Difference between revisions of "Curse items"

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'''Curse items''' is one of the most despicable monster spells in [[NetHack]]. It can be cast in melee range by monsters such as [[lich]]es, or encountered in other ways. It will unbless or [[curse]] a number of your inventory items, which can reduce their effects or make them dangerous and difficult to remove.
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'''Curse items''' is a [[monster spell]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''.
  
It can be used by both mage spell users (of level 11 or higher){{refsrc|mcastu.c|387}} and clerical spell users (of level 10 or higher){{refsrc|mcastu.c|530}}.
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==Description==
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Curse items is a melee-range spell that can be used by any [[monster]] of a sufficient [[Monster level|level]] that can cast spells: monsters that cast [[mage spell]]s must be at least level 10, and monsters that cast [[clerical spell]]s must be at least level 9.{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|17|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=mage spell list}}{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|32|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=clerical spell list}}{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|112|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=mage spell cases}}{{refsrc|src/mcastu.c|158|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=clerical spell cases}} When cast, it will unbless or curse up to 6 items in your character's open inventory, with a separate {{frac|4}} of affecting a steed's [[saddle]] if your character is currently [[riding]], and [[half spell damage]] or [[magic resistance]] reduces this to a maximum of three items (or two with both properties).{{refsrc|src/sit.c|356|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/sit.c|377|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/sit.c|386|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
  
The spell will normally affect 1d6 random items in your inventory if it succeeds; blessed items will become uncursed and uncursed items will become cursed. If you have [[half spell damage]] or [[magic resistance]], only 1d3 items will be affected; if you have both, only 1d2 will be affected.{{refsrc|sit.c|337}}
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Items that are already cursed cannot be targeted by curse items.{{refsrc|src/sit.c|368|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} [[Intelligent artifact]]s each have a {{frac|4|5}} chance of individually resisting the effect, and [[Magicbane]] has a {{frac|19|20}} chance of absorbing the effect entirely.{{refsrc|src/sit.c|339|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/sit.c|371|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
  
[[Magicbane]] will absorb the curse harmlessly 95% of the time if wielded, protecting all of your items. [[Intelligent artifact]]s will individually resist the curse 80% of the time.
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==Strategy==
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Curse items one of the most despised monster spells, due to the various annoying and detrimental effects of curse items: cursed rings and armor will become welded to your finger, cursed weapons will additionally disrupt two-weaponing when welded to you, and cursed food confers less nutrition and may render you unconscious. Cursed tools also become more of a hindrance, with [[unicorn horn]]s made less effective or even harmful; a bag of holding in particular becomes much heavier if unblessed or cursed, which can slow a character down a cursed bag of holding also risks the loss of some of its contents each time you open it.
  
Additionally, despite not being in your inventory, a [[saddle]] has an independent 1/4 chance of being affected.
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In addition to magic resistance and half spell damage, blessing your inventory can provide a cushion of sorts against the spell, since blessed items must be unblessed before they can be made cursed. The contents of [[bag]]s and other [[container]]s are not targeted by this spell, so it is worth bagging certain items when facing spellcasters to avoid having them cursed - a [[sack]] is most ideal for quick stashing, since it has no adverse effects while cursed; an [[oilskin sack]] can also suffice, though it only prevents [[Wet|water damage]] {{frac|2|3}} of the time while cursed. Spare sacks are also useful for keeping curse removal items in, such as [[holy water]] or a blessed [[scroll of remove curse]], to pull out or [[tip]] at a moment's notice. You can also place your bag of holding in a sack if you fear it becoming unblessed or cursed, though this increases the amount of time required to grab any necessary items from it.
  
While [[container]]s can themselves be cursed by this spell, their contents can not. But a [[bag of holding]] becomes much heavier if cursed, and using a cursed bag of holding risks destroying some objects inside. Most players using one will learn the [[spellbook of remove curse|spell of "remove curse"]] or carry a blessed [[scroll of remove curse]], potion of [[holy water]], or a [[wand of cancellation]] in an [[oilskin sack]] or a ([[greased]]) plain [[sack]]. A less preferable alternative is to temporarily stow the bag of holding in a non-magical bag while fighting liches - even if the "outer" bag gets cursed, the Bag of Holding will be safe.
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Characters that can learn and reliably cast the {{spell of|remove curse}} spell will want to keep some [[energy]] available to cast it when needed, and must take care to have at least one hand free. While two-handed weapons are considered unpopular due to severely restricting options while cursed, a character using one (or else using a weapon and a shield) can still access their emergency bag's contents via the #tip [[extended command]] and pick up their curse removal to use should both hands have cursed items welded to them.
  
To minimize the negative effects of this spell, you can bless even those items in main inventory that are not intrinsically improved by being blessed (such as armor).  Another tactic involves filling up inventory slots with individual items that are light and easily obtainable in large numbers (such as [[arrow]]s, [[dart]]s, and [[gem]]s), each given a different name so that they will not stack together.  Since the cursing effect randomly chooses items from inventory, this reduces the chance that a valuable item will be hit.
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An uncommon tactic to minimize the effects of this spell is to fill up inventory slots with individual items that are light and easily obtainable in large numbers (e.g., [[arrow]]s, [[dart]]s, [[gem]]s), then name them each so that they do not stack in order to reduce the odds of a valuable item being affected. Similarly uncommon is using a hostile caster in order to deliberately curse certain items for their alternate effects, which is typically set up in a controlled environment both to avoid more dangerous spells and prevent stronger hostile monsters from appearing.
 
 
If you wield a [[two-handed]] [[weapon]], you should plan ahead in case monsters curse your weapon, e.g. deposit some [[holy water]] in the floor in strategic places.
 
 
 
[[Potion_of_unholy_water#Possible_uses|Some items are better cursed]], and a monster might do you the favor.
 
* You can deliberately get affected by this in a controlled manner.
 
** Drop, bag, or stash everything you wouldn't want cursed.
 
** Use one of the weaker monsters that can cast this, and confine it into a small space with [[Elbereth]] or [[boulder]]s.
 
** Set this up on a low dungeon level, where other generated monsters are less dangerous.
 
* You could leave such items in your inventory during normal play, but they might get destroyed by fire/cold/shock etc.
 
 
 
==Non-spell sources==
 
* [[Pray]]ing: one possible bad effect is a malignant aura.
 
* The [[Wizard of Yendor]]: Once he is dead or the [[Invocation ritual]] has been performed, various effects will occur at random intervals. One of these effects will curse your items.
 
* [[Sit]]ting on a [[throne]] with zero or negative [[Luck]] can produce a curse effect.
 
<!--* Failing to read a [[spellbook]] can theoretically result in a malignant aura, but this cannot actually happen in vanilla 3.4.3 because [[Cursed spellbook|no spellbooks are difficult enough]].-->
 
  
 
==Messages==
 
==Messages==
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{{message|You feel as if you need some help.|A monster cast the spell at you.}}
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{{message|You feel a malignant aura surround you.|The spell was weakened by magic resistance.}}
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{{message|You feel a malignant aura surround the magic-absorbing blade.|Magicbane caught and nullified the cursing effect.}}
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{{message|<The artifact> resists!|An intelligent artifact resisted being cursed by the spell.}}
  
; "You feel as if you need some help."
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==Variants==
: The spell was cast by an adjacent monster
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===UnNetHack===
 
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In [[UnNetHack]], an already-cursed container targeted by the spell will have one random item inside it cursed. This can theoretically happen recursively if you have nested cursed containers - if you are double-bagging to protect your bag of holding, it is important that the bag containing the bag of holding remains non-cursed.
or:
 
 
 
; "You notice a black glow surround you."
 
: The spell was cast remotely by the [[Wizard of Yendor]].
 
or:
 
 
 
; "A black glow surrounds you."
 
: The spell is punishment from a god.
 
 
 
If [[blind]], none of the above messages will be displayed. If [[Hallucination|hallucinating]], the color black will be replaced.
 
 
 
Then:
 
 
 
; "You feel a malignant aura surround you."
 
: Some random inventory items were cursed.
 
 
 
or:
 
  
; "You feel a malignant aura surround the magic-absorbing blade."
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===dNetHack===
: The curse was absorbed by [[Magicbane]].
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In [[dNetHack]], curse items can be cast at a range of roughly five squares,<!--dist2(x(magr), y(magr), tarx, tary) <= 24), or more simply a sqrt(24) radius--> and there are several sources of [[curse resistance]] that can block the spell's effect outright.
  
Then, possibly:
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===EvilHack===
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In [[EvilHack]], spellcasters will use curse items and many other monster spells against other monsters.
  
; "&lt;artifact&gt; resists!"
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Additionally, the [[Infidel]] is a role that is [[weldproof]] and can freely wear and remove cursed items, and their god [[Moloch]] treats cursed items the way other deities treat blessed items and vice versa - in short, Infidels actually prefer certain items to be cursed, and on paper stand to benefit from the curse item spell and other similar effects.
: An [[intelligent artifact]] resisted being cursed.  Will be displayed for each resisting artifact.
 
  
==UnNetHack==
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All of the above information also applies to [[Hack'EM]].
In [[UnNetHack]], if Curse Items targets an already cursed container, one random item inside the bag is cursed instead, making double-bagging to protect your Bag of Holding require that the outer bag be non-cursed for the strategy in order to be effective.
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
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{{nethack-367}}
 
[[Category:Monster spells]]
 
[[Category:Monster spells]]

Latest revision as of 17:28, 29 March 2024

Curse items is a monster spell that appears in NetHack.

Description

Curse items is a melee-range spell that can be used by any monster of a sufficient level that can cast spells: monsters that cast mage spells must be at least level 10, and monsters that cast clerical spells must be at least level 9.[1][2][3][4] When cast, it will unbless or curse up to 6 items in your character's open inventory, with a separate 14 of affecting a steed's saddle if your character is currently riding, and half spell damage or magic resistance reduces this to a maximum of three items (or two with both properties).[5][6][7]

Items that are already cursed cannot be targeted by curse items.[8] Intelligent artifacts each have a 45 chance of individually resisting the effect, and Magicbane has a 1920 chance of absorbing the effect entirely.[9][10]

Strategy

Curse items one of the most despised monster spells, due to the various annoying and detrimental effects of curse items: cursed rings and armor will become welded to your finger, cursed weapons will additionally disrupt two-weaponing when welded to you, and cursed food confers less nutrition and may render you unconscious. Cursed tools also become more of a hindrance, with unicorn horns made less effective or even harmful; a bag of holding in particular becomes much heavier if unblessed or cursed, which can slow a character down a cursed bag of holding also risks the loss of some of its contents each time you open it.

In addition to magic resistance and half spell damage, blessing your inventory can provide a cushion of sorts against the spell, since blessed items must be unblessed before they can be made cursed. The contents of bags and other containers are not targeted by this spell, so it is worth bagging certain items when facing spellcasters to avoid having them cursed - a sack is most ideal for quick stashing, since it has no adverse effects while cursed; an oilskin sack can also suffice, though it only prevents water damage 23 of the time while cursed. Spare sacks are also useful for keeping curse removal items in, such as holy water or a blessed scroll of remove curse, to pull out or tip at a moment's notice. You can also place your bag of holding in a sack if you fear it becoming unblessed or cursed, though this increases the amount of time required to grab any necessary items from it.

Characters that can learn and reliably cast the remove curse spell will want to keep some energy available to cast it when needed, and must take care to have at least one hand free. While two-handed weapons are considered unpopular due to severely restricting options while cursed, a character using one (or else using a weapon and a shield) can still access their emergency bag's contents via the #tip extended command and pick up their curse removal to use should both hands have cursed items welded to them.

An uncommon tactic to minimize the effects of this spell is to fill up inventory slots with individual items that are light and easily obtainable in large numbers (e.g., arrows, darts, gems), then name them each so that they do not stack in order to reduce the odds of a valuable item being affected. Similarly uncommon is using a hostile caster in order to deliberately curse certain items for their alternate effects, which is typically set up in a controlled environment both to avoid more dangerous spells and prevent stronger hostile monsters from appearing.

Messages

You feel as if you need some help.
A monster cast the spell at you.
You feel a malignant aura surround you.
The spell was weakened by magic resistance.
You feel a malignant aura surround the magic-absorbing blade.
Magicbane caught and nullified the cursing effect.
<The artifact> resists!
An intelligent artifact resisted being cursed by the spell.

Variants

UnNetHack

In UnNetHack, an already-cursed container targeted by the spell will have one random item inside it cursed. This can theoretically happen recursively if you have nested cursed containers - if you are double-bagging to protect your bag of holding, it is important that the bag containing the bag of holding remains non-cursed.

dNetHack

In dNetHack, curse items can be cast at a range of roughly five squares, and there are several sources of curse resistance that can block the spell's effect outright.

EvilHack

In EvilHack, spellcasters will use curse items and many other monster spells against other monsters.

Additionally, the Infidel is a role that is weldproof and can freely wear and remove cursed items, and their god Moloch treats cursed items the way other deities treat blessed items and vice versa - in short, Infidels actually prefer certain items to be cursed, and on paper stand to benefit from the curse item spell and other similar effects.

All of the above information also applies to Hack'EM.

References