Scroll of charging
? 
| |
|---|---|
| Name | charging |
| Appearance | random |
| Base price | 300 zm |
| Weight | 5 |
| Ink to write | 8–15 |
| Monster use | Will not be used by monsters. |
A scroll of charging is a type of scroll that appears in NetHack.
Contents
Description
When read, the scroll of charging will auto-identify and then prompt the player to choose an item in their inventory. If the chosen item is chargeable, then a non-cursed scroll will grant additional charges if possible and increment the charge counter by 1 - a blessed scroll has a higher probability of increasing the item's charges to the maximum. A cursed scroll will instead set the number of charges on the item to zero and increment the charge counter by 1.
If read while confused, a non-cursed scroll will set your current energy to its maximum and, if you were near full energy before reading the scroll, also increase your current energy by 6d4 if blessed or 4d4 if uncursed, and then set your maximum energy to that amount. If the scroll is cursed, it will reduce your current energy to 0.[1]
Charging functionality
Wands
Blessed scrolls will always restore maximum charges to a previously uncharged wand of wishing, and will always restore any given directional wand to at least 4 charges or any nondirectional wand other than wishing to 11 charges.[2][3] Specifically, a target charge count is determined; this is a random number between the maximum charge count and 4 charges fewer than that[2] (4 to 8 for directional wands; 11 to 15 for nondirection wands other than wishing[3]). Uncursed scrolls do the same, but adjust the target charge count to a random number from 1 to the original charge count.[4] The wand then is adjusted to that target charge count if it had fewer charges previously.[5] Otherwise, one charge is added.[6] Wands can only be recharged a certain number of times before the wand explodes, dealing damage to you.
Tools
Except for a magic marker, which can only be recharged once, all tools can be charged an unlimited number of times, with varying amounts of charges recharged depending on the item.
Rings
All rings that have a numeric bonus on them, such as the ring of adornment, can have their enchantment modified by the scroll of charging. A blessed scroll will increase the enchantment between 1–3 points, an uncursed scroll will increase it by one, and a cursed scroll will decrease it by 1–2 points. Rings have a chance of being destroyed if the enchantment is too high or too low:
| Current enchantment | ≤ −1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ≥ 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chance of destruction | 0% | 0% | 14% | 29% | 43% | 57% | 71% | 86% | 100% |
Strategy
Because of the scroll's function, two or three blessed scrolls of charging are often the best first wish to make from a wand of wishing, to use when its initial charges run out. Or, if you have already identified the scroll of charging and you own some blessed paper, it may be better to wish for a magic marker and write the scroll yourself.
The ring-charging property of the scroll can be somewhat useful, but typically the player will be interested in rings more suited to an ascension kit. The scroll is often better kept for charging valuable wands and magic markers.
Reading the scroll while confused is useful for wishless or artifact-wishless spellcasters, especially when their power is being drained by the Amulet of Yendor. Spellcasters who are able to obtain the Mitre of Holiness or the Eye of the Aethiopica might not need the confused charging effect quite as often.
Messages
- This is a charging scroll.
- You read a scroll of any beatitude.
- You feel charged up!
- You read a noncursed scroll, while confused.
- You feel discharged.
- You read a cursed scroll, while confused.
- You have a feeling of loss.
- You tried to charge an item that cannot be charged. No effect.
Variants
UnNetHack
In UnNetHack, a blessed scroll of charging will (in addition to charging the item) also reveal the number of charges and the charge counter.
References
This page may need to be updated for the current version of NetHack.
It may contain text specific to NetHack 3.4.3. Information on this page may be out of date.
Editors: After reviewing this page and making necessary edits, please change the {{nethack-343}} tag to the current version's tag or {{noversion}} as appropriate.
