Difference between revisions of "Scroll of mail"

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m ("as of 3.6.0, in current versions you will be warned" sounded a little odd, rephrased it a bit)
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On some systems, the [[mail daemon]] can deliver a '''scroll of mail''', containing a message from outside NetHack, to the [[hero]]. [[You]] can [[read]] the scroll to see the message; in [[3.6.0]] and later versions, you will be warned if reading a scroll of mail would break your illiterate [[conduct]].
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The '''scroll of mail''' is a type of [[scroll]] that appears in some versions of ''[[NetHack]]''. On some systems, the [[mail daemon]] can deliver mail with message from outside NetHack to your [[hero]], and [[read]]ing the scroll will show the message. Reading this scroll naturally breaks [[illiterate]] [[conduct]]; you will be warned if attempting to read sent mail would do so.
  
 
== Generation ==
 
== Generation ==
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Mail scrolls are never generated randomly in the dungeon (although in some versions of NetHack, the mail daemon delivers them at random). You can turn the [[Options#mail|option "mail"]] off to prevent scrolls of mail being delivered.
  
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You can turn the [[Options#mail|option "mail"]] off to prevent scrolls of mail being delivered.
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The source of the scrolls varies according to which operating system you play on:
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* On UNIX and Linux, you can set up an alert for incoming email.
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The source of the scrolls varies according to which operating system you play on. On UNIX and Linux, you can set up an alert for incoming email. On DOS, scrolls with random messages are delivered now and then. [[Public server]]s often allow people watching a game to send short messages to the person playing the game. An error in wishing for mail [[body armor]] may leave the player with a scroll of mail instead (i.e. a wish for "blessed greased fixed +3 dragon mail" will produce a blessed greased scroll of mail).
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* On DOS, scrolls with random messages are delivered now and then. [[Public server]]s often allow people watching a game to send short messages to the person playing the game. An error in wishing for mail [[body armor]] may also leave the player with a scroll of mail instead (i.e. a wish for "blessed greased fixed +3 dragon mail" will produce a blessed greased scroll of mail). In theory, you could acquire as many of these scrolls as you want by sending many messages to yourself.
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Mail scrolls are never generated randomly in the dungeon (although in some versions of NetHack, the mail daemon delivers them at random).  In theory, you could acquire as many of these scrolls as you want by sending many messages to yourself.
 
  
 
If the <code>MAIL</code> [[compile-time option]] isn't defined, scrolls of mail don't exist in the game. Attempting to write one will reject the name, and wishing for one will give a random scroll instead. The official [[Windows]] binaries don't define <code>MAIL</code>.
 
If the <code>MAIL</code> [[compile-time option]] isn't defined, scrolls of mail don't exist in the game. Attempting to write one will reject the name, and wishing for one will give a random scroll instead. The official [[Windows]] binaries don't define <code>MAIL</code>.
  
 
== Strategy ==
 
== Strategy ==
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Unlike other scrolls, scrolls of mail lack many of their gameplay applications:
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They have little use in gameplay:
 
  
 
* They will not [[polymorph]] into other objects or be consumed by polypiling, they just turn into junk mail.{{refsrc|zap.c|1040}}{{refsrc|zap.c|1156}}{{refsrc|zap.c|1241}}
 
* They will not [[polymorph]] into other objects or be consumed by polypiling, they just turn into junk mail.{{refsrc|zap.c|1040}}{{refsrc|zap.c|1156}}{{refsrc|zap.c|1241}}
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* They are not affected by [[cancellation]].
 
* They are not affected by [[cancellation]].
 
* A [[gelatinous cube]] gains no nutrition by eating one. ("This junk mail is less than satisfying."){{refsrc|eat.c|2000}}
 
* A [[gelatinous cube]] gains no nutrition by eating one. ("This junk mail is less than satisfying."){{refsrc|eat.c|2000}}
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* If you wish for or write a scroll of mail, or you discover a [[bones]] file with someone else's mail, it will be "junk mail addressed to the finder of the Eye of Larn". (The joke is that the roguelike [[Larn]] would send the user mail when they won.){{refsrc|objnam.c|2524}}{{refsrc|read.c|660}}{{refsrc|write.c|233}}{{refsrc|bones.c|88}}
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* If you wish for or write a scroll of mail, or you discover a [[bones]] file with someone else's mail, it will be "junk mail addressed to the finder of the Eye of Larn". (The roguelike [[Larn]] would send the user mail when they won.){{refsrc|objnam.c|2524}}{{refsrc|read.c|660}}{{refsrc|write.c|233}}{{refsrc|bones.c|88}}
  
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However:
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However, they can still affect a game in the following ways:
  
 
* They weigh as much as any other scroll (5), so you can become burdened by mail.
 
* They weigh as much as any other scroll (5), so you can become burdened by mail.
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* Huge quantities of mail scrolls can be used for a [[Stealing from shops|shop-robbing]] exploit known as the "200 rock steal".
 
* Huge quantities of mail scrolls can be used for a [[Stealing from shops|shop-robbing]] exploit known as the "200 rock steal".
 
* Large amounts of scrolls of mail can be used as "fodder" against [[curse items]].
 
* Large amounts of scrolls of mail can be used as "fodder" against [[curse items]].
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* A scroll of mail will "activate" an [[Elbereth]] square in versions prior to 3.6.0.
 
  
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== History ==
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==History==
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In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and earlier versions, you will break the conduct with no warning.  
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In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and earlier versions, reading a scroll of mail immediately breaks [[illiterate]] [[conduct]]; a scroll of mail will also "activate" an [[Elbereth]] square in these versions. As of [[3.6.0]], the reminder for illiterate conduct is included, and Elbereth's mechanics mean that scrolls of mail no longer affect squares with Elbereth engraved.
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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==References==
 
==References==
 
<references />
 
<references />
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{{nethack-366}}
 
[[Category:Scrolls|Mail]]
 
[[Category:Scrolls|Mail]]
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{{nethack-364}}
 

Revision as of 08:56, 27 April 2022

? Scroll of mail.png
Name scroll of mail
Appearance stamped scroll
Base price 0 zm
Weight 5
Ink to write 2
Monster use Will not be used by monsters.

The scroll of mail is a type of scroll that appears in some versions of NetHack. On some systems, the mail daemon can deliver mail with message from outside NetHack to your hero, and reading the scroll will show the message. Reading this scroll naturally breaks illiterate conduct; you will be warned if attempting to read sent mail would do so.

Generation

Mail scrolls are never generated randomly in the dungeon (although in some versions of NetHack, the mail daemon delivers them at random). You can turn the option "mail" off to prevent scrolls of mail being delivered.

The source of the scrolls varies according to which operating system you play on:

  • On UNIX and Linux, you can set up an alert for incoming email.
  • On DOS, scrolls with random messages are delivered now and then. Public servers often allow people watching a game to send short messages to the person playing the game. An error in wishing for mail body armor may also leave the player with a scroll of mail instead (i.e. a wish for "blessed greased fixed +3 dragon mail" will produce a blessed greased scroll of mail). In theory, you could acquire as many of these scrolls as you want by sending many messages to yourself.

If the MAIL compile-time option isn't defined, scrolls of mail don't exist in the game. Attempting to write one will reject the name, and wishing for one will give a random scroll instead. The official Windows binaries don't define MAIL.

Strategy

Unlike other scrolls, scrolls of mail lack many of their gameplay applications:

  • They will not polymorph into other objects or be consumed by polypiling, they just turn into junk mail.[1][2][3]
  • They cannot get wet.[4][5]
  • They are not affected by cancellation.
  • A gelatinous cube gains no nutrition by eating one. ("This junk mail is less than satisfying.")[6]
  • If you wish for or write a scroll of mail, or you discover a bones file with someone else's mail, it will be "junk mail addressed to the finder of the Eye of Larn". (The roguelike Larn would send the user mail when they won.)[7][8][9][10]

However, they can still affect a game in the following ways:

  • They weigh as much as any other scroll (5), so you can become burdened by mail.
  • They can be thrown to propel yourself backward while levitating.[11]
  • Huge quantities of mail scrolls can be used for a shop-robbing exploit known as the "200 rock steal".
  • Large amounts of scrolls of mail can be used as "fodder" against curse items.

History

In NetHack 3.4.3 and earlier versions, reading a scroll of mail immediately breaks illiterate conduct; a scroll of mail will also "activate" an Elbereth square in these versions. As of 3.6.0, the reminder for illiterate conduct is included, and Elbereth's mechanics mean that scrolls of mail no longer affect squares with Elbereth engraved.

See also

References

  1. ↑ zap.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 1040
  2. ↑ zap.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 1156
  3. ↑ zap.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 1241
  4. ↑ trap.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 2712
  5. ↑ potion.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 1467
  6. ↑ eat.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 2000
  7. ↑ objnam.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 2524
  8. ↑ read.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 660
  9. ↑ write.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 233
  10. ↑ bones.c in NetHack 3.4.3, line 88
  11. ↑ https://nhqdb.alt.org/?2390
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