Miscellaneous item
In NetHack, a miscellaneous item may be created as part of a monster's inventory when the monster is generated. This will happen if the monster's level equals or exceeds the roll of a d100.[1]
Contents
Description
The following objects qualify as miscellaneous items:
- amulet of life saving
- potion of gain level
- potion of invisibility
- potion of polymorph
- potion of speed
- wand of make invisible
- wand of speed monster
Monsters that are eligible for miscellaneous items will receive q at most. If the monster's difficulty is 5 or less, there is a 1⁄36 chance that it will be a potion of polymorph, and a 1⁄180 chance that its miscellaneous item will be a wand of polymorph. If the monster has not received either and is living (e.g excluding undead, golems, and vortices among others), there is a 1⁄40 chance that it will be given an amulet of life saving.
Finally, none of the above possibilities are applied, the monster has an equal chance of receiving one of the following three sets of items:
- a potion of speed (5⁄6) or else a wand of speed monster (1⁄6)
- a potion of invisibility (5⁄6) or else a wand of make invisible (1⁄6); nothing is given if the monster that would receive either item is peaceful, and the player cannot currently see invisible
- potion of gain level[2]
Generation
The following monster types are ineligible for miscellaneous items:
- Animals
- Monsters with explosion attacks
- Mindless monsters
- Ghosts and shades
- Keystone Kops
In addition, only 1⁄13 of all soldiers will be generated with a miscellaneous item.[3]
Of note is that guards will not use speed-boosting items, and according to the code are not meant to receive them - however, mtmp->isgd is only set after makemon() is called, thus making it possible for them to generate with one. In practice, this only means that you will occasionally find a potion of speed or wand of speed monster in a deceased guard's inventory.[4] [5]
Use
A user has suggested improving this page or section as follows:
"Outline the circumstances under which a monster will make use of a miscellaneous item."
Monsters with hands will attempt to zap the wands at themselves and quaff the potion of gain level immediately.
