Astral Plane - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: word choice

2025-07-02T17:58:36Z

word choice

Ais523: /* Moving */ suggest a wand of light as an illumination source for jumping – it worked surprisingly well in my latest ascension

2023-07-01T02:33:23Z

‎Moving: suggest a wand of light as an illumination source for jumping – it worked surprisingly well in my latest ascension

Umbire the Phantom: Undo revision 149826 by MrSurvivor1997 (talk)

2023-03-05T16:07:35Z

Undo revision 149826 by MrSurvivor1997 (talk)

MrSurvivor1997: The Riders serve as the final bosses of NetHack.

2023-01-31T18:31:42Z

The Riders serve as the final bosses of NetHack.

Umbire the Phantom at 22:02, 17 December 2021

2021-12-17T22:02:09Z

Kufat: /* Surviving */ MMoM 2x spell damage only applies to knights

2021-11-26T23:41:35Z

‎Surviving: MMoM 2x spell damage only applies to knights

Darth l33t: /* Map */ don't duplicate the entire map just for one alternate section

2021-06-09T00:24:37Z

‎Map: don't duplicate the entire map just for one alternate section

Darth l33t: /* Map */ locked doors

2021-06-01T14:37:56Z

‎Map: locked doors

Umbire the Phantom at 23:44, 30 May 2021

2021-05-30T23:44:51Z

Darth l33t: 3.6.2 update

2021-05-30T16:44:03Z

3.6.2 update

@@ Line 94: / Line 94: @@
 The priests are likely to use the [[summon insects]] spell on you. Like in the [[Sanctum]], you can use this to your advantage&mdash;the relatively harmless ants and beetles can shield you from the more dangerous priests and Angels. This will only partially shield you from the Riders.
-If you have the ability to cast spells, remember that the [[Amulet of Yendor]] will drain more power from you than normal. Dropping the Amulet to the ground before spellcasting preserves power at the cost of time spent dropping and picking it up. The {{spell of|magic missile}} spell is very powerful at high experience levels, especially if you are a [[Knight]] and are carrying [[the Magic Mirror of Merlin]]. Typically only Angels will resist magic missiles, and even the Riders will succumb quickly to a few casts. It takes less energy to make three missile attacks than to cast a single [[finger of death]].
+If you have the ability to cast spells, remember that the [[Amulet of Yendor]] will drain more power from you than normal. Dropping the Amulet to the ground before spellcasting preserves power at the cost of time spent dropping and picking it up. The {{spell of|magic missile}} spell is very powerful at high experience levels, especially if you are a [[Knight]] and are carrying [[the Magic Mirror of Merlin]]. Typically only Angels will resist magic missiles, and even the Riders will succumb quickly to a few casts. It takes less energy to cast three magic missiles than to cast a single {{+ of|finger of death}}.
 Good rings to wear on the Astral Plane are {{of|ring|free action|and=1|conflict}}. Wearing the ring of conflict will cause hostile angels to spawn around you instead of a tame one; however, they are usually avoidable, since they will often fight each other instead of you.

@@ Line 75: / Line 75: @@
 The Astral Plane's biggest danger is getting bogged down in the open, surrounded by opponents, while one or more of the Riders slowly push monsters aside and approach you. Thus, it is important to keep moving and avoid being surrounded. Opening doors quickly is important to keep moving. All doors start locked, and even at maximum strength they may resist multiple times. A [[wand of digging]] will always raze a door, allowing you to pass through diagonally, and will not be reflected by monsters in its path. Alternatively, a [[wand of opening]] or spell of [[knock]] will preserve the door, allowing you to lock it behind you to prevent most monsters from following you. The Riders can unlock a locked door, but are still restricted from moving diagonally, which can buy you a few turns.
-[[Jumping]] is a very powerful technique, since it allows you to cross many empty spaces in a single turn. There are two main ways to retain very fast [[speed]] while jumping: either wear [[speed boots]] and cast the {{spell of|jumping}} spell, or wear [[jumping boots]] and use [[potion of speed|potions of speed]] or the {{spell of|haste self}} spell. Using the jumping spell will consume more of your magical [[power]], but at expert skill it also allows you to make longer jumps. If you intend to do this, you should use the [[Candelabrum of Invocation]] or the {{spell of|light}} spell to illuminate your destination, since ordinary light sources will not reach expert jumping's maximum distance.
+[[Jumping]] is a very powerful technique, since it allows you to cross many empty spaces in a single turn. There are two main ways to retain very fast [[speed]] while jumping: either wear [[speed boots]] and cast the {{spell of|jumping}} spell, or wear [[jumping boots]] and use [[potion of speed|potions of speed]] or the {{spell of|haste self}} spell. Using the jumping spell will consume more of your magical [[power]], but at expert skill it also allows you to make longer jumps. If you intend to do this, you should use the [[Candelabrum of Invocation]], the {{spell of|light}} spell or the [[wand of light]] to illuminate your destination, since ordinary light sources will not reach expert jumping's maximum distance.
 The [[wand of teleportation]] is extremely useful for clearing paths through the monsters on the Astral Plane, and multiple wands work especially in conjunction with [[jumping]] and fast or better [[speed]]. Many players try to save their teleport wands for this occasion - be careful not to hit any of the Riders or their corpses with the beam, as the Rider will very likely appear next to you.

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 The '''Astral Plane''' is the final level of ''[[NetHack]]''. In order to win, you must bring the [[Amulet of Yendor]] to the [[high altar]] of your [[alignment]] and #[[offer]] it to your [[deity]]. High altars cannot be converted, but it is possible to fool the gods by wearing a [[helm of opposite alignment]] to match your alignment to that of the altar.
-The Astral Plane is home to the three [[Riders]]&mdash;Death, Pestilence, and Famine&mdash;and to large numbers of [[aligned priest]]s, [[Angel]]s, and [[player monster]]s. The Riders serve as the “final bosses” of NetHack once the players reach the Plane.
+The Astral Plane is home to the three [[Riders]]&mdash;Death, Pestilence, and Famine&mdash;and to large numbers of [[aligned priest]]s, [[Angel]]s, and [[player monster]]s.
 ==Map==

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 The '''Astral Plane''' is the final level of ''[[NetHack]]''. In order to win, you must bring the [[Amulet of Yendor]] to the [[high altar]] of your [[alignment]] and #[[offer]] it to your [[deity]]. High altars cannot be converted, but it is possible to fool the gods by wearing a [[helm of opposite alignment]] to match your alignment to that of the altar.
-The Astral Plane is home to the three [[Riders]]&mdash;Death, Pestilence, and Famine&mdash;and to large numbers of [[aligned priest]]s, [[Angel]]s, and [[player monster]]s.
+The Astral Plane is home to the three [[Riders]]&mdash;Death, Pestilence, and Famine&mdash;and to large numbers of [[aligned priest]]s, [[Angel]]s, and [[player monster]]s. The Riders serve as the “final bosses” of NetHack once the players reach the Plane.
 ==Map==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{level|Astral Plane|
   |branch=End Game
@@ Line 12: / Line 11: @@
 The '''Astral Plane''' is the final level of ''[[NetHack]]''. In order to win, you must bring the [[Amulet of Yendor]] to the [[high altar]] of your [[alignment]] and #[[offer]] it to your [[deity]]. High altars cannot be converted, but it is possible to fool the gods by wearing a [[helm of opposite alignment]] to match your alignment to that of the altar.
-Astral is home to the three [[Riders]]&mdash;Death, Pestilence, and Famine&mdash;and to large numbers of [[aligned priest]]s, [[Angel]]s, and [[player monster]]s.
+The Astral Plane is home to the three [[Riders]]&mdash;Death, Pestilence, and Famine&mdash;and to large numbers of [[aligned priest]]s, [[Angel]]s, and [[player monster]]s.
 ==Map==
@@ Line 102: / Line 101: @@
 [[Image:Two_Bits.JPG|frame|center|A touching gesture from the High Priest of Ishtar as a Caveman prepares for immortality.]]
 ==Variants==
@@ Line 115: / Line 120: @@
 {{DOD}}
 [[Category:Planes]]

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 ==Map==
 <div class="ttymap"><replacecharsblock rules="ttymap">
 @=[[you|{{white|@}}]]
@@ Line 71: / Line 43: @@
 </replacecharsblock></div>
-Each half of the lower hall has an independent 60% chance of being placed as in the first layout, and will otherwise be placed as in the second one. The player enters the Astral Plane from a [[magic portal]] on the [[Plane of Water]] and will come out at one of the two spots marked with {{white|@}}. Doors marked in red are locked.
+The player enters the Astral Plane from a [[magic portal]] on the [[Plane of Water]] and will come out at one of the two spots marked with {{white|@}}. Doors marked in red are locked. Each half of the lower hall has an independent 60% chance of being replaced with a room, as such:
-The three high altars are randomly assigned to lawful, neutral, and chaotic alignments (one of each), with an appropriately aligned peaceful [[high priest]] in each room. The three Riders are randomly assigned to the three round rooms, one to each. Also in each round room are four [[aligned priest]]s and two [[Angel]]s of Moloch. Each of the halls surrounding the temple rooms contains six priests and six Angels, two each of each alignment. The lower hall contains 4-9 hostile Angels of Moloch, and about half as many hostile random monsters. The level also contains three random {{mcsl|D}}, three random {{mcsl|L}}, three random {{mcsl|V}}, and 3-6 random [[player monster]]s.
+The three altar rooms are [[temple]]s containing the high altars, randomly assigned to lawful, neutral, and chaotic alignments (one of each), with an appropriately aligned peaceful [[high priest]] in each room. The three Riders are randomly assigned to the three round rooms, one to each. Also in each round room are four [[aligned priest]]s and two [[Angel]]s of Moloch. Each of the halls surrounding the temple rooms contains six priests and six Angels, two each of each alignment. The lower hall contains 4-9 hostile Angels of Moloch, and about half as many hostile random monsters. The level also contains three random {{mcsl|D}}, three random {{mcsl|L}}, three random {{mcsl|V}}, and 3-6 random [[player monster]]s.
-Coaligned priests and Angels may be peaceful. Hostile priests and Angels will be labeled "renegade", and there is no penalty for killing them as there is for killing other coaligned priests.
+Coaligned priests and Angels may be peaceful. Hostile coaligned priests and Angels will be labeled "renegade", and there is no penalty for killing these priests as there is for killing other coaligned priests.
 Upon arriving at the Astral Plane, you may be sent tame or hostile Angels. If you are generating [[conflict]], your god will send one to four hostile Angels to fight you (and each other). If you are not generating conflict, and your [[alignment record]] is at least 9, your god will instead send a tame guardian Angel to assist you. This Angel will vanish and be replaced with the hostile ones if you later generate conflict in its presence.

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 <div class="ttymap"><replacecharsblock rules="ttymap">
 @=[[you|{{white|@}}]]
-_=[[altar|{{white|_}}]]
+R=[[door|{{red|+}}]]
 &=[[Riders|{{magenta|&}}]]
                                ---------------
@@ Line 26: / Line 27: @@
 ---------------               |..|.......|..|               ---------------
 |.............|               |..|..._...|..|               |.............|
-|..---------..--   ---------  |..|.......|..|  ---------   --..---------..|
+|..---------..--   ---------  |..|...P...|..|  ---------   --..---------..|
 |..|.......|...-- --.......-- |..|.......|..| --.......-- --...|.......|..|
-|..|.......|....---.........--|..----+----..|--.........---....|.......|..|
+|..|.......|....---.........--|..----R----..|--.........---....|.......|..|
-|..|..._...+.....+.....&.....||.............||.....&.....+.....+..._...|..|
+|..|..._...+.....+.....&.....||.............||.....&.....R.....+..._...|..|
-|..|.......|....---.........-----.........-----.........---....|.......|..|
+|..|...P...|....---.........-----.........-----.........---....|...P...|..|
 |..|.......|...-- --.......--   -----+-----   --.......-- --...|.......|..|
-|..---------..--   ----+----    --.......--    ----+----   --..---------..|
+|..---------..--   ----R----    --.......--    ----R----   --..---------..|
 |.............| ------...--------.........--------...------ |.............|
 --------------- |..............|.....&.....|..............| ---------------
@@ Line 44: / Line 45: @@
 <div class="ttymap"><replacecharsblock rules="ttymap">
 @=[[you|{{white|@}}]]
-_=[[altar|{{white|_}}]]
+R=[[door|{{red|+}}]]
 &=[[Riders|{{magenta|&}}]]
                                ---------------
@@ Line 53: / Line 55: @@
 ---------------               |..|.......|..|               ---------------
 |.............|               |..|..._...|..|               |.............|
-|..---------..--   ---------  |..|.......|..|  ---------   --..---------..|
+|..---------..--   ---------  |..|...P...|..|  ---------   --..---------..|
 |..|.......|...-- --.......-- |..|.......|..| --.......-- --...|.......|..|
-|..|.......|....---.........--|..----+----..|--.........---....|.......|..|
+|..|.......|....---.........--|..----R----..|--.........---....|.......|..|
-|..|..._...+.....+.....&.....||.............||.....&.....+.....+..._...|..|
+|..|..._...+.....+.....&.....||.............||.....&.....R.....+..._...|..|
-|..|.......|....---.........-----.........-----.........---....|.......|..|
+|..|...P...|....---.........-----.........-----.........---....|...P...|..|
 |..|.......|...-- --.......--   -----+-----   --.......-- --...|.......|..|
-|..---------..--   ----+----    --.......--    ----+----   --..---------..|
+|..---------..--   ----R----    --.......--    ----R----   --..---------..|
 |.............|      |...--------.........--------...|      |.............|
 ---------------      |.........|.....&.....|.........|      ---------------
@@ Line 69: / Line 71: @@
 </replacecharsblock></div>
-Each half of the lower hall has a 60% chance of being placed as in the first layout, and will otherwise be placed as in the second one. The player enters the Astral Plane from a [[magic portal]] on the [[Plane of Water]] and will come out at one of the two spots marked with {{white|@}}.
+Each half of the lower hall has an independent 60% chance of being placed as in the first layout, and will otherwise be placed as in the second one. The player enters the Astral Plane from a [[magic portal]] on the [[Plane of Water]] and will come out at one of the two spots marked with {{white|@}}. Doors marked in red are locked.
-The three high altars are randomly assigned to lawful, neutral, and chaotic alignments (one of each), with an appropriately aligned peaceful [[high priest]] in each room. The three Riders are randomly assigned to the three round rooms, one to each. Also in each round room are four [[aligned priest]]s and two [[Angel]]s of Moloch. Each of the halls surrounding the temple rooms contains two priests and two Angels of each alignment. The lower hall contains 4-9 hostile Angels of Moloch, and about half as many hostile random monsters. The level also contains three random {{mcsl|D}}, three random {{mcsl|L}}, three random {{mcsl|V}}, and 3-6 random [[player monster]]s.
+The three high altars are randomly assigned to lawful, neutral, and chaotic alignments (one of each), with an appropriately aligned peaceful [[high priest]] in each room. The three Riders are randomly assigned to the three round rooms, one to each. Also in each round room are four [[aligned priest]]s and two [[Angel]]s of Moloch. Each of the halls surrounding the temple rooms contains six priests and six Angels, two each of each alignment. The lower hall contains 4-9 hostile Angels of Moloch, and about half as many hostile random monsters. The level also contains three random {{mcsl|D}}, three random {{mcsl|L}}, three random {{mcsl|V}}, and 3-6 random [[player monster]]s.
 Coaligned priests and Angels may be peaceful. Hostile priests and Angels will be labeled "renegade", and there is no penalty for killing them as there is for killing other coaligned priests.

@@ Line 69: / Line 69: @@
 </replacecharsblock></div>
-Each half of the lower hall has a 60% chance of being as in the first layout, and will otherwise be as in the second one. The player enters the Astral Plane from a [[magic portal]] on the [[Plane of Water]] and lands at one of the two spots marked with {{white|@}}.
+Each half of the lower hall has a 60% chance of being placed as in the first layout, and will otherwise be placed as in the second one. The player enters the Astral Plane from a [[magic portal]] on the [[Plane of Water]] and will come out at one of the two spots marked with {{white|@}}.
-The three high altars are randomly assigned to lawful, neutral, and chaotic alignments (one of each), with an appropriately aligned peaceful [[high priest]] in each room.  The three Riders are randomly assigned to the three round rooms, one to each.  Also in each round room are four [[aligned priest]]s and two [[Angel]]s of Moloch.  Each of the halls surrounding the temple rooms contains two priests and two Angels of each alignment.  The lower hall contains d6+3 hostile Angels of Moloch, and about half as many hostile random monsters. The level also contains three random [[Dragon|{{white|D}}]], three random [[Lich|{{white|L}}]], three random [[Vampire|{{white|V}}]], and three to six random [[player monster]]s.
+The three high altars are randomly assigned to lawful, neutral, and chaotic alignments (one of each), with an appropriately aligned peaceful [[high priest]] in each room. The three Riders are randomly assigned to the three round rooms, one to each. Also in each round room are four [[aligned priest]]s and two [[Angel]]s of Moloch. Each of the halls surrounding the temple rooms contains two priests and two Angels of each alignment. The lower hall contains 4-9 hostile Angels of Moloch, and about half as many hostile random monsters. The level also contains three random {{mcsl|D}}, three random {{mcsl|L}}, three random {{mcsl|V}}, and 3-6 random [[player monster]]s.
-Coaligned priests and Angels may be peaceful. Hostile priests will be labeled "renegade", and there is no penalty for killing them as there is for killing other coaligned priests.
+Coaligned priests and Angels may be peaceful. Hostile priests and Angels will be labeled "renegade", and there is no penalty for killing them as there is for killing other coaligned priests.
-Upon arriving at the Astral Plane, you may be sent tame or hostile Angels. If you are generating [[conflict]], your god will send one to four hostile Angels to fight you (and each other).  If you are not generating conflict, and your [[alignment record]] is at least 9, your god will instead send a tame guardian Angel to assist you.  This Angel will vanish and be replaced with the hostile ones if you later generate conflict in its presence.
+Upon arriving at the Astral Plane, you may be sent tame or hostile Angels. If you are generating [[conflict]], your god will send one to four hostile Angels to fight you (and each other). If you are not generating conflict, and your [[alignment record]] is at least 9, your god will instead send a tame guardian Angel to assist you. This Angel will vanish and be replaced with the hostile ones if you later generate conflict in its presence.
 ==Strategy==
 ===On arrival===
-Try to be satiated when entering the Astral Plane as protection against Famine. It abuses [[dexterity]], but that won't matter when you're going to ascend in a few minutes.
+When you enter the Astral Plane, you may need to deal with the multitude of hostile Angels in the first variant. Additionally, any master or arch-liches will quickly teleport to your location, and if you were generating conflict on arrival there will be the additional conflict Angels. After this, you may have a few moments of quiet to plan your final moves. The Riders ''usually'' cannot get to your starting location immediately, but it is possible for them to make a beeline for the door and open it.
-When you enter the Astral Plane, you may need to deal with the multitude of hostile Angels in the first variant. Additionally, any master or arch-liches will quickly teleport to your location, and if you were generating conflict on arrival there will be the additional conflict Angels. After this, you may have a few moments of quiet to plan your final moves. The riders ''usually'' cannot get to your starting location immediately, but it is possible for them to make a beeline for the door and open it.
+Identifying which Riders are in which rooms is important. Since the high altars are distributed at random, it is reasonable to start with the easiest target and go from there. A blessed [[potion of monster detection]] or the {{spell of|detect monsters}} spell cast at Skilled or Expert is best, but intrinsic [[telepathy]] will also do. Most players regard Pestilence as the most dangerous opponent, and Famine as the least, though your ranking may vary based on play style and equipment (e.g., Pestilence is vulnerable to death rays, while Death is not). The Riders are able to push monsters out of their way to get to you; killing them will buy you a few turns to get away from the corpse.
 ===Moving===
 The Astral Plane's biggest danger is getting bogged down in the open, surrounded by opponents, while one or more of the Riders slowly push monsters aside and approach you. Thus, it is important to keep moving and avoid being surrounded. Opening doors quickly is important to keep moving. All doors start locked, and even at maximum strength they may resist multiple times. A [[wand of digging]] will always raze a door, allowing you to pass through diagonally, and will not be reflected by monsters in its path. Alternatively, a [[wand of opening]] or spell of [[knock]] will preserve the door, allowing you to lock it behind you to prevent most monsters from following you. The Riders can unlock a locked door, but are still restricted from moving diagonally, which can buy you a few turns.
-[[Jumping]] is a very powerful technique, since it allows you to cross many empty spaces in a single turn. There are two main ways to retain very fast speed while jumping: either wear [[speed boots]] and cast the {{spell of|jumping}} spell, or wear [[jumping boots]] and use [[potion of speed|potions of speed]] or the {{spell of|haste self}} spell. Using the jumping spell will consume more of your magical [[power]], but at expert skill it also allows you to make longer jumps. If you intend to do this, you should use the [[Candelabrum of Invocation]] or the {{spell of|light}} spell to illuminate your destination, since ordinary light sources will not reach expert jumping's maximum distance.
+[[Jumping]] is a very powerful technique, since it allows you to cross many empty spaces in a single turn. There are two main ways to retain very fast [[speed]] while jumping: either wear [[speed boots]] and cast the {{spell of|jumping}} spell, or wear [[jumping boots]] and use [[potion of speed|potions of speed]] or the {{spell of|haste self}} spell. Using the jumping spell will consume more of your magical [[power]], but at expert skill it also allows you to make longer jumps. If you intend to do this, you should use the [[Candelabrum of Invocation]] or the {{spell of|light}} spell to illuminate your destination, since ordinary light sources will not reach expert jumping's maximum distance.
-[[Wand of teleportation|Wands of teleportation]] are extremely useful for clearing paths through the monsters on the Astral Plane, especially in conjunction with [[jumping]] and fast or very fast [[speed]]. Many players try to save their teleport wands for this occasion. Be careful not to hit any of the Riders or their corpses with the beam, as the Rider will appear next to you.
+The [[wand of teleportation]] is extremely useful for clearing paths through the monsters on the Astral Plane, and multiple wands work especially in conjunction with [[jumping]] and fast or better [[speed]]. Many players try to save their teleport wands for this occasion - be careful not to hit any of the Riders or their corpses with the beam, as the Rider will very likely appear next to you.
 ===Finding the correct high altar===
-If you have a [[helm of opposite alignment]] in inventory and are willing to change teams at the last moment, you have a {{frac|2|3}} chance of ascending at the first altar you reach, and you are guaranteed to ascend at the second one. This effectively means you can pick any one temple or Rider and completely rule out the need to visit it. For neutral characters, a particular helm will either make you lawful or chaotic, even if you remove and put it back on multiple times. You could carry more than one helm if you have not predetermined their associated alignments to increase your odds of ascending at the first altar. You should be able to uncurse the helm for doing this, though.
+High priests are identifiable once you have reached their altar. If you try to [[chat]] with them while carrying no gold, the two cross-aligned priests will "not be interested", but the co-aligned one will go through the usual [[donation]]s routine (or give you "two bits for an ale", presumably just before you offer the Amulet and ascend to immortality). You can also use the [[near look]] command ({{kbd|:}}) while on top of the altar to determine which it is; this is most ideal for [[atheist]] conduct. In addition, note that adjacent monsters who respect [[sanctuary]] may flee if you are in the correct temple.
 ===Special tactics===
 A creative strategy for thinning the hordes is to [[reverse genocide]] [[purple worm]]s, [[taming|tame]] them, then teleport them.
 Most creatures on the Astral Plane (with the notable exception of the Riders) are vulnerable to stoning attacks. If you can save a wish this long, wishing for a "blessed partly eaten chickatrice corpse" will allow you to mow down most opponents. Reverse genocide is another option, and you can do it in the Plane of Water just before entering the portal.
-[[scroll of earth|Scrolls of earth]] will have no effect in the Astral plane. The only ways to obtain [[boulder]]s are either wishing (one by one), or polymorphing statues repeatedly until they turn into boulders. [[Reverse genocide]]d giants will not carry boulders, but giants created through a [[create monster]] effect can, if one has patience and no source of polymorph or wishing. Boulders can also be carried by a character polymorphed into a giant, and tame giants with boulders in their inventory can be brought onto the Astral Plane easily with a magic whistle (perhaps via taming the fire giants on the Plane of Fire). Boulders can then be used to keep monsters from entering the temples, or for [[Farming#Death farming|Death farming]].
+[[Scroll of earth|Scrolls of earth]] will have no effect in the Astral plane. The only ways to obtain [[boulder]]s are either wishing (one by one), or polymorphing statues repeatedly until they turn into boulders. [[Reverse genocide]]d giants will not carry boulders, but giants created through a [[create monster]] effect can, if one has patience and no source of polymorph or wishing. Boulders can also be carried by a character polymorphed into a giant, and tame giants with boulders in their inventory can be brought onto the Astral Plane easily with a magic whistle (perhaps via taming the fire giants on the Plane of Fire). Boulders can then be used to keep monsters from entering the temples, or for [[Farming#Death farming|Death farming]].
 ===Surviving===
 The priests are likely to use the [[summon insects]] spell on you. Like in the [[Sanctum]], you can use this to your advantage&mdash;the relatively harmless ants and beetles can shield you from the more dangerous priests and Angels. This will only partially shield you from the Riders.
@@ Line 119: / Line 111: @@
 Good rings to wear on the Astral Plane are {{of|ring|free action|and=1|conflict}}. Wearing the ring of conflict will cause hostile angels to spawn around you instead of a tame one; however, they are usually avoidable, since they will often fight each other instead of you.
-Above all, pay attention!  It is easy to get distracted by all the tumult and not notice, say, that Pestilence has made you sick and there is a timer running on your life.  You still have as much time between turns as you need, inventory is still a "free" action, and so forth.  Don't get so excited that you lose your cool.
+Above all, pay attention! It is easy to get distracted by all the tumult and not notice, say, that Pestilence has made you sick and there is a timer running on your life. You still have as much time between turns as you need, inventory is still a "free" action, and so forth. Don't get so excited that you lose your cool.
 [[Image:Two_Bits.JPG|frame|center|A touching gesture from the High Priest of Ishtar as a Caveman prepares for immortality.]]
@@ Line 125: / Line 117: @@
 ==Variants==
 ===SLASH'EM===
 In [[SLASH'EM]], the Riders do not have the ability to displace other monsters, so it is possible to shield yourself from them by letting weaker enemies surround you or deliberately placing sessile monsters at choke points.
@@ Line 133: / Line 124: @@
 ===xNetHack===
 In [[xNetHack]], the Astral Plane is fully lit, eliminating the need to use a light source for [[jumping]]. Also, the random [[Vampire|{{white|V}}]] and [[Lich|{{white|L}}]] are replaced with random [[Angelic being|{{white|A}}]], so the player is much more likely to be faced with one or more [[Archon]]s.