Difference between revisions of "Drum of earthquake"

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A '''drum of earthquake''' is a magical [[drum]].  [[Apply]]ing a charged drum of earthquake will create several [[pit]]s around and possibly ''under'' you, anger nearby [[peaceful]] [[monster]]s, and wake up (and possibly [[scare]]) all monsters on the level.{{refsrc|music.c|447}}{{refsrc|music.c|216}} This will "produce a heavy, thunderous rolling!" It is generated with 4-8 charges.{{refsrc|mkobj.c|522}} A drum with no charges behaves like a [[leather drum]].
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The '''drum of earthquake''' is a type of [[musical instrument]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is a [[Magical item|magical]] [[atonal]] instrument that is made of [[leather]], and appears as a [[drum]] when unidentified.
  
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The power of this item increases massively as you level up{{refsrc|music.c|453}}; at [[XL]] 30 it will create large fields of pits, as opposed to just a few around you.
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==Generation==
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A drum of earthquake is generated with 4-8 charges.{{refsrc|src/mkobj.c|962|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
  
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The pits created by a drum of earthquake can destroy [[Altar|altars]], even on [[Digging|undiggable]] dungeon levels. Besides breaking a wand of digging, this is the only way to destroy the unaligned altars in the [[Valley of the Dead]] and [[Orcus-town]].  The high altars in [[Moloch's Sanctum]] and the [[Astral Plane]] are unaffected.
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==Description==
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Drums of earthquake are atonal [[musical instrument]]s, so they cannot be used to play the [[passtune]].
 
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All monsters on the level are unfrozen, monsters within 23.7 Euclidean distance will flee if they don't [[monster magic resistance|resist]], and monsters within a 4*((u.ulevel - 1) / 3 + 1)+1 wide square centered on you will become hostile. In this square area you create pits. The [[Wizard of Yendor]] and other monsters "waiting for you" are activated only in the square area.
 
 
{{float right|{{caption|{{EarthquakeArea}}|Size of pits and anger area.
 
{{float right|{{caption|{{EarthquakeArea}}|Size of pits and anger area.
 
Numbers: minimum experience level to affect that spot.
 
Numbers: minimum experience level to affect that spot.
 
Red: 1-9, blue 10-19, green 20-29}}}}
 
Red: 1-9, blue 10-19, green 20-29}}}}
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[[Apply]]ing a charged drum of earthquake will create several [[pit]]s around and possibly under you, wake up and unfreeze all [[monster]]s on the level, and shake loose monsters [[hiding]] on the ceiling{{refsrc|src/music.c|241|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/music.c|641|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} 447}} - this will also destroy dungeon features such as [[altar]]s, [[fountain]]s and [[throne]]s, and the range of its effects increases with your experience level.{{refsrc|src/music.c|650|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} Monsters within 23.7 Euclidean distance will [[flee]] if they don't [[monster magic resistance|resist]], and [[peaceful]] monsters within a 4*((u.ulevel - 1) / 3 + 1)+1 wide square centered on you will become hostile. The [[Wizard of Yendor]] and other "meditating" monsters will only be awakened in that square area.
 +
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Applying a drum of earthquake with no charges has the same effects as a [[leather drum]], though it will not render you [[deaf]].
  
 +
The pits created by a drum of earthquake can destroy [[altar]]s similar to [[apply]]ing a [[wand of digging]], and works even on [[undiggable]] dungeon levels. The high altars in [[Moloch's Sanctum]] and the [[Astral Plane]] are always unaffected.
  
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== Strategy ==
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==Strategy==
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The drum of earthquake is a quirky item, to say the least.  Its results are not unambiguously ''bad'', but it is still hard to come up with good uses for it.  Apart from breaking a wand of digging, it is perhaps the only item in the game capable of opening pits under squares the character is not currently standing on, but the number and distribution of the pits is randomized, so it can not be used to open a pit on a specific square. Perhaps some future genius will work out a brilliant drum of earthquake-based strategy that dominates the game, but until that happens, here are some ideas:
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{{main|Leather drum}}
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*It may remotely wake up monsters.  Uses for this include:
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The drum of earthquake's random number and distribution of created pits makes it completely unreliable for opening a pit on a specific square. Be very careful using an unidentified drum on levels with peaceful monsters you don't want to provoke - in particular, creating an earthquake in [[Minetown]], on the [[quest]] home level, or anywhere with a [[temple]] (especially co-aligned) is a very [[bad idea]].
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**Attracting the [[rogue quest]] nemesis (stand at the bottom right square of the left segment of the level, and as long as you are at least level 13 the assassin should wake up).
 
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**Perhaps the most useful application is to use it to awaken the [[Wizard of Yendor]] without having to do the Wizard's Tower.
 
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**In [[SLASH'EM]], it can wake up [[Vlad the Impaler]], to get the Candelabrum without the [[alignment key]]s.
 
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*Shake hidden monsters off the ceiling
 
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*Trap monsters in a pit(maybe) and [[pounding | pound]] them with a polearm or fire missiles at them in relative safety.
 
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*If [[levitation | levitating]], create an obstacle course to slow monsters pursuing you.
 
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*Save it for [[polypiling]]; the drum is a magical tool, and may turn into a [[magic marker]].
 
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*Unblock some [[Sokoban]] [[boulders]] if the [[scroll of earth]] you read was not [[cursed]] after all.
 
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*Unload it in [[Moloch's Sanctum]] after grabbing the Amulet.  Satisfying, but not really helpful in game terms.
 
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*At a high level, it can be useful to immobilize most non-flying monsters on a level, for instance the aligned priests and player monsters on the [[Astral Plane]].
 
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*If a monster is wielding a [[footrice]] corpse, the monster's fall into a pit will result in the monster being [[stoning|stoned]] instead of you.
 
  
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It can also be used as an ordinary leather drum: to awaken sleeping monsters from a distance, or to gain rogues' [[backstab]] damage.  For example, it will awaken the [[Chromatic Dragon]] on the [[Caveman quest]] without requiring the player to leave the downstairs square.  The aesthetic effect of using a drum of earthquake for this particular task (opening perhaps dozens of pits on a large, open level) is also quite pleasing.
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For scenarios where you ''do'' want to wake up monsters, [[Rogue]]s in particular can attract the attention of their [[quest nemesis]], the [[Master Assassin]], by applying the drum while standing at the bottom right square of the left section of the [[Rogue quest#Goal level|goal level]] - the earthquake effect will wake him up immediately. The drum also has a niche application with [[levitation]] or [[flying]], where it can be used while doing either to slow down pursuing monsters.
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The [[Wizard of Yendor]] will also spare you some digging if summoned this way.
 
  
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Pacifist players will probably empty this instrument in a safe area because they would risk breaking conduct by opening chasms under monsters. As a leather drum, it is great for unfreezing pets that have attacked a [[floating eye]].
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In the late game and end game, the drum of earthquake is likely the best means of awakening the [[Wizard of Yendor]] without having to climb the [[Wizard's Tower]]. It can also be somewhat useful to immobilize most non-flying monsters on a level, such as the aligned priests and player monsters on the [[Astral Plane]].
  
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Be very careful using this item on levels that contain peaceful monsters you don't want to provoke. In particular, creating an earthquake in [[Minetown]] or on the [[quest]] home level is a very [[bad idea]].
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The same strategies for a leather drum apply to a drum of earthquake with no charges. Additionally, a spare drum of earthquake is suitable polyfodder as a magical tool and especially so for [[pacifist]] [[conduct]], since opening pits under monsters can kill them and break the conduct.
  
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==Encyclopaedia entry==
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==History==
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The drum of earthquake first appears in [[NetHack 3.0.0]].
  
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{{encyclopedia|
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==Messages==
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Many travelers have seen the drums of the great apes, and
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{{message|You produce a heavy, thunderous rolling!|You applied a charged drum of earthquake.}}
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some have heard the sounds of their beating and the noise of
 
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the wild, weird revelry of these first lords of the jungle,
 
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but Tarzan, Lord Greystoke, is, doubtless, the only human
 
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being who ever joined in the fierce, mad, intoxicating revel
 
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of the Dum-Dum.
 
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|[ Tarzan of the Apes, by Edgar Rice Burroughs ]
 
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}}
 
  
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== References ==
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==Variants==
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===SLASH'EM===
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In [[SLASH'EM]], the drum of earthquake can be used to wake up [[Vlad the Impaler]] and obtain the [[Candelabrum of Invocation]] without obtaining the [[alignment key]]s beforehand.
  
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<references />
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===dNetHack===
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In dNetHack, [[Troubadour]]s start the game with knowledge of the drum of earthquake, and [[The Singing Sword]] can learn an earthshaking chant if a drum of earthquake is applied while it is wielded.
 +
 
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===SpliceHack===
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In [[SpliceHack]] and [[SpliceHack-Rewrite]], a drum of earthquake can be created at a [[furnace]] by combining a leather drum and a [[scroll of earth]].
 +
 
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===SlashTHEM===
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In [[SlashTHEM]], Bards start the game with knowledge of the drum of earthquake as in dNetHack, and [[Musician]]s will start the game with an uncursed drum of earthquake.
  
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==Encyclopedia entry==
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{{encyclopedia-redirect|leather drum}}
  
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{{nethack-343}}
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==References==
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<references />
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{{nethack-367}}
 
[[Category:Musical instruments]]
 
[[Category:Musical instruments]]
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[[Category:Magical tools]]

Latest revision as of 09:04, 14 July 2023

( Drum.png
Name drum of earthquake
Appearance drum
Base price 25 zm
Weight 25
Material leather
Monster use Will not be used by monsters.

The drum of earthquake is a type of musical instrument that appears in NetHack. It is a magical atonal instrument that is made of leather, and appears as a drum when unidentified.

Generation

A drum of earthquake is generated with 4-8 charges.[1]

Description

......................
888888888888888888888.
888888888888888888888.
555555555555555555588.
555555555555555555588.
222222222222222225588.
222222222222222225588.
999999999999999225588.
999999999999999225588.
666666666666699225588.
666666666666699225588.
333333333336699225588.
333333333336699225588.
000000000336699225588.
000000000336699225588.
777777700336699225588.
777777700336699225588.
444447700336699225588.
444447700336699225588.
111447700336699225588.
111447700336699225588.
@11447700336699225588.
Size of pits and anger area.

Numbers: minimum experience level to affect that spot.

Red: 1-9, blue 10-19, green 20-29

Applying a charged drum of earthquake will create several pits around and possibly under you, wake up and unfreeze all monsters on the level, and shake loose monsters hiding on the ceiling[2][3] 447}} - this will also destroy dungeon features such as altars, fountains and thrones, and the range of its effects increases with your experience level.[4] Monsters within 23.7 Euclidean distance will flee if they don't resist, and peaceful monsters within a 4*((u.ulevel - 1) / 3 + 1)+1 wide square centered on you will become hostile. The Wizard of Yendor and other "meditating" monsters will only be awakened in that square area.

Applying a drum of earthquake with no charges has the same effects as a leather drum, though it will not render you deaf.

The pits created by a drum of earthquake can destroy altars similar to applying a wand of digging, and works even on undiggable dungeon levels. The high altars in Moloch's Sanctum and the Astral Plane are always unaffected.

Strategy

Main article: Leather drum

The drum of earthquake's random number and distribution of created pits makes it completely unreliable for opening a pit on a specific square. Be very careful using an unidentified drum on levels with peaceful monsters you don't want to provoke - in particular, creating an earthquake in Minetown, on the quest home level, or anywhere with a temple (especially co-aligned) is a very bad idea.

For scenarios where you do want to wake up monsters, Rogues in particular can attract the attention of their quest nemesis, the Master Assassin, by applying the drum while standing at the bottom right square of the left section of the goal level - the earthquake effect will wake him up immediately. The drum also has a niche application with levitation or flying, where it can be used while doing either to slow down pursuing monsters.

In the late game and end game, the drum of earthquake is likely the best means of awakening the Wizard of Yendor without having to climb the Wizard's Tower. It can also be somewhat useful to immobilize most non-flying monsters on a level, such as the aligned priests and player monsters on the Astral Plane.

The same strategies for a leather drum apply to a drum of earthquake with no charges. Additionally, a spare drum of earthquake is suitable polyfodder as a magical tool and especially so for pacifist conduct, since opening pits under monsters can kill them and break the conduct.

History

The drum of earthquake first appears in NetHack 3.0.0.

Messages

You produce a heavy, thunderous rolling!
You applied a charged drum of earthquake.

Variants

SLASH'EM

In SLASH'EM, the drum of earthquake can be used to wake up Vlad the Impaler and obtain the Candelabrum of Invocation without obtaining the alignment keys beforehand.

dNetHack

In dNetHack, Troubadours start the game with knowledge of the drum of earthquake, and The Singing Sword can learn an earthshaking chant if a drum of earthquake is applied while it is wielded.

SpliceHack

In SpliceHack and SpliceHack-Rewrite, a drum of earthquake can be created at a furnace by combining a leather drum and a scroll of earth.

SlashTHEM

In SlashTHEM, Bards start the game with knowledge of the drum of earthquake as in dNetHack, and Musicians will start the game with an uncursed drum of earthquake.

Encyclopedia entry

See the encyclopedia entry for leather drum.

References

  1. ↑ src/mkobj.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 962
  2. ↑ src/music.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 241
  3. ↑ src/music.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 641
  4. ↑ src/music.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 650
Retrieved from "https://nethackwiki.com/index.php?title=Drum_of_earthquake&oldid=152322"