Scroll of mail - Revision history

Gogok: source for mail

2025-09-13T19:58:29Z

source for mail

Umbire the Phantom: proper detailing and organization

2024-11-15T01:28:55Z

proper detailing and organization

Umbire the Phantom: /* Effects */ word choice

2024-11-15T01:11:09Z

‎Effects: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: note non-magical status

2024-11-15T01:10:37Z

note non-magical status

Phol ende wodan: change Description to Effects; fix implication that all scrolls of mail prompt for breaking illiterate; note that it disappears when read

2024-11-15T01:05:27Z

change Description to Effects; fix implication that all scrolls of mail prompt for breaking illiterate; note that it disappears when read

Umbire the Phantom: copyedit

2024-11-01T09:11:45Z

copyedit

JASON10668: Add languages template.

2024-11-01T06:40:31Z

Add languages template.

Umbire the Phantom: thanks darth!

2023-10-11T14:08:37Z

thanks darth!

Darth l33t: this doesn't really qualify as "abuse"

2023-10-09T16:59:23Z

this doesn't really qualify as "abuse"

Umbire the Phantom: /* Description */ word choice

2023-09-24T08:52:10Z

‎Description: word choice

@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 ===Effects===
-[[Read]]ing a scroll of mail delivered by mail daemon may launch an external mail program if appropriate, and will otherwise simply print the mail's message directly. Reading a delivered scroll breaks [[illiterate]] [[conduct]], but unlike with other scrolls this will produce a warning prompt that gives the hero a chance to avoid reading the scroll if the conduct is intact.
+[[Read]]ing a scroll of mail delivered by mail daemon may launch an external mail program if appropriate, and will otherwise simply print the mail's message directly. Reading a delivered scroll breaks [[illiterate]] [[conduct]], but unlike with other scrolls this will produce a warning prompt that gives the hero a chance to avoid reading the scroll if the conduct is intact.{{refsrc|src/read.c|343|nethack=3.6.7}}
 Reading a scroll of mail that is wished for, written, created by [[polypiling]], or else discovered in a [[bones]] file has no effect other than to print a message describing it as "junk mail addressed to the finder of the Eye of Larn".{{refsrc|src/read.c|1014|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/objnam.c|3926|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/write.c|336|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/bones.c|138|nethack=3.6.7}} Reading any scroll that was not delivered by a mail daemon will break illiterate conduct without prompting, like most other scrolls.

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 * [[Public server]]s often allow people watching a game to send short messages to the person playing the game.
-Scrolls of can be [[wish]]ed for or written with a [[magic marker]] like other scrolls: In particular, an error in wishing for [[body armor]] mail may also leave the player with a scroll of mail instead, e.g. a wish for "blessed greased fixed +3 dragon mail" will produce a blessed greased scroll of mail.
+Scrolls of mail can be found in [[bones]], [[wish]]ed for or written with a [[magic marker]] like other scrolls. In particular, an error in wishing for [[body armor]] mail may also leave the player with a scroll of mail instead, e.g. a wish for "blessed greased fixed +3 dragon mail" will produce a blessed greased scroll of mail.
-==Effects==
+==Description==
 [[Read]]ing a scroll of mail delivered by mail daemon may launch an external mail program if appropriate, and will otherwise simply print the mail's message directly. Reading a delivered scroll breaks [[illiterate]] [[conduct]], but unlike with other scrolls this will produce a warning prompt that gives the hero a chance to avoid reading the scroll if the conduct is intact.
-Reading a scroll of mail that is wished for, written, [[polypile]]d, or else discovered in a [[bones]] file has no effect other than to print a message describing it as "junk mail addressed to the finder of the Eye of Larn". (The roguelike [[Larn]] would send the user mail when they won.){{refsrc|src/objnam.c|3926|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|1014|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/write.c|336|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/bones.c|138|nethack=3.6.7}} Reading any scroll that was not delivered by a mail daemon will break illiterate conduct without prompting, like most other scrolls.
+Reading a scroll of mail that is wished for, written, created by [[polypiling]], or else discovered in a [[bones]] file has no effect other than to print a message describing it as "junk mail addressed to the finder of the Eye of Larn".{{refsrc|src/read.c|1014|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/objnam.c|3926|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/write.c|336|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/bones.c|138|nethack=3.6.7}} Reading any scroll that was not delivered by a mail daemon will break illiterate conduct without prompting, like most other scrolls.
 Despite the scroll being non-magical, it still disappears when it is read.
 ==Strategy==
-In theory, a hero can acquire as many scrolls of mail as desired by sending many messages to themselves. To prevent abuse, scrolls of mail lack many of the gameplay applications of other scrolls:
+In theory, a hero can acquire as many scrolls of mail as desired by sending many messages to themselves, though they have limited effects on the average game. An enterprising hero can still make use of junk mail in the following ways:
 * They can be thrown to propel yourself backward while [[levitating]].<ref>[https://nhqdb.alt.org/?2390 nhqdb: quote #2390]</ref>
 * Huge quantities of mail scrolls can be used for a [[Stealing from shops|shop-robbing]] exploit known as the "200 rock steal".
@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and earlier versions, including some variants based on these versions reading a scroll of mail immediately breaks [[illiterate]] [[conduct]], and a scroll of mail will also "activate" an [[Elbereth]] square. As of [[NetHack 3.6.0]], the reminder for illiterate conduct is included, and Elbereth's mechanics are significantly changed, meaning that scrolls of mail no longer affect squares with Elbereth engraved.
 ==Variants==

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 ==Effects==
-[[Read]]ing a scroll of mail delivered by mail daemon may launch an external mail program if appropriate, and will otherwise simply print the message directly. Reading a delivered scroll breaks [[illiterate]] [[conduct]], but unlike with other scrolls this will produce a warning prompt that gives a chance to avoid reading the scroll if the conduct is intact.
+[[Read]]ing a scroll of mail delivered by mail daemon may launch an external mail program if appropriate, and will otherwise simply print the mail's message directly. Reading a delivered scroll breaks [[illiterate]] [[conduct]], but unlike with other scrolls this will produce a warning prompt that gives the hero a chance to avoid reading the scroll if the conduct is intact.
 Reading a scroll of mail that is wished for, written, [[polypile]]d, or else discovered in a [[bones]] file has no effect other than to print a message describing it as "junk mail addressed to the finder of the Eye of Larn". (The roguelike [[Larn]] would send the user mail when they won.){{refsrc|src/objnam.c|3926|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|1014|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/write.c|336|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/bones.c|138|nethack=3.6.7}} Reading any scroll that was not delivered by a mail daemon will break illiterate conduct without prompting, like most other scrolls.

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 }}
-A '''scroll of mail''' is a type of [[scroll]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''.
+A '''scroll of mail''' is a type of non-[[Magical item|magical]] [[scroll]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''.
 ==Generation==

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 Scrolls of can be [[wish]]ed for or written with a [[magic marker]] like other scrolls: In particular, an error in wishing for [[body armor]] mail may also leave the player with a scroll of mail instead, e.g. a wish for "blessed greased fixed +3 dragon mail" will produce a blessed greased scroll of mail.
-==Description==
+==Effects==
 [[Read]]ing a scroll of mail delivered by mail daemon may launch an external mail program if appropriate, and will otherwise simply print the message directly. Reading a delivered scroll breaks [[illiterate]] [[conduct]], but unlike with other scrolls this will produce a warning prompt that gives a chance to avoid reading the scroll if the conduct is intact.
-Reading a scroll of mail that is wished for, written, [[polypile]]d, or else discovered in a [[bones]] file has no effect, and prints a message describing it as "junk mail addressed to the finder of the Eye of Larn". (The roguelike [[Larn]] would send the user mail when they won.){{refsrc|src/objnam.c|3926|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|1014|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/write.c|336|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/bones.c|138|nethack=3.6.7}}
+Reading a scroll of mail that is wished for, written, [[polypile]]d, or else discovered in a [[bones]] file has no effect other than to print a message describing it as "junk mail addressed to the finder of the Eye of Larn". (The roguelike [[Larn]] would send the user mail when they won.){{refsrc|src/objnam.c|3926|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|1014|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/write.c|336|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/bones.c|138|nethack=3.6.7}} Reading any scroll that was not delivered by a mail daemon will break illiterate conduct without prompting, like most other scrolls.
 ==Strategy==

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 ==Generation==
-Mail scrolls are never generated randomly in the dungeon. You can turn the [[Options#mail|option "mail"]] off to prevent scrolls of mail being delivered.
+Scrolls of mail are never generated randomly in the dungeon, and only exist if the <code>MAIL</code> [[compile-time option]] is defined - the official [[Windows]] binaries do not define <code>MAIL</code>.
-The [[mail daemon]] will deliver scrolls of mail to [[you]] in-game, with the source of the scrolls varying according to which operating system you play on:
+Scrolls of mail are delivered to the [[hero]] by the [[mail daemon]] if the [[Options#mail|"mail" option]] is set on, and can have varying sources depending on where the game is played:
-* On UNIX and Linux, you can set up an alert for incoming email.
+* On UNIX and Linux, the player can set up an alert for incoming email.
 * On DOS and Amiga, a scroll with a random message is delivered every 2000-5000 turns.
 * [[Public server]]s often allow people watching a game to send short messages to the person playing the game.
-If the <code>MAIL</code> [[compile-time option]] isn't defined, scrolls of mail will not exist in the game. Attempting to write one will reject the name, and wishing for one will give a random scroll instead. The official [[Windows]] binaries do not define <code>MAIL</code>.
+Scrolls of can be [[wish]]ed for or written with a [[magic marker]] like other scrolls: In particular, an error in wishing for [[body armor]] mail may also leave the player with a scroll of mail instead, e.g. a wish for "blessed greased fixed +3 dragon mail" will produce a blessed greased scroll of mail.
 ==Description==
-[[Read]]ing a scroll of mail delivered by mail daemon may launch an external mail program if appropriate, and will otherwise simply print the message directly. Reading a delivered scroll breaks [[illiterate]] [[conduct]], but unlike with other scrolls, you will be warned and given the chance to abort if the conduct is intact.
+[[Read]]ing a scroll of mail delivered by mail daemon may launch an external mail program if appropriate, and will otherwise simply print the message directly. Reading a delivered scroll breaks [[illiterate]] [[conduct]], but unlike with other scrolls this will produce a warning prompt that gives a chance to avoid reading the scroll if the conduct is intact.
-If you read a scroll of mail that was wished for, written, [[polypile]]d, or discovered in a [[bones]] file, it will be described as "junk mail addressed to the finder of the Eye of Larn". (The roguelike [[Larn]] would send the user mail when they won.){{refsrc|src/objnam.c|3926|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|1014|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/write.c|336|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/bones.c|138|nethack=3.6.7}}
+Reading a scroll of mail that is wished for, written, [[polypile]]d, or else discovered in a [[bones]] file has no effect, and prints a message describing it as "junk mail addressed to the finder of the Eye of Larn". (The roguelike [[Larn]] would send the user mail when they won.){{refsrc|src/objnam.c|3926|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|1014|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/write.c|336|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/bones.c|138|nethack=3.6.7}}
 ==Strategy==
-In theory, a player can acquire as many scrolls of mail as desired by sending many messages to themselves. To prevent abuse, scrolls of mail lack many of the gameplay applications of other scrolls:
+In theory, a hero can acquire as many scrolls of mail as desired by sending many messages to themselves. To prevent abuse, scrolls of mail lack many of the gameplay applications of other scrolls:
 * They will not [[polymorph]] into other objects or merge into a [[paper golem]], instead turning into junk mail.{{refsrc|src/zap.c|1243|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|1370|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/zap.c|1468|nethack=3.6.7}}
@@ Line 47: / Line 46: @@
 ==Variants==
 ===UnNetHack===
-In [[UnNetHack]], if you have hints enabled, the mail daemon will deliver a scroll of mail once per game that contains a hint 250-500 turns after you begin a game.
+In [[UnNetHack]], if the player has hints enabled, the mail daemon will deliver a scroll of mail once per game that contains a hint 250-500 turns after the beginning of a game.
 ==References==

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:40, 1 November 2024
Line 1:		Line 1:
		+	{{languages}}
	{{scroll		{{scroll
	\|name=scroll of mail		\|name=scroll of mail

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 Mail scrolls are never generated randomly in the dungeon. You can turn the [[Options#mail|option "mail"]] off to prevent scrolls of mail being delivered.
-The source of the scrolls varies according to which operating system you play on:
+The [[mail daemon]] will deliver scrolls of mail to [[you]] in-game, with the source of the scrolls varying according to which operating system you play on:
 * On UNIX and Linux, you can set up an alert for incoming email.
 * On DOS and Amiga, a scroll with a random message is delivered every 2000-5000 turns.
 * [[Public server]]s often allow people watching a game to send short messages to the person playing the game.
-* On any operating system, they can be [[wish]]ed for or written with a [[magic marker]]. In particular, an error in wishing for mail [[body armor]] may also leave the player with a scroll of mail instead (e.g., a wish for "blessed greased fixed +3 dragon mail" will produce a blessed greased scroll of mail).
+* On any operating system, they can also be [[wish]]ed for or written with a [[magic marker]] like other scrolls. In particular, an error in [[wish]]ing for mail [[body armor]] may also leave the player with a scroll of mail instead (e.g., a wish for "blessed greased fixed +3 dragon mail" will produce a blessed greased scroll of mail).
-If the <code>MAIL</code> [[compile-time option]] isn't defined, scrolls of mail don't exist in the game. Attempting to write one will reject the name, and wishing for one will give a random scroll instead. The official [[Windows]] binaries don't define <code>MAIL</code>.
+If the <code>MAIL</code> [[compile-time option]] isn't defined, scrolls of mail will not exist in the game. Attempting to write one will reject the name, and wishing for one will give a random scroll instead. The official [[Windows]] binaries do not define <code>MAIL</code>.
 ==Description==
-On some systems, the [[mail daemon]] can deliver mail with messages from outside the game to [[you]] - [[read]]ing the scroll may launch an external mail program, or simply show the message directly. Reading this scroll breaks [[illiterate]] [[conduct]], but unlike with other scrolls, you will be warned and given the chance to abort if the conduct is intact.
+[[Read]]ing a scroll of mail delivered by mail daemon may launch an external mail program if appropriate, and will otherwise simply print the message directly. Reading a delivered scroll breaks [[illiterate]] [[conduct]], but unlike with other scrolls, you will be warned and given the chance to abort if the conduct is intact.
-If you read a scroll of mail that was wished for, written, polypiled, or discovered in a [[bones]] file, it will be described as "junk mail addressed to the finder of the Eye of Larn". (The roguelike [[Larn]] would send the user mail when they won.){{refsrc|src/objnam.c|3926|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|1014|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/write.c|336|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/bones.c|138|nethack=3.6.7}}
+If you read a scroll of mail that was wished for, written, [[polypile]]d, or discovered in a [[bones]] file, it will be described as "junk mail addressed to the finder of the Eye of Larn". (The roguelike [[Larn]] would send the user mail when they won.){{refsrc|src/objnam.c|3926|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/read.c|1014|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/write.c|336|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/bones.c|138|nethack=3.6.7}}
 ==Strategy==
@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 ==History==
-In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and earlier versions, reading a scroll of mail immediately breaks [[illiterate]] [[conduct]]; a scroll of mail will also "activate" an [[Elbereth]] square in these versions. As of [[3.6.0]], the reminder for illiterate conduct is included, and Elbereth's mechanics mean that scrolls of mail no longer affect squares with Elbereth engraved.
+The scroll of mail first appears in [[Hack 1.0.2]].
-==See also==
+In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and earlier versions, including some variants based on these versions reading a scroll of mail immediately breaks [[illiterate]] [[conduct]], and a scroll of mail will also "activate" an [[Elbereth]] square. As of [[NetHack 3.6.0]], the reminder for illiterate conduct is included, and Elbereth's mechanics are significantly changed, meaning that scrolls of mail no longer affect squares with Elbereth engraved.
-* [[Mail daemon]]
 ==References==