Options

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The game options affect the look and feel of the game. They can be changed permanently in the defaults.nh file (or ~/.nethackrc on unix) or by using the in-game options screen.

To set options in the configuration file, list the boolean option to turn it on, prefix it with 'no' or '!' to turn it off, and for compound options, put the value after the option name, separated by colon:

OPTIONS=boulder:0, color, autodig, !cmdassist, norest_on_space, catname:Mirri

This sets boulder to 0, enables color and autodig, disables cmdassist and rest_on_space, and sets your cat's name to Mirri.

You can also set the options from the command line by setting the NETHACKOPTIONS environment variable.

The options screen is shown by pressing shift-O in the game.

Options

align

Your starting alignment. Compound option, with possible values of lawful, neutral or chaotic. Cannot be set in-game.

altmeta

Use the alt keys as meta keys. Boolean option, default is on. Only implemented for Amiga. Cannot be set in-game.

ascii_map

NetHack should display an ascii character map if it can. Boolean option. Can be set in-game.

asksavedisk

NetHack should ask for save file disk for saving game. Only available if NetHack was compiled with MFLOPPY. Boolean option, defaults to false. Can be set in-game.

autodig

Automatically dig, if you're wielding a digging tool and moving into a place that can be dug. A boolean option, defaults to FALSE. Can be set in-game.

autopickup

Automatically pick up things onto which you move. See also pickup_types. A boolean option, defaults to TRUE. Can be set in-game.

autoquiver

Automatically quiver some suitable weapon if your quiver empties when firing. A boolean option, defaults to FALSE. Can be set in-game.

BIOS

Use BIOS calls to update the screen display quickly and to read the keyboard (allowing the use of arrow keys to move) on machines with an IBM PC compatible BIOS ROM. Boolean option, default off. OS/2, PC, and ST NetHack only. Cannot be set in-game.

boulder

Set the symbol used to display boulders. For example boulder:0 Can be set in-game.

catname

Set the name of your starting cat. Compound option, and it cannot be set within game. See also dogname and horsename.

character

Compound option. Sets your character type. Synonym for role. Can also be 'random'.

checkpoint

Save game state after each level change, for possible recovery after program crash. A boolean option, defaults to TRUE. Can be set in-game.

checkspace

Check free disk space before writing files to disk. You may have to turn this off if you have more than 2 GB free space on the partition used for your save and level files. A boolean option, defaults to on. Only applies when MFLOPPY was defined during compilation.

cmdassist

NetHack provides some additional command assistance when it detects some anticipated mistakes. A boolean option, defaults to TRUE. Can be set in-game.

color

NetHack should display color if it can for different monsters, objects, and dungeon features. This option matters only for the TTY windowport. A boolean option, defaults to TRUE on Windows and some other systems, FALSE on others. Can be set in-game.

confirm

Have user confirm attacks on peaceful creatures. A boolean option, defaults to TRUE. Can be set in-game.

DECgraphics

Use DEC line-drawing characters. Won't work for all terminals. A boolean option, defaults to TRUE. Can be set in-game. Turning this on sets IBMgraphics to FALSE.

disclose

Controls the prompts at the end of the game. Possible values are

• i - disclose your inventory
• a - disclose your attributes
• v - summarize monsters you've killed
• g - list genocided monsters
• c - display conduct

Each of those values can be preceded with a value that tells how it behaves. The possible values are

• y - prompt, defaults to yes
• n - prompt, defaults to no
• + - disclose without prompting
• - - don't disclose, don't prompt

For example

OPTIONS=disclose:yi na +v -g -c

dogname

Set the name of your starting dog. Compound option, and it cannot be set within game. See also catname and horsename.

eight_bit_tty

NetHack should pass eight-bit character values straight through to your terminal. A boolean option, defaults to FALSE. Can be set in-game.

extmenu

Does extended commands interface pop up a menu? A boolean option, defaults to FALSE. Only implemented for the TTY windowport.

female

An obsolete synonym for gender:female. Cannot be set in-game.

fixinv

An object's inventory letter sticks to it when it's dropped. A boolean option, defaults to TRUE. Can be set in-game.

flush

TODO. A boolean option, defaults to off. Only usable on Amiga. Can be set in-game.

fullscreen

NetHack should try and display on the entire screen rather than in a window. A boolean option, defaults to false. Cannot be set in-game.

help

If more information is available for an object looked at with the '/' command, ask if you want to see it. A boolean option, defaults to TRUE. Can be set in-game.

hilite_pet

Visually distinguish pets from similar animals. A boolean option, defaults to FALSE. Can be set in-game.

horsename

Set the name of your starting horse. Compound option, and it cannot be set within game. See also catname and dogname.

IBMgraphics

Main article: IBMgraphics

Use IBM extended characters. Won't work for all terminals. A boolean option, defaults to FALSE. Only implemented for the TTY windowport. Can be set in-game.

ignintr

Ignore interrupt signals, including breaks. A boolean option, defaults to FALSE. Not implemented on Mac. Can be set in-game.

lit_corridor

Distinguish visually between lit and unlit corridors. A boolean option, defaults to FALSE. Can be set in-game.

loot_abc

Use the old a, b and c keyboard shortcuts when looting. A boolean option, defaults to FALSE. Can be set in-game.

menu_tab_sep

Use tabs to separate menu names from their values. This option is only shown when in wizard-mode, and is only meant for testing purposes.

mouse_support

Use mouse for moving around. A boolean, defaults to FALSE. Is displayed, but cannot be set in-game.

null

Send padding NULLs to terminal. A boolean, defaults to FALSE. Only used if you compiled NetHack with TERMCAP and without TIMED_DELAY.

number_pad

Use the number keys to move instead of [yuhjklbn].

0=use [yuhjklbn] (default)

1=use [79428613]

2=use [79428613] and invokes the old DOS behavior where `5' means `g', meta-`5' means `G', and meta-`0' means `I'

With number_pad:1 or number_pad:2, counts need to be prefixed with 'n' (n50s to search 50 times). Also, some extended commands are available in a short form (l=#loot, u=#untrap, etc).

perm_invent

Show permanent inventory window. A boolean, default to FALSE. Not used on TTY. Can be set in-game.

pickup_burden

Prompt for confirmation before picking up items that will push the character's encumbrance past a given level -- Unencumbered, Burdened, Stressed, Strained, or Overtaxed. This will NOT prompt the player if he is about to pick up a loadstone.

prayconfirm

Prompt for confirmation before praying. A boolean, defaults to TRUE. Can be set in-game.

pushweapon

If you wield something when you are already wielding something else, the old weapon is pushed into the alternate weapon slot. A boolean, defaults to FALSE. Can be set in-game.

rest_on_space

Space waits for a turn. This is considered by some as a very easy way to get killed.

A boolean, defaults to FALSE. Can be set in-game.

safe_pet

Prevents you from attacking your pet by moving into it. TRUE is the best setting as attacking a pet, should you wish to, is easily accomplished using the fight command.

A boolean, defaults to TRUE. Can be set in-game.

sanity_check

This option turns on debugging output, and is only available in wizard mode.

A boolean, defaults to FALSE.

showexp

Displays the exact number of experience points next to your experience level on the status line. Useful for seeing how close you are to the next level, but it may increase the length of the status line a lot, pushing important notifications (like Hungry, Ill, FoodPois, etc.) off the end.

A boolean, defaults to FALSE. Can be set in-game.

showrace

Uses the symbol for your race instead of @. That's h for dwarves, o for orcs and G for gnomes. Elves are still @. This could be useful for reminding you not to genocide h but is not widely used.

A boolean, defaults to FALSE. Can be set in-game.

silent

Stops your terminal's bell sounding.

A boolean, defaults to TRUE. Can be set in-game.

sortpack

Groups similar kinds of objects in your inventory. TRUE is highly recommended.

A boolean, defaults to TRUE. Can be set in-game.

sound

Enables messages about what your character hears. Quite a handicap if set to FALSE.

A boolean, defaults to TRUE. Can be set in-game.

sparkle

Display sparkly effect for resisted magical attacks (e.g. a fire attack on a fire-resistant monster). It can be helpful to turn this off on the Plane of Fire, otherwise a dozen or more sparkles will occur per turn.

A boolean, defaults to TRUE. Can be set in-game.

standout

Uses standout mode (reverse video) for displaying "--More--".

A boolean, defaults to FALSE. Can be set in-game.

time

Displays elapsed game time, in moves, on the status line. Very useful for estimating prayer timeouts, spell lifespan, and more.

A boolean, defaults to FALSE. Can be set in-game.

timed_delay

On unix and VMS, use a timer instead of sending extra screen output when attempting to pause for a display effect. On MSDOS without the termcap lib, chooses whether or not to pause for visual effect.

A boolean, defaults to TRUE. Can be set in-game.

tombstone

Prints an ASCII tombstone when you die.

A boolean, defaults to TRUE. Can be set in-game.

toptenwin

Prints the top ten high scores in a window rather than stdout. This isn't very useful unless you are using a GUI version.

A boolean, defaults to FALSE. Can be set in-game.

travel

Enables the travel command.

A boolean, defaults to TRUE. Can be set in-game.

use_inverse

Displays certain things in reverse video.

A boolean, defaults to FALSE on non-Win32 platforms. Can be set in-game.

verbose

Chooses whether or not to display certain non-essential messages, such as doors being destroyed.

A boolean, defaults to TRUE. Can be set in-game.

Options screens

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Set what options?

Booleans (selecting will toggle value):
    legacy        [true]
    news          [false]
a - autodig       [true]
b - autopickup    [false]
c - autoquiver    [false]
d - checkpoint    [true]
e - cmdassist     [true]
f - color         [true]
g - confirm       [true]
h - DECgraphics   [false]
i - eight_bit_tty [false]
j - extmenu       [false]
k - fixinv        [true]
l - help          [true]
m - hilite_pet    [true]
n - IBMgraphics   [true]
o - ignintr       [false]
p - lit_corridor  [true]
q - lootabc       [false]
r - menu_tab_sep  [false]
s - mouse_support [true]

2 of 4

a - null          [true]
b - perm_invent   [false]
c - prayconfirm   [true]
d - pushweapon    [false]
e - rest_on_space [false]
f - safe_pet      [true]
g - sanity_check  [false]
h - showexp       [true]
i - showrace      [false]
j - silent        [true]
k - sortpack      [true]
l - sound         [true]
m - sparkle       [true]
n - standout      [false]
o - time          [true]
p - tombstone     [true]
q - toptenwin     [false]
r - travel        [true]
s - use_inverse   [true]
t - verbose       [true]

Compounds (selecting will prompt for new value):
    name              [wizard]
    role              [Tourist]

3 of 4

    race              [human]
    gender            [male]
    align             [neutral]
    altkeyhandler     [nhraykey.dll]
    catname           [(none)]
    dogname           [(none)]
    horsename         [(none)]
    msghistory        [20]
    pettype           [random]
    windowtype        [tty]
a - boulder           [÷]
b - disclose          [yi ya yv +g +c]
c - fruit             [pineapple]
d - menustyle         [full]
e - menu_headings     [inverse]
f - msg_window        [single]
g - number_pad        [0=off]
h - packorder         [$")[%?+!=/(*`0_]
i - pickup_burden     [stressed]
j - pickup_types      [all]
k - runmode           [run]
l - scores            [3 top/2 around]
m - suppress_alert    [3.3.1]
n - autopickup exceptions (0 currently set)

4 of 4

Variable playground locations:
    hackdir           [C:\Games\NetHack\]
    leveldir          [C:\Games\NetHack\]
    savedir           [C:\Games\NetHack\]
    bonesdir          [C:\Games\NetHack\]
    datadir           [C:\Games\NetHack\]
    scoredir          [C:\Games\NetHack\]
    lockdir           [C:\Games\NetHack\]
    configdir         [C:\Games\NetHack\]
    troubledir        [C:\Games\NetHack\]