Difference between revisions of "Container"

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A '''container''' usually means one of the following items: '''large box''', '''chest''', '''ice box''', '''sack''', '''oilskin sack''' or '''bag of holding'''. Each can store an unlimited number of items, but may become too heavy to lift as a consequence. Note that even though the '''bag of tricks''' is defined with the CONTAINER-macro in [[objects.c]], you cannot put items in it.
+
A '''container''' is one of the following items:  
 +
* [[large box]]
 +
* [[chest]]
 +
* [[ice box]]
 +
* [[sack]]
 +
* [[oilskin sack]]
 +
* [[bag of holding]]
  
−
A [[statue]] can also function as a container; this causes [[DYWYPI]] messages like, "The statue of the grid bug is empty."<ref>[[end.c#line948]]</ref> The contents correspond to the [[inventory]] of that monster before it was stoned. Some statues are generated with spellbooks inside.
+
Each can store an unlimited number of items (objects or money), but may become too heavy to lift as a consequence. For a container that's in your inventory, you can access its contents with the [[apply]] command. If the container is on the ground, you can do the same by using the #[[loot]] command, or #[[tip]] the container to dump all its contents on the ground.
  
−
Not all containers fit into other containers. Large boxes, ice boxes and chests are too big to fit into any other container.
+
Although the [[bag of tricks]] is defined with the `CONTAINER` macro in [[objects.c]] (and an unidentified one appears as a "bag", like three other containers), it cannot actually store items in vanilla NetHack.
  
−
All of the containers except ice boxes can be eaten by [[gelatinous cube]]s; the contents will be engulfed but unharmed.
+
A [[statue]] is a type of container, but cannot be applied, looted, or tipped; the only ways to access the contents are to break it, or [[stone to flesh]] it and kill the resulting monster. A statue of a stoned monster will contain the monster's [[inventory]]. A randomly-generated statue may contain a [[spellbook]].
  
−
If a container (other than a bag of holding) is [[kick]]ed, [[throw]]n, or
+
The [[floor]] and [[ice]] can act as containers of sorts, as items can be buried in them (e.g. under a randomly generated [[headstone]]). These items can be accessed by digging a [[pit]].
−
dropped from a height, fragile contents (glass items, other than
 
−
worthless glass, and eggs) may be destroyed. Kicking a locked large
 
−
box or chest may also break it open.
 
  
−
The [[unique item]]s cannot be placed into containers.  The [[cheap plastic imitation of the Amulet of Yendor]] can, however; this may be used to tell it from the real thing.
+
== General properties ==
  
−
==Generation==
+
As long as a container is not destroyed or polymorphed, all its contents stay unchanged, protected from any magical or physical influence, with four exceptions:
 +
* [[Corpse#Aging|Aging]]: Only an [[ice box]] preserves eggs and corpses from (further) aging; in other containers they rot as usual. Furthermore, [[troll]] corpses in containers can still resurrect, unless the container is locked.
 +
* [[Wet]]ting: If you get into or under the water without wearing an [[oilskin cloak]], only a non-cursed [[oilskin sack]], a [[chest]], an [[ice box]], or a [[large box]] completely protects its contents from the water damage.
 +
* [[Fragile|Breaking]]: If a container is kicked, thrown, or dropped from height, fragile objects in it may break. A [[bag of holding]] is a magical container, and will protect its fragile contents from damage.
 +
* Vanishing: When opening a cursed bag of holding, each item inside has a chance of vanishing.
  
−
Containers are generated uncursed, with the contents as described below.
+
In particular, containers completely protect their contents from [[fire]], [[cold]], [[shock]], [[cancellation]], being stolen or picked up by monsters, being identified, and changing their [[BUC]]. There is no monster in the game that can access containers' contents (but see below for [[gelatinous cube]]s).
−
Containers will not be generated containing tools, weapons, armour or
 
−
rocks. Containers in your initial inventory will be empty.  If the
 
−
container can be locked, then there is an 80% chance that it will be
 
−
generated locked and a different 10% chance that it will be trapped.
 
  
−
{|class="wikitable"
+
When you carry a container, its contents do not take up slots (letters) in your inventory. Therefore, you can normally carry only 52 object stacks in your main inventory, but with a container, you can carry an unlimited number of objects.
−
!Container!!Contents!!Lockable!!Probability
 
−
|-
 
−
|sack        ||    0-1 items  ||  No  ||3.5%
 
−
|-
 
−
|  large box  ||    0-3 items  ||  Yes    ||4.0%
 
−
|-
 
−
|  chest      ||    0-5 items  ||  Yes    ||3.5%
 
−
|-
 
−
|  ice box      ||  0-20 corpses  ||No    ||0.5%
 
−
|-
 
−
|  bag of holding  ||0-1 items  ||  No      ||2.0%
 
−
|-
 
−
|  bag of tricks  || 1-20 charges || No    ||2.0%
 
−
|-
 
−
|  oilskin sack  || 0-1 items    || No    ||0.5%
 
−
|}
 
  
−
Tools can be generated in the [[Dungeons of Doom|main dungeon]] (8% of all objects) and [[Gehennom]] (12% of all objects). Each tool has the given probability of being a container.
+
If a container is trapped, opening it manually will trigger the trap.
  
−
[[Quantum mechanic]]s may carry a large box containing a [[housecat]] named Schrödinger's Cat.
+
The [[unique item]]s cannot be placed into containers. A [[cheap plastic imitation of the Amulet of Yendor]] can, however; this is commonly used to distinguish the [[Amulet of Yendor|real Amulet]] from fake ones.
  
−
== Unlocking ==
+
All of the containers except ice boxes can be eaten by [[gelatinous cube]]s; the contents will be engulfed. but unharmed, and can be found on the cube's corpse once killed. If you are polymorphed into a gelatinous cube, you can eat these containers only if they are empty.
−
To unlock a chest or large box, you can:
 
−
* [[Apply]] some [[unlocking tool]] to it.
 
−
* [[Zap]] a [[wand of opening]] at it.
 
−
* [[Kick]] it. Because this often destroys some of the items (e.g. potions) inside, it's not the best method.
 
−
* #[[force]] the lock with a weapon. Using a blunt weapon (such as a war hammer or mace) will exercise strength but risks destroying the container and/or its contents. Using a sharp weapon (such as a dagger or sword) will exercise dexterity but risks destroying the weapon.
 
−
* Cast [[spellbook of knock|knock]] at it
 
  
−
==Large box==
+
When a container is polymorphed (even to another container, or even to the same container), all of its contents are destroyed.
−
{{tool|name=large box|tile=[[image:large box.png]]|appearance=large box|cost=8|weight=350|color=brown}}
 
  
−
Large boxes are waterproof, and an excellent [[stash]] container - they are slightly more common than chests and lighter for transporting to a convenient [[altar]].
+
{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Monsters now pick up containers and can loot containers other than a cursed bag of holding. As of yet, monsters cannot open locked containers.}}
  
−
{{clear}}
+
== Containers within containers ==
  
−
==Chest==
+
Generally, containers may contain other containers. However, there are exceptions.
−
{{tool|name=chest|tile=[[image:chest.png]]|appearance=chest|cost=16|weight=600|color=brown}}
+
* Large boxes, ice boxes, and chests are too big to fit into any other container.
−
Chests are waterproof.
+
* If you put a [[bag of holding]], charged [[bag of tricks]], or charged [[wand of cancellation]] into a bag of holding, the bag will explode, destroying all its contents including the item that caused the explosion.
  
−
{{clear}}
+
Attempting to place a container into itself yields the message "That would be an interesting topological exercise."
−
==Ice box==
 
  
−
{{tool|name=ice box|tile=[[image:ice box.png]]|cost=42|color=white|weight=900}}
+
==Generation==
−
An ice box is a very heavy container, the main use of which is to keep [[corpse]]s fresh. Corpses in an ice box will not age and will remain fit to [[eat]] or [[sacrifice]] indefinitely.  They will continue decaying where they left off when removed from the box, and will be tainted if they were before being placed in the box.
+
Containers created via normal generation (i.e. outside of [[bones]] files or [[trap]] "bones") are uncursed, with the contents as described below:
  
−
Ice boxes are rare, but are occasionally randomly generated in the dungeons and can also appear in [[general store]]s, [[delicatessen]]s, and [[hardware store]]s.  An ice box generated in a store will often have one or more corpses in it that are too heavy to remove.  This has the effect of making the box absolutely immovable--the corpses will not rot away, and there is no way to manipulate them (eat them, use a [[tinning kit]], etc.) while they are in the container.  One wonders how they got in there in the first place.
+
Containers will not be generated containing tools, weapons, armor, or rocks. Containers in your starting inventory will be empty.
  
−
Some players bring an ice box containing [[potion of booze|booze]] and snacks for the [[demigod bar]] when they ascend.  Because ice boxes are heavy, this is a challenge (unless they are [[wish]]ed for just before ascending).
+
If the container can be locked, then there is an 80% chance that it will be generated locked and, independently, a 10% chance that it will be [[Container trap|trapped]].
  
−
Ice boxes are waterproof. They have no locks.
+
{|class="wikitable"
 +
!Container
 +
!Contents
 +
!Lockable
 +
!Probability
 +
|-
 +
|sack
 +
|0&ndash;1 items
 +
|No
 +
|3.5%
 +
|-
 +
|large box
 +
|0&ndash;3 items
 +
|Yes
 +
|4.0%
 +
|-
 +
|chest
 +
|0&ndash;5 items
 +
|Yes
 +
|3.5%
 +
|-
 +
|ice box
 +
|0&ndash;20 corpses
 +
|No
 +
|0.5%
 +
|-
 +
|bag of holding
 +
|0&ndash;1 items
 +
|No
 +
|2.0%
 +
|-
 +
|bag of tricks
 +
|1&ndash;20 charges
 +
|No
 +
|2.0%
 +
|-
 +
|oilskin sack
 +
|0&ndash;1 items
 +
|No
 +
|0.5%
 +
|}
  
−
In [[Slash'EM]], there is a new type of shop, the frozen food store, which contains mainly ice boxes.
+
Tools can be generated in the [[Dungeons of Doom|main dungeon]] (8% of all [[object]]s) and [[Gehennom]] (12% of all objects). Each tool has the given probability of being a container.
  
−
{{clear}}
+
Large boxes and chests with contents may generate within some rooms in an ordinary room-and-corridor level.{{refsrc|src/mklev.c|839|nethack=3.6.1}} Large boxes are twice as common as chests.  A comment in the source cites a 40% chance of at least one container (with a low probability of extra ones); the actual chance is slightly lower and depends on the number of rooms and presence of a [[special room]]; a good estimate is 34% without a special room and 30% with one.  <!-- Calculated for the number or rooms ranging from 6 to 10 (typical levels); more precise ranges are 33.5% to 34.6% and 29.2% to 31.1%. -->
  
−
==Sack==
+
[[Quantum mechanic]]s may carry a large box containing a [[housecat]] named [[Schroedinger's Cat]].
−
{{tool|name=sack|tile=[[image:bag.png]]|appearance=bag|cost=2|weight=15|color=brown}}
 
−
A sack is the simplest kind of container. It merely stores items; its main function is to avoid the 52-item inventory limit, though it also protects its contents from being destroyed by fire, cold or lightning. Therefore, it is extremely cheap.
 
  
−
When non-greased sacks get wet, their contents may get wet. Greasing the sack protects against this, but the grease may wear off. Sacks should be upgraded to [[#Oilskin sack|oilskin sacks]] or preferably [[#Bag of holding|bags of holding]] as soon as possible.
+
Items generated in a container (other than an ice box) will each be one of the following types:
  
−
{{clear}}
+
{|class="prettytable"
 +
!Type
 +
!Probability
 +
|-
 +
|gem or stone
 +
|18%
 +
|-
 +
|comestible
 +
|15%
 +
|-
 +
|potion
 +
|18%
 +
|-
 +
|scroll
 +
|18%
 +
|-
 +
|spellbook
 +
|12%
 +
|-
 +
|gold
 +
|7%
 +
|-
 +
|wand
 +
|6%
 +
|-
 +
|ring
 +
|5%
 +
|-
 +
|amulet
 +
|1%
 +
|}
  
−
==Bag of holding==
+
Weapons, armor, and tools (including other containers) will never be generated in a container. Gold generated in containers will be 2.5 times the usual amount. Gemstones, glass, luckstones, and loadstones can all be generated, but flint stones, touchstones, and rocks cannot. A [[wand of cancellation]] will never be generated in a bag of holding.
−
{{tool|name=bag of holding|tile=[[image:bag.png]]|appearance=bag|cost=100|weight=15|color=brown}}
 
−
A bag of holding is one of the most coveted items in NetHack. Placing items into a bag of holding makes them weigh less; the effect is that you can carry more items.
 
  
−
Bags of holding, [[#Oilskin sack|oilskin sacks]] and [[#Bag of tricks|bags of tricks]] cost 100, while normal [[#Sack|sack]]s cost 2. (Make sure there is nothing in the bag when you check the price.) Bags of tricks are easily identifiable, and if your [[encumbrance]] changes if you put something in the bag, it's a bag of holding and not an oilskin sack. At the end of [[Sokoban Level 4a|Sokoban]] there's a 50% chance of being a bag of holding (the other 50% there's an [[Amulet of reflection]]).
+
== Unlocking ==
 +
To unlock a locked container, you can:
 +
* [[Apply]] an [[unlocking tool]] to it.
 +
* [[Zap]] a [[wand of opening]] at it.
 +
* [[Kick]] it. Because this often destroys [[fragile]] items inside, it's not the best method.
 +
* Cast the {{spell of|knock}} spell at it
 +
* [[Force]] the lock with your currently-wielded weapon. Using a blunt weapon (such as a war hammer, staff, or mace) [[exercise]]s [[strength]] but risks destroying the container and possibly some of its contents. Using a sharp weapon (such as a dagger, sword, or axe) exercises [[dexterity]] but risks destroying the weapon. [[Artifact weapon]]s are much less likely to break.  [[Cursed]] weapons will never break, preventing locks from being used to get rid of them.
  
−
The weight of a bag of holding (wgt) - including the 15 for the bag itself - depends on the weight of its contents (cwgt) and its [[BUC]]:
+
Usually, you will find enough disposable uncursed [[orcish dagger]]s to force with until you get an [[unlocking tool]]. If no other options are available, you could use a junk artifact such as [[Sting]], but chest contents in the early game aren't usually worth risking a good weapon or creating Sting.
−
blessed:  wgt = 15 + cwgt/4 + 1
 
−
uncursed:  wgt = 15 + cwgt/2 + 1
 
−
cursed:    wgt = 15 + cwgt*2
 
  
−
Roughly speaking, bags of holding halve the weight of the objects contained, blessed bags divide it by four, and cursed bags double it. You may also lose items when you use a cursed bag of holding; each item
+
===Messages===
−
in the bag has a 1/13 chance of disappearing each time you apply or loot
+
{{message|You succeed in unlocking the <container>.|You successfully applied an unlocking tool.}}
−
the bag.
+
{{message|Klick!|You unlocked it magically, with either the spell of knock or a wand of opening.}}
 +
{{message|THUD!|You kicked it and didn't open it.}}
 +
{{message|THUD! The lid slams open, then falls shut.|It wasn't locked, and you kicked it open.}}
 +
{{message|You break open the lock!|It was locked, and you kicked the lid open.}}
 +
{{message|You hear a muffled shatter.|You kicked it, and at least one breakable item inside was destroyed.}}
 +
{{message|You hear a muffled cracking.|You kicked it, and at least one [[egg]] inside was destroyed.}}
  
−
Some items should not be held in a bag of holding and may make the bag explode. These items are:
+
==Breakable items==
−
*other bags of holding
+
If a container is [[kick]]ed, [[throw]]n, or dropped from a height, contents which are [[fragile]] (such as potions, mirrors, and eggs) may be destroyed.
−
*bags of tricks with non-zero charges remaining
 
−
*[[wand of cancellation|wands of cancellation]] with non-zero charges remaining
 
−
The first two are straightforward; the wand can be trickier. To be safe, do not put any unidentified wands inside the bag that make engravings disappear (this includes cancellation, [[wand of teleportation|teleportation]], and [[wand of make invisible|make invisible]]).
 
  
−
It is sometimes possible to put one of these items into nested sacks
+
When glass objects in a bag, large box, or chest break, you hear a muffled shatter. An egg gives a muffled cracking when it breaks. You will lose that object and will not know what it was.
−
and/or oilskin sacks and then place them safely inside a bag of holding.
 
−
The chance of an explosion occurring then depends on the amount of
 
−
nesting:
 
−
  sacks:  0    1    2    3    4    5    6      7      8      n
 
−
  odds:  1/1  2/2  3/4  4/8  5/16  6/32  7/64  8/128  9/128  (n+1)/128
 
  
−
When non-greased bags of holding get wet, their contents may get wet. Greasing the bag protects against this, but the grease may wear off.  
+
If a mirror in a box is destroyed through your actions, you will still incur a [[Luck]] penalty. However, mirrors and other tools are never randomly generated inside boxes.
  
−
{{clear}}
+
== History ==
  
−
==Bag of tricks==
+
Prior to [[NetHack 3.2.0]], a popular technique for identifying worthless glass was called "kickboxing". One would gather a large pile of gems, name all of them "fake red" or whatever color, dump them in a box, and then repeatedly kick the box until no more muffled shatters were heard. One would then retrieve the remaining gems and un-name them. In this way, glass of all colors could be identified. Starting with NetHack 3.2.0, worthless glass no longer breaks, so kickboxing no longer works.
  
−
{{tool|name=bag of tricks|tile=[[image:bag.png]]|appearance=bag|cost=100|weight=15|color=brown}}
+
== Variants ==
 +
===Iron safe===
  
−
A bag of tricks looks like an ordinary bag, but contains nasty surprises for prospective #looters.
+
This is a container added to [[SporkHack]] (and later to [[UnNetHack]] and then [[EvilHack]]). It is possible to open it using a [[wand of opening]], {{spell of|knock}} spell, or [[stethoscope]]. The only way to lock an iron safe after it's been opened is to use either a [[wand of locking]] or the {{spell of|wizard lock}} spell on it.
  
−
When a bag of tricks is #looted, it will bite you (1 to 10 hit points damage) and become identified. If you (a)pply it and it has charges left, it will create one [[monster]] (22/23 chance), or create 2 to 8 monsters (1/23 chance). "Nothing happens" when you apply a bag with zero charges. Bags of tricks are generated with 1 to 20 charges. If the bag has more than 10 charges, a blessed [[scroll of charging]] will add 6 to 10 charges, otherwise it will add 6 to 15 charges; an uncursed scroll will always add 1 to 5 charges. It cannot be charged higher than 50 charges.
+
===Magic chest===
 +
In [[DynaHack]], magic chests are [[dungeon feature]]s (not items) that are generated at fixed places in the dungeon. They share their contents, so putting items in any magic chest makes them available for looting in all other magic chest locations.<ref>https://github.com/tung/DynaHack/commit/b97d99ed27123fa0717ef8368b4f0d49d815c2c8</ref> (See below for [[FIQHack]]'s magic chests.)
  
−
Placing a bag of tricks with nonzero charges into a [[bag of holding]] will cause a [[magical explosion]], destroying both bags and all their contents.
+
In [[NetHack Fourk]], magic chests have some items inside when you first open one, randomized but suited for your role.  Also, you can create a magic chest in any location by reading a [[scroll of consecration]] while confused.
  
−
===Strategy===
+
In [[dNetHack]], magic chests are items rather than dungeon features, and they have 10 slots for different compartments for those willing to categorize items. All of the compartments are shared similarly across all chests. As items, they can be [[wish]]ed for. They weigh 1001 aum, and bolt to the floor when opened, meaning they cannot be carried around as an infinite weight container. When bolted to the floor, they cannot be picked up. The only way to unbolt them is the Master Key of Thievery's untrapping invoke.
  
−
If carrying a bag of holding, bags of tricks should be treated with the same caution as a [[wand of cancellation]]. Unless you need to create some monsters (for [[food]], [[sacrifice]] or [[experience]]), they are often best left alone. A magical explosion can be a game-ending mistake.
+
In [[EvilHack]], magic chests are implemented as dungeon features similarly to DynaHack, and are generated at fixed locations in the dungeon - there are also special keys that are required to lock and unlock the chest.
  
−
If you only want the bag to [[polypiling|polypile]] with, apply it until it runs out of charges.  Make sure you can deal with the generated monsters!  You know the bag is empty when "nothing happens" when you apply it.  An uncharged bag of tricks is "safe", and if it polymorphs into another charged tool, the new tool's charges will be independent of the number of charges the bag had.
+
=== FIQHack ===
  
−
{{clear}}
+
[[FIQHack]] has magic chests, similar to DynaHack or Nethack Fourk.  They are objects but they behave like dungeon features - they can't be picked up, teleported, polymorphed, etc.  You can create a magic chest by wishing for one.  Minetown, Sokoban, the Castle, Orcus-town, and the quest home all have magic chests.
  
−
==Oilskin sack==
+
Also note that monsters in FIQHack can use containers - they can carry items in bags and loot items from containers on the floor. The Castle chest is special-cased to prevent monsters from stealing the guaranteed wand of wishing.
−
 
 
−
{{tool|name=oilskin sack|tile=[[image:bag.png]]|appearance=bag|cost=100|weight=15|color=brown}}
 
−
 
 
−
The oilskin sack behaves exactly as the regular sack, with the exception that a [[blessed]] or [[uncursed]] oilskin sack will protect the items it contains from becoming [[wet]]. A [[cursed]] oilskin sack only protects its contents two-thirds of the time.
 
−
 
 
−
{{clear}}
 
−
==Source code references==
 
  
 +
== References ==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
  
−
 
+
{{featured}}
−
{{DOD}}
 
−
 
 
 
[[Category:Tools]]
 
[[Category:Tools]]
 +
{{nethack-360|offset=1}}

Latest revision as of 10:23, 12 December 2023

A container is one of the following items:

Each can store an unlimited number of items (objects or money), but may become too heavy to lift as a consequence. For a container that's in your inventory, you can access its contents with the apply command. If the container is on the ground, you can do the same by using the #loot command, or #tip the container to dump all its contents on the ground.

Although the bag of tricks is defined with the `CONTAINER` macro in objects.c (and an unidentified one appears as a "bag", like three other containers), it cannot actually store items in vanilla NetHack.

A statue is a type of container, but cannot be applied, looted, or tipped; the only ways to access the contents are to break it, or stone to flesh it and kill the resulting monster. A statue of a stoned monster will contain the monster's inventory. A randomly-generated statue may contain a spellbook.

The floor and ice can act as containers of sorts, as items can be buried in them (e.g. under a randomly generated headstone). These items can be accessed by digging a pit.

General properties

As long as a container is not destroyed or polymorphed, all its contents stay unchanged, protected from any magical or physical influence, with four exceptions:

  • Aging: Only an ice box preserves eggs and corpses from (further) aging; in other containers they rot as usual. Furthermore, troll corpses in containers can still resurrect, unless the container is locked.
  • Wetting: If you get into or under the water without wearing an oilskin cloak, only a non-cursed oilskin sack, a chest, an ice box, or a large box completely protects its contents from the water damage.
  • Breaking: If a container is kicked, thrown, or dropped from height, fragile objects in it may break. A bag of holding is a magical container, and will protect its fragile contents from damage.
  • Vanishing: When opening a cursed bag of holding, each item inside has a chance of vanishing.

In particular, containers completely protect their contents from fire, cold, shock, cancellation, being stolen or picked up by monsters, being identified, and changing their BUC. There is no monster in the game that can access containers' contents (but see below for gelatinous cubes).

When you carry a container, its contents do not take up slots (letters) in your inventory. Therefore, you can normally carry only 52 object stacks in your main inventory, but with a container, you can carry an unlimited number of objects.

If a container is trapped, opening it manually will trigger the trap.

The unique items cannot be placed into containers. A cheap plastic imitation of the Amulet of Yendor can, however; this is commonly used to distinguish the real Amulet from fake ones.

All of the containers except ice boxes can be eaten by gelatinous cubes; the contents will be engulfed. but unharmed, and can be found on the cube's corpse once killed. If you are polymorphed into a gelatinous cube, you can eat these containers only if they are empty.

When a container is polymorphed (even to another container, or even to the same container), all of its contents are destroyed.

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.

Monsters now pick up containers and can loot containers other than a cursed bag of holding. As of yet, monsters cannot open locked containers.

Containers within containers

Generally, containers may contain other containers. However, there are exceptions.

  • Large boxes, ice boxes, and chests are too big to fit into any other container.
  • If you put a bag of holding, charged bag of tricks, or charged wand of cancellation into a bag of holding, the bag will explode, destroying all its contents including the item that caused the explosion.

Attempting to place a container into itself yields the message "That would be an interesting topological exercise."

Generation

Containers created via normal generation (i.e. outside of bones files or trap "bones") are uncursed, with the contents as described below:

Containers will not be generated containing tools, weapons, armor, or rocks. Containers in your starting inventory will be empty.

If the container can be locked, then there is an 80% chance that it will be generated locked and, independently, a 10% chance that it will be trapped.

Container Contents Lockable Probability
sack 0–1 items No 3.5%
large box 0–3 items Yes 4.0%
chest 0–5 items Yes 3.5%
ice box 0–20 corpses No 0.5%
bag of holding 0–1 items No 2.0%
bag of tricks 1–20 charges No 2.0%
oilskin sack 0–1 items No 0.5%

Tools can be generated in the main dungeon (8% of all objects) and Gehennom (12% of all objects). Each tool has the given probability of being a container.

Large boxes and chests with contents may generate within some rooms in an ordinary room-and-corridor level.[1] Large boxes are twice as common as chests. A comment in the source cites a 40% chance of at least one container (with a low probability of extra ones); the actual chance is slightly lower and depends on the number of rooms and presence of a special room; a good estimate is 34% without a special room and 30% with one.

Quantum mechanics may carry a large box containing a housecat named Schroedinger's Cat.

Items generated in a container (other than an ice box) will each be one of the following types:

Type Probability
gem or stone 18%
comestible 15%
potion 18%
scroll 18%
spellbook 12%
gold 7%
wand 6%
ring 5%
amulet 1%

Weapons, armor, and tools (including other containers) will never be generated in a container. Gold generated in containers will be 2.5 times the usual amount. Gemstones, glass, luckstones, and loadstones can all be generated, but flint stones, touchstones, and rocks cannot. A wand of cancellation will never be generated in a bag of holding.

Unlocking

To unlock a locked container, you can:

  • Apply an unlocking tool to it.
  • Zap a wand of opening at it.
  • Kick it. Because this often destroys fragile items inside, it's not the best method.
  • Cast the knock spell at it
  • Force the lock with your currently-wielded weapon. Using a blunt weapon (such as a war hammer, staff, or mace) exercises strength but risks destroying the container and possibly some of its contents. Using a sharp weapon (such as a dagger, sword, or axe) exercises dexterity but risks destroying the weapon. Artifact weapons are much less likely to break. Cursed weapons will never break, preventing locks from being used to get rid of them.

Usually, you will find enough disposable uncursed orcish daggers to force with until you get an unlocking tool. If no other options are available, you could use a junk artifact such as Sting, but chest contents in the early game aren't usually worth risking a good weapon or creating Sting.

Messages

You succeed in unlocking the <container>.
You successfully applied an unlocking tool.
Klick!
You unlocked it magically, with either the spell of knock or a wand of opening.
THUD!
You kicked it and didn't open it.
THUD! The lid slams open, then falls shut.
It wasn't locked, and you kicked it open.
You break open the lock!
It was locked, and you kicked the lid open.
You hear a muffled shatter.
You kicked it, and at least one breakable item inside was destroyed.
You hear a muffled cracking.
You kicked it, and at least one egg inside was destroyed.

Breakable items

If a container is kicked, thrown, or dropped from a height, contents which are fragile (such as potions, mirrors, and eggs) may be destroyed.

When glass objects in a bag, large box, or chest break, you hear a muffled shatter. An egg gives a muffled cracking when it breaks. You will lose that object and will not know what it was.

If a mirror in a box is destroyed through your actions, you will still incur a Luck penalty. However, mirrors and other tools are never randomly generated inside boxes.

History

Prior to NetHack 3.2.0, a popular technique for identifying worthless glass was called "kickboxing". One would gather a large pile of gems, name all of them "fake red" or whatever color, dump them in a box, and then repeatedly kick the box until no more muffled shatters were heard. One would then retrieve the remaining gems and un-name them. In this way, glass of all colors could be identified. Starting with NetHack 3.2.0, worthless glass no longer breaks, so kickboxing no longer works.

Variants

Iron safe

This is a container added to SporkHack (and later to UnNetHack and then EvilHack). It is possible to open it using a wand of opening, knock spell, or stethoscope. The only way to lock an iron safe after it's been opened is to use either a wand of locking or the wizard lock spell on it.

Magic chest

In DynaHack, magic chests are dungeon features (not items) that are generated at fixed places in the dungeon. They share their contents, so putting items in any magic chest makes them available for looting in all other magic chest locations.[2] (See below for FIQHack's magic chests.)

In NetHack Fourk, magic chests have some items inside when you first open one, randomized but suited for your role. Also, you can create a magic chest in any location by reading a scroll of consecration while confused.

In dNetHack, magic chests are items rather than dungeon features, and they have 10 slots for different compartments for those willing to categorize items. All of the compartments are shared similarly across all chests. As items, they can be wished for. They weigh 1001 aum, and bolt to the floor when opened, meaning they cannot be carried around as an infinite weight container. When bolted to the floor, they cannot be picked up. The only way to unbolt them is the Master Key of Thievery's untrapping invoke.

In EvilHack, magic chests are implemented as dungeon features similarly to DynaHack, and are generated at fixed locations in the dungeon - there are also special keys that are required to lock and unlock the chest.

FIQHack

FIQHack has magic chests, similar to DynaHack or Nethack Fourk. They are objects but they behave like dungeon features - they can't be picked up, teleported, polymorphed, etc. You can create a magic chest by wishing for one. Minetown, Sokoban, the Castle, Orcus-town, and the quest home all have magic chests.

Also note that monsters in FIQHack can use containers - they can carry items in bags and loot items from containers on the floor. The Castle chest is special-cased to prevent monsters from stealing the guaranteed wand of wishing.

References

  1. ↑ src/mklev.c in NetHack 3.6.1, line 839
  2. ↑ https://github.com/tung/DynaHack/commit/b97d99ed27123fa0717ef8368b4f0d49d815c2c8

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