Difference between revisions of "Potion of monster detection"

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(Effects: delete long worm tail information; they are displayed in 3.6.6 with a blessed potion. Not showing with a blessed potion might have been a 3.4.3 bug)
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{{potion|name=monster detection|cost=150}}
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A '''potion of monster detection''' is a [[potion]] that will show all monsters on the current level when [[quaff]]ed.
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A '''potion of monster detection''' is a type of [[potion]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''
  
== Effects ==
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==Description==
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[[Quaff]]ing a potion of monster detection will display all monsters on the current level and [[auto-identify]] the potion, with the exact effect dependent on beatitude: an uncursed potion displays the position of all monsters on a blank map similar to [[object detection]], while a cursed potion will additionally [[aggravate]] and wake all sleeping and paralyzed monsters on the level.{{refsrc|src/potion.c|840|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/detect.c|830|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/detect.c|837|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} A blessed potion grants passive monster detection, continually updating your screen with the position of all monsters for 21–60 more turns, and only adds 1 more turn if you already have at least 300 turns of monster detection;{{refsrc|src/potion.c|818|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/detect.c|834|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} these effects stack with the [[spell of detect monsters]] cast while at Skilled or above in [[divination spells]].
  
A blessed potion will show all monsters on the map for 21–60 (more) turns.{{refsrc|potion.c|630}}
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Quaffing the potion while [[hallucinating]] will have the same effects, but the monsters are displayed as their hallucinated identities.
  
An uncursed potion will show just the monsters against a black background,{{reffunc|detect.c|monster_detect}} and will exercise [[Wisdom]] if any are found.{{refsrc|potion.c|647}}
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{{upcoming|3.7.0|As of {{commit|dfac5fbf67ca9b2b147c09a17306202818e35b08|commit dfac5fb}}, quaffing a blessed potion grants passive monster detection for 100-199 more turns instead, with the same effect if you have 300 turns or more.}}
 
 
A cursed potion has the same effect as an uncursed potion, but will also wake all sleeping and paralyzed monsters on the level.{{refsrc|detect.c|625}}
 
 
 
If you already have 300 or more turns of monster detection, a blessed potion will only add one more.
 
 
 
If you quaff a potion of monster detection while [[hallucinating]], it will not reveal the monsters' true identities. However several snapshots can make the typical movement patterns of [[shopkeeper]]s and [[aligned priest|priests]] visible.
 
 
 
== Messages ==
 
{{message|Monsters sense the presence of you.|You drank a cursed potion and woke up some monsters.}}
 
{{message|You feel threatened.|You quaffed a non-blessed potion, there were no monsters on the current level, and you aren't a [[beginner]].}}
 
  
 
==Strategy==
 
==Strategy==
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The potion is useful to get the quick lay of a particular level upon entering it - while [[blind]]ing yourself to use intrinsic [[telepathy]] can achieve much of the same effect, monster detection can also reveal [[mindless]] monsters as well, including potentially dangerous ones such as [[gelatinous cube]]s and [[air elemental]]s. Monsters seen via blessed monster detection are also valid targets for advanced [[fireball]] and [[cone of cold]] spells, as long as they are already in the effective range of the spell.
  
Some players save one or two of these potions to bless and drink on the [[Astral Plane]], because it is the quickest and easiest way to locate and keep track of all the monsters, and it doesn't have any of the disadvantages of [[telepathy]] (you don't have to blind yourself, and it works on mindless monsters).
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While the cursed potion can be used to awaken monsters remotely, it will not clear the "waiting" state of a [[quest nemesis]] or other similar [[covetous]] monster. [[Knight]]s can use the cursed potion to help avoid caitiff penalties to [[alignment record]].
  
Otherwise, it's not a terribly useful potion and is a good candidate for [[dilution]].
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Some players save a few potions to bless and drink on the [[Astral Plane]] in order to locate and keep track of the monsters there.
  
== See also ==
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==History==
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The potion of monster detection first appears in Hack for PDP-11, which is based on [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]], and is included in the initial item list for [[Hack 1.0]].
  
* [[Spellbook of detect monsters]]
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==Messages==
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{{message|You sense the presence of monsters.|You quaffed a non-blessed potion of monster detection.}}
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{{message|Monsters sense the presence of you.|You quaffed a cursed potion and woke up some monsters.}}
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{{message|You feel threatened.|You quaffed a non-blessed potion, but there were no monsters on the current level, and you are not a [[beginner]].}}
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{{message|You get the heebie jeebies.|As above, while hallucinating.}}
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{{message|You feel lonely.|As above, but the potion was blessed.}}
  
== References ==
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==Variants==
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===ZAPM===
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In [[ZAPM]], the equivalent to the potion is the floppy disk of lifeform detection.
  
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==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
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{{nethack-367}}
 
[[Category:Potions|Monster detection]]
 
[[Category:Potions|Monster detection]]
{{nethack-360}}
 

Latest revision as of 15:25, 18 February 2024

! Pink potion.png
Name monster detection
Appearance random
Base price 150 zm
Weight 20
Monster use Will not be used by monsters.

A potion of monster detection is a type of potion that appears in NetHack

Description

Quaffing a potion of monster detection will display all monsters on the current level and auto-identify the potion, with the exact effect dependent on beatitude: an uncursed potion displays the position of all monsters on a blank map similar to object detection, while a cursed potion will additionally aggravate and wake all sleeping and paralyzed monsters on the level.[1][2][3] A blessed potion grants passive monster detection, continually updating your screen with the position of all monsters for 21–60 more turns, and only adds 1 more turn if you already have at least 300 turns of monster detection;[4][5] these effects stack with the spell of detect monsters cast while at Skilled or above in divination spells.

Quaffing the potion while hallucinating will have the same effects, but the monsters are displayed as their hallucinated identities.

The following information pertains to an upcoming version (3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that it is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate this information.

As of commit dfac5fb, quaffing a blessed potion grants passive monster detection for 100-199 more turns instead, with the same effect if you have 300 turns or more.

Strategy

The potion is useful to get the quick lay of a particular level upon entering it - while blinding yourself to use intrinsic telepathy can achieve much of the same effect, monster detection can also reveal mindless monsters as well, including potentially dangerous ones such as gelatinous cubes and air elementals. Monsters seen via blessed monster detection are also valid targets for advanced fireball and cone of cold spells, as long as they are already in the effective range of the spell.

While the cursed potion can be used to awaken monsters remotely, it will not clear the "waiting" state of a quest nemesis or other similar covetous monster. Knights can use the cursed potion to help avoid caitiff penalties to alignment record.

Some players save a few potions to bless and drink on the Astral Plane in order to locate and keep track of the monsters there.

History

The potion of monster detection first appears in Hack for PDP-11, which is based on Jay Fenlason's Hack, and is included in the initial item list for Hack 1.0.

Messages

You sense the presence of monsters.
You quaffed a non-blessed potion of monster detection.
Monsters sense the presence of you.
You quaffed a cursed potion and woke up some monsters.
You feel threatened.
You quaffed a non-blessed potion, but there were no monsters on the current level, and you are not a beginner.
You get the heebie jeebies.
As above, while hallucinating.
You feel lonely.
As above, but the potion was blessed.

Variants

ZAPM

In ZAPM, the equivalent to the potion is the floppy disk of lifeform detection.

References