Ranger/SLASH'EM - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: potholes

2026-04-20T00:29:44Z

potholes

Umbire the Phantom: /* Mid game */ coyedit

2025-10-07T19:00:45Z

‎Mid game: coyedit

Umbire the Phantom: roles

2025-07-10T11:19:51Z

roles

Umbire the Phantom: pothole

2025-05-10T06:14:19Z

pothole

Umbire the Phantom: tweak template

2025-02-26T13:10:18Z

tweak template

Umbire the Phantom: lede

2025-02-13T23:33:26Z

lede

Umbire the Phantom: /* Starting equipment */ rejig the table

2025-02-13T23:20:39Z

‎Starting equipment: rejig the table

Ion frigate: wishless ranger just found these in a demogorgon bones

2025-02-11T06:39:44Z

wishless ranger just found these in a demogorgon bones

Ion frigate: two-handedness and cursers

2025-02-11T06:33:19Z

two-handedness and cursers

Ion frigate: better example, juggernauts actually are (somewhat) dangerous

2025-02-11T01:23:33Z

better example, juggernauts actually are (somewhat) dangerous

@@ Line 56: / Line 56: @@
 |}
-Chaotic Rangers have a {{frac|100}} chance of each starting stack of ammo being [[poisoned]].{{refsrc|u_init.c|1602|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2|comment=non-chaotic heroes never start with poisoned weapons}}
+Chaotic Rangers have a {{frac|100}} chance of each starting stack of ammo being [[Poisoned weapon|poisoned]].{{refsrc|u_init.c|1602|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2|comment=non-chaotic heroes never start with poisoned weapons}}
 Rangers start with knowledge of any applicable racial equipment.
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 ==Quest==
 {{main|Ranger quest}}
-The Ranger's quest sees them fighting [[Scorpius]] for [[The Longbow of Diana]], an artifact bow. The Longbow of Diana grants [[telepathy]] while carried, and while wielded it grants [[reflection]] and applies a +1d5 [[to-hit]] bonus to fired arrows. [[Invoking]] The Longbow of Diana creates arrows with the same [[beatitude]] as the bow and places them in the [[hero]]'s [[inventory]], with a small chance of producing [[poisoned]] arrows.
+The Ranger's quest sees them fighting [[Scorpius]] for [[The Longbow of Diana]], an artifact bow. The Longbow of Diana grants [[telepathy]] while carried, and while wielded it grants [[reflection]] and applies a +1d5 [[to-hit]] bonus to fired arrows. [[Invoking]] The Longbow of Diana creates arrows with the same [[beatitude]] as the bow and places them in the [[hero]]'s [[inventory]], with a small chance of producing poisoned arrows.
 ==Strategy==
@@ Line 142: / Line 142: @@
 A chaotic Ranger has an advantage in sacrifice weapons, having access to powerful gifts like [[Bat from Hell (SLASH'EM)|Bat from Hell]], [[Doomblade]], and [[Serpent's Tongue]]. Furthermore, there are two chaotic launchers that are possible sacrifice gifts; of limited use to other characters, these are very useful for rangers:
-* [[Plague (SLASH'EM)|Plague]], a dark elven bow that gives +5 to-hit +7 damage to any arrows fired from it in addition to autopoisoning them.
+* [[Plague (SLASH'EM)|Plague]], a dark elven bow that gives +5 to-hit +7 damage to any arrows fired from it in addition to auto-poisoning them.
 * [[Hellfire (SLASH'EM)|Hellfire]], a [[crossbow]] +5 to-hit and +7 damage to any bolts fired from it, with said bolts also causing a  3x3 [[explosion]] dealing ''2d6'' damage.  Note that even though the bolts "explode", they do ''not'' automatically mulch.

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 As a Ranger transitions from the early to the mid-game, they should have two goals in mind: acquiring a more powerful weapon via [[sacrifice]], and improving their starting ranged weapons.
-A chaotic ranger has an advantage in sacrifice weapons, having access to powerful gifts like [[Bat from Hell (SLASH'EM)|Bat from Hell]], [[Doomblade]], and [[Serpent's Tongue]].  Furthermore, there are two chaotic launchers that are possible sacrifice gifts; of limited use to other characters, these are very useful for rangers:
+A chaotic Ranger has an advantage in sacrifice weapons, having access to powerful gifts like [[Bat from Hell (SLASH'EM)|Bat from Hell]], [[Doomblade]], and [[Serpent's Tongue]]. Furthermore, there are two chaotic launchers that are possible sacrifice gifts; of limited use to other characters, these are very useful for rangers:
 * [[Plague (SLASH'EM)|Plague]], a dark elven bow that gives +5 to-hit +7 damage to any arrows fired from it in addition to autopoisoning them.
 * [[Hellfire (SLASH'EM)|Hellfire]], a [[crossbow]] +5 to-hit and +7 damage to any bolts fired from it, with said bolts also causing a  3x3 [[explosion]] dealing ''2d6'' damage.  Note that even though the bolts "explode", they do ''not'' automatically mulch.
-A neutral ranger will have a more difficult time finding a decent weapon, as only [[Magicbane]], [[Mjollnir]], and [[Cleaver]] are worth their salt as a main melee weapon of the neutral sacrifice gifts, although there are several useful pieces of armor - [[Gauntlets of Defense]], [[Mirrorbright]], and [[Whisperfeet]] - that they may receive. Thus, a ranger should focus on training bow and either dagger or dart skills and building up a stack of blessed, enchanted arrows and daggers/darts, and use them as his primary weapon until he gets a better alternative such as a [[crysknife]] (much improved over Vanilla). For these reasons it may be worth going straight for the [[luckstone]] at Mine's End before trying Sokoban, and any clear potions costing 100 zorkmids should be altar-tested at Minetown and, if blessed, used to bless your main stack of arrows.
+A neutral Ranger will have a more difficult time finding a decent weapon, as only [[Magicbane]], [[Mjollnir]], and [[Cleaver]] are worth their salt as a main melee weapon of the neutral sacrifice gifts, although there are several useful pieces of artifact armor&ndash;[[Gauntlets of Defense]], [[Mirrorbright]], and [[Whisperfeet]]&ndash;that they may receive. Rangers in general should focus on training their skill in bows and either daggers or darts while building up a stack of blessed, enchanted arrows and daggers/darts, and use them as their primary weapon until they get a better alternative such as a [[crysknife]]. For these reasons it may be worth going straight for the [[luckstone]] at Mine's End before trying Sokoban, and any clear potions costing 100 zorkmids should be altar-tested at Minetown, with any [[holy water]] reserved for blessing your main stack of arrows.
-The enchantment-dependent success rate of [[unicorn horn]]s means that Rangers thinking of doing their quest may need to plan ahead: as in vanilla, Scorpius can inflict [[sickness]], but unlike in vanilla, an unenchanted unicorn horn (30% chance to work) may not cure the illness in time.  Neutral rangers can just quaff a [[potion of holy water]] instead, but chaotic ones will either want to enchant their unicorn horn or bring along some potions that can cure the sickness (blessed healing, non-cursed extra or full healing).
+The enchantment-dependent success rate of [[unicorn horn]]s means that Rangers thinking of doing their quest may need to plan ahead: Scorpius can inflict [[sickness]] with his [[sting attack]] as in ''NetHack'', but due to mechanical changes an unenchanted unicorn horn only has a {{frac|3|10}} chance of curing illness and so may not take effect illness in time. A Ranger will either want to enchant their unicorn horn or bring along some potions that can cure the sickness, e.g. blessed healing, non-cursed extra healing and non-cursed full healing, as well as holy water for neutral Ranger. [[Eucalyptus leaves]] are a plentiful sickness cure for rangers due to the abundance of trees in the quest, and a stack of them is worth carrying.
 ===Late game===

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:19, 10 July 2025
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	{{tocright}}		{{tocright}}
		+	{{SLASH'EM roles}}
	In [[SLASH'EM]], the '''Ranger''', abbreviated as '''Ran''', is one of the [[role]]s from ''[[NetHack]]'' that is available to the [[hero]].		In [[SLASH'EM]], the '''Ranger''', abbreviated as '''Ran''', is one of the [[role]]s from ''[[NetHack]]'' that is available to the [[hero]].

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 As a Ranger transitions from the early to the mid-game, they should have two goals in mind: acquiring a more powerful weapon via [[sacrifice]], and improving their starting ranged weapons.
-A chaotic ranger has an advantage in sacrifice weapons, having access to powerful gifts like [[Bat from Hell]], [[Doomblade]], and [[Serpent's Tongue]].  Furthermore, there are two chaotic launchers that are possible sacrifice gifts; of limited use to other characters, these are very useful for rangers:
+A chaotic ranger has an advantage in sacrifice weapons, having access to powerful gifts like [[Bat from Hell (SLASH'EM)|Bat from Hell]], [[Doomblade]], and [[Serpent's Tongue]].  Furthermore, there are two chaotic launchers that are possible sacrifice gifts; of limited use to other characters, these are very useful for rangers:
 * [[Plague (SLASH'EM)|Plague]], a dark elven bow that gives +5 to-hit +7 damage to any arrows fired from it in addition to autopoisoning them.

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 |-
 !Melee weapon
-| +1 [[dagger]]
+! colspan="2" | +1 [[dagger]]
 | +1 [[elven dagger]]{{refsrc|u_init.c|325|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}
 | +1 [[orcish dagger]]{{refsrc|u_init.c|334|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}

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 In [[SLASH'EM]], the '''Ranger''', abbreviated as '''Ran''', is one of the [[role]]s from ''[[NetHack]]'' that is available to the [[hero]].
-Rangers can be [[Human (starting race)|humans]], [[Doppelganger (starting race)|doppelgangers]], [[Elf (starting race)|elves]], [[Drow (starting race)|drow]], [[Gnome (starting race)|gnomes]], [[Orc (starting race)|orcs]], [[Lycanthrope (starting race)|lycanthropes]], or [[Hobbit (starting race)|hobbits]]. Human and doppelganger Rangers can be either neutral or chaotic; elven, gnomish and hobbit rangers are always [[neutral]]; and drow, lycanthrope and orcish Rangers are always chaotic.
+Rangers can be [[Human (starting race)|humans]], [[Doppelganger (starting race)|doppelgangers]], [[Elf (starting race)|elves]], [[Drow (starting race)|drow]], [[Gnome (starting race)|gnomes]], [[Orc (starting race)|orcs]], [[Lycanthrope (starting race)|lycanthropes]], or [[Hobbit (starting race)|hobbits]]. Human and doppelganger Rangers can be either neutral or chaotic; elven, gnome and hobbit rangers are always [[neutral]]; and drow, lycanthrope and orc Rangers are always chaotic.
 ==Starting equipment==

@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 |-
 !Cloak
-| +2 [[cloak of displacement]]
+! colspan="2" | +2 [[cloak of displacement]]
 | +2 [[elven cloak]]{{refsrc|u_init.c|332|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2|name="elfcloak"|comment=comment on line 323: <tt>the weaker cloak for elven rangers is intentional--they shoot better</tt>}}
-| +2 [[cloak of displacement]]
+! colspan="2" | +2 [[cloak of displacement]]
 |-
 !Food
-|4-8 [[cram ration]]s
+! colspan="2" | 4-8 [[cram ration]]s
 |4-8 [[lembas wafer]]s{{refsrc|u_init.c|333|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}
 |4-8 [[cram ration]]s

@@ Line 160: / Line 160: @@
 Bear in mind that bows and crossbows in SLASH'EM are two-handed.  As SLASH'EM lacks the #tip command, this can create a very dangerous situation if your bow ends up cursed, especially in an area where [[prayer]] is impossible.  Furthermore, SLASH'EM introduces multiple new monsters capable of casting [[curse items]].  This danger can be mitigated (but not entirely avoided) by using the [[intelligent artifact|intelligent]] Longbow of Diana, but an elven bow or Plague will have considerably superior damage output.  The best strategy is to simply make sure your bow never ends up cursed: keep it blessed, and re-bless it immediately if a spellcaster manages to un-bless it.  As a backup, it may be advisable to carry a non-cursed [[scroll of remove curse]] in open inventory, replacing it as necessary.
-For vanilla Rangers, with their mediocre spellcasting aptitudes and inability to #twoweapon, a [[shield of reflection]] is a natural fit for an [[ascension kit]].  Unfortunately, the two-handedness of bows and crossbows in SLASH'EM makes shields of reflection impractical for rangers using either of those weapons.  In general, most Rangers will want to go with [[silver dragon scale mail]] and a [[cloak of magic resistance]], rather than [[gray dragon scale mail]] and an [[amulet of reflection]], in order to leave the amulet slot free to swap in an [[amulet of drain resistance]] as needed.  While chaotic Rangers can also gain drain resistance by wielding [[Stormbringer]], doing so will deprive of them of the ability to inflict large amounts of ranged damage, often when it is most needed.
+For vanilla Rangers, with their mediocre spellcasting aptitudes and inability to #twoweapon, a [[shield of reflection]] is a natural fit for an [[ascension kit]].  Unfortunately, the two-handedness of bows and crossbows in SLASH'EM makes shields of reflection impractical for rangers using either of those weapons.  In general, most Rangers will want to go with [[silver dragon scale mail]] and a [[cloak of magic resistance]], rather than [[gray dragon scale mail]] and an [[amulet of reflection]], in order to leave the amulet slot free to swap in an [[amulet of drain resistance]] as needed.  While chaotic Rangers can also gain drain resistance by wielding [[Stormbringer]], doing so will deprive of them of the ability to inflict large amounts of ranged damage, often when it is most needed.  As for other parts of the ascension kit, elven and droven rangers may want to consider [[gauntlets of power]], as they are otherwise unable to reach maximum carrying capacity; the gauntlets do impose a -2 penalty to-hit (but not to-damage) on arrows and bolts, but this is insignificant late-game.
 ==References==

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:33, 11 February 2025
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	It is better to enchant a stack of (preferably elven) arrows to +7 than to spend the enchantment on a melee weapon, as you will be able to fire up to 6 shots per round with a +7 bow (9 if you are an elf firing elven arrows with a +7 elven bow), with an average damage of 10.5 per hit (double if firing [[silver arrow]]s at silver-haters) plus any applicable strength and skill bonuses. To put this in perspective, an elven ranger, expert in bow, firing +7 elven arrows from a +7 elven bow will fire 4.3 arrows per round, for an average of 3.5 base damage + 7 enchantment bonus + 2 skill bonus = 54 damage per turn. If firing blessed +7 silver arrows from a +7 elven bow at Demogorgon will fire an average of 3.7 arrows per turn, for an average of 3.5 base damage + 7 enchantment bonus + 2 skill bonus + 2.5 blessed bonus + 10.5 silver damage = 93.5 damage per turn. The abovementioned Plague or Hellfire will add nearly 30 more damage per turn (7 per shot * 3.7). This is comparable with the damage that can be achieved with firearms, and far more renewable. Rangers will need to be mindful of water and lava, both of which are more common in SLASH'EM, but thankfully the most dangerous monsters are [[covetous]], and thus easily lured to solid ground.		It is better to enchant a stack of (preferably elven) arrows to +7 than to spend the enchantment on a melee weapon, as you will be able to fire up to 6 shots per round with a +7 bow (9 if you are an elf firing elven arrows with a +7 elven bow), with an average damage of 10.5 per hit (double if firing [[silver arrow]]s at silver-haters) plus any applicable strength and skill bonuses. To put this in perspective, an elven ranger, expert in bow, firing +7 elven arrows from a +7 elven bow will fire 4.3 arrows per round, for an average of 3.5 base damage + 7 enchantment bonus + 2 skill bonus = 54 damage per turn. If firing blessed +7 silver arrows from a +7 elven bow at Demogorgon will fire an average of 3.7 arrows per turn, for an average of 3.5 base damage + 7 enchantment bonus + 2 skill bonus + 2.5 blessed bonus + 10.5 silver damage = 93.5 damage per turn. The abovementioned Plague or Hellfire will add nearly 30 more damage per turn (7 per shot * 3.7). This is comparable with the damage that can be achieved with firearms, and far more renewable. Rangers will need to be mindful of water and lava, both of which are more common in SLASH'EM, but thankfully the most dangerous monsters are [[covetous]], and thus easily lured to solid ground.
		+
		+	Bear in mind that bows and crossbows in SLASH'EM are two-handed. As SLASH'EM lacks the #tip command, this can create a very dangerous situation if your bow ends up cursed, especially in an area where [[prayer]] is impossible. Furthermore, SLASH'EM introduces multiple new monsters capable of casting [[curse items]]. This danger can be mitigated (but not entirely avoided) by using the [[intelligent artifact\|intelligent]] Longbow of Diana, but an elven bow or Plague will have considerably superior damage output. The best strategy is to simply make sure your bow never ends up cursed: keep it blessed, and re-bless it immediately if a spellcaster manages to un-bless it. As a backup, it may be advisable to carry a non-cursed [[scroll of remove curse]] in open inventory, replacing it as necessary.

	For vanilla Rangers, with their mediocre spellcasting aptitudes and inability to #twoweapon, a [[shield of reflection]] is a natural fit for an [[ascension kit]]. Unfortunately, the two-handedness of bows and crossbows in SLASH'EM makes shields of reflection impractical for rangers using either of those weapons. In general, most Rangers will want to go with [[silver dragon scale mail]] and a [[cloak of magic resistance]], rather than [[gray dragon scale mail]] and an [[amulet of reflection]], in order to leave the amulet slot free to swap in an [[amulet of drain resistance]] as needed. While chaotic Rangers can also gain drain resistance by wielding [[Stormbringer]], doing so will deprive of them of the ability to inflict large amounts of ranged damage, often when it is most needed.		For vanilla Rangers, with their mediocre spellcasting aptitudes and inability to #twoweapon, a [[shield of reflection]] is a natural fit for an [[ascension kit]]. Unfortunately, the two-handedness of bows and crossbows in SLASH'EM makes shields of reflection impractical for rangers using either of those weapons. In general, most Rangers will want to go with [[silver dragon scale mail]] and a [[cloak of magic resistance]], rather than [[gray dragon scale mail]] and an [[amulet of reflection]], in order to leave the amulet slot free to swap in an [[amulet of drain resistance]] as needed. While chaotic Rangers can also gain drain resistance by wielding [[Stormbringer]], doing so will deprive of them of the ability to inflict large amounts of ranged damage, often when it is most needed.

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 ===Late game===
-Once the ranger has a decent weapon from the midgame on, a ranger plays much like any other role but should continue to rely on ranged attacks for dangerous monsters.  By this point, it is safe to use a melee weapon to deal with weaker monsters, and even with maxed-out luck this is usually a good idea in order to conserve ammo: the 2% attrition rate will eventually exhaust your stack of arrows if used on every nonthreatening monster.  This is especially true in SLASH'EM, whose generally higher depths lead to mid-level melee-only monsters spawning at very high base levels, i.e. monsters such as [[frost giant]]s and [[baluchitheria]], not to mention some SLASH'EM-specific monsters such as [[juggernaut]]s and [[mangler]]s.  Said monsters are not particularly dangerous, but their greater HP reserve means they require many arrows to kill, gradually depleting your stack.
+Once the ranger has a decent weapon from the midgame on, a ranger plays much like any other role but should continue to rely on ranged attacks for dangerous monsters.  By this point, it is safe to use a melee weapon to deal with weaker monsters, and even with maxed-out luck this is usually a good idea in order to conserve ammo: the 2% attrition rate will eventually exhaust your stack of arrows if used on every nonthreatening monster.  This is especially true in SLASH'EM, whose generally higher depths lead to mid-level melee-only monsters spawning at very high base levels, i.e. monsters such as [[frost giant]]s and [[baluchitheria]], not to mention some SLASH'EM-specific monsters such as [[killer beetle]]s and [[mangler]]s.  Said monsters are not particularly dangerous, but their greater HP reserve means they require many arrows to kill, gradually depleting your stack.
 It is better to enchant a stack of (preferably elven) arrows to +7 than to spend the enchantment on a melee weapon, as you will be able to fire up to 6 shots per round with a +7 bow (9 if you are an elf firing elven arrows with a +7 elven bow), with an average damage of 10.5 per hit (double if firing [[silver arrow]]s at silver-haters) plus any applicable strength and skill bonuses. To put this in perspective, an elven ranger, expert in bow, firing +7 elven arrows from a +7 elven bow will fire 4.3 arrows per round, for an average of 3.5 base damage + 7 enchantment bonus + 2 skill bonus = 54 damage per turn. If firing blessed +7 silver arrows from a +7 elven bow at Demogorgon will fire an average of 3.7 arrows per turn, for an average of 3.5 base damage + 7 enchantment bonus + 2 skill bonus + 2.5 blessed bonus + 10.5 silver damage = 93.5 damage per turn.  The abovementioned Plague or Hellfire will add nearly 30 more damage per turn (7 per shot * 3.7).  This is comparable with the damage that can be achieved with firearms, and far more renewable.  Rangers will need to be mindful of water and lava, both of which are more common in SLASH'EM, but thankfully the most dangerous monsters are [[covetous]], and thus easily lured to solid ground.