Difference between revisions of "Dunce cap"

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The '''dunce cap''', when worn, fixes your [[intelligence]] and [[wisdom]] to 6, and [[autocurse]]s (even if originally blessed). It blocks the [[mind flayer]]'s brain eating attack, but not its amnesia attack. Removing the cap will restore your intelligence and wisdom to their original values.
 
  
Wearing a dunce cap also prevents any change to your intelligence or wisdom; the message is "Your cap constricts briefly, then relaxes again."{{refsrc|attrib.c|111|version=NetHack 3.6.0}}
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A '''dunce cap''' is a type of [[Magical item|magical]] [[helm]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is made of [[cloth]], and appears as a [[conical hat]] when unidentified, an appearance that it shares with the [[cornuthaum]].
  
Shopping while wearing a dunce cap will cause the [[shopkeeper]] to add an additional 1/3 markup to the price of each item, and only give you 1/3 of the base price when selling items. This is also the penalty for being a low-level [[Tourist]] or having a visible [[shirt]]. Those penalties are not cumulative.{{refsrc|shk.c|line1970|version=NetHack 3.6.0}} (buying), {{refsrc|shk.c|line2143|version=NetHack 3.6.0}} (selling)
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==Generation==
 +
In addition to random generation, general [[store]]s and used armor dealerships can sell dunce caps.
  
==Identification==
+
==Description==
The dunce cap and the [[cornuthaum]] are both [[conical hat]]s. They can be distinguished by price or wearing (obviously dangerous), but are otherwise identical until identified.
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While [[worn]], the dunce cap sets a character's [[intelligence]] and [[wisdom]] to 6 each and [[autocurse]]s, [[autoidentify]]ing the dunce cap; dunce caps prevent any further changes to intelligence or wisdom while worn.{{refsrc|src/attrib.c|125|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} [[Removing]] the dunce cap will restore your character's intelligence and wisdom to their original values.
  
==Strategy==  
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If shopping while wearing a dunce cap, the [[shopkeeper]] will add an additional {{frac|3}} markup to the price of each item when buying, and only gives {{frac|3}} of the base price in [[gold]] or credit when selling items.{{refsrc|src/shk.c|2128|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/shk.c|2332|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} This does not stack with the penalty for being a low-level [[Tourist]] or having a visible [[shirt]].{{refsrc|src/shk.c|2130|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=price hike for tourists is separated by an <code>else if</code>}}{{refsrc|src/shk.c|2334|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=short selling for tourists is separated by an <code>else if</code>}}
  
The dunce cap is not a good piece of armor, but if your Int or Wis happens to be lower than 6, the dunce cap will be an improvement! If your brain is in danger of being eaten by a [[mind flayer]], donning a dunce cap may actually be a good idea. The cornuthaum is only useful for wizards or pets, so non-wizards can ignore unidentified conical hats to completely avoid the risk of donning a dunce cap.
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{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|For a Tourist, {{frac|3}} of conical hats can be [[read]]; a dunce cap will be labeled "DUNCE". Reading a dunce cap autoidentifies it.}}
  
Perhaps its best use is to [[polymorph]] it into other magical armor.
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==Strategy==
 +
The dunce cap only exists to entrap careless Wizards looking for a cornuthaum - the INT penalty will be devastating to their [[spellcasting]] success rates, making it difficult to cast the spell of {{spell of|remove curse}}. As the cornuthaum is only useful for Wizards or pets, non-Wizards can freely ignore unidentified conical hats and completely avoid the risk of donning a dunce cap.
 +
 
 +
One marginal use of the dunce cap is that it prevents [[instadeath]] from a [[mind flayer]]'s intelligence drain - it does not prevent [[amnesia]] from the same attack, however. Beyond this, its best use is as fodder for [[polypiling]] into other magical armor.
 +
 
 +
===Identification===
 +
As the dunce cap and the [[cornuthaum]] are both conical hats, picking up and wearing a conical hat at random is a [[Bad Idea]]. They can easily be distinguished by [[price identification]], with the dunce cap having a base cost of only 1 zorkmid.
 +
 
 +
==History==
 +
The dunce first appears in [[NetHack 3.2.0]].  
  
 
==Origin==
 
==Origin==
 +
{{wikipedia|Dunce cap}}
 +
The dunce cap is a conical paper hat with the word "dunce" or just a "D" written on it. It served as a form of punishment for schools in the English-speaking world, where a student seen as misbehaving, stupid or lazy was made to wear it in front of the classroom for a set amount of time.
  
The dunce cap is a conical paper hat with the word "dunce", meaning stupid, written on it. It was an important form of punishment in schools in the English-speaking world. The misbehaving student was made to wear it in front of the classroom for a set amount of time.
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The notion of a "thinking cap" such as the cornuthaum may derive from ceremonial conical hats or even true thinking hats - in this context, the dunce cap is an "anti-thinking cap".
  
The notion of a thinking hat may derive from ceremonial conical hats or even true thinking hats. Thus the dunce cap is an "anti-thinking cap". The [[Cornuthaum]] is the more stereotypical "thinking hat" for wizards.
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==Messages==
 +
{{message|You feel like sitting in a corner.|You put on a dunce cap.}}
 +
{{message|Your cap constricts briefly, then relaxes again.|Your wisdom or intelligence would have changed, but a worn dunce cap prevented this.}}
  
==Encyclopaedia entry==
+
==Variants==
No entry
+
Some variants give dunce cap additional and sometimes-niche uses.
 +
 
 +
===dNetHack===
 +
In [[dNetHack]], a dunce cap is one of the best defenses against the intelligence-draining powers of an [[ancient of thought]].
 +
 
 +
===The November NetHack Tournament===
 +
In [[The November NetHack Tournament]],
 +
 
 +
===SpliceHack===
 +
In [[SpliceHack]], a [[tinfoil hat]] can be created at a [[furnace]] by combining a dunce cap and a [[dented pot]].
 +
 
 +
==Encyclopedia entry==
 +
{{encyclopedia|
 +
A dunce cap, also variously known as a dunce hat, dunce's
 +
cap, or dunce's hat, is a tall conical hat.  In popular
 +
culture, it is typically made of paper and often marked with
 +
a D, and given to schoolchildren to wear as punishment for
 +
being stupid or lazy.  While this is now a rare practice,
 +
it is frequently depicted in popular culture such as
 +
children's cartoons.
 +
|[ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ]
 +
}}
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
+
<references/>
<references />
+
{{nethack-367}}
 
[[Category:Helms]]
 
[[Category:Helms]]
{{nethack-360}}
 

Latest revision as of 22:51, 21 March 2024

[   dunce cap   Conical hat.png
Appearance conical hat
Slot helm
AC 0
Special
Base price 1 zm
Weight 4
Material cloth

A dunce cap is a type of magical helm that appears in NetHack. It is made of cloth, and appears as a conical hat when unidentified, an appearance that it shares with the cornuthaum.

Generation

In addition to random generation, general stores and used armor dealerships can sell dunce caps.

Description

While worn, the dunce cap sets a character's intelligence and wisdom to 6 each and autocurses, autoidentifying the dunce cap; dunce caps prevent any further changes to intelligence or wisdom while worn.[1] Removing the dunce cap will restore your character's intelligence and wisdom to their original values.

If shopping while wearing a dunce cap, the shopkeeper will add an additional 13 markup to the price of each item when buying, and only gives 13 of the base price in gold or credit when selling items.[2][3] This does not stack with the penalty for being a low-level Tourist or having a visible shirt.[4][5]

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.

For a Tourist, 13 of conical hats can be read; a dunce cap will be labeled "DUNCE". Reading a dunce cap autoidentifies it.

Strategy

The dunce cap only exists to entrap careless Wizards looking for a cornuthaum - the INT penalty will be devastating to their spellcasting success rates, making it difficult to cast the spell of remove curse. As the cornuthaum is only useful for Wizards or pets, non-Wizards can freely ignore unidentified conical hats and completely avoid the risk of donning a dunce cap.

One marginal use of the dunce cap is that it prevents instadeath from a mind flayer's intelligence drain - it does not prevent amnesia from the same attack, however. Beyond this, its best use is as fodder for polypiling into other magical armor.

Identification

As the dunce cap and the cornuthaum are both conical hats, picking up and wearing a conical hat at random is a Bad Idea. They can easily be distinguished by price identification, with the dunce cap having a base cost of only 1 zorkmid.

History

The dunce first appears in NetHack 3.2.0.

Origin

The dunce cap is a conical paper hat with the word "dunce" or just a "D" written on it. It served as a form of punishment for schools in the English-speaking world, where a student seen as misbehaving, stupid or lazy was made to wear it in front of the classroom for a set amount of time.

The notion of a "thinking cap" such as the cornuthaum may derive from ceremonial conical hats or even true thinking hats - in this context, the dunce cap is an "anti-thinking cap".

Messages

You feel like sitting in a corner.
You put on a dunce cap.
Your cap constricts briefly, then relaxes again.
Your wisdom or intelligence would have changed, but a worn dunce cap prevented this.

Variants

Some variants give dunce cap additional and sometimes-niche uses.

dNetHack

In dNetHack, a dunce cap is one of the best defenses against the intelligence-draining powers of an ancient of thought.

The November NetHack Tournament

In The November NetHack Tournament,

SpliceHack

In SpliceHack, a tinfoil hat can be created at a furnace by combining a dunce cap and a dented pot.

Encyclopedia entry

A dunce cap, also variously known as a dunce hat, dunce's
cap, or dunce's hat, is a tall conical hat. In popular
culture, it is typically made of paper and often marked with
a D, and given to schoolchildren to wear as punishment for
being stupid or lazy. While this is now a rare practice,
it is frequently depicted in popular culture such as
children's cartoons.

[ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ]

References