Difference between revisions of "Dunce cap"

From NetHackWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
m (Encyclopedia entry: fix formatting)
Line 11: Line 11:
 
   |material=cloth
 
   |material=cloth
 
}}
 
}}
{{wikipedia|Dunce cap}}
 
  
The '''dunce cap''', when worn, fixes your [[intelligence]] and [[wisdom]] to 6, and [[autocurse]]s (even if originally blessed). It blocks the [[mind flayer]]'s brain eating attack, but not its amnesia attack. Removing the cap will restore your intelligence and wisdom to their original values.
 
  
Wearing a dunce cap also prevents any change to your intelligence or wisdom; the message is "Your cap constricts briefly, then relaxes again."{{refsrc|attrib.c|111|version=NetHack 3.6.0}}
+
The '''dunce cap''' is a magical item that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. When unidentified, it appears as a [[conical hat]].
 +
 
 +
==Description==
 +
When worn, the dunce cap fixes your [[intelligence]] and [[wisdom]] to 6 and [[autocurse]]s (even if originally blessed); this will [[autoidentify]] the dunce cap. Dunce caps also prevent any change to your intelligence or wisdom while worn, akin to a [[ring of sustain ability]].{{refsrc|attrib.c|111|version=NetHack 3.6.0}} Removing the cap will restore your intelligence and wisdom to their original values.
 +
 
 +
As a helm, dunce caps block the [[mind flayer]]'s brain-eating attack, but not its amnesia attack.
  
Shopping while wearing a dunce cap will cause the [[shopkeeper]] to add an additional 1/3 markup to the price of each item when buying{{refsrc|shk.c|line1970|version=NetHack 3.6.0}}, and only give you 1/3 of the base price when selling items{{refsrc|shk.c|line2143|version=NetHack 3.6.0}}. This is also the penalty for being a low-level [[Tourist]] or having a visible [[shirt]]. Those penalties are not cumulative.
+
Shopping while wearing a dunce cap will cause the [[shopkeeper]] to add an additional 1/3 markup to the price of each item when buying,{{refsrc|shk.c|line1970|version=NetHack 3.6.0}}, and only give you 1/3 of the base price when selling items.{{refsrc|shk.c|line2143|version=NetHack 3.6.0}}. This is also the penalty for being a low-level [[Tourist]] or having a visible [[shirt]]; these penalties are not cumulative.
  
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
The dunce cap and the [[cornuthaum]] are both [[conical hat]]s. They can be distinguished by price or wearing (obviously dangerous), but are otherwise identical until identified.
+
As the dunce cap and the [[cornuthaum]] are both conical hats, picking up and wearing a conical hat at random is a [[Bad Idea]]. They can easily be distinguished by price, with the dunce cap having a base cost of only 1 zorkmid.
  
==Strategy==
+
The dunce cap is generally not a good piece of armor, and any other helm is better for protection against mind flayers. As the cornuthaum is only useful for wizards or pets, non-wizards can freely ignore unidentified conical hats and completely avoid the risk of donning a dunce cap. Its best use is as fodder for [[polypiling]] into other magical armor.
  
The dunce cap is not a good piece of armor, but if your Int or Wis happens to be lower than 6, the dunce cap will be an improvement! If your brain is in danger of being eaten by a [[mind flayer]], donning a dunce cap may actually be a good idea. The cornuthaum is only useful for wizards or pets, so non-wizards can ignore unidentified conical hats to completely avoid the risk of donning a dunce cap.
+
==Messages==
 
+
{{message|Your cap constricts briefly, then relaxes again.|Your wisdom or intelligence would have changed, but a worn dunce cap prevented this.}}
Perhaps its best use is to [[polymorph]] it into other magical armor.
 
  
 
==Origin==
 
==Origin==
 +
{{wikipedia|Dunce cap}}
 +
The dunce cap is a conical paper hat with the word "dunce" or just a "D" written on it. It was a form of punishment used in schools in the English-speaking world, where a student seen as misbehaving, stupid or lazy was made to wear it in front of the classroom for a set amount of time.
  
The dunce cap is a conical paper hat with the word "dunce", meaning stupid, written on it. It was an important form of punishment in schools in the English-speaking world. The misbehaving student was made to wear it in front of the classroom for a set amount of time.
+
The notion of a thinking hat may derive from ceremonial conical hats or even true thinking hats - in this context, the dunce cap is an "anti-thinking cap". The cornuthaum is the more stereotypical "thinking hat" for wizards.
 
 
The notion of a thinking hat may derive from ceremonial conical hats or even true thinking hats. Thus the dunce cap is an "anti-thinking cap". The [[Cornuthaum]] is the more stereotypical "thinking hat" for wizards.
 
  
 
==Encyclopedia entry==
 
==Encyclopedia entry==
 
 
{{encyclopedia|
 
{{encyclopedia|
 
A dunce cap, also variously known as a dunce hat, dunce's
 
A dunce cap, also variously known as a dunce hat, dunce's
Line 48: Line 49:
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 +
<references/>
  
<references />
 
 
[[Category:Helms]]
 
[[Category:Helms]]
{{nethack-360}}
+
{{nethack-366}}

Revision as of 00:05, 23 March 2021

[   dunce cap   Conical hat.png
Appearance conical hat
Slot helm
AC 0
Special
Base price 1 zm
Weight 4
Material cloth


The dunce cap is a magical item that appears in NetHack. When unidentified, it appears as a conical hat.

Description

When worn, the dunce cap fixes your intelligence and wisdom to 6 and autocurses (even if originally blessed); this will autoidentify the dunce cap. Dunce caps also prevent any change to your intelligence or wisdom while worn, akin to a ring of sustain ability.[1] Removing the cap will restore your intelligence and wisdom to their original values.

As a helm, dunce caps block the mind flayer's brain-eating attack, but not its amnesia attack.

Shopping while wearing a dunce cap will cause the shopkeeper to add an additional 1/3 markup to the price of each item when buying,[2], and only give you 1/3 of the base price when selling items.[3]. This is also the penalty for being a low-level Tourist or having a visible shirt; these penalties are not cumulative.

Identification

As the dunce cap and the cornuthaum are both conical hats, picking up and wearing a conical hat at random is a Bad Idea. They can easily be distinguished by price, with the dunce cap having a base cost of only 1 zorkmid.

The dunce cap is generally not a good piece of armor, and any other helm is better for protection against mind flayers. As the cornuthaum is only useful for wizards or pets, non-wizards can freely ignore unidentified conical hats and completely avoid the risk of donning a dunce cap. Its best use is as fodder for polypiling into other magical armor.

Messages

Your cap constricts briefly, then relaxes again.
Your wisdom or intelligence would have changed, but a worn dunce cap prevented this.

Origin

The dunce cap is a conical paper hat with the word "dunce" or just a "D" written on it. It was a form of punishment used in schools in the English-speaking world, where a student seen as misbehaving, stupid or lazy was made to wear it in front of the classroom for a set amount of time.

The notion of a thinking hat may derive from ceremonial conical hats or even true thinking hats - in this context, the dunce cap is an "anti-thinking cap". The cornuthaum is the more stereotypical "thinking hat" for wizards.

Encyclopedia entry

A dunce cap, also variously known as a dunce hat, dunce's
cap, or dunce's hat, is a tall conical hat. In popular
culture, it is typically made of paper and often marked with
a D, and given to schoolchildren to wear as punishment for
being stupid or lazy. While this is now a rare practice,
it is frequently depicted in popular culture such as
children's cartoons.

[ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ]

References