Difference between revisions of "Protection from shape changers"

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* [[Chameleon]]s, [[doppelganger]]s, [[sandestin]]s and [[vampire]]s will appear in their base form; they are vulnerable to being [[polymorph]]ed completely into another monster, and may suffer [[system shock]] as with polymorphing other monsters.
 
* [[Chameleon]]s, [[doppelganger]]s, [[sandestin]]s and [[vampire]]s will appear in their base form; they are vulnerable to being [[polymorph]]ed completely into another monster, and may suffer [[system shock]] as with polymorphing other monsters.
* [[Werecreature]]s will similarly appear in their [[human (monster attribute)|human]] form a majority of the time: they are still capable of shifting to animal form, but will shift back to human form on their next turn, and cannot summon help.{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|600|nethack=3.6.7|comment=chance of changing to animal form when attacking}}{{refsrc|src/were.c|38|nethack=3.6.7|comment=changing back to human form always occurs with protection from shape changes active}}{{refsrc|src/were.c|137|nethack=3.6.7|comment=ability to summon help checks if protection from shape changes is active}}
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* [[Werecreature]]s will similarly appear in their [[human (monster attribute)|human]] form a majority of the time, and are still capable of shifting to animal form, but will shift back to human form on their next turn{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|600|nethack=3.6.7|comment=chance of changing to animal form when attacking}}{{refsrc|src/were.c|38|nethack=3.6.7|comment=changing back to human form always occurs if protection from shape changers is active}} - they also cannot summon help or infect you with [[lycanthropy]].{{refsrc|src/were.c|137|nethack=3.6.7|comment=summoning help checks for protection from shape changers}}{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|600|nethack=3.6.7|comment=chance of changing to animal form when attacking}}{{refsrc|src/mhitu.c|1310|nethack=3.6.7|comment=lycanthropy cannot occur with with protection from shape changers active}}
 
* [[Mimic]]s are de-cloaked and cannot disguise themselves.
 
* [[Mimic]]s are de-cloaked and cannot disguise themselves.
 
* Monsters with a [[digestion]] attack will not polymorph when swallowing a shape changer whole.
 
* Monsters with a [[digestion]] attack will not polymorph when swallowing a shape changer whole.

Revision as of 16:28, 15 July 2023

Protection from shape changers is a property in NetHack that prevents shape changer monsters from transforming while you possess the property.

The only source of protection from shape changers is wearing or eating a ring of protection from shape changers.

Description

Protection from shape changers causes most shape changers and other similar monsters to lose their shifting ability:

  • Chameleons, doppelgangers, sandestins and vampires will appear in their base form; they are vulnerable to being polymorphed completely into another monster, and may suffer system shock as with polymorphing other monsters.
  • Werecreatures will similarly appear in their human form a majority of the time, and are still capable of shifting to animal form, but will shift back to human form on their next turn[1][2] - they also cannot summon help or infect you with lycanthropy.[3][4][5]
  • Mimics are de-cloaked and cannot disguise themselves.
  • Monsters with a digestion attack will not polymorph when swallowing a shape changer whole.

Strategy

While not strictly necessary to succeed throughout the game, protection from shape changers is useful to protect against early shapeshifters who would otherwise have access to abilities - such as werecreatures summoning help, and chameleons and doppelgangers turning into very strong monsters - that can spell a quick end to your game. Players interested in keeping exotic pets such as vampires or monsters with digestion attacks may seek out this property to keep those pets in their base forms (though this will not stop them from polymorphing by eating shapeshifter corpses).

Messages

You are protected from shape changers.
You have protection from shape changers as viewed via enlightenment.

Variants

Some variants introduce more sources of the property.

SLASH'EM

In SLASH'EM, The Medallion of Shifters from NetHack Plus and SLASH 6 is present as a defunct object. It granted protection from shape changers while worn, and could also be invoked to immediately return shape changes to their base forms.

FIQHack

In FIQHack, protection from shape changers is one of the properties that can be conferred by quaffing or dipping into a potion of wonder.

References

  1. src/mhitu.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 600: chance of changing to animal form when attacking
  2. src/were.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 38: changing back to human form always occurs if protection from shape changers is active
  3. src/were.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 137: summoning help checks for protection from shape changers
  4. src/mhitu.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 600: chance of changing to animal form when attacking
  5. src/mhitu.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 1310: lycanthropy cannot occur with with protection from shape changers active