Original version - Eric S. Raymond
(Edited and expanded for 3.7 by Mike Stephenson and others)
- February 3, 2023
+ February 04, 2023
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
you have seen on the current dungeon level; as you explore more
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
you have available for spell casting. Again, resting will
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
ing a `*' lists your entire inventory, so you can see the
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
for which one to take off. (Note that this treats a cloak
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
that redundant, such as Caveman or Priestess), and
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
(R)UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group.
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
#chat
Talk to someone. Default key is `M-c'.
+ #chronicle
+ Show a list of important game events.
+
#close
Close a door. Default key is `c'.
#engrave
Engrave writing on the floor. Default key is `E'.
- #enhance
- Advance or check weapon and spell skills. Autocompletes.
- Default key is `M-e'.
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ #enhance
+ Advance or check weapon and spell skills. Autocompletes.
+ Default key is `M-e'.
+
#exploremode
Switch from normal play to non-scoring explore mode. De-
fault key is `M-X'.
#invoke
Invoke an object's special powers. Autocompletes. Default
- key is `M-i'.
-
- #jump
- Jump to another location. Autocompletes. Default key is
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ key is `M-i'.
+
+ #jump
+ Jump to another location. Autocompletes. Default key is
`M-j', and also `j' if number_pad is on.
#kick
Offer a sacrifice to the gods. Autocompletes. Default key
is `M-o'.
- You'll need to find an altar to have any chance at success.
- Corpses of recently killed monsters are the fodder of
- choice.
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ You'll need to find an altar to have any chance at success.
+ Corpses of recently killed monsters are the fodder of
+ choice.
+
The `m' prefix skips offering any items which are on the al-
tar.
Pick up things at the current location. Default key is `,'.
The `m' prefix forces use of a menu.
- #polyself
- Polymorph self. Autocompletes. Debug mode only.
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ #polyself
+ Polymorph self. Autocompletes. Debug mode only.
+
#pray
Pray to the gods for help. Autocompletes. Default key is
`M-p'.
Remove an accessory (ring, amulet, etc). Default key is
`R'.
- #repeat
- Repeat the previous command. Default key is `^A'.
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ #repeat
+ Repeat the previous command. Default key is `^A'.
+
#reqmenu
Prefix key to modify the behavior or request menu from some
commands. Prevents autopickup when used with movement com-
#save
Save the game and exit the program. Default key is `S'.
+ #saveoptions
+ Save configuration options to the config file. This will
+ overwrite the file, removing all comments, so if you have
+ manually edited the config file, don't use this.
+
#search
Search for traps and secret doors around you. Default key
is `s'.
#seerings
Show the ring(s) currently worn. Default key is `='.
- #seetools
- Show the tools currently in use. Default key is `('.
- #seeweapon
- Show the weapon currently wielded. Default key is `)'.
- #shell
- Do a shell escape, switching from NetHack to a subprocess.
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack Guidebook 27
- NetHack Guidebook 27
+ #seetools
+ Show the tools currently in use. Default key is `('.
+ #seeweapon
+ Show the weapon currently wielded. Default key is `)'.
+ #shell
+ Do a shell escape, switching from NetHack to a subprocess.
Can be disabled at the time the program is built. When en-
abled, access for specific users can be controlled by the
system configuration file. Use the shell command `exit' to
#takeoffall
Remove all armor. Default key is `A'.
- #teleport
- Teleport around the level. Default key is `^T'.
-
- #terrain
- Show map without obstructions. In normal play you can view
- the explored portion of the current level's map without mon-
- sters; without monsters and objects; or without monsters,
- objects, and traps.
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ #teleport
+ Teleport around the level. Default key is `^T'.
+
+ #terrain
+ Show map without obstructions. In normal play you can view
+ the explored portion of the current level's map without mon-
+ sters; without monsters and objects; or without monsters,
+ objects, and traps.
+
In explore mode, you can choose to view the full map rather
than just its explored portion. In debug mode there are ad-
ditional choices.
#untrap
Untrap something (trap, door, or chest). Default key is `M-
- u', and `u' if number_pad is on.
-
- In some circumstances it can also be used to rescue trapped
- monsters.
- #up
- Go up a staircase. Default key is `<'.
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack Guidebook 29
- NetHack Guidebook 29
+ u', and `u' if number_pad is on.
+ In some circumstances it can also be used to rescue trapped
+ monsters.
+ #up
+ Go up a staircase. Default key is `<'.
#vanquished
List vanquished monsters by type and count.
#wear
Wear a piece of armor. Default key is `W'.
- #whatdoes
- Tell what a key does. Default key is `&'.
-
- #whatis
- Show what type of thing a symbol corresponds to. Default
- key is `/'.
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack Guidebook 30
- NetHack Guidebook 30
+ #whatdoes
+ Tell what a key does. Default key is `&'.
+ #whatis
+ Show what type of thing a symbol corresponds to. Default
+ key is `/'.
#wield
Wield a weapon. Default key is `w'.
#wizmap
Map the level. Autocompletes. Debug mode only. Default
- key is `^F'.
-
- #wizrumorcheck
- Verify rumor boundaries by displaying first and last true
- rumors and first and last false rumors.
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack Guidebook 31
- NetHack Guidebook 31
+ key is `^F'.
+ #wizrumorcheck
+ Verify rumor boundaries by displaying first and last true
+ rumors and first and last false rumors.
Also displays first, second, and last random engravings,
epitaphs, and hallucinatory monsters.
Unlike control characters, where ^x and ^X denote the same
thing, meta characters are case-sensitive: M-x and M-X represent
different things. Some commands which can be run via a meta
- character require that the letter be capitalized because the low-
- er-case equivalent is used for another command, so the three key
- combination meta+Shift+<letter> is needed.
+ character require that the letter be capitalized because the
- M-? #? (not supported by all platforms)
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack Guidebook 32
- NetHack Guidebook 32
+ lower-case equivalent is used for another command, so the three
+ key combination meta+Shift+<letter> is needed.
+ M-? #? (not supported by all platforms)
M-2 #twoweapon (unless the number_pad option is enabled)
M-V #vanquished
- M-w #wipe
- M-X #exploremode
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack Guidebook 33
+ M-w #wipe
- NetHack Guidebook 33
+ M-X #exploremode
doors are not restricted in this fashion except on one particular
level (described by "#overview" as "a primitive area").
- Unlocking magic exists but usually won't be available early
- on. You can get through a locked door without magic by first us-
- ing an unlocking tool with the `a' (apply) command, and then
- opening it. By default the autounlock option is also enabled, so
- if you attempt to open (via `o' or autoopen) a locked door while
- carrying an unlocking tool, you'll be asked whether to use it on
- the door's lock. Alternatively, you can break a closed door
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ Unlocking magic exists but usually won't be available early
+ on. You can get through a locked door without magic by first us-
+ ing an unlocking tool with the `a' (apply) command, and then
+ opening it. By default the autounlock option is also enabled, so
+ if you attempt to open (via `o' or autoopen) a locked door while
+ carrying an unlocking tool, you'll be asked whether to use it on
+ the door's lock. Alternatively, you can break a closed door
(whether locked or not) down by kicking it via the `^D' (kick)
command. Kicking down a door destroys it and makes a lot of
noise which might wake sleeping monsters.
ly will avoid moving onto a trap which is shown on your map if
they have encountered that type of trap before.
- Some traps such as pits, bear traps, and webs hold you in
- one place. You can escape by simply trying to move to an adja-
- cent spot and repeat as needed; eventually you will get free.
-
- Other traps can send you to different locations. Tele-
- porters send you elsewhere on the same dungeon level. Level
- teleporters send you to a random dungeon level, the destination
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ Some traps such as pits, bear traps, and webs hold you in
+ one place. You can escape by simply trying to move to an adja-
+ cent spot and repeat as needed; eventually you will get free.
+
+ Other traps can send you to different locations. Tele-
+ porters send you elsewhere on the same dungeon level. Level
+ teleporters send you to a random dungeon level, the destination
chosen from a few levels lower all the way to the top. These
traps choose a new destination each time they're activated. Trap
doors and holes also send you to another level, but one which is
In general, each level in the dungeon will have a staircase
going up (`<') to the previous level and another going down (`>')
- to the next level. There are some exceptions though. For in-
- stance, fairly early in the dungeon you will find a level with
- two down staircases, one continuing into the dungeon and the oth-
- er branching into an area known as the Gnomish Mines. Those
- mines eventually hit a dead end, so after exploring them (if you
- choose to do so), you'll need to climb back up to the main dun-
- geon.
+ to the next level. There are some exceptions though. For
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ instance, fairly early in the dungeon you will find a level with
+ two down staircases, one continuing into the dungeon and the oth-
+ er branching into an area known as the Gnomish Mines. Those
+ mines eventually hit a dead end, so after exploring them (if you
+ choose to do so), you'll need to climb back up to the main dun-
+ geon.
+
When you traverse a set of stairs, or trigger a trap which
sends you to another level, the level you're leaving will be de-
activated and stored in a file on disk. If you're moving to a
Shopkeepers sometime run out of money. When that happens,
you'll be offered credit instead of gold when you try to sell
something. Credit can be used to pay for purchases, but it is
- only good in the shop where it was obtained; other shopkeepers
- won't honor it. (If you happen to find a "credit card" in the
- dungeon, don't bother trying to use it in shops; shopkeepers will
- not accept it.)
-
- The `$' command, which reports the amount of gold you are
- carrying, will also show current shop debt or credit, if any.
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ only good in the shop where it was obtained; other shopkeepers
+ won't honor it. (If you happen to find a "credit card" in the
+ dungeon, don't bother trying to use it in shops; shopkeepers will
+ not accept it.)
+
+ The `$' command, which reports the amount of gold you are
+ carrying, will also show current shop debt or credit, if any.
The "Iu" command lists unpaid items (those which still belong to
the shop) if you are carrying any. The "Ix" command shows an in-
ventory-like display of any unpaid items which have been used up,
fore a movement direction to step on objects without attempting
auto-pickup and without giving feedback about them.
- The mention_walls option controls whether you get feedback
- if you try to walk into a wall or solid stone or off the edge of
- the map. Normally nothing happens (unless the hero is blind and
- no wall is shown, then the wall that is being bumped into will be
- drawn on the map). This option also gives feedback when rushing
- or running stops for some non-obvious reason.
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ The mention_walls option controls whether you get feedback
+ if you try to walk into a wall or solid stone or off the edge of
+ the map. Normally nothing happens (unless the hero is blind and
+ no wall is shown, then the wall that is being bumped into will be
+ drawn on the map). This option also gives feedback when rushing
+ or running stops for some non-obvious reason.
+
The mention_decor option controls whether you get feedback
when walking on "furniture." Normally stepping onto stairs or a
fountain or an altar or various other things doesn't elicit any-
a scroll, wand, or spell of light used in a room lights up the
whole room rather than within a radius around your character.
And monsters represented by lower-case letters aren't randomly
- generated on the rogue level.
-
- The slight strangeness of this level is a feature, not a
- bug....
-
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack Guidebook 39
- NetHack Guidebook 39
+ generated on the rogue level.
+ The slight strangeness of this level is a feature, not a
+ bug....
6. Monsters
You start the game with a little dog (`d'), kitten (`f'), or
pony (`u'), which follows you about the dungeon and fights mon-
sters with you. Like you, your pet needs food to survive. Dogs
- and cats usually feed themselves on fresh carrion and other
- meats; horses need vegetarian food which is harder to come by.
- If you're worried about your pet or want to train it, you can
- feed it, too, by throwing it food. A properly trained pet can be
- very useful under certain circumstances.
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ and cats usually feed themselves on fresh carrion and other
+ meats; horses need vegetarian food which is harder to come by.
+ If you're worried about your pet or want to train it, you can
+ feed it, too, by throwing it food. A properly trained pet can be
+ very useful under certain circumstances.
+
Your pet also gains experience from killing monsters, and
can grow over time, gaining hit points and doing more damage.
Initially, your pet may even be better at killing things than
Beware of whatever killed the former player; it is probably still
lurking around, gloating over its last victory.
- 6.5. Persistence of Monsters
- Monsters (a generic reference which also includes humans and
- pets) are only shown while they can be seen or otherwise sensed.
- Moving to a location where you can't see or sense a monster any
- more will result in it disappearing from your map, similarly if
- it is the one who moved rather than you.
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ 6.5. Persistence of Monsters
+
+ Monsters (a generic reference which also includes humans and
+ pets) are only shown while they can be seen or otherwise sensed.
+ Moving to a location where you can't see or sense a monster any
+ more will result in it disappearing from your map, similarly if
+ it is the one who moved rather than you.
+
However, if you encounter a monster which you can't see or
sense--perhaps it is invisible and has just tapped you on the
noggin--a special "remembered, unseen monster" marker will be
sented with a list of inventory letters to choose from (see Com-
mands, above).
- Some objects, such as weapons, are easily differentiated.
- Others, like scrolls and potions, are given descriptions which
- vary according to type. During a game, any two objects with the
- same description are the same type. However, the descriptions
- will vary from game to game.
- When you use one of these objects, if its effect is obvious,
- NetHack will remember what it is for you. If its effect isn't
- extremely obvious, you will be asked what you want to call this
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ Some objects, such as weapons, are easily differentiated.
+ Others, like scrolls and potions, are given descriptions which
+ vary according to type. During a game, any two objects with the
+ same description are the same type. However, the descriptions
+ will vary from game to game.
+
+ When you use one of these objects, if its effect is obvious,
+ NetHack will remember what it is for you. If its effect isn't
+ extremely obvious, you will be asked what you want to call this
type of object so you will recognize it later. You can also use
the "#name" command, for the same purpose at any time, to name
all objects of a particular type or just an individual object.
tion can be used to control this; toggle it off to have uncursed
be displayed even when that can be deduced from other attributes.
- Sometimes the bless or curse state of objects is referred to
- as their "BUC" attribute, for Blessed, Uncursed, or Cursed state,
- or "BUCX" for Blessed, Uncursed, Cursed, or unknown. (The term
- beatitude is occasionally used as well.)
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ Sometimes the bless or curse state of objects is referred to
+ as their "BUC" attribute, for Blessed, Uncursed, or Cursed state,
+ or "BUCX" for Blessed, Uncursed, Cursed, or unknown. (The term
+ beatitude is occasionally used as well.)
+
7.2. Weapons (`)')
Given a chance, most monsters in the Mazes of Menace will
mand which allows you to unwield the current weapon in addition
to taking off other worn items.
- Those of you in the audience who are AD&D players, be aware
- that each weapon which existed in AD&D does roughly the same dam-
- age to monsters in NetHack. Some of the more obscure weapons
- (such as the aklys, lucern hammer, and bec-de-corbin) are defined
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ Those of you in the audience who are AD&D players, be aware
+ that each weapon which existed in AD&D does roughly the same dam-
+ age to monsters in NetHack. Some of the more obscure weapons
+ (such as the aklys, lucern hammer, and bec-de-corbin) are defined
in an appendix to Unearthed Arcana, an AD&D supplement.
The commands to use weapons are `w' (wield), `t' (throw),
rows, in crossbow skill if you're wielding one to shoot bolts, or
in sling skill if you're wielding one to shoot stones). The num-
ber of items that the character has a chance to fire varies from
- turn to turn. You can explicitly limit the number of shots by
- using a numeric prefix before the `t' or `f' command. For exam-
- ple, "2f" (or "n2f" if using number_pad mode) would ensure that
- at most 2 arrows are shot even if you could have fired 3. If you
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ turn to turn. You can explicitly limit the number of shots by
+ using a numeric prefix before the `t' or `f' command. For exam-
+ ple, "2f" (or "n2f" if using number_pad mode) would ensure that
+ at most 2 arrows are shot even if you could have fired 3. If you
specify a larger number than would have been shot ("4f" in this
example), you'll just end up shooting the same number (3, here)
as if no limit had been specified. Once the volley is in motion,
tal overall skills, so you need to actively choose which skills
to enhance and which to ignore.
- 7.2.3. Two-Weapon combat
- Some characters can use two weapons at once. Setting things
- up to do so can seem cumbersome but becomes second nature with
- use. To wield two weapons, you need to use the "#twoweapon"
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- command. But first you need to have a weapon in each hand.
- (Note that your two weapons are not fully equal; the one in the
- hand you normally wield with is considered primary and the other
- one is considered secondary. The most noticeable difference is
- after you stop--or before you begin, for that matter--wielding
- two weapons at once. The primary is your wielded weapon and the
- secondary is just an item in your inventory that's been designat-
- ed as alternate weapon.)
+ 7.2.3. Two-Weapon combat
+
+ Some characters can use two weapons at once. Setting things
+ up to do so can seem cumbersome but becomes second nature with
+ use. To wield two weapons, you need to use the "#twoweapon" com-
+ mand. But first you need to have a weapon in each hand. (Note
+ that your two weapons are not fully equal; the one in the hand
+ you normally wield with is considered primary and the other one
+ is considered secondary. The most noticeable difference is after
+ you stop--or before you begin, for that matter--wielding two
+ weapons at once. The primary is your wielded weapon and the sec-
+ ondary is just an item in your inventory that's been designated
+ as alternate weapon.)
If your primary weapon is wielded but your off hand is empty
or has the wrong weapon, use the sequence `x', `w', `x' to first
Plate mail, Crystal plate mail 3
Bronze plate mail, Splint mail,
Banded mail, Dwarvish mithril-coat 4
- Chain mail, Elven mithril-coat 5
- Scale mail, Orcish chain mail 6
- Ring mail, Studded leather armor,
- Dragon scales 7
- Leather armor, Orcish ring mail 8
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ Chain mail, Elven mithril-coat 5
+ Scale mail, Orcish chain mail 6
+ Ring mail, Studded leather armor,
+ Dragon scales 7
+ Leather armor, Orcish ring mail 8
Leather jacket 9
none 10
When you kill monsters, they usually leave corpses which are
also "food." Many, but not all, of these are edible; some also
give you special powers when you eat them. A good rule of thumb
- is "you are what you eat."
-
- Some character roles and some monsters are vegetarian. Veg-
- etarian monsters will typically never eat animal corpses, while
- vegetarian players can, but with some rather unpleasant side-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- effects.
+ is "you are what you eat."
+
+ Some character roles and some monsters are vegetarian. Veg-
+ etarian monsters will typically never eat animal corpses, while
+ vegetarian players can, but with some rather unpleasant side-ef-
+ fects.
You can name one food item after something you like to eat
with the fruit option.
The command to drink a potion is `q' (quaff).
- 7.7. Wands (`/')
- Wands usually have multiple magical charges. Some types of
- wands require a direction in which to zap them. You can also zap
- them at yourself (just give a `.' or `s' for the direction). Be
- warned, however, for this is often unwise. Other types of wands
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ 7.7. Wands (`/')
+
+ Wands usually have multiple magical charges. Some types of
+ wands require a direction in which to zap them. You can also zap
+ them at yourself (just give a `.' or `s' for the direction). Be
+ warned, however, for this is often unwise. Other types of wands
don't require a direction. The number of charges in a wand is
random and decreases by one whenever you use it.
The commands to use rings are `P' (put on) and `R' (remove).
`A', `W', and `T' can also be used; see Amulets.
- 7.9. Spellbooks (`+')
-
- Spellbooks are tomes of mighty magic. When studied with the
- `r' (read) command, they transfer to the reader the knowledge of
- a spell (and therefore eventually become unreadable)--unless the
- attempt backfires. Reading a cursed spellbook or one with mystic
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ 7.9. Spellbooks (`+')
+
+ Spellbooks are tomes of mighty magic. When studied with the
+ `r' (read) command, they transfer to the reader the knowledge of
+ a spell (and therefore eventually become unreadable)--unless the
+ attempt backfires. Reading a cursed spellbook or one with mystic
runes beyond your ken can be harmful to your health!
A spell (even when learned) can also backfire when you cast
Tools are miscellaneous objects with various purposes. Some
tools have a limited number of uses, akin to wand charges. For
- example, lamps burn out after a while. Other tools are contain-
- ers, which objects can be placed into or taken out of.
-
- Some tools (such as a blindfold) can be worn and can be put
- on and removed like other accessories (rings, amulets); see
- Amulets. Other tools (such as pick-axe) can be wielded as
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- weapons in addition to being applied for their usual purpose, and
- in some cases (again, pick-axe) become wielded as a weapon even
- when applied.
+ example, lamps burn out after a while. Other tools are contain-
+ ers, which objects can be placed into or taken out of.
+
+ Some tools (such as a blindfold) can be worn and can be put
+ on and removed like other accessories (rings, amulets); see
+ Amulets. Other tools (such as pick-axe) can be wielded as weap-
+ ons in addition to being applied for their usual purpose, and in
+ some cases (again, pick-axe) become wielded as a weapon even when
+ applied.
The blind option can be set (prior to game start) to attempt
to play the entire game without being able to see (a self-imposed
Some gems are valuable, and can be sold for a lot of gold.
They are also a far more efficient way of carrying your riches.
- Valuable gems increase your score if you bring them with you when
- you exit.
-
- Other small rocks are also categorized as gems, but they are
- much less valuable. All rocks, however, can be used as projec-
- tile weapons (if you have a sling). In the most desperate of
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ Valuable gems increase your score if you bring them with you when
+ you exit.
+
+ Other small rocks are also categorized as gems, but they are
+ much less valuable. All rocks, however, can be used as projec-
+ tile weapons (if you have a sling). In the most desperate of
cases, you can still throw them by hand.
7.13. Large rocks (``')
known to be uncursed. Only matters when you're using an object
selection prompt that can filter by "BUCX" state.
- 7.15. Persistence of Objects
- Normally, if you have seen an object at a particular map lo-
- cation and move to another location where you can't directly see
- that object any more, it will continue to be displayed on your
- map. That remains the case even if it is not actually there any
- more--perhaps a monster has picked it up or it has rotted away--
- until you can see or feel that location again. One notable ex-
- ception is that if the object gets covered by the "remembered,
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ 7.15. Persistence of Objects
+
+ Normally, if you have seen an object at a particular map lo-
+ cation and move to another location where you can't directly see
+ that object any more, it will continue to be displayed on your
+ map. That remains the case even if it is not actually there any
+ more--perhaps a monster has picked it up or it has rotted away--
+ until you can see or feel that location again. One notable ex-
+ ception is that if the object gets covered by the "remembered,
unseen monster" marker. When that marker is later removed after
you've verified that no monster is there, you will have forgotten
that there was any object there regardless of whether the unseen
sidered vegan food. Note however that eating such items still
counts against foodless conduct.
- Vegetarians do not eat animals; however, they are less se-
- lective about eating animal byproducts than vegans. In addition
- to the vegan items listed above, they may eat any kind of pudding
- (`P') other than the black puddings, eggs and food made from eggs
- (fortune cookies and pancakes), food made with milk (cream pies
- and candy bars), and lumps of royal jelly. Monks are expected to
- observe a vegetarian diet.
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ Vegetarians do not eat animals; however, they are less se-
+ lective about eating animal byproducts than vegans. In addition
+ to the vegan items listed above, they may eat any kind of pudding
+ (`P') other than the black puddings, eggs and food made from eggs
+ (fortune cookies and pancakes), food made with milk (cream pies
+ and candy bars), and lumps of royal jelly. Monks are expected to
+ observe a vegetarian diet.
+
Eating any kind of meat violates the vegetarian, vegan, and
foodless conducts. This includes tripe rations, the corpses or
tins of any monsters not mentioned above, and the various other
This is a particularly difficult challenge, although it is still
possible to gain experience by other means.
- An illiterate character does not read or write. This in-
- cludes reading a scroll, spellbook, fortune cookie message, or t-
- shirt; writing a scroll; or making an engraving of anything other
- than a single "X" (the traditional signature of an illiterate
- person). Reading an engraving, or any item that is absolutely
- necessary to win the game, is not counted against this conduct.
- The identity of scrolls and spellbooks (and knowledge of spells)
- in your starting inventory is assumed to be learned from your
- teachers prior to the start of the game and isn't counted.
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ An illiterate character does not read or write. This in-
+ cludes reading a scroll, spellbook, fortune cookie message, or t-
+ shirt; writing a scroll; or making an engraving of anything other
+ than a single "X" (the traditional signature of an illiterate
+ person). Reading an engraving, or any item that is absolutely
+ necessary to win the game, is not counted against this conduct.
+ The identity of scrolls and spellbooks (and knowledge of spells)
+ in your starting inventory is assumed to be learned from your
+ teachers prior to the start of the game and isn't counted.
+
There is a side-branch to the main dungeon called "Sokoban,"
briefly described in the earlier section about Traps. As men-
tioned there, the goal is to push boulders into pits and/or holes
End of game disclosure will also display various achieve-
ments representing progress toward ultimate ascension, if any
- have been attained. They aren't directly related to conduct but
- are grouped with it because they fall into the same category of
- "bragging rights" and to limit the number of questions during
- disclosure. Listed here roughly in order of difficulty and not
- necessarily in the order in which you might accomplish them.
-
- <Rank> - Attained rank title <Rank>.
- Shop - Entered a shop.
- Temple - Entered a temple.
- Mines - Entered the Gnomish Mines.
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+ have been attained. They aren't directly related to conduct but
+ are grouped with it because they fall into the same category of
+ "bragging rights" and to limit the number of questions during
+ disclosure. Listed here roughly in order of difficulty and not
+ necessarily in the order in which you might accomplish them.
+
+ <Rank> - Attained rank title <Rank>.
+ Shop - Entered a shop.
+ Temple - Entered a temple.
+ Mines - Entered the Gnomish Mines.
Town - Entered Mine Town.
Oracle - Consulted the Oracle of Delphi.
Novel - Read a passage from a Discworld Novel.
The "special items" hidden in Mines' End and Sokoban are not
unique but are considered to be prizes or rewards for exploring
those levels since doing so is not necessary to complete the
- game. Finding other instances of the same objects doesn't record
- the corresponding achievement.
- The Medusa achievement is recorded if she dies for any rea-
- son, even if you are not directly responsible, and only if she
- dies.
- The 5-note tune can be learned via trial and error with a
- musical instrument played closely enough--but not too close!--to
- the Castle level's drawbridge or can be given to you via prayer
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack Guidebook 57
- NetHack Guidebook 57
+ game. Finding other instances of the same objects doesn't record
+ the corresponding achievement.
+ The Medusa achievement is recorded if she dies for any rea-
+ son, even if you are not directly responsible, and only if she
+ dies.
+ The 5-note tune can be learned via trial and error with a
+ musical instrument played closely enough--but not too close!--to
+ the Castle level's drawbridge or can be given to you via prayer
boon.
Blind and Nudist are also conducts, and they can only be en-
figuration file, NetHack will create the configuration file for
you using the default template file.
- On MS-DOS, it is "defaults.nh" in the same folder as
- nethack.exe.
-
- Any line in the configuration file starting with `#' is
- treated as a comment and ignored. Empty lines are ignored.
- Any line beginning with `[' and ending in `]' is a section
- marker (the closing `]' can be followed by whitespace and then an
- arbitrary comment beginning with `#'). The text between the
- square brackets is the section name. Section markers are only
- valid after a CHOOSE directive and their names are case
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- insensitive. Lines after a section marker belong to that section
- up until another section starts or a marker without a name is en-
- countered or the file ends. Lines within sections are ignored
- unless a CHOOSE directive has selected that section.
+ On MS-DOS, it is "defaults.nh" in the same folder as
+ nethack.exe.
+
+ Any line in the configuration file starting with `#' is
+ treated as a comment and ignored. Empty lines are ignored.
+
+ Any line beginning with `[' and ending in `]' is a section
+ marker (the closing `]' can be followed by whitespace and then an
+ arbitrary comment beginning with `#'). The text between the
+ square brackets is the section name. Section markers are only
+ valid after a CHOOSE directive and their names are case insensi-
+ tive. Lines after a section marker belong to that section up un-
+ til another section starts or a marker without a name is encoun-
+ tered or the file ends. Lines within sections are ignored unless
+ a CHOOSE directive has selected that section.
You can use different configuration directives in the file,
some of which can be used multiple times. In general, the direc-
The location where saved games are kept. Defaults to HACKDIR,
must be writable.
- BONESDIR
- The location that bones files are kept. Defaults to HACKDIR,
- must be writable.
- LOCKDIR
- The location that file synchronization locks are stored.
- Defaults to HACKDIR, must be writable.
- TROUBLEDIR
- The location that a record of game aborts and self-diagnosed
- game problems is kept. Defaults to HACKDIR, must be writable.
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack Guidebook 59
- NetHack Guidebook 59
+ BONESDIR
+ The location that bones files are kept. Defaults to HACKDIR,
+ must be writable.
+
+ LOCKDIR
+ The location that file synchronization locks are stored.
+ Defaults to HACKDIR, must be writable.
+ TROUBLEDIR
+ The location that a record of game aborts and self-diagnosed
+ game problems is kept. Defaults to HACKDIR, must be writable.
AUTOCOMPLETE
Enable or disable an extended command autocompletion. Autocom-
[] #end of CHOOSE
OPTIONS=!rest_on_space
- If [] is present, the preceding section is closed and no new
- section begins; whatever follows will be common to all sec-
- tions. Otherwise the last section extends to the end of the
- options file.
- MENUCOLOR
- Highlight menu lines with different colors. See the "Configur-
- ing Menu Colors" section.
- MSGTYPE
- Change the way messages are shown in the top status line. See
- the "Configuring Message Types" section.
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
+ NetHack Guidebook 60
- NetHack Guidebook 60
+ If [] is present, the preceding section is closed and no new
+ section begins; whatever follows will be common to all sec-
+ tions. Otherwise the last section extends to the end of the
+ options file.
+
+ MENUCOLOR
+ Highlight menu lines with different colors. See the "Configur-
+ ing Menu Colors" section.
+ MSGTYPE
+ Change the way messages are shown in the top status line. See
+ the "Configuring Message Types" section.
ROGUESYMBOLS
Custom symbols for for the rogue level's symbol set. See SYM-
Here is an example of configuration file contents:
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 61
+
+
+
# Set your character's role, race, gender, and alignment.
OPTIONS=role:Valkyrie, race:Human, gender:female, align:lawful
#
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 61
-
-
-
- 9.3. Using the NETHACKOPTIONS environment variable
+ 9.3. Using the NETHACKOPTIONS environment variable
The NETHACKOPTIONS variable is a comma-separated list of
initial values for the various options. Some can only be turned
can be set to the full name of a configuration file you want to
use. If that full name doesn't start with a slash, precede it
with `@' (at-sign) to let NetHack know that the rest is intended
- as a file name. If it does start with `/', the at-sign is op-
- tional.
+ as a file name. If it does start with `/', the at-sign is
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 62
+
+
+
+ optional.
9.4. Customization options
Note that this has nothing to do with your computer's audio ca-
pabilities. Persistent.
-
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 62
-
-
-
alignment
Your starting alignment (align:lawful, align:neutral, or
align:chaotic). You may specify just the first letter. Many
(fire) command when nothing is quivered or readied (default
false). When true, the computer will fill your quiver or
quiver sack or make ready some suitable weapon. Note that it
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 63
+
+
+
will not take into account the blessed/cursed status, enchant-
ment, damage, or quality of the weapon; you are free to manual-
ly fill your quiver or quiver sack or make ready with the `Q'
to disarm the trap; if you decline, your character
will forget that the door or box is trapped;
Apply-Key - if carrying a key or other unlocking tool, prompt
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 63
-
-
-
about using it;
Kick - kick the door (if you omit untrap or decline to at-
tempt untrap and you omit apply-key or you lack a
Set the character used to display boulders (default is the
"large rock" class symbol, ``').
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 64
+
+
+
catname
Name your starting cat (for example "catname:Morris"). Cannot
be set with the `O' command.
new players if it detects some anticipated mistakes (default
on).
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 64
-
-
-
confirm
Have user confirm attacks on pets, shopkeepers, and other
peaceable creatures (default on). Persistent.
# - disclose it without prompting, ask for sort order.
Asking refers to picking one of the orderings from a menu. The
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 65
+
+
+
`+' disclose without prompting choice, or being prompted and
answering `y' rather than `a', will default to showing monsters
in the traditional order, from high level to low level.
and default to no, and overview to disclose without prompting.
Note that the vanquished monsters list includes all monsters
- killed by traps and each other as well as by you. And the
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 65
-
-
-
- dungeon overview shows all levels you had visited but does not
- reveal things about them that you hadn't discovered.
+ killed by traps and each other as well as by you. And the dun-
+ geon overview shows all levels you had visited but does not re-
+ veal things about them that you hadn't discovered.
dogname
Name your starting dog (for example "dogname:Fang"). Cannot be
Commands asking for an inventory item show a menu instead of a
text query with possible menu letters. Default is off.
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 66
+
+
+
fruit
Name a fruit after something you enjoy eating (for example
"fruit:mango") (default "slime mold"). Basically a nostalgic
dence. See role for a description of how to use negation to
exclude choices.
-
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 66
-
-
-
Default is random. Cannot be set with the `O' command. Per-
sistent.
hilite_pile
Visually distinguish piles of objects from individual objects
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 67
+
+
+
(default off). The behavior of this option depends on the type
of windowing you use. In text windowing, text highlighting or
inverse video is often used; with tiles, generally displays a
Cannot be set with the `O' command.
ignintr
- Ignore interrupt signals, including breaks (default off).
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 67
-
-
-
- Persistent.
+ Ignore interrupt signals, including breaks (default off). Per-
+ sistent.
implicit_uncursed
Omit "uncursed" from object descriptions when it can be deduced
Give feedback when walking against a wall (default off). Per-
sistent.
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 68
+
+
+
menucolors
Enable coloring menu lines (default off). See "Configuring
Menu Colors" on how to configure the colors.
versions; it consists of a prompt for object class characters,
followed by an object-by-object prompt for all items matching
the selected object class(es). Combination starts with a
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 68
-
-
-
prompt for object class(es) of interest, but then displays a
menu of matching objects rather than prompting one-by-one.
Full displays a menu of object classes rather than a character
menu_overlay
Do not clear the screen before drawing menus, and align menus
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 69
+
+
+
to the right edge of the screen. Only for the tty port. (de-
fault on)
menu_select_page
Key to select all items on this page of a menu. Default `,'.
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 69
-
-
-
menu_shift_left
Key to scroll a menu--one which has been scrolled right--back
to the left. Implemented for perm_invent only by curses and
for curses (`f' and `r' choices, default `r'). The possible
values are:
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 70
+
+
+
s - single message (default; only choice prior to 3.4.0);
c - combination, two messages as "single", then as "full";
f - full window, oldest message first;
news
Read the NetHack news file, if present (default on). Since the
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 70
-
-
-
news is shown at the beginning of the game, there's no point in
setting this with the `O' command.
packorder
Specify the order to list object types in (default
"")[%?+!=/(*`0_"). The value of this option should be a string
- containing the symbols for the various object types. Any omit-
- ted types are filled in at the end from the previous order.
+ containing the symbols for the various object types. Any
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 71
+
+
+
+ omitted types are filled in at the end from the previous order.
paranoid_confirmation
A space separated list of specific situations where alternate
mode);
bones - require "yes" rather than `y' to confirm saving
bones data when dying in debug mode;
- attack - require "yes" rather than `y' to confirm
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 71
-
-
-
- attacking a peaceful monster;
+ attack - require "yes" rather than `y' to confirm attack-
+ ing a peaceful monster;
wand-break - require "yes" rather than `y' to confirm breaking
a wand;
eating - require "yes" rather than `y' to confirm whether
hilite_pet boolean option. Curses interface only; value is one
or more of the following letters.
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 72
+
+
+
n - Normal text (no highlighting)
i - Inverse video (default)
b - Bold text
should be specified on its own, not in combination with any of
the other letters.
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 72
-
-
-
pettype
Specify the type of your initial pet, if you are playing a
character class that uses multiple types of pets; or choose to
There is no way to set pickup_types to "none". (Setting it to
an empty value reverts to "all".) If you want to avoid auto-
matically picking up any types of items but do want to have au-
- topickup on in order to have autopickup_exception settings con-
- trol what you do and don't pick up, you can set pickup_types to
- `.'. That is the type symbol for venom and you won't come
+ topickup on in order to have autopickup_exception settings
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 73
+
+
+
+ control what you do and don't pick up, you can set pickup_types
+ to `.'. That is the type symbol for venom and you won't come
across any venom items so won't unintentionally pick such up.
pile_limit
might only be allowed for someone logged in under a particular
user name (on multi-user systems) or specifying a particular
character name (on single-user systems) or it might be disabled
- entirely. Requesting it when not allowed or not possible
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 73
-
-
-
- results in explore mode instead. Default is normal play.
+ entirely. Requesting it when not allowed or not possible re-
+ sults in explore mode instead. Default is normal play.
pushweapon
Using the `w' (wield) command when already wielding something
role
Pick your type of character (for example, role:Samurai); syn-
- onym for character. See name for an alternate method of speci-
- fying your role.
+ onym for character. See name for an alternate method of
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 74
+
+
+
+ specifying your role.
This option can also be used to limit selection when role is
chosen randomly. Use a space-separated list of roles and ei-
roguesymset
This option may be used to select one of the named symbol sets
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 74
-
-
-
found within "symbols" to alter the symbols displayed on the
screen on the rogue level.
Prevents you from waiting or searching when next to a hostile
monster (default on). Persistent.
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 75
+
+
+
sanity_check
Evaluate monsters, objects, and map prior to each turn (default
off). Debug mode only.
fects only the appearance of the display, not the way the game
treats you. Persistent.
-
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 75
-
-
-
showscore
Show your approximate accumulated score on bottom line (default
off). Persistent.
full - always sort the lists;
loot - only sort the lists that don't use inventory letters,
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 76
+
+
+
like with the #loot and pickup commands;
none - show lists the traditional way without sorting; default.
a - order alphabetically, first any unique monsters then all
the others;
c - order by monster class, by low to high level within each
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 76
-
-
-
class;
n - order by count, high to low; ties are broken by internal
monster index;
alert notification messages about feature changes for that and
prior versions (for example "suppress_alert:3.3.1").
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 77
+
+
+
symset
This option may be used to select one of the named symbol sets
found within "symbols" to alter the symbols displayed on the
sistent.
tombstone
- Draw a tombstone graphic upon your death (default on).
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 77
-
-
-
- Persistent.
+ Draw a tombstone graphic upon your death (default on). Persis-
+ tent.
toptenwin
Put the ending display in a NetHack window instead of on stdout
s - screen [row,column] (row is offset to match tty usage);
n - none (no coordinates shown) [default].
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 78
+
+
+
The whatis_coord option is also used with the "/m", "/M", "/o",
and "/O" sub-commands of `/', where the "none" setting is over-
ridden with "map".
Filtering can also be changed when getting a location with the
"getpos.filter" key.
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 78
-
-
-
whatis_menu
When getting a location on the map, and using a key to cycle
through next and previous targets, use a menu instead to pick a
the contents. Not all ports support zero-comp compression. It
has no effect on reading an existing save file.
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 79
+
+
+
9.5. Window Port Customization options
Here are explanations of the various options that are used
Where to align or place the status window (top, bottom, left,
or right).
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 79
-
-
-
ascii_map
If NetHack can, it should display the map using simple charac-
ters (letters and punctuation) rather than tiles graphics. In
font_status
If NetHack can, it should use a font by the chosen name for the
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 80
+
+
+
status window.
font_text
font_size_text
If NetHack can, it should use this size font for text windows.
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 80
-
-
-
fullscreen
If NetHack can, it should try and display on the entire screen
rather than in a window.
so enhances performance of the tile graphics, but uses more
memory. (default on). Cannot be set with the `O' command.
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 81
+
+
+
scroll_amount
If NetHack can, it should scroll the display by this number of
cells when the hero reaches the scroll_margin.
statuslines
Number of lines for traditional below-the-map status display.
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 81
-
-
-
Acceptable values are 2 and 3 (default is 2).
When set to 3, the tty interface moves some fields around and
ified but will settle for smaller sizes if they are too big.
Default is the current window size.
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 82
+
+
+
tile_file
Specify the name of an alternative tile file to override the
default.
use_darkgray
Use bold black instead of blue for black glyphs (TTY only).
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 82
-
-
-
use_inverse
If NetHack can, it should display inverse when the game speci-
fies it.
is big enough to show them (2), setting the value to 3 or 4 in-
stead will keep borders for the map, message, and status win-
dows but have room for two additional lines of inventory plus
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 83
+
+
+
widen each inventory line by two columns.
windowcolors
If NetHack can, it should wrap long lines of text if they don't
fit in the visible area of the window.
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 83
-
-
-
9.6. Platform-specific Customization options
Here are explanations of options that are used by specific
chines with an IBM PC compatible BIOS ROM (default off, OS/2,
PC, and ST NetHack only).
- flush
- (default off, Amiga NetHack only).
- MACgraphics
- (default on, Mac NetHack only).
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
- page_wait
- (default on, Mac NetHack only).
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 84
+
+
+
+ flush
+ (default off, Amiga NetHack only).
+
+ MACgraphics
+ (default on, Mac NetHack only).
+
+ page_wait
+ (default on, Mac NetHack only).
rawio
Force raw (non-cbreak) mode for faster output and more bullet-
value:171/92 will return 92 to NetHack, if 171 was originally
going to be returned. You can use multiple subkeyvalue assign-
ments in the configuration file if needed. Cannot be set with
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 84
-
-
-
the `O' command.
video
command.
videoshades
- Set the intensity level of the three gray scales available (de-
- fault dark normal light, PC NetHack only). If the game display
- is difficult to read, try adjusting these scales; if this does
- not correct the problem, try !color. Cannot be set with the
- `O' command.
+ Set the intensity level of the three gray scales available
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 85
+
+
+
+ (default dark normal light, PC NetHack only). If the game dis-
+ play is difficult to read, try adjusting these scales; if this
+ does not correct the problem, try !color. Cannot be set with
+ the `O' command.
9.7. Regular Expressions
file, you can define patterns to be checked when the game is
about to autopickup something.
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 85
-
-
-
autopickup_exception
Sets an exception to the pickup_types option. The autopick-
up_exception option should be followed by a regular expression
The first example above will result in autopickup of any
type of arrow. The second example results in the exclusion of
- any corpse from autopickup. The last example results in the ex-
- clusion of items known to be cursed from autopickup.
+ any corpse from autopickup. The last example results in the
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 86
+
+
+
+ exclusion of items known to be cursed from autopickup.
9.9. Changing Key Bindings
to. You can also bind the "<esc>", "<enter>", and "<space>"
keys.
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 86
-
-
-
Menu accelerator keys
The menu control or accelerator keys can also be rebound via
OPTIONS lines in the configuration file. You cannot bind ob-
mouse click. You will be asked to pick a location. Use move-
ment keystrokes to move the cursor around the map, then type
the getpos.pick.once key (default `,') or the getpos.pick key
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 87
+
+
+
(default `.') to finish as if performing a left or right
click. Only useful when using the #therecmdmenu command. De-
fault is `_'.
When asked for a location, the key to go to previous closest
interesting thing. Default is `A'.
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 87
-
-
-
getpos.door.next
When asked for a location, the key to go to next closest door
or doorway. Default is `d'.
object. Default is `O'.
getpos.menu
- When asked for a location, and using one of the next or previ-
- ous keys to cycle through targets, toggle showing a menu in-
- stead. Default is `!'.
+ When asked for a location, and using one of the next or
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 88
+
+
+
+ previous keys to cycle through targets, toggle showing a menu
+ instead. Default is `!'.
getpos.moveskip
When asked for a location, and using the shifted movement keys
When asked for a location, the key to choose the location, and
skip asking for more info. When simulating a mouse click after
being asked for a direction, the key to respond as left click.
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 88
-
-
-
Default is `,'.
getpos.pick.quick
When asked for a location, the key to go to next closest valid
location. Default is `z'.
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 89
+
+
+
getpos.valid.prev
When asked for a location, the key to go to previous closest
valid location. Default is `Z'.
show - show message normally;
hide - never show the message;
stop - wait for user with more-prompt;
- norep - show the message once, but not again if no other
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 89
-
-
-
- message is shown in between.
+ norep - show the message once, but not again if no other mes-
+ sage is shown in between.
Here's an example of message types using NetHack's internal
pattern matching facility:
color - the color to use for lines matching the pat-
tern;
attribute - the attribute to use for lines matching the
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 90
+
+
+
pattern. The attribute is optional, and if
left out, you must also leave out the preced-
ing ampersand. If no attribute is defined,
Here's an example of menu colors using NetHack's internal pat-
tern matching facility:
-
-
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 90
-
-
-
MENUCOLOR="* blessed *"=green
MENUCOLOR="* cursed *"=red
MENUCOLOR="* cursed *(being worn)"=red&underline
SOUND
An entry that maps a sound file to a user-specified message
pattern. Each SOUND entry is broken down into the following
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 91
+
+
+
parts:
MESG - message window mapping (the only one supported in
SOUND=MESG "This door is locked" "lock.wav" 100
SOUND=MESG hide "^You miss the " "swing.wav" 75
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 91
-
-
-
9.13. Configuring Status Hilites
Your copy of NetHack may have been compiled with support for
ground color on the display, which is not necessarily the same as
black or white or any of the other colors.
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 92
+
+
+
Allowed attributes are none, bold, dim, underline, blink,
and inverse. "Normal" is a synonym for "none"; they should not
be used in combination with any of the other attributes.
You can adjust the appearance of the following status
fields:
-
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 92
-
-
-
title dungeon-level experience-level
strength gold experience
dexterity hitpoints HD
* "changed" sets the field attribute for when the field val-
ue changes. This attribute times out after statushilites
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 93
+
+
+
turns. (If a field has both a "changed" rule and an "up"
or "down" rule which matches a change in the field's val-
ue, the "up" or "down" one takes precedence.)
perience level to the start of the next level. So if lev-
el 2 starts at 20 points and level 3 starts at 40 points,
having 30 points is 50% and 35 points is 75%. 100% is
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 93
-
-
-
unattainable for experience because you'll gain a level
and the calculations will be reset for that new level, but
a rule for =100% is allowed and matches the special case
Example hilites:
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 94
+
+
+
OPTION=hilite_status: gold/up/yellow/down/brown
OPTION=hilite_status: characteristics/up/green/down/red
OPTION=hilite_status: hitpoints/100%/gray&normal
Set the name of the symbol set that you want to load for dis-
play on the rogue level.
-
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 94
-
-
-
You can also override one or more symbols using the SYMBOLS
and ROGUESYMBOLS configuration file options. Symbols are speci-
fied as name:value pairs. Note that NetHack escape-processes the
- S_blcorn (bottom left corner)
b S_blob (blob)
+ S_book (spellbook)
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 95
+
+
+
) S_boomleft (boomerang open left)
( S_boomright (boomerang open right)
` S_boulder (boulder)
D S_dragon (dragon)
; S_eel (sea monster)
E S_elemental (elemental)
-
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 95
-
-
-
/ S_expl_tl (explosion top left)
- S_expl_tc (explosion top center)
\ S_expl_tr (explosion top right)
# S_hcdbridge (horizontal raised drawbridge)
+ S_hcdoor (closed door in horizontal wall)
. S_hodbridge (horizontal lowered drawbridge)
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 96
+
+
+
| S_hodoor (open door in horizontal wall)
^ S_hole (hole)
@ S_human (human or elf)
^ S_magic_trap (magic trap)
m S_mimic (mimic)
] S_mimic_def (mimic)
-
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 96
-
-
-
M S_mummy (mummy)
N S_naga (naga)
. S_ndoor (doorway without door)
^ S_sleeping_gas_trap (sleeping gas trap)
S S_snake (snake)
s S_spider (arachnid or centipede)
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 97
+
+
+
^ S_spiked_pit (spiked pit)
^ S_squeaky_board (squeaky board)
0 S_ss1 (magic shield 1 of 4)
( S_tool (useful item (pick-axe, key, lamp...))
^ S_trap_door (trap door)
t S_trapper (trapper or lurker above)
-
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 97
-
-
-
- S_trcorn (top right corner)
# S_tree (tree)
T S_troll (troll)
~ S_worm_tail (long worm tail)
W S_wraith (wraith)
x S_xan (xan or other extraordinary insect)
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 98
+
+
+
X S_xorn (xorn)
Y S_yeti (apelike creature)
Z S_zombie (zombie)
character sequences, you can customize your game display by as-
signing Unicode codepoint values and red-green-blue colors to
glyph representations. The customizations can be specified for
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 98
-
-
-
use with a symset that has a UTF8 handler within the symbols file
such as the enhanced1 set, or individually within your nethack.rc
file.
You will need to select a symset with a UTF8 handler to enable
the display of the customizations, such as the Enhanced symset.
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 99
+
+
+
9.16. Configuring NetHack for Play by the Blind
NetHack can be set up to use only standard ASCII characters
program as a message handler", your NetHack has been compiled
with the capability. When compiling NetHack from source on Linux
and other POSIX systems, define MSGHANDLER to enable it. To use
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 99
-
-
-
the capability, set the environment variable NETHACK_MSGHANDLER
to an executable, which will be executed with the game message as
the program's only parameter.
Automatically describe the terrain under the cursor when tar-
geting.
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 100
+
+
+
mention_walls
Give feedback messages when walking towards a wall or when
travel command was interrupted.
If NetHack is compiled with the SYSCF option, a system ad-
ministrator should set up a global configuration; this is a file
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 100
-
-
-
in the same format as the traditional per-user configuration file
(see above). This file should be named sysconf and placed in the
same directory as the other NetHack support files. The options
of each field in little-endian order, "ascii" for writing the
save file content in ascii text.
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 101
+
+
+
BONESFORMAT = A list of up to two bones file formats separated
by space. The first format in the list will written as well as
read. The second format will be read only if no bones files in
verify that the user who is restoring is the same one who
saved).
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 101
-
-
-
The following four options affect the score file:
PERSMAX = Maximum number of entries for one person.
output files in one place rather than at the standard loca-
tions.
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 102
+
+
+
DUMPLOGFILE = A filename where the end-of-game dumplog is
saved. Not defining this will prevent dumplog from being cre-
ated. Only available if your game is compiled with DUMPLOG.
time the file could grow to be extremely large unless it is ac-
tively maintained.
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 102
-
-
-
10. Scoring
NetHack maintains a list of the top scores or scorers on
If you just want to see what the current top players/games
list is, you can type nethack -s all on most versions.
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 103
+
+
+
11. Explore mode
NetHack is an intricate and difficult game. Novices might
It is initiated by starting the game with the -D command-line
switch or with the playmode:debug option.
-
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 103
-
-
-
For some systems, the player must be logged in under a par-
ticular user name to be allowed to use debug mode; for others,
the hero must be given a particular character name (but may be
Woodland, Mike Thome, and Jon Payne.
Andries Brouwer did a major re-write while at Stichting
- Mathematisch Centrum (now Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica), trans-
- forming Hack into a very different game. He published the Hack
- source code for use on UNIX systems by posting that to Usenet
- newsgroup net.sources (later renamed comp.sources) releasing ver-
- sion 1.0 in December of 1984, then versions 1.0.1, 1.0.2, and fi-
- nally 1.0.3 in July of 1985. Usenet newsgroup net.games.hack
- (later renamed rec.games.hack, eventually replaced by
- rec.games.roguelike.nethack) was created for discussing it.
+ Mathematisch Centrum (now Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica),
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 104
+
+
+
+ transforming Hack into a very different game. He published the
+ Hack source code for use on UNIX systems by posting that to
+ Usenet newsgroup net.sources (later renamed comp.sources) releas-
+ ing version 1.0 in December of 1984, then versions 1.0.1, 1.0.2,
+ and finally 1.0.3 in July of 1985. Usenet newsgroup
+ net.games.hack (later renamed rec.games.hack, eventually replaced
+ by rec.games.roguelike.nethack) was created for discussing it.
Don G. Kneller ported Hack 1.0.3 to Microsoft C and MS-DOS,
producing PC HACK 1.01e, added support for DEC Rainbow graphics
Later, Mike coordinated a major re-write of the game, head-
ing a team which included Ken Arromdee, Jean-Christophe Collet,
Steve Creps, Eric Hendrickson, Izchak Miller, Eric S. Raymond,
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 104
-
-
-
John Rupley, Mike Threepoint, and Janet Walz, to produce NetHack
3.0c.
Headed by Mike Stephenson and coordinated by Izchak Miller
and Janet Walz, the NetHack Development Team which now included
Ken Arromdee, David Cohrs, Jean-Christophe Collet, Kevin Darcy,
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 105
+
+
+
Matt Day, Timo Hakulinen, Steve Linhart, Dean Luick, Pat Rankin,
Eric Raymond, and Eric Smith undertook a radical revision of 3.0.
They re-structured the game's design, and re-wrote major parts of
Dean Luick, with help from David Cohrs, developed NetHack
3.1 for X11. It drew the map as text rather than graphically but
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 105
-
-
-
included nh10.bdf, an optionally used custom X11 font which has
tiny images in place of letters and punctuation, a precursor of
tiles. Those images don't extend to individual monster and ob-
ic Smith, Mike Stephenson, Janet Walz, and Paul Winner, released
version 3.2.0 in April of 1996.
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 106
+
+
+
Version 3.2 marked the tenth anniversary of the formation of
the development team. In a testament to their dedication to the
game, all thirteen members of the original NetHack Development
Warren Cheung combined SLASH with the Wizard Patch to pro-
duce Slash'EM, and with the help of Kevin Hugo, added more fea-
- tures. Kevin later joined the NetHack Development Team and
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 106
-
-
-
- incorporated the best of these ideas into NetHack 3.3.
+ tures. Kevin later joined the NetHack Development Team and in-
+ corporated the best of these ideas into NetHack 3.3.
The final update to 3.2 was the bug fix release 3.2.3, which
was released simultaneously with 3.3.0 in December 1999 just in
Kevin Darcy, Timo Hakulinen, Kevin Hugo, Steve Linhart, Ken Lor-
ber, Dean Luick, Pat Rankin, Eric Smith, Mike Stephenson, Janet
Walz, and Paul Winner, released 3.3.0 in December 1999 and 3.3.1
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 107
+
+
+
in August of 2000.
Version 3.3 offered many firsts. It was the first version to
Michael Allison maintained NetHack 3.4 for the MS-DOS plat-
form. Paul Winner and Yitzhak Sapir provided encouragement.
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 107
-
-
-
Dean Luick, Mark Modrall, and Kevin Hugo maintained and en-
hanced the Macintosh port of 3.4.
The release of NetHack 3.4.3 in December 2003 marked the be-
ginning of a long release hiatus. 3.4.3 proved to be a remarkably
stable version that provided continued enjoyment by the community
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 108
+
+
+
for more than a decade. The NetHack Development Team slowly and
quietly continued to work on the game behind the scenes during
the tenure of 3.4.3. It was during that same period that several
release of 3.6.0, new members Sean Hunt, Pasi Kallinen, and Derek
S. Ray joined the NetHack Development Team.
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 108
-
-
-
Near the end of the development of 3.6.0, one of the signif-
icant inspirations for many of the humorous and fun features
found in the game, author Terry Pratchett, passed away. NetHack
tained the port of NetHack 3.6 for Microsoft Windows.
Pat Rankin attempted to keep the VMS port running for
- NetHack 3.6, hindered by limited access. Kevin Smolkowski has up-
- dated and tested it for the most recent version of OpenVMS (V8.4
- as of this writing) on Alpha and Integrity (aka Itanium aka IA64)
- but not VAX.
+ NetHack 3.6, hindered by limited access. Kevin Smolkowski has
+
+
+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 109
+
+
+
+ updated and tested it for the most recent version of OpenVMS
+ (V8.4 as of this writing) on Alpha and Integrity (aka Itanium aka
+ IA64) but not VAX.
Ray Chason resurrected the MS-DOS port for 3.6 and contrib-
uted the necessary updates to the community at large.
NetHack 3.6.5 was released on January 27, 2020 containing
some security fixes and a small number of bug fixes.
-
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 109
-
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NetHack 3.6.6 was released on March 8, 2020 containing a se-
curity fix and some bug fixes.
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+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
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+ NetHack Guidebook 110
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12.2. Dungeoneers
From time to time, some depraved individual out there in
Derek S. Ray Kevin Smolkowski Scott Bigham
Deron Meranda Kevin Sweet Scott R. Turner
Dion Nicolaas Lars Huttar Sean Hunt
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- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
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- NetHack Guidebook 110
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Dylan O'Donnell Leon Arnott Stephen Spackman
Eric Backus M. Drew Streib Stefan Thielscher
Eric Hendrickson Malcolm Ryan Stephen White
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+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
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+ NetHack Guidebook 111
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Brand and product names are trademarks or registered trade-
marks of their respective holders.
- NetHack 3.7 February 3, 2023
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+ NetHack 3.7 February 04, 2023
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