Difference between revisions of "Graffiti"

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(Random Messages: Reformatted section as list and added explanation, based on source comments. Hopefully this wouldn't read too spammy...)
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Graffiti refers to the messages [[engrave]]d on the floors in NetHack either by [[shop]]keepers ("Closed for Inventory") or on a random basis. These messages are often helpful tips, but sometimes are silly.
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'''Graffiti''' refers to the random messages [[engrave]]d on the floors of the Dungeons of Doom. These messages are often helpful tips, but sometimes are silly.
  
[[Grave]]s have their own random epitaphs.
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There are various [[Engraving#Preexisting engravings|non-random types of engravings]] which are not graffiti. Conversely, [[grave]]s use random epitaphs that come from a different pool of messages and cannot be changed, so they are also not graffiti.
  
==Random Messages==
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Graffiti generates most frequently at the topmost floors and less often deeper into the dungeon. They are fairly rare: each room on level 1 has a 1/30 chance of having graffiti in it somewhere, each room on level 2 has a 1/33 chance, and so on.
  
Graffiti messages can be taken from [[rumors.tru]] or [[rumors.fal]], or can be one of the following additional messages.  Their origins are listed in the code comments.<ref>List of extra graffiti messages ({{sourcecode|engrave.c|13}})</ref>
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You can create graffiti on the floor by engraving with a [[magic marker]]. It will degrade as fast as a semipermanent engraving.
  
* Elbereth
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==Random messages==
* Vlad was here
 
* ad aerarium
 
* Owlbreath
 
* Galadriel (Character in [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]]'s books, unattributed in source)
 
* Kilroy was here ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilroy_was_here A popular graffiti])
 
* A.S. ->
 
* <- A.S. (Jules Verne's ''Journey to the Center of the Earth'')
 
* You won't get it up the steps ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossal_Cave_Adventure The original ''Adventure'' game])
 
* Lasciate ogni speranza o voi ch'entrate. (Dante's ''Inferno'': Abandon hope all ye who enter here)
 
* Well Come (Engraving from the TV show [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_Out_(The_Prisoner) ''The Prisoner''])
 
* We apologize for the inconvenience. (Douglas Adams's ''So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish''. Note the Americanised [sic] orthography!)
 
* See you next Wednesday (Wednesday Thriller shows)
 
* notary sojak ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smokey_Stover#Jocular_jargon_and_peculiar_phrases Smokey Stover comic], but "sojac" changed to the current spelling)
 
* For a good time call 867-5309
 
* Please don't feed the animals. (Various [[Zoo|zoos]] around the world)
 
* Madam, in Eden, I'm Adam. (A palindrome)
 
* Two thumbs up! ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At_the_Movies_(U.S._TV_series) ''Siskel & Ebert''] TV shows)
 
* Hello, World! (The source comment attributes this to the "the first C program", but in reality it refers to the legendary "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello_world_program hello, world]" program in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_C_Programming_Language_(book) ''K&R''] book, thus the first C program many encounter when learning C.  In ''K&R'' the words are in lower case and the exclamation mark is not used.)
 
* You've got mail! (AOL, only available when MAIL is enabled at compile time. See also: [[scroll of mail]].)
 
* As if! (The film ''Clueless'')
 
  
Some of these messages can be confusing: [[Elbereth]]” can also indicate a [[bones]] level, and “ad aerarium” can also indicate a [[vault]] teleporter. However, random messages appear as though written with a magic marker, whereas vault messages are always written in the dust,<ref>Niche trap engraving type ({{sourcecode|mklev.c|491}})</ref> and player-written Elbereth engravings rarely come from markers.
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Graffiti messages are drawn randomly from three sources:
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* [[engrave.txt]], a list of various floor engravings (25% chance)
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* [[rumors.tru]], the list of true [[rumors]] (37.5% chance)
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* [[rumors.fal]], the list of false [[rumors]] (37.5% chance)
  
==References==
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Note that engrave.txt allows a few misleading messages to generate as graffiti, such as "[[Elbereth]]" (which would normally indicate a [[bones]] level), "Vlad was here", and "ad aerarium". However, graffiti always appears as "graffiti"; player-written Elbereth engravings rarely come from markers, and the other types of engravings always appear written in dust.
  
<references/>
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{{nethack-361}}
 
 
{{nethack-343}}
 
 
[[Category:Dungeon features]]
 
[[Category:Dungeon features]]

Latest revision as of 03:25, 17 March 2019

Graffiti refers to the random messages engraved on the floors of the Dungeons of Doom. These messages are often helpful tips, but sometimes are silly.

There are various non-random types of engravings which are not graffiti. Conversely, graves use random epitaphs that come from a different pool of messages and cannot be changed, so they are also not graffiti.

Graffiti generates most frequently at the topmost floors and less often deeper into the dungeon. They are fairly rare: each room on level 1 has a 1/30 chance of having graffiti in it somewhere, each room on level 2 has a 1/33 chance, and so on.

You can create graffiti on the floor by engraving with a magic marker. It will degrade as fast as a semipermanent engraving.

Random messages

Graffiti messages are drawn randomly from three sources:

Note that engrave.txt allows a few misleading messages to generate as graffiti, such as "Elbereth" (which would normally indicate a bones level), "Vlad was here", and "ad aerarium". However, graffiti always appears as "graffiti"; player-written Elbereth engravings rarely come from markers, and the other types of engravings always appear written in dust.


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.