Difference between revisions of "Gray dragon scale mail"
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| − | '''Gray dragon scale mail''', | + | '''Gray dragon scale mail''', also known as '''grey dragon scale mail''' and abbreviated as '''GDSM''', is a type of [[body armor]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is made of [[dragon hide]] like all [[dragon scale mail]]. |
| − | Gray dragon scale mail | + | ==Generation== |
| + | Gray dragon scale mail is not randomly generated. Reading a non-cursed [[scroll of enchant armor]] that targets worn [[gray dragon scales]] will convert them into mail, with a blessed scroll adding a point of [[enchantment]]. | ||
| − | == | + | ==Description== |
| + | While worn, gray dragon scale mail confers 9 base AC and [[magic resistance]]. Uncontrolled [[polymorph]] while wearing gray dragon scale mail will revert them to scales and turn the wearer into a [[gray dragon]], though in practice only [[quaff]]ing a [[potion of polymorph]] or [[zapping]] a [[wand of polymorph]] at yourself will do this.{{refsrc|src/polyself.c|501|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/polyself.c|518|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} | ||
| − | + | ==Strategy== | |
| − | + | {{main|Dragon scale mail}} | |
| + | Gray dragon scale mail is one of the two most coveted types of dragon scale mail, with the other being [[silver dragon scale mail]]. Magic resistance is also a very rare property outside of [[artifact]] sources, naturally making it a good first [[wish]] for many characters and a popular item in [[ascension kit]]s - it is usually combined with an [[Amulet of reflection|amulet]], [[Shield of reflection|shield]] or other non-body armor source of [[reflection]]. | ||
| − | + | In terms of advantages as a candidate for wishes or ascension kits, gray dragon scale mail keeps the cloak slot open to be used for a source of [[MC3]] if so desired, and protects a character against [[teleport trap]]s, [[level teleporter]]s, [[polymorph trap]]s, and [[monster spell]]s cast by vicious spellcasters. Reflection is also somewhat easier to obtain without wishing compared to magic resistance, though an early series of wishes (e.g. usually a lucky [[wand of wishing]]) can remove this factor, leaving it more up to a player's desired character build and their character's capabilities. | |
| + | ===Perks versus silver DSM=== | ||
| + | {{main|GDSM versus SDSM}} | ||
| + | Characters that cannot [[twoweapon]] will lean towards gray dragon scale mail, especially if they either do not care about [[spellcasting]] or are fine with taking off a shield to cast outside of combat (though doing so with a shield of reflection is risky). Characters that can twoweapon who want their cloak slot free and/or do not plan to wear an [[amulet of life saving]] as their primary amulet may also consider gray dragon mail. Chaotic characters also cannot obtain the property by wishing for an artifact, as there are no chaotic artifacts that give magic resistance, though a rare [[Monk]] may be willing to brave [[Monk quest|their quest]] for their own [[quest artifact]], and chaotic [[Wizard]]s can usually [[sacrifice]] for [[Magicbane]]. Finally, characters in roles whose [[Quest]] pits them against a spellcasting [[quest nemesis]] or many spell-casting quest monsters may prefer gray dragon scale mail. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Magic resistance on its own does not protect against elemental damage, especially from wands and breath weapons: [[crowning]] can cover most of these weaknesses save for [[acid]] and [[disintegration]], though the latter danger does not occur until deep into the dungeon. Additionally, several types of monster spell (including the more dangerous ones) can only be cast in melee range, making it possible to use [[Elbereth]] and other tools to keep casters from closing in while bringing them down at a distance, albeit to a limited extent. Wizards start the game with a cloak of magic resistance, and can obtain Magicbane unless observing a conduct that would forbid it (e.g. [[atheist]] or artifactless), making gray scale mail typically redundant for them. | ||
| + | |||
| + | While the more dangerous spells are generally encountered much deeper in the dungeon and possibly within the [[Quest]], including [[covetous]] monsters that can warp to you directly, they can also appear much earlier due to polymorph traps and [[shapeshifter]]s like [[chameleon]]s that polymorph at random - this in part can push a character in favor of gray dragon mail, particularly as an aid for both stepping on polymorph traps and fighting some of the monsters they can create. A player with a character that has not yet cleared [[Sokoban]] may opt to wish for gray dragon scale mail and take their chances with finding reflection inside the branch or elsewhere. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==History== | ||
| + | Gray dragon scale mail first appears with most other colors of dragon scale mail in [[NetHack 3.0.0]]. From NetHack 3.0.0 to [[NetHack 3.0.10]], including variants based on those versions, gray dragon scale mail is created by polymorphing the corpse of a gray dragon. Gray dragon scales are introduced in [[NetHack 3.1.0]], along with the current method for converting them into dragon scale mail. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Variants== | ||
| + | {{main|Dragon-scaled armor}} | ||
| + | In some variants, dragon scale mail is phased out in favor of dragon-scaled armor, whose implementation is based on a proposal by dtsund. Instead of being made into mail of its own, dragon scales are treated as a [[cloak]], and reading a scroll of enchant armor melds them onto a worn set of body armor, generally augmenting that armor by adding its AC and conferred extrinsic properties to it. Dragon-scaled armor is implemented in [[NetHack Fourk]], [[xNetHack]], [[EvilHack]], and [[Hack'EM]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Some variants also give gray dragon scale mail additional properties while worn, and may even introduce other forms of gray dragon scale armor - due to already being a powerful item, they may be less commonly given properties compared to other colors. Variants that implement partial intrinsics and/or [[object properties]] may also make other colors of dragon mail more worthwhile. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | <references/> | ||
| + | {{nethack-367}} | ||
[[Category:Dragon armor]] | [[Category:Dragon armor]] | ||
| − | |||
Revision as of 08:27, 20 March 2024
[ gray dragon scale mail 
| |
|---|---|
| Appearance | gray dragon scale mail |
| Slot | body armor |
| AC | 9 |
| Special | |
| Base price | 1200 zm |
| Weight | 40 |
| Material | dragon hide |
Gray dragon scale mail, also known as grey dragon scale mail and abbreviated as GDSM, is a type of body armor that appears in NetHack. It is made of dragon hide like all dragon scale mail.
Contents
Generation
Gray dragon scale mail is not randomly generated. Reading a non-cursed scroll of enchant armor that targets worn gray dragon scales will convert them into mail, with a blessed scroll adding a point of enchantment.
Description
While worn, gray dragon scale mail confers 9 base AC and magic resistance. Uncontrolled polymorph while wearing gray dragon scale mail will revert them to scales and turn the wearer into a gray dragon, though in practice only quaffing a potion of polymorph or zapping a wand of polymorph at yourself will do this.[1][2]
Strategy
Gray dragon scale mail is one of the two most coveted types of dragon scale mail, with the other being silver dragon scale mail. Magic resistance is also a very rare property outside of artifact sources, naturally making it a good first wish for many characters and a popular item in ascension kits - it is usually combined with an amulet, shield or other non-body armor source of reflection.
In terms of advantages as a candidate for wishes or ascension kits, gray dragon scale mail keeps the cloak slot open to be used for a source of MC3 if so desired, and protects a character against teleport traps, level teleporters, polymorph traps, and monster spells cast by vicious spellcasters. Reflection is also somewhat easier to obtain without wishing compared to magic resistance, though an early series of wishes (e.g. usually a lucky wand of wishing) can remove this factor, leaving it more up to a player's desired character build and their character's capabilities.
Perks versus silver DSM
Characters that cannot twoweapon will lean towards gray dragon scale mail, especially if they either do not care about spellcasting or are fine with taking off a shield to cast outside of combat (though doing so with a shield of reflection is risky). Characters that can twoweapon who want their cloak slot free and/or do not plan to wear an amulet of life saving as their primary amulet may also consider gray dragon mail. Chaotic characters also cannot obtain the property by wishing for an artifact, as there are no chaotic artifacts that give magic resistance, though a rare Monk may be willing to brave their quest for their own quest artifact, and chaotic Wizards can usually sacrifice for Magicbane. Finally, characters in roles whose Quest pits them against a spellcasting quest nemesis or many spell-casting quest monsters may prefer gray dragon scale mail.
Magic resistance on its own does not protect against elemental damage, especially from wands and breath weapons: crowning can cover most of these weaknesses save for acid and disintegration, though the latter danger does not occur until deep into the dungeon. Additionally, several types of monster spell (including the more dangerous ones) can only be cast in melee range, making it possible to use Elbereth and other tools to keep casters from closing in while bringing them down at a distance, albeit to a limited extent. Wizards start the game with a cloak of magic resistance, and can obtain Magicbane unless observing a conduct that would forbid it (e.g. atheist or artifactless), making gray scale mail typically redundant for them.
While the more dangerous spells are generally encountered much deeper in the dungeon and possibly within the Quest, including covetous monsters that can warp to you directly, they can also appear much earlier due to polymorph traps and shapeshifters like chameleons that polymorph at random - this in part can push a character in favor of gray dragon mail, particularly as an aid for both stepping on polymorph traps and fighting some of the monsters they can create. A player with a character that has not yet cleared Sokoban may opt to wish for gray dragon scale mail and take their chances with finding reflection inside the branch or elsewhere.
History
Gray dragon scale mail first appears with most other colors of dragon scale mail in NetHack 3.0.0. From NetHack 3.0.0 to NetHack 3.0.10, including variants based on those versions, gray dragon scale mail is created by polymorphing the corpse of a gray dragon. Gray dragon scales are introduced in NetHack 3.1.0, along with the current method for converting them into dragon scale mail.
Variants
In some variants, dragon scale mail is phased out in favor of dragon-scaled armor, whose implementation is based on a proposal by dtsund. Instead of being made into mail of its own, dragon scales are treated as a cloak, and reading a scroll of enchant armor melds them onto a worn set of body armor, generally augmenting that armor by adding its AC and conferred extrinsic properties to it. Dragon-scaled armor is implemented in NetHack Fourk, xNetHack, EvilHack, and Hack'EM.
Some variants also give gray dragon scale mail additional properties while worn, and may even introduce other forms of gray dragon scale armor - due to already being a powerful item, they may be less commonly given properties compared to other colors. Variants that implement partial intrinsics and/or object properties may also make other colors of dragon mail more worthwhile.
