Small shield - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: /* History */ word choice

2026-07-18T03:52:12Z

‎History: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* History */ cites

2026-07-18T03:44:00Z

‎History: cites

Umbire the Phantom: /* History */ details I relearned

2026-07-18T03:42:58Z

‎History: details I relearned

Umbire the Phantom: doesn't seem to have been rustable

2026-07-03T23:30:05Z

doesn't seem to have been rustable

Umbire the Phantom: word choice, etc.

2026-06-11T21:02:23Z

word choice, etc.

Umbire the Phantom: adjust strategy to mention the other shields

2026-05-27T14:31:20Z

adjust strategy to mention the other shields

Umbire the Phantom: /* History */ rephrase

2026-05-27T14:27:08Z

‎History: rephrase

Umbire the Phantom: /* SLASH'EM */ clarify starting shield stuff, playermons

2026-05-11T14:14:24Z

‎SLASH'EM: clarify starting shield stuff, playermons

Umbire the Phantom: /* Variants */ lede + slash'em

2026-05-11T13:46:38Z

‎Variants: lede + slash'em

Umbire the Phantom: fix old ref

2026-05-11T13:05:36Z

fix old ref

@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 ==History==
-The small shield first appears in [[NetHack 3.0.0]], where it replaces the [[Shield (item)|basic shield]] from [[NetHack 2.3e]] and previous versions. From NetHack 3.0.0 to [[NetHack 3.0.10]] including some variants based on those versions, the small shield is made of [[metal]] rather than wood{{refsrc|objects.c|394|nethack=3.0.0}}&mdash;[[NetHack 3.1.0]] gives the small shield its current material of wood.{{refsrc|objects.c|319|nethack=3.1.0}}
+The small shield first appears in [[NetHack 3.0.0]], where it replaces the [[Shield (item)|basic shield]] from [[NetHack 2.3e]] and previous versions. From NetHack 3.0.0 to [[NetHack 3.0.10]], including some variants based on those versions, the small shield is made of [[metal]] rather than wood{{refsrc|objects.c|394|nethack=3.0.0}}&mdash;[[NetHack 3.1.0]] gives the small shield its current material.{{refsrc|objects.c|319|nethack=3.1.0}}
 Additionally, in versions up to [[NetHack 3.6.7]] the small shield lacks an unidentified appearance and is the only shield to have a lower spellcasting penalty.{{refsrc|src/spell.c|1802|nethack=3.6.7|comment=extra shield penalty doesn't apply for small shields}} [[NetHack 5.0.0]] introduces the shield of drain resistance and shield of shock resistance via {{commit|5d3a1e684bed7a7d622a2a1ad72d466e94c169d3}}, and adds the "wooden shield" appearance that it shares with them.

@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 ==History==
-The small shield first appears in [[NetHack 3.0.0]], where it replaces the [[Shield (item)|basic shield]] from [[NetHack 2.3e]] and previous versions. From NetHack 3.0.0 to [[NetHack 3.0.10]] including some variants based on those versions, the small shield is made of [[metal]] rather than wood&mdash;[[NetHack 3.1.0]] gives the small shield its current material of wood.
+The small shield first appears in [[NetHack 3.0.0]], where it replaces the [[Shield (item)|basic shield]] from [[NetHack 2.3e]] and previous versions. From NetHack 3.0.0 to [[NetHack 3.0.10]] including some variants based on those versions, the small shield is made of [[metal]] rather than wood{{refsrc|objects.c|394|nethack=3.0.0}}&mdash;[[NetHack 3.1.0]] gives the small shield its current material of wood.{{refsrc|objects.c|319|nethack=3.1.0}}
 Additionally, in versions up to [[NetHack 3.6.7]] the small shield lacks an unidentified appearance and is the only shield to have a lower spellcasting penalty.{{refsrc|src/spell.c|1802|nethack=3.6.7|comment=extra shield penalty doesn't apply for small shields}} [[NetHack 5.0.0]] introduces the shield of drain resistance and shield of shock resistance via {{commit|5d3a1e684bed7a7d622a2a1ad72d466e94c169d3}}, and adds the "wooden shield" appearance that it shares with them.

@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 ==History==
-The small shield first appears in [[NetHack 3.0.0]], where it replaces the [[Shield (item)|basic shield]] from [[NetHack 2.3e]] and previous versions.
+The small shield first appears in [[NetHack 3.0.0]], where it replaces the [[Shield (item)|basic shield]] from [[NetHack 2.3e]] and previous versions. From NetHack 3.0.0 to [[NetHack 3.0.10]] including some variants based on those versions, the small shield is made of [[metal]] rather than wood&mdash;[[NetHack 3.1.0]] gives the small shield its current material of wood.
-From NetHack 3.0.0 to [[NetHack 3.6.7]], including some variants based on those versions, the small shield lacks an unidentified appearance and is also the only shield to have a lower spellcasting penalty.{{refsrc|src/spell.c|1802|nethack=3.6.7|comment=extra shield penalty doesn't apply for small shields}} [[NetHack 5.0.0]] introduces the shield of drain resistance and shield of shock resistance via {{commit|5d3a1e684bed7a7d622a2a1ad72d466e94c169d3}}, and adds the "wooden shield" appearance that it shares with them.
+Additionally, in versions up to [[NetHack 3.6.7]] the small shield lacks an unidentified appearance and is the only shield to have a lower spellcasting penalty.{{refsrc|src/spell.c|1802|nethack=3.6.7|comment=extra shield penalty doesn't apply for small shields}} [[NetHack 5.0.0]] introduces the shield of drain resistance and shield of shock resistance via {{commit|5d3a1e684bed7a7d622a2a1ad72d466e94c169d3}}, and adds the "wooden shield" appearance that it shares with them.
 ==Variants==

@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 ==History==
-The small shield first appears in [[NetHack 3.0.0]]: it replaces the [[Shield (item)|shield]] from [[NetHack 2.3e]] and previous versions that is somewhat similar, but is [[metallic]] rather than wooden and thus susceptible to [[rust]].
+The small shield first appears in [[NetHack 3.0.0]], where it replaces the [[Shield (item)|basic shield]] from [[NetHack 2.3e]] and previous versions.
 From NetHack 3.0.0 to [[NetHack 3.6.7]], including some variants based on those versions, the small shield lacks an unidentified appearance and is also the only shield to have a lower spellcasting penalty.{{refsrc|src/spell.c|1802|nethack=3.6.7|comment=extra shield penalty doesn't apply for small shields}} [[NetHack 5.0.0]] introduces the shield of drain resistance and shield of shock resistance via {{commit|5d3a1e684bed7a7d622a2a1ad72d466e94c169d3}}, and adds the "wooden shield" appearance that it shares with them.

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 Lines of code are present that give [[Dwarf (starting race)|dwarven]], [[Elf (starting race)|elven]] and [[Orc (starting race)|orcish]] [[heroes]] in roles that start with small shields a [[Racial equipment|race-appropriate shield]] instead, though only the line regarding orcs and [[orcish shield]]s is not commented out and it also has no applicable roles.{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|232|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|241|nethack=5.0.0}}{{refsrc|src/u_init.c|249|nethack=5.0.0}}
-Small shields make up {{frac|3|500}} (0.6%) of all shields that are randomly generated on the ground, in general [[shop]]s or as [[death drop]]s. Used armor dealerships and antique weapon outlets can also stock small shields.
+Small shields make up {{frac|3|500}} (0.6%) of all armor that is randomly generated on the ground, in general [[shop]]s or as [[death drop]]s. Used armor dealerships and antique weapon outlets can also stock small shields.
 [[Mercenaries]] have a {{frac|2|3}} chance of being [[generated with]] small shields that count for 1 point of their target [[AC]].{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|659|nethack=5.0.0}} [[Aligned cleric]]s, [[high cleric]]s and the [[Arch Priest]] always generate with a small shield.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|726|nethack=5.0.0}}
@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 The small shield is one of the better shields for heroes that are spellcasters and/or have a low [[carrying capacity]]&mdash;characters in other roles or builds that do not utilize [[two weapon combat]] may consider sticking with a highly-enchanted small shield in the long term if they have [[reflection]] covered by other slots. A Valkyrie's starting small shield is worth wearing for a long time due to its high enchantment, though many players eventually ditch the shield in favor of two-weapon combat.
-An [[elven shield]] may be a superior option for certain builds depending on the character's exact needs: it has higher base AC and can be enchanted safely from +5, in exchange for weighing 10 more [[aum]] and inhibiting spellcasting more than the small shield. The [[shield of shock resistance]] and [[shield of drain resistance]] also cover valuable and/or rare resistance properties while possessing the same weight and lower spellcasting penalties as the regular small shield&mdash;the small shield is also the easiest of the three to informally identify, as it is the only one of the wooden shields to have a different base cost at 3 [[zm]] and the only one that [[auto-identifies]] when bought or sold in shops.
+An [[elven shield]] may be a superior option for certain builds depending on the character's exact needs: it has higher base AC and can be enchanted safely from +5, in exchange for weighing 10 more [[aum]] and inhibiting spellcasting more than the small shield. The [[shield of shock resistance]] and [[shield of drain resistance]] also cover valuable and (in the case of drain resistance) rare properties while possessing the same weight and lower spellcasting penalties as the regular small shield does. The small shield is the easiest of the three wooden shields to informally identify, as it is the only one to have a different base cost at 3 [[zm]] and the only one that [[auto-identifies]] when bought or sold in shops.
 ==History==
 The small shield first appears in [[NetHack 3.0.0]]: it replaces the [[Shield (item)|shield]] from [[NetHack 2.3e]] and previous versions that is somewhat similar, but is [[metallic]] rather than wooden and thus susceptible to [[rust]].
-From NetHack 3.0.0 to [[NetHack 3.6.7]], including some variants based on those versions, the small shield lacks an unidentified appearance and is also the only shield to have a lower spellcasting penalty.{{refsrc|src/spell.c|1802|nethack=3.6.7|comment=extra shield penalty doesn't apply for small shields}} The introduction of the shield of drain resistance and shield of shock resistance in NetHack 5.0.0 adds the "wooden shield" appearance that it shares with them.
+From NetHack 3.0.0 to [[NetHack 3.6.7]], including some variants based on those versions, the small shield lacks an unidentified appearance and is also the only shield to have a lower spellcasting penalty.{{refsrc|src/spell.c|1802|nethack=3.6.7|comment=extra shield penalty doesn't apply for small shields}} [[NetHack 5.0.0]] introduces the shield of drain resistance and shield of shock resistance via {{commit|5d3a1e684bed7a7d622a2a1ad72d466e94c169d3}}, and adds the "wooden shield" appearance that it shares with them.
 ==Variants==
-''NetHack'' [[variant]]s created prior to [[NetHack 5.0.0]] will generally retain the small shield as the only shield of its type.
+''NetHack'' [[variant]]s created prior to NetHack 5.0.0 will generally retain the small shield as the only shield of its type.
 In ''NetHack'' variants with [[object materials]] systems, shields larger than the small shield may be exempt from additional spellcasting penalties if they are made of a lightweight, non-metallic material such as [[bone]].<ref name="penalty"/>

@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 ===SLASH'EM===
-In [[SLASH'EM]], [[Priest/SLASH'EM|Priests]] start the game with a blessed +2 small shield.{{refsrc|u_init.c|153|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}
+In [[SLASH'EM]], [[Priest/SLASH'EM|Priests]] start the game with a blessed +2 small shield, while [[Valkyrie/SLASH'EM|Valkyries]] retain their starting +3 small shield.{{refsrc|u_init.c|153|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}{{refsrc|u_init.c|231|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}} [[Knight/SLASH'EM|Knights]] are given a [[large shield]] instead of a small shield.{{refsrc|u_init.c|110|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}
 ===dNetHack===

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 The small shield first appears in [[NetHack 3.0.0]]: it replaces the [[Shield (item)|shield]] from [[NetHack 2.3e]] and previous versions that is somewhat similar, but is [[metallic]] rather than wooden and thus susceptible to rust.
-From NetHack 3.0.0 to [[NetHack 3.6.7]], the small shield is the only shield of its type and thus lacks an unidentified appearance&mdash;it is also the only shield to have a lower spellcasting penalty.{{refsrc|src/spell.c|1802|nethack=3.6.7|name=penalty|comment=extra shield penalty doesn't apply for small shields}}
+From NetHack 3.0.0 to [[NetHack 3.6.7]], the small shield is the only shield of its type and thus lacks an unidentified appearance&mdash;it is also the only shield to have a lower spellcasting penalty.{{refsrc|src/spell.c|1802|nethack=3.6.7|comment=extra shield penalty doesn't apply for small shields}}
 ==Variants==