Chat - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: /* Dangers */ word choice

2026-03-26T17:06:13Z

‎Dangers: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* Shops */ word choice

2026-03-26T17:03:44Z

‎Shops: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ word choice

2026-03-26T12:14:54Z

‎Description: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* Strategy */ tweaks

2026-03-26T03:18:37Z

‎Strategy: tweaks

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ rephrase

2026-02-24T18:07:13Z

‎Description: rephrase

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ tweak

2026-02-24T17:18:05Z

‎Description: tweak

Umbire the Phantom: more TLC...

2026-02-24T17:13:56Z

more TLC...

Umbire the Phantom: /* Temple priests */ clarify and cite

2026-02-24T13:59:46Z

‎Temple priests: clarify and cite

Umbire the Phantom: cite atheist conduct

2026-02-24T13:46:03Z

cite atheist conduct

Umbire the Phantom: tocright for style

2026-02-24T13:43:22Z

tocright for style

@@ Line 56: / Line 56: @@
 ===Dangers===
-Chatting can be detrimental or even dangerous in some situations, many of which usually occur when the hero is blind or hallucinating and trying to distinguish your surroundings.
+Chatting can be detrimental or even dangerous in some situations, many of which usually occur when the hero is blind or hallucinating and you are trying to distinguish your surroundings.
 * #chat-ting with a [[skeleton]] [[paralyze]]s you for a short time; [[free action]] does not prevent this.
-* #chat-ting to a [[shrieker]] causes it to shriek, which will wake up all monsters on the level - this can have especially bad repercussions if it attracts the attention of something you want to avoid fighting (e.g., [[soldier ants]] or a sleeping [[Nymph (monster class)|nymph]]). Note that shriekers are mindless, so they will not appear if you [[blind]] yourself to use intrinsic [[telepathy]].
+* #chat-ting to a [[shrieker]] causes it to shriek, which will wake up all monsters on the level&mdash;this can have especially bad repercussions if it attracts the attention of something you want to avoid fighting (e.g., [[soldier ants]] or a sleeping [[Nymph (monster class)|nymph]]). Note that shriekers are mindless, so they will not appear if you are [[blind]] and have intrinsic [[telepathy]].
 ==Variants==

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 ===Shops===
-If the hero is in a [[shop]], they are not [[blind]], and standing on an item or stack of items that is not [[gold]], then chatting will cause the [[shopkeeper]] to describe the item's price and use up a turn without any prompt occurring:{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|1012-L1021|nethack=3.6.7}}
+If the hero is in a [[shop]], they are not [[blind]], and they are standing on an item or stack of items that is not [[gold]], then chatting will cause the [[shopkeeper]] to describe the item's price and use up a turn without any prompt occurring:{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|1012-L1021|nethack=3.6.7}}
-this only works if the shopkeeper is present, not [[hostile]] ''and'' is capable of responding (i.e. they are not [[polymorph]]ed into a form that cannot speak).
+this only works if the shopkeeper is present, is not [[hostile]] ''and'' is capable of responding (i.e. they are not [[polymorph]]ed into a form that cannot speak).
 ===Temple priests===

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 * A hero that chats to a [[steed]] they are riding while the steed is asleep or immobilized will still use up their turn.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|1029-L1032|nethack=3.6.7}}
-* A hero that chats to an [[aligned priest]] will cause the priest to respond even if they are sleeping or immobile{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|1081|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;this will use up a turn as normal, restore their mobility and also turn them hostile, regardless of if they were in their [[temple]] or not.{{refsrc|src/priest.c|551-568|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/priest.c|559-563|nethack=3.6.7|comment=response printed if a sleeping or immobile priest was made hostile this way}} Aligned priests {{sa|Temple priests|also behave differently in many other ways}} from the average monster that a hero can chat to.
+* A hero that chats to an [[aligned priest]] will cause the priest to respond even if they are sleeping or immobile{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|1081|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;this will use up a turn as normal, but it also restores their mobility and turns them hostile, regardless of if they were in their [[temple]] or not.{{refsrc|src/priest.c|551-568|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/priest.c|559-563|nethack=3.6.7|comment=response printed if a sleeping or immobile priest was made hostile this way}} Aligned priests {{sa|Temple priests|also behave differently in many other ways}} from the average monster that a hero can chat to.
 * A monster that is in a "waiting" state (e.g. a [[quest leader]] upon entering the [[Quest]] branch for the first time) is not fully immobile and thus will be able to respond to a chatting hero.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|1090|nethack=3.6.7}} This uses up the turn as normal. Most such monsters will begin moving when the hero chats to them, unless the monster is a [[pet]] that is in the middle of [[eating]].{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|1092-L1097|nethack=3.6.7}}

@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 * Using #chat when standing on an item in a [[shop]] will tell you its price. Picking the item up will give the same information, but may be unwise to do (for example, a [[scroll of scare monster]] might turn to dust, and the shopkeeper will ask you to pay for it).
 * Since chatting to monsters will generally produce the same range of responses even if the hero is currently hallucinating, chatting can be useful for a hallucinating hero to tell monsters apart with (e.g. any monster that purrs or yips must be your pet cat or dog), though it uses up your turn to do so.
-* #chat-ting to your [[quest leader]] will cause them to roam about. This is useful if you want to get certain quest leaders such as [[Shaman Karnov]] or [[Neferet the Green]] off their thrones before you have quest permission - being (very) [[fast]] can help in that regard.
+* Chatting to your [[quest leader]] will cause them to roam about. This is useful if you want to get certain quest leaders such as [[Shaman Karnov]] or [[Neferet the Green]] off their thrones before you have quest permission&mdash;being (very) [[fast]] can help in that regard.
-* Talking to a monster hit with a {{+ of|sleep}} spell, a [[wand of sleep]] ray, or a [[potion of sleeping]] can tell you if it is actually sleeping - but beware if it wakes up that turn!
+* Talking to a monster hit with a {{+ of|sleep}} spell, a [[wand of sleep]] ray, or a [[potion of sleeping]] can tell you if it is actually sleeping&mdash;but beware if it wakes up that turn!
 * Talking to an appropriate-sex foocubus to initiate an encounter can be useful if you are trying to consort with one that cannot reliably hit you (e.g. through strong [[AC]] levels). Be mindful to check whether other hostile monsters are in the vicinity before you do, though!
@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 * When their tameness is less than 5, [[kitten]]s and their growth stages will yowl, while [[little dog]]s and their growth stages will whine, and [[ponies]] and their growth stages will neigh. For cats and dogs, these messages also appear when confused, scared, or trapped. Dogs also whine when hungry, while cats will meow and horses will whinny.
-** Tame dogs and cats also have special messages for being particularly non-hungry (yipping and purring respectively) - if none of the other cases apply, cats will mew, dogs (other than [[dingo]]s) will bark, and horses will whicker.
+** Tame dogs and cats also have special messages for being particularly non-hungry (yipping and purring respectively)&mdash;if none of the other cases apply, cats will mew, dogs (other than [[dingo]]s) will bark, and horses will whicker.
 * Humanoid pets will vocalize their hunger when chatting to them. They will ask for a potion of healing when chatting to them at less than half of their HP, and moan in pain when chatting to them at less than {{frac|4}} of their maximum HP.

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 Chatting only uses up a turn if the hero chats to a monster ''and'' [[Monster sound|a response from that monster]] is printed. This normally does ''not'' include any messages indicating that the monster cannot respond, i.e. if it is [[sleeping]], [[paralyzed]] or otherwise immobile{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|1081-L1087|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;additionally, if the monster is deaf or silent, then no response will be printed and the hero's turn is not used.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|1099|nethack=3.6.7|comment=call to <tt>domonnoise()</tt>}}{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|502-L505|nethack=3.6.7|comment=cases for dead and silent monsters in <tt>domonnoise()</tt>}} However, there are a small handful of exceptions:
-* A hero chatting to a [[steed]] that they are currently riding will use up the turn if the steed does not respond.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|1029-L1032|nethack=3.6.7}}
+* A hero that chats to a [[steed]] they are riding while the steed is asleep or immobilized will still use up their turn.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|1029-L1032|nethack=3.6.7}}
-* A hero chatting to an [[aligned priest]] will cause them to respond even if they are sleeping or immobile{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|1081|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;this will use up a turn as normal, restore their mobility and also turn them hostile, regardless of if they were in their [[temple]] or not.{{refsrc|src/priest.c|551-568|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/priest.c|559-563|nethack=3.6.7|comment=response printed if a sleeping or immobile priest was made hostile this way}} Aligned priests {{sa|Temple priests|also behave differently in many other ways}} from the average monster that a hero can chat to.
+* A hero that chats to an [[aligned priest]] will cause the priest to respond even if they are sleeping or immobile{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|1081|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;this will use up a turn as normal, restore their mobility and also turn them hostile, regardless of if they were in their [[temple]] or not.{{refsrc|src/priest.c|551-568|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/priest.c|559-563|nethack=3.6.7|comment=response printed if a sleeping or immobile priest was made hostile this way}} Aligned priests {{sa|Temple priests|also behave differently in many other ways}} from the average monster that a hero can chat to.
 * A monster that is in a "waiting" state (e.g. a [[quest leader]] upon entering the [[Quest]] branch for the first time) is not fully immobile and thus will be able to respond to a chatting hero.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|1090|nethack=3.6.7}} This uses up the turn as normal. Most such monsters will begin moving when the hero chats to them, unless the monster is a [[pet]] that is in the middle of [[eating]].{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|1092-L1097|nethack=3.6.7}}

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 ==Description==
-Using this command will normally prompt the player to select a cardinal direction, and if there is a monster on that adjacent square, then the [[hero]] will attempt to talk to them.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|985|nethack=3.6.7|comment=<tt>dochat()</tt> function}} The hero cannot chat at all if they are [[polymorph]]ed into a silent monster, or if they are being [[strangled]], currently [[engulfed]], currently underwater, or [[deaf]].{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|991-L1010|nethack=3.6.7}} The command can be aborted at the prompt without using up a turn.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|1024|nethack=3.6.7}} Attempting to chat up ({{kbd|<}}) or down ({{kbd|>}}) will simply print [[YAFM]] with no effect and does not use up a turn.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|1037-L1040|nethack=3.6.7}}
+Using this command will normally prompt the player to select a cardinal direction, and if there is a monster on that adjacent square, then the [[hero]] will attempt to talk to them.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|985|nethack=3.6.7|comment=<tt>dochat()</tt> function}} If the hero is [[blind]], they must also be able to see the monster, or at least their current location, to attempt chatting in that direction. The command can be aborted at the prompt without using up a turn.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|1024|nethack=3.6.7}}
 Chatting only uses up a turn if the hero chats to a monster ''and'' [[Monster sound|a response from that monster]] is printed. This normally does ''not'' include any messages indicating that the monster cannot respond, i.e. if it is [[sleeping]], [[paralyzed]] or otherwise immobile{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|1081-L1087|nethack=3.6.7}}&mdash;additionally, if the monster is deaf or silent, then no response will be printed and the hero's turn is not used.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|1099|nethack=3.6.7|comment=call to <tt>domonnoise()</tt>}}{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|502-L505|nethack=3.6.7|comment=cases for dead and silent monsters in <tt>domonnoise()</tt>}} However, there are a small handful of exceptions:
@@ Line 14: / Line 16: @@
 ==Special cases==
 There are several cases where chatting to a specific monster will produce additional effects or function in different ways from normal chatting.
 ===Shops===
@@ Line 27: / Line 38: @@
 * Using #chat when standing on an item in a [[shop]] will tell you its price. Picking the item up will give the same information, but may be unwise to do (for example, a [[scroll of scare monster]] might turn to dust, and the shopkeeper will ask you to pay for it).
-* #chat-ting while [[hallucinating]] can help you tell monsters apart, since their responses are not distorted.  For example, any monster that purrs or yips must be your pet cat or dog.
+* Since chatting to monsters will generally produce the same range of responses even if the hero is currently hallucinating, chatting can be useful for a hallucinating hero to tell monsters apart with (e.g. any monster that purrs or yips must be your pet cat or dog), though it uses up your turn to do so.
 * #chat-ting to your [[quest leader]] will cause them to roam about. This is useful if you want to get certain quest leaders such as [[Shaman Karnov]] or [[Neferet the Green]] off their thrones before you have quest permission - being (very) [[fast]] can help in that regard.
 * Talking to a monster hit with a {{+ of|sleep}} spell, a [[wand of sleep]] ray, or a [[potion of sleeping]] can tell you if it is actually sleeping - but beware if it wakes up that turn!
 ===Pets===
-Talking to your [[pet]] may give you some information about its welfare, according to its nutrition and [[tameness]] levels.
+Talking to your [[pet]] can give you information about its welfare, dependent on its [[nutrition]] and [[tameness]] levels:
-===[[Aligned priest]]s===
+* When their tameness is less than 5, [[kitten]]s and their growth stages will yowl, while [[little dog]]s and their growth stages will whine, and [[ponies]] and their growth stages will neigh. For cats and dogs, these messages also appear when confused, scared, or trapped. Dogs also whine when hungry, while cats will meow and horses will whinny.
-Talking to an [[aligned priest]] in a [[temple]] gives you the opportunity to donate, if you are carrying gold. Depending on how much you donate, you may get [[clairvoyance]] or [[protection]]. Chatting to a temple priest breaks [[atheist]] conduct.{{refsrc|priest.c|411}}
+** Tame dogs and cats also have special messages for being particularly non-hungry (yipping and purring respectively) - if none of the other cases apply, cats will mew, dogs (other than [[dingo]]s) will bark, and horses will whicker.
 * If you decide to donate nothing ("Thou shalt regret thine action!"), you lower your alignment. If you accidentally chat to a priest but do not desire any services, then donate just 1 zorkmid - this will prompt the priest to simply call you a "cheapskate" with no other effect.
 * If you have no gold in open inventory and are co-aligned, the priest will instead "give you two bits for an ale" (two [[zorkmid]]s) if they have any gold, or one bit if they only have that; they will "preach the virtues of poverty" if they have no gold.
@@ Line 46: / Line 56: @@
 ===Dangers===
-Chatting can be detrimental or even dangerous in some situations, many of which occur usually when you are [[blind]] or hallucinating and trying to distinguish your surroundings.
+Chatting can be detrimental or even dangerous in some situations, many of which usually occur when the hero is blind or hallucinating and trying to distinguish your surroundings.
 * #chat-ting with a [[skeleton]] [[paralyze]]s you for a short time; [[free action]] does not prevent this.
 * #chat-ting to a [[shrieker]] causes it to shriek, which will wake up all monsters on the level - this can have especially bad repercussions if it attracts the attention of something you want to avoid fighting (e.g., [[soldier ants]] or a sleeping [[Nymph (monster class)|nymph]]). Note that shriekers are mindless, so they will not appear if you [[blind]] yourself to use intrinsic [[telepathy]].

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 ===Temple priests===
 {{main|Aligned priests#Donations|l1=Temple services}}
-A peaceful aligned priest that is not immobile or [[scared]] and is tending to a temple that is not desecrated can be consulted for services such as [[intrinsic protection]] and [[clairvoyance]]. Chatting to a temple's priest will also break [[atheist]] [[conduct]].{{refsrc|src/priest.c|542|nethack=3.6.7}} See the linked section on the aligned priest's article for more details.
+If a peaceful aligned priest is not immobile or [[scared]], and they are tending to a temple that is not desecrated, then a hero with gold in their inventory can chat to them in order to donate for services such as [[intrinsic protection]] and [[clairvoyance]].{{refsrc|src/priest.c|592-L644|nethack=3.6.7}} Chatting to a temple's priest will also break [[atheist]] [[conduct]].{{refsrc|src/priest.c|542|nethack=3.6.7}} See the linked section on the aligned priest's article for more details.
 ==Strategy==

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:43, 24 February 2026
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		+	{{tocright}}
	{{otheruses\|the in-game extended command\|the IRC channel\|Libera}}		{{otheruses\|the in-game extended command\|the IRC channel\|Libera}}
	'''#chat''' is an [[extended command]] in ''[[NetHack]]'' that enables talking to a [[monster]].		'''#chat''' is an [[extended command]] in ''[[NetHack]]'' that enables talking to a [[monster]].