Difference between revisions of "Chain mail"

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'''Chain mail''' is a type of [[body armor]] in [[NetHack]]. It provides [[magic cancellation|MC1]] and a base [[AC]] bonus of 5.
 
 
This is a fair bit of protection considering its weight, so this is probably a good choice of armor until one can obtain [[mithril-coat|mithril-coats]] or [[dragon scale mail|DSMs]].
 
  
{{clear}}
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'''Chain mail''' is a type of [[body armor]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is made of [[iron]].
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==Generation==
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Any [[Orc (starting race)|orcish]] character in a role that starts with chain mail receives [[orcish chain mail]] instead{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|221|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} - currently, there are no roles that make use of this substitution, as no roles start with chain mail.
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[[Chieftain]]s, [[page]]s, [[roshi]], and [[warrior]]s have a {{frac|2|3}} chance of [[Monster starting inventory|generating with]] chain mail.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|288|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
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[[Player monster]] [[Barbarian (player monster)|barbarians]], [[Knight (player monster)|knights]], [[Priest (player monster)|priests]], and [[Valkyrie (player monster)|valkyries]] have an effective {{frac|18|155}} chance (roughly ~11.61%) of forcing chain mail in place of their initial body armor.{{refsrc|src/mplayer.c|174|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment={{frac|2}} for barbarians and other mentioned roles to get random body armor within the range of objects from plate mail to chain mail in objects.c, using normal generation odds}}{{refsrc|src/mplayer.c|201|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=body armor for knights}}{{refsrc|src/mplayer.c|215|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=body armor for priests}}{{refsrc|src/mplayer.c|242|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=body armor for valkyries}}
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{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|As part of {{commit|20cbadcf85544cf9d0c3f4e4200b2800bab49c8e}} - which strengthens [[quest leader]]s and makes it so that killing them no longer makes the game [[unwinnable]] - the [[Barbarian quest]] leader [[Pelias]] generates with +5 chain mail.}}
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==Description==
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While worn, chain mail provides 5 base [[AC]] and [[MC1]].
 +
 
 +
==Strategy==
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Chain mail is a decent set of armor that blocks [[spellcasting]], and at 300 [[aum]] it is heavy as well. Roles looking to shore up their AC early can make good use of a set of chain mail until they find [[dragon scale mail]] or other armor that is lighter (e.g., [[dwarvish mithril-coat]] and [[elven mithril-coat]]) and/or more conducive to spellcasting (e.g., [[studded leather armor]]).
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==History==
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Chain mail first appears in Hack 1.21 and Hack for PDP-11, which are based on [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]], and is included in the initial list of armor for [[Hack 1.0]]. From this version to [[NetHack 3.2.3]], the [[Priest]] role started with +0 chain mail - [[NetHack 3.3.0]] and later versions replace this with the [[robe]].
 +
 
 
==Origin==
 
==Origin==
 
{{wikipedia|Mail (armour)}}
 
{{wikipedia|Mail (armour)}}
Chain mail is one of the more historically faithful types of armor represented in ''Dungeons & Dragons'' and media based on it. It is made of small metal rings interlocked to form a mesh, not sewn to a cloth or leather base as in (hypothetical) [[ring mail]]. Not only armor for the torso, but also hoods, sleeves, leggings, and gloves were made in this way.
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Chain mail is made of small metal rings interlocked to form a mesh, and was widely used in Europe, Asia, and North Africa, from pre-Roman times until as late as the 19th century. In medieval sources, this type of armor was described simply as "mail" - the use of the term to describe other types of armor (and the invention of "chain mail" to distinguish it from those) began in 19th-century historical fiction.
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The stats for chain mail are derived from its appearance in ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]''.
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==Variants==
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===SLASH'EM===
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In [[SLASH'EM]], the [[Undead Slayer]] has a {{frac|4}} chance of starting with chain mail as their body armor. Orcish Undead Slayers that would start with chain mail as their body armor receive orcish chain mail instead, making use of the existing substitution.
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Chain mail can be found on the goal level of the [[Yeoman quest]], placed on the [[altar]] of the lawful [[temple]].
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[[Upgrading]] orcish chain mail will produce regular chain mail, and vice versa.
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===dNetHack===
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In [[dNetHack]], chain mail grants 2 AC, 3 [[DR]] and MC1 while worn, and its weight is reduced to 150 aum.
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[[Dwarf (starting race)|Dwarven]] [[Binder (dNetHack role)|Binders]] always start with [[Erosion|thoroughly rusty]] chain mail, while Dwarven and female [[Half-dragon (starting race)|half-dragon]] [[Noble]]s will always start with standard chain mail. All non-[[Incantifier (dNetHack starting race)|Incantifier]] Knights start the game with chain mail - incantifier Knights are given a [[robe]] instead.
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[[Soldier ant]]s and [[queen bee]]s generated on the [[Law quest (dNetHack)|Lawful Quest]] have an effective {{frac|3|25}} chance of generating with chain mail.
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===xNetHack===
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In [[xNetHack]], [[Croesus]] has a {{frac|7|8}} chance of generating with [[Gold (material)|gold]] chain mail.
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===EvilHack===
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In [[EvilHack]], [[Champion (monster)|aligned champions]] and [[ronin]] have a {{frac|3}} chance of generating with chain mail. Chain mail may also be generated as part of various kits for player monsters, including [[Centaur (monster)|centaurs]].
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Chain mail can be created at a [[Forge (dungeon feature)|forge]] by combining two sets of [[ring mail]]. Chain mail can be used to forge a few items:
  
In medieval sources this type of armor was described simply as "mail", a term that was not used for any other type of armor. Some historians consider it incorrect to use the term "mail" to describe other types of armor, e.g. "[[plate mail]]" (the preferred term is "plate armor"). The generalizing of "mail" to describe other types of armor (and the invention of the term "chain mail" to distinguish it from other types) began in the 19th century with authors of historical fiction like Sir Walter Scott.
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* Chain mail can be combined with [[splint mail]] to create [[plate mail]].
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* Chain mail can be combined with [[scale mail]] to create splint mail.
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* Chain mail can be combined with a [[dwarvish roundshield]] to create [[dwarvish chain mail]].
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* Chain mail can be combined with an [[elven shield]] to create [[elven chain mail]].
  
Mail was widely used in Europe, Asia, and North Africa, from pre-Roman times until as late as the 19th century.  Mail-style construction is still used to make general protective gear and even some stab-resistant body armor.
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===Hack'EM===
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In [[Hack'EM]], [[Giant (starting race)|giant]] Undead Slayers that would start with the chain mail equipment set have the chain mail replaced with [[low boots]], while [[Tortle (starting race)|tortle]] Undead Slayers receive [[leather gloves]] as their replacement.
  
Mail torso armor is often described in literature as a mail coat (as in "[[mithril-coat]]s") or mail shirt.  It is called a "hauberk" if it reaches to the knee, or a "haubergeon" if it reaches to the mid-thigh.
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In addition to EvilHack forging recipes, upgrading orcish chain mail will produce regular chain mail and vice versa, as in SLASH'EM.
  
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==References==
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<references/>
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{{nethack-367}}
 
[[Category:Body armor]]
 
[[Category:Body armor]]
{{nethack-360}}
 

Latest revision as of 10:12, 20 March 2024

[   chain mail   Chain mail.png
Appearance chain mail
Slot body armor
AC 5
Special
Base price 75 zm
Weight 300
Material iron

Chain mail is a type of body armor that appears in NetHack. It is made of iron.

Generation

Any orcish character in a role that starts with chain mail receives orcish chain mail instead[1] - currently, there are no roles that make use of this substitution, as no roles start with chain mail.

Chieftains, pages, roshi, and warriors have a 23 chance of generating with chain mail.[2]

Player monster barbarians, knights, priests, and valkyries have an effective 18155 chance (roughly ~11.61%) of forcing chain mail in place of their initial body armor.[3][4][5][6]

The following information pertains to an upcoming version (NetHack 3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that it is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate this information.

As part of commit 20cbadcf - which strengthens quest leaders and makes it so that killing them no longer makes the game unwinnable - the Barbarian quest leader Pelias generates with +5 chain mail.

Description

While worn, chain mail provides 5 base AC and MC1.

Strategy

Chain mail is a decent set of armor that blocks spellcasting, and at 300 aum it is heavy as well. Roles looking to shore up their AC early can make good use of a set of chain mail until they find dragon scale mail or other armor that is lighter (e.g., dwarvish mithril-coat and elven mithril-coat) and/or more conducive to spellcasting (e.g., studded leather armor).

History

Chain mail first appears in Hack 1.21 and Hack for PDP-11, which are based on Jay Fenlason's Hack, and is included in the initial list of armor for Hack 1.0. From this version to NetHack 3.2.3, the Priest role started with +0 chain mail - NetHack 3.3.0 and later versions replace this with the robe.

Origin

Chain mail is made of small metal rings interlocked to form a mesh, and was widely used in Europe, Asia, and North Africa, from pre-Roman times until as late as the 19th century. In medieval sources, this type of armor was described simply as "mail" - the use of the term to describe other types of armor (and the invention of "chain mail" to distinguish it from those) began in 19th-century historical fiction.

The stats for chain mail are derived from its appearance in Dungeons & Dragons.

Variants

SLASH'EM

In SLASH'EM, the Undead Slayer has a 14 chance of starting with chain mail as their body armor. Orcish Undead Slayers that would start with chain mail as their body armor receive orcish chain mail instead, making use of the existing substitution.

Chain mail can be found on the goal level of the Yeoman quest, placed on the altar of the lawful temple.

Upgrading orcish chain mail will produce regular chain mail, and vice versa.

dNetHack

In dNetHack, chain mail grants 2 AC, 3 DR and MC1 while worn, and its weight is reduced to 150 aum.

Dwarven Binders always start with thoroughly rusty chain mail, while Dwarven and female half-dragon Nobles will always start with standard chain mail. All non-Incantifier Knights start the game with chain mail - incantifier Knights are given a robe instead.

Soldier ants and queen bees generated on the Lawful Quest have an effective 325 chance of generating with chain mail.

xNetHack

In xNetHack, Croesus has a 78 chance of generating with gold chain mail.

EvilHack

In EvilHack, aligned champions and ronin have a 13 chance of generating with chain mail. Chain mail may also be generated as part of various kits for player monsters, including centaurs.

Chain mail can be created at a forge by combining two sets of ring mail. Chain mail can be used to forge a few items:

Hack'EM

In Hack'EM, giant Undead Slayers that would start with the chain mail equipment set have the chain mail replaced with low boots, while tortle Undead Slayers receive leather gloves as their replacement.

In addition to EvilHack forging recipes, upgrading orcish chain mail will produce regular chain mail and vice versa, as in SLASH'EM.

References

  1. src/u_init.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 221
  2. src/makemon.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 288
  3. src/mplayer.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 174: 12 for barbarians and other mentioned roles to get random body armor within the range of objects from plate mail to chain mail in objects.c, using normal generation odds
  4. src/mplayer.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 201: body armor for knights
  5. src/mplayer.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 215: body armor for priests
  6. src/mplayer.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 242: body armor for valkyries