Delayed instadeath
Revision as of 13:29, 4 January 2007 by Ichgucknurmal (talk | contribs) (New introduction; "A '''delayed instadeath''' is a process of dieing. It will lead to actual death unless actively counteracted." + sections "Etymology", "Therapy", "Examples")
A delayed instadeath is a process of dieing. It will lead to actual death unless actively counteracted.
Etymology
Although the term "delayed instadeath" sounds self-contradictory, it is the accepted term in the roguelike community. "Insta[nt]" can be understood as referring only to the final reduction of hitpoints which occurs in one fell swoop.
Therapy
Delayed instadeaths are regarded as major problems by your god, so prayer will normally save you.
Examples
The following delayed instadeaths exist in NetHack:
- Turning to stone as a result of being hit by a cockatrice's special attack or eating a cockatrice egg. The standard cure is to eat a lizard corpse. Vegetarians can quaff a potion of acid instead.
- Sliming (turning into green slime). Curable by setting yourself on fire.
- Food poisoning from eating an old corpse or disease from the sickness attack of Juiblex, Scorpius or Demogorgon. Curable by applying a unicorn horn.
- Sinking in lava. Fix this by praying or zapping a wand of cold downwards.
- Strangulation, from wearing an amulet of strangulation. Instantly curable by removing the amulet, but amulets of strangulation are normally generated cursed.
