Free action
Free action is a property in NetHack that protects you from many sources of paralysis. This property is distinct from "free actions" that you can take without incrementing the turn counter, as well as the additional movement points that you or a monster can gain with speed.
The only source of the free action property is the ring of free action.
The following information pertains to an upcoming version (3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that the information below is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate it.
Orange dragon scales and orange-scaled mail now also grant free action when worn, derived from variants like dNetHack and FIQHack.Contents
Description
Free action nullifies or blunts the effects of the following:
- Paralayzing container traps will have no effect.[1]
- Thrown or quaffed potions of paralysis or sleeping and their vapors will have no effect.[2][3][4][5]
- The paralyze and stun monster spells will only affect you for 1 turn.[6][7]
- Paralyzing attacks from the following sources:[8]
- The passive gaze of a floating eye[9][10]
- The passive and touch attacks of a gelatinous cube
- The claw attacks of ghouls and Yeenoghu
- The bite of a guardian naga
- The touch attack of a shade
Free action does not protect you from:
- Being "paralyzed" by fear, e.g. from encountering a ghost or chatting to a skeleton
- 'Paralysis' by lightning in clouds on the Plane of Air[11]
- Immobility induced by various other items, properties and elements (e.g., fumbling or using the #turn extended command)
Strategy
Free action is often considered essential, especially for endgame areas such as Moloch's Sanctum and the Astral Plane. A thrown potion of paralysis can easily result in your death if one hits you in the midst of a pitched battle, and hostile aligned priests can end your run with a single ill-timed paralyze spell.
Players often combine a ring of free action with a wielded potion of paralysis to immobilize and dispose of difficult (and usually covetous) monsters with much less risk to themselves. Some will wish or polypile for a ring of free action if they have not found one by the time they are ready to take on the Wizard of Yendor and perform the Invocation.
Despite its usefulness, it is very possible to ascend without a source of free action, as most forms paralysis outside of the potion can be compensated for with other precautions: monsters with paralyzing attacks and spells can be kept out of melee range, and items such as a ring of conflict and/or an amulet of life saving can be useful in a pinch.
The following information pertains to an upcoming version (3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that the information below is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate it.
Orange dragon scales and orange-scaled mail grant free action as well as sleep resistance when worn, making the property more accessible without the ring.Messages
- You momentarily stiffen.
- Free action prevented a paralyzing attack or a chest trap from paralyzing you.
- You stiffen momentarily.
- Free action prevented a potion of paralysis or its vapors from paralyzing you.
- You momentarily stiffen under <monster>'s gaze!
- Free action prevented a floating eye's passive gaze from paralyzing you.[9]
- You stiffen momentarily under <monster>'s gaze.
- As above, while you are polymorphed into a monster with a gaze attack that you used on the floating eye.[10]
- You stiffen momentarily under your gaze.
- As above, but you were polymorphed into a floating eye and applied a mirror on yourself.[12]
- You stiffen briefly.
- Free action prevented the paralyze monster spell from paralyzing you.
Variants
SLASH'EM
In SLASH'EM, free action also protects against holding attacks, including drowning grab attacks and mind flayer tentacle attacks (which are reclassified as holding attacks). The chance is dependent on your Luck, ranging from a 1⁄2 chance at 0 Luck to 9⁄10 at maximum Luck.
Messages
- <foo> grabs you, but you quickly free yourself!
- Free action prevented a monster from grabbing you with a holding attack.
NetHack brass
In NetHack brass, orange dragon scale mail also provides free action alongside its sleep resistance.
dNetHack
In dNetHack, free action also extends the amount of turns that a player has to act while turning to stone.
Orange dragon scales and scaled armor provide free action alongside sleep resistance, and The Iron Spoon of Liberation provides free action when carried.
Eurynome, the Lonely Dancer is a spirit that grants free action.
FIQHack
In FIQHack, free action prevents you or a monster from being subjected to slowing effects (e.g. the wand of slow monster) 2⁄3 of the time. Orange dragon scales and scale mail provide free action alongside sleep resistance, and Snickersnee also provides free action.
Free action is one of the properties that can be granted by quaffing or dipping into a potion of wonder.
EvilHack
In EvilHack, the shield of mobility provides free action while worn, and monsters will wear both the shield and the ring of free action if possible; monster AI will give magic resistance and reflection priority over free action.
References
- ↑ src/trap.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 4945
- ↑ src/potion.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 792
- ↑ src/potion.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 807
- ↑ src/potion.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 1716
- ↑ src/potion.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 1727
- ↑ src/mcastu.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 475
- ↑ src/mcastu.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 671
- ↑ src/mhitu.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 1181
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 src/uhitm.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 2893
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 src/polyself.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 1429: Using a gaze attack against a floating eye while polymorphed
- ↑ src/timeout.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 1613
- ↑ src/apply.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 864
