Large shield
[ large shield 
| |
|---|---|
| Appearance | large shield |
| Slot | shield |
| AC | 2 |
| Special | (none) |
| Base price | 10 zm |
| Weight | 100 |
| Material | iron |
A large shield is a type of shield that appears in NetHack. It is made of iron.
Contents
Generation
Large shields make up 7⁄1000 (0.7%) of all randomly-generated armor. General stores, used armor dealerships and antique weapons outlets can sell large shields.
Angels and Aleaxes have a 3⁄4 chance of generating with erodeproof large shields.[1] Mercenaries have an effective 1⁄6 chance of generating with a large shield that counts for 2 points of their target AC.[2]
Description
When worn, a large shield grants 2 base AC.
Strategy
Large shields are rarely used by most heroes: those that do not start with a shield are more likely to encounter a dwarvish roundshield in the Gnomish Mines first, and spellcasting-focused heroes will much prefer the small shield, which is both far lighter by 70 aum and more conducive to casting. Heroes using shields long-term will eventually replace a large shield with either an elven shield or a shield of reflection, both of which are are lighter and provide the same base AC - even a small shield will be preferable for the weight reduction alone.
History
The large shield first appears in NetHack 3.0.0.
Variants
SLASH'EM
In SLASH'EM, Knights start the game with a +0 large shield.
Upgrading a large shield will produce a dwarvish roundshield, and vice versa.
dNetHack
In dNetHack, notdNetHack and notnotdNetHack, the large shield is renamed to the kite shield, due to object sizing allowing for the creation of large-sized shields.
SpliceHack
In SpliceHack, a large shield can be combined with an amulet of reflection at a furnace to create a shield of reflection.
SpliceHack adds Pridwen, a lawful artifact large shield that confers half physical damage while worn.
EvilHack
In EvilHack, Knights start the game with a +0 large shield - drow Knights receive a set of dark elven bracers instead.
A large shield can be created at a forge by combining two helmets. Large shields can be used to forge a couple of other items:
- A large shield can be combined with a dwarvish helm to create a dwarvish roundshield.
- A large shield can be combined with a helmet to create ring mail.
SlashTHEM
In SlashTHEM, in addition to SLASH'EM details, player monster knights, lunatic and warriors generate with large shields. The militant cleric of the rebel party that serves as the default Noble quest nemesis generates with a large shield.
Hack'EM
In Hack'EM, upgrading a large shield will produce a tower shield and vice versa. In addition to forging recipes from EvilHack, a large shield can be combined with a small shield to create a tower shield.
Hack'EM also adds Pridwen from SpliceHack, which grants knockback resistance and prevents its wearer from becoming afraid in addition to half physical damage.
References
- ↑ src/makemon.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 340
- ↑ src/makemon.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 640: default mercenary armor; 1⁄3 not to receive small shield first
