Save scumming - Revision history

Netzhack: /* Methodology */ Recover utility

2026-02-04T13:15:10Z

‎Methodology: Recover utility

Umbire the Phantom: small tweaks

2025-05-21T10:07:35Z

small tweaks

Ion frigate: remove old overly specific advice; mention wizmode backups (something I've done more in IVAN than NetHack, but still valid)

2025-05-21T06:15:34Z

remove old overly specific advice; mention wizmode backups (something I've done more in IVAN than NetHack, but still valid)

Nabru: copyedit, typos

2024-06-10T23:58:29Z

copyedit, typos

Ardub23: Remove extra empty line and red link

2019-08-30T05:53:15Z

Remove extra empty line and red link

Quantum Immortal: legitimate uses, + transfer between computers

2017-01-29T23:41:54Z

legitimate uses, + transfer between computers

Paxed: Text replace - "Nethack" to "NetHack"

2012-02-14T15:13:42Z

Text replace - "Nethack" to "NetHack"

24.125.191.31: /* Criticism */

2010-05-20T11:36:05Z

‎Criticism

24.125.191.31: /* Player skills */

2010-05-20T11:35:40Z

‎Player skills

76.105.160.200: /* Player skills */

2010-01-25T03:15:27Z

‎Player skills

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 One can write scripts to speed this process up.
-NetHack provides no way to save a running game, as the game file is only created when you save and exit.
+NetHack provides no way to save a running game, as the save file is only created when you save and exit. However, the "[[recover]]" utility included with the source code can recreate a save file from the level files of a game in progress. It was intended to recover games lost to crashes or forced logouts. The save file recovered represents the state of play the last time the player moved from one level to another.
 === On multiuser systems ===

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-When playing NetHack on a local machine (ie. not on a [[public server]] such as [[NAO]]), it is possible to sidestep the feature that makes the game so difficult: the permanence of death.
+When playing NetHack on a local machine (i.e., not on a [[public server]] such as [[NAO]]), it is possible to sidestep the feature that makes the game so difficult: the permanence of [[Death (character)|death]].
 The concept of '''save scumming''' is simple: exit NetHack via the Shift-S save command, then copy the saved game from NetHack's [[playground]] to a different directory.  Run NetHack again, and continue playing until you [[die]].  At this point, restore the saved files, copying them back from the temporary directory to the playground, and restart the game.  Assuming the correct files were copied, the game continues as it was.  This process is [[cheating]], especially because the legitimate way to sidestep death is [[explore mode]].
@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 ==Legitimate uses==
 On a few systems where NetHack is lacking a [[recover]] program, it might be necessary to guard against game or system crashes. Another legitimate use would be to use save scumming in place of explore mode, while learning how to play. A player might also back up a "standard" character for [[wizard mode]], to save time setting up new characters for testing; the [[wizkit]] option provides some, but not all, of the same functionality.
@@ Line 23: / Line 22: @@
 === But, on the other hand... ===
 This wiki is a nest of spoilers designed to smooth over the same bumps and pitfalls that a player may seek to avoid via save scumming. So who are we to judge, eh?
@@ Line 39: / Line 37: @@
 However, this problem can be circumvented by running as root and using cp -p which will preserve the permissions to the file.
 [[Category:Cheating]]

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 ==Legitimate uses==
-On a few systems where NetHack is lacking a [[recover]] program, it might be necessary to guard against game or system crashes. Another legitimate use would be to use save scumming in place of explore mode, while learning how to play.
+On a few systems where NetHack is lacking a [[recover]] program, it might be necessary to guard against game or system crashes. Another legitimate use would be to use save scumming in place of explore mode, while learning how to play. A player might also back up a "standard" character for [[wizard mode]], to save time setting up new characters for testing; the [[wizkit]] option provides some, but not all, of the same functionality.
-A variant of save scumming would be to transfer the save file to an other computer. When doing this, beware that save files aren't compatible between versions or platforms, not even between 32 and 64 bit builds: you must use the same executable for this to work with no issues.
+A variant of save scumming would be to transfer the save file to another computer. When doing this, beware that save files aren't compatible between versions or platforms, not even between 32 and 64 bit builds: you must use the same executable for this to work with no issues.  Depending on the computers involved, this may require compatibility layers or even full-blown emulation.
 == Criticism ==

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 ==Legitimate uses==
-On a few systems, it might be necessary to guard against game or system crashes, because some copies of NetHack lack a working [[recover]] program. An other legitimate use, would be to use save scumming in place of explore mode, while learning how to play.
+On a few systems where NetHack is lacking a [[recover]] program, it might be necessary to guard against game or system crashes. Another legitimate use would be to use save scumming in place of explore mode, while learning how to play.
-A variant of save scumming would be to transfer the save file to an other computer. When doing this, beware, that save files aren't compatible between versions or platforms, not even between 32 and 64 bit builds. You must use the same executable, for this to work with no issues.
+A variant of save scumming would be to transfer the save file to an other computer. When doing this, beware that save files aren't compatible between versions or platforms, not even between 32 and 64 bit builds: you must use the same executable for this to work with no issues.
-Specifically, if you are transfering from a 32bit linux to it's 64bit version. It's easier to just install the 32bit version of nethack in the 64bit system. In ubuntu that can easily be done with
+Specifically, if you are transfering from a 32-bit Linux to its 64-bit version. It's easier to just install the 32-bit version of NetHack in the 64-bit system. In Ubuntu and other Debian-based Linux distributions, this can easily be done with `sudo apt-get install nethack:i386`. For other platforms, you'll need compatibility layers if available, or even full blown emulation.
 == Criticism ==
 === Experience ===
-NetHack is designed so that death is permanent (except for the [[amulet of life saving]], of course). This adds difficulty to the game, but also adds depth. When making a mistake might cost a week of gameplay, one thinks longer about each action, and investigates more fully the possible repercussions. It also adds excitement: taking risks with a carefully cultivated [[player|character]] becomes more exhilarating when the stakes are higher.
+NetHack is designed so that death is permanent (except for the [[amulet of life saving]]). This adds difficulty to the game, but also adds depth. When making a mistake might cost a week of gameplay, one has to think longer about each action, and investigate more fully the possible repercussions. It also adds excitement: taking risks with a carefully cultivated [[player|character]] becomes more exhilarating when the stakes are higher.
 === Player skills ===
-While savescumming may allow a new player to go farther in the dungeon than he or she has before, it will ultimately create a weaker [[player]] than if he or she had toughed it out. By saving and restoring games, the savescummer avoids the learning of the intricacies of NetHack, and will never learn the art of extracting him or herself from difficult positions. Death is part of the game, and a player who savescums to avoid death is not truly playing NetHack. NetHack is like playing several games of chess at the same time. Save scumming is like setting up the board so that you will win without having to think about anything at all. The ONLY reason you should back up your games is to avoid losing whole weeks of characters due to system crashes.
+While savescumming may allow a new player to go farther in the dungeon than he or she has before, it will ultimately create a weaker [[player]] than if they had toughed it out. By saving and restoring games, the savescummer avoids learning of the intricacies of NetHack, and will never learn the art of extracting him or herself from difficult positions. Death is part of the game, and a player who savescums to avoid death is not truly playing NetHack. NetHack is like playing several games of chess at the same time. Save scumming is like setting up the board so that you will win without having to think about anything at all. The ONLY reason you should back up your games is to avoid losing whole weeks of characters due to system crashes.
 There are some cases where saving a game at a difficult choke point and then playing through multiple ways, trying to find a solution, can be more enlightening than dying and starting over. If you do this, you should probably not continue and finish the game for the reasons explained in the rest of this article. Using the save-preserving feature of [[explore mode]] may be a preferable means of accomplishing this. Alternatively, you can re-create the situation in a separate [[wizard mode]] game, do the testing which solution is best, and then go back to your original game. This sidesteps the entire "cheating" issue.
@@ Line 35: / Line 31: @@
 The methods by which NetHack saves games differ per version.  Similarly, the saved games are not necessarily compatible between [[version]]s or between platforms.
-The easiest way to savescum is to start a brand new game.  Once it is started, examine the directories in which NetHack is storing data and find one with a name similar to "save".  Now save and exit the game.  Examine the directory again, and see what files have appeared.  Make a list of the files and the filename syntax (usually the player name with a number).  Now restart the game and let the character die.  Once again, examine the directory and see which files disappeared.  After doing this you should have a good idea of what files hold the game's information.
+The easiest way to savescum is to start a brand new game.  Once it is started, examine the directories in which NetHack is storing data and find one with a name similar to `save`.  Now save and exit the game.  Examine the directory again, and see what files have appeared.  Make a list of the files and the filename syntax (usually the player name with a number).  Now restart the game and let the character die.  Once again, examine the directory and see which files disappeared.  After doing this you should have a good idea of what files hold the game's information.
 One can write scripts to speed this process up.

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 This wiki is a nest of spoilers designed to smooth over the same bumps and pitfalls that a player may seek to avoid via save scumming. So who are we to judge, eh?
 == Methodology ==
-The methods by which NetHack saves games differ per version.  Similarly, the saved games are not necessarily compatible between [[version]]s or between [[platform]]s.
+The methods by which NetHack saves games differ per version.  Similarly, the saved games are not necessarily compatible between [[version]]s or between platforms.
 The easiest way to savescum is to start a brand new game.  Once it is started, examine the directories in which NetHack is storing data and find one with a name similar to "save".  Now save and exit the game.  Examine the directory again, and see what files have appeared.  Make a list of the files and the filename syntax (usually the player name with a number).  Now restart the game and let the character die.  Once again, examine the directory and see which files disappeared.  After doing this you should have a good idea of what files hold the game's information.

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 === Player skills ===
-While savescumming may allow a new player to go farther in the dungeon than he or she has before, it will ultimately create a weaker [[player]] than if he or she had toughed it out. By saving and restoring games, the savescummer avoids the learning of the intricacies of NetHack, and will never learn the art of extracting him or herself from difficult positions. Death is part of the game, and a player who savescums to avoid death is not truly playing NetHack.  Nethack is like playing several games of chess at the same time. Save scumming is like setting up the board so that you will win without having to think about anything at all. The ONLY reason you should back up your games is to avoid losing whole weeks of characters due to system crashes.
+While savescumming may allow a new player to go farther in the dungeon than he or she has before, it will ultimately create a weaker [[player]] than if he or she had toughed it out. By saving and restoring games, the savescummer avoids the learning of the intricacies of NetHack, and will never learn the art of extracting him or herself from difficult positions. Death is part of the game, and a player who savescums to avoid death is not truly playing NetHack. Nethack is like playing several games of chess at the same time. Save scumming is like setting up the board so that you will win without having to think about anything at all. The ONLY reason you should back up your games is to avoid losing whole weeks of characters due to system crashes.
 There are some cases where saving a game at a difficult choke point and then playing through multiple ways, trying to find a solution, can be more enlightening than dying and starting over. If you do this, you should probably not continue and finish the game for the reasons explained in the rest of this article. Using the save-preserving feature of [[explore mode]] may be a preferable means of accomplishing this. Alternatively, you can re-create the situation in a separate [[wizard mode]] game, do the testing which solution is best, and then go back to your original game. This sidesteps the entire "cheating" issue.
 There are many roleplaying games that allow you to avoid death by saving and restoring your game. By savescumming, a player is missing out on the true fun of the game, at which point NetHack is far less superior to any other RPG available.
 == Methodology ==