Difference between revisions of "Flail"

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(Forgot how much 343-era advice was terminally artifact brained)
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A '''flail''' is a type of [[weapon]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. For [[Samurai]], a flail will appear as a '''nunchaku'''.
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A '''flail''' is a type of [[weapon]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. For [[Samurai]], a flail will appear as a '''nunchaku'''.
  
== Flail skill ==
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==Generation==
{{flail skill table}}
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Flails make up about 4% of weapons randomly generated on the floor, as [[death drop]]s or in [[shop]]s.
Flails and [[grappling hook]]s use the flail skill. There are no [[artifact weapon|artifact]] flails.
 
  
Your skill in flails determines how far you can reach with an applied grappling hook.
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[[Yeenoghu]] is [[Monster starting inventory|always generated with]] a flail, and [[sergeant]]s in the [[Yendorian army]] are generated with either a flail or a [[mace]].{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|200|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|503|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}
  
== Generation ==
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==Flail skill==
Flails make up about 4% of randomly generated weapons (on the floor, as [[death drop]]s, or in [[shop]]s).
+
{{flail skill table}}
 +
Flails and [[grappling hook]]s use the flail skill. There are no [[artifact weapon]]s that use the flail skill.
  
[[Sergeant]]s in the [[Yendorian army]] have a 50% chance of getting a flail.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|202|version=NetHack 3.6.0}}
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Your skill level in flails determines how far you can reach with an [[applied]] grappling hook.
  
[[Yeenoghu]] wields a flail.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|454|version=NetHack 3.6.0}}
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==Strategy==
 +
A flail does decent damage and is relatively light, but is not particularly remarkable. Flails can be of use to certain roles such as [[Cavemen]] and [[Priest]]s.
  
==Strategy==
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==History==
A flail does decent damage and is relatively light, but the lack of any [[artifact]] flails makes it fairly worthless to invest [[skill]] points in. [[Priest]]s are perhaps the only [[role]] that would benefit from training in flail.
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The flail has been present in the game since [[hack121]], a port of [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]].
  
== Origin ==
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==Origin==
 
{{wikipedia|Flail (weapon)}}
 
{{wikipedia|Flail (weapon)}}
The word flail has been used somewhat loosely to describe any blunt weapon with one or more heads that are flexibly attached to a handle by a chain, rope, hinge, et cetera. While it may seem jarring to players familiar with [[Dungeons & Dragons]] weaponry to group nunchaku with the spherical-headed flails seen in media, the term has historically been used for both cylindrical- and spherical-headed weapons.   
+
The word "flail" has been used somewhat loosely to describe any blunt weapon with one or more heads that are flexibly attached to a handle by a chain, rope, hinge, et cetera. While it may seem jarring to players familiar with [[Dungeons & Dragons]] weaponry to group nunchaku with the spherical-headed flails seen in media, the term has historically been used for both cylindrical- and spherical-headed weapons.   
  
 
Cylindrical-headed flails were two-handed weapons adapted from agricultural tools (used to remove the husks from grain by beating) and commonly used by infantry (perhaps including farmers who had to supply their own weapons).  Compare the origins of many [[polearms]].  The Japanese nunchaku possibly had a similar origin.  
 
Cylindrical-headed flails were two-handed weapons adapted from agricultural tools (used to remove the husks from grain by beating) and commonly used by infantry (perhaps including farmers who had to supply their own weapons).  Compare the origins of many [[polearms]].  The Japanese nunchaku possibly had a similar origin.  
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One-handed flails with spiked metal heads on chains (sometimes called a "[[mace]]-and-chain"), as seen in fantasy media, appeared in late medieval art, but it is unclear how common they actually were as weapons.  The chain would have made the head(s) difficult to control, but might have allowed the wielder to hit targets behind shields.
 
One-handed flails with spiked metal heads on chains (sometimes called a "[[mace]]-and-chain"), as seen in fantasy media, appeared in late medieval art, but it is unclear how common they actually were as weapons.  The chain would have made the head(s) difficult to control, but might have allowed the wielder to hit targets behind shields.
  
== Variants ==
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==Variants==
In the [[Convict|Convict Patch]] and [[variant]]s that include the Convict role, a wielded [[Punishment|heavy iron ball]] functions as a [[melee]] weapon that uses the flail skill. In some versions of the role, using the ball in combat even trains the skill.
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In some variants that integrate the [[Convict]] Patch, a wielded [[heavy iron ball]] functions as a [[melee]] weapon that uses the flail skill and may even train it when swung.
 
 
== See also ==
 
  
 +
==See also==
 
*[[Morning star]]
 
*[[Morning star]]
  
== References ==
+
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
 
+
{{nethack-366}}
 
[[Category:Weapons]]
 
[[Category:Weapons]]
{{nethack-364}}
 

Revision as of 08:03, 21 July 2022

) Flail.png
Name flail
Appearance flail
Damage vs. small 1d6+1
Damage vs. large 2d4
To-hit bonus +0
Weapon skill flail
Size one-handed
Base price 4 zm
(+10/positive
enchant)
Weight 15
Material iron

A flail is a type of weapon that appears in NetHack. For Samurai, a flail will appear as a nunchaku.

Generation

Flails make up about 4% of weapons randomly generated on the floor, as death drops or in shops.

Yeenoghu is always generated with a flail, and sergeants in the Yendorian army are generated with either a flail or a mace.[1][2]

Flail skill

Flail
Max Role
Basic
Skilled
Expert

Flails and grappling hooks use the flail skill. There are no artifact weapons that use the flail skill.

Your skill level in flails determines how far you can reach with an applied grappling hook.

Strategy

A flail does decent damage and is relatively light, but is not particularly remarkable. Flails can be of use to certain roles such as Cavemen and Priests.

History

The flail has been present in the game since hack121, a port of Jay Fenlason's Hack.

Origin

The word "flail" has been used somewhat loosely to describe any blunt weapon with one or more heads that are flexibly attached to a handle by a chain, rope, hinge, et cetera. While it may seem jarring to players familiar with Dungeons & Dragons weaponry to group nunchaku with the spherical-headed flails seen in media, the term has historically been used for both cylindrical- and spherical-headed weapons.

Cylindrical-headed flails were two-handed weapons adapted from agricultural tools (used to remove the husks from grain by beating) and commonly used by infantry (perhaps including farmers who had to supply their own weapons). Compare the origins of many polearms. The Japanese nunchaku possibly had a similar origin.

One-handed flails with spiked metal heads on chains (sometimes called a "mace-and-chain"), as seen in fantasy media, appeared in late medieval art, but it is unclear how common they actually were as weapons. The chain would have made the head(s) difficult to control, but might have allowed the wielder to hit targets behind shields.

Variants

In some variants that integrate the Convict Patch, a wielded heavy iron ball functions as a melee weapon that uses the flail skill and may even train it when swung.

See also

References