Protection racket - Revision history

Choedev: /* Strategy */ Remove misleading section

2026-05-05T13:43:07Z

‎Strategy: Remove misleading section

Choedev: /* Strategy */ Explain how to actually donate

2026-05-04T23:26:59Z

‎Strategy: Explain how to actually donate

Choedev: /* Determine how much gold you need */ Update section to reflect the new priest donation randomness

2026-05-04T23:15:10Z

‎Determine how much gold you need: Update section to reflect the new priest donation randomness

Umbire the Phantom: not incorrect but...

2025-12-28T00:45:48Z

not incorrect but...

MrSurvivor1997: /* Race and role */ A cornuthaum may help to find the vaults if you are lucky.

2025-12-27T21:27:36Z

‎Race and role: A cornuthaum may help to find the vaults if you are lucky.

Furey: /* Other information */ delinkify "Derek Ray". He may be notable for SporkHack, in which case the SporkHack article maintainers can make the page. Fixes a redlink.

2024-06-16T21:00:26Z

‎Other information: delinkify "Derek Ray". He may be notable for SporkHack, in which case the SporkHack article maintainers can make the page. Fixes a redlink.

Umbire the Phantom: style guide on variant templates

2024-01-20T19:10:18Z

style guide on variant templates

Umbire the Phantom: potholes, lede, etc.

2023-11-22T09:12:07Z

potholes, lede, etc.

Ion frigate: Clarify that the Mines inhabitants are only replaced for dwarves and gnomes

2022-10-18T06:01:20Z

Clarify that the Mines inhabitants are only replaced for dwarves and gnomes

Umbire the Phantom: Or just...

2021-12-17T23:52:58Z

Or just...

@@ Line 165: / Line 165: @@
 |15000
 |}
 ==How many times will I need to donate?==

@@ Line 165: / Line 165: @@
 |15000
 |}
 ==How many times will I need to donate?==

@@ Line 78: / Line 78: @@
 ===Determine how much gold you need===
-Divine protection costs 400 gold per [[experience level]], offering more than this will not give more protection (up to 600 gold will give you the protection, any more and you get none), so you should make individual donations of 400*XL. If you have no divine protection, a single donation will buy you 2 to 4 points (it's random). After that, each donation will buy you 1 point until you have 9 protection points, after which you only have a 1-in-protection chance of gaining another point for every donation, up to a maximum of 20 protection points.
+Assuming no cheapskate penalties, divine protection costs 300-500 gold per [[experience level]]. Offering more than this will not give more protection (3*''baseline'', any more and you get none, see [[donation|donation]]) so you should make individual donations of the second suggested amount when chatting to the priest. If you have no divine protection, a single donation will buy you 2 to 4 points (it's random). After that, each donation will buy you 1 point until you have 9 protection points, after which you only have a 1-in-protection chance of gaining another point for every donation, up to a maximum of 20 protection points.
-This means that if you make it to the temple at level 1, you'll need to donate 400 gold between six and eight times to acquire the maximum easily obtainable amount of protection. In other words, you'll ideally want to have about 3,200 gold when you get to the temple.
+This means that if you make it to the temple at level 1, you'll need to donate up to 500 gold between six and eight times to acquire the maximum easily obtainable amount of protection. In other words, you'll ideally want to have about 4,000 gold when you get to the temple.
-To donate the gold for protection, #[[chat]] with the [[aligned priest|priest]]. He will ask you how much gold you want to donate.
+To donate the gold for protection, #[[chat]] with the [[aligned priest|priest]]. He will ask you how much gold you want to donate, providing two suggested amounts. The second amount is the smallest amount of gold that will give protection.
 {|class="prettytable" align="center"
 !Level
-!Gold Required per donation
+!Maximum gold Required per donation
 !Level
-!Gold Required per donation
+!Maximum gold Required per donation
 |-
 |1
-|400
+|500
 |16
-|6400
+|8000
 |-
 |2
-|800
+|1000
 |17
-|6800
+|8500
 |-
 |3
-|1200
+|1500
 |18
-|7200
+|9000
 |-
 |4
-|1600
+|2000
 |19
-|7600
+|9500
 |-
 |5
-|2000
+|2500
 |20
-|8000
+|10000
 |-
 |6
-|2400
+|3000
 |21
-|8400
+|10500
 |-
 |7
-|2800
+|3500
 |22
-|8800
+|11000
 |-
 |8
-|3200
+|4000
 |23
-|9200
+|11500
 |-
 |9
-|3600
+|4500
 |24
-|9600
+|12000
 |-
 |10
-|4000
+|5000
 |25
-|10000
+|12500
 |-
 |11
-|4400
+|5500
 |26
-|10400
+|13000
 |-
 |12
-|4800
+|6000
 |27
-|10800
+|13500
 |-
 |13
-|5200
+|6500
 |28
-|11200
+|14000
 |-
 |14
-|5600
+|7000
 |29
-|11600
+|14500
 |-
 |15
-|6000
+|7500
 |30
-|12000
+|15000
 |}

@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 ** Decent initial set of armor.
 ** Starts with some food.
-** His initial spells (either healing, protection or sleep) are very useful for a pacifist.
+** The initial spells (either healing, protection or sleep) are very useful for a pacifist.
 ** Chances of starting with a [[lamp]], which makes the mines much easier.
@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 ** Starts with lots of food. Usually, he starts with some [[tripe ration]]s too, which makes credit cloning easier.
 ** May start with a [[leash]], and always starts with an [[expensive camera]] and [[potion of extra healing | 2 potions of extra healing]], all of them very useful for a pacifist.
-** His initial [[scroll of magic mapping |scrolls of magic mapping]] will make the Mines a breeze
+** The initial [[scrolls of magic mapping]] will make the Mines a breeze
 ** Starts with a decent amount of gold for credit cloning.
 ** Stack of +2 [[dart]]s can be sold for a few hundred additional gold.
@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 * [[Wizard]]:
-** His initial inventory may be of some help for either credit cloning or survival while not killing monsters.
+** The initial inventory may be of some help for either credit cloning or survival while not killing monsters.
 ** May have the [[charm monster]] spell, which helps a lot in fights.
-** Not recommended outside of fringe cases such as a pacifist wizard attempt.
+** An early [[cornuthaum]] may help the wizard find [[vaults]] easier with the [[clairvoyance]] it grants.
-** If lucky, a [[cornuthaum]] may help the wizard find [[vaults]] easier with the [[clairvoyance]] it grants.
+** Not recommended outside of fringe cases such as a pacifist wizard attempt, due to the amount of good RNG that is often necessary.
 ===Surviving the Mines===

@@ Line 60: / Line 60: @@
 ** May have the [[charm monster]] spell, which helps a lot in fights.
 ** Not recommended outside of fringe cases such as a pacifist wizard attempt.
 ===Surviving the Mines===

@@ Line 264: / Line 264: @@
 The protection racket is arguably considered the gnomish Healer's ''best'' opening strategy, and is a virtual necessity for conducts such as [[pacifist]] and/or [[Conduct#Nudist|nudist]].
-To settle the perennial argument whether the protection racket is a generally viable strategy, [[Derek Ray]] posed the [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.roguelike.nethack/browse_thread/thread/0760e25393f22ba7# protection racket efficiency challenge]. It has generated much discussion, but no convincing, pure-PR ascension streak.
+To settle the perennial argument whether the protection racket is a generally viable strategy, Derek Ray posed the [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.roguelike.nethack/browse_thread/thread/0760e25393f22ba7# protection racket efficiency challenge]. It has generated much discussion, but no convincing, pure-PR ascension streak.
 Examining over 35,000 NetHack 3.4.3 games by expert players (filtering out "escaped", quit, and start-scummed games), [http://www.codehappy.net/nethack/data.htm Codehappy found] AC gained in the early game--regardless of how it is gained--increases the chance of ascension by an average 4% per AC point. Successful protection rackets resulted in a 46% chance of ascension from that point and was present in about 10% of all ascensions; this includes pacifist conducts, which lowered the chance from 50% to 46%. However, Codehappy also showed (leaving out pacifist conducts) that characters who achieved AC -1 or better (in some other way) had a 48% chance of ascension. This finding suggests a character who finds a couple pieces of good armor can, and perhaps should, abandon the protection racket.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The '''protection racket''' is a form of [[metastrategy]] that involves reaching the [[temple]] in [[Minetown]] at a low experience level with lots of gold and purchasing a large amount of [[divine protection]]. As of NetHack 3.6.0, the protection racket is riskier as there is a 1/8 chance of Minetown not having any shops or a priest.
+The '''protection racket''' is a form of [[metastrategy]] in ''[[NetHack]]'' that involves reaching the [[temple]] in [[Minetown]] at a low experience level with lots of gold and purchasing a large amount of [[divine protection]]. As of NetHack 3.6.0, the protection racket is riskier as there is a 1/8 chance of Minetown not having any shops or a priest.
 ==Strategy==
@@ Line 275: / Line 275: @@
 ===SLASH'EM===
 In ''[[SLASH'EM]]'', it is also possible for [[Rogue]]s to attempt the racket, due to the significant boost in their starting gold, giving them more gold in the beginning than even Healers. Unfortunately, characters who would normally have peaceful Mines inhabitants will find they have been replaced with far more hostile undead, making the strategy far more difficult for all dwarves and gnomes, and Healers in particular.
 {{nethack-360|offset=1}}
 {{featured}}
 [[Category:Strategy]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The '''protection racket''' is the strategy of reaching the [[temple]] in [[Minetown]] at a low experience level with lots of gold and purchasing a large amount of [[divine protection]]. As of NetHack 3.6.0, the protection racket is riskier as there is a 1/8 chance of Minetown not having any shops or a priest.
+The '''protection racket''' is a form of [[metastrategy]] that involves reaching the [[temple]] in [[Minetown]] at a low experience level with lots of gold and purchasing a large amount of [[divine protection]]. As of NetHack 3.6.0, the protection racket is riskier as there is a 1/8 chance of Minetown not having any shops or a priest.
 ==Strategy==
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 {{todo|Someone with practical experience needs to review the following for balance. Some advantages (knights jumping but starving, wizards pawning starting equipment versus credit cloning, arcs starting vs. anybody finding a pick-axe) are vastly exaggerated.}}
-For characters other than [[Healer]]s and [[dwarf|dwarven]] [[Archeologist]]s, the chance of an inexperienced player surviving the protection racket is slim, and hence it is a [[metastrategy]].
+For characters other than [[Healer]]s and [[Dwarf (starting race)|dwarven]] [[Archeologist]]s, the chance of an inexperienced player surviving the protection racket is slim.
 Being a gnome or dwarf generally makes the mines easier. Stronger ([[strength|Str]]+[[constitution|Con]]) race/role combinations will be able to carry more loot with less encumbrance, making [[credit cloning]] easier. Being [[encumbrance|encumbered]] is almost always a big mistake, but more so when doing the protection racket. You are playing a near-pacifist, so you'll have a hard time finding food. If you are encumbered, you are making the problem worse. It is possible to get to Minetown with the required credit without eating anything at all, just praying when you are weak. (Kill one wimpy monster to get the necessary alignment.) But if you ever get encumbered, the prayer timeout won't match the hunger timeout.

@@ Line 274: / Line 274: @@
 ==Variants==
 ===SLASH'EM===
-In ''[[SLASH'EM]]'', it is also possible for [[Rogue]]s to attempt the racket, due to the significant boost in their starting gold, giving them more gold in the beginning than even Healers. Unfortunately, most of the inhabitants of the Mines have also been replaced with far more hostile undead, making the strategy far more difficult for all dwarves and gnomes, and Healers in particular.
+In ''[[SLASH'EM]]'', it is also possible for [[Rogue]]s to attempt the racket, due to the significant boost in their starting gold, giving them more gold in the beginning than even Healers. Unfortunately, characters who would normally have peaceful Mines inhabitants will find they have been replaced with far more hostile undead, making the strategy far more difficult for all dwarves and gnomes, and Healers in particular.

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 ==Strategy==
+{{main|Intrinsic protection}}
 Use of your starting pet is essential, as killing [[monster]]s yourself will soon raise your level, and not killing them will result in your swift death. [[Healer]]s are widely considered best for this task, as the healing spell can be used to keep your pet alive while they do the fighting and the stethoscope lets you know when your pet needs your help. Two more advantages of Healers are the large amount of gold they start with, and their starting potions can increase their maximum HP without leveling up. [[Gnome (starting race)|Gnomish]] Healers have an extra advantage: more of the monsters in the mines will be peaceful.
 The stairs to the [[Gnomish Mines]] can be found on [[dungeon level]] 2, 3, or 4. On dungeon level 1, take the down staircase as soon as you find it. If you make it to dungeon level 5 without finding the mines, you've gone too far and must go back. Pacifists might want to go get the [[Sokoban]] food - they often lack the [[alignment record|alignment]] to reliably [[pray]].
-To avoid death by [[pit]]s, [[gas spore]]s and the like, you might want to gain 1-2 levels before entering the mines and then [[level drain]] yourself in the Minetown temple. How many depends on your means, e.g., [[Prayer#Possible_negative_effects_of_praying|prayer]] if you do not mind your god's anger, the [[Drain life|spell]] or reverse-[[Genocide|genociding]] wraiths.
+To avoid death by [[pit]]s, [[gas spore]]s and the like, you might want to gain 1-2 levels before entering the mines and then [[level drain]] yourself in the Minetown temple. How many depends on your means, e.g. [[prayer]] if you do not mind your god's anger, the [[Drain life|spell]] or reverse-[[Genocide|genociding]] wraiths. Above all else, be sure not to lose your intrinsic protection too soon after you have obtained it.
-===Race and Role===
+===Race and role===
-{{todo|Someone with practical experience needs to review the following for balance. I think it leaves the impression the protection racket is easy for any role. Some advantages (knights jumping but starving, wizards pawning starting equipment versus credit cloning, arcs starting vs. anybody finding a pick-axe) are vastly exaggerated.}}
+{{todo|Someone with practical experience needs to review the following for balance. Some advantages (knights jumping but starving, wizards pawning starting equipment versus credit cloning, arcs starting vs. anybody finding a pick-axe) are vastly exaggerated.}}
-Arguably, being a gnome or dwarf makes the mines easier. Stronger ([[strength|Str]]+[[constitution|Con]]) race/role combinations will be able to carry more loot with less encumbrance, making [[credit cloning]] easier. Being [[encumbrance|encumbered]] is almost always a big mistake, but more so when doing the protection racket. You are playing a near-pacifist, so you'll have a hard time finding food. If you are encumbered, you are making the problem worse. It is possible to get to Minetown with the required credit without eating anything at all, just praying when you are weak. (Kill one wimpy monster to get the necessary alignment.) But if you ever get encumbered, the prayer timeout won't match the hunger timeout.
+For characters other than [[Healer]]s and [[dwarf|dwarven]] [[Archeologist]]s, the chance of an inexperienced player surviving the protection racket is slim, and hence it is a [[metastrategy]].
 Speed is also a key intrinsic for survival for your way to mine town.
@@ Line 60: / Line 62: @@
 ===Surviving the Mines===
 The mines can be very hard for a low level character for a number of reasons. The most obvious is that the mine residents can often kill a level 1 character in a couple of hits and there are lots of them. This problem is made worse because the mines are frequently dark, making the monsters difficult to avoid and the stairs hard to find. There are several things one can do to make the chances of survival greater.
@@ Line 76: / Line 77: @@
 ===Determine how much gold you need===
 Divine protection costs 400 gold per [[experience level]], offering more than this will not give more protection (up to 600 gold will give you the protection, any more and you get none), so you should make individual donations of 400*XL. If you have no divine protection, a single donation will buy you 2 to 4 points (it's random). After that, each donation will buy you 1 point until you have 9 protection points, after which you only have a 1-in-protection chance of gaining another point for every donation, up to a maximum of 20 protection points.
@@ Line 165: / Line 165: @@
 |}
-==How Many Times will I need to Donate?==
+==How many times will I need to donate?==
 The first 9 points of protection are guaranteed if you can afford eight donations.  The subsequent ten points are progressively more difficult to obtain. The table lists the minimum number of donations required to have a given probability of at least a given protection.
@@ Line 233: / Line 233: @@
 ===Getting the gold===
 There are many ways to get the gold you need:
@@ Line 248: / Line 247: @@
 ===What to do after===
 * Use that protection you just spent all that time and money on and get some levels.
@@ Line 264: / Line 262: @@
 ==Other information==
+The protection racket is arguably considered the gnomish Healer's ''best'' opening strategy, and is a virtual necessity for conducts such as [[pacifist]] and/or [[Conduct#Nudist|nudist]].
 To settle the perennial argument whether the protection racket is a generally viable strategy, [[Derek Ray]] posed the [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.roguelike.nethack/browse_thread/thread/0760e25393f22ba7# protection racket efficiency challenge]. It has generated much discussion, but no convincing, pure-PR ascension streak.
@@ Line 274: / Line 271: @@
 The protection racket is considered a distinctly separate strategy from level draining later in the game to buy cheap protection.
 ==Variants==
 ===SLASH'EM===
 In ''[[SLASH'EM]]'', it is also possible for [[Rogue]]s to attempt the racket, due to the significant boost in their starting gold, giving them more gold in the beginning than even Healers. Unfortunately, most of the inhabitants of the Mines have also been replaced with far more hostile undead, making the strategy far more difficult for all dwarves and gnomes, and Healers in particular.