Difference between revisions of "Alignment"
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| + | '''Alignment''' in [[NetHack]] is a trichotomy: '''lawful''', '''neutral''' or '''chaotic'''. The following things have an alignment: | ||
| + | |||
| + | * Your [[Hero|character]] | ||
| + | * [[Monster]]s | ||
| + | * [[Altar]]s | ||
| + | * [[Quest artifact]]s | ||
| + | * [[Artifact weapon]]s | ||
| + | * [[:Category:Dungeon branches|Dungeon branches]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Altars to [[Moloch]] are considered '''unaligned''' - that is, not lawful, neutral or chaotic. Additionally, some artifact weapons are non-aligned. This means they express no preference for the alignment of their wielders, not that they are in some way allied to Moloch. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The interactions between objects of different alignments are many and varied. Two things are considered '''co-aligned''' when their alignments are the same, and '''cross-aligned''' when they are different. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Your alignment== | ||
| + | |||
| + | You choose your alignment at the beginning of the game. It can be changed by wearing a [[helm of opposite alignment]], or by sacrificing at a cross-aligned altar under certain circumstances. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Lawful=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Advantages==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | * Easy access to [[Excalibur]] | ||
| + | * More peaceful monsters in the [[Gnomish Mines]] | ||
| + | * Only way to play [[Knight]]s and [[Samurai]] | ||
| + | * [[Grayswandir]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Disadvantages==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | * The [[mysterious force]] is harsher | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Neutral=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Advantages==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | * Best choice of artifacts to wish for | ||
| + | * All alignments available with a helm of opposite alignment | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Chaotic=== | ||
The '''chaotic''' [[alignment]] consists of [[player]]s who aim for convenience and care not for order. | The '''chaotic''' [[alignment]] consists of [[player]]s who aim for convenience and care not for order. | ||
Every [[elf]] is chaotic. | Every [[elf]] is chaotic. | ||
| − | + | Even the priest(ess) of [[Moloch]] is chaotic. You might expect such a person to be unaligned as Moloch is, but apply a [[stethoscope]] and check. | |
| − | + | ==== Advantages ==== | |
| − | + | * An [[elf]] might be a difficult race to play, but much of the best weapons and armour in the game is elven, and elves start the game with knowledge about them. Every elf is chaotic, so if you want to play as one, you will be that alignment. The best common dagger is an [[elven dagger]], and like other elven items it is wooden so it never rusts. | |
| − | |||
| − | * An [[elf]] might be a difficult race to play, but much of the best weapons and armour in the game is elven, and elves start the game with knowledge about them. Every elf is chaotic, so if you want to play as one, you will be that alignment. The best dagger is an [[elven dagger]], and like other elven items it is | ||
* There is no alignment penalty if a chaotic player murders another of its own race or shoplifts. Unlike lawful and neutral characters, chaotic adventurers simply need not worry about such things. Chaotic players can even attack [[peaceful]] monsters if they so choose. | * There is no alignment penalty if a chaotic player murders another of its own race or shoplifts. Unlike lawful and neutral characters, chaotic adventurers simply need not worry about such things. Chaotic players can even attack [[peaceful]] monsters if they so choose. | ||
* Chaotic adventurers can even sacrifice corpses of their own race on [[altar]]s; lawful and neutral characters do not act in such manners, so there is less available for them to sacrifice. When a chaotic player sacrifices in this manner, the chaotic [[god]] sometimes dispatches a peaceful unique [[demon]] to the altar, one less demon to fight in [[Gehennom]]. | * Chaotic adventurers can even sacrifice corpses of their own race on [[altar]]s; lawful and neutral characters do not act in such manners, so there is less available for them to sacrifice. When a chaotic player sacrifices in this manner, the chaotic [[god]] sometimes dispatches a peaceful unique [[demon]] to the altar, one less demon to fight in [[Gehennom]]. | ||
* Lawful characters like social settings and orderly group activity, while chaotic characters prefer individual action. Remember that ''NetHack'' is a one-player game. NetHack is best suited for chaotic players, especially as chaotic players can own [[pet]]s just as well as lawful and neutral players can. (Though in ''[[SLASH'EM]]'', a lawful god will sometimes dispatch a tame monster to defend a lawful player who prays while having low hit points.) | * Lawful characters like social settings and orderly group activity, while chaotic characters prefer individual action. Remember that ''NetHack'' is a one-player game. NetHack is best suited for chaotic players, especially as chaotic players can own [[pet]]s just as well as lawful and neutral players can. (Though in ''[[SLASH'EM]]'', a lawful god will sometimes dispatch a tame monster to defend a lawful player who prays while having low hit points.) | ||
| − | === | + | ==Monster alignment== |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | A monster's alignment can determine whether it is peaceful or not towards you. | |
| + | |||
| + | White, gray, and black [[unicorn]]s are lawful, neutral and chaotic respectively. Your god expects you to respect co-aligned unicorns and destroy cross-aligned ones. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Altar alignment== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Co-aligned altars can be used to [[pray]] and offer things to your [[god]]. Cross-aligned altars can be converted, but this is not always possible if there is an attendant priest. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Artifact alignment== | ||
| + | |||
| + | If an artifact is intelligent, then in order to touch the artifact safely, you must have the same alignment as the artifact, must be of the same class (if it's a quest artifact), must have non-negative alignment, and must not be in the form of something the artifact specially attacks. Otherwise, you will be blasted by the artifact's power, sustain 4d10 damage (2d10 if you have magic resistance), and abuse your wisdom. | ||
| + | |||
| + | If you are of the wrong class and fail at least one of the other conditions above, then the artifact will furthermore "evade your grasp!" and you will not be able to use it at all. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Dungeon alignment== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Branches of the dungeon can be aligned in the sense that monster generation in that branch is biased towards monsters of that alignment. For example, the [[Gnomish Mines]] is lawful, while [[Vlad's Tower]] is chaotic. | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{DOD}} | ||
[[Category:Articles]] | [[Category:Articles]] | ||
Revision as of 14:36, 6 July 2006
Alignment in NetHack is a trichotomy: lawful, neutral or chaotic. The following things have an alignment:
Altars to Moloch are considered unaligned - that is, not lawful, neutral or chaotic. Additionally, some artifact weapons are non-aligned. This means they express no preference for the alignment of their wielders, not that they are in some way allied to Moloch.
The interactions between objects of different alignments are many and varied. Two things are considered co-aligned when their alignments are the same, and cross-aligned when they are different.
Contents
Your alignment
You choose your alignment at the beginning of the game. It can be changed by wearing a helm of opposite alignment, or by sacrificing at a cross-aligned altar under certain circumstances.
Lawful
Advantages
- Easy access to Excalibur
- More peaceful monsters in the Gnomish Mines
- Only way to play Knights and Samurai
- Grayswandir
Disadvantages
- The mysterious force is harsher
Neutral
Advantages
- Best choice of artifacts to wish for
- All alignments available with a helm of opposite alignment
Chaotic
The chaotic alignment consists of players who aim for convenience and care not for order.
Every elf is chaotic.
Even the priest(ess) of Moloch is chaotic. You might expect such a person to be unaligned as Moloch is, but apply a stethoscope and check.
Advantages
- An elf might be a difficult race to play, but much of the best weapons and armour in the game is elven, and elves start the game with knowledge about them. Every elf is chaotic, so if you want to play as one, you will be that alignment. The best common dagger is an elven dagger, and like other elven items it is wooden so it never rusts.
- There is no alignment penalty if a chaotic player murders another of its own race or shoplifts. Unlike lawful and neutral characters, chaotic adventurers simply need not worry about such things. Chaotic players can even attack peaceful monsters if they so choose.
- Chaotic adventurers can even sacrifice corpses of their own race on altars; lawful and neutral characters do not act in such manners, so there is less available for them to sacrifice. When a chaotic player sacrifices in this manner, the chaotic god sometimes dispatches a peaceful unique demon to the altar, one less demon to fight in Gehennom.
- Lawful characters like social settings and orderly group activity, while chaotic characters prefer individual action. Remember that NetHack is a one-player game. NetHack is best suited for chaotic players, especially as chaotic players can own pets just as well as lawful and neutral players can. (Though in SLASH'EM, a lawful god will sometimes dispatch a tame monster to defend a lawful player who prays while having low hit points.)
Monster alignment
A monster's alignment can determine whether it is peaceful or not towards you.
White, gray, and black unicorns are lawful, neutral and chaotic respectively. Your god expects you to respect co-aligned unicorns and destroy cross-aligned ones.
Altar alignment
Co-aligned altars can be used to pray and offer things to your god. Cross-aligned altars can be converted, but this is not always possible if there is an attendant priest.
Artifact alignment
If an artifact is intelligent, then in order to touch the artifact safely, you must have the same alignment as the artifact, must be of the same class (if it's a quest artifact), must have non-negative alignment, and must not be in the form of something the artifact specially attacks. Otherwise, you will be blasted by the artifact's power, sustain 4d10 damage (2d10 if you have magic resistance), and abuse your wisdom.
If you are of the wrong class and fail at least one of the other conditions above, then the artifact will furthermore "evade your grasp!" and you will not be able to use it at all.
Dungeon alignment
Branches of the dungeon can be aligned in the sense that monster generation in that branch is biased towards monsters of that alignment. For example, the Gnomish Mines is lawful, while Vlad's Tower is chaotic.
This page is based on a spoiler by Dylan O'Donnell. The original license is:
Redistribution, copying, and editing of these spoilers, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
- The original contributors to any spoiler must continue to be credited.
- Any modifications to the spoiler must be acknowledged and credited.
