Gnomish Mines - Revision history

Netzhack: /* Traps */ Added black-squares strategy

2026-01-25T19:59:51Z

‎Traps: Added black-squares strategy

Androo: fixed small typo

2024-09-18T03:52:27Z

fixed small typo

Furey: /* The first level */ lucky -> fortunate. Hero luck does not affect item generation.

2024-06-15T00:03:34Z

‎The first level: lucky -> fortunate. Hero luck does not affect item generation.

Aximili: /* Strategy */ split into sections, move 1 paragraph

2024-06-14T23:58:35Z

‎Strategy: split into sections, move 1 paragraph

Umbire the Phantom: potholes et. al.

2024-05-22T12:56:51Z

potholes et. al.

Umbire the Phantom: style guide on variant templates

2024-01-20T19:12:21Z

style guide on variant templates

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ monlinks

2023-12-25T06:05:42Z

‎Generation: monlinks

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ word choice

2023-12-25T06:04:12Z

‎Generation: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: move minesflayer stuff here in prep for The Thing I'm doing

2023-12-24T23:18:17Z

move minesflayer stuff here in prep for The Thing I'm doing

Umbire the Phantom: /* SLASH'EM */ pothole

2023-12-13T15:31:36Z

‎SLASH'EM: pothole

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 ==== Traps ====
-Avoid traps. The mines are loaded with them, and they can just ruin your game. Watch where other creatures walk (including your pet) and try to limit your travels to those squares only. If you are not starving, search before stepping on uncertain squares. You can even engrave with your fingers to mark out safe passages through the levels if you are weak and one good arrow trap could mean the end.
+Avoid traps. The mines are loaded with them, and they can just ruin your game. Watch where other creatures walk (including your pet) and try to limit your travels to those squares only. Imagine the level is a chess board: moving only diagonally, like a bishop in chess, eliminates half the squares from your wanderings and hence half the risk of random traps. If you are not starving, search before stepping on uncertain squares. You can even engrave with your fingers to mark out safe passages through the levels if you are weak and one good arrow trap could mean the end.
 ==== Gray stones ====

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 The Mines are rich in tools, loot, and other resources, but also very dangerous to the unprepared. It is easy to get in over your head in this environment of traps and large open spaces. (Try hitting a trap door, another trap door, and then a polymorph trap in quick succession. Now you're a [[newt]] surrounded by an angry mob, unable to move and armor on the floor). The mines can set you well on the way to success, but you have to learn how to move cautiously, and be willing to back off and try again later rather than press on to a glorious death.
-As you explore the Mines, remember that a mines level is often substantially harder than a level of the main dungeon. A typical gambit is to go to the first level of the mines and grab a [[dwarvish mithril-coat]] from somebody there, then go down to [[Oracle (level)|the Oracle levle]] and gain experience along the way, then go back to the Mines and continue to the end. Weak characters might prefer to do [[Sokoban]] before going deeper in the mines. Because many mines levels are dark, having a [[light source]] on hand can make exploration a much safer and faster endeavor.
+As you explore the Mines, remember that a mines level is often substantially harder than a level of the main dungeon. A typical gambit is to go to the first level of the mines and grab a [[dwarvish mithril-coat]] from somebody there, then go down to [[Oracle (level)|the Oracle level]] and gain experience along the way, then go back to the Mines and continue to the end. Weak characters might prefer to do [[Sokoban]] before going deeper in the mines. Because many mines levels are dark, having a [[light source]] on hand can make exploration a much safer and faster endeavor.
 The following tips are geared towards the newer player, who is apt to have the most trouble in the mines, and will apply more to human, orcish, and elven characters than to dwarves and gnomes.

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 ==== The first level ====
-The first stage is an initial reconnaissance of the first level. You will be greeted by a pack of gnomes and probably a dwarf or two, most of whom will be carrying gear that you want. The point of this short sortie is not to clear out the first level, but to score a few quick kills and grab some loot (including yummy corpses if you need the food and are of an appropriate race to eat them). Depending on how hard the fight is, you can escape back into the main dungeon and use your pet to curse-test your new possessions. A typical recon of the mines can net you a [[helmet]], [[boots]], a supply of [[dagger]]s or other missiles, and, if you are lucky, such items as a [[mithril-coat]] or [[pick-axe]]. The haul may make you sufficiently strong to attempt further explorations of the mines.
+The first stage is an initial reconnaissance of the first level. You will be greeted by a pack of gnomes and probably a dwarf or two, most of whom will be carrying gear that you want. The point of this short sortie is not to clear out the first level, but to score a few quick kills and grab some loot (including yummy corpses if you need the food and are of an appropriate race to eat them). Depending on how hard the fight is, you can escape back into the main dungeon and use your pet to curse-test your new possessions. A typical recon of the mines can net you a [[helmet]], [[boots]], a supply of [[dagger]]s or other missiles, and, if you are fortunate, such items as a [[mithril-coat]] or [[pick-axe]]. The haul may make you sufficiently strong to attempt further explorations of the mines.
 ==== Upper mines ====

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 The Mines are rich in tools, loot, and other resources, but also very dangerous to the unprepared. It is easy to get in over your head in this environment of traps and large open spaces. (Try hitting a trap door, another trap door, and then a polymorph trap in quick succession. Now you're a [[newt]] surrounded by an angry mob, unable to move and armor on the floor). The mines can set you well on the way to success, but you have to learn how to move cautiously, and be willing to back off and try again later rather than press on to a glorious death.
 The following tips are geared towards the newer player, who is apt to have the most trouble in the mines, and will apply more to human, orcish, and elven characters than to dwarves and gnomes.
-Some general pointers will help make your biggest problem in [[Minetown]] where to put all your loot:
+=== General tips ===
-*Make judicious use of [[Elbereth]]. New players are most likely to run into trouble in the mines, and new players often haven't really ''absorbed'' the power of the E-Word. Mine denizens will generally respect Elbereth and avoid attacking you hand-to-hand. You still have to worry about missiles and spells, but Elbereth can be a lifesaver none the less. Read the article on this carefully--engraving with fingers is fast but not durable, engraving with blades, when done correctly, is semi-permanent but slow. Use the ":" command to inspect your handiwork without eroding the letters.
+==== Pets ====
-*Use stairs to control the crowds. You will tend to get swarmed as you enter each new level. Stay close to the upstairs--stay '''on''' the upstairs if you can--and run upstairs to heal if you are in trouble. And of course you can engrave Elbereth on the stairs.
-*Keep your [[pet]] nearby. Your pet is a tremendous resource in the early game in general, and in the mines, even more so. Your pet is very possibly stronger in a fight than you are right now, is willing to attack peaceful monsters (which means you get their stuff), and is absolutely invaluable for curse-testing the weapons and armor you pick up. If you are separated from your pet, for example by a trap door, make getting back to it a priority. You may very well find a [[leash]] in the mines--use it.
+Keep your [[pet]] nearby. Your pet is a tremendous resource in the early game in general, and in the mines, even more so. Your pet is very possibly stronger in a fight than you are right now, is willing to attack peaceful monsters (which means you get their stuff), and is absolutely invaluable for curse-testing the weapons and armor you pick up. If you are separated from your pet, for example by a trap door, make getting back to it a priority. You may very well find a [[leash]] in the mines--use it.
-*Avoid traps. The mines are loaded with them, and they can just ruin your game. Watch where other creatures walk (including your pet) and try to limit your travels to those squares only. If you are not starving, search before stepping on uncertain squares. You can even engrave with your fingers to mark out safe passages through the levels if you are weak and one good arrow trap could mean the end.
-*Be careful of [[gray stone]]s. This applies everywhere, of course, but such stones are more common in the mines. Kick any gray stone before picking it up, or else you might get a [[load stone]], which can be a real pain.
+==== Traps ====
 Conceptually, it can be helpful to divide the Mines into four stages. When you mount an expedition into the mines, understand your objective and act accordingly.
-*The first stage is an initial reconnaissance of the first level. You will be greeted by a pack of gnomes and probably a dwarf or two, most of whom will be carrying gear that you want. The point of this short sortie is not to clear out the first level, but to score a few quick kills and grab some loot (including yummy corpses if you need the food and are of an appropriate race to eat them). Depending on how hard the fight is, you can escape back into the main dungeon and use your pet to curse-test your new possessions. A typical recon of the mines can net you a [[helmet]], [[boots]], a supply of [[dagger]]s or other missiles, and, if you are lucky, such items as a [[mithril-coat]] or [[pick-axe]]. The haul may make you sufficiently strong to attempt further explorations of the mines.
+==== The first level ====
-As you explore the Mines, remember that a mines level is often substantially harder than a level of the main dungeon. A typical gambit is to go to the first level of the mines and grab a [[dwarvish mithril-coat]] from somebody there, then go down to [[Oracle (level)|the Oracle levle]] and gain experience along the way, then go back to the Mines and continue to the end. Weak characters might prefer to do [[Sokoban]] before going deeper in the mines. Because many mines levels are dark, having a [[light source]] on hand can make exploration a much safer and faster endeavor.
+The first stage is an initial reconnaissance of the first level. You will be greeted by a pack of gnomes and probably a dwarf or two, most of whom will be carrying gear that you want. The point of this short sortie is not to clear out the first level, but to score a few quick kills and grab some loot (including yummy corpses if you need the food and are of an appropriate race to eat them). Depending on how hard the fight is, you can escape back into the main dungeon and use your pet to curse-test your new possessions. A typical recon of the mines can net you a [[helmet]], [[boots]], a supply of [[dagger]]s or other missiles, and, if you are lucky, such items as a [[mithril-coat]] or [[pick-axe]]. The haul may make you sufficiently strong to attempt further explorations of the mines.
 ==Variants==

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 *The fourth stage is the lower mines, all the way to [[Mines' End]], and it is ''much'' more dangerous to most players than the upper mines. This danger is due to traps, which start to get particularly nasty. [[Polymorph]] traps can turn you into a weak monster or a gnome into a [[minotaur]]. Trap doors can cut you off from your pet and your escape path. Even if you swept through Minetown without much trouble, you may want to leave the lower mines until you have [[magic resistance]], and [[poison resistance]] is really a must-have. You may want to wear "junk" armor if you are not magic-resistant, so that those polymorph traps can't destroy your only mithril and your best cloak.
-As you explore the Mines, remember that a mines level is often substantially harder than a level of the main dungeon. A typical gambit is to go to the first level of the mines and grab a [[dwarvish mithril-coat]] from somebody there, then go down to the [[Oracle]] and level up along the way, then go back to the mines and continue to the end. Weak characters might prefer to do [[Sokoban]] before going deeper in the mines. Because many mines levels are dark, having a [[light source]] on hand can make exploration a much safer and faster endeavor.
+As you explore the Mines, remember that a mines level is often substantially harder than a level of the main dungeon. A typical gambit is to go to the first level of the mines and grab a [[dwarvish mithril-coat]] from somebody there, then go down to [[Oracle (level)|the Oracle levle]] and gain experience along the way, then go back to the Mines and continue to the end. Weak characters might prefer to do [[Sokoban]] before going deeper in the mines. Because many mines levels are dark, having a [[light source]] on hand can make exploration a much safer and faster endeavor.
 ==Variants==

@@ Line 76: / Line 76: @@
 ==References==
 <references/>
-{{nethack-343|offset=1}}
+{{nethack-343}}
 [[Category:Dungeon branches]]

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 The entrance to the Gnomish Mines will always generate somewhere on [[dungeon level]]s 2-4. All levels in the branch are eligible to load [[bones]], and all levels can leave bones with the exception of Mines' End, as well as the top level if it generates on DL 3 (which is too shallow to qualify).
-With the exception of Minetown and Mines' End, all the levels are simple caverns containing 7 {{monsymlink|gnome}}s, 2 {{monsym|dwarf}} [[Dwarf (monster)|dwarves]], a {{monsymlink|gnome lord}}, 2 random {{white|G}} [[gnome (monster class)|gnomes]] and one random {{white|h}} [[humanoid]]. This random humanoid can occasionally be a [[mind flayer]] or even a [[master mind flayer]], even if it would otherwise out-of-depth: [[mkclass|class-based monster selection]], which determines which humanoid monster should be generated, can sometimes completely ignore the difficulty of a monster that it produces. Mind flayers generated this way are referred to as '''"minesflayers"'''.
+With the exception of Minetown and Mines' End, all the levels are simple caverns containing 7 {{monsymlink|gnome}}s, 2 {{monsym|dwarf}} [[Dwarf (monster)|dwarves]], a {{monsymlink|gnome lord}}, 2 random {{monclasslink|G}}s and one random {{monclasslink|h}}. This random humanoid can occasionally be a [[mind flayer]] or even a [[master mind flayer]], even if it would otherwise out-of-depth: [[mkclass|class-based monster selection]], which determines which humanoid monster should be generated, can sometimes completely ignore the difficulty of a monster that it produces. Mind flayers generated this way are referred to as '''"minesflayers"'''.
 Gnomish Mines levels will have 6 random [[trap]]s, one tool, 3 random [[gem]]s or piles of gems, and 3 [[item|random objects]]. Typically, any random {{white|h}} will be [[lawful]] and any random {{white|G}} will be [[neutral]]. These filler levels have a 50% chance each of being dark.

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 ==Generation==
-The Gnomish Mines will always generate somewhere on [[dungeon level]]s 2-4, and are eligible to leave [[bones]] with the exception of scenarios where the top level is on DL 3 (which is too shallow to qualify); all levels can still load bones.
+The entrance to the Gnomish Mines will always generate somewhere on [[dungeon level]]s 2-4. All levels in the branch are eligible to load [[bones]], and all levels can leave bones with the exception of Mines' End, as well as the top level if it generates on DL 3 (which is too shallow to qualify).
 With the exception of Minetown and Mines' End, all the levels are simple caverns containing 7 {{monsymlink|gnome}}s, 2 {{monsym|dwarf}} [[Dwarf (monster)|dwarves]], a {{monsymlink|gnome lord}}, 2 random {{white|G}} [[gnome (monster class)|gnomes]] and one random {{white|h}} [[humanoid]]. This random humanoid can occasionally be a [[mind flayer]] or even a [[master mind flayer]], even if it would otherwise out-of-depth: [[mkclass|class-based monster selection]], which determines which humanoid monster should be generated, can sometimes completely ignore the difficulty of a monster that it produces. Mind flayers generated this way are referred to as '''"minesflayers"'''.

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 In [[SLASH'EM]], gnome and dwarf characters entering the Mines will find that the normally peaceful gnomes and dwarves have been transformed into hostile undead, with only a few survivors. When a map is generated when the player's race is gnomish or dwarvish, the following substitutions are made for monsters generated along with the level:{{refsrc|sp_lev.c|854|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}
-* {{monsym|Gnome}} [[Gnome]]s become {{monsym|Gnome zombie}} [[gnome zombie]]s
+* {{monsym|Gnome}} Gnomes become {{monsym|Gnome zombie}} [[gnome zombie]]s
 * {{monsym|Gnomish wizard}} [[Gnomish wizard]]s become {{monsym|orc shaman}} [[orc shaman]]s
 * {{monsym|Gnome lord}} [[Gnome lord]]s become {{monsym|Gnome mummy}} [[gnome mummies]]