adventure games. Figure 1 is a sample of what a NetHack screen
might look like. The way the screen looks for you depends on
your platform.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
- The bat bites!
- ------
- |....| ----------
- |.<..|####...@...$.|
- |....-# |...B....+
- |....| |.d......|
- ------ -------|--
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
- NetHack Guidebook 5
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 5
+
- Player the Rambler St:12 Dx:7 Co:18 In:11 Wi:9 Ch:15 Neutral
- Dlvl:1 $:0 HP:9(12) Pw:3(3) AC:10 Exp:1/19 T:257 Weak
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
- Figure 1
+ +----------------------------------------------------------------+
+ |The bat bites! |
+ | |
+ | ------ |
+ | |....| ---------- |
+ | |.<..|####...@...$.| |
+ | |....-# |...B....+ |
+ | |....| |.d......| |
+ | ------ -------|-- |
+ | |
+ | |
+ | |
+ |Player the Rambler St:12 Dx:7 Co:18 In:11 Wi:9 Ch:15 Neutral |
+ |Dlvl:1 $:0 HP:9(12) Pw:3(3) AC:10 Exp:1/19 T:257 Weak |
+ +---------------------------Figure-1-----------------------------+
3.1. The status lines (bottom)
Intelligence
Intelligence affects your ability to cast spells and read
- spellbooks.
-
- Wisdom
- Wisdom comes from your practical experience (especially when
- dealing with magic). It affects your magical energy.
-
- Charisma
- Charisma affects how certain creatures react toward you. In
- particular, it can affect the prices shopkeepers offer you.
NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+ spellbooks.
+
+ Wisdom
+ Wisdom comes from your practical experience (especially when
+ dealing with magic). It affects your magical energy.
+
+ Charisma
+ Charisma affects how certain creatures react toward you. In
+ particular, it can affect the prices shopkeepers offer you.
+
Alignment
Lawful, Neutral, or Chaotic. Often, Lawful is taken as good
and Chaotic as evil, but legal and ethical do not always co-
ence point totals, you gain an experience level. The more
experienced you are, the better you fight and withstand mag-
ical attacks. Many dungeons show only your experience level
- here.
-
- Time
- The number of turns elapsed so far, displayed if you have
- the time option set.
-
- Status
- Hunger: your current hunger status. Values are Satiated,
- Not Hungry (or Normal), Hungry, Weak, and Fainting. Not
- shown when Normal.
NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+ here.
+
+ Time
+ The number of turns elapsed so far, displayed if you have
+ the time option set.
+
+ Status
+ Hunger: your current hunger status. Values are Satiated,
+ Not Hungry (or Normal), Hungry, Weak, and Fainting. Not
+ shown when Normal.
+
Encumbrance: an indication of how what you are carrying af-
fects your ability to move. Values are Unencumbered, Encum-
bered, Stressed, Strained, Overtaxed, and Overloaded. Not
- and |
The walls of a room, or an open door. Or a grave (|).
- . The floor of a room, ice, or a doorless doorway.
- # A corridor, or iron bars, or a tree, or possibly a kitchen
- sink (if your dungeon has sinks), or a drawbridge.
- > Stairs down: a way to the next level.
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
- < Stairs up: a way to the previous level.
- + A closed door, or a spellbook containing a spell you may be
- able to learn.
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+ NetHack Guidebook 8
+ . The floor of a room, ice, or a doorless doorway.
- NetHack Guidebook 8
+ # A corridor, or iron bars, or a tree, or possibly a kitchen
+ sink (if your dungeon has sinks), or a drawbridge.
+ > Stairs down: a way to the next level.
+
+ < Stairs up: a way to the previous level.
+ + A closed door, or a spellbook containing a spell you may be
+ able to learn.
@ Your character or a human.
habitants of the Mazes of Menace. Watch out, they can be
nasty and vicious. Sometimes, however, they can be helpful.
- I This marks the last known location of an invisible or other-
- wise unseen monster. Note that the monster could have
- moved. The `F' and `m' commands may be useful here.
-
- You need not memorize all these symbols; you can ask the
- game what any symbol represents with the `/' command (see the
- next section for more info).
-
-
-
-
-
NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+ I This marks the last known location of an invisible or other-
+ wise unseen monster. Note that the monster could have
+ moved. The `F' and `m' commands may be useful here.
+
+ You need not memorize all these symbols; you can ask the
+ game what any symbol represents with the `/' command (see the
+ next section for more info).
+
4. Commands
Commands can be initiated by typing one or two characters to
moving the cursor to a particular spot on the map and then
pressing one of `.', `,', `;', or `:'. `.' will explain the
symbol at the chosen location, conditionally check for "More
- info?" depending upon whether the help option is on, and
- then you will be asked to pick another location; `,' will
- explain the symbol but skip any additional information, then
- let you pick another location; `;' will skip additional info
- and also not bother asking you to choose another location to
- examine; `:' will show additional info, if any, without ask-
- ing for confirmation. When picking a location, pressing the
- ESC key will terminate this command, or pressing `?' will
NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+ info?" depending upon whether the help option is on, and
+ then you will be asked to pick another location; `,' will
+ explain the symbol but skip any additional information, then
+ let you pick another location; `;' will skip additional info
+ and also not bother asking you to choose another location to
+ examine; `:' will show additional info, if any, without ask-
+ ing for confirmation. When picking a location, pressing the
+ ESC key will terminate this command, or pressing `?' will
give a brief reminder about how it works.
If the autodescribe option is on, a short description of
Prefix: move without picking up objects or fighting (even
if you remember a monster there).
- A few non-movement commands use the `m' prefix to request
- operating via menu (to temporarily override the
- menustyle:Traditional option). Primarily useful for `,'
- (pickup) when there is only one class of objects present
- (where there won't be any "what kinds of objects?" prompt,
- so no opportunity to answer `m' at that prompt).
-
-
NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+ A few non-movement commands use the `m' prefix to request
+ operating via menu (to temporarily override the
+ menustyle:Traditional option). Primarily useful for `,'
+ (pickup) when there is only one class of objects present
+ (where there won't be any "what kinds of objects?" prompt,
+ so no opportunity to answer `m' at that prompt).
+
A few other commands (eat food, offer sacrifice, apply tin-
ning-kit) use the `m' prefix to skip checking for applicable
objects on the floor and go straight to checking inventory,
^A Redo the previous command.
- c Close a door.
- C Call (name) a monster, an individual object, or a type of
- object.
- Same as extended command "#name".
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+ NetHack Guidebook 12
- NetHack Guidebook 12
+ c Close a door.
+ C Call (name) a monster, an individual object, or a type of
+ object.
+ Same as extended command "#name".
^C Panic button. Quit the game.
e Eat food.
- Normally checks for edible item(s) on the floor, then if
- none are found or none are chosen, checks for edible item(s)
- in inventory. Precede `e' with the `m' prefix to bypass at-
- tempting to eat anything off the floor.
-
- E Engrave a message on the floor.
-
NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+ Normally checks for edible item(s) on the floor, then if
+ none are found or none are chosen, checks for edible item(s)
+ in inventory. Precede `e' with the `m' prefix to bypass at-
+ tempting to eat anything off the floor.
+
+ E Engrave a message on the floor.
+
E- - write in the dust with your fingers.
Engraving the word "Elbereth" will cause most monsters to
(Prior to 3.6.0, `^O' was a debug mode command which listed
the placement of all special levels. Use "#wizwhere" to run
- that command.)
-
- p Pay your shopping bill.
- P Put on an accessory (ring, amulet, or blindfold).
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+ NetHack Guidebook 14
- NetHack Guidebook 14
+ that command.)
+ p Pay your shopping bill.
+ P Put on an accessory (ring, amulet, or blindfold).
This command may also be used to wear armor. The prompt for
which inventory item to use will only list accessories, but
t Throw an object or shoot a projectile.
- T Take off armor.
- If you're wearing more than one piece, you'll be prompted
- for which one to take off. (Note that this treats a cloak
- covering a suit and/or a shirt, or a suit covering a shirt,
- as if the underlying items weren't there.) When you're only
- wearing one, then by default it will be taken off without
NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+ T Take off armor.
+
+ If you're wearing more than one piece, you'll be prompted
+ for which one to take off. (Note that this treats a cloak
+ covering a suit and/or a shirt, or a suit covering a shirt,
+ as if the underlying items weren't there.) When you're only
+ wearing one, then by default it will be taken off without
asking, but you can set the paranoid_confirmation option to
require a prompt.
from normal play to "explore mode", also known as "discovery
mode", which has now been moved to "#exploremode".)
- ^X Display basic information about your character.
- Displays name, role, race, gender (unless role name makes
- that redundant, such as Caveman or Priestess), and align-
- ment, along with your patron deity and his or her opposi-
- tion. It also shows most of the various items of informa-
- tion from the status line(s) in a less terse form, including
- several additional things which don't appear in the normal
NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+ ^X Display basic information about your character.
+
+ Displays name, role, race, gender (unless role name makes
+ that redundant, such as Caveman or Priestess), and align-
+ ment, along with your patron deity and his or her opposi-
+ tion. It also shows most of the various items of informa-
+ tion from the status line(s) in a less terse form, including
+ several additional things which don't appear in the normal
status display due to space considerations.
z Zap a wand.
+ List the spells you know.
- Using this command, you can also rearrange the order in
- which your spells are listed, either by sorting the entire
- list or by picking one spell from the menu then picking an-
- other to swap places with it. Swapping pairs of spells
- changes their casting letters, so the change lasts after the
- current `+' command finishes. Sorting the whole list is
- temporary. To make the most recent sort order persist be-
- yond the current `+' command, choose the sort option again
- and then pick "reassign casting letters". (Any spells
+
__________
(R)UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group.
+ Using this command, you can also rearrange the order in
+ which your spells are listed, either by sorting the entire
+ list or by picking one spell from the menu then picking an-
+ other to swap places with it. Swapping pairs of spells
+ changes their casting letters, so the change lasts after the
+ current `+' command finishes. Sorting the whole list is
+ temporary. To make the most recent sort order persist be-
+ yond the current `+' command, choose the sort option again
+ and then pick "reassign casting letters". (Any spells
learned after that will be added to the end of the list
rather than be inserted into the sorted ordering.)
that situation, moving (no count given) a compatible stack
will merge if either stack has a name when the other doesn't
and give that name to the result, while splitting (count
- given) will ignore the source stack's name when deciding
- whether to merge with the destination stack.
-
- #annotate
- Allows you to specify one line of text to associate with the
- current dungeon level. All levels with annotations are dis-
- played by the "#overview" command. Autocompletes. Default
- key is 'M-A', and '^N' if number_pad is on.
-
NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+ given) will ignore the source stack's name when deciding
+ whether to merge with the destination stack.
+
+ #annotate
+ Allows you to specify one line of text to associate with the
+ current dungeon level. All levels with annotations are dis-
+ played by the "#overview" command. Autocompletes. Default
+ key is 'M-A', and '^N' if number_pad is on.
+
#apply
Apply (use) a tool such as a pick-axe, a key, or a lamp. De-
fault key is 'a'.
#down
Go down a staircase. Default key is '>'.
- #drop
- Drop an item. Default key is 'd'.
-
- #droptype
- Drop specific item types. Default key is 'D'.
-
- #eat
- Eat something. Default key is 'e'. The `m' prefix skips
- eating items on the floor.
+ #drop
+ Drop an item. Default key is 'd'.
+
+ #droptype
+ Drop specific item types. Default key is 'D'.
+
+ #eat
+ Eat something. Default key is 'e'. The `m' prefix skips
+ eating items on the floor.
+
#engrave
Engrave writing on the floor. Default key is 'E'.
Jump to another location. Autocompletes. Default key is
'M-j', and 'j' if number_pad is on.
- #kick
- Kick something. Default key is '^D', and 'k' if number_pad
- is on.
-
- #known
- Show what object types have been discovered. Default key is
- '\'.
-
- #knownclass
- Show discovered types for one class of objects. Default key
NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
- is '`'.
+ #kick
+ Kick something. Default key is '^D', and 'k' if number_pad
+ is on.
- #levelchange
+ #known
+ Show what object types have been discovered. Default key is
+ '\'.
+
+ #knownclass
+ Show discovered types for one class of objects. Default key
+ is '`'.
+
+ #levelchange
Change your experience level. Autocompletes. Debug mode
only.
#overview
Display information you've discovered about the dungeon.
- Any visited level (unless forgotten due to amnesia) with an
- annotation is included, and many things (altars, thrones,
- fountains, and so on; extra stairs leading to another dun-
- geon branch) trigger an automatic annotation. If dungeon
- overview is chosen during end-of-game disclosure, every vis-
- ited level will be included regardless of annotations. Auto-
- completes. Default keys are '^O', and 'M-O'.
-
- #panic
- Test the panic routine. Terminates the current game.
NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
- Autocompletes. Debug mode only.
+ Any visited level (unless forgotten due to amnesia) with an
+ annotation is included, and many things (altars, thrones,
+ fountains, and so on; extra stairs leading to another dun-
+ geon branch) trigger an automatic annotation. If dungeon
+ overview is chosen during end-of-game disclosure, every vis-
+ ited level will be included regardless of annotations. Auto-
+ completes. Default keys are '^O', and 'M-O'.
+
+ #panic
+ Test the panic routine. Terminates the current game. Auto-
+ completes. Debug mode only.
#pay
Pay your shopping bill. Default key is 'p'.
intent. You can set the paranoid_confirmation option to re-
quire a response of "yes" instead.
- #quiver
- Select ammunition for quiver. Default key is 'Q'.
-
- #read
- Read a scroll, a spellbook, or something else. Default key
- is 'r'.
-
- #redraw
- Redraw the screen. Default key is '^R', and '^L' if
-
NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
- number_pad is on.
+ #quiver
+ Select ammunition for quiver. Default key is 'Q'.
+
+ #read
+ Read a scroll, a spellbook, or something else. Default key
+ is 'r'.
+
+ #redraw
+ Redraw the screen. Default key is '^R', and '^L' if num-
+ ber_pad is on.
#remove
Remove an accessory (ring, amulet, etc). Default key is 'R'.
#seetrap
Show the type of an adjacent trap. Default key is '^'.
- #seeweapon
- Show the weapon currently wielded. Default key is ')'.
- #shell
- Do a shell escape. Default key is '!'.
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
- #sit
- Sit down. Autocompletes. Default key is 'M-s'.
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+ NetHack Guidebook 23
- NetHack Guidebook 23
+ #seeweapon
+ Show the weapon currently wielded. Default key is ')'.
+ #shell
+ Do a shell escape. Default key is '!'.
+ #sit
+ Sit down. Autocompletes. Default key is 'M-s'.
#stats
Show memory statistics. Autocompletes. Debug mode only.
tion is on, the top line will show "(no travel path)" if
your character does not know of a path to that location.
- #turn
- Turn undead away. Autocompletes. Default key is 'M-t'.
-
- #twoweapon
- Toggle two-weapon combat on or off. Autocompletes. Default
- keys are 'X', and 'M-2'.
-
- Note that you must use suitable weapons for this type of
- combat, or it will be automatically turned off.
+ #turn
+ Turn undead away. Autocompletes. Default key is 'M-t'.
+
+ #twoweapon
+ Toggle two-weapon combat on or off. Autocompletes. Default
+ keys are 'X', and 'M-2'.
+
+ Note that you must use suitable weapons for this type of
+ combat, or it will be automatically turned off.
+
#untrap
Untrap something (trap, door, or chest). Default key is 'M-
u', and 'u' if number_pad is on.
#wipe
Wipe off your face. Autocompletes. Default key is 'M-w'.
- #wizbury
- Bury objects under and around you. Autocompletes. Debug
- mode only.
-
- #wizdetect
- Search for hidden things (secret doors or traps or unseen
- monsters) within a modest radius. Autocompletes. Debug
- mode only. Default key is '^E'.
- #wizgenesis
- Create a monster. May be prefixed by a count to create more
NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+ #wizbury
+ Bury objects under and around you. Autocompletes. Debug
+ mode only.
+
+ #wizdetect
+ Search for hidden things (secret doors or traps or unseen
+ monsters) within a modest radius. Autocompletes. Debug
+ mode only. Default key is '^E'.
+
+ #wizgenesis
+ Create a monster. May be prefixed by a count to create more
than one. Autocompletes. Debug mode only. Default key is
'^G'.
- If your keyboard has a meta key (which, when pressed in com-
- bination with another key, modifies it by setting the `meta'
- [8th, or `high'] bit), you can invoke many extended commands by
- meta-ing the first letter of the command. In NT, OS/2, PC and ST
- NetHack, the `Alt' key can be used in this fashion; on the Amiga,
- set the altmeta option to get this behavior. On other systems,
- if typing `Alt' plus another key transmits a two character se-
- quence consisting of an Escape followed by the other key, you may
- set the altmeta option to have NetHack combine them into
- meta+key.
-
NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+ If your keyboard has a meta key (which, when pressed in com-
+ bination with another key, modifies it by setting the `meta'
+ [8th, or `high'] bit), you can invoke many extended commands by
+ meta-ing the first letter of the command. In NT, OS/2, PC and ST
+ NetHack, the `Alt' key can be used in this fashion; on the Amiga,
+ set the altmeta option to get this behavior. On other systems,
+ if typing `Alt' plus another key transmits a two character se-
+ quence consisting of an Escape followed by the other key, you may
+ set the altmeta option to have NetHack combine them into
+ meta+key.
+
M-? #? (not supported by all platforms)
M-2 #twoweapon (unless the number_pad option is enabled)
M-R #ride
- M-s #sit
- M-t #turn
- M-T #tip
- M-u #untrap
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
- M-v #version
- M-w #wipe
+ NetHack Guidebook 27
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+ M-s #sit
+
+ M-t #turn
+ M-T #tip
+ M-u #untrap
+ M-v #version
- NetHack Guidebook 27
+ M-w #wipe
them straight on, horizontally or vertically. Doorways without
doors are not restricted in this fashion.
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 28
+
+
+
Doors can be useful for shutting out monsters. Most mon-
sters cannot open doors, although a few don't need to (ex. ghosts
can walk through doors).
There are traps throughout the dungeon to snare the unwary
delver. For example, you may suddenly fall into a pit and be
stuck for a few turns trying to climb out. Traps don't appear on
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 28
-
-
-
your map until you see one triggered by moving onto it, see some-
thing fall into it, or you discover it with the `s' (search) com-
mand. Monsters can fall prey to traps, too, which can be a very
they're close enough when you travel up or down stairs, and occa-
sionally one of these creatures will displace you during the
climb. When that occurs, the pet or other monster will arrive on
- the staircase and you will end up nearby.
- Ladders serve the same purpose as staircases, and the two
- types of inter-level connections are nearly indistinguishable
- during game play.
- 5.4. Shops and shopping
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
- Occasionally you will run across a room with a shopkeeper
- near the door and many items lying on the floor. You can buy
- items by picking them up and then using the `p' command. You can
- inquire about the price of an item prior to picking it up by us-
- ing the "#chat" command while standing on it. Using an item
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+ NetHack Guidebook 29
- NetHack Guidebook 29
+ the staircase and you will end up nearby.
+ Ladders serve the same purpose as staircases, and the two
+ types of inter-level connections are nearly indistinguishable
+ during game play.
+ 5.4. Shops and shopping
- prior to paying for it will incur a charge, and the shopkeeper
- won't allow you to leave the shop until you have paid any debt
- you owe.
+ Occasionally you will run across a room with a shopkeeper
+ near the door and many items lying on the floor. You can buy
+ items by picking them up and then using the `p' command. You can
+ inquire about the price of an item prior to picking it up by us-
+ ing the "#chat" command while standing on it. Using an item pri-
+ or to paying for it will incur a charge, and the shopkeeper won't
+ allow you to leave the shop until you have paid any debt you owe.
You can sell items to a shopkeeper by dropping them to the
floor while inside a shop. You will either be offered an amount
* While the shopkeeper watches you like a hawk, he will generally
ignore any other customers.
- * If a shop is "closed for inventory", it will not open of its
- own accord.
-
- * Shops do not get restocked with new items, regardless of inven-
- tory depletion.
- 6. Monsters
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
- Monsters you cannot see are not displayed on the screen.
- Beware! You may suddenly come upon one in a dark place. Some
- magic items can help you locate them before they locate you
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+ NetHack Guidebook 30
- NetHack Guidebook 30
+ * If a shop is "closed for inventory", it will not open of its
+ own accord.
+ * Shops do not get restocked with new items, regardless of inven-
+ tory depletion.
+ 6. Monsters
+ Monsters you cannot see are not displayed on the screen.
+ Beware! You may suddenly come upon one in a dark place. Some
+ magic items can help you locate them before they locate you
(which some monsters can do very well).
The commands `/' and `;' may be used to obtain information
6.2. Your pet
You start the game with a little dog (`d'), cat (`f'), or
- pony (`u'), which follows you about the dungeon and fights mon-
- sters with you. Like you, your pet needs food to survive. It
- usually feeds itself on fresh carrion and other meats. If you're
- worried about it or want to train it, you can feed it, too, by
- throwing it food. A properly trained pet can be very useful un-
- der 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
- you, which makes pets useful for low-level characters.
-
+ pony (`u'), which follows you about the dungeon and fights
NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+ monsters with you. Like you, your pet needs food to survive. It
+ usually feeds itself on fresh carrion and other meats. If you're
+ worried about it or want to train it, you can feed it, too, by
+ throwing it food. A properly trained pet can be very useful un-
+ der 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
+ you, which makes pets useful for low-level characters.
+
Your pet will follow you up and down staircases if it is
next to you when you move. Otherwise your pet will be stranded
and may become wild. Similarly, when you trigger certain types
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.
- 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
- displayed at the location where you think it is. That will
NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
- persist until you have proven that there is no monster there,
- even if the unseen monster moves to another location or you move
- to a spot where the marker's location ordinarily wouldn't be seen
- any more.
+ 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
+ displayed at the location where you think it is. That will per-
+ sist until you have proven that there is no monster there, even
+ if the unseen monster moves to another location or you move to a
+ spot where the marker's location ordinarily wouldn't be seen any
+ more.
7. Objects
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
- 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.
- When you use "#name" on an object which has already been named,
NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+ 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.
+ When you use "#name" on an object which has already been named,
specifying a space as the value will remove the prior name in-
stead of assigning a new one.
cursed" be displayed even when that can be deduced from other at-
tributes.
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 34
+
+
+
7.2. Weapons (`)')
Given a chance, most monsters in the Mazes of Menace will
weapons, like arrows and spears. To hit monsters with a weapon,
you must wield it and attack them, or throw it at them. You can
simply elect to throw a spear. To shoot an arrow, you should
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 34
-
-
-
first wield a bow, then throw the arrow. Crossbows shoot cross-
bow bolts. Slings hurl rocks and (other) stones (like gems).
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),
- `f' (fire, an alternative way of throwing), `Q' (quiver), `x'
- (exchange), "#twoweapon", and "#enhance" (see below).
- 7.2.1. Throwing and shooting
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
- You can throw just about anything via the `t' command. It
- will prompt for the item to throw; picking `?' will list things
- in your inventory which are considered likely to be thrown, or
- picking `*' will list your entire inventory. After you've chosen
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+ NetHack Guidebook 35
- NetHack Guidebook 35
+ (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),
+ `f' (fire, an alternative way of throwing), `Q' (quiver), `x'
+ (exchange), "#twoweapon", and "#enhance" (see below).
+ 7.2.1. Throwing and shooting
+ You can throw just about anything via the `t' command. It
+ will prompt for the item to throw; picking `?' will list things
+ in your inventory which are considered likely to be thrown, or
+ picking `*' will list your entire inventory. After you've chosen
what to throw, you will be prompted for a direction rather than
for a specific target. The distance something can be thrown de-
pends mainly on the type of object and your strength. Arrows can
able. Weapon proficiency, or weapon skills, affect how well you
can use particular types of weapons, and you'll be able to im-
prove your skills as you progress through a game, depending on
- your role, your experience level, and use of the weapons.
-
- For the purposes of proficiency, weapons have been divided
- up into various groups such as daggers, broadswords, and
- polearms. Each role has a limit on what level of proficiency a
- character can achieve for each group. For instance, wizards can
- become highly skilled in daggers or staves but not in swords or
- bows.
-
- The "#enhance" extended command is used to review current
- weapons proficiency (also spell proficiency) and to choose which
- skill(s) to improve when you've used one or more skills enough to
- become eligible to do so. The skill rankings are "none"
NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
- (sometimes also referred to as "restricted", because you won't be
- able to advance), "unskilled", "basic", "skilled", and "expert".
- Restricted skills simply will not appear in the list shown by
- "#enhance". (Divine intervention might unrestrict a particular
+ your role, your experience level, and use of the weapons.
+
+ For the purposes of proficiency, weapons have been divided
+ up into various groups such as daggers, broadswords, and
+ polearms. Each role has a limit on what level of proficiency a
+ character can achieve for each group. For instance, wizards can
+ become highly skilled in daggers or staves but not in swords or
+ bows.
+
+ The "#enhance" extended command is used to review current
+ weapons proficiency (also spell proficiency) and to choose which
+ skill(s) to improve when you've used one or more skills enough to
+ become eligible to do so. The skill rankings are "none" (some-
+ times also referred to as "restricted", because you won't be able
+ to advance), "unskilled", "basic", "skilled", and "expert". Re-
+ stricted skills simply will not appear in the list shown by "#en-
+ hance". (Divine intervention might unrestrict a particular
skill, in which case it will start at unskilled and be limited to
basic.) Some characters can enhance their barehanded combat or
martial arts skill beyond expert to "master" or "grand master".
or has the wrong weapon, use the sequence 'x', 'w', 'x' to first
swap your primary into your off hand, wield whatever you want as
secondary weapon, then swap them both back into the intended
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 37
+
+
+
hands. If your secondary or alternate weapon is correct but your
primary one is not, simply use 'w' to wield the primary. Lastly,
if neither hand holds the correct weapon, use 'w', 'x', 'w' to
want as primary which will push the first into secondary posi-
tion.
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 37
-
-
-
When in two-weapon combat mode, using the "#twoweapon" com-
mand toggles back to single-weapon mode. Throwing or dropping
either of the weapons or having one of them be stolen or de-
can only wear one item of each category (one suit of armor, one
cloak, one helmet, one shield, and so on) at a time.
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 38
+
+
+
If a piece of armor is enchanted, its armor protection will
be better (or worse) than normal, and its "plus" (or minus) will
subtract from your armor class. For example, a +1 chain mail
The commands to use armor are `W' (wear) and `T' (take off).
The `A' command can also be used to take off armor as well as
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 38
-
-
-
other worn items.
7.4. Food (`%')
jects of subtle enchantment are difficult to identify without
these.
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 39
+
+
+
A mail daemon may run up and deliver mail to you as a scroll
of mail (on versions compiled with this feature). To use this
feature on versions where NetHack mail delivery is triggered by
The command to read a scroll is `r'.
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 39
-
-
-
7.6. Potions (`!')
Potions are distinguished by the color of the liquid inside
When you have fully identified a particular wand, inventory
display will include additional information in parentheses: the
number of times it has been recharged followed by a colon and
- then by its current number of charges. A current charge count of
- -1 is a special case indicating that the wand has been cancelled.
- The command to use a wand is `z' (zap). To break one, use
- the `a' (apply) command.
- 7.8. Rings (`=')
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
- Rings are very useful items, since they are relatively per-
- manent magic, unlike the usually fleeting effects of potions,
- scrolls, and wands.
- Putting on a ring activates its magic. You can wear only
- two rings, one on each ring finger.
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+ NetHack Guidebook 40
+ then by its current number of charges. A current charge count of
+ -1 is a special case indicating that the wand has been cancelled.
+ The command to use a wand is `z' (zap). To break one, use
+ the `a' (apply) command.
- NetHack Guidebook 40
+ 7.8. Rings (`=')
+ Rings are very useful items, since they are relatively per-
+ manent magic, unlike the usually fleeting effects of potions,
+ scrolls, and wands.
+ Putting on a ring activates its magic. You can wear only
+ two rings, one on each ring finger.
Most rings also cause you to grow hungry more rapidly, the
rate varying with the type of ring.
can become proficient (to varying degrees), spells are similarly
grouped. Successfully casting a spell exercises its skill group;
using the "#enhance" command to advance a sufficiently exercised
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 41
+
+
+
skill will affect all spells within the group. Advanced skill
may increase the potency of spells, reduce their risk of failure
during casting attempts, and improve the accuracy of the estimate
estimate of how strongly it is remembered. The `Z' (cast) com-
mand casts a spell.
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 41
-
-
-
7.10. Tools (`(')
Tools are miscellaneous objects with various purposes. Some
The commands to use amulets are the same as for rings, `P'
(put on) and `R' (remove).
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 42
+
+
+
7.12. Gems (`*')
Some gems are valuable, and can be sold for a lot of gold.
generally heavy. It is rumored that some statues are not what
they seem.
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 42
-
-
-
Very large humanoids (giants and their ilk) have been known
to use boulders as weapons.
tion can be enabled in order to show an item differently when it
is the top one of a pile.
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 43
+
+
+
8. Conduct
As if winning NetHack were not difficult enough, certain
The most difficult of these is the foodless challenge. Although
creatures can survive long periods of time without food, there is
a physiological need for water; thus there is no restriction on
- drinking beverages, even if they provide some minor food
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 43
-
-
-
- benefits. Calling upon your god for help with starvation does
- not violate any food challenges either.
+ drinking beverages, even if they provide some minor food bene-
+ fits. Calling upon your god for help with starvation does not
+ violate any food challenges either.
A strict vegan diet is one which avoids any food derived
from animals. The primary source of nutrition is fruits and veg-
Regardless of conduct, there will be some items which are
indigestible, and others which are hazardous to eat. Using a
- swallow-and-digest attack against a monster is equivalent to eat-
- ing the monster's corpse. Please note that the term "vegan" is
- used here only in the context of diet. You are still free to
+ swallow-and-digest attack against a monster is equivalent to
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 44
+
+
+
+ eating the monster's corpse. Please note that the term "vegan"
+ is used here only in the context of diet. You are still free to
choose not to use or wear items derived from animals (e.g.
leather, dragon hide, bone, horns, coral), but the game will not
keep track of this for you. Also note that "milky" potions may
counted against this conduct. You are also not penalized for be-
ing spoken to by an angry god, priest(ess), or other religious
figure; a true atheist would hear the words but attach no special
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 44
-
-
-
meaning to them.
Most players fight with a wielded weapon (or tool intended
phing monsters, including pets, does not break either of these
challenges. Finally, you may sometimes receive wishes; a game
without an attempt to wish for any items is a challenge, as is a
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 45
+
+
+
game without wishing for an artifact (even if the artifact imme-
diately disappears). When the game offers you an opportunity to
make a wish for an item, you may choose "nothing" if you want to
a configuration file, or in the NETHACKOPTIONS environment vari-
able. Some versions of NetHack also have front-end programs that
allow you to set options before starting the game or a global
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 45
-
-
-
configuration for system administrators.
9.2. Using a configuration file
OPTIONS statements, and multiple options in a single OPTIONS
statement.
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 46
+
+
+
Example:
OPTIONS=dogname:Fido
The location where saved games are kept. Defaults to HACKDIR,
must be writable.
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 46
-
-
-
BONESDIR
The location that bones files are kept. Defaults to HACKDIR,
must be writable.
Example:
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 47
+
+
+
BIND=^X:getpos.autodescribe
CHOOSE
Change the way messages are shown in the top status line. See
the "Configuring Message Types" section.
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 47
-
-
-
MENUCOLOR
Highlight menu lines with different colors. See the "Configur-
ing Menu Colors" section.
Here is a short example of config file contents:
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 48
+
+
+
# Set your character's role, race, gender, and alignment.
OPTIONS=role:Valkyrie, race:Human, gender:female, align:lawful
#
option to the list, and turn it off by typing a `!' or "no" be-
fore the name. Others take a character string as a value. You
can set string options by typing the option name, a colon or
- equals sign, and then the value of the string. The value is
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 48
-
-
-
- terminated by the next comma or the end of string.
+ equals sign, and then the value of the string. The value is ter-
+ minated by the next comma or the end of string.
For example, to set up an environment variable so that "au-
toquiver" is on, "autopickup" is off, the name is set to "Blue
acoustics
Enable messages about what your character hears (default on).
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 49
+
+
+
Note that this has nothing to do with your computer's audio ca-
pabilities. Persistent.
into a place that can be dug (default false). Persistent.
autoopen
- Walking into a door attempts to open it (default true).
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 49
-
-
-
- Persistent.
+ Walking into a door attempts to open it (default true). Persis-
+ tent.
autopickup
Automatically pick up things onto which you move (default on).
catname
Name your starting cat (ex. "catname:Morris"). Cannot be set
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 50
+
+
+
with the `O' command.
character
Allows looking at things on the screen by navigating the mouse
over them and clicking the right mouse button (default off).
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 50
-
-
-
cmdassist
Have the game provide some additional command assistance for
new players if it detects some anticipated mistakes (default
prefix which lets you refine how it behaves. Here are the
valid prefixes:
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 51
+
+
+
y - prompt you and default to yes on the prompt;
n - prompt you and default to no on the prompt;
+ - disclose it without prompting;
(ex. "disclose:yi na +v -g o") The example sets inventory to
prompt and default to yes, attributes to prompt and default to
no, vanquished to disclose without prompting, genocided to not
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 51
-
-
-
disclose and not prompt, conduct to implicitly prompt and de-
fault to no, and overview to disclose without prompting.
force_invmenu
Commands asking for an inventory item show a menu instead of a
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 52
+
+
+
text query with possible menu letters. Default is off.
fruit
When filtering objects based on bless/curse state (BUCX),
whether to treat gold pieces as X (unknown bless/curse state,
when `on') or U (known to be uncursed, when `off', the de-
- fault). Gold is never blessed or cursed, but it is not
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 52
-
-
-
- described as "uncursed" even when the implicit_uncursed option
- is `off'.
+ fault). Gold is never blessed or cursed, but it is not de-
+ scribed as "uncursed" even when the implicit_uncursed option is
+ `off'.
help
If more information is available for an object looked at with
inverse video is often used; with tiles, generally displays a
small plus-symbol beside the object on the top of the pile.
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 53
+
+
+
hitpointbar
Show a hit point bar graph behind your name and title. Only
available for TTY and Windows GUI, and only when statushilites
Show corridor squares seen by night vision or a light source
held by your character as lit (default off). Persistent.
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 53
-
-
-
lootabc
Use the old `a', `b', and `c' keyboard shortcuts when looting,
rather than the mnemonics `o', `i', and `b' (default off).
object class(es). Combination starts with a prompt for object
class(es) of interest, but then displays a menu of matching ob-
jects rather than prompting one-by-one. Full displays a menu
- of object classes rather than a character prompt, and then a
- menu of matching objects for selection. Partial skips the ob-
- ject class filtering and immediately displays a menu of all ob-
- jects. Persistent.
- menu_deselect_all
- Menu character accelerator to deselect all items in a menu.
- Implemented by the Amiga, Gem, X11 and tty ports. Default '-'.
- menu_deselect_page
- Menu character accelerator to deselect all items on this page
- of a menu. Implemented by the Amiga, Gem and tty ports. De-
- fault '\'.
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
- menu_first_page
- Menu character accelerator to jump to the first page in a menu.
- Implemented by the Amiga, Gem and tty ports. Default '^'.
- menu_headings
- Controls how the headings in a menu are highlighted. Values
- are 'none', 'bold', 'dim', 'underline', 'blink', or 'inverse'.
- Not all ports can actually display all types.
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+ NetHack Guidebook 54
+ of object classes rather than a character prompt, and then a
+ menu of matching objects for selection. Partial skips the ob-
+ ject class filtering and immediately displays a menu of all ob-
+ jects. Persistent.
+ menu_deselect_all
+ Menu character accelerator to deselect all items in a menu.
+ Implemented by the Amiga, Gem, X11 and tty ports. Default '-'.
- NetHack Guidebook 54
+ menu_deselect_page
+ Menu character accelerator to deselect all items on this page
+ of a menu. Implemented by the Amiga, Gem and tty ports. De-
+ fault '\'.
+ menu_first_page
+ Menu character accelerator to jump to the first page in a menu.
+ Implemented by the Amiga, Gem and tty ports. Default '^'.
+ menu_headings
+ Controls how the headings in a menu are highlighted. Values
+ are 'none', 'bold', 'dim', 'underline', 'blink', or 'inverse'.
+ Not all ports can actually display all types.
menu_invert_all
Menu character accelerator to invert all items in a menu. Im-
Menu character accelerator to goto the previous menu page. Im-
plemented by the Amiga, Gem and tty ports. Default '<'.
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 55
+
+
+
menu_search
Menu character accelerator to search for a menu item. Imple-
mented by the Amiga, Gem, X11 and tty ports. Default ':'.
msg_window
Allows you to change the way recalled messages are displayed.
- (It is currently implemented for tty only.) The possible
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 55
-
-
-
- values are:
+ (It is currently implemented for tty only.) The possible val-
+ ues are:
s - single message (default; only choice prior to 3.4.0);
c - combination, two messages as `single', then as `full';
null
Send padding nulls to the terminal (default on). Persistent.
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 56
+
+
+
number_pad
Use digit keys instead of letters to move (default 0 or off).
Valid settings are:
packorder
Specify the order to list object types in (default
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 56
-
-
-
"")[%?+!=/(*`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.
pray - require 'y' to confirm an attempt to pray rather
than immediately praying; on by default;
Remove - require selection from inventory for 'R' and 'T'
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 57
+
+
+
commands even when wearing just one applicable
item.
all - turn on all of the above.
example, "horse" will only be honored when playing a knight.
Cannot be set with the `O' command.
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 57
-
-
-
pickup_burden
When you pick up an item that would exceed this encumbrance
level (Unencumbered, Burdened, streSsed, straiNed, overTaxed,
Values are "normal", "explore", or "debug". Allows selection
of explore mode (also known as discovery mode) or debug mode
(also known as wizard mode) instead of normal play. Debug mode
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 58
+
+
+
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
role
Pick your type of character (ex. "role:Samurai"); synonym for
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 58
-
-
-
"character". See "name" for an alternate method of specifying
your role. Normally only the first letter of the value is ex-
amined; `r' is an exception with "Rogue", "Ranger", and "ran-
This option only affects the game's screen display, not the ac-
tual results of moving. The default is `run'; versions prior
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 59
+
+
+
to 3.4.1 used `teleport' only. Whether or not the effect is
noticeable will depend upon the window port used or on the type
of terminal. Persistent.
showrace
Display yourself as the glyph for your race, rather than the
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 59
-
-
-
glyph for your role (default off). Note that this setting af-
fects only the appearance of the display, not the way the game
treats you. Persistent.
hit by an attack to which it is resistant (default on). Per-
sistent.
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 60
+
+
+
standout
Boldface monsters and "--More--" (default off). Persistent.
screen. Use "symset:default" to explicitly select the default
symbols.
-
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 60
-
-
-
time
Show the elapsed game time in turns on bottom line (default
off). Persistent.
Provide more commentary during the game (default on). Persis-
tent.
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 61
+
+
+
whatis_coord
When using the `/' or `;' commands to look around on the map
with autodescribe on, display coordinates after the descrip-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 61
-
-
-
-
-
n - no filtering [default]
v - in view only
a - in same area only
wizweight
Augment object descriptions with their objects' weight (default
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 62
+
+
+
off). Debug mode only.
zerocomp
dynamic and can be specified during the game with the `O' com-
mand.
-
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 62
-
-
-
align_message
Where to align or place the message window (top, bottom, left,
or right)
If NetHack can, it should use a font by the chosen name for the
message window.
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 63
+
+
+
font_status
If NetHack can, it should use a font by the chosen name for the
status window.
font_size_status
If NetHack can, it should use this size font for the status
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 63
-
-
-
window.
font_size_text
so enhances performance of the tile graphics, but uses more
memory. (default on). Cannot be set with the `O' command.
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 64
+
+
+
scroll_amount
If NetHack can, it should scroll the display by this number of
cells when the hero reaches the scroll_margin.
If NetHack can, it should display an opening splash screen when
it starts up (default yes).
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 64
-
-
-
tiled_map
If NetHack can, it should display a tiled map if it can.
OPTION=windowcolors:wintype foreground/background
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 65
+
+
+
where wintype is one of "menu", "message", "status", or
"text", and foreground and background are colors, either a hexa-
decimal '#rrggbb', one of the named colors (black, red, green,
altkeyhandler
Select an alternate keystroke handler dll to load (Win32 tty
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 65
-
-
-
NetHack only). The name of the handler is specified without
the .dll extension and without any path information. Cannot be
set with the `O' command.
flush
(default off, AMIGA NetHack only).
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 66
+
+
+
MACgraphics
(default on, Mac NetHack only).
keystrokes that the operating system returns to NetHack to help
compensate for international keyboard issues. OPTIONS=subkey-
value:171/92 will return 92 to NetHack, if 171 was originally
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 66
-
-
-
going to be returned. You can use multiple subkeyvalue state-
ments in the config file if needed. Cannot be set with the `O'
command.
pressions. It is possible to compile NetHack without regular ex-
pression support on a platform where there is no regular expres-
sion library. While this is not true of any modern platform, if
- your NetHack was built this way, patterns are instead glob pat-
- terns. This applies to Autopickup exceptions, Message types, Menu
- colors, and User sounds.
+ your NetHack was built this way, patterns are instead glob
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 67
+
+
+
+ patterns. This applies to Autopickup exceptions, Message types,
+ Menu colors, and User sounds.
9.8. Configuring Autopickup Exceptions
In addition, some characters are treated specially if they oc-
cur as the first character in the pattern, specifically:
-
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 67
-
-
-
< - always pickup an object that matches rest of pattern;
> - never pickup an object that matches rest of pattern.
For example:
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 68
+
+
+
BIND=^X:getpos.autodescribe
BIND={:menu_first_page
BIND=v:loot
commands will be available. Special command can only be bound
to a single key.
-
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 68
-
-
-
count
Prefix key to start a count, to repeat a command this many
times. With number_pad only. Default is 'n'.
When asked for a direction, the key to target yourself. Default
is '.'.
- getdir.self2
- When asked for a direction, the key to target yourself. Default
- is 's'.
+ getdir.self2
+ When asked for a direction, the key to target yourself. Default
+ is 's'.
+
+ getpos.autodescribe
+ When asked for a location, the key to toggle autodescribe. De-
+ fault is '#'.
+
+ getpos.all.next
+ When asked for a location, the key to go to next closest
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
- getpos.autodescribe
- When asked for a location, the key to toggle autodescribe. De-
- fault is '#'.
+ NetHack Guidebook 69
- getpos.all.next
- When asked for a location, the key to go to next closest inter-
- esting thing. Default is 'a'.
+
+
+ interesting thing. Default is 'a'.
getpos.all.prev
When asked for a location, the key to go to previous closest
When asked for a location, the key to go to next closest mon-
ster. Default is 'm'.
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 69
-
-
-
getpos.mon.prev
When asked for a location, the key to go to previous closest
monster. Default is 'M'.
When asked for a location, the key to choose the location, and
possibly ask for more info. Default is '.'.
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 70
+
+
+
getpos.pick.once
When asked for a location, the key to choose the location, and
skip asking for more info. Default is ','.
When asked for a location, the key to go to next closest unex-
plored location. Default is 'x'.
-
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 70
-
-
-
getpos.unexplored.prev
When asked for a location, the key to go to previous closest
unexplored location. Default is 'X'.
reqmenu
Prefix key to request menu from some commands. Default is 'm'.
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 71
+
+
+
run
Prefix key to run towards a direction. Default is 'G'.
In general, the config file entries to configure the message
types look like this: MSGTYPE=type "pattern"
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 71
-
-
-
type - how the message should be shown;
pattern - the pattern to match.
when the line matches a user-defined pattern. At this time the
tty, win32tty and win32gui support this.
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 72
+
+
+
In general, the config file entries to configure the menu
color mappings look like this:
cyan, gray, orange, lightgreen, yellow, lightblue, lightmagen-
ta, lightcyan, and white.
-
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 72
-
-
-
Allowed attributes are none, bold, dim, underline, blink, and
inverse. Note that the platform used may interpret the at-
tributes any way it wants.
The following config file entries are relevant to mapping
user sounds to messages:
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 73
+
+
+
SOUNDDIR
The directory that houses the sound files to be played.
Your copy of NetHack may have been compiled with support for
"Status Hilites". If so, you can customize your game display by
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 73
-
-
-
setting thresholds to change the color or appearance of fields in
the status display.
polymorphed. `experience', `time', and `score' are condition-
ally displayed depending upon your other option settings.
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 74
+
+
+
Instead of a behavior, `condition' takes the following condi-
tion flags: stone, slime, strngl, foodpois, termill, blind,
deaf, stun, conf, hallu, lev, fly, and ride. You can use `ma-
* "changed" sets the field attribute for when the field val-
ue changes. This attribute times out after statushilites
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 74
-
-
-
turns.
* percentage sets the field attribute when the field value
Example hilites:
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 75
+
+
+
OPTION=hilite_status: gold/up/yellow/down/brown
OPTION=hilite_status: characteristics/up/green/down/red
OPTION=hilite_status: hitpoints/100%/gray&normal
symset
Set the name of the symbol set that you want to load.
-
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 75
-
-
-
roguesymset
Set the name of the symbol set that you want to load for dis-
play on the rogue level.
- S_blcorn (bottom left corner)
b S_blob (blob)
+ S_book (spellbook)
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 76
+
+
+
) 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 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 76
-
-
-
/ S_explode1 (explosion top left)
- S_explode2 (explosion top center)
\ S_explode3 (explosion top right)
^ S_hole (hole)
@ S_human (human or elf)
h S_humanoid (humanoid)
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 77
+
+
+
- S_hwall (horizontal wall)
. S_ice (ice)
i S_imp (imp or minor demon)
^ S_magic_trap (magic trap)
m S_mimic (mimic)
] S_mimic_def (mimic)
-
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 77
-
-
-
M S_mummy (mummy)
N S_naga (naga)
. S_ndoor (doorway without door)
^ S_squeaky_board (squeaky board)
0 S_ss1 (magic shield 1 of 4)
# S_ss2 (magic shield 2 of 4)
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 78
+
+
+
@ S_ss3 (magic shield 3 of 4)
* S_ss4 (magic shield 4 of 4)
^ S_statue_trap (statue trap)
( S_tool (useful item (pick-axe key lamp...))
^ S_trap_door (trap door)
t S_trapper (trapper or lurker above)
-
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 78
-
-
-
- S_trcorn (top right corner)
# S_tree (tree)
T S_troll (troll)
Z S_zombie (zombie)
z S_zruty (zruty)
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 79
+
+
+
There is one additional class of object, described as
"strange object", which will occasionally be the shape taken on
by mimics and shown as `]' for maps displayed as text characters.
examine this Guidebook before playing so you have an idea what
the screen layout is like. You'll also need to be able to locate
the PC cursor. It is always where your character is located.
- Merely searching for an @-sign will not always find your
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 79
-
-
-
- character since there are other humanoids represented by the same
- sign. Your screen-reader should also have a function which gives
- you the row and column of your review cursor and the PC cursor.
+ Merely searching for an @-sign will not always find your charac-
+ ter since there are other humanoids represented by the same sign.
+ Your screen-reader should also have a function which gives you
+ the row and column of your review cursor and the PC cursor.
These co-ordinates are often useful in giving players a better
sense of the overall location of items on the screen.
roguesymset:NHAccess
Load a symbol set for the rogue level that is appropriate for
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 80
+
+
+
use by blind players.
menustyle:traditional
Give feedback messages when walking towards a wall or when
travel command was interrupted.
-
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 80
-
-
-
whatis_coord:compass
When targeting with cursor, describe the cursor position with
coordinates relative to your character.
value of a single asterisk (*) allows anyone to start a game in
debug mode.
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 81
+
+
+
SHELLERS = A list of users who are allowed to use the shell es-
cape command (!). The syntax is the same as WIZARDS.
option. When disabled, incubi and succubi behave like nymphs.
CHECK_PLNAME = Setting this to 1 will make the EXPLORERS, WIZ-
- ARDS, and SHELLERS check for the player name instead of the
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 81
-
-
-
- user's login name.
+ ARDS, and SHELLERS check for the player name instead of the us-
+ er's login name.
CHECK_SAVE_UID = 0 or 1 to disable or enable, respectively, the
UID (used identification number) checking for save files (to
%T - current time, UNIX timestamp format
%d - game start time, YYYYMMDDhhmmss format
%D - current time, YYYYMMDDhhmmss format
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 82
+
+
+
%n - player name
%N - first character of player name
Menace, the guild will only hear about 90% of your gold when your
corpse is discovered (adventurers have been known to collect
finder's fees). So, consider whether you want to take one last
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 82
-
-
-
hit at that monster and possibly live, or quit and stop with
whatever you have. If you quit, you keep all your gold, but if
you swing and live, you might find more.
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 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 83
+
+
+
switch or with the playmode:debug option.
For some systems, the player must be logged in under a par-
NetHack is the product of literally dozens of people's work.
Main events in the course of the game development are described
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 83
-
-
-
below:
Jay Fenlason wrote the original Hack, with help from Kenny
Olaf Seibert ported NetHack 2.3 and 3.0 to the Amiga. Norm
Meluch, Stephen Spackman and Pierre Martineau designed overlay
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 84
+
+
+
code for PC NetHack 3.0. Johnny Lee ported NetHack 3.0 to the
Macintosh. Along with various other Dungeoneers, they continued
to enhance the PC, Macintosh, and Amiga ports through the later
Richard Addison, Mike Passaretti, and Olaf Seibert, developed
NetHack 3.1 for the Amiga.
-
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 84
-
-
-
Norm Meluch and Kevin Smolkowski, with help from Carl Sche-
lin, Stephen Spackman, Steve VanDevender, and Paul Winner, ported
NetHack 3.1 to the PC.
diagnosed with cancer and passed away. That release of the game
was dedicated to him by the development and porting teams.
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 85
+
+
+
During the lifespan of NetHack 3.1 and 3.2, several enthusi-
asts of the game added their own modifications to the game and
made these "variants" publicly available:
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
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 85
-
-
-
time for the Year 2000.
The 3.3 development team, consisting of Michael Allison, Ken
Pat Rankin maintained 3.4 for VMS.
+
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 86
+
+
+
Michael Allison maintained NetHack 3.4 for the MS-DOS plat-
form. Paul Winner and Yitzhak Sapir provided encouragement.
the Amiga port of 3.4 after Janne Salmijarvi resurrected it for
3.3.1.
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 86
-
-
-
Christian "Marvin" Bressler maintained 3.4 for the Atari af-
ter he resurrected it for 3.3.1.
Allison, Michael Allison, Ken Arromdee, David Cohrs, Jessie Col-
let, Ken Lorber, Dean Luick, Pat Rankin, Mike Stephenson, Janet
Walz, and Paul Winner. In early 2015, ahead of the release of
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 87
+
+
+
3.6.0, new members Sean Hunt, Pasi Kallinen, and Derek S. Ray
joined the NetHack development team.
Mueller, Pat Rankin, Derek S. Ray, Alex Smith, Mike Stephenson,
Janet Walz, and Paul Winner.
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 87
-
-
-
The development team, as well as Steve VanDevender and Kevin
Smolkowski, ensured that NetHack 3.6 continued to operate on var-
ious UNIX flavors and maintained the X11 interface.
tournaments such as Junethack and in days past, devnull.net (gone
for now, but not forgotten).
+
+
+ NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
+
+
+
+
+
+ NetHack Guidebook 88
+
+
+
- - - - - - - - - -
From time to time, some depraved individual out there in
Boudewijn Waijers Jon W{tte Ray Chason
Bruce Cox Jonathan Handler Richard Addison
Bruce Holloway Joshua Delahunty Richard Beigel
-
-
-
- NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
-
-
-
-
-
- NetHack Guidebook 88
-
-
-
Bruce Mewborne Keizo Yamamoto Richard P. Hughey
Carl Schelin Ken Arnold Rob Menke
Chris Russo Ken Arromdee Robin Bandy
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
NetHack 3.6 October 14, 2018
projects / nethack / commitdiff