Difference between revisions of "Astral call bug"

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The '''Astral call bug''' is a fairly serious loophole in NetHack's handling of the [[call]] command when using telepathy. The bug is [[bug#SC343-11|listed]] as:
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The '''Astral call bug''' was a fairly serious loophole in [[NetHack 3.4.3]] that affected handling of the [[call]] command when using telepathy. It was fixed in [[NetHack 3.6.0]]. The bug was [[bug#SC343-11|listed]] as:
  
 
  SC343-11: It's possible to easily find the identity of a high priest on the Astral plane.
 
  SC343-11: It's possible to easily find the identity of a high priest on the Astral plane.
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#Reach the [[Astral Plane]] with [[telepathy]], then blind yourself
 
#Reach the [[Astral Plane]] with [[telepathy]], then blind yourself
 
#Use [[call]] ({{kbd|C}}) to select a {{white|@}} which looks like it might be a high priest(ess)
 
#Use [[call]] ({{kbd|C}}) to select a {{white|@}} which looks like it might be a high priest(ess)
#Call him or her anything you like
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#Call them anything you like
  
 
The game will then tell you:
 
The game will then tell you:
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where <DEITY> is the name of a god in your pantheon. Repeat the procedure until you find a high priest(ess) of your god. You then know which [[high altar]] to go to first, significantly cutting down the time spent (and hence danger) on the [[Astral Plane]].
 
where <DEITY> is the name of a god in your pantheon. Repeat the procedure until you find a high priest(ess) of your god. You then know which [[high altar]] to go to first, significantly cutting down the time spent (and hence danger) on the [[Astral Plane]].
  
This bug is serious in that it can be used on [[public server]]s. If you are caught using it, people will think less of your ascension.
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All known [[public server]]s that host NetHack 3.4.3, such as [[hardfought]], patch this bug. Even if you find an unpatched version of the game, exploiting this bug is considered [[cheating]], and if you are caught using it, people will think less of your ascension.
 
 
paxed has fixed this bug on [[nethack.alt.org]].
 
  
 
[[Category:Bugs]]
 
[[Category:Bugs]]
 
[[Category:Cheating]]
 
[[Category:Cheating]]
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{{noversion}}

Latest revision as of 14:17, 15 August 2022

The Astral call bug was a fairly serious loophole in NetHack 3.4.3 that affected handling of the call command when using telepathy. It was fixed in NetHack 3.6.0. The bug was listed as:

SC343-11: It's possible to easily find the identity of a high priest on the Astral plane.
SC343-12: Hero using telepathy can abuse Call on the Astral Plane.

It works as follows:

  1. Reach the Astral Plane with telepathy, then blind yourself
  2. Use call (C) to select a @ which looks like it might be a high priest(ess)
  3. Call them anything you like

The game will then tell you:

The high priestess of <DEITY> doesn't like being called names!

where <DEITY> is the name of a god in your pantheon. Repeat the procedure until you find a high priest(ess) of your god. You then know which high altar to go to first, significantly cutting down the time spent (and hence danger) on the Astral Plane.

All known public servers that host NetHack 3.4.3, such as hardfought, patch this bug. Even if you find an unpatched version of the game, exploiting this bug is considered cheating, and if you are caught using it, people will think less of your ascension.