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A major part of [[NetHack]] is [[identify]]ing items. To make this more difficult, the appearances of [[scroll]]s, [[potion]]s, [[ring]]s, [[amulet]]s, [[wand]]s, [[spellbook]]s, and some [[armor]] are randomly shuffled at game start. This page lists the possible '''randomized appearances''' - each object has a "default" starting appearance prior to being shuffled, listed next to it in <code>src/objects.c</code> (as can be seen in the [[Source:NetHack 3.6.1/src/objects.c|source code on-wiki]]).

In some cases, an item's appearance affects its function beyond its identified type.

==Scrolls==
Scrolls of [[scroll of mail|mail]] and [[scroll of blank paper|blank paper]] are the only ones that have fixed appearances.{{refsrc|src/objects.c|877|version=NetHack 3.6.6}} All others may appear as one of the following, which are shuffled into use at the start of a game:{{refsrc|src/objects.c|849|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}

    ZELGO MER       JUYED AWK YACC   NR 9               XIXAXA XOXAXA XUXAXA
    PRATYAVAYAH     DAIYEN FOOELS    LEP GEX VEN ZEA    PRIRUTSENIE
    ELBIB YLOH      VERR YED HORRE   VENZAR BORGAVVE    THARR
    YUM YUM         KERNOD WEL       ELAM EBOW          DUAM XNAHT
    ANDOVA BEGARIN  KIRJE            VE FORBRYDERNE     HACKEM MUCHE
    VELOX NEB       FOOBIE BLETCH    TEMOV              GARVEN DEH
    READ ME         ETAOIN SHRDLU    LOREM IPSUM        FNORD
    KO BATE         ABRA KA DABRA    ASHPD SODALG       MAPIRO MAHAMA DIROMAT
    GNIK SISI VLE   HAPAX LEGOMENON  EIRIS SAZUN IDISI  PHOL ENDE WODAN
    GHOTI           ZLORFIK          VAS CORP BET MANI  STRC PRST SKRZ KRK
    XOR OTA

For the meanings and origins of some of these names, see [[scroll origins]].

==Potions==
A [[potion of water]] is always a "clear potion".{{refsrc|src/objects.c|818|version=NetHack 3.6.6}} Other [[potions]] have one of these descriptions:{{refsrc|src/objects.c|788|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}

    ruby        pink        orange        yellow          emerald
    dark green  cyan        sky blue      brilliant blue  magenta
    purple-red  puce        milky         swirly          bubbly
    smoky       cloudy      effervescent  black           golden
    brown       fizzy       dark          white           murky

Of these, the [[smoky potion]] and [[milky potion]] are special in all games regardless of their actual identity. A smoky potion may contain a [[djinni]], and a milky potion may contain a [[ghost]].

==Spellbooks==
The [[Book of the Dead]], [[novel]]s and [[blank spellbook]]s all have a fixed description.{{refsrc|src/objects.c|999|version=NetHack 3.6.6}} The cover of a regular [[spellbook]] will appear as one of the following:{{refsrc|src/objects.c|899|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}

    parchment    vellum       ragged       dog eared    mottled
    stained      cloth        leather      white        pink
    red          orange       yellow       velvet       light green
    dark green   turquoise    cyan         light blue   dark blue
    indigo       magenta      purple       violet       tan
    plaid        light brown  dark brown   gray         wrinkled
    dusty        bronze       copper       silver       gold
    glittering   shining      dull         thin         thick

The '''dull spellbook''' may cause the player to fall [[asleep]] when reading it. '''Vellum''' and '''parchment spellbooks''' have pages made of [[leather]], rather than [[paper]] as all the others are, and will break [[vegetarian]] conduct if eaten.{{refsrc|src/objects.c|907|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}{{refsrc|src/objects.c|909|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}

The source code also contains appearances for the [[deferred feature|deferred]] spellbooks of {{spell of|flame sphere}} and {{spell of|freeze sphere}}, which are ''canvas'' and ''hardcover'' respectively.{{refsrc|src/objects.c|991|version=NetHack 3.6.6}} These will presumably be randomized if the spellbooks are enabled.

{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|{{commit|0d508cc93628b7b0ebb1a335bfe2f7eee3fe4188}} introduces a new spellbook, and thus a new appearance: "checkered".}}

==Rings==
[[Rings]] other than the [[meat ring]] will randomly take one of the following appearances:{{refsrc|src/objects.c|536|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}

    pearl       iron        twisted     steel       wire
    engagement  shiny       bronze      brass       copper
    silver      gold        wooden      granite     opal
    clay        coral       black onyx  moonstone   tiger eye
    jade        agate       topaz       sapphire    ruby
    diamond     ivory       emerald

Of these, topaz, sapphire, ruby, steel, diamond and emerald rings can be used to semi-permanently [[engrave]] something on the floor.

If you are wearing a [[silver]] ring and are not wearing gloves, you will do extra damage to silver-hating monsters with bare-handed and martial arts attacks.{{refsrc|src/uhitm.c|712|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}

The appearance of rings determines what monsters can eat them, and also influences golem creation when [[polypiling]]. The former is especially important, as [[Eating jewelry|you can sometimes gain intrinsics]] from eating rings while you are polymorphed. Pearl, iron, twisted, steel, wire, engagement, and shiny rings can be eaten by any [[metallivore]] ([[rock mole]], [[xorn]], or [[rust monster]]). Bronze, brass, copper, silver, and gold can be eaten by any metallivore not restricted to rustable metals (rock mole and xorn). Additionally, [[gelatinous cube]]s can eat wooden rings.

==Amulets==
[[Amulet]]s other than the [[Amulet of Yendor]] and [[cheap plastic imitation of the Amulet of Yendor|its imitation]] have the following appearances:{{refsrc|src/objects.c|604|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}{{refsrc|src/objects.c|618|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}

    circular    spherical   oval
    triangular  pyramidal   square
    concave     hexagonal   octagonal

Except for the Amulet of Yendor and its imitation, they can all be eaten by [[metallivore]]s. You have a chance of gaining intrinsics from eating amulets while polymorphed.

==Wands==
[[Wand]]s take one of the following appearances:{{refsrc|src/objects.c|1012|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}

    aluminum    balsa       brass       copper      crystal
    curved      ebony       forked      glass       hexagonal
    iridium     iron        jeweled     long        maple
    marble      oak         pine        platinum    runed
    short       silver      spiked      steel       tin
    uranium     zinc

Glass and crystal wands are [[fragile]] and can break - this is significant in some cases, especially if you kick the chest that stores the [[wand of wishing]] in the [[castle]]. The appearance of wands also determines what monsters can eat them, and also influences golem creation when polypiling. Eating a wand while polymorphed has no effect besides nutrition, however. Balsa wands require only 5 [[strength]] to break, while other wands require 10.

==Armor==
The material of armor is determined by its type, not by its appearance. This is significant for gloves and boots: [[gauntlets of power]] and [[kicking boots]] are iron, the rest are leather. Some appearances have additional effects.

===Helms===
Four [[helm]]s are randomized: the [[helmet]], [[helm of brilliance]], [[helm of opposite alignment]], and [[helm of telepathy]]. Each has one of the following randomized appearances:{{refsrc|src/objects.c|355|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}

    plumed helmet      etched helmet      crested helmet      visored helmet

Of these, the '''visored helmet''' is always special. It protects against the [[blind]]ing attack of [[raven]]s and the [[venom]]-spitting attack of [[cobra]]s.

===Cloaks===
Four [[cloak]]s have random appearances: the [[cloak of displacement]], [[cloak of invisibility]], [[cloak of magic resistance]] and [[cloak of protection]]. They are chosen from the following:{{refsrc|src/objects.c|464|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}

    tattered cape      ornamental cope      opera cloak      piece of cloth

[[cloak of displacement|Cloaks of displacement]] and a [[cloak of protection]] of any AC will [[auto-identify]] themselves when worn, as will [[cloak of invisibility|cloaks of invisibility]] unless you are already [[invisible]]. Otherwise, a worn cloak that does not auto-identify is the [[cloak of magic resistance]].

===Gloves===
The appearances of all [[gloves]] are randomized:{{refsrc|src/objects.c|493|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}

    old gloves      padded gloves      riding gloves      fencing gloves

Of these, the '''riding gloves''' are special, increasing the chance of successfully [[saddle|saddling]] a steed.

===Boots===
The appearance of the magical '''[[boots]]''' is randomized from the following set:{{refsrc|src/objects.c|513|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}

    mud boots      snow boots      riding boots    buckled boots
    hiking boots   combat boots    jungle boots

Of these, '''snow boots''' and '''riding boots''' are special. The former prevents the [[fumbling]] effect of [[ice]] and the latter increases the chance of successfully saddling a steed. However, this bonus is not cumulative with the riding gloves.

==History==
In [[NetHack 3.6.0]], the dull spellbook's reading effect ignored [[sleep resistance]], which was bug [[Bugs in NetHack 3.6.0#360-15|C360-15]].

The change to vellum and parchment spellbooks that make them leather was added in [[Nethack 3.6.2]].

==SLASH'EM==
{{main|Item (SLASH'EM)#New randomized appearances}}
[[SLASH'EM]] adds several new items, with accompanying item appearances (including randomized ones) to match.

The cloak that happens to have the randomized appearance "opera cloak" will appear much more often than its base type's frequency suggests, because many [[vampire]]s will be generated with one. At least in the case of cloaks of invisibility and magic resistance, it also means many vampires will be invisible or magic resistant.

==References==
<references/>
{{nethack-366}}
{{DOD}}
[[Category:Identification]]