Expensive camera - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: pothole

2026-07-20T19:06:25Z

pothole

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ tweaks

2026-03-02T22:00:52Z

‎Description: tweaks

Umbire the Phantom: Undo revision 178529 by MrSurvivor1997 (talk) It's explicitly not a magical item in NetHack, cameras are just Like That

2024-10-19T19:43:12Z

Undo revision 178529 by MrSurvivor1997 (talk) It's explicitly not a magical item in NetHack, cameras are just Like That

MrSurvivor1997: /* Origin */ It’s an explanation why the camera is powered by magic.

2024-10-19T19:40:37Z

‎Origin: It’s an explanation why the camera is powered by magic.

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ word choice

2024-08-07T19:49:10Z

‎Description: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: mimic uncloaking

2024-07-17T12:50:34Z

mimic uncloaking

Umbire the Phantom: upcoming

2024-07-17T12:38:51Z

upcoming

Umbire the Phantom: /* Variants */ evil + hackem

2024-07-17T12:03:43Z

‎Variants: evil + hackem

Umbire the Phantom: another pass to touch-up the description and generation

2024-07-17T11:49:56Z

another pass to touch-up the description and generation

Umbire the Phantom: Using "chance of" or "chance to" is fine so long as they're used properly - in any case, follow up by spacing that out and then dealing with current variants

2024-07-17T09:46:57Z

Using "chance of" or "chance to" is fine so long as they're used properly - in any case, follow up by spacing that out and then dealing with current variants

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 * A [[gremlin]] will take up to 4 points of damage from the flash, but cannot die as a result of this damage.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3126|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-An expensive camera is [[fragile]], and will break if [[thrown]], [[kick]]ed, dropped while [[levitating]] or on a down [[stair]], or [[wielded]] and used to attack&mdash;attacking a monster with a wielded camera deals no damage.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|892|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=attacking with a wielded camera}} Breaking a camera in any way has a {{frac|3}} chance of releasing a "picture-painting demon", which will be a [[homunculus]] {{frac|2|3}} of the time and an [[imp]] the remaining {{frac|3}}, and the resulting monster will be peaceful unless the camera was cursed.{{refsrc|src/dothrow.c|1943|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=<code>release_camera_demon</code> is described here}}
+An expensive camera is [[fragile]], and will break if it is [[thrown]], [[Kick (command)|kicked]], [[dropped]] while [[levitating]] above or standing on a down [[stair]], or [[wielded]] and used to attack&mdash;attacking a monster with a wielded camera deals no damage.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|892|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=attacking with a wielded camera}} Breaking a camera in any way has a {{frac|3}} chance of releasing a "picture-painting demon", which will be a [[homunculus]] {{frac|2|3}} of the time and an [[imp]] the remaining {{frac|3}}, and the resulting monster will be peaceful unless the camera was cursed.{{refsrc|src/dothrow.c|1943|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=<code>release_camera_demon</code> is described here}}
 Applying an unpaid expensive camera in a shop incurs a 10% [[usage fee]]. Like most other tools, a camera has no limit on [[charging]].

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 * A [[gremlin]] will take up to 4 points of damage from the flash, but cannot die as a result of this damage.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3126|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-An expensive camera is [[fragile]], and will break if [[thrown]], [[kick]]ed, dropped while [[levitating]] or on a down [[stair]], or [[wield]]ed and used to attack - attacking a monster with a wielded camera deals no damage.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|892|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=attacking with a wielded camera}} Breaking a camera in any way has a {{frac|3}} chance of releasing a "picture-painting demon", which will be a [[homunculus]] {{frac|2|3}} of the time and an [[imp]] the remaining {{frac|3}} - the resulting demon will be peaceful unless the camera was cursed.{{refsrc|src/dothrow.c|1943|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=<code>release_camera_demon</code> is described here}}
+An expensive camera is [[fragile]], and will break if [[thrown]], [[kick]]ed, dropped while [[levitating]] or on a down [[stair]], or [[wielded]] and used to attack&mdash;attacking a monster with a wielded camera deals no damage.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|892|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=attacking with a wielded camera}} Breaking a camera in any way has a {{frac|3}} chance of releasing a "picture-painting demon", which will be a [[homunculus]] {{frac|2|3}} of the time and an [[imp]] the remaining {{frac|3}}, and the resulting monster will be peaceful unless the camera was cursed.{{refsrc|src/dothrow.c|1943|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=<code>release_camera_demon</code> is described here}}
 Applying an unpaid expensive camera in a shop incurs a 10% [[usage fee]]. Like most other tools, a camera has no limit on [[charging]].
-{{upcoming|3.7.0|Per {{commit|4a84fb5b9d2fcecaeb6cb6d11804cb35fb475e74}}, monsters can now use an expensive camera against the hero, blinding them for up to 25 turns. Per {{commit|0a8f919ff34a7de01ef9d9f61ec3c797ab296c12}}, they will not do so if they are aware that the hero is already blind or otherwise has blindness resistance.
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|4a84fb5b9d2fcecaeb6cb6d11804cb35fb475e74}}, monsters can use an expensive camera against the hero, blinding them for up to 25 turns. Per {{commit|0a8f919ff34a7de01ef9d9f61ec3c797ab296c12}}, they will not do so if they are aware that the hero is already blind or otherwise has blindness resistance.
-Per {{commit|29b4c47bdf3a27312c4774c07a18d0d0d8c20c9a}}, the light from a camera will pass over a mimic impersonating an object, but will uncloak one impersonating [[furniture]] - a mimic impersonating some other monster will be woken up without being forced back into mimic shape.}}
+Per {{commit|29b4c47bdf3a27312c4774c07a18d0d0d8c20c9a}}, the light from a camera will pass over a mimic impersonating an object, but will uncloak one impersonating [[furniture]]&mdash;a mimic impersonating some other monster will be woken up without being forced back into mimic shape.}}
 ==Strategy==

@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 ==Origin==
-The "picture-painting demon" generated from a broken camera is based on how cameras work in [[Terry Pratchett]]'s ''[[Discworld]]'' series of novels. This is also an explanation why the camera in NetHack is powered by magic in the game.
+The "picture-painting demon" generated from a broken camera is based on how cameras work in [[Terry Pratchett]]'s ''[[Discworld]]'' series of novels.
 ==Messages==

@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 ==Origin==
-The "picture-painting demon" generated from a broken camera is based on how cameras work in [[Terry Pratchett]]'s ''[[Discworld]]'' series of novels.
+The "picture-painting demon" generated from a broken camera is based on how cameras work in [[Terry Pratchett]]'s ''[[Discworld]]'' series of novels. This is also an explanation why the camera in NetHack is powered by magic in the game.
 ==Messages==

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 Applying an unpaid expensive camera in a shop incurs a 10% [[usage fee]]. Like most other tools, a camera has no limit on [[charging]].
-{{upcoming|3.7.0|Per {{commit|4a84fb5b9d2fcecaeb6cb6d11804cb35fb475e74}}, monsters can now use an expensive camera against the hero, blinding them for up to 25 turns. Per {{commit|0a8f919ff34a7de01ef9d9f61ec3c797ab296c12}}, they will not do so if they are aware that the hero has blindness resistance.
+{{upcoming|3.7.0|Per {{commit|4a84fb5b9d2fcecaeb6cb6d11804cb35fb475e74}}, monsters can now use an expensive camera against the hero, blinding them for up to 25 turns. Per {{commit|0a8f919ff34a7de01ef9d9f61ec3c797ab296c12}}, they will not do so if they are aware that the hero is already blind or otherwise has blindness resistance.
 Per {{commit|29b4c47bdf3a27312c4774c07a18d0d0d8c20c9a}}, the light from a camera will pass over a mimic impersonating an object, but will uncloak one impersonating [[furniture]] - a mimic impersonating some other monster will be woken up without being forced back into mimic shape.}}

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 * Applying the camera at the [[hero]] via {{kbd|.}} will blind them for up to 25 turns{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2485|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} - applying a cursed camera has a {{frac|2}} chance of the flash targeting the hero instead of the selected direction.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|72|nethack=3.6.7}}
 * A [[sleeping]] monster will be awakened with no further effects.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3113|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-* A monster with eyes that is not already [[blind]] or otherwise has [[blindness resistance]] will become blind: a directly adjacent monster will be blinded indefinitely, and otherwise the monster is temporarily blinded for up to 13 turns dependent on how close they were.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3121|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=minimum non-adjacent dist2() is 4, so no more than 1 + 50/4 turns}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3138|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} A monster hit by the flash that is not a [[shopkeeper]] and is 2 squares away has a {{frac|3|4}} chance of being [[scared]] by the camera flash, and has a further {{frac|4}} chance of being scared indefinitely, otherwise being scared for up to 100 turns.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3135|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} This will anger peaceful monsters.
+* A monster with eyes that is not already [[blind]] or otherwise has [[blindness resistance]] will become blind: a directly adjacent monster will be blinded indefinitely, and otherwise the monster is temporarily blinded for up to 13 turns dependent on how close they were.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3121|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=minimum non-adjacent dist2() is 4, so no more than 1 + 50/4 turns}}{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3138|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} A monster hit by the flash that is not a [[shopkeeper]] and is 2 squares away has a {{frac|3|4}} chance of being [[scared]] by the camera flash, and has a further {{frac|4}} chance of being scared indefinitely, otherwise being scared for up to 100 turns.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3135|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} This will anger peaceful monsters, and does not uncloak [[mimic]]s.
 * A [[gremlin]] will take up to 4 points of damage from the flash, but cannot die as a result of this damage.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3126|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 Applying an unpaid expensive camera in a shop incurs a 10% [[usage fee]]. Like most other tools, a camera has no limit on [[charging]].
-{{upcoming|3.7.0|Per {{commit|4a84fb5b9d2fcecaeb6cb6d11804cb35fb475e74}}, monsters can now use an expensive camera against the hero, blinding them for up to 25 turns. Per {{commit|0a8f919ff34a7de01ef9d9f61ec3c797ab296c12}}, they will not do so if they are aware that the hero has blindness resistance.}}
+{{upcoming|3.7.0|Per {{commit|4a84fb5b9d2fcecaeb6cb6d11804cb35fb475e74}}, monsters can now use an expensive camera against the hero, blinding them for up to 25 turns. Per {{commit|0a8f919ff34a7de01ef9d9f61ec3c797ab296c12}}, they will not do so if they are aware that the hero has blindness resistance.
 ==Strategy==

@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 Applying an unpaid expensive camera in a shop incurs a 10% [[usage fee]]. Like most other tools, a camera has no limit on [[charging]].
 ==Strategy==
 The expensive camera is a solid [[escape item]] and scaring tool, and is the only known item that can cause the [[Riders]] to flee from you. Cameras are also the only way to permanently blind a monster, which is useful if you need it alive, but are unable to render it peaceful and don't want it to chase you (often the case with [[foocubi]]) – remember that blinded hostile monsters will not respect [[Elbereth]] and may still attack you in melee while fleeing, particularly in closed spaces where they may not be able to get clear of you.
-If you find an expensive camera early in the game before you have a [[blindfold]], it can be a viable method for blinding yourself, e.g. in order to use your intrinsic [[telepathy]], or to avoid the longer blinding from a [[yellow light]] when it explodes (which blinds you for 10d20 turns); it can also be used to blind yourself and safely attack a [[floating eye]] in melee. You could blind the floating eye with the camera instead: although there is a 0.2% chance of losing a point of [[Luck]] for attacking a blinded eye, this happens so rarely that it is not a significant risk. The risk of ''accidentally'' blinding yourself with a cursed camera is usually only a concern for cameras found in [[bones]] piles.
+If you find an expensive camera early in the game before you have a [[blindfold]], it can be a viable method for blinding yourself, e.g. in order to use your intrinsic [[telepathy]], or to avoid the longer blinding from a [[yellow light]] when it explodes (which blinds you for 10d20 turns); it can also be used to blind yourself and safely attack a [[floating eye]] in melee. You could blind the floating eye with the camera instead: although there is a 0.2% chance of losing a point of [[Luck]] for attacking a blinded eye, this happens so rarely that it is not a significant risk. The risk of ''accidentally'' blinding yourself with a cursed camera is usually only a concern for cameras found in bones piles.
 You can use a camera to wake up a sleeping monster, including your [[pet]], making it useful for [[Knight]]s in particular; this does not work on [[paralyzed]] monsters, and should be avoided around rooms of monster that you don't want to wake up prematurely, e.g. in [[barracks]]. [[Pacifist]] and [[illiterate]] [[conduct]] players will appreciate having an expensive camera to scare monsters, as will players attempting a [[protection racket]].

@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
 [[Dal Zethire]], the Cartomancer [[quest nemesis]], generates with an expensive camera.
 ===SlashTHEM===
@@ Line 60: / Line 63: @@
 * Applying the expensive camera takes a normal [[photograph]] of whatever is present in the selected direction. Photographs can be stored in a [[photo album]].
-* [[Zapping]] the camera will apply the flash, which can blind and scare monsters as in vanilla ''NetHack''.
+* [[Zapping]] the camera will apply the flash, which blinds and scare monsters as in vanilla ''NetHack''.
 * The '''#timer''' [[extended command]] can set the timer on the camera, and prompts for a direction, whether to use the flash, and for how many turns to delay the photo.
 The [[Graduate]] starts the game with an expensive camera.
 ==References==

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 }}
-An '''expensive camera''' is a type of [[tool]] that appears in ''[[Nethack]]''. It is [[fragile]] and made of [[plastic]].
+An '''expensive camera''' is a type of [[tool]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is made of [[plastic]].
 ==Generation==
-Randomly generated expensive cameras are always uncursed, with 30 to 99 charges.
+[[Tourist]]s start the game with an expensive camera.
-All [[Tourist]]s start the game with an expensive camera.
+Expensive cameras make up {{frac|3|250}} (1.2%) of all randomly generated tools. Expensive cameras are always created uncursed with 30 to 99 charges, unless they are generated on a [[trap]] or in a [[bones]] level.
 ==Description==
-When [[applied]] in the direction of a monster that has eyes, the flash of an expensive camera (whose beam is represented by {{white|[[!]]}}) will [[blind]] that monster, as well as typically [[scaring]] it - applying a cursed camera has a 50% chance of blinding you for 1d25 turns instead when applied. Applying a camera at a [[sleeping]] monster will wake it up with no further effects.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3119|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} [[Gremlin]]s will take d4 damage from the flash, and cannot die as a result of this damage.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3126|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} Applying the camera at yourself with {{kbd|.}} will blind yourself for up to 25 turns.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2489|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+[[Apply]]ing an expensive camera will prompt for a direction: selecting a cardinal direction emits a flash of light in that direction, represented by [[exclamation point]] glyphs ({{white|[[!]]}}).{{refsrc|src/apply.c|54|nethack=3.6.7}} The flash of light has various effects on non-[[Light (monster class)|light]] [[monster]]s caught in it:{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3107|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-Affected monsters that are adjacent are blinded permanently, while monsters that are farther away are blinded for up to 13 turns, depending on the distance.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3121|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=minimum non-adjacent dist2() is 4, so no more than 1 + 50/4 turns}} Monsters hit by the flash will also flee with a {{frac|3|4}} chance, provided they are not [[shopkeeper]]s and no more than 2 squares away from you.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|3135|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+* Applying the camera at the [[hero]] via {{kbd|.}} will blind them for up to 25 turns{{refsrc|src/zap.c|2485|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} - applying a cursed camera has a {{frac|2}} chance of the flash targeting the hero instead of the selected direction.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|72|nethack=3.6.7}}
-If wielded and used to attack, the expensive camera will break and do no damage; it shares this property with the [[cream pie]].{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|892|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=attacking with a wielded camera}} Breaking a camera in any way has a {{frac|3}} chance of releasing a "picture-painting demon", which will be a [[homunculus]] {{frac|2|3}} of the time and an [[imp]] the remaining {{frac|3}} - the resulting demon will be peaceful unless the camera is cursed.{{refsrc|src/dothrow.c|1943|version=NetHack 3.6.6|comment=<code>release_camera_demon</code> is described here}}
+An expensive camera is [[fragile]], and will break if [[thrown]], [[kick]]ed, dropped while [[levitating]] or on a down [[stair]], or [[wield]]ed and used to attack - attacking a monster with a wielded camera deals no damage.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|892|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=attacking with a wielded camera}} Breaking a camera in any way has a {{frac|3}} chance of releasing a "picture-painting demon", which will be a [[homunculus]] {{frac|2|3}} of the time and an [[imp]] the remaining {{frac|3}} - the resulting demon will be peaceful unless the camera was cursed.{{refsrc|src/dothrow.c|1943|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=<code>release_camera_demon</code> is described here}}
-Applying an unpaid expensive camera induces a 10% [[usage fee]]. Like most other tools, a camera has no limit on [[charging]].
+Applying an unpaid expensive camera in a shop incurs a 10% [[usage fee]]. Like most other tools, a camera has no limit on [[charging]].
 ==Strategy==
-An expensive camera is a solid [[escape item]] and scaring tool, and is the only known item that can cause the [[Riders]] to flee from you. Cameras are also the only way to permanently blind a monster, which is useful if you need it alive, but are unable to render it peaceful and don't want it to chase you (often the case with [[foocubi]]) – remember that blinded hostile monsters will not respect [[Elbereth]] and may still attack you in melee while fleeing, particularly in closed spaces where they may not be able to get clear of you.
+The expensive camera is a solid [[escape item]] and scaring tool, and is the only known item that can cause the [[Riders]] to flee from you. Cameras are also the only way to permanently blind a monster, which is useful if you need it alive, but are unable to render it peaceful and don't want it to chase you (often the case with [[foocubi]]) – remember that blinded hostile monsters will not respect [[Elbereth]] and may still attack you in melee while fleeing, particularly in closed spaces where they may not be able to get clear of you.
 If you find an expensive camera early in the game before you have a [[blindfold]], it can be a viable method for blinding yourself, e.g. in order to use your intrinsic [[telepathy]], or to avoid the longer blinding from a [[yellow light]] when it explodes (which blinds you for 10d20 turns); it can also be used to blind yourself and safely attack a [[floating eye]] in melee. You could blind the floating eye with the camera instead: although there is a 0.2% chance of losing a point of [[Luck]] for attacking a blinded eye, this happens so rarely that it is not a significant risk. The risk of ''accidentally'' blinding yourself with a cursed camera is usually only a concern for cameras found in [[bones]] piles.
@@ Line 32: / Line 37: @@
 ==History==
-The expensive camera first appears in [[Hack 1.0]], introduced as part of the Tourist role's starting inventory and the TOURIST [[compile-time option]].
+The expensive camera first appears in [[Hack 1.0]], introduced as part of the Tourist role's starting inventory and the <tt>TOURIST</tt> [[compile-time option]].
 The possibility for a broken camera to generate a picture-painting demon was added in [[NetHack 3.6.0]].
@@ Line 49: / Line 54: @@
 In [[SpliceHack]], [[Cartomancer]]s know the expensive camera as a '''holographic card'''.
-[[Dal Zethire]] the [[quest nemesis]], also generates with an expensive camera.
+[[Dal Zethire]], the Cartomancer [[quest nemesis]], generates with an expensive camera.
 ===SlashTHEM===
-[[SlashTHEM]] incorporates the [[photography patch]] created by Nephi, which adds several functions to the camera:
+[[SlashTHEM]] incorporates the [[photography patch]] created by Nephi, which adds several functions to the camera:<!--Move these to the patch article itself when possible-->
 * Applying the expensive camera takes a normal [[photograph]] of whatever is present in the selected direction. Photographs can be stored in a [[photo album]].