Difference between revisions of "Luckstone"
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A '''luckstone''' is a [[gray stone]] in ''[[NetHack]]'' that modifies a player's [[Luck]] and [[Luck#Luck timeout|Luck timeout]]. | A '''luckstone''' is a [[gray stone]] in ''[[NetHack]]'' that modifies a player's [[Luck]] and [[Luck#Luck timeout|Luck timeout]]. | ||
| − | == Generation == | + | ==Generation== |
Luckstones are always generated [[uncursed]], with the exception of [[bones]] files. | Luckstones are always generated [[uncursed]], with the exception of [[bones]] files. | ||
There is a guaranteed luckstone in each of the three variants of [[Mines' End]]. | There is a guaranteed luckstone in each of the three variants of [[Mines' End]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The [[base item]] of the [[Barbarian]] [[quest artifact]], [[The Heart of Ahriman]], is a luckstone. | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | {{main|Gray stone#Identification}} | + | {{main|Gray stone#Identification|1=Identifying gray stones}} |
| − | + | If you find a gray stone, DO NOT pick it up right away. First, make sure it is not a [[loadstone]] by kicking it; see the article linked above for more details). If it is, #name or #call it on the floor (if you can) and leave it alone. If not, and you are an [[Archaeologist]], you can safely use your own starting touchstone to identify it. | |
| − | If you find a gray stone, DO NOT pick it up right away. First, make sure it is not a [[loadstone]] by kicking it; see the article linked above for more details). If it is, #name it on the floor (if you can) and leave it alone. If not, and you are an [[Archaeologist]], you can safely use your own starting touchstone to identify it. | ||
For non-Archaeologists, the second test is to rub it on an iron item: a [[touchstone]] will produce a "scritch, scritch" noise. Non-Archaeologists will want to keep a touchstone, as a blessed one is useful for identifying gems. | For non-Archaeologists, the second test is to rub it on an iron item: a [[touchstone]] will produce a "scritch, scritch" noise. Non-Archaeologists will want to keep a touchstone, as a blessed one is useful for identifying gems. | ||
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If both tests are negative, the gray stone is either a luckstone or [[flint stone]]. You should pick it up and type-#name it until you get two different kinds or have a chance to [[price-id]] it: luckstones cost 60 zm, while flint doesn't interest shopkeepers. If a monster with the attribute "likes magic" picked it up, it's not flint. | If both tests are negative, the gray stone is either a luckstone or [[flint stone]]. You should pick it up and type-#name it until you get two different kinds or have a chance to [[price-id]] it: luckstones cost 60 zm, while flint doesn't interest shopkeepers. If a monster with the attribute "likes magic" picked it up, it's not flint. | ||
| − | As long as you don't know whether it is a luckstone or flint stone, treat it as a luckstone. Luckstones are generated uncursed, so | + | As long as you don't know whether it is a luckstone or flint stone, treat it as a luckstone. Luckstones are generated uncursed, so unless you have bad Luck or found it in a bones file, they are safe to carry around. |
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| − | A | + | ==Effects== |
| + | A [[noncursed]] luckstone adds 3 Luck (which may exceed the ordinary maximum of 10), and a cursed luckstone subtracts 3 Luck. Luckstones carried in containers (e.g. bags) have no effect on Luck. | ||
| − | + | A cursed luckstone prevents the timeout of negative Luck, blessed ones prevent the timeout of positive Luck, and uncursed ones prevent both. For example, if you have a blessed luckstone and jump a lot in Sokoban, your total Luck will eventually time out to three. | |
| − | + | Multiple luckstones or other [[:Category:Luck items|items that function the same as luckstones]] (i.e. [[The Tsurugi of Muramasa]] and the [[The Orb of Fate]]) have no ''cumulative'' effect. You will get the blessed luckstone effect if you have strictly more blessed than cursed luck items in your open inventory, the cursed effect if the other way around, and the uncursed effect if you have equally as many blessed luck items as cursed (or all are uncursed). | |
== Strategy == | == Strategy == | ||
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A backup luckstone carried in a [[container]] or left in a [[stash]] may be useful in case your primary luckstone becomes cursed, assuming means of uncursing are limited; differently named, blessed luckstones in your inventory can help retain positive luck after facing a curse-slinging monster, especially in [[Gehennom]]. | A backup luckstone carried in a [[container]] or left in a [[stash]] may be useful in case your primary luckstone becomes cursed, assuming means of uncursing are limited; differently named, blessed luckstones in your inventory can help retain positive luck after facing a curse-slinging monster, especially in [[Gehennom]]. | ||
| − | === Maximizing luck === | + | ===Maximizing luck=== |
{{Main|Luck#Ways to change your Luck}} | {{Main|Luck#Ways to change your Luck}} | ||
| − | + | Once you have a known luck item to prevent Luck timeout, you want to max out your [[Luck]]. This is a useful part of any [[ascension kit]], and is ideally best done before you go to Gehennom. Good ways to increase your Luck are: | |
| − | Once you have a known luck item to prevent Luck timeout, you want to max out your [[Luck]]. This is a useful part of any [[ascension kit]] | ||
| − | * Throwing precious gems to co-aligned [[unicorn]]s; formally identified gems give 5 Luck each, while type-named ones give 2 | + | * Throwing precious gems to co-aligned [[unicorn]]s; formally identified gems give 5 Luck each, while type-named ones give 2. |
| − | * Sacrificing powerful monsters on a coaligned [[altar]]; you gain 5/24 of the value in Luck, and the value is usually equal to that monster's difficulty, with a few exceptions | + | * Sacrificing powerful monsters on a coaligned [[altar]]; you gain 5/24 of the value in Luck, and the value is usually equal to that monster's difficulty, with a few exceptions. |
Most players will want to keep their luckstone in their main inventory at all times once they have maxed out their [[Luck]]. However, if you don't mind the tedium and are very conscientious, it is somewhat safer to bag it and take it out only when it prevents Luck timeout: this is on turns divisible by 600, or by 300 if your god is angry OR if you are carrying the [[Amulet of Yendor]] (although you could just drop the Amulet). | Most players will want to keep their luckstone in their main inventory at all times once they have maxed out their [[Luck]]. However, if you don't mind the tedium and are very conscientious, it is somewhat safer to bag it and take it out only when it prevents Luck timeout: this is on turns divisible by 600, or by 300 if your god is angry OR if you are carrying the [[Amulet of Yendor]] (although you could just drop the Amulet). | ||
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* A ''cursed luckstone'' belongs in a container, as does any luckstone found on a bones level luckstone until you BUC-test it. | * A ''cursed luckstone'' belongs in a container, as does any luckstone found on a bones level luckstone until you BUC-test it. | ||
* If your ''Luck is below its baseline value'',<ref name="base"/> drop or bag all non-blessed luckstones every 600th turn (300th if your god is angry at you) until you fix it, or wait it out. | * If your ''Luck is below its baseline value'',<ref name="base"/> drop or bag all non-blessed luckstones every 600th turn (300th if your god is angry at you) until you fix it, or wait it out. | ||
| − | * ''Altar work'' requires Luck of at most 9 to avoid getting [[crowned]] when [[pray]]ing. The easiest way to control your Luck is to max it out, then lower it by breaking [[mirror]]s, squeezing | + | * ''Altar work'' requires Luck of at most 9 to avoid getting [[crowned]] when [[pray]]ing. The easiest way to control your Luck is to max it out, then lower it by breaking [[mirror]]s, squeezing through boulders or jumping in [[Sokoban]], breaking [[egg]]s [[Sit|laid by you]], or kicking a cross-aligned altar. Keep your luckstone, and watch those sacrifice messages! |
* Blanking scrolls and potions by stepping into water becomes inefficient with high Luck. | * Blanking scrolls and potions by stepping into water becomes inefficient with high Luck. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
| − | In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and earlier (and some variants based on these versions), it was possible to determine if any given gray stone was a luckstone by trying to name it "The Heart of Ahriman" | + | In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and earlier (and some variants based on these versions), it was possible to determine if any given gray stone was a luckstone by trying to name it "The Heart of Ahriman" - this is called the "[[naming artifacts]]" exploit. If the stone was a luckstone, your hand would slip and give it another name; if it was not, the attempt would succeed. |
| + | |||
| + | This was fixed in [[NetHack 3.6.0]]: attempting to name ''any'' unidentified gray stone "The Heart of Ahriman" will fail, regardless of the stone's actual identity. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
| − | {{nethack- | + | {{nethack-366}} |
[[Category:Gems]] | [[Category:Gems]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Luck items]] | ||
Revision as of 06:13, 18 March 2021
* 
| |
|---|---|
| Name | luckstone |
| Appearance | gray stone |
| Damage vs. small | 1d3 |
| Damage vs. large | 1d3 |
| To-hit bonus | +0 |
| Weapon skill | sling |
| Size | one-handed |
| Base price | 60 zm (+10/positive enchant) |
| Weight | 10 |
| Material | mineral |
A luckstone is a gray stone in NetHack that modifies a player's Luck and Luck timeout.
Contents
Generation
Luckstones are always generated uncursed, with the exception of bones files.
There is a guaranteed luckstone in each of the three variants of Mines' End.
The base item of the Barbarian quest artifact, The Heart of Ahriman, is a luckstone.
Identification
If you find a gray stone, DO NOT pick it up right away. First, make sure it is not a loadstone by kicking it; see the article linked above for more details). If it is, #name or #call it on the floor (if you can) and leave it alone. If not, and you are an Archaeologist, you can safely use your own starting touchstone to identify it.
For non-Archaeologists, the second test is to rub it on an iron item: a touchstone will produce a "scritch, scritch" noise. Non-Archaeologists will want to keep a touchstone, as a blessed one is useful for identifying gems.
If both tests are negative, the gray stone is either a luckstone or flint stone. You should pick it up and type-#name it until you get two different kinds or have a chance to price-id it: luckstones cost 60 zm, while flint doesn't interest shopkeepers. If a monster with the attribute "likes magic" picked it up, it's not flint.
As long as you don't know whether it is a luckstone or flint stone, treat it as a luckstone. Luckstones are generated uncursed, so unless you have bad Luck or found it in a bones file, they are safe to carry around.
Effects
A noncursed luckstone adds 3 Luck (which may exceed the ordinary maximum of 10), and a cursed luckstone subtracts 3 Luck. Luckstones carried in containers (e.g. bags) have no effect on Luck.
A cursed luckstone prevents the timeout of negative Luck, blessed ones prevent the timeout of positive Luck, and uncursed ones prevent both. For example, if you have a blessed luckstone and jump a lot in Sokoban, your total Luck will eventually time out to three.
Multiple luckstones or other items that function the same as luckstones (i.e. The Tsurugi of Muramasa and the The Orb of Fate) have no cumulative effect. You will get the blessed luckstone effect if you have strictly more blessed than cursed luck items in your open inventory, the cursed effect if the other way around, and the uncursed effect if you have equally as many blessed luck items as cursed (or all are uncursed).
Strategy
You should formally BUC-identify your luckstone (i.e. via altar or scroll/spell of identify) as soon as possible so you can see when it gets cursed. Blessing it is not terribly important because there is no difference from an uncursed one as long as your Luck is not below its baseline value,[1] though this makes it so it is not immediately cursed by spellcasting enemies.
A backup luckstone carried in a container or left in a stash may be useful in case your primary luckstone becomes cursed, assuming means of uncursing are limited; differently named, blessed luckstones in your inventory can help retain positive luck after facing a curse-slinging monster, especially in Gehennom.
Maximizing luck
Once you have a known luck item to prevent Luck timeout, you want to max out your Luck. This is a useful part of any ascension kit, and is ideally best done before you go to Gehennom. Good ways to increase your Luck are:
- Throwing precious gems to co-aligned unicorns; formally identified gems give 5 Luck each, while type-named ones give 2.
- Sacrificing powerful monsters on a coaligned altar; you gain 5/24 of the value in Luck, and the value is usually equal to that monster's difficulty, with a few exceptions.
Most players will want to keep their luckstone in their main inventory at all times once they have maxed out their Luck. However, if you don't mind the tedium and are very conscientious, it is somewhat safer to bag it and take it out only when it prevents Luck timeout: this is on turns divisible by 600, or by 300 if your god is angry OR if you are carrying the Amulet of Yendor (although you could just drop the Amulet).
There are notable exceptions to this max-and-keep Luck strategy:
- A cursed luckstone belongs in a container, as does any luckstone found on a bones level luckstone until you BUC-test it.
- If your Luck is below its baseline value,[1] drop or bag all non-blessed luckstones every 600th turn (300th if your god is angry at you) until you fix it, or wait it out.
- Altar work requires Luck of at most 9 to avoid getting crowned when praying. The easiest way to control your Luck is to max it out, then lower it by breaking mirrors, squeezing through boulders or jumping in Sokoban, breaking eggs laid by you, or kicking a cross-aligned altar. Keep your luckstone, and watch those sacrifice messages!
- Blanking scrolls and potions by stepping into water becomes inefficient with high Luck.
History
In NetHack 3.4.3 and earlier (and some variants based on these versions), it was possible to determine if any given gray stone was a luckstone by trying to name it "The Heart of Ahriman" - this is called the "naming artifacts" exploit. If the stone was a luckstone, your hand would slip and give it another name; if it was not, the attempt would succeed.
This was fixed in NetHack 3.6.0: attempting to name any unidentified gray stone "The Heart of Ahriman" will fail, regardless of the stone's actual identity.
References
