C-ration
The C-ration is a type of comestible that appears in Nethack. It is veggy and considered vegan.
Contents
Generation
C-rations are not randomly generated.
Mercenaries that are part of the Yendorian Army have a 1⁄2 chance of being generated with a C-ration.[1]
Description
When eaten, C-rations grant 300 nutrition, and usually take one move to consume similar to K-rations. C-rations can tame domestic canines and felines and pacify domestic equines.
Strategy
C-rations are a valuable source of quick nutrition in desperate situations, and are plentiful for characters that can clear out barracks like those found in Fort Ludios and the Castle. Though K-rations and C-rations are similar in function and heavier than lembas wafers, C-rations are somewhat less preferred due to K-rations having a higher overall nutrition and higher nutrition-per-turn value.
C-rations are prized by vegan spellcasters who are not eligible for hungerless casting.
History
The C-ration first appears in NetHack 2.3e.
Origin
C-rations are a real-world ration type that was issued to U.S. military soldiers, most notably during World War II. Each C-ration's meal consisted of two cans, a "B" or bread unit and an "M" or meat unit, with a day's rations consisting of three such meals. As the name suggests, the "M" units contained meat, and even the contents of the "B" units were never vegan, unlike C-rations in NetHack. They were very simple fare that quickly gained a reputation for being monotonous.[2]
The C in C-ration does not stand for anything; rather it served to classify these pre-made field rations alongside A-rations (cafeteria-style food served on a military base) and B-rations (communal meals prepared by field kitchens). First issued in 1938, C-rations were officially used until 1958. At that point, they were replaced by the effectively identical Wikipedia:Meal, Combat, Individual; many soldiers continued to refer to the MCI as the C-ration. It was not until 1981 that the Wikipedia:Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) replaced the C-ration-like MCI. In addition to offering a greater variety, the MRE also adopted flat packaging, replacing the cumbersome round cans of the C-ration/MCI.
Messages
- This C-ration is bland.
- You ate a non-cursed C-ration.
Variants
SLASH'EM
In SLASH'EM, C-rations can be upgraded into cram rations or food rations. This also applies to SlashTHEM.
SpliceHack
In SpliceHack, a C-ration can be combined with a food ration at a furnace to create a K-ration.
