Difference between revisions of "Aklys"
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==Strategy== | ==Strategy== | ||
| − | Compared to a stack of dozen daggers, one aklys is far lighter and can be reused indefinitely, at least until it fails to return—and even then, it can simply be retrieved | + | Compared to a stack of a dozen daggers, one aklys is far lighter and can be reused indefinitely, at least until it fails to return—and even then, it can simply be retrieved to re-tether for future use. The aklys also has higher base damage than a dagger; although daggers can be multishot to do more damage, it is usually easier to find a blessed or enchanted aklys in the Mines, compared to a stack of above-average daggers. |
| − | On the other hand, the aklys must be wielded before throwing if you expect it to return: this means one action will be used switching to it before firing, and another switching back if the target gets close and you have a more powerful weapon for melee. There is also the small chance of it backfiring and striking you upon return, though this does not deal much damage - a more pressing concern is having your wielded aklys cursed, which prevents throwing ''and'' switching to a different weapon until it is uncursed. | + | On the other hand, the aklys must be wielded before throwing if you expect it to return: this means one action will be used switching to it before firing, and another switching back if the target gets close and you have a more powerful weapon for melee. There is also the small chance of it backfiring and striking you upon return, though this does not deal much damage - a far more pressing concern is having your wielded aklys cursed, which prevents throwing ''and'' switching to a different weapon until it is uncursed. |
| − | For [[Cavemen]] and [[Priest]]s, who cannot multishot daggers but can achieve Expert in club, an aklys is a definitely worthwhile primary weapon for melee and ranged attacks alike. Other roles can do so, but may benefit more from using the aklys as a backup when their primary projectile runs out; this lets them get away with carrying fewer projectiles than they would otherwise, | + | For [[Cavemen]] and [[Priest]]s, who cannot multishot daggers but can achieve Expert in club, an aklys is a definitely worthwhile primary weapon for melee and ranged attacks alike. Other roles can do so, but may benefit more from using the aklys as a backup when their primary projectile runs out; this lets them get away with carrying fewer projectiles than they would otherwise, saving room for other objects. Those attempting a gnomish [[unofficial conduct|racial ascension]] often consider the aklys as the only acceptable melee weapon—in practice, one is more likely to remember seeing a gnome using this weapon than any other monster. |
==History== | ==History== | ||
Revision as of 07:09, 6 October 2022
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|---|---|
| Name | aklys |
| Appearance | thonged club |
| Damage vs. small | 1d6 |
| Damage vs. large | 1d3 |
| To-hit bonus | +0 |
| Weapon skill | club |
| Size | one-handed |
| Base price | 4 zm (+10/positive enchant) |
| Weight | 15 |
| Material | iron |
An aklys is a type of weapon that appears in NetHack. It uses the club skill, and is made of iron. When unidentified, it appears as a thonged club.
An aklys has the same hit dice versus small and large monsters as a club, but is much lighter. Unlike a club, it can also be used as a projectile weapon, and gains a +2 to-hit bonus when thrown.[1] While wielded in the primary hand, the aklys is tethered to that hand - when thrown, it has a max range of 4 squares and behaves slightly like Mjollnir, returning 99% of the time when thrown.[2][3][4] You will catch a tethered aklys 99% of the time if you are not impaired (i.e. blind, stunned, confused, etc.) in some manner, and it will either land at your feet or hit you in the arm the rest of the time.[5][6]
Contents
Generation
The aklys makes up about 0.8% of randomly generated weapons.
An aklys can be generated on any monster that does not have the strong monster attribute and can use a weapon, but has not received one.[7] As such, the weapon is associated with gnomes, who fall into that subgroup and are spawned in large numbers in the early game, specifically in the Gnomish Mines.
Strategy
Compared to a stack of a dozen daggers, one aklys is far lighter and can be reused indefinitely, at least until it fails to return—and even then, it can simply be retrieved to re-tether for future use. The aklys also has higher base damage than a dagger; although daggers can be multishot to do more damage, it is usually easier to find a blessed or enchanted aklys in the Mines, compared to a stack of above-average daggers.
On the other hand, the aklys must be wielded before throwing if you expect it to return: this means one action will be used switching to it before firing, and another switching back if the target gets close and you have a more powerful weapon for melee. There is also the small chance of it backfiring and striking you upon return, though this does not deal much damage - a far more pressing concern is having your wielded aklys cursed, which prevents throwing and switching to a different weapon until it is uncursed.
For Cavemen and Priests, who cannot multishot daggers but can achieve Expert in club, an aklys is a definitely worthwhile primary weapon for melee and ranged attacks alike. Other roles can do so, but may benefit more from using the aklys as a backup when their primary projectile runs out; this lets them get away with carrying fewer projectiles than they would otherwise, saving room for other objects. Those attempting a gnomish racial ascension often consider the aklys as the only acceptable melee weapon—in practice, one is more likely to remember seeing a gnome using this weapon than any other monster.
History
The aklys first appears in NetHack 1.3d, where it had a relative probability of 1 in 99 and weighed three units; for comparison, the two handed sword was the heaviest at four.[8] This "rarity" was shared with many objects, including even the katana; this remained unchanged until NetHack 3.4.3.
The ability to tether a wielded aklys, throw it and have it return to the player's hand was added in NetHack 3.6.1.
Origin
The word "aklys" comes from the Latin aclys and Greek agkulis, and refers to a Roman missile weapon; it is uncertain whether the "proper" plural would be "aklyses" (going by general English rules) or "aclydes" (by Latin rules)—in any case, the aklys does not stack, so it is unclear what NetHack would use.
There are two types of real-life aklys: one resembled a javelin and measured approximately 2 m (79 in) in length, and was thrown using a leather strap (or amentum); the word was translated as "javelin" in English translations of Roman works such as the Aeneid. The second type of aklys is a small spiked mace or club attached to the wielder's arm by a strap of adjustable length, ensuring the weapon could be retrieved after it was thrown.
The aklys also appears in various fantasy games such as Dungeons & Dragons, where it is found in Dragon Magazine Vol. 7, No. 2, as well as the 1985 Unearthed Arcana supplement by co-creator Gary Gygax. The aklys of Dungeons & Dragons is directly patterned after the second, blunt type of aklys and serves as the basis for the weapon and its hit dice in NetHack.
Variants
Some variants based on 3.4.3 may not have the updated behavior for the aklys introduced in later versions of vanilla NetHack.
UnNetHack
UnNetHack is one of the 3.4.3-based variants that adjusts the aklys to behave like it does in current versions of NetHack.
dNetHack
In dNetHack, you and other monsters can apply an aklys to pound targets as with a polearm.
Encyclopedia entry
A short studded or spiked club attached to a cord allowing
it to be drawn back to the wielder after having been thrown.
It should not be confused with the atlatl, which is a device
used to throw spears for longer distances.
References
- ↑ src/dothrow.c in NetHack 3.6.6, line 1070
- ↑ src/dothrow.c in NetHack 3.6.6, line 1252
- ↑ src/dothrow.c in NetHack 3.6.6, line 1318
- ↑ src/dothrow.c in NetHack 3.6.6, line 1377
- ↑ src/dothrow.c in NetHack 3.6.6, line 1341
- ↑ src/dothrow.c in NetHack 3.6.6, line 1347
- ↑ src/makemon.c in NetHack 3.6.6, line 548
- ↑ http://groups.google.com/group/comp.sources.games/browse_thread/thread/ffca0cd03579c2d5/e566257de569b92b?lnk=st&q=aklys&rnum=1#e566257de569b92b
