Scroll

Item classes
" Amulets	[ Armor
% Comestibles	$ Coins
* Gems	! Potions
= Rings	? Scrolls
+ Spellbooks	` Statues
( Tools	` Boulders
) Weapons	/ Wands

A scroll, represented by ?, performs magic when you read it, and then vanishes.

Table of scrolls

Scroll	Cost	Weight	Relative Probability	Ink	Appearance
mail	0	5	0	2	stamped
identify	20	5	18%	14	random
light	50	5	9%	8	random
blank paper	60	5	2.8%	0	unlabeled
enchant weapon	60	5	8%	16	random
enchant armor	80	5	6.3%	16	random
remove curse	80	5	6.5%	16	random
confuse monster	100	5	5.3%	12	random
destroy armor	100	5	4.5%	10	random
fire	100	5	3%	8	random
food detection	100	5	2.5%	8	random
gold detection	100	5	3.3%	8	random
magic mapping	100	5	4.5%	8	random
scare monster	100	5	3.5%	20	random
teleportation	100	5	5.5%	20	random
amnesia	200	5	3.5%	8	random
create monster	200	5	4.5%	10	random
earth	200	5	1.8%	8	random
taming	200	5	1.5%	20	random
charging	300	5	1.5%	16	random
genocide	300	5	1.5%	30	random
punishment	300	5	1.5%	10	random
stinking cloud	300	5	1.5%	20	random

The table is divided into price groups. See price identification.

Generation

Scrolls comprise 16% of all randomly-generated items in the main dungeon, 18% in containers, 22% on the Rogue level, and 1% in Gehennom. Scrolls appear 1/8 cursed, 3/4 uncursed, and 1/8 blessed.

On top of random generation, scrolls can be found in book shops, in bones files, and amongst the possessions of recently deceased monsters.

Writing scrolls

The Ink column gives the greatest number of magic marker charges required to write a scroll. The actual number of charges used will be a random amount from Ink/2 to Ink-1; if your marker has fewer than Ink/2 charges, you will be unable to attempt to write the scroll.

Wizards have a base 1/3 chance of writing an unknown scroll, and all other classes have a base 1/15 chance; your chance generally improves with higher luck, to a maximum of about 98% for Wizards and 32% for other classes. You can only write scrolls on blank paper, which can be made by getting any scroll wet (except mail) or cancelling any scroll (except mail). Failure to write the scroll will cause the blank scroll to be used up. You can select non-blank scrolls to write on, but this will abuse your wisdom and you will be told, "That scroll is not blank!"

Reading scrolls

All scrolls take one turn to read and are destroyed if successfully read, except for the scroll of blank paper which has no effect.

In order to read a scroll, you must either be unblind or know the appearance of the scroll. When a scroll is read, it will be used up and disappear (except blank paper). The effects depend on the blessing of the scroll. Non-cursed means either blessed or uncursed. If you are confused while reading the scroll, "you mispronounce the magic words" and may obtain a different effect. Some scrolls have a different message for "beginners"; a character is considered a beginner until accumulating 2000 score points (1000 for Wizards). See the individual scroll articles for details on each scroll.

Messages

When read a scroll, you receive the following messages:

"As you read the scroll, it disappears."

• You are not blind, have a mouth and read a scroll. Effects of the scroll happen

"As you pronounce the formula on it, the scroll disappears."

• You are blind, have a mouth and know either the magic words or the identity of the scroll. Effects of the scroll happen

"As you cogitate the formula on it, the scroll disappears."

• You are blind, have no mouth and know either the magic words or the identity of a scroll. Effects of the scroll happen

"Being blind, you cannot read the formula on the scroll."

• You are blind but have neither seen the magic words nor identified the scroll. No effects happen and the scroll is not destroyed

Strategy

Scrolls, along with potions, are one of the main types of consumable item in the game. The fact that they can only be used once tends to encourage hoarding; if you notice yourself frequently dying with large numbers of unused scrolls, consider using them next time!

For scroll-specific strategy tips, see the individual articles.

Encyclopedia entry

And I was gazing on the surges prone,
With many a scalding tear and many a groan,
When at my feet emerg'd an old man's hand,
Grasping this scroll, and this same slender wand.
I knelt with pain--reached out my hand--had grasp'd
Those treasures--touch'd the knuckles--they unclasp'd--
I caught a finger: but the downward weight
O'erpowered me--it sank. Then 'gan abate
The storm, and through chill aguish gloom outburst
The comfortable sun. I was athirst
To search the book, and in the warming air
Parted its dripping leaves with eager care.
Strange matters did it treat of, and drew on
My soul page after page, till well-nigh won
Into forgetfulness; when, stupefied,
I read these words, and read again, and tried
My eyes against the heavens, and read again.
        [ Endymion, by John Keats ]

See Also

• Scroll origins

References

• scrl-343.txt

External links

• Scrolls and their effects in NetHack 3.4

This page is based on a spoiler by Dylan O'Donnell. The original license is:

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