Difference between revisions of "Exercise"

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If you play [[NetHack]], then you ''want'' to [[exercise]] your six [[attribute]]s to help the [[hero]] survive the [[dungeon]]. Though increases in [[experience level]] might grant you more [[hit point]]s and [[power]], the hero ''requires'' boosts to attributes to fight well and succeed in more situations.
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: ''"Abuse" redirects here. For pet abuse, see [[Tameness#Abuse|Tameness § Abuse]].''
  
Of the six attributes ([[strength]], [[dexterity]], [[constitution]], [[intelligence]], [[wisdom]] and [[charisma]]), you can only exercise four; there is no way to exercise intelligence or charisma. However, charisma can be increased by stepping into a [[magic trap]], and intelligence by eating a [[mind flayer]] corpse or quaffing a blessed [[potion of enlightenment]]. All attributes can be raised by quaffing a (blessed) [[potion of gain ability]] or drinking from a magic [[fountain]] (best if [[Luck]] >=4).
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In ''[[NetHack]]'', '''exercise''' refers to gradually increasing your [[attribute]]s over time by repeating certain actions while avoiding performing others.
  
Here are examples of how to exercise strength, dexterity, constitution, and wisdom:
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==Description==
* Push [[boulder]]s around for '''[[strength]]'''.
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Exercising an attribute has a chance of (18 − current attribute value) in 19 of incrementing the attribute's ''exercise counter'', whose maximum value is 50.{{refsrc|src/attrib.c|426|nethack=3.6.6}}{{refsrc|src/attrib.c|410|nethack=3.6.6}} The "current attribute value" also includes modifiers from items - one relevant example is that wearing [[gauntlets of power]] has a side-effect of completely preventing strength from being exercised.
* Wield a [[blade]] and #[[force]] open locked [[chest]]s for '''[[dexterity]]'''.
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You can only exercise four of the six attributes: [[strength]], [[dexterity]], [[constitution]], and [[wisdom]] - there is no way to exercise [[intelligence]] or [[charisma]], though they can be increased by other means, e.g. a [[potion of gain ability]].
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===How to exercise===
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Here are examples of how to efficiently exercise strength, dexterity, constitution, and wisdom:
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* Engage in melee combat or push [[boulder]]s around for '''[[strength]]'''.
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* Hit monsters in melee or with [[projectile]]s, or use an [[unlocking tool]] to lock or unlock doors or containers for '''[[dexterity]]'''.
 
* [[Eat]] and avoid becoming [[hungry]] or [[satiated]] for '''[[constitution]]'''.
 
* [[Eat]] and avoid becoming [[hungry]] or [[satiated]] for '''[[constitution]]'''.
* [[Engrave]] [[Elbereth]] with uppercase "E" and lowercase "lbereth" for '''[[wisdom]]'''.
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* Cast [[spell]]s, [[search]] for hidden things, or [[engrave]] [[Elbereth]] with uppercase "E" and lowercase "lbereth" for '''[[wisdom]]'''.
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For more complete lists of exercise methods, see the relevant attribute pages.
  
You should already be exercising during normal gameplay. However, exercise does not cause immediate gains in your attributes. Instead, exercise increments a counter. At turn 600, NetHack does a check and increases your attribute if the counter is high enough. Subsequent checks occur at random intervals between 800 and 1000 turns<ref>[[Attrib.c#line441]]</ref> from the last one, with special treatment for game restores<ref>[[Attrib.c#reset_attribute_clock]]</ref>. However, increases become less likely over time.
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===Attribute checks===
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''NetHack'' does exercise checks at certain times: The first check happens on turn 600, and subsequent checks occur at random intervals of {{rn1|200|800}} turns from the last one.{{refsrc|src/allmain.c|590|nethack=3.6.6}}{{refsrc|src/attrib.c|608|nethack=3.6.6}} Upon a check, each counter is examined. If the corresponding attribute is already 18 or greater, nothing is done. Otherwise a random number between 0 and 49 inclusive is chosen. If it is greater than <math>|(2/3)*counter|</math> for a non-wisdom attribute or <math>|counter|</math> for wisdom, nothing is done. Otherwise, the attribute is changed by adding 1 if the counter was positive and subtracting 1 if it was negative, and the counter is set to zero. Afterwards, no matter what happened, the counter is halved, rounding toward 0.{{refsrc|src/attrib.c|526|nethack=3.6.6}}
  
 
==Abuse==
 
==Abuse==
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Abuse is the opposite of exercise - acts of abuse can undo exercise, or even cause your [[strength]], [[dexterity]], [[constitution]], or [[wisdom]] to drop.
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Each act of abuse has an exactly 50% chance of reducing the attribute's exercise counter by 1.{{refsrc|src/attrib.c|426|nethack=3.6.6}} For a comprehensive list of abuse methods, see the relevant attribute pages. If your stats get lowered, use a [[unicorn horn]], [[potion of restore ability|potion]] or [[spellbook of restore ability|spell]] of restore ability to heal any such loss.
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{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Unicorn horns can no longer restore reduced attributes. Alternatives include [[Potion of restore ability|potions of restore ability]], the [[Spellbook of restore ability|restore ability spell]], [[prayer]], or finding a way to exercise or increase that attribute again.}}
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==History==
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In [[NetHack 3.4.3]], upon loading a saved game, if the first check has happened, the next check was set to happen from 800 (inclusive) to 850 (exclusive) turns afterwards. This meant that saving and reloading the game could have an in-game effect on the player's attributes. As of [[NetHack 3.6.0]], this timer is saved to disk; the effect may persist in some variants based on previous versions.
  
Abuse is the opposite of exercise. Acts of abuse can undo exercise, or even cause your strength, dexterity, constitution or wisdom to drop. If your stats get lowered, use a [[unicorn horn]] to heal any such loss. Note that in [[SporkHack]], this won't work - use a [[Potion of restore ability | potion]] or [[spellbook of restore ability | spell]] of restore ability, instead.
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==Variants==
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===UnNetHack===
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[[UnNetHack]] removes the unicorn horn's ability to restore lost stats.
  
==External Links==
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===SporkHack===
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[[SporkHack]] also removes the ability of unicorn horns to restore lost stats.
  
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==External links==
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20071109210037/http://www.geocities.com/dcorbett42/nethack/exercise.htm Exercising stats]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20071109210037/http://www.geocities.com/dcorbett42/nethack/exercise.htm Exercising stats]
* [http://www.helsinki.fi/~vviitane/spoilers/exercise Nethack Workout Regimen by Boudewijn Wayers]
 
  
==Source code references==
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==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
[[Category:Attributes]]
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{{nethack-366}}
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[[Category:Strategy]]

Latest revision as of 12:06, 28 August 2023

"Abuse" redirects here. For pet abuse, see Tameness § Abuse.

In NetHack, exercise refers to gradually increasing your attributes over time by repeating certain actions while avoiding performing others.

Description

Exercising an attribute has a chance of (18 − current attribute value) in 19 of incrementing the attribute's exercise counter, whose maximum value is 50.[1][2] The "current attribute value" also includes modifiers from items - one relevant example is that wearing gauntlets of power has a side-effect of completely preventing strength from being exercised.

You can only exercise four of the six attributes: strength, dexterity, constitution, and wisdom - there is no way to exercise intelligence or charisma, though they can be increased by other means, e.g. a potion of gain ability.

How to exercise

Here are examples of how to efficiently exercise strength, dexterity, constitution, and wisdom:

For more complete lists of exercise methods, see the relevant attribute pages.

Attribute checks

NetHack does exercise checks at certain times: The first check happens on turn 600, and subsequent checks occur at random intervals of 800–999 turns from the last one.[3][4] Upon a check, each counter is examined. If the corresponding attribute is already 18 or greater, nothing is done. Otherwise a random number between 0 and 49 inclusive is chosen. If it is greater than |(2/3)*counter| for a non-wisdom attribute or |counter| for wisdom, nothing is done. Otherwise, the attribute is changed by adding 1 if the counter was positive and subtracting 1 if it was negative, and the counter is set to zero. Afterwards, no matter what happened, the counter is halved, rounding toward 0.[5]

Abuse

Abuse is the opposite of exercise - acts of abuse can undo exercise, or even cause your strength, dexterity, constitution, or wisdom to drop.

Each act of abuse has an exactly 50% chance of reducing the attribute's exercise counter by 1.[6] For a comprehensive list of abuse methods, see the relevant attribute pages. If your stats get lowered, use a unicorn horn, potion or spell of restore ability to heal any such loss.

The following information pertains to an upcoming version (NetHack 3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that it is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate this information.

Unicorn horns can no longer restore reduced attributes. Alternatives include potions of restore ability, the restore ability spell, prayer, or finding a way to exercise or increase that attribute again.

History

In NetHack 3.4.3, upon loading a saved game, if the first check has happened, the next check was set to happen from 800 (inclusive) to 850 (exclusive) turns afterwards. This meant that saving and reloading the game could have an in-game effect on the player's attributes. As of NetHack 3.6.0, this timer is saved to disk; the effect may persist in some variants based on previous versions.

Variants

UnNetHack

UnNetHack removes the unicorn horn's ability to restore lost stats.

SporkHack

SporkHack also removes the ability of unicorn horns to restore lost stats.

External links

References