Difference between revisions of "Mail daemon"
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=== From statues === | === From statues === | ||
| − | It is possible to create a mail daemon by means of [[wish]]ing for a [[statue]] of it which can then be re-animated by casting {{spell of|stone to flesh | + | It is possible to create a mail daemon by means of [[wish]]ing for a [[statue]] of it which can then be re-animated by casting {{spell of|stone to flesh}}. This is largely useless, as the resulting mail daemon will disappear in one turn ("I'm late!") unless you attack it, in which case it will disappear if you step away from it. Killing a mail daemon will automatically (and silently) [[genocide]] mail daemons, preventing future mail delivery and breaking [[Conduct#Genocideless|genocideless conduct]]. |
=== Configuration === | === Configuration === | ||
Revision as of 20:14, 28 June 2021
& mail daemon 
| |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 26 |
| Attacks |
None |
| Base level | 25 |
| Base experience | 1 |
| Speed | 24 |
| Base AC | 10 |
| Base MR | 127 |
| Alignment | 0 (neutral) |
| Frequency (by normal means) | 0 (Not randomly generated) |
| Genocidable | Not through normal means (see article) |
| Weight | 600 |
| Nutritional value | 300 |
| Size | Medium |
| Resistances | Fire, Cold, Shock, Sleep, Poison, Stoning |
| Resistances conveyed |
None |
|
A mail daemon:
| |
| Reference | monst.c#line2773 |
The mail daemon is a monster in NetHack with unusual properties and a very specific purpose.
Contents
Generation
On multi-user systems where NetHack has been configured appropriately, the mail daemon will deliver a scroll of mail when the player receives email. Reading the scroll will typically launch the user's preferred mail reader. After closing the reader, the player may continue their game.
On a public server, users observing another player's session may be able to send messages to that player. The message is displayed in the in-game message bar when the scroll is read.
MS-DOS and Amiga are single-user operating systems with no built-in mail support. On these platforms, a mail demon will appear every 2000-5000 turns, delivering a scroll with a meaningless "junk" message.
Delivering mail
When an item of mail needs to be delivered, the daemon is placed on a square just out of sight of the player, rushes over to the location of the player (moving through any monster in its path), hands the scroll to the player, rushes back to its starting square, and disappears. If it can't maneuver next to the player for some reason, it will "throw" the scroll to the player. This all takes place within the space of one move.
On nethack.alt.org, a user may observe other users' games. It is then possible to communicate to the player by sending mail. The player cannot send mail back to the spectator, but the # command can be used to type arbitrary messages visible to the observing user. The player does not need to attempt to execute the command, as the observer will see the message as it is typed in.
From statues
It is possible to create a mail daemon by means of wishing for a statue of it which can then be re-animated by casting stone to flesh. This is largely useless, as the resulting mail daemon will disappear in one turn ("I'm late!") unless you attack it, in which case it will disappear if you step away from it. Killing a mail daemon will automatically (and silently) genocide mail daemons, preventing future mail delivery and breaking genocideless conduct.
Configuration
Mail daemons will not appear if MAIL is undefined when compiling the game, or if the mail option is set to false.
Messages
- Gangway! Look out! Pardon me!
- The daemon pushed past another monster.
- Excuse me.
- The daemon pushed past you to get to a square near you.
- This place's too crowded. I'm outta here.
- The daemon left because it couldn't get close enough to you.
- <Hello>, <player>! I have some mail for you.
- The daemon delivered a scroll of mail.
- Catch!
- The daemon couldn't get next to you, so it threw the scroll from a distance.
Origin
On Unix-like operating systems, a daemon is a program that runs in the background, performing various tasks such as managing log files, performing timed maintenance tasks or answering incoming network connection requests. The program responsible for receiving mail and dispatching it to the correct location is commonly referred to as the mail daemon.
History
In NetHack 3.4.3, a mail daemon could be created when creating random demons on a special level. This was bug C343-415. These mail daemons would immediately disappear as soon as the player moved.
UnNetHack
In UnNetHack, in addition to delivering mail, the mail daemon can also deliver one hint scroll per game (assuming that this option is enabled). This "helpful hint" behavior has earned the mail daemon the nickname "Unclippy - the helpful hint daemon" (as a pejorative reference to the infamous Microsoft Word "helper", Clippy).
Encyclopaedia entry
It is rumoured that these strange creatures can be harmed by
domesticated canines only.
