Talk:Vorpal Blade - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: reply

2026-06-15T11:37:57Z

PeterG: /* Inspiration for the original Vorpal Sword */ new section

2026-06-15T10:49:10Z

‎Inspiration for the original Vorpal Sword: new section

Umbire the Phantom: reply

2025-10-31T05:11:35Z

Aribog: /* I got it to go snicker-snack! */ new section

2025-10-30T22:26:29Z

‎I got it to go snicker-snack!: new section

Netzhack: /* The Logic of Probabilities */

2016-11-14T22:21:29Z

‎The Logic of Probabilities

Netzhack: /* The Logic of Probabilities */ new section

2016-05-26T20:28:16Z

‎The Logic of Probabilities: new section

Qazmlpok at 12:44, 9 October 2012

2012-10-09T12:44:29Z

Tjr: spelling

2012-10-09T08:37:47Z

spelling

Tjr: some thoughts about weapons

2012-10-09T08:36:34Z

some thoughts about weapons

Blackcustard: /* On the usefulness of Vorpal */ Sign your edits custard.

2012-10-09T03:26:30Z

‎On the usefulness of Vorpal: Sign your edits custard.

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:37, 15 June 2026
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	—-[[User:PeterG\|PeterG]] ([[User talk:PeterG\|talk]]) 10:49, 15 June 2026 (UTC)		—-[[User:PeterG\|PeterG]] ([[User talk:PeterG\|talk]]) 10:49, 15 June 2026 (UTC)
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		+	:Checks out for me, as I said on IRC. Go for it! --[[User:Umbire the Phantom\|Umbire the Phantom]] ([[User talk:Umbire the Phantom\|talk]]) 11:37, 15 June 2026 (UTC)

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:49, 15 June 2026
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	:Yep, it's a very specific message that's in the crowning routines for [[pray.c]]—it just hasn't been documented proper yet, which is probably what I'll be doing tonight! --[[User:Umbire the Phantom\|Umbire the Phantom]] ([[User talk:Umbire the Phantom\|talk]]) 05:11, 31 October 2025 (UTC)		:Yep, it's a very specific message that's in the crowning routines for [[pray.c]]—it just hasn't been documented proper yet, which is probably what I'll be doing tonight! --[[User:Umbire the Phantom\|Umbire the Phantom]] ([[User talk:Umbire the Phantom\|talk]]) 05:11, 31 October 2025 (UTC)
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		+	== Inspiration for the original Vorpal Sword ==
		+
		+	I was born and bred in Durham City in County Durham in the UK. If you’ve heard the of Durham, it’s probably because it has a Norman Cathedral that is over 950 years old, as well as an adjoining castle that weirdly is part of the University of Durham.
		+
		+	I have just picked up on one of the treasures in Durham Cathedral. It is a medieval sword - the Conyers’ Falchion. And the legend around it is one of the original inspirations for Lewis Carroll’s Vorpal Sword. I’d love to update the “origins” here to reflect that! Museum article here: https://www.durhamcathedral.co.uk/explore/treasures-collections/our-most-famous-items/the-conyers-falchion
		+
		+	Opinions?
		+
		+	—-[[User:PeterG\|PeterG]] ([[User talk:PeterG\|talk]]) 10:49, 15 June 2026 (UTC)

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:11, 31 October 2025
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	I was wielding the Vorpal Blade as a neutral gnomish archeologist and was crowned, giving me the message, among the other crowning messages, "The Vorpal Blade goes snicker-snack!" Can anyone else confirm if that's specific to crowning, potentially while already holding it (rather than getting it as a crowning gift)?--[[User:Aribog\|Aribog]] ([[User talk:Aribog\|talk]]) 22:26, 30 October 2025 (UTC)w		I was wielding the Vorpal Blade as a neutral gnomish archeologist and was crowned, giving me the message, among the other crowning messages, "The Vorpal Blade goes snicker-snack!" Can anyone else confirm if that's specific to crowning, potentially while already holding it (rather than getting it as a crowning gift)?--[[User:Aribog\|Aribog]] ([[User talk:Aribog\|talk]]) 22:26, 30 October 2025 (UTC)w
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		+	:Yep, it's a very specific message that's in the crowning routines for [[pray.c]]—it just hasn't been documented proper yet, which is probably what I'll be doing tonight! --[[User:Umbire the Phantom\|Umbire the Phantom]] ([[User talk:Umbire the Phantom\|talk]]) 05:11, 31 October 2025 (UTC)

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:26, 30 October 2025
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	:No reaction ... so I changed that sentence and the one following it to fix the logic. [[User:Netzhack\|Netzhack]] ([[User talk:Netzhack\|talk]]) 22:21, 14 November 2016 (UTC)		:No reaction ... so I changed that sentence and the one following it to fix the logic. [[User:Netzhack\|Netzhack]] ([[User talk:Netzhack\|talk]]) 22:21, 14 November 2016 (UTC)
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		+	== I got it to go snicker-snack! ==
		+
		+	I was wielding the Vorpal Blade as a neutral gnomish archeologist and was crowned, giving me the message, among the other crowning messages, "The Vorpal Blade goes snicker-snack!" Can anyone else confirm if that's specific to crowning, potentially while already holding it (rather than getting it as a crowning gift)?--[[User:Aribog\|Aribog]] ([[User talk:Aribog\|talk]]) 22:26, 30 October 2025 (UTC)w

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:21, 14 November 2016
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	I'd go on, but NetHack does not allow you to flog a dead horse. [[User:Netzhack\|Netzhack]] ([[User talk:Netzhack\|talk]]) 20:28, 26 May 2016 (UTC)		I'd go on, but NetHack does not allow you to flog a dead horse. [[User:Netzhack\|Netzhack]] ([[User talk:Netzhack\|talk]]) 20:28, 26 May 2016 (UTC)
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		+	:No reaction ... so I changed that sentence and the one following it to fix the logic. [[User:Netzhack\|Netzhack]] ([[User talk:Netzhack\|talk]]) 22:21, 14 November 2016 (UTC)

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:28, 26 May 2016
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	:--[[User:Tjr\|Tjr]] ([[User talk:Tjr\|talk]]) 08:36, 9 October 2012 (UTC)		:--[[User:Tjr\|Tjr]] ([[User talk:Tjr\|talk]]) 08:36, 9 October 2012 (UTC)
	::Something else for vorpal blade's favor: healing. Even regeneration isn't going to help the monster much in normal combat (7.4 expected hit to kill demogorgon would mean 8 additional HP), but it's a big deal when dealing with covetous monsters. Demogorgon isn't going to let you hit him 8 times in a row unless you're on the upstairs. However, with vorpal blade, you don't ''need'' to hit him multiple times in a row; all you need to do is keep hitting him and eventually he'll be instakilled. This is probably more useful against the regular demon princes, as you can't teleport to the upstairs on their levels, and this would allow you to kill the prince without needing to backtrack to the start of the level, constantly trading blows but not doing any lasting damage. -- [[User:Qazmlpok\|Qazmlpok]] ([[User talk:Qazmlpok\|talk]]) 12:44, 9 October 2012 (UTC)		::Something else for vorpal blade's favor: healing. Even regeneration isn't going to help the monster much in normal combat (7.4 expected hit to kill demogorgon would mean 8 additional HP), but it's a big deal when dealing with covetous monsters. Demogorgon isn't going to let you hit him 8 times in a row unless you're on the upstairs. However, with vorpal blade, you don't ''need'' to hit him multiple times in a row; all you need to do is keep hitting him and eventually he'll be instakilled. This is probably more useful against the regular demon princes, as you can't teleport to the upstairs on their levels, and this would allow you to kill the prince without needing to backtrack to the start of the level, constantly trading blows but not doing any lasting damage. -- [[User:Qazmlpok\|Qazmlpok]] ([[User talk:Qazmlpok\|talk]]) 12:44, 9 October 2012 (UTC)
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		+	== The Logic of Probabilities ==
		+
		+	The article now says, "For example, after you hit a monster ten times, there is a 40% chance that you have beheaded it." That's not true. If VB has a 5% chance per hit of beheading a monster, then after the tenth hit, there is a 5% chance that the monster has been beheaded. Because if you behead it on hit 1, 2, ..., or 9, then you don't get a tenth hit.
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		+	While the sentence is apparently intended to say something meaningful, possibly even useful, as it stands it is nonsense.
		+
		+	I'd go on, but NetHack does not allow you to flog a dead horse. [[User:Netzhack\|Netzhack]] ([[User talk:Netzhack\|talk]]) 20:28, 26 May 2016 (UTC)

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:44, 9 October 2012
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	:*Orcrist and Sting can be named to guarantee [[Stormbringer]] as your first sacrifice gift.		:*Orcrist and Sting can be named to guarantee [[Stormbringer]] as your first sacrifice gift.
	:--[[User:Tjr\|Tjr]] ([[User talk:Tjr\|talk]]) 08:36, 9 October 2012 (UTC)		:--[[User:Tjr\|Tjr]] ([[User talk:Tjr\|talk]]) 08:36, 9 October 2012 (UTC)
		+	::Something else for vorpal blade's favor: healing. Even regeneration isn't going to help the monster much in normal combat (7.4 expected hit to kill demogorgon would mean 8 additional HP), but it's a big deal when dealing with covetous monsters. Demogorgon isn't going to let you hit him 8 times in a row unless you're on the upstairs. However, with vorpal blade, you don't ''need'' to hit him multiple times in a row; all you need to do is keep hitting him and eventually he'll be instakilled. This is probably more useful against the regular demon princes, as you can't teleport to the upstairs on their levels, and this would allow you to kill the prince without needing to backtrack to the start of the level, constantly trading blows but not doing any lasting damage. -- [[User:Qazmlpok\|Qazmlpok]] ([[User talk:Qazmlpok\|talk]]) 12:44, 9 October 2012 (UTC)

@@ Line 79: / Line 79: @@
 :*Mean damage calculations are available at [[Artifact_weapon]]
 :*Demonslayer/Vorpal/Sunsword  are good for pets: you can enchant it and be sure your pet won't ever swap it out for an unenchanted but preferred-base-item weapon.
-:*Fire- and Frost Brand will not destroy [[death drop]]s, only the [[monster starting inventory]]. So all you lose are scrolls of teleportation/create monster/earth and various mostly-healing potions.
+:*Fire- and Frost Brand will not destroy [[death drop]]s, only the [[monster starting inventory]]. So all you loose are scrolls of teleportation/create monster/earth and various mostly-healing potions.
 :*Orcrist and Sting can be named to guarantee [[Stormbringer]] as your first sacrifice gift.
 :--[[User:Tjr|Tjr]] ([[User talk:Tjr|talk]]) 08:36, 9 October 2012 (UTC)

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:36, 9 October 2012
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	[[User:Blackcustard\|Blackcustard]] ([[User talk:Blackcustard\|talk]]) 03:26, 9 October 2012 (UTC)		[[User:Blackcustard\|Blackcustard]] ([[User talk:Blackcustard\|talk]]) 03:26, 9 October 2012 (UTC)
		+
		+	:*Mean damage calculations are available at [[Artifact_weapon]]
		+	:*Demonslayer/Vorpal/Sunsword are good for pets: you can enchant it and be sure your pet won't ever swap it out for an unenchanted but preferred-base-item weapon.
		+	:*Fire- and Frost Brand will not destroy [[death drop]]s, only the [[monster starting inventory]]. So all you lose are scrolls of teleportation/create monster/earth and various mostly-healing potions.
		+	:*Orcrist and Sting can be named to guarantee [[Stormbringer]] as your first sacrifice gift.
		+	:--[[User:Tjr\|Tjr]] ([[User talk:Tjr\|talk]]) 08:36, 9 October 2012 (UTC)

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:26, 9 October 2012
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	Like I said, brain dump.		Like I said, brain dump.
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		+	[[User:Blackcustard\|Blackcustard]] ([[User talk:Blackcustard\|talk]]) 03:26, 9 October 2012 (UTC)