The Orb of Detection - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: some copyedit

2025-11-07T06:29:19Z

some copyedit

Phol ende wodan: /* Description */ upcoming: sinks were changed to {, so searching for '#' no longer finds sinks

2025-11-07T02:26:16Z

‎Description: upcoming: sinks were changed to {, so searching for '#' no longer finds sinks

Umbire the Phantom: ref

2025-04-11T16:51:06Z

ref

Umbire the Phantom: shatterproof, pothole

2025-04-11T16:47:48Z

shatterproof, pothole

Umbire the Phantom: material, bones

2025-04-10T10:39:21Z

material, bones

Umbire the Phantom: pothole

2025-03-04T06:32:13Z

pothole

Umbire the Phantom: correction

2024-11-24T07:17:59Z

correction

Umbire the Phantom: more formatting and such

2024-11-24T00:08:35Z

more formatting and such

Umbire the Phantom: /* Strategy */ word choice

2024-11-23T23:59:59Z

‎Strategy: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* Variants */ potholes

2024-11-23T23:59:39Z

‎Variants: potholes

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    |material=glass
 }}
 '''The Orb of Detection''' is the [[Archeologist]] [[quest artifact]]. It is the prize for completing the [[Archeologist quest]], and its default alignment is [[lawful]]. Its [[base item]] type is a [[crystal ball]].
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 ==Description==
-While carried, The Orb of Detection grants [[magic resistance]], [[telepathy]] and [[half spell damage]]. [[Applying]] the Orb has the same effect as applying any crystal ball of the same beatitude, and [[invoking]] the Orb toggles intrinsic [[invisibility]] on or off unless the [[hero]] has permanent invisibility.
+While carried, The Orb of Detection grants [[magic resistance]], [[telepathy]] and [[half spell damage]]. The Orb of Detection functions the same as any crystal ball does when applied, but will not shatter under normal circumstances as a regular crystal ball does.{{refsrc|src/dothrow.c|2059|nethack=3.6.7|comment=artifacts with fragile base items will not break}} [[Invoking]] the Orb toggles intrinsic [[invisibility]] on or off, unless the [[hero]] has permanent invisibility.
-Applying a [[cancelled]] crystal ball now destroys it, regardless of whether or not it is an artifact.}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|As part of the many crystal ball changes per {{commit/28fb6fc67b40316356d7c6464e88cb611bf1b60a}}, the intelligence check when applying an artifact crystal ball now uses a d8 instead of d20 if it is the hero's own [[quest artifact]], or d16 for other quest artifacts. Applying a [[cancelled]] crystal ball also destroys it, regardless of whether or not it is an artifact.}}
 ==Strategy==
 {{for|optimized invocation|Invoke#Optimum invocation schedule}}
-An Archaeologist's typically high [[intelligence]] lets them make more consistent use of the Orb of Detection for detecting [[magic portal]], though they will still need an enchanted [[helm of brilliance]] to guarantee success. The invoke effect is not especially useful, since sources of invisibility are commonplace.
+An Archaeologist's typically high [[intelligence]] lets them make more consistent use of the Orb of Detection for detecting [[magic portal]]s, though they will still need an enchanted [[helm of brilliance]] to guarantee success. The invoke effect is not especially useful, since sources of temporary and permanent invisibility are commonplace.
 As an artifact [[wish]] for other lawful roles, The Orb of Detection has a more useful base type than the [[Magic Mirror of Merlin]] and provides half spell damage, but is much heavier. For other roles electing to carry the artifact for its magic resistance, it is recommended to find a second source of worn magic resistance before challenging the [[Wizard of Yendor]], since he can steal it.
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|The changes to the intelligence check for crystal balls guarantees that an Archeologist of any race can reliably use their quest artifact.}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|The changes to crystal balls discussed above guarantee that an Archeologist of any race can reliably use their quest artifact&mdash;it is also possible to reveal all [[dungeon feature]]s on the current level by entering the glyph of any one such feature when applying a crystal ball.}}
 ==History==

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 {{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|The intelligence check when applying an artifact crystal ball now uses a d8 instead of d20 if it is the hero's own [[quest artifact]], or d16 for other quest artifacts.
-For crystal balls in general: A hero can search for [[dungeon feature]]s by entering any of [[Staircase|{{white|<}}]] [[Staircase|{{white|>}}]] [[Altar|{{white|_}}]] [[Throne|{{white|\}}]] [[Sink|{{white|#}}]] [[Fountain|{{white|{}}]]. Doing so will find all of these features regardless of the specific feature entered.
+For crystal balls in general: A hero can search for [[dungeon feature]]s by entering any of [[Staircase|{{white|<}}]] [[Staircase|{{white|>}}]] [[Altar|{{white|_}}]] [[Throne|{{white|\}}]] [[Fountain|{{white|{}}]]. Doing so will find all of these features regardless of the specific feature entered.
 Crystal balls are generated with 3-7 charges: Uncursed charging adds 1-2 charges up to the maximum of 7, blessed charging increases the number of charges to 7 and also blesses the ball, and cursed charging removes all charges and curses the ball.

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 This Orb is a crystal ball of exceptional powers.  When carried, it grants ESP, limits damage done by spells, and protects the carrier from magic missiles.  When invoked it allows the carrier to become invisible.
 }}
 {{nethack-367}}
 [[Category:Quest artifacts|Orb of Detection]]

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 ==Description==
 While carried, The Orb of Detection grants [[magic resistance]], [[telepathy]] and [[half spell damage]]. [[Applying]] the Orb has the same effect as applying any crystal ball of the same beatitude, and [[invoking]] the Orb toggles intrinsic [[invisibility]] on or off unless the [[hero]] has permanent invisibility.
 {{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|The intelligence check when applying an artifact crystal ball now uses a d8 instead of d20 if it is the hero's own [[quest artifact]], or d16 for other quest artifacts.
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 ===EvilHack===
-[[EvilHack]] replaces The Orb of Detection with [[Xiuhcoatl]], a lawful [[Atlatl (EvilHack)|atlatl]].
+[[EvilHack]] replaces The Orb of Detection with [[Xiuhcoatl (EvilHack)|Xiuhcoatl]], a lawful [[Atlatl (EvilHack)|atlatl]].
 ===xNetHack===

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    |cost=2500
    |weight=150
 }}
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 ==Generation==
-For Archeologists, The Orb of Detection is always generated on the goal level of the Archeologist quest, where it is placed on the same square as the [[Minion of Huhetotl]].
+For Archeologists, The Orb of Detection is always generated on the goal level of the Archeologist quest, where it is placed on the same square as the [[Minion of Huhetotl]]. If an Archeologist loads a [[bones]] level containing the quest artifact, it will always be reverted to its base item.
 ==Description==

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 An Archaeologist's typically high [[intelligence]] lets them make more consistent use of the Orb of Detection for detecting [[magic portal]], though they will still need an enchanted [[helm of brilliance]] to guarantee success. The invoke effect is not especially useful, since sources of invisibility are commonplace.
-As a lawful artifact wish, The Orb of Detection has a more useful base type than the [[Magic Mirror of Merlin]] and provides half spell damage, but is much heavier. For other roles electing to carry the artifact for its magic resistance, it is recommended to find a second source of worn magic resistance before challenging the [[Wizard of Yendor]], since he can steal it.
+As an artifact [[wish]] for other lawful roles, The Orb of Detection has a more useful base type than the [[Magic Mirror of Merlin]] and provides half spell damage, but is much heavier. For other roles electing to carry the artifact for its magic resistance, it is recommended to find a second source of worn magic resistance before challenging the [[Wizard of Yendor]], since he can steal it.
 ==Variants==
-Many variants implement [[L (person)|L]]'s [[Itlachiayaque]] Patch, which replaces the Orb of Detection with Itlachiayaque&mdash;xNetHack implements this patch, but additionally allows Itlachiayaque to be invoked and used like a crystal ball. [[EvilHack]] instead replaces the artifact with [[Xiuhcoatl]], a lawful [[atlatl]].
+Many variants implement [[L (person)|L]]'s [[Itlachiayaque]] Patch, which replaces the Orb of Detection with Itlachiayaque.
 ==Encyclopedia entry==