Difference between revisions of "Stealing from shops"
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[[Shopkeeper]]s in NetHack, when it comes to taking items, do not care about any creature or monster other than you. Thus, a common practice is to let a monster or [[pet]] pick up items and drop them either outside the shop or in the square right in front of the doorway, which is considered outdoors. | [[Shopkeeper]]s in NetHack, when it comes to taking items, do not care about any creature or monster other than you. Thus, a common practice is to let a monster or [[pet]] pick up items and drop them either outside the shop or in the square right in front of the doorway, which is considered outdoors. | ||
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| + | Another method of indirect theft is to drop gold in the store to establish credit, and then get monsters or pets to take the gold back outside for you to repeat. | ||
===Direct theft=== | ===Direct theft=== | ||
| + | * ''Dig out of the shop with unpaid items.'' If you move away from the shopkeeper, then use a fast method, like a [[wand of digging]], not a pick-axe, then you can escape a shop before the shopkeeper can move adjacent and intervene. | ||
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| + | * ''Jump out of the shop.'' This is done with a spell or with boots of jumping. This only takes you a few squares away, however, so you'll want to get away quickly. | ||
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| + | * ''Teleport out of the shop.'' You just need to have some method of [[teleport]], such as intrinsic [[teleportitis]], a [[wand of teleportation]], a spell, or a scroll of [[teleportation]], ready to take you and your unpaid items out of the shop. Wands or scrolls are easier to control as teleportitis might send you out of the shop before you're ready. | ||
| + | A riskier method of teleportation for characters with low [[intelligence]] is to read a [[spellbook]] and hope that it sends you out of the shop. However, the few turns of paralysis that follow make it potentially treacherous. | ||
===Consequences of theft=== | ===Consequences of theft=== | ||
| + | Indirect theft carries no consequences. (If you kill a [[peaceful]] monster that took items, however, [[alignment]] penalties apply as usual.) | ||
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| + | Direct theft, however, is dangerous. First of all, successfully stealing from a shop summons [[Keystone Kop]]s - for higher level characters more of a nuisance, but numerous. The larger worry is the shopkeeper, who tends to be both high level and equipped with dangerous wands. | ||
| − | + | Theft carries a -1 alignment penalty for lawful characters and a +1 alignment bonus to chaotic non-rogue characters. | |
[[Category:Strategy]] | [[Category:Strategy]] | ||
Revision as of 04:40, 24 July 2006
Some characters prefer to obtain items from shops in the normal way: buying them with zorkmids. For everyone else, there is theft.
Indirect theft
For those who prefer not to steal directly, there are a few options for all the fun of theft and minimal risk.
Shopkeepers in NetHack, when it comes to taking items, do not care about any creature or monster other than you. Thus, a common practice is to let a monster or pet pick up items and drop them either outside the shop or in the square right in front of the doorway, which is considered outdoors.
Another method of indirect theft is to drop gold in the store to establish credit, and then get monsters or pets to take the gold back outside for you to repeat.
Direct theft
- Dig out of the shop with unpaid items. If you move away from the shopkeeper, then use a fast method, like a wand of digging, not a pick-axe, then you can escape a shop before the shopkeeper can move adjacent and intervene.
- Jump out of the shop. This is done with a spell or with boots of jumping. This only takes you a few squares away, however, so you'll want to get away quickly.
- Teleport out of the shop. You just need to have some method of teleport, such as intrinsic teleportitis, a wand of teleportation, a spell, or a scroll of teleportation, ready to take you and your unpaid items out of the shop. Wands or scrolls are easier to control as teleportitis might send you out of the shop before you're ready.
A riskier method of teleportation for characters with low intelligence is to read a spellbook and hope that it sends you out of the shop. However, the few turns of paralysis that follow make it potentially treacherous.
Consequences of theft
Indirect theft carries no consequences. (If you kill a peaceful monster that took items, however, alignment penalties apply as usual.)
Direct theft, however, is dangerous. First of all, successfully stealing from a shop summons Keystone Kops - for higher level characters more of a nuisance, but numerous. The larger worry is the shopkeeper, who tends to be both high level and equipped with dangerous wands.
Theft carries a -1 alignment penalty for lawful characters and a +1 alignment bonus to chaotic non-rogue characters.
