Difference between revisions of "Expensive camera"

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An '''expensive camera''' is a [[tool]]. When [[apply|applied]] in the direction of a monster that has eyes, it will be blinded and will often [[scare|turn to flee]]. Affected monsters will be blinded, permanently if adjacent, or for up to 13 turns, depending on the distance, if they are farther away from you.{{refsrc|uhitm.c|2836|nethack=3.6.1|comment=minimum non-adjacent dist2() is 4, so no more than 1 + 50/4 turns}} They will also flee with 75% chance, provided they're no more than 2 squares away from you.{{refsrc|uhitm.c|2833|nethack=3.6.1}}  Shopkeepers will never flee. The flash will also cause 1d4 damage to [[gremlin]]s (this will never kill them).  Sleeping monsters will be awakened instead, with no further effects.
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An '''expensive camera''' is a [[tool]] found in [[Nethack]]. When [[apply|applied]] in the direction of a monster that has eyes, it will be blinded and will often [[scare|turn to flee]]. Affected monsters will be blinded, permanently if adjacent, or for up to 13 turns if they are farther away, depending on the distance.{{refsrc|uhitm.c|2836|nethack=3.6.1|comment=minimum non-adjacent dist2() is 4, so no more than 1 + 50/4 turns}} They will also flee with 75% chance, provided they are no more than 2 squares away from you.{{refsrc|uhitm.c|2833|nethack=3.6.1}}  Shopkeepers will never flee. The flash will also cause 1d4 damage to [[gremlin]]s (this will never kill them).  Sleeping monsters will be awakened instead, with no further effects.
  
A cursed camera will  blind you half of the time (for 1d25 turns). This is probably only a concern for cameras found in [[bones]] piles, as like most other tools cameras are never randomly generated cursed.
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Expensive cameras are always randomly generated uncursed with 30 to 99 charges, and like other tools can be [[charging|recharged]] indefinitely; all [[Tourist]]s start with an expensive camera. A cursed camera has a 50% chance of blinding you for 1d25 turns when applied; this is usually only a concern for cameras found in [[bones]] piles. If wielded and used to attack, the expensive camera is completely incapable of doing damage, but will break and be lost; it shares this property with the [[cream pie]].
  
Cameras are generated with 30 to 99 charges, and like other tools can be [[charging|recharged]] indefinitely.
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As of NetHack 3.6.0, breaking a camera has a 33% chance of releasing a "picture-painting demon", which will be a [[homunculus]] 2/3 of the time and an [[imp]] the remaining 1/3. The creature so generated will be peaceful unless the camera was cursed{{refsrc|dothrow.c|1746|nethack=3.6.0}}. This is a reference to how cameras work in the Discworld series of novels.
  
The expensive camera is one of the items that is completely incapable of doing damage when wielded but instead is lost during an attack; the other such item is the [[cream pie]].
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== Strategy ==
 
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Cameras can be a viable method for blinding yourself via applying it at {{kbd|.}}, either in order to use your intrinsic telepathy, or else to avoid the longer blinding from a [[yellow light]] when it explodes (d25 turns v. 10d20).
[[Tourist]]s start with a camera.
 
 
 
As of NetHack 3.6.0, breaking a camera has a 33% chance of releasing "The picture-painting demon", which will be a [[homunculus]] 2/3 of the time and an [[imp]] the remaining 1/3. The creature so generated will be peaceful unless the camera was cursed{{refsrc|dothrow.c|1746|nethack=3.6.0}}. This is a reference to how cameras work in the Discworld series of novels.
 
  
== Strategy ==
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Cameras are also the only way to permanently blind a monster, which is useful if you need it alive, but are unable to [[Peaceful|Pacify]] the monster and don't want it to chase you (often the case with [[foocubi]]). An expensive camera is the only item that can make the [[Riders]] flee from you. As with any other case, remember that blinded hostile monsters will not respect [[Elbereth]], and may still attack you in melee while fleeing.
  
* Cameras are useful against the [[Riders]], as they are the only method that will make them flee from you.
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In a pinch, you can use a camera to wake up a [[sleep]]ing monster, including your [[pet]] or other monster; this does not work on [[paralyzed]] monsters. Conversely, avoid using the camera around the monsters you don't want to wake up prematurely, e.g. in [[barracks]].
* If you find a camera before you find a blindfold or towel, it can be useful to blind yourself (apply it at {{kbd|.}}) in order to use intrinsic [[telepathy]]. Since the d25 turns you will be blinded for is ordinarily much less than the 10d20 turns that a [[yellow light]] will blind you, it can be useful to blind yourself before one explodes as well.
 
* Blinding a monster will negate its fear of [[Elbereth]]. Therefore, it is generally not a good idea to use a camera on monsters that respect Elbereth if there is any chance that you may need to use Elbereth before killing the monster. (While a camera will make the monster turn to flee, methods of causing fear other than Elbereth do not completely prevent monsters from attacking you in melee.)
 
* In a pinch, you can use a camera to wake up a [[sleep]]ing pet or other monster.  (It won't work on [[paralyzed]] monsters, though.Conversely, avoid using the camera around the monsters you don't want to wake up prematurely, e.g. in [[barracks]].
 
* This item provides the only way to permanently blind a monster, which is useful if you need it alive, but don't want it to chase you (often the case with [[foocubi]]).  [[Peaceful|Pacifying]] the monster is still a superior option, if you can afford it.
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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[[Category:Tools]]
 
[[Category:Tools]]
{{nethack-343}}
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{{nethack-361}}

Revision as of 21:22, 28 November 2019

( Expensive camera.png
Name expensive camera
Appearance expensive camera
Base price 200 zm
Weight 12
Material plastic
Monster use Will not be used by monsters.

An expensive camera is a tool found in Nethack. When applied in the direction of a monster that has eyes, it will be blinded and will often turn to flee. Affected monsters will be blinded, permanently if adjacent, or for up to 13 turns if they are farther away, depending on the distance.[1] They will also flee with 75% chance, provided they are no more than 2 squares away from you.[2] Shopkeepers will never flee. The flash will also cause 1d4 damage to gremlins (this will never kill them). Sleeping monsters will be awakened instead, with no further effects.

Expensive cameras are always randomly generated uncursed with 30 to 99 charges, and like other tools can be recharged indefinitely; all Tourists start with an expensive camera. A cursed camera has a 50% chance of blinding you for 1d25 turns when applied; this is usually only a concern for cameras found in bones piles. If wielded and used to attack, the expensive camera is completely incapable of doing damage, but will break and be lost; it shares this property with the cream pie.

As of NetHack 3.6.0, breaking a camera has a 33% chance of releasing a "picture-painting demon", which will be a homunculus 2/3 of the time and an imp the remaining 1/3. The creature so generated will be peaceful unless the camera was cursed[3]. This is a reference to how cameras work in the Discworld series of novels.

Strategy

Cameras can be a viable method for blinding yourself via applying it at ., either in order to use your intrinsic telepathy, or else to avoid the longer blinding from a yellow light when it explodes (d25 turns v. 10d20).

Cameras are also the only way to permanently blind a monster, which is useful if you need it alive, but are unable to Pacify the monster and don't want it to chase you (often the case with foocubi). An expensive camera is the only item that can make the Riders flee from you. As with any other case, remember that blinded hostile monsters will not respect Elbereth, and may still attack you in melee while fleeing.

In a pinch, you can use a camera to wake up a sleeping monster, including your pet or other monster; this does not work on paralyzed monsters. Conversely, avoid using the camera around the monsters you don't want to wake up prematurely, e.g. in barracks.

References

This page may need to be updated for the current version of NetHack.

It may contain text specific to NetHack 3.6.1. Information on this page may be out of date.

Editors: After reviewing this page and making necessary edits, please change the {{nethack-361}} tag to the current version's tag or {{noversion}} as appropriate.