Difference between revisions of "Fun"

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[[Fun]] is an intangible, but arguably very important element in Nethack. [[Death by boredom]] is a real risk if you're an obsessive player -- you get a little reckless, your judgement slips, and WHOOPS! [[WYLYPI]]?  
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{{todo|Style - NetHackWiki is not an encyclopaedia. Nevertheless, according to the [[NetHackWiki:Style guide|Style guide]], ''articles in the main namespace should be written in a largely encyclopaedic tone''. While this should undoubtedly be applied with latitude on a page entitled ''Fun'', an overly chatty style and particularly use of the first person should be avoided. This article should be rewritten to follow the style guide. (see also [[Talk:{{PAGENAME}}|discussion page]].)}}
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'''Fun''' is an intangible, but arguably very important element in NetHack. [[Death by boredom]] is a real risk if you're an obsessive player -- you get a little reckless, your judgement slips, and WHOOPS! [[DYWYPI]]?  
  
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Various types of [[scumming]], and other game tactics which involve long repetition without actually breaking any rules, can increase your [[score]] or chance to win the game while exponentially increasing your boredom. These tactics include use of [[foocubi]] which potentially can increase your levels to a completely unnatural extent - filling the dungeon suddenly with much higher level monsters. Especially if you haven't encountered those monsters in your gameplay normally yet, this can cause a break in the natural progression of the game which involves the gradual introduction of new monsters.
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==Playing for fun versus playing to win==
  
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Greed can be a big obstacle to fun, resulting in many [[YASD]]s (well, it's a risk, but if I use the jumping boots I could escape the shop with all this glorious booty!) Sometimes playing fair is more enjoyable. (On the other hand, sometimes the opposite is the case, especially if you have a really cool trick up your sleeve. Chaotic characters are often more fun to play for this reason).
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[[Start scumming]] and [[farming]], and various other game tactics which involve long repetition without actually breaking any rules, can increase your [[score]] or chance of winning the game while greatly increasing your boredom.  Perhaps the most notorious example of this is [[pudding farming]], the practice of killing unlimited numbers of black puddings, while standing on a permanent [[Elbereth]].
  
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Excessive reading of spoilers arguably decreases the sense of achievement of learning the game by yourself.
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Greed and impatience can be big obstacles to fun, resulting in many [[YASD]]s.  For example, [[stealing from shops|robbing a shop]] by jumping out with the entire shop contents is quicker than tediously waiting for your [[pet]] to shoplift everything you need, but carries a risk of being killed by the angry shopkeeper. Sometimes playing fair is more enjoyable. (On the other hand, sometimes the opposite is the case, especially if you have a really cool trick up your sleeve. Chaotic characters are often more fun to play for this reason.)
  
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Playing with roles like the barbarian that are practically unbeatable in the early game may be less fun than playing a rogue, archeologist or a tourist, which require more strategy and care to play. Alternatively, you could have a policy of randomising your character role and race whenever you start a new game, attempting to get as far as you can with whatever the RNG throws at you. This can prevent you from getting in a rut, letting you get a taste of different styles of play. As they say, all games are ascendable.
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Excessive reading of spoilers can arguably decrease the sense of achievement gained from learning the game by yourself. An alternate philosophy is that dying to something you don't understand is not fun; [[IRC]] and this [[wiki]] can help with those frustrations.
  
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Playing the game on a shared computer and competing for high scores is often fun. Sharing bones files in this manner is too. Bones files can be shared online using a program such as hearse, which can be interesting and refreshing. (This one time I found a bones level in which THREE players had died before because of a centaur with a wand of sleep! And there was a magic lamp in one of the piles! That [[RNG]] is one fickle bitch.)
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Playing with roles that suit your tastes for difficulty and complexity is a way to increase your fun. Alternatively, you could have a policy of randomizing your character role and race whenever you start a new game, attempting to get as far as you can with whatever the RNG throws at you. This can prevent you from getting in a rut, letting you get a taste of different styles of play, and may improve your NetHack skills as a result.  [[User:Adeon|Adeon]]'s ascension record on [[nao]] suggests that every game is ascendable.
  
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Writing up your ascensions on online groups is arguably fun, or at least strokes your ego.
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== The fun of social NetHack ==
  
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[[YASD]]s are not fun. At all.
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Playing the game on a shared computer and competing for high scores can be fun. Sharing [[bones]] files is too. Bones files can be shared online using a program such as [http://www.argon.org/~roderick/hearse/hearse.html hearse], which can be interesting and refreshing.  
  
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In Zen buddhist practise it is taught that you should do things for their own sake and live in the moment, rather than for any outcome. In this way it is better to place the emphasis on playing nethack one level at a time, without limiting your satisfaction to that elusive ascention. A game of Nethack can be an excellent spiritual practise for you. (If you reach enlightenment while playing Nethack, don't forget to credit me).
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The most social way to play NetHack is to log on to a [[public server]] and also join the #nethack IRC channel on [[Libera]].  As well as sharing bones files, players can watch each others' games and offer advice.
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Writing up an ascensions online is arguably fun, or at least provides a satisfying epilogue for a game that you played or watched.
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[[YASD]]s are not typically fun for the player, but may be fun for the audience if the game was played online.  Spectacular YASDs on NAO can be viewed by telnetting to termcast.org and selecting the SplatTV channel.
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All public servers, including [http://nethack.alt.org NAO], automatically upload players' scores, bones, etc. Players may also watch others' games and send [[scroll of mail|scrolls of mail]] to provide opinions, suggestions, and so on.
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== Other observations ==
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Having to limit what you carry around is pretty annoying, which makes a bag of holding a very game-enhancing item (even if it won't reflect a death ray).
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Some philosophies say that one should do activities for the sake of the activity and live in the moment, rather than for any particular outcome. In this way it is better to place the emphasis on playing NetHack one level at a time, without limiting your satisfaction to that elusive ascension. A game of NetHack could be an excellent meditative practice for you. (If you reach enlightenment while playing NetHack, go eat a sandwich. That will take a while.)
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==External links==
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170612044522/http://www.sophiagubb.com/nethack-9-life-lessons/ Nethack: 9 Life Lessons], Sophia Gubb, 2010
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* Dwarf Fortress Wiki's [http://df.magmawiki.com/index.php/Fun slightly different take on "Fun"]
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*[http://kevan.org/nethack What NetHack monster are you?]
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{{noversion}}
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[[Category:Strategy]]

Latest revision as of 02:43, 2 December 2023

A user has suggested improving this page or section as follows:

"Style - NetHackWiki is not an encyclopaedia. Nevertheless, according to the Style guide, articles in the main namespace should be written in a largely encyclopaedic tone. While this should undoubtedly be applied with latitude on a page entitled Fun, an overly chatty style and particularly use of the first person should be avoided. This article should be rewritten to follow the style guide. (see also discussion page.)"

Fun is an intangible, but arguably very important element in NetHack. Death by boredom is a real risk if you're an obsessive player -- you get a little reckless, your judgement slips, and WHOOPS! DYWYPI?

Playing for fun versus playing to win

Start scumming and farming, and various other game tactics which involve long repetition without actually breaking any rules, can increase your score or chance of winning the game while greatly increasing your boredom. Perhaps the most notorious example of this is pudding farming, the practice of killing unlimited numbers of black puddings, while standing on a permanent Elbereth.

Greed and impatience can be big obstacles to fun, resulting in many YASDs. For example, robbing a shop by jumping out with the entire shop contents is quicker than tediously waiting for your pet to shoplift everything you need, but carries a risk of being killed by the angry shopkeeper. Sometimes playing fair is more enjoyable. (On the other hand, sometimes the opposite is the case, especially if you have a really cool trick up your sleeve. Chaotic characters are often more fun to play for this reason.)

Excessive reading of spoilers can arguably decrease the sense of achievement gained from learning the game by yourself. An alternate philosophy is that dying to something you don't understand is not fun; IRC and this wiki can help with those frustrations.

Playing with roles that suit your tastes for difficulty and complexity is a way to increase your fun. Alternatively, you could have a policy of randomizing your character role and race whenever you start a new game, attempting to get as far as you can with whatever the RNG throws at you. This can prevent you from getting in a rut, letting you get a taste of different styles of play, and may improve your NetHack skills as a result. Adeon's ascension record on nao suggests that every game is ascendable.

The fun of social NetHack

Playing the game on a shared computer and competing for high scores can be fun. Sharing bones files is too. Bones files can be shared online using a program such as hearse, which can be interesting and refreshing.

The most social way to play NetHack is to log on to a public server and also join the #nethack IRC channel on Libera. As well as sharing bones files, players can watch each others' games and offer advice.

Writing up an ascensions online is arguably fun, or at least provides a satisfying epilogue for a game that you played or watched.

YASDs are not typically fun for the player, but may be fun for the audience if the game was played online. Spectacular YASDs on NAO can be viewed by telnetting to termcast.org and selecting the SplatTV channel.

All public servers, including NAO, automatically upload players' scores, bones, etc. Players may also watch others' games and send scrolls of mail to provide opinions, suggestions, and so on.

Other observations

Having to limit what you carry around is pretty annoying, which makes a bag of holding a very game-enhancing item (even if it won't reflect a death ray).

Some philosophies say that one should do activities for the sake of the activity and live in the moment, rather than for any particular outcome. In this way it is better to place the emphasis on playing NetHack one level at a time, without limiting your satisfaction to that elusive ascension. A game of NetHack could be an excellent meditative practice for you. (If you reach enlightenment while playing NetHack, go eat a sandwich. That will take a while.)

External links


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