the floor, threshold at which
3742 the message ``there are few/several/many objects here'' is given instead
3743 of showing a popup list of those objects. A value of 0 means ``no limit''
3744 (always list the objects); a value of 1 effectively means ``never show
3745 the objects'' since the pile size will always be at least that big;
3746 default value is 5. Persistent.
3748 \item[\ib{playmode}]
3749 Values are {\it normal\/}, {\it explore\/}, or {\it debug\/}.
3750 Allows selection of explore mode (also known as discovery mode) or debug
3751 mode (also known as wizard mode) instead of normal play.
3752 Debug mode might only be allowed for someone logged in under a particular
3753 user name (on multi-user systems) or specifying a particular character
3754 name (on single-user systems) or it might be disabled entirely. Requesting
3755 it when not allowed or not possible results in explore mode instead.
3756 Default is normal play.
3758 \item[\ib{pushweapon}]
3759 Using the `w' (wield) command when already wielding
3760 something pushes the old item into your alternate weapon slot (default off).
3761 Likewise for the `a' (apply) command if it causes the applied item to
3762 become wielded. Persistent.
3765 Selects your race (for example, ``{\tt race:human}''). Default is random.
3766 If you prefix the value with `{\tt !}' or ``{\tt no}'', you will
3767 exclude that race from being picked randomly.
3768 Cannot be set with the `{\tt O}' command. Persistent.
3770 \item[\ib{rest\verb+_+on\verb+_+space}]
3771 Make the space bar a synonym for the `{\tt .}' (\#wait) command (default off).
3775 Pick your type of character (for example, ``{\tt role:Samurai}'');
3776 synonym for ``{\it character\/}''. See ``{\it name\/}'' for an alternate method
3777 of specifying your role. Normally only the first letter of the
3778 value is examined; `r' is an exception with ``{\tt Rogue}'', {\tt Ranger}'',
3779 and ``{\tt random}'' values.
3780 If you prefix the value with `{\tt !}' or ``{\tt no}'', you will
3781 exclude that role from being picked randomly.
3782 Cannot be set with the `{\tt O}' command. Persistent.
3784 \item[\ib{roguesymset}]
3785 This option may be used to select one of the named symbol sets found within
3786 {\tt symbols} to alter the symbols displayed on the screen on the
3790 When writing out a save file, perform run length compression of the map.
3791 Not all ports support run length compression. It has no
3792 effect on reading an existing save file.
3795 Controls the amount of screen updating for the map window when engaged
3796 in multi-turn movement (running via {\tt shift}+direction
3797 or {\tt control}+direction
3798 and so forth, or via the travel command or mouse click).
3799 The possible values are:
3803 {\tt teleport} --- update the map after movement has finished;\\
3804 {\tt run} --- update the map after every seven or so steps;\\
3805 {\tt walk} --- update the map after each step;\\
3806 {\tt crawl} --- like {\it walk\/}, but pause briefly after each step.
3810 This option only affects the game's screen display, not the actual
3811 results of moving. The default is {\it run\/}; versions prior to 3.4.1
3812 used {\it teleport\/} only. Whether or not the effect is noticeable will
3813 depend upon the window port used or on the type of terminal. Persistent.
3815 \item[\ib{safe\verb+_+pet}]
3816 Prevent you from (knowingly) attacking your pets (default on). Persistent.
3818 \item[\ib{sanity\verb+_+check}]
3819 Evaluate monsters, objects, and map prior to each turn (default off).
3823 Control what parts of the score list you are shown at the end (for example,
3824 ``{\tt scores:5top scores/4around my score/own scores}''). Only the first
3825 letter of each category (`{\tt t}', `{\tt a}' or `{\tt o}') is necessary.
3829 Show your accumulated experience points on bottom line (default off).
3832 \item[\ib{showrace}]
3833 Display yourself as the glyph for your race, rather than the glyph
3834 for your role (default off). Note that this setting affects only
3835 the appearance of the display, not the way the game treats you.
3838 \item[\ib{showscore}]
3839 Show your approximate accumulated score on bottom line (default off).
3843 Suppress terminal beeps (default on). Persistent.
3845 \item[\ib{sortloot}]
3846 Controls the sorting behavior of pickup lists for inventory
3847 and \#loot commands and some others. Persistent.
3849 The possible values are:
3852 {\tt full} --- always sort the lists;\\
3853 {\tt loot} --- only sort the lists that don't use inventory
3854 letters, like with the \#loot and pickup commands;\\
3855 {\tt none} --- show lists the traditional way without sorting.
3859 \item[\ib{sortpack}]
3860 Sort the pack contents by type when displaying inventory (default on).
3864 Display a sparkly effect when a monster (including yourself) is hit by an
3865 attack to which it is resistant (default on). Persistent.
3867 \item[\ib{standout}]
3868 Boldface monsters and ``{\tt --More--}'' (default off). Persistent.
3870 \item[\ib{statushilites}]
3871 Controls how many turns status hilite behaviors highlight
3872 the field. If negated or set to zero, disables status hiliting.
3873 See ``{\it Configuring Status Hilites\/}'' for further information.
3875 \item[\ib{status\verb+_+updates}]
3876 Allow updates to the status lines at the bottom of the screen (default true).
3878 \item[\ib{suppress\verb+_+alert}]
3879 This option may be set to a {\it NetHack\/} version level to suppress
3880 alert notification messages about feature changes for that
3881 and prior versions (for example, ``{\tt suppress\verb+_+alert:3.3.1}'')
3884 This option may be used to select one of the named symbol sets found within
3885 {\tt symbols} to alter the symbols displayed on the screen.
3886 Use ``{\tt symset:default}'' to explicitly select the default symbols.
3889 Show the elapsed game time in turns on bottom line (default off). Persistent.
3891 \item[\ib{timed\verb+_+delay}]
3892 When pausing momentarily for display effect, such as with explosions and
3893 moving objects, use a timer rather than sending extra characters to the
3894 screen. (Applies to ``tty'' interface only; ``X11'' interface always
3895 uses a timer based delay. The default is on if configured into the
3896 program.) Persistent.
3898 \item[\ib{tombstone}]
3899 Draw a tombstone graphic upon your death (default on). Persistent.
3901 \item[\ib{toptenwin}]
3902 Put the ending display in a {\it NetHack\/} window instead of on stdout (default off).
3903 Setting this option makes the score list visible when a windowing version
3904 of {\it NetHack\/} is started without a parent window, but it no longer leaves
3905 the score list around after game end on a terminal or emulating window.
3908 Allow the travel command (default on). Turning this option off will
3909 prevent the game from attempting unintended moves if you make inadvertent
3910 mouse clicks on the map window. Persistent.
3912 % \item[ib{travel\verb+_+debug}]
3913 % Display intended path during each step of travel (default off).
3917 Provide more commentary during the game (default on). Persistent.
3919 \item[\ib{whatis\verb+_+coord}]
3920 When using the `{\tt /}' or `{\tt ;}' commands to look around on the map with
3921 ``{\tt autodescribe}''
3922 on, display coordinates after the description.
3923 Also works in other situations where you are asked to pick a location.\\
3926 The possible settings are:
3930 {\tt c} --- \verb#compass ('east' or '3s' or '2n,4w')#;\\
3931 {\tt f} --- \verb#full compass ('east' or '3south' or '2north,4west')#;\\
3932 {\tt m} --- \verb#map <x,y> (map column x=0 is not used)#;\\
3933 {\tt s} --- \verb#screen [row,column] (row is offset to match tty usage)#;\\
3934 {\tt n} --- \verb#none (no coordinates shown) [default]#.
3940 {\it whatis\verb+_+coord\/}
3941 option is also used with
3942 the `{\tt /m}', `{\tt /M}', `{\tt /o}', and `{\tt /O}' sub-commands
3944 where the `{\it none\/}' setting is overridden with `{\it map}'.
3946 \item[\ib{whatis\verb+_+filter}]
3947 When getting a location on the map, and using the keys to cycle through
3948 next and previous targets, allows filtering the possible targets.
3951 The possible settings are:
3955 {\tt n} --- \verb#no filtering#;\\
3956 {\tt v} --- \verb#in view only#;\\
3957 {\tt a} --- \verb#in same area (room, corridor, etc)#.
3961 The area-filter tries to be slightly predictive -- if you're standing
3962 on a doorway, it will consider the area on the side of the door you
3963 were last moving towards.\\
3965 Filtering can also be changed when getting a location with
3966 the ``getpos.filter'' key.
3968 \item[\ib{whatis\verb+_+menu}]
3969 When getting a location on the map, and using a key to cycle through
3970 next and previous targets, use a menu instead to pick a target.
3973 \item[\ib{whatis\verb+_+moveskip}]
3974 When getting a location on the map, and using shifted movement keys or
3975 meta-digit keys to fast-move, instead of moving 8 units at a time,
3976 move by skipping the same glyphs.
3979 \item[\ib{windowtype}]
3980 When the program has been built to support multiple interfaces,
3981 select whichone to use, such as ``{\tt tty}'' or ``{\tt X11}''
3982 (default depends on build-time settings; use ``{\tt \#version}'' to check).
3983 Cannot be set with the `{\tt O}' command.
3986 When used, it should be the first option set since its value might
3987 enable or disable the availability of various other options.
3988 For multiple lines in a configuration file, that would be the first
3990 For a comma-separated list in NETHACKOPTIONS or an OPTIONS line in a
3991 configuration file, that would be the {\it rightmost\/} option in the list.
3993 \item[\ib{wizweight}]
3994 Augment object descriptions with their objects' weight (default off).
3997 \item[\ib{zerocomp}]
3998 When writing out a save file, perform zero-comp compression of the
3999 contents. Not all ports support zero-comp compression. It has no effect
4000 on reading an existing save file.
4004 \subsection*{Window Port Customization options}
4007 Here are explanations of the various options that are
4008 used to customize and change the characteristics of the
4009 windowtype that you have chosen.
4010 Character strings that are too long may be truncated.
4011 Not all window ports will adjust for all settings listed
4012 here. You can safely add any of these options to your
4013 configuration file, and if the window port is capable of adjusting
4014 to suit your preferences, it will attempt to do so. If it
4015 can't it will silently ignore it. You can find out if an
4016 option is supported by the window port that you are currently
4017 using by checking to see if it shows up in the Options list.
4018 Some options are dynamic and can be specified during the game
4019 with the `{\tt O}' command.
4023 \item[\ib{align\verb+_+message}]
4024 Where to align or place the message window (top, bottom, left, or right)
4026 \item[\ib{align\verb+_+status}]
4027 Where to align or place the status window (top, bottom, left, or right).
4029 \item[\ib{ascii\verb+_+map}]
4030 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should display an ascii map.
4033 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should display color for different monsters,
4034 objects, and dungeon features.
4037 \item[\ib{eight\verb+_+bit\verb+_+tty}]
4038 Pass eight-bit character values (for example, specified with the
4039 {\it traps \/} option) straight through to your terminal (default off).
4041 \item[\ib{font\verb+_+map}]
4042 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should use a font by the chosen name for the
4045 \item[\ib{font\verb+_+menu}]
4046 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should use a font by the chosen name for menu
4049 \item[\ib{font\verb+_+message}]
4050 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should use a font by the chosen name for the message window.
4052 \item[\ib{font\verb+_+status}]
4053 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should use a font by the chosen name for the status window.
4055 \item[\ib{font\verb+_+text}]
4056 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should use a font by the chosen name for text windows.
4058 \item[\ib{font\verb+_+size\verb+_+map}]
4059 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should use this size font for the map window.
4061 \item[\ib{font\verb+_+size\verb+_+menu}]
4062 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should use this size font for menu windows.
4064 \item[\ib{font\verb+_+size\verb+_+message}]
4065 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should use this size font for the message window.
4067 \item[\ib{font\verb+_+size\verb+_+status}]
4068 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should use this size font for the status window.
4070 \item[\ib{font\verb+_+size\verb+_+text}]
4071 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should use this size font for text windows.
4073 \item[\ib{fullscreen}]
4074 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should try and display on the entire screen rather than in a window.
4076 \item[\ib{guicolor}]
4077 Use color text and/or highlighting attributes when displaying some
4078 non-map data (such as menu selector letters).
4079 Curses interface only; default is on.
4081 \item[\ib{large\verb+_+font}]
4082 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should use a large font.
4084 \item[\ib{map\verb+_+mode}]
4085 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should display the map in the manner specified.
4087 \item[\ib{player\verb+_+selection}]
4088 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should pop up dialog boxes or use prompts for character selection.
4090 \item[\ib{popup\verb+_+dialog}]
4091 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should pop up dialog boxes for input.
4093 \item[\ib{preload\verb+_+tiles}]
4094 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should preload tiles into memory.
4095 For example, in the protected mode MS-DOS version, control whether tiles
4096 get pre-loaded into RAM at the start of the game. Doing so
4097 enhances performance of the tile graphics, but uses more memory. (default on).
4098 Cannot be set with the `{\tt O}' command.
4100 \item[\ib{scroll\verb+_+amount}]
4101 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should scroll the display by this number of cells
4102 when the hero reaches the scroll\verb+_+margin.
4104 \item[\ib{scroll\verb+_+margin}]
4105 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should scroll the display when the hero or cursor
4106 is this number of cells away from the edge of the window.
4108 \item[\ib{selectsaved}]
4109 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should display a menu of existing saved games for the player to
4110 choose from at game startup, if it can. Not all ports support this option.
4112 \item[\ib{softkeyboard}]
4113 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should display an onscreen keyboard.
4114 Handhelds are most likely to support this option.
4116 \item[\ib{splash\verb+_+screen}]
4117 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should display an opening splash screen when
4118 it starts up (default yes).
4120 \item[\ib{statuslines}]
4121 Number of lines for traditional below-the-map status display.
4122 Acceptable values are 2 and 3 (default is 2).
4123 Curses and tty interfaces only.
4125 \item[\ib{term\verb+_+cols} {\normalfont and}]
4127 \item[\ib{term\verb+_+rows}]
4128 Curses interface only.
4129 Number of columns and rows to use for the display.
4130 Curses will attempt to resize to the values specified but will settle
4131 for smaller sizes if they are too big.
4132 Default is the current window size.
4134 \item[\ib{tiled\verb+_+map}]
4135 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should display a tiled map if it can.
4137 \item[\ib{tile\verb+_+file}]
4138 Specify the name of an alternative tile file to override the default.
4140 \item[\ib{tile\verb+_+height}]
4141 Specify the preferred height of each tile in a tile capable port.
4143 \item[\ib{tile\verb+_+width}]
4144 Specify the preferred width of each tile in a tile capable port
4146 \item[\ib{use\verb+_+darkgray}]
4147 Use bold black instead of blue for black glyphs (TTY only).
4149 \item[\ib{use\verb+_+inverse}]
4150 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should display inverse when the game specifies it.
4152 \item[\ib{vary\verb+_+msgcount}]
4153 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should display this number of messages at a time
4154 in the message window.
4156 \item[\ib{windowborders}]
4157 Whether to draw boxes around the map, status area, message area, and
4158 persistent inventory window if enabled.
4159 Curses interface only.
4160 Acceptable values are
4164 {\tt 0} --- off, never show borders\\
4165 {\tt 1} --- on, always show borders\\
4166 {\tt 2} --- auto, on display is at least
4167 (\verb&24+2&)x(\verb&80+2&)\ \ (default)\\
4172 (The 26x82 size threshold for `2' refers to number of rows and
4173 columns of the display.
4174 A width of at least 110 columns (\verb&80+2+26+2&) is needed for
4175 {\it align_status\/}
4176 set to {tt left} or {\tt right}.)
4178 \item[\ib{windowcolors}]
4179 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should display windows with the specified
4180 foreground/background colors. Windows GUI only. The format is
4182 OPTION=windowcolors:wintype foreground/background
4186 where wintype is one of {\it menu}, {\it message}, {\it status}, or {\it text}, and
4187 foreground and background are colors, either a hexadecimal {\it \#rrggbb},
4188 one of the named colors ({\it black}, {\it red}, {\it green}, {\it brown},
4189 {\it blue}, {\it magenta}, {\it cyan}, {\it orange},
4190 {\it brightgreen}, {\it yellow}, {\it brightblue}, {\it brightmagenta},
4191 {\it brightcyan}, {\it white}, {\it trueblack}, {\it gray}, {\it purple},
4192 {\it silver}, {\it maroon}, {\it fuchsia}, {\it lime}, {\it olive},
4193 {\it navy}, {\it teal}, {\it aqua}), or one of Windows UI colors ({\it activeborder},
4194 {\it activecaption}, {\it appworkspace}, {\it background}, {\it btnface}, {\it btnshadow},
4195 {\it btntext}, {\it captiontext}, {\it graytext}, {\it greytext}, {\it highlight},
4196 {\it highlighttext}, {\it inactiveborder}, {\it inactivecaption}, {\it menu},
4197 {\it menutext}, {\it scrollbar}, {\it window}, {\it windowframe}, {\it windowtext}).
4200 \item[\ib{wraptext}]
4201 If {\it NetHack\/} can, it should wrap long lines of text if they don't fit
4202 in the visible area of the window.
4206 \subsection*{Platform-specific Customization options}
4209 Here are explanations of options that are used by specific platforms
4210 or ports to customize and change the port behavior.
4214 \item[\ib{altkeyhandling}]
4215 Select an alternate way to handle keystrokes ({\it Win32 tty\/ NetHack\/} only).
4216 The name of the handling type is one of {\it default}, {\it ray}, {\it 340}
4219 On Amiga, this option controls whether typing ``Alt'' plus another key
4220 functions as a meta-shift for that key (default on).
4223 On other (non-Amiga) systems where this option is available, it can be
4224 set to tell {\it NetHack\/} to convert a two character sequence beginning with
4225 ESC into a meta-shifted version of the second character (default off).
4228 This conversion is only done for commands, not for other input prompts.
4229 Note that typing one or more digits as a count prefix prior to a
4230 command---preceded by {\tt n} if the {\it number\verb+_+pad\/}
4231 option is set---is also subject to this conversion, so attempting to
4232 abort the count by typing ESC will leave {\it NetHack\/} waiting for another
4233 character to complete the two character sequence. Type a second ESC to
4234 finish cancelling such a count. At other prompts a single ESC suffices.
4237 Use BIOS calls to update the screen display quickly and to read the keyboard
4238 (allowing the use of arrow keys to move) on machines with an IBM PC
4239 compatible BIOS ROM (default off, {\it OS/2, PC\/ {\rm and} ST NetHack\/} only).
4242 (default off, {\it Amiga NetHack \/} only).
4244 \item[\ib{Macgraphics}]
4245 (default on, {\it Mac NetHack \/} only).
4247 \item[\ib{page\verb+_+wait}]
4248 (default off, {\it Mac NetHack \/} only).
4251 Force raw (non-cbreak) mode for faster output and more
4252 bulletproof input (MS-DOS sometimes treats `{\tt \^{}P}' as a printer toggle
4253 without it) (default off, {\it OS/2, PC\/ {\rm and} ST NetHack\/} only).
4254 Note: DEC Rainbows hang if this is turned on.
4255 Cannot be set with the `{\tt O}' command.
4257 \item[\ib{soundcard}]
4258 (default off, {\it PC NetHack \/} only).
4259 Cannot be set with the `{\tt O}' command.
4261 \item[\ib{subkeyvalue}]
4262 ({\it Win32 tty NetHack \/} only).
4263 May be used to alter the value of keystrokes that the operating system
4264 returns to {\it NetHack\/} to help compensate for international keyboard
4266 OPTIONS=subkeyvalue:171/92
4267 will return 92 to {\it NetHack\/}, if 171 was originally going to be returned.
4268 You can use multiple subkeyvalue statements in the configuration file
4270 Cannot be set with the `{\tt O}' command.
4273 Set the video mode used ({\it PC\/ NetHack\/} only).
4274 Values are {\it autodetect\/}, {\it default\/}, or {\it vga\/}.
4275 Setting {\it vga\/} (or {\it autodetect\/} with vga hardware present) will
4276 cause the game to display tiles.
4277 Cannot be set with the `{\tt O}' command.
4279 \item[\ib{videocolors}]
4281 Set the color palette for PC systems using NO\verb+_+TERMS
4282 (default 4-2-6-1-5-3-15-12-10-14-9-13-11, {\it PC\/ NetHack\/} only).
4283 The order of colors is red, green, brown, blue, magenta, cyan,
4284 bright.white, bright.red, bright.green, yellow, bright.blue,
4285 bright.magenta, and bright.cyan.
4286 Cannot be set with the `{\tt O}' command.
4289 \item[\ib{videoshades}]
4290 Set the intensity level of the three gray scales available
4291 (default dark normal light, {\it PC\/ NetHack\/} only).
4292 If the game display is difficult to read, try adjusting these scales;
4293 if this does not correct the problem, try {\tt !color}.
4294 Cannot be set with the `{\tt O}' command.
4298 \subsection*{Regular Expressions}
4301 Regular expressions are normally POSIX extended regular expressions. It is
4302 possible to compile {\it NetHack\/} without regular expression support on
4304 there is no regular expression library. While this is not true of any modern
4305 platform, if your {\it NetHack\/} was built this way, patterns are instead glob
4306 patterns. This applies to Autopickup exceptions, Message types, Menu colors,
4310 \subsection*{Configuring Autopickup Exceptions}
4313 You can further refine the behavior of the ``{\tt autopickup}'' option
4314 beyond what is available through the ``{\tt pickup\verb+_+types}'' option.
4317 By placing ``{\tt autopickup\verb+_+exception}'' lines in your configuration
4318 file, you can define patterns to be checked when the game is about to
4319 autopickup something.
4323 \item[\ib{autopickup\verb+_+exception}]
4324 Sets an exception to the ``{\it pickup\verb+_+types}'' option.
4325 The {\it autopickup\verb+_+exception\/} option should be followed by a regular
4326 expression to be used as a pattern to match against the singular form of the
4327 description of an object at your location.
4329 In addition, some characters are treated specially if they occur as the first
4330 character in the pattern, specifically:
4334 {\tt <} --- always pickup an object that matches rest of pattern;\\
4335 {\tt >} --- never pickup an object that matches rest of pattern.
4339 The {\it autopickup\verb+_+exception\/} rules are processed in the order
4340 in which they appear in your configuration file, thus allowing a
4341 later rule to override an earlier rule.
4344 Exceptions can be set with the `{\tt O}' command, but because they are not
4345 included in your configuration file, they won't be in effect if you save
4346 and then restore your game.
4347 {\it autopickup\verb+_+exception\/} rules are not saved with the game.
4350 %.lp "Here are some examples:"
4351 Here are some examples:
4353 autopickup_exception="<*arrow"
4354 autopickup_exception=">*corpse"
4355 autopickup_exception=">* cursed*"
4359 The first example above will result in autopickup of any type of arrow.
4360 The second example results in the exclusion of any corpse from autopickup.
4361 The last example results in the exclusion of items known to be cursed from
4367 \subsection*{Changing Key Bindings}
4370 It is possible to change the default key bindings of some special commands,
4371 menu accelerator keys, and extended commands, by using BIND stanzas in the
4372 configuration file. Format is key, followed by the command to bind to,
4373 separated by a colon. The key can be a single character (``{\tt x}''),
4374 a control key (``{\tt \^{}X}'', ``{\tt C-x}''), a meta key (``{\tt M-x}''),
4375 or a three-digit decimal ASCII code.
4381 BIND=^X:getpos.autodescribe
4382 BIND={:menu_first_page
4387 %.lp "Extended command keys"
4388 \item[\tb{Extended command keys}]
4389 You can bind multiple keys to the same extended command. Unbind a key by
4390 using ``{\tt nothing}'' as the extended command to bind to. You can also bind
4391 the ``{\tt <esc>}'', ``{\tt <enter>}'', and ``{\tt <space>}'' keys.
4393 %.lp "Menu accelerator keys"
4394 \item[\tb{Menu accelerator keys}]
4395 The menu control or accelerator keys can also be rebound via OPTIONS lines
4396 in the configuration file.
4397 You cannot bind object symbols into menu accelerators.
4399 %.lp "Special command keys"
4400 \item[\tb{Special command keys}]
4401 Below are the special commands you can rebind. Some of them can be bound to
4402 same keys with no problems, others are in the same ``context'', and if bound
4403 to same keys, only one of those commands will be available. Special command
4404 can only be bound to a single key.
4408 \blist{\itemindent 10mm \labelwidth 15mm \rightmargin 15mm}
4411 Prefix key to start a count, to repeat a command this many times.
4412 With {\it number\verb+_+pad\/} only. Default is~`{\tt n}'.
4415 Show inventory. With {\it number\verb+_+pad\/} only. Default is~`{\tt 0}'.
4418 Prefix key to force fight a direction. Default is~`{\tt F}'.
4420 \item[{\bb{fight.numpad}}]
4421 Prefix key to force fight a direction. With {\it number\verb+_+pad\/} only.
4422 Default is~`{\tt -}'.
4424 \item[{\bb{getdir.help}}]
4425 When asked for a direction, the key to show the help. Default is~`{\tt ?}'.
4427 \item[{\bb{getdir.self}}]
4428 When asked for a direction, the key to target yourself. Default is~`{\tt .}'.
4430 \item[{\bb{getdir.self2}}]
4431 When asked for a direction, the key to target yourself. Default is~`{\tt s}'.
4433 \item[{\bb{getpos.autodescribe}}]
4434 When asked for a location, the key to toggle {\it autodescribe\/}.
4435 Default is~`{\tt \#}'.
4437 \item[{\bb{getpos.all.next}}]
4438 When asked for a location, the key to go to next closest interesting thing.
4439 Default is~`{\tt a}'.
4441 \item[{\bb{getpos.all.prev}}]
4442 When asked for a location, the key to go to previous closest interesting thing.
4443 Default is~`{\tt A}'.
4445 \item[{\bb{getpos.door.next}}]
4446 When asked for a location, the key to go to next closest door or doorway.
4447 Default is~`{\tt d}'.
4449 \item[{\bb{getpos.door.prev}}]
4450 When asked for a location, the key to go to previous closest door or doorway.
4451 Default is~`{\tt D}'.
4453 \item[{\bb{getpos.help}}]
4454 When asked for a location, the key to show help. Default is~`{\tt ?}'.
4456 \item[{\bb{getpos.mon.next}}]
4457 When asked for a location, the key to go to next closest monster.
4458 Default is~`{\tt m}'.
4460 \item[{\bb{getpos.mon.prev}}]
4461 When asked for a location, the key to go to previous closest monster.
4462 Default is~`{\tt M}'.
4464 \item[{\bb{getpos.obj.next}}]
4465 When asked for a location, the key to go to next closest object.
4466 Default is~`{\tt o}'.
4468 \item[{\bb{getpos.obj.prev}}]
4469 When asked for a location, the key to go to previous closest object.
4470 Default is~`{\tt O}'.
4472 \item[{\bb{getpos.menu}}]
4473 When asked for a location, and using one of the next or previous keys to
4474 cycle through targets, toggle showing a menu instead. Default is~`{\tt !}'.
4476 \item[{\bb{getpos.moveskip}}]
4477 When asked for a location, and using the shifted movement keys or
4478 meta-digit keys to fast-move around, move by skipping the same glyphs
4479 instead of by 8 units.
4480 Default is~`{\tt *}'.
4482 \item[{\bb{getpos.filter}}]
4483 When asked for a location, change the filtering mode when using one of
4484 the next or previous keys to cycle through targets. Toggles between no
4485 filtering, in view only, and in the same area only. Default is~`{\tt "}'.
4487 \item[{\bb{getpos.pick}}]
4488 When asked for a location, the key to choose the location, and possibly
4489 ask for more info. Default is~`{\tt .}'.
4491 \item[{\bb{getpos.pick.once}}]
4492 When asked for a location, the key to choose the location, and skip
4493 asking for more info. Default is~`{\tt ,}'.
4495 \item[{\bb{getpos.pick.quick}}]
4496 When asked for a location, the key to choose the location, skip asking
4497 for more info, and exit the location asking loop. Default is~`{\tt ;}'.
4499 \item[{\bb{getpos.pick.verbose}}]
4500 When asked for a location, the key to choose the location, and show more
4501 info without asking. Default is~`{\tt :}'.
4503 \item[{\bb{getpos.self}}]
4504 When asked for a location, the key to go to your location.
4505 Default is~`{\tt @}'.
4507 \item[{\bb{getpos.unexplored.next}}]
4508 When asked for a location, the key to go to next closest unexplored location.
4509 Default is~`{\tt x}'.
4511 \item[{\bb{getpos.unexplored.prev}}]
4512 When asked for a location, the key to go to previous closest unexplored
4513 location. Default is~`{\tt X}'.
4515 \item[{\bb{getpos.valid}}]
4516 When asked for a location, the key to go to show valid target locations.
4517 Default is~`{\tt \$}'.
4519 \item[{\bb{getpos.valid.next}}]
4520 When asked for a location, the key to go to next closest valid location.
4521 Default is~`{\tt z}'.
4523 \item[{\bb{getpos.valid.prev}}]
4524 When asked for a location, the key to go to previous closest valid location.
4525 Default is~`{\tt Z}'.
4527 \item[{\bb{nopickup}}]
4528 Prefix key to move without picking up items. Default is~`{\tt m}'.
4530 \item[{\bb{redraw}}]
4531 Key to redraw the screen. Default is~`{\tt \^{}R}'.
4533 \item[{\bb{redraw.numpad}}]
4534 Key to redraw the screen. With {\it number\verb+_+pad\/} only.
4535 Default is~`{\tt \^{}L}'.
4537 \item[{\bb{repeat}}]
4538 Key to repeat previous command. Default is~`{\tt \^{}A}'.
4540 \item[{\bb{reqmenu}}]
4541 Prefix key to request menu from some commands. Default is~`{\tt m}'.
4544 Prefix key to run towards a direction. Default is~`{\tt G}'.
4546 \item[{\bb{run.nopickup}}]
4547 Prefix key to run towards a direction without picking up items on the way.
4548 Default is~`{\tt M}'.
4550 \item[{\bb{run.numpad}}]
4551 Prefix key to run towards a direction. With {\it number\verb+_+pad\/} only.
4552 Default is~`{\tt 5}'.
4555 Prefix key to rush towards a direction. Default is~`{\tt g}'.
4560 \subsection*{Configuring Message Types}
4563 You can change the way the messages are shown in the message area, when
4564 the message matches a user-defined pattern.
4567 In general, the configuration file entries to describe the message types
4570 MSGTYPE=type "pattern"
4575 how the message should be shown:
4579 {\tt show} --- show message normally.\\
4580 {\tt hide} --- never show the message.\\
4581 {\tt stop} --- wait for user with more-prompt.\\
4582 {\tt norep} --- show the message once, but not again if no other message is
4588 the pattern to match. The pattern should be a regular expression.
4592 Here's an example of message types using {\it NetHack's\/} internal
4593 pattern matching facility:
4596 MSGTYPE=stop "You feel hungry."
4597 MSGTYPE=hide "You displaced *."
4600 specifies that whenever a message ``You feel hungry'' is shown,
4601 the user is prompted with more-prompt, and a message matching
4602 ``You displaced \verb+<+something\verb+>+'' is not shown at all.
4605 The order of the defined MSGTYPE lines is important; the last matching
4606 rule is used. Put the general case first, exceptions below them.
4612 \subsection*{Configuring Menu Colors}
4615 Some platforms allow you to define colors used in menu lines when the
4616 line matches a user-defined pattern.
4617 At this time the tty, curses, win32tty and
4618 win32gui interfaces support this.
4621 In general, the configuration file entries to describe the menu color mappings
4624 MENUCOLOR="pattern"=color&attribute
4630 the pattern to match;
4633 the color to use for lines matching the pattern;
4635 \item[\ib{attribute}]
4636 the attribute to use for lines matching the pattern. The attribute is
4637 optional, and if left out, you must also leave out the preceding ampersand.
4638 If no attribute is defined, no attribute is used.
4642 The pattern should be a regular expression.
4645 Allowed colors are {\it black}, {\it red}, {\it green}, {\it brown},
4646 {\it blue}, {\it magenta}, {\it cyan}, {\it gray}, {\it orange},
4647 {\it light-green}, {\it yellow}, {\it light-blue}, {\it light-magenta},
4648 {\it light-cyan}, and {\it white}.
4649 And {\it no-color}, the default foreground color, which isn't necessarily
4650 the same as any of the other colors.
4653 Allowed attributes are {\it none}, {\it bold}, {\it dim}, {\it underline},
4654 {\it blink}, and {\it inverse}.
4655 {\it Normal\/} is a synonym for {\it none}.
4656 Note that the platform used may interpret the attributes any way it
4660 Here's an example of menu colors using {\it NetHack's\/} internal
4661 pattern matching facility:
4664 MENUCOLOR="* blessed *"=green
4665 MENUCOLOR="* cursed *"=red
4666 MENUCOLOR="* cursed *(being worn)"=red&underline
4669 specifies that any menu line with ``~blessed~'' contained
4670 in it will be shown in green color, lines with ``~cursed~'' will be
4671 shown in red, and lines with ``~cursed~'' followed by ``(being worn)''
4672 on the same line will be shown in red color and underlined.
4673 You can have multiple MENUCOLOR entries in your configuration file,
4674 and the last MENUCOLOR line that matches
4675 a menu line will be used for the line.
4678 Note that if you intend to have one or more color specifications match
4679 ``~uncursed~'', you will probably want to turn the
4680 {\it implicit\verb+_+uncursed\/}
4681 option off so that all items known to be uncursed are actually
4682 displayed with the ``uncursed'' description.
4686 \subsection*{Configuring User Sounds}
4689 Some platforms allow you to define sound files to be played when a message
4690 that matches a user-defined pattern is delivered to the message window.
4691 At this time the Qt port and the win32tty and win32gui ports support the
4695 The following configuration file entries are relevant to mapping user sounds
4700 \item[\ib{SOUNDDIR}]
4701 The directory that houses the sound files to be played.
4704 An entry that maps a sound file to a user-specified message pattern.
4705 Each SOUND entry is broken down into the following parts:
4709 {\tt MESG } --- message window mapping (the only one supported in 3.6);\\
4710 {\tt pattern } --- the pattern to match;\\
4711 {\tt sound file} --- the sound file to play;\\
4712 {\tt volume } --- the volume to be set while playing the sound file.
4718 The pattern should be a regular expression.
4722 \subsection*{Configuring Status Hilites}
4725 Your copy of {\it NetHack\/} may have been compiled with support
4726 for {\it Status Hilites}.
4727 If so, you can customize your game display by setting thresholds to
4728 change the color or appearance of fields in the status display.
4730 The format for defining status colors is:\\
4732 OPTION=hilite_status:field-name/behavior/color&attributes
4735 For example, the following line in your configuration file will cause
4736 the hitpoints field to display in the color red if your hitpoints
4737 drop to or below a threshold of 30%:\\
4739 OPTION=hilite_status:hitpoints/<=30%/red/normal
4741 (That example is actually specifying {\tt red\&normal} for {\tt <=30\%}
4742 and {\tt no-color\&normal} for {\tt >30\%}.)\\
4744 For another example, the following line in your configuration file will cause
4745 wisdom to be displayed red if it drops and green if it rises:\\
4747 OPTION=hilite_status:wisdom/down/red/up/green
4750 Allowed colors are black, red, green, brown, blue, magenta, cyan, gray,
4751 orange, light-green, yellow, light-blue, light-magenta, light-cyan, and white.
4752 And {\it no-color}, the default foreground color on the display, which
4753 is not necessarily the same as black or white or any of the other colors.
4755 Allowed attributes are none, bold, dim, underline, blink, and inverse.
4756 ``Normal'' is a synonym for ``none''; they should not be used in
4757 combination with any of the other attributes.
4759 To specify both a color and an attribute, use `\&' to combine them.
4760 To specify multiple attributes, use `+' to combine those.
4763 For example: {\tt magenta\&inverse+dim}.
4765 Note that the display may substitute or ignore particular attributes
4766 depending upon its capabilities, and in general may interpret the
4767 attributes any way it wants.
4768 For example, on some display systems a request for bold might yield
4769 blink or vice versa.
4770 On others, issuing an attribute request while another is already
4771 set up will replace the earlier attribute rather than combine with it.
4772 Since nethack issues attribute requests sequentially (at least with
4773 the {\it tty} interface) rather than all at once, the only way a
4774 situation like that can be controlled is to specify just one attribute.
4776 You can adjust the display of the following status fields:
4779 \begin{tabular}{lll}
4781 title & dungeon-level & experience-level\\
4782 strength & gold & experience\\
4783 dexterity & hitpoints & HD\\
4784 constitution & hitpoints-max & time\\
4785 intelligence & power & hunger\\
4786 wisdom & power-max & carrying-capacity\\
4787 charisma & armor-class & condition\\
4788 alignment & & score\\
4789 %TABLE_END Do not delete this line.
4794 The pseudo-field `characteristics' can be used to set all six
4795 of Str, Dex, Con, Int, Wis, and Cha at once. `HD' is `hit dice',
4796 an approximation of experience level displayed when polymorphed.
4797 `experience', `time', and `score' are conditionally displayed
4798 depending upon your other option settings.
4801 Instead of a behavior, `condition' takes the following condition flags:
4802 {\it stone}, {\it slime}, {\it strngl}, {\it foodpois}, {\it termill},
4803 {\it blind}, {\it deaf}, {\it stun}, {\it conf}, {\it hallu},
4804 {\it lev}, {\it fly}, and {\it ride}.
4805 You can use `major\_troubles' as an alias
4806 for stone through termill, `minor\_troubles' for blind through hallu,
4807 `movement' for lev, fly, and ride, and `all' for every condition.
4810 Allowed behaviors are ``always'', ``up'', ``down'', ``changed'', a
4811 percentage or absolute number threshold, or text to match against.
4815 \item[{\tt always}] will set the default attributes for that field.
4817 \item[{\tt up}{\normalfont, }{\tt down}] set the field attributes
4818 for when the field value changes upwards or downwards. This attribute
4819 times out after {\tt statushilites} turns.
4821 \item[{\tt changed}] sets the field attribute for when the field value
4822 changes. This attribute times out after {\tt statushilites} turns.
4823 (If a field has both a ``changed'' rule and an ``up'' or ``down''
4824 rule which matches a change in the field's value,
4825 the ``up'' or ``down'' one takes precedence.)
4827 \item[{\tt percentage}] sets the field attribute when the field value
4828 matches the percentage.
4829 It is specified as a number between 0 and 100, followed by `{\tt \%}'
4831 If the percentage is prefixed with `{\tt <=}' or `{\tt >=}',
4832 it also matches when value is below or above the percentage.
4833 Use prefix `{\tt <}' or `{\tt >}' to match when strictly below or above.
4834 (The numeric limit is relaxed slightly for those: {\tt >-1\%}
4835 and {\tt <101\%} are allowed.)
4836 Only four fields support percentage rules.
4837 Percentages for ``{\it hitpoints\/}'' and ``{\it power\/}'' are
4838 straightforward; they're based on the corresponding maximum field.
4839 Percentage highlight rules are also allowed for ``{\it experience level\/}''
4840 and ``{\it experience points\/}'' (valid when the
4843 For those, the percentage is based on the progress from the start of
4844 the current experience level to the start of the next level.
4845 So if level 2 starts at 20 points and level 3 starts at 40 points,
4846 having 30 points is 50\% and 35 points is 75\%.
4847 100\% is unattainable for experience because you'll gain a level and
4848 the calculations will be reset for that new level, but a rule for
4849 {\tt =100\%} is allowed and matches the special case of being
4850 exactly 1 experience point short of the next level.
4851 % (If you manage to reach level 30, there is no next level and the
4852 % percentage will remain at 0\% no matter have many additional experience
4855 \item[{\tt absolute}] value sets the attribute when the field value
4856 matches that number.
4857 The number must be 0 or higher, except for ``{\it armor-class\/} which
4858 allows negative values, and may optionally be preceded by `{\tt =}'.
4859 If the number is preceded by `{\tt <=}' or `{\tt >=}' instead,
4860 it also matches when value is below or above.
4861 If the prefix is `{\tt <}' or `{\tt >}', only match when strictly
4864 \item[{\tt text}] match sets the attribute when the field value matches the text.
4865 Text matches can only be used for ``{\it alignment\/}'',
4866 ``{\it carrying-capacity\/}'', ``{\it hunger\/}'', ``{\it dungeon-level\/}'',
4867 and ``{\it title\/}''.
4868 For title, only the role's rank title
4869 is tested; the character's name is ignored.
4873 The in-game options menu can help you determine the correct syntax for a
4876 The whole feature can be disable by setting option {\it statushilites} to 0.
4880 OPTION=hilite_status: gold/up/yellow/down/brown
4881 OPTION=hilite_status: characteristics/up/green/down/red
4882 OPTION=hilite_status: hitpoints/100%/gray&normal
4883 OPTION=hilite_status: hitpoints/<100%/green&normal
4884 OPTION=hilite_status: hitpoints/<66%/yellow&normal
4885 OPTION=hilite_status: hitpoints/<50%/orange&normal
4886 OPTION=hilite_status: hitpoints/<33%/red&bold
4887 OPTION=hilite_status: hitpoints/<15%/red&inverse
4888 OPTION=hilite_status: condition/major/orange&inverse
4889 OPTION=hilite_status: condition/lev+fly/red&inverse
4894 \subsection*{Modifying {\it NetHack\/} Symbols}
4897 {\it NetHack\/} can load entire symbol sets from the symbol file.
4900 The options that are used to select a particular symbol set from the
4906 Set the name of the symbol set that you want to load.
4910 \item[\ib{roguesymset}]
4911 Set the name of the symbol set that you want to load for display
4915 You can also override one or more symbols using the {\it SYMBOLS\/} and
4916 {\it ROGUESYMBOLS\/} configuration file options.
4917 Symbols are specified as {\it name:value\/} pairs.
4918 Note that {\it NetHack\/} escape-processes
4919 the {\it value\/} string in conventional C fashion.
4920 This means that `\verb+\+' is a prefix to take the following character
4922 Thus `\verb+\+' needs to be represented as `\verb+\\+'.
4924 `\verb+\m+' switches on the meta bit in the symbol value, and the
4925 `{\tt \^{}}' prefix causes the following character to be treated as a control
4930 \begin{longtable}{lll}
4931 \caption[]{NetHack Symbols}\\
4932 Default & Symbol Name & Description\\
4935 \verb@ @ & S\verb+_+air & (air)\\
4936 \_ & S\verb+_+altar & (altar)\\
4937 \verb@"@ & S\verb+_+amulet & (amulet)\\
4938 \verb@A@ & S\verb+_+angel & (angelic being)\\
4939 \verb@a@ & S\verb+_+ant & (ant or other insect)\\
4940 \verb@^@ & S\verb+_+anti\verb+_+magic\verb+_+trap & (anti-magic field)\\
4941 \verb@[@ & S\verb+_+armor & (suit or piece of armor)\\
4942 \verb@[@ & S\verb+_+armour & (suit or piece of armor)\\
4943 \verb@^@ & S\verb+_+arrow\verb+_+trap & (arrow trap)\\
4944 \verb@0@ & S\verb+_+ball & (iron ball)\\
4945 \# & S\verb+_+bars & (iron bars)\\
4946 \verb@B@ & S\verb+_+bat & (bat or bird)\\
4947 \verb@^@ & S\verb+_+bear\verb+_+trap & (bear trap)\\
4948 \verb@-@ & S\verb+_+blcorn & (bottom left corner)\\
4949 \verb@b@ & S\verb+_+blob & (blob)\\
4950 \verb@+@ & S\verb+_+book & (spellbook)\\
4951 \verb@)@ & S\verb+_+boomleft & (boomerang open left)\\
4952 \verb@(@ & S\verb+_+boomright & (boomerang open right)\\
4953 \verb@`@ & S\verb+_+boulder & (boulder)\\
4954 \verb@-@ & S\verb+_+brcorn & (bottom right corner)\\
4955 \verb@C@ & S\verb+_+centaur & (centaur)\\
4956 \verb@_@ & S\verb+_+chain & (iron chain)\\
4957 \# & S\verb+_+cloud & (cloud)\\
4958 \verb@c@ & S\verb+_+cockatrice & (cockatrice)\\
4959 \$ & S\verb+_+coin & (pile of coins)\\
4960 \# & S\verb+_+corr & (corridor)\\
4961 \verb@-@ & S\verb+_+crwall & (wall)\\
4962 \verb@-@ & S\verb+_+darkroom & (dark room)\\
4963 \verb@^@ & S\verb+_+dart\verb+_+trap & (dart trap)\\
4964 \verb@&@ & S\verb+_+demon & (major demon)\\
4965 \verb@*@ & S\verb+_+digbeam & (dig beam)\\
4966 \verb@>@ & S\verb+_+dnladder & (ladder down)\\
4967 \verb@>@ & S\verb+_+dnstair & (staircase down)\\
4968 \verb@d@ & S\verb+_+dog & (dog or other canine)\\
4969 \verb@D@ & S\verb+_+dragon & (dragon)\\
4970 \verb@;@ & S\verb+_+eel & (sea monster)\\
4971 \verb@E@ & S\verb+_+elemental & (elemental)\\
4972 \verb@/@ & S\verb+_+explode1 & (explosion top left)\\
4973 \verb@-@ & S\verb+_+explode2 & (explosion top center)\\
4974 \verb@\@ & S\verb+_+explode3 & (explosion top right)\\
4975 \verb@|@ & S\verb+_+explode4 & (explosion middle left)\\
4976 \verb@ @ & S\verb+_+explode5 & (explosion middle center)\\
4977 \verb@|@ & S\verb+_+explode6 & (explosion middle right)\\
4978 \verb@\@ & S\verb+_+explode7 & (explosion bottom left)\\
4979 \verb@-@ & S\verb+_+explode8 & (explosion bottom center)\\
4980 \verb@/@ & S\verb+_+explode9 & (explosion bottom right)\\
4981 \verb@e@ & S\verb+_+eye & (eye or sphere)\\
4982 \verb@^@ & S\verb+_+falling\verb+_+rock\verb+_+trap & (falling rock trap)\\
4983 \verb@f@ & S\verb+_+feline & (cat or other feline)\\
4984 \verb@^@ & S\verb+_+fire\verb+_+trap & (fire trap)\\
4985 \verb@!@ & S\verb+_+flashbeam & (flash beam)\\
4986 \% & S\verb+_+food & (piece of food)\\
4987 \{ & S\verb+_+fountain & (fountain)\\
4988 \verb@F@ & S\verb+_+fungus & (fungus or mold)\\
4989 \verb@*@ & S\verb+_+gem & (gem or rock)\\
4990 \verb@ @ & S\verb+_+ghost & (ghost)\\
4991 \verb@H@ & S\verb+_+giant & (giant humanoid)\\
4992 \verb@G@ & S\verb+_+gnome & (gnome)\\
4993 \verb@'@ & S\verb+_+golem & (golem)\\
4994 \verb@|@ & S\verb+_+grave & (grave)\\
4995 \verb@g@ & S\verb+_+gremlin & (gremlin)\\
4996 \verb@-@ & S\verb+_+hbeam & (wall)\\
4997 \# & S\verb+_+hcdbridge & (horizontal raised drawbridge)\\
4998 \verb@+@ & S\verb+_+hcdoor & (closed door)\\
4999 \verb@.@ & S\verb+_+hodbridge & (horizontal lowered drawbridge)\\
5000 \verb@|@ & S\verb+_+hodoor & (open door)\\
5001 \verb\^\ & S\verb+_+hole & (hole)\\
5002 \verb~@~ & S\verb+_+human & (human or elf)\\
5003 \verb@h@ & S\verb+_+humanoid & (humanoid)\\
5004 \verb@-@ & S\verb+_+hwall & (horizontal wall)\\
5005 \verb@.@ & S\verb+_+ice & (ice)\\
5006 \verb@i@ & S\verb+_+imp & (imp or minor demon)\\
5007 \verb@I@ & S\verb+_+invisible & (invisible monster)\\
5008 \verb@J@ & S\verb+_+jabberwock & (jabberwock)\\
5009 \verb@j@ & S\verb+_+jelly & (jelly)\\
5010 \verb@k@ & S\verb+_+kobold & (kobold)\\
5011 \verb@K@ & S\verb+_+kop & (Keystone Kop)\\
5012 \verb@^@ & S\verb+_+land\verb+_+mine & (land mine)\\
5013 \verb@}@ & S\verb+_+lava & (molten lava)\\
5014 \verb@l@ & S\verb+_+leprechaun & (leprechaun)\\
5015 \verb@^@ & S\verb+_+level\verb+_+teleporter & (level teleporter)\\
5016 \verb@L@ & S\verb+_+lich & (lich)\\
5017 \verb@y@ & S\verb+_+light & (light)\\
5018 \# & S\verb+_+litcorr & (lit corridor)\\
5019 \verb@:@ & S\verb+_+lizard & (lizard)\\
5020 \verb@\@ & S\verb+_+lslant & (wall)\\
5021 \verb@^@ & S\verb+_+magic\verb+_+portal & (magic portal)\\
5022 \verb@^@ & S\verb+_+magic\verb+_+trap & (magic trap)\\
5023 \verb@m@ & S\verb+_+mimic & (mimic)\\
5024 \verb@]@ & S\verb+_+mimic\verb+_+def & (mimic)\\
5025 \verb@M@ & S\verb+_+mummy & (mummy)\\
5026 \verb@N@ & S\verb+_+naga & (naga)\\
5027 \verb@.@ & S\verb+_+ndoor & (doorway)\\
5028 \verb@n@ & S\verb+_+nymph & (nymph)\\
5029 \verb@O@ & S\verb+_+ogre & (ogre)\\
5030 \verb@o@ & S\verb+_+orc & (orc)\\
5031 \verb@p@ & S\verb+_+piercer & (piercer)\\
5032 \verb@^@ & S\verb+_+pit & (pit)\\
5033 \# & S\verb+_+poisoncloud & (poison cloud)\\
5034 \verb@^@ & S\verb+_+polymorph\verb+_+trap & (polymorph trap)\\
5035 \verb@}@ & S\verb+_+pool & (water)\\
5036 \verb@!@ & S\verb+_+potion & (potion)\\
5037 \verb@P@ & S\verb+_+pudding & (pudding or ooze)\\
5038 \verb@q@ & S\verb+_+quadruped & (quadruped)\\
5039 \verb@Q@ & S\verb+_+quantmech & (quantum mechanic)\\
5040 \verb@=@ & S\verb+_+ring & (ring)\\
5041 \verb@`@ & S\verb+_+rock & (boulder or statue)\\
5042 \verb@r@ & S\verb+_+rodent & (rodent)\\
5043 \verb@^@ & S\verb+_+rolling\verb+_+boulder\verb+_+trap & (rolling boulder trap)\\
5044 \verb@.@ & S\verb+_+room & (floor of a room)\\
5045 \verb@/@ & S\verb+_+rslant & (wall)\\
5046 \verb@^@ & S\verb+_+rust\verb+_+trap & (rust trap)\\
5047 \verb@R@ & S\verb+_+rustmonst & (rust monster or disenchanter)\\
5048 \verb@?@ & S\verb+_+scroll & (scroll)\\
5049 \# & S\verb+_+sink & (sink)\\
5050 \verb@^@ & S\verb+_+sleeping\verb+_+gas\verb+_+trap & (sleeping gas trap)\\
5051 \verb@S@ & S\verb+_+snake & (snake)\\
5052 \verb@s@ & S\verb+_+spider & (arachnid or centipede)\\
5053 \verb@^@ & S\verb+_+spiked\verb+_+pit & (spiked pit)\\
5054 \verb@^@ & S\verb+_+squeaky\verb+_+board & (squeaky board)\\
5055 \verb@0@ & S\verb+_+ss1 & (magic shield 1 of 4)\\
5056 \# & S\verb+_+ss2 & (magic shield 2 of 4)\\
5057 \verb+@+ & S\verb+_+ss3 & (magic shield 3 of 4)\\
5058 \verb@*@ & S\verb+_+ss4 & (magic shield 4 of 4)\\
5059 \verb@^@ & S\verb+_+statue\verb+_+trap & (statue trap)\\
5060 \verb@ @ & S\verb+_+stone & (solid rock or unexplored terrain\\
5061 & & \,or dark part of a room)\\
5062 \verb@]@ & S\verb+_+strange\verb+_+obj & (strange object)\\
5063 \verb@-@ & S\verb+_+sw\verb+_+bc & (swallow bottom center)\\
5064 \verb@\@ & S\verb+_+sw\verb+_+bl & (swallow bottom left)\\
5065 \verb@/@ & S\verb+_+sw\verb+_+br & (swallow bottom right )\\
5066 \verb@|@ & S\verb+_+sw\verb+_+ml & (swallow middle left)\\
5067 \verb@|@ & S\verb+_+sw\verb+_+mr & (swallow middle right)\\
5068 \verb@-@ & S\verb+_+sw\verb+_+tc & (swallow top center)\\
5069 \verb@/@ & S\verb+_+sw\verb+_+tl & (swallow top left)\\
5070 \verb@\@ & S\verb+_+sw\verb+_+tr & (swallow top right)\\
5071 \verb@-@ & S\verb+_+tdwall & (wall)\\
5072 \verb@^@ & S\verb+_+teleportation\verb+_+trap & (teleportation trap)\\
5073 \verb@\@ & S\verb+_+throne & (opulent throne)\\
5074 \verb@-@ & S\verb+_+tlcorn & (top left corner)\\
5075 \verb@|@ & S\verb+_+tlwall & (wall)\\
5076 \verb@(@ & S\verb+_+tool & (useful item (pick-axe, key, lamp...))\\
5077 \verb@^@ & S\verb+_+trap\verb+_+door & (trap door)\\
5078 \verb@t@ & S\verb+_+trapper & (trapper or lurker above)\\
5079 \verb@-@ & S\verb+_+trcorn & (top right corner)\\
5080 \# & S\verb+_+tree & (tree)\\
5081 \verb@T@ & S\verb+_+troll & (troll)\\
5082 \verb@|@ & S\verb+_+trwall & (wall)\\
5083 \verb@-@ & S\verb+_+tuwall & (wall)\\
5084 \verb@U@ & S\verb+_+umber & (umber hulk)\\
5085 \verb@u@ & S\verb+_+unicorn & (unicorn or horse)\\
5086 \verb@<@ & S\verb+_+upladder & (ladder up)\\
5087 \verb@<@ & S\verb+_+upstair & (staircase up)\\
5088 \verb@V@ & S\verb+_+vampire & (vampire)\\
5089 \verb@|@ & S\verb+_+vbeam & (wall)\\
5090 \# & S\verb+_+vcdbridge & (vertical raised drawbridge)\\
5091 \verb@+@ & S\verb+_+vcdoor & (closed door)\\
5092 \verb@.@ & S\verb+_+venom & (splash of venom)\\
5093 \verb@^@ & S\verb+_+vibrating\verb+_+square & (vibrating square)\\
5094 \verb@.@ & S\verb+_+vodbridge & (vertical lowered drawbridge)\\
5095 \verb@-@ & S\verb+_+vodoor & (open door)\\
5096 \verb@v@ & S\verb+_+vortex & (vortex)\\
5097 \verb@|@ & S\verb+_+vwall & (vertical wall)\\
5098 \verb@/@ & S\verb+_+wand & (wand)\\
5099 \verb@}@ & S\verb+_+water & (water)\\
5100 \verb@)@ & S\verb+_+weapon & (weapon)\\
5101 \verb@"@ & S\verb+_+web & (web)\\
5102 \verb@w@ & S\verb+_+worm & (worm)\\
5103 \verb@~@ & S\verb+_+worm\verb+_+tail & (long worm tail)\\
5104 \verb@W@ & S\verb+_+wraith & (wraith)\\
5105 \verb@x@ & S\verb+_+xan & (xan or other extraordinary insect)\\
5106 \verb@X@ & S\verb+_+xorn & (xorn)\\
5107 \verb@Y@ & S\verb+_+yeti & (apelike creature)\\
5108 \verb@Z@ & S\verb+_+zombie & (zombie)\\
5109 \verb@z@ & S\verb+_+zruty & (zruty)\\
5110 \verb@ @ & S\verb+_+pet\verb+_+override & (any pet if ACCESSIBILITY=1 is set)\\
5111 \verb@ @ & S\verb+_+hero\verb+_+override & (hero if ACCESSIBILITY=1 is set)
5115 \hyphenation{sysconf} %no syllable breaks => don't hyphenate file name
5120 Several symbols in this table appear to be blank.
5121 They are the space character, except for S\verb+_+pet\verb+_+override
5122 and S\verb+_+hero\verb+_+override which don't have any default value
5123 and can only be used if enabled in the ``sysconf'' file.
5126 S\verb+_+rock is misleadingly named; rocks and stones use S\verb+_+gem.
5127 Statues and boulders are the rock being referred to, but since
5128 version 3.6.0, statues are displayed as the monster they depict.
5129 So S\verb+_+rock is only used for boulders and not used at all if
5130 overridden by the more specific S\verb+_+boulder.
5134 \subsection*{Configuring {\it NetHack\/} for Play by the Blind}
5137 {\it NetHack\/} can be set up to use only standard ASCII characters for making
5138 maps of the dungeons. This makes the MS-DOS versions of {\it NetHack\/}
5140 accessible to the blind who use speech and/or Braille access technologies.
5141 Players will require a good working knowledge of their screen-reader's
5142 review features, and will have to know how to navigate horizontally and
5143 vertically character by character. They will also find the search
5144 capabilities of their screen-readers to be quite valuable. Be certain to
5145 examine this Guidebook before playing so you have an idea what the screen
5146 layout is like. You'll also need to be able to locate the PC cursor. It is
5147 always where your character is located. Merely searching for an @-sign will
5148 not always find your character since there are other humanoids represented
5149 by the same sign. Your screen-reader should also have a function which
5150 gives you the row and column of your review cursor and the PC cursor.
5151 These co-ordinates are often useful in giving players a better sense of the
5152 overall location of items on the screen.
5154 {\it NetHack\/} can also be compiled with support for sending the game messages
5155 to an external program, such as a text-to-speech synthesizer. If the
5156 ``{\tt \#version}'' extended command shows ``external program as a
5157 message handler'', your {\it NetHack\/}
5158 has been compiled with the capability. When compiling {\it NetHack\/}
5160 on Linux and other POSIX systems, define {\it MSGHANDLER\/} to enable it.
5162 the capability, set the environment variable {\it NETHACK\_MSGHANDLER\/} to an
5163 executable, which will be executed with the game message as the program's
5166 While it is not difficult for experienced users to edit the {\it defaults.nh\/}
5167 file to accomplish this, novices may find this task somewhat daunting.
5168 Included within the symbol file of all official distributions of {\it NetHack\/}
5169 is a symset called {\it NHAccess\/}. Selecting that symset in your
5170 configuration file will cause the game to run in a manner accessible
5171 to the blind. After you have gained some experience with the game
5172 and with editing files, you may want to alter settings via {\it SYMBOLS=\/}
5173 and {\it ROGUESYMBOLS=\/}
5174 in your configuration file to better suit your preferences.
5175 See the previous section for the special symbols S\verb+_+pet\verb+_+override
5176 to force a consistent symbol for all pets and S\verb+_+hero\verb+_+override
5177 to force a unique symbol for the player character if {\it accessibility\/}
5178 is enabled in the {\it sysconf\/} file.
5181 The most crucial settings to make the game more accessible are:
5185 \item[\ib{symset:NHAccess}]
5186 Load a symbol set appropriate for use by blind players.
5188 \item[\ib{roguesymset:NHAccess}]
5189 Load a symbol set for the rogue level that is appropriate for
5190 use by blind players.
5192 \item[\ib{menustyle:traditional}]
5193 This will assist in the interface to speech synthesizers.
5195 \item[\ib{nomenu\verb+_+overlay}]
5196 Show menus on a cleared screen and aligned to the left edge.
5198 \item[\ib{number\verb+_+pad}]
5199 A lot of speech access programs use the number-pad to review the screen.
5200 If this is the case, disable the number\verb+_+pad option and use the
5201 traditional Rogue-like commands.
5203 \item[\ib{autodescribe}]
5204 Automatically describe the terrain under the cursor when targeting.
5206 \item[\ib{mention\verb+_+walls}]
5207 Give feedback messages when walking towards a wall or when travel command
5210 \item[\ib{whatis\verb+_+coord:compass}]
5211 When targeting with cursor, describe the cursor position with coordinates
5212 relative to your character.
5214 \item[\ib{whatis\verb+_+filter:area}]
5215 When targeting with cursor, filter possible locations so only those in
5216 the same area (eg. same room, or same corridor) are considered.
5218 \item[\ib{whatis\verb+_+moveskip}]
5219 When targeting with cursor and using fast-move, skip the same glyphs instead
5220 of moving 8 units at a time.
5222 \item[\ib{nostatus\verb+_+updates}]
5223 Prevent updates to the status lines at the bottom of the screen, if
5224 your screen-reader reads those lines. The same information can be
5225 seen via the {\tt \#attributes} command.
5229 \subsection*{Global Configuration for System Administrators}
5232 If {\it NetHack\/} is compiled with the SYSCF option, a system administrator
5233 should set up a global configuration; this is a file in the
5234 same format as the traditional per-user configuration file (see above).
5236 This file should be named sysconf and placed in the same directory as
5237 the other {\it NetHack\/} support files.
5238 The options recognized in this file are listed below. Any option not
5239 set uses a compiled-in default (which may not be appropriate for your
5246 A space-separated list of user name who are allowed to
5247 play in debug mode (commonly referred to as wizard mode).
5249 asterisk (*) allows anyone to start a game in debug mode.
5251 \item[\ib{SHELLERS}]
5252 A list of users who are allowed to use the shell escape command (`{\tt !}').
5253 The syntax is the same as WIZARDS.
5255 \item[\ib{EXPLORERS}]
5256 A list of users who are allowed to use the explore mode.
5257 The syntax is the same as WIZARDS.
5259 \item[\ib{MAXPLAYERS}]
5260 Limit the maximum number of games that can be running at the same time.
5263 A string explainign how to get local support (no default value).
5266 A string explaining how to recover a game on this system (no default value).
5269 0 or 1 to disable or enable, respectively, the SEDUCE option (see the source)
5270 for details on this function.
5272 \item[\ib{CHECK\verb+_+PLNAME}]
5273 Setting this to 1 will make the EXPLORERS, WIZARDS, and SHELLERS check
5274 for the player name instead of the user's login name.
5276 \item[\ib{CHECK\verb+_+SAVE\verb+_+UID}]
5277 0 or 1 to disable or enable, respectively, the UID checking for savefiles.
5281 The following options affect the score file:
5286 Maximum number of entries for one person
5288 \item[\ib{ENTRYMAX}]
5289 Maximum number of entries in the score file
5291 \item[\ib{POINTSMIN}]
5292 Minimum number of points to get an entry in the score file.
5294 \item[\ib{PERS\verb+_+IS\verb+_+UID}]
5295 0 or 1 to use user names or numeric userids, respectively, to identify
5296 unique people for the score file
5298 \item[\ib{ACCESSIBILITY}]
5299 0 or 1 to disable or enable, respectively, the ability for players
5300 to set S\verb+_+pet\verb+_+override and S\verb+_+hero\verb+_+override
5301 symbols in their configuration file.
5303 \item[\ib{PORTABLE\verb+_+DEVICE\verb+_+PATHS}]
5304 0 or 1 Windows OS only, the game will look for all of its external
5305 files, and write to all of its output files in one place
5306 rather than at the standard locations.
5308 \item[\ib{DUMPLOGFILE}]
5309 A filename where the end-of-game dumplog is saved.
5310 Not defining this will prevent dumplog from being created. Only available
5311 if your game is compiled with DUMPLOG. Allows the following placeholders:
5314 {\tt \%\%} --- literal `{\tt \%}'\\
5315 {\tt \%v} --- version (eg. ``{\tt 3.6.3-0}'')\\
5316 {\tt \%u} --- game UID\\
5317 {\tt \%t} --- game start time, UNIX timestamp format\\
5318 {\tt \%T} --- current time, UNIX timestamp format\\
5319 {\tt \%d} --- game start time, YYYYMMDDhhmmss format\\
5320 {\tt \%D} --- current time, YYYYMMDDhhmmss format\\
5321 {\tt \%n} --- player name\\
5322 {\tt \%N} --- first character of player name
5331 {\it NetHack\/} maintains a list of the top scores or scorers on your machine,
5332 depending on how it is set up. In the latter case, each account on
5333 the machine can post only one non-winning score on this list. If
5334 you score higher than someone else on this list, or better your
5335 previous score, you will be inserted in the proper place under your
5336 current name. How many scores are kept can also be set up when
5337 {\it NetHack\/} is compiled.
5340 Your score is chiefly based upon how much experience you gained, how
5341 much loot you accumulated, how deep you explored, and how the game
5342 ended. If you quit the game, you escape with all of your gold intact.
5343 If, however, you get killed in the Mazes of Menace, the guild will
5344 only hear about 90\,\% of your gold when your corpse is discovered
5345 (adventurers have been known to collect finder's fees). So, consider
5346 whether you want to take one last hit at that monster and possibly
5347 live, or quit and stop with whatever you have. If you quit, you keep
5348 all your gold, but if you swing and live, you might find more.
5351 If you just want to see what the current top players/games list is, you
5359 \section{Explore mode}
5362 {\it NetHack\/} is an intricate and difficult game. Novices might falter
5363 in fear, aware of their ignorance of the means to survive. Well, fear
5364 not. Your dungeon comes equipped with an ``explore'' or ``discovery''
5365 mode that enables you to keep old save files and cheat death, at the
5366 paltry cost of not getting on the high score list.
5369 There are two ways of enabling explore mode. One is to start the game
5371 command-line switch or with the
5372 {\it playmode:explore\/}
5373 option. The other is to issue the `{\tt \#exploremode}' extended command while
5374 already playing the game. Starting a new game in explore mode provides your
5375 character with a wand of wishing in initial inventory; switching
5376 during play does not. The other benefits of explore mode are left for
5377 the trepid reader to discover.
5381 \subsection*{Debug mode}
5384 Debug mode, also known as wizard mode, is undocumented aside from this
5385 brief description and the various ``debug mode only'' commands listed
5386 among the command descriptions.
5387 It is intended for tracking down problems within the
5388 program rather than to provide god-like powers to your character, and
5389 players who attempt debugging are expected to figure out how to use it
5391 It is initiated by starting the game with the
5393 command-line switch or with the
5394 {\it playmode:debug\/}
5398 For some systems, the player must be logged in
5399 under a particular user name to be allowed to use debug mode; for others,
5400 the hero must be given a particular character name (but may be any role;
5401 there's no connection between ``wizard mode'' and the {\it Wizard\/} role).
5402 Attempting to start a game in debug mode when not allowed
5403 or not available will result in falling back to explore mode instead.
5409 {\it hack\/} game was modeled on the Berkeley
5412 {\it rogue\/} game. Large portions of this paper were shamelessly
5414 {\it A Guide to the Dungeons of Doom}, by Michael C. Toy
5415 and Kenneth C. R. C. Arnold. Small portions were adapted from
5416 {\it Further Exploration of the Dungeons of Doom}, by Ken Arromdee.
5419 {\it NetHack\/} is the product of literally dozens of people's work.
5420 Main events in the course of the game development are described below:
5424 \nd {\it Jay Fenlason\/} wrote the original {\it Hack\/} with help from {\it
5425 Kenny Woodland}, {\it Mike Thome}, and {\it Jon Payne}.
5429 \nd {\it Andries Brouwer\/} did a major re-write, transforming {\it Hack\/}
5430 into a very different game, and published (at least) three versions (1.0.1,
5431 1.0.2, and 1.0.3) for UNIX machines to the Usenet.
5435 \nd {\it Don G. Kneller\/} ported {\it Hack\/} 1.0.3 to Microsoft C and MS-DOS,
5436 producing {\it PC Hack\/} 1.01e, added support for DEC Rainbow graphics in
5437 version 1.03g, and went on to produce at least four more versions (3.0, 3.2,
5442 \nd {\it R. Black\/} ported {\it PC Hack\/} 3.51 to Lattice C and the Atari
5443 520/1040ST, producing {\it ST Hack\/} 1.03.
5447 \nd {\it Mike Stephenson\/} merged these various versions back together,
5448 incorporating many of the added features, and produced {\it NetHack\/} version
5449 1.4. He then coordinated a cast of thousands in enhancing and debugging
5450 {\it NetHack\/} 1.4 and released {\it NetHack\/} versions 2.2 and 2.3.
5454 \nd Later, Mike coordinated a major rewrite of the game, heading a team which
5455 included {\it Ken Arromdee}, {\it Jean-Christophe Collet}, {\it Steve Creps},
5456 {\it Eric Hendrickson}, {\it Izchak Miller}, {\it Eric S. Raymond}, {\it John
5457 Rupley}, {\it Mike Threepoint}, and {\it Janet Walz}, to produce {\it
5462 \nd {\it NetHack\/} 3.0 was ported to the Atari by {\it Eric R. Smith}, to OS/2 by
5463 {\it Timo Hakulinen}, and to VMS by {\it David Gentzel}. The three of them
5464 and {\it Kevin Darcy\/} later joined the main {\it NetHack Development Team} to produce
5465 subsequent revisions of 3.0.
5469 \nd {\it Olaf Seibert\/} ported {\it NetHack\/} 2.3 and 3.0 to the Amiga. {\it
5470 Norm Meluch}, {\it Stephen Spackman\/} and {\it Pierre Martineau\/} designed
5471 overlay code for {\it PC NetHack\/} 3.0. {\it Johnny Lee\/} ported {\it
5472 NetHack\/} 3.0 to the Macintosh. Along with various other Dungeoneers, they
5473 continued to enhance the PC, Macintosh, and Amiga ports through the later
5478 \nd Headed by {\it Mike Stephenson\/} and coordinated by {\it Izchak Miller\/} and
5479 {\it Janet Walz}, the {\it NetHack Development Team} which now included {\it Ken Arromdee},
5480 {\it David Cohrs}, {\it Jean-Christophe Collet}, {\it Kevin Darcy},
5481 {\it Matt Day}, {\it Timo Hakulinen}, {\it Steve Linhart}, {\it Dean Luick},
5482 {\it Pat Rankin}, {\it Eric Raymond}, and {\it Eric Smith\/} undertook a radical
5483 revision of 3.0. They re-structured the game's design, and re-wrote major
5484 parts of the code. They added multiple dungeons, a new display, special
5485 individual character quests, a new endgame and many other new features, and
5486 produced {\it NetHack\/} 3.1.
5490 \nd {\it Ken Lorber}, {\it Gregg Wonderly\/} and {\it Greg Olson}, with help
5491 from {\it Richard Addison}, {\it Mike Passaretti}, and {\it Olaf Seibert},
5492 developed {\it NetHack\/} 3.1 for the Amiga.
5496 \nd {\it Norm Meluch\/} and {\it Kevin Smolkowski}, with help from
5497 {\it Carl Schelin}, {\it Stephen Spackman}, {\it Steve VanDevender},
5498 and {\it Paul Winner}, ported {\it NetHack\/} 3.1 to the PC.
5502 \nd {\it Jon W\{tte} and {\it Hao-yang Wang},
5503 with help from {\it Ross Brown}, {\it Mike Engber}, {\it David Hairston},
5504 {\it Michael Hamel}, {\it Jonathan Handler}, {\it Johnny Lee},
5505 {\it Tim Lennan}, {\it Rob Menke}, and {\it Andy Swanson},
5506 developed {\it NetHack\/} 3.1 for the Macintosh, porting it for MPW.
5507 Building on their development, {\it Bart House} added a Think C port.
5511 \nd {\it Timo Hakulinen\/} ported {\it NetHack\/} 3.1 to OS/2.
5512 {\it Eric Smith\/} ported {\it NetHack\/} 3.1 to the Atari.
5513 {\it Pat Rankin}, with help from {\it Joshua Delahunty},
5514 was responsible for the VMS version of {\it NetHack\/} 3.1.
5515 {\it Michael Allison} ported {\it NetHack\/} 3.1 to Windows NT.
5519 \nd {\it Dean Luick}, with help from {\it David Cohrs}, developed {\it NetHack\/}
5521 {\it Warwick Allison} wrote a tiled version of {\it NetHack\/} for the Atari;
5522 he later contributed the tiles to the {\it NetHack Development Team} and tile support was
5523 then added to other platforms.
5527 \nd The 3.2 {\it NetHack Development Team}, comprised of {\it Michael Allison}, {\it Ken
5528 Arromdee}, {\it David Cohrs}, {\it Jessie Collet}, {\it Steve Creps}, {\it
5529 Kevin Darcy}, {\it Timo Hakulinen}, {\it Steve Linhart}, {\it Dean Luick},
5530 {\it Pat Rankin}, {\it Eric Smith}, {\it Mike Stephenson}, {\it Janet Walz},
5531 and {\it Paul Winner}, released version 3.2 in April of 1996.
5535 \nd Version 3.2 marked the tenth anniversary of the formation of the development
5536 team. In a testament to their dedication to the game, all thirteen members
5537 of the original {\it NetHack Development Team} remained on the team at the start of work on
5538 that release. During the interval between the release of 3.1.3 and 3.2,
5539 one of the founding members of the {\it NetHack Development Team}, {\it Dr. Izchak Miller},
5540 was diagnosed with cancer and passed away. That release of the game was
5541 dedicated to him by the development and porting teams.
5545 During the lifespan of {\it NetHack\/} 3.1 and 3.2, several enthusiasts
5547 their own modifications to the game and made these ``variants'' publicly
5552 {\it Tom Proudfoot} and {\it Yuval Oren} created {\it NetHack++},
5553 which was quickly renamed {\it NetHack$--$}.
5554 Working independently, {\it Stephen White} wrote {\it NetHack Plus}.
5555 {\it Tom Proudfoot} later merged {\it NetHack Plus}
5556 and his own {\it NetHack$--$} to produce {\it SLASH}.
5557 {\it Larry Stewart-Zerba} and {\it Warwick Allison} improved the spell
5558 casting system with the Wizard Patch.
5559 {\it Warwick Allison} also ported {\it NetHack\/} to use the Qt interface.
5563 {\it Warren Cheung} combined {\it SLASH} with the Wizard Patch
5564 to produce {\it Slash'EM\/}, and
5565 with the help of {\it Kevin Hugo}, added more features.
5566 Kevin later joined the
5567 {\it NetHack Development Team} and incorporated the best of these ideas into {\it NetHack\/} 3.3.
5571 The final update to 3.2 was the bug fix release 3.2.3, which was released
5572 simultaneously with 3.3.0 in December 1999 just in time for the Year 2000.
5576 The 3.3 {\it NetHack Development Team}, consisting of {\it Michael Allison}, {\it Ken Arromdee},
5577 {\it David Cohrs}, {\it Jessie Collet}, {\it Steve Creps}, {\it Kevin Darcy},
5578 {\it Timo Hakulinen}, {\it Kevin Hugo}, {\it Steve Linhart}, {\it Ken Lorber},
5579 {\it Dean Luick}, {\it Pat Rankin}, {\it Eric Smith}, {\it Mike Stephenson},
5580 {\it Janet Walz}, and {\it Paul Winner}, released 3.3.0 in
5581 December 1999 and 3.3.1 in August of 2000.
5585 Version 3.3 offered many firsts. It was the first version to separate race
5586 and profession. The Elf class was removed in preference to an elf race,
5587 and the races of dwarves, gnomes, and orcs made their first appearance in
5588 the game alongside the familiar human race. Monk and Ranger roles joined
5589 Archeologists, Barbarians, Cavemen, Healers, Knights, Priests, Rogues, Samurai,
5590 Tourists, Valkyries and of course, Wizards. It was also the first version
5591 to allow you to ride a steed, and was the first version to have a publicly
5592 available web-site listing all the bugs that had been discovered. Despite
5593 that constantly growing bug list, 3.3 proved stable enough to last for
5594 more than a year and a half.
5598 The 3.4 {\it NetHack Development Team} initially consisted of
5599 {\it Michael Allison}, {\it Ken Arromdee},
5600 {\it David Cohrs}, {\it Jessie Collet}, {\it Kevin Hugo}, {\it Ken Lorber},
5601 {\it Dean Luick}, {\it Pat Rankin}, {\it Mike Stephenson},
5602 {\it Janet Walz}, and {\it Paul Winner}, with {\it Warwick Allison} joining
5603 just before the release of {\it NetHack\/} 3.4.0 in March 2002.
5607 As with version 3.3, various people contributed to the game as a whole as
5608 well as supporting ports on the different platforms that {\it NetHack\/}
5613 \nd{\it Pat Rankin} maintained 3.4 for VMS.
5617 \nd {\it Michael Allison} maintained {\it NetHack\/} 3.4 for the MS-DOS
5619 {\it Paul Winner} and {\it Yitzhak Sapir} provided encouragement.
5623 \nd {\it Dean Luick}, {\it Mark Modrall}, and {\it Kevin Hugo} maintained and
5624 enhanced the Macintosh port of 3.4.
5628 \nd {\it Michael Allison}, {\it David Cohrs}, {\it Alex Kompel},
5629 {\it Dion Nicolaas}, and
5630 {\it Yitzhak Sapir} maintained and enhanced 3.4 for the Microsoft Windows
5632 {\it Alex Kompel} contributed a new graphical interface for the Windows port.
5633 {\it Alex Kompel} also contributed a Windows CE port for 3.4.1.
5637 \nd {\it Ron Van Iwaarden} was the sole maintainer of {\it NetHack\/} for
5639 several releases. Unfortunately Ron's last OS/2 machine stopped working in
5640 early 2006. A great many thanks to Ron for keeping {\it NetHack\/} alive on
5641 OS/2 all these years.
5645 \nd {\it Janne Salmij\"{a}rvi} and {\it Teemu Suikki} maintained
5646 and enhanced the Amiga port of 3.4 after {\it Janne Salmij\"{a}rvi} resurrected
5651 \nd {\it Christian ``Marvin'' Bressler} maintained 3.4 for the Atari after he
5652 resurrected it for 3.3.1.
5656 The release of {\it NetHack\/} 3.4.3 in December 2003 marked the beginning of
5657 a long release hiatus. 3.4.3 proved to be a remarkably stable version that
5658 provided continued enjoyment by the community for more than a decade. The
5659 {\it NetHack Development Team} slowly and quietly continued to work on the game behind the scenes
5660 during the tenure of 3.4.3. It was during that same period that several new
5661 variants emerged within the {\it NetHack\/} community. Notably sporkhack by
5662 Derek S. Ray, {\it unnethack\/} by Patric Mueller, {\it nitrohack\/} and its
5663 successors originally by Daniel Thaler and then by Alex Smith, and
5664 {\it Dynahack\/} by Tung Nguyen. Some of those variants continue to be
5665 developed, maintained, and enjoyed by the community to this day.
5669 In September 2014, an interim snapshot of the code under development was
5670 released publicly by other parties. Since that code was a work-in-progress
5671 and had not gone through the process of debugging it as a suitable release,
5672 it was decided that the version numbers present on that code snapshot would
5673 be retired and never used in an official {\it NetHack\/} release. An
5674 announcement was posted on the {\it NetHack Development Team}'s official {\it nethack.org\/} website
5675 to that effect, stating that there would never be a 3.4.4, 3.5, or 3.5.0
5676 official release version.
5680 In January 2015, preparation began for the release of NetHack 3.6.
5684 At the beginning of development for what would eventually get released
5685 as 3.6.0, the {\it NetHack Development Team} consisted of {\it Warwick Allison},
5686 {\it Michael Allison}, {\it Ken Arromdee},
5687 {\it David Cohrs}, {\it Jessie Collet},
5688 {\it Ken Lorber}, {\it Dean Luick}, {\it Pat Rankin},
5689 {\it Mike Stephenson}, {\it Janet Walz}, and {\it Paul Winner}.
5690 In early 2015, ahead of the release of 3.6.0, new members
5691 {\it Sean Hunt}, {\it Pasi Kallinen}, and {\it Derek S. Ray}
5692 joined the {\it NetHack\/} development team.
5696 Near the end of the development of 3.6.0, one of the significant inspirations
5697 for many of the humorous and fun features found in the game,
5698 author Terry Pratchett, passed away. {\it NetHack\/} 3.6.0 introduced
5703 3.6.0 was released in December 2015, and merged work done by the development
5704 team since the release of 3.4.3 with some of the beloved community
5705 patches. Many bugs were fixed and some code was restructured.
5709 The {\it NetHack Development Team}, as well as {\it Steve VanDevender} and
5710 {\it Kevin Smolkowski}, ensured that {\it NetHack\/} 3.6 continued to
5711 operate on various Unix flavors and maintained the X11 interface.
5715 {\it Ken Lorber}, {\it Haoyang Wang}, {\it Pat Rankin}, and {\it Dean Luick}
5716 maintained the port of {\it NetHack\/} 3.6 for Mac OSX.
5720 {\it Michael Allison}, {\it David Cohrs}, {\it Bart House},
5721 {\it Pasi Kallinen}, {\it Alex Kompel}, {\it Dion Nicolaas},
5722 {\it Derek S. Ray} and {\it Yitzhak Sapir}
5723 maintained the port of {\it NetHack\/} 3.6 for Microsoft Windows.
5727 {\it Pat Rankin} attempted to keep the VMS port running for NetHack 3.6,
5728 hindered by limited access. {\it Kevin Smolkowski} has updated and tested it
5729 for the most recent version of OpenVMS (V8.4 as of this writing) on Alpha
5730 and Integrity (aka Itanium aka IA64) but not VAX.
5734 {\it Ray Chason} resurrected the msdos port for 3.6 and contributed the
5735 necessary updates to the community at large.
5739 In late April 2018, several hundred bug fixes for 3.6.0 and some new features
5740 were assembled and released as NetHack 3.6.1. The {\it NetHack Development Team} at the
5741 time of release of 3.6.1 consisted of
5742 {\it Warwick Allison}, {\it Michael Allison}, {\it Ken Arromdee},
5743 {\it David Cohrs}, {\it Jessie Collet},
5744 {\it Pasi Kallinen}, {\it Ken Lorber}, {\it Dean Luick},
5745 {\it Patric Mueller}, {\it Pat Rankin}, {\it Derek S. Ray},
5746 {\it Alex Smith}, {\it Mike Stephenson}, {\it Janet Walz}, and
5751 In early May 2019, another 320 bug fixes along with some enhancements and
5752 the adopted curses window port, were released as 3.6.2.
5756 {\it Bart House}, who had contributed to the game as a porting team participant
5757 for decades, joined the {\it NetHack Development Team} in late May 2019.
5761 NetHack 3.6.3 was released on December 5, 2019 containing over 190 bug
5762 fixes to NetHack 3.6.2.
5766 NetHack 3.6.4 was released on December 18, 2019 containing a security fix and
5771 NetHack 3.6.5 was released on January 27, 2020 containing some security fixes
5772 and a small number of bug fixes.
5776 NetHack 3.6.6 was released on March 8, 2020 containing a security fix and
5781 NetHack 3.6.7 was released in February 2023 containing a security fix and
5786 \nd The official {\it NetHack\/} web site is maintained by {\it Ken Lorber} at
5788 \special{html:<a href="https://www.nethack.org/">}}
5789 https:{\tt /}{\tt /}www.nethack.org{\tt /}.
5791 \special{html:</a>}}
5796 \subsection*{Special Thanks}
5797 \nd On behalf of the {\it NetHack\/} community, thank you very much once
5798 again to {\it M. Drew Streib} and {\it Pasi Kallinen} for providing a
5799 public NetHack server at nethack.alt.org. Thanks to {\it Keith Simpson}
5800 and {\it Andy Thomson} for hardfought.org. Thanks to all those
5801 unnamed dungeoneers who invest their time and effort into annual
5802 {\it NetHack\/} tournaments such as {\it Junethack},
5803 {\it The November NetHack Tournament} and in days past,
5804 {\it devnull.net\/} (gone for now, but not forgotten).
5808 \section*{Dungeoneers}
5810 \nd From time to time, some depraved individual out there in netland sends a
5811 particularly intriguing modification to help out with the game. The
5812 {\it NetHack Development Team} sometimes makes note of the names of the worst
5813 of these miscreants in this, the list of Dungeoneers:
5816 \begin{tabular}{llll}
5818 Adam Aronow & J. Ali Harlow & Mikko Juola\\
5819 Alex Kompel & Janet Walz & Nathan Eady\\
5820 Alex Smith & Janne Salmij\"{a}rvi & Norm Meluch\\
5821 Andreas Dorn & Jean-Christophe Collet & Olaf Seibert\\
5822 Andy Church & Jeff Bailey & Pasi Kallinen\\
5823 Andy Swanson & Jochen Erwied & Pat Rankin\\
5824 Andy Thomson & John Kallen & Patric Mueller\\
5825 Ari Huttunen & John Rupley & Paul Winner\\
5826 Bart House & John S. Bien & Pierre Martineau\\
5827 Benson I. Margulies & Johnny Lee & Ralf Brown\\
5828 Bill Dyer & Jon W\{tte & Ray Chason\\
5829 Boudewijn Waijers & Jonathan Handler & Richard Addison\\
5830 Bruce Cox & Joshua Delahunty & Richard Beigel\\
5831 Bruce Holloway & Karl Garrison & Richard P. Hughey\\
5832 Bruce Mewborne & Keizo Yamamoto & Rob Menke\\
5833 Carl Schelin & Keith Simpson & Robin Bandy\\
5834 Chris Russo & Ken Arnold & Robin Johnson\\
5835 David Cohrs & Ken Arromdee & Roderick Schertler\\
5836 David Damerell & Ken Lorber & Roland McGrath\\
5837 David Gentzel & Ken Washikita & Ron Van Iwaarden\\
5838 David Hairston & Kevin Darcy & Ronnen Miller\\
5839 Dean Luick & Kevin Hugo & Ross Brown\\
5840 Del Lamb & Kevin Sitze & Sascha Wostmann\\
5841 Derek S. Ray & Kevin Smolkowski & Scott Bigham\\
5842 Deron Meranda & Kevin Sweet & Scott R. Turner\\
5843 Dion Nicolaas & Lars Huttar & Sean Hunt\\
5844 Dylan O'Donnell & Leon Arnott & Stephen Spackman\\
5845 Eric Backus & M. Drew Streib & Stefan Thielscher\\
5846 Eric Hendrickson & Malcolm Ryan & Stephen White\\
5847 Eric R. Smith & Mark Gooderum & Steve Creps\\
5848 Eric S. Raymond & Mark Modrall & Steve Linhart\\
5849 Erik Andersen & Marvin Bressler & Steve VanDevender\\
5850 Fredrik Ljungdahl & Matthew Day & Teemu Suikki\\
5851 Frederick Roeber & Merlyn LeRoy & Tim Lennan\\
5852 Gil Neiger & Michael Allison & Timo Hakulinen\\
5853 Greg Laskin & Michael Feir & Tom Almy\\
5854 Greg Olson & Michael Hamel & Tom West\\
5855 Gregg Wonderly & Michael Sokolov & Warren Cheung\\
5856 Hao-yang Wang & Mike Engber & Warwick Allison\\
5857 Helge Hafting & Mike Gallop & Yitzhak Sapir\\
5858 Irina Rempt-Drijfhout & Mike Passaretti\\
5859 Izchak Miller & Mike Stephenson
5860 %TABLE_END Do not delete this line.
5868 %Microsoft and MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.\\
5869 %%%Don't need next line if a UNIX macro automatically inserts footnotes.
5870 %UNIX is a registered trademark of AT\&T.\\
5871 %Lattice is a trademark of Lattice, Inc.\\
5872 %Atari and 1040ST are trademarks of Atari, Inc.\\
5873 %Amiga is a trademark of Commodore-Amiga, Inc.\\
5875 %Brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks
5876 %of their respective holders.
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