Impossible
- For situations where the game is impossible to beat, see Unwinnable.
NetHack generates an impossible message when something such as a monster or object reaches an unexpected state, usually as the result of a software bug. An impossible message contains: a short description of the problem, followed by the text Program in disorder!, and sometimes followed by the text (Saving and reloading may fix this problem.)[1] - if an error results in the session being unable to continue, the game will panic instead of issuing an impossible message.
An impossible message is usually caused by a software bug. For example, in NetHack 3.4.3, if a player polymorphed into a hiding monster hides under a corpse and then the corpse rots away, NetHack can generate an impossible message hiding under nothing?.[2] This is bug C343-33.[3]
References
- ↑ src/pline.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 488: function impossible
- ↑ src/mhitu.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 423: hiding under nothing?
- ↑ https://www.nethack.org/v343/bugs.html#C343-33
