Original version - Eric S. Raymond
(Edited and expanded for 3.7 by Mike Stephenson and others)
- July 21, 2021
+ July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
you have seen on the current dungeon level; as you explore more
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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you have available for spell casting. Again, resting will
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scribe things that are impossible to represent visually. If you
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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to hold the saved data is deleted. In explore mode, once
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- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
(R)UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group.
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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`>', `|' by default). Some interfaces also support
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that situation, moving (no count given) a compatible stack
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Go down a staircase. Default key is `>'.
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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The `m' prefix forces use of a menu.
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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key is `C-_'. See also #travel.
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objects and monsters temporarily removed, making it possible
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
Show vision array. Autocompletes. Debug mode only.
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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combination meta+shift+letter is needed.
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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(whether locked or not) down by kicking it via the `^D' (kick)
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
chosen from a few levels lower all the way to the top. Trap
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
previously visited level, it will be loaded from its file on disk
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
any unpaid items which have been used up, along with other shop
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+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
fountain or an altar or various other things doesn't elicit
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
Beware! You may suddenly come upon one in a dark place. Some
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
Initially, your pet may even be better at killing things than
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+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
sense--perhaps it is invisible and has just tapped you on the
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
type of object so you will recognize it later. You can also use
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
gratuitously try to kill you. You need weapons for self-defense
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
`f' (fire), `Q' (quiver), `x' (exchange), `X' (twoweapon), and
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+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
all of the items will travel in the same direction; if the first
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
is considered secondary. The most noticeable difference is after
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+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
shirt under suit, helmet, gloves, boots, shield) to lower your
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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tempts to use the wand will usually result in nothing happening.
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
level, or if you have little skill with the appropriate spell
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+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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only the top item of the pile is displayed. The hilite_pile
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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or tools, but doing so causes you to receive a luck penalty. No
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
and found a special item there.
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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Boolean options toggle a setting on or off, while compound
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+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
"Modifying NetHack Symbols" section.
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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Allows looking at things on the screen by navigating the mouse
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- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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lowing: traditional, combination, full, or partial.
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+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
matching menu items. Default `:'.
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+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
or more letters of the role (that is, by suffixing one of -A -B
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+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
mode;
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
simply stringing them together (for example, "bk"), but in the
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
of explore mode (also known as discovery mode) or debug mode
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
engaged in multi-turn movement (running via shift+direction or
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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This option may be used to select one of the named symbol sets
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
ridden with "map".
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+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
truncated. Not all window ports will adjust for all settings
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+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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If NetHack can, it should scroll the display when the hero or
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- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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brown, blue, magenta, cyan, orange, brightgreen, yellow,
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- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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specifies that any menu line with " blessed " contained in it
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will cause the hitpoints field to display in the color red if
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+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
ally displayed depending upon your other option settings.
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
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- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
( S_boomright (boomerang open right)
` S_boulder (boulder)
- S_brcorn (bottom right corner)
+ > S_brdnladder (branch ladder down)
+ > S_brdnstair (branch staircase down)
+ < S_brupladder (branch ladder up)
+ < S_brupstair (branch staircase up)
C S_centaur (centaur)
_ S_chain (iron chain)
# S_cloud (cloud)
f S_feline (cat or other feline)
^ S_fire_trap (fire trap)
! S_flashbeam (flash beam)
- % S_food (piece of food)
- { S_fountain (fountain)
- F S_fungus (fungus or mold)
- * S_gem (gem or rock)
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
+ % S_food (piece of food)
+ { S_fountain (fountain)
+ F S_fungus (fungus or mold)
+ * S_gem (gem or rock)
S_ghost (ghost)
H S_giant (giant humanoid)
G S_gnome (gnome)
! S_potion (potion)
P S_pudding (pudding or ooze)
q S_quadruped (quadruped)
- Q S_quantmech (quantum mechanic)
- = S_ring (ring)
- ` S_rock (boulder or statue)
- r S_rodent (rodent)
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
+ Q S_quantmech (quantum mechanic)
+ = S_ring (ring)
+ ` S_rock (boulder or statue)
+ r S_rodent (rodent)
^ S_rolling_boulder_trap (rolling boulder trap)
. S_room (floor of a room)
/ S_rslant (diagonal beam [zap animation])
| S_vbeam (vertical beam [zap animation])
# S_vcdbridge (vertical raised drawbridge)
+ S_vcdoor (closed door in vertical wall)
- . S_venom (splash of venom)
- ^ S_vibrating_square (vibrating square)
- . S_vodbridge (vertical lowered drawbridge)
- - S_vodoor (open door in vertical wall)
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
+ . S_venom (splash of venom)
+ ^ S_vibrating_square (vibrating square)
+ . S_vodbridge (vertical lowered drawbridge)
+ - S_vodoor (open door in vertical wall)
v S_vortex (vortex)
| S_vwall (vertical wall)
/ S_wand (wand)
These co-ordinates are often useful in giving players a better
sense of the overall location of items on the screen.
- NetHack can also be compiled with support for sending the
- game messages to an external program, such as a text-to-speech
- synthesizer. If the "#version" extended command shows "external
- program as a message handler", your NetHack has been compiled
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
+ NetHack can also be compiled with support for sending the
+ game messages to an external program, such as a text-to-speech
+ synthesizer. If the "#version" extended command shows "external
+ 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
the capability, set the environment variable NETHACK_MSGHANDLER
Give feedback messages when walking towards a wall or when
travel command was interrupted.
- whatis_coord:compass
- When targeting with cursor, describe the cursor position with
- coordinates relative to your character.
-
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
+ whatis_coord:compass
+ When targeting with cursor, describe the cursor position with
+ coordinates relative to your character.
+
whatis_filter:area
When targeting with cursor, filter possible locations so only
those in the same area (eg. same room, or same corridor) are
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
- the first format exist. Valid choices are "historical" for bi-
- nary writing of entire structs, "lendian" for binary writing of
- each field in little-endian order, "ascii" for writing the
- bones file content in ascii text.
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
+ the first format exist. Valid choices are "historical" for bi-
+ nary writing of entire structs, "lendian" for binary writing of
+ each field in little-endian order, "ascii" for writing the
+ bones file content in ascii text.
+
SUPPORT = A string explaining how to get local support (no de-
fault value).
%% - literal `%'
%v - version (eg. "3.6.3-0")
- %u - game UID
- %t - game start time, UNIX timestamp format
- %T - current time, UNIX timestamp format
- %d - game start time, YYYYMMDDhhmmss format
- %D - current time, YYYYMMDDhhmmss format
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
+ %u - game UID
+ %t - game start time, UNIX timestamp format
+ %T - current time, UNIX timestamp format
+ %d - game start time, YYYYMMDDhhmmss format
+ %D - current time, YYYYMMDDhhmmss format
%n - player name
%N - first character of player name
Debug mode, also known as wizard mode, is undocumented aside
from this brief description and the various "debug mode only"
- commands listed among the command descriptions. It is intended
- for tracking down problems within the program rather than to pro-
- vide god-like powers to your character, and players who attempt
- debugging are expected to figure out how to use it themselves.
- It is initiated by starting the game with the -D command-line
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
+ commands listed among the command descriptions. It is intended
+ for tracking down problems within the program rather than to pro-
+ vide god-like powers to your character, and players who attempt
+ debugging are expected to figure out how to use it themselves.
+ It is initiated by starting the game with the -D command-line
switch or with the playmode:debug option.
For some systems, the player must be logged in under a par-
version 1.4 in 1987. He then coordinated a cast of thousands in
enhancing and debugging NetHack 1.4 and released NetHack versions
2.2 and 2.3. Like Hack, they were released by posting their
- source code to Usenet where they remained available in various
- archives accessible via ftp and uucp after expiring from the
- newsgroup.
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
+ source code to Usenet where they remained available in various
+ archives accessible via ftp and uucp after expiring from the
+ newsgroup.
+
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,
3.1 for the Macintosh, porting it for MPW. Building on their de-
velopment, Bart House added a Think C port.
- Timo Hakulinen ported NetHack 3.1 to OS/2. Eric Smith port-
- ed NetHack 3.1 to the Atari. Pat Rankin, with help from Joshua
- Delahunty, was responsible for the VMS version of NetHack 3.1.
- Michael Allison ported NetHack 3.1 to Windows NT.
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
+ Timo Hakulinen ported NetHack 3.1 to OS/2. Eric Smith port-
+ ed NetHack 3.1 to the Atari. Pat Rankin, with help from Joshua
+ Delahunty, was responsible for the VMS version of NetHack 3.1.
+ Michael Allison ported NetHack 3.1 to Windows NT.
+
Dean Luick, with help from David Cohrs, developed NetHack
3.1 for X11. It drew the map as text rather than graphically but
included nh10.bdf, an optionally used custom X11 font which has
that it was a conversion of the C source code to C++. Working
independently, Stephen White wrote NetHack Plus. Tom Proudfoot
later merged NetHack Plus and his own NetHack-- to produce SLASH.
- Larry Stewart-Zerba and Warwick Allison improved the spell cast-
- ing system with the Wizard Patch. Warwick Allison also ported
- NetHack to use the Qt interface.
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
+ Larry Stewart-Zerba and Warwick Allison improved the spell cast-
+ ing system with the Wizard Patch. Warwick Allison also ported
+ NetHack to use the Qt interface.
+
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 in-
As with version 3.3, various people contributed to the game
as a whole as well as supporting ports on the different platforms
- that NetHack runs on:
- Pat Rankin maintained 3.4 for VMS.
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack Guidebook 103
- NetHack Guidebook 103
+ that NetHack runs on:
+ Pat Rankin maintained 3.4 for VMS.
Michael Allison maintained NetHack 3.4 for the MS-DOS plat-
form. Paul Winner and Yitzhak Sapir provided encouragement.
In January 2015, preparation began for the release of
NetHack 3.6.
- At the beginning of development for what would eventually
- get released as 3.6.0, the NetHack Development Team consisted of
- Warwick Allison, Michael Allison, Ken Arromdee, David Cohrs,
- Jessie Collet, Ken Lorber, Dean Luick, Pat Rankin, Mike
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
- Stephenson, Janet Walz, and Paul Winner. In early 2015, ahead of
- the release of 3.6.0, new members Sean Hunt, Pasi Kallinen, and
- Derek S. Ray joined the NetHack Development Team.
+ At the beginning of development for what would eventually
+ get released as 3.6.0, the NetHack Development Team consisted of
+ Warwick Allison, Michael Allison, Ken Arromdee, David Cohrs,
+ Jessie Collet, Ken Lorber, Dean Luick, Pat Rankin, Mike Stephen-
+ son, Janet Walz, and Paul Winner. In early 2015, ahead of the
+ release of 3.6.0, new members Sean Hunt, Pasi Kallinen, and Derek
+ S. Ray joined the NetHack Development Team.
Near the end of the development of 3.6.0, one of the signif-
icant inspirations for many of the humorous and fun features
team participant for decades, joined the NetHack Development Team
in late May 2019.
- NetHack 3.6.3 was released on December 5, 2019 containing
- over 190 bug fixes to NetHack 3.6.2.
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
+ NetHack 3.6.3 was released on December 5, 2019 containing
+ over 190 bug fixes to NetHack 3.6.2.
+
NetHack 3.6.4 was released on December 18, 2019 containing a
security fix and a few bug fixes.
Bruce Mewborne Keizo Yamamoto Rob Menke
Carl Schelin Keith Simpson Robin Bandy
Chris Russo Ken Arnold Robin Johnson
- David Cohrs Ken Arromdee Roderick Schertler
- David Damerell Ken Lorber Roland McGrath
- David Gentzel Ken Washikita Ron Van Iwaarden
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021
+ David Cohrs Ken Arromdee Roderick Schertler
+ David Damerell Ken Lorber Roland McGrath
+ David Gentzel Ken Washikita Ron Van Iwaarden
David Hairston Kevin Darcy Ronnen Miller
Dean Luick Kevin Hugo Ross Brown
Del Lamb Kevin Sitze Sascha Wostmann
-
-
-
- NetHack 3.7 July 21, 2021
+ NetHack 3.7 July 27, 2021