Unlocking tool
An unlocking tool is a type of tool in NetHack that can be used by a hero or certain monsters to unlock doors, and can also be used by a hero to unlock a container.
Contents
Generation
All unlocking tools are generated uncursed, unless found on a bones level or in trap "bones".
Description
There are three different types of unlocking tools:
- skeleton key
- lock pick (or osaku for Samurai)
- credit card
The skeleton key and the lock pick are additionally capable of locking doors and containers.
Two artifacts use unlocking tools as base items: The Platinum Yendorian Express Card is an artifact credit card, and The Master Key of Thievery is an artifact skeleton key.
Use
All unlocking tools are used by applying them in the direction of whatever the hero wants to lock or unlock:
- To lock or unlock a door, the hero must select the appropriate cardinal direction while adjacent to the door, and the door must be closed.
- To lock or unlock a container, the hero must select . or > while standing on its square, and the container must both be lockable and have an intact lock, i.e. it was not forced or kicked open.
The chance of successfully locking or unlocking a door or container depends on the tool used, your dexterity, the type of lock, and whether or the hero is a Rogue - a cursed unlocking tool will have a halved chance of success after all other modifiers are applied. While beatitude has an impact on unlocking speed, erosion does not.
The per-action probabilities of success for each occupation are listed in the table below:
| Tool | For Rogues | For non-Rogues | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Door | Box | Door | Box | |
| skeleton key | (70+Dex)% | (75+Dex)% | (70+Dex)% | (75+Dex)% |
| lock pick | (3*Dex + 30)% | (4*Dex + 25)% | (3*Dex)% | (4*Dex)% |
| credit card | (2*Dex + 20)% | (Dex + 20)% | (2*Dex)% | (Dex)% |
The hero will give up if they have not succeeded after around 50 actions. Attempts that are fully completed exercise dexterity whether or not they succeed.
A hero applying an unlocking tool to a door in Minetown in view of a watch member has a 1⁄3 chance during each action of being interrupted and warned, causing the door to become trapped as well[1] - immediately attempting to lock or unlock that door again will anger the entire watch.[2]
A hero that applies an unlocking tool on a mimic disguised as a door will uncover the mimic, and the mimic will have a 1⁄2 chance of absorbing the tool and adding it to its inventory, which is reduced to 1⁄10 for artifacts.[3] Applying an unlocking tool on a visible monster in any other situation will produce a message with no effect.[4]
Monster use
Intelligent monsters with hands that pick up an unlocking tool will use it to unlock locked doors, and pets that can use keys will hold on to them for this purpose.[5] The Wizard of Yendor and the Riders can unlock doors without using an unlocking tool.[6]
Strategy
All unlocking tools weigh less than 5 aum, making it easy for any hero to carry at least one:
- Credit cards are the lightest unlocking tools at 1 aum, but are also the slowest and cannot lock objects like the others.
- Lock picks are the 'heaviest' at 4 aum and the most expensive, but for a Rogue with 18 dexterity they give a 97% chance of (un)locking a box in one turn In all other circumstances, skeleton keys are faster, cheaper and lighter. For Rogues, the lock pick has a higher (un)locking chance than the key for boxes at dexterity 17 or higher, and for doors at dexterity 21 or higher (usually achievable only with gauntlets of dexterity).
- Skeleton keys have the same cost of 10 zm as the credit card, are lighter than lockpicks at 3 aum, and are faster than lock picks for non-Rogue heroes.
The disadvantages of kicking down doors and forcing open locked containers often make it prudent for a hero to pick up an unlocking tool of any kind as soon as possible if they did not start with one, and they can upgrade to the one best suited for their role as necessary - a backup tool or two is also a worthwhile idea in case the primary one is stolen, misplaced or permanently lost.
History
All the unlocking tools first appear in NetHack 3.0.0 - from this version to NetHack 3.0.10, including variants based on those versions, there are also special shaped keys that fit specific locks on chests and large boxes: a triangular key can only open a container with a triangular keyhole, while the other unlocking tools can be used for any keyhole, but lock and unlock slower in comparison.
Below is a list of keys in NetHack 3.0.10 and the locks that they fit in:
| Key | Lock |
|---|---|
| round | round |
| square | square |
| triangular | triangular |
| oval | oval |
| octagonal | octagonal |
| hexagonal | hexagonal |
| cylindrical | wide |
| irregular | notched |
| conical | large round |
| wedge-shaped | large square |
In time, the shaped keys were believed to add nothing of value to the game, and in NetHack 3.1.0 they were removed.
Messages
- I don't think <the monster> would appreciate that.
- You attempted to apply an unlocking tool to a monster that is not a disguised mimic.
Variants
SLASH'EM
SLASH'EM changes unlocking tools, adding a chance of breaking[7][8], and also adding some artifact keys. Blessed unlocking tools and artifact unlocking tools will never break.
Breakage
| Tool | Breakage Chance |
|---|---|
| credit card | 1/20 |
| 1/30 (tourist picking a door) | |
| skeleton key | 1/15 |
| lockpick | 1/30 |
| 1/40 (rogue) |
Strategy
Since the unlocking tools now break, it is a good idea to carry more than one on your person. There's nothing worse than locking yourself into a shop, only to have your pick break when you try to get out again!
Once you get an artifact unlocking tool, this becomes less of a problem. Generally, you'll only need to worry about it being stolen. Note that the alignment keys are available to all players who progress far enough into the game. After this, use the key matching your alignment to avoid artifact blast, and keep the other keys in your bag of holding or in a stash.
UnNetHack
Starting with version 5.1, it is possible for UnNetHack monsters to pick up keys and use them to unlock doors.
See also
- wand of opening
- wand of locking
- spellbook of knock
- spellbook of wizard lock
- The Master Key of Thievery, an artifact skeleton key
- The Platinum Yendorian Express Card, an artifact credit card
- Alignment key (SLASH'EM only)
References
- ↑ src/monmove.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 87: watch_on_duty function
- ↑ src/monmove.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 92: angers watch if already warned
- ↑ src/lock.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 465: unlocking tools and mimics imitating doors
- ↑ src/lock.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 462
- ↑ src/monmove.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 47
- ↑ src/monmove.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 820
- ↑ lock.c in SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2, line 416 boxes, chests
- ↑ lock.c in SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2, line 518 doors
This page is based on a spoiler by Dylan O'Donnell. The original license is:
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