Difference between revisions of "Spear"

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A '''spear''' is a kind of [[weapon]]. It can be used in [[melee]], or [[throw]]n.
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A '''spear''' is a type of [[weapon]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is a [[stackable]] one-handed weapon that can be used in [[melee]] or [[thrown]] as a [[projectile]], and is made of [[iron]].
  
−
Runed [[elven spear]]s and stout [[dwarvish spear]]s are superior to ordinary spears, while crude [[orcish spear]]s are predictably inferior. [[Silver spear]]s deal the same base damage as ordinary ones.
+
==Generation==
 +
Ordinary spears make up about 5% of randomly generated weapons (on the ground, as [[death drop]]s, and in [[shop]]s).
  
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==Strategy==
+
[[Watchmen]] and [[soldier]]s in the [[Yendorian army]] have a {{frac|3}} chance of [[Monster starting inventory|being generated with]] a spear.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|179|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} [[Salamander]]s have a {{frac|6|7}} chance of generating with a spear.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|485|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} [[Ice devil]]s have a {{frac|4}} chance of generating with a spear.{{refsrc|src/makemon.c|770|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
−
 
 
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In the absence of [[dagger]] skills, a small stack of spears is a powerful [[ranged weapon]] for any [[Caveman]] or [[Priest]] lucky enough to find more than one. Generally you need to encounter a large [[shop|antique weapons outlet]] to find them in any number. However, spears are quite heavy (three spears weigh almost as much as a [[pick-axe]]), so they have a tendency to cause [[encumbrance]] problems.
 
−
 
 
−
Note that spears cannot be multishot.
 
  
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== Spear skill ==
+
{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per {{commit|c09ae332c8b8f17daf072e95b0e03d75512577f7}}, [[Valkyrie]]s start with a spear weapon instead of a long sword: [[Human (starting race)|human]] Valkyries start with a +1 spear, while [[Dwarf (starting race)|dwarven]] Valkyries start the game with a +1 [[dwarvish spear]].}}
  
 +
==Spear skill==
 
{{spear skill table}}
 
{{spear skill table}}
−
 
+
The following weapons use the spear skill:
−
The following weapons use spear skill:
 
  
 
* spear
 
* spear
 +
* [[dwarvish spear]]
 
* [[elven spear]]
 
* [[elven spear]]
 
* [[orcish spear]]
 
* [[orcish spear]]
−
* [[dwarvish spear]]
 
 
* [[silver spear]]
 
* [[silver spear]]
 +
* [[javelin]]
 +
 +
Spears of all kinds make up about 9.7% of randomly generated weapons (on the ground, as death drops, and in shops). Spears have an additional +2 [[to-hit]] bonus against all monsters when thrown, and have a separate +2 to-hit bonus against [[kebabable]] [[monster class]]es.
 +
 +
Spears can be [[multishot]], and [[Cavepeople]] get a +1 [[multishot]] bonus for throwing spears of any kind.{{refsrc|src/dothrow.c|138|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=Caveman multishot}}{{refsrc|src/dothrow.c|1065|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
  
−
Spears have an additional +2 to-hit bonus against all monsters when thrown.
+
There are no [[artifact weapon]]s that use the spear skill.
  
−
When unidentified, a [[javelin]] appears as a 'throwing spear'. Despite this, it uses the javelin skill rather than the spear skill.
+
{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Per commit c09ae33 above, Valkyries can reach Expert skill in spear.}}
  
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==Artifact==
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==Strategy==
−
There are no [[artifact weapon|artifact]] spears in vanilla NetHack.
+
In the absence of [[dagger]] skills, a small stack of spears is a powerful [[ranged weapon]] for any Caveperson or [[Priest]] lucky enough to find more than one: most characters will require an antique weapons outlet to amass multiple spears in any timely manner. They are also quite heavy, with four spears outweighing a single [[pick-axe]].
  
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==SLASH'EM==
+
==History==
−
[[SLASH'EM]] introduces the <nowiki>#</nowiki>name-able [[orcish spear]] [[Elfrist]], the anti-elven counterpart to [[Orcrist]], and the artifact [[silver spear]] [[Holy Spear of Light]], which functions much like [[Sunsword]].
+
The spear first appears in Hack 1.21 and Hack for PDP-11, which are based on [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]], and is included in the initial item list for [[Hack 1.0]]. From this version to [[NetHack 3.3.1]], including variants based on those versions, [[Knight]]s start the game with a +2 spear.
  
−
==Sporkhack==
+
From Hack 1.0 to [[NetHack 3.4.3]], including variants based on those versions, spears cannot be multishot, and the javelin has its own separate skill in its appearances. [[NetHack 3.6.0]] merges the javelin skill into the spear skill and makes all spear weapons eligible for multishot.
−
In [[SporkHack]], [[Dragonbane]] is a dwarvish spear.  
 
  
 
==Origin==
 
==Origin==
 +
The spear is a weapon designed for thrusting. Chimpanzees use very rudimentary spears, so it is likely that humans have used spears for an extremely long time.
 +
 +
==Variants==
 +
In some variants, monsters that generate with spears of any type will generate with a stack of them. Other variants add artifact weapons that use the spear skill.
 +
 +
===SLASH'EM===
 +
In [[SLASH'EM]], non-[[Dwarf (starting race)|dwarven]] [[Valkyrie]]s start the game with a +1 spear, while dwarven [[Valkyrie]]s start the game with a +1 dwarvish spear.{{refsrc|u_init.c|229|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2|comment=Valkyrie spear}}{{refsrc|u_init.c|343|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2|comment=dwarven replacements}} [[Lycanthrope (starting race)|Lycanthropic]] characters in any role that start with a silver spear (i.e. [[Undead Slayer]]) will instead receive a regular spear.{{refsrc|u_init.c|217|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2|comment=Undead Slayer spear}}{{refsrc|u_init.c|351|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2|comment=lycanthrope-safe spears}}
 +
 +
[[Gnoll (SLASH'EM)|Gnolls]] have a {{frac|3}} a chance of being [[Monster starting inventory|generated with]] a spear.{{refsrc|makemon.c|684|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}} Yendorian army soldiers no longer generate with spears.
 +
 +
The [[Holy Spear of Light]] is an [[intelligent artifact]] that uses the spear skill.
 +
 +
===SporkHack===
 +
In [[SporkHack]], [[Dragonbane (SporkHack)|Dragonbane]] uses the spear skill, with its base item changed to a dwarvish spear.
 +
 +
===UnNetHack===
 +
In [[UnNetHack]], Dragonbane uses the spear skill, with its base item changed to a dwarvish spear as in SporkHack.
 +
 +
===dNetHack===
 +
[[dNetHack]] adds the [[atgeir]] and [[droven spear]] as weapons that use the spear skill.
 +
 +
[[Crystals (dNetHack)|The Water Crystal]] increases a character's skill cap in spears by 1 while carried.
 +
 +
The [[Spirits (dNetHack)|spirit]] [[Huginn and Muninn]] grants skill in spears while bound.
 +
 +
Many artifacts use the spear skill in some manner:
 +
 +
* [[The Rod of Lordly Might]], [[dNetHack artifacts#The Rod of the Elvish Lords|The Rod of the Elvish Lords]] and [[dNetHack artifacts#The Sceptre of Lolth|The Sceptre of Lolth]] are artifacts that can take on the form of a spear, elven spear or droven spear, respectively.
 +
* [[dNetHack artifacts#Lance of Longinus|The Lance of Longinus]] is a lawful artifact silver spear.
 +
* [[dNetHack artifacts#Spear of Peace|The Spear of Peace]] is a neutral, intelligent and [[Madmen]]-favoring [[wood]]en spear.
 +
* [[dNetHack artifacts#Gungnir|Gungnir]] is a lawful, intelligent and Valkyrie-favoring artifact whose default [[base item]] is an atgeir. It can be created by successfully praying as a [[Alignment record|piously aligned]] lawful or neutral Valkyrie while wielding a non-artifact weapon that uses the spear skill and is enchanted to +5 or better - creating Gungnir this way will retain the form of the spear weapon used as the base item.
 +
* [[dNetHack artifacts#The Death-Spear of Vhaerun|The Death-Spear of Vhaerun]] is a neutral, intelligent and [[Drow (starting race)|drow]] [[Noble]]-favoring silvered [[obsidian]] droven spear.
 +
* [[dNetHack artifacts#Yorshka's Spear|Yorshka's Spear]] is a lawful Noble-favoring spear.
 +
* [[dNetHack artifacts#The Rod of Seven Parts|The Rod of Seven Parts]] is a lawful intelligent [[platinum]] spear.
 +
 +
[[Map inclusion (dNetHack)#Fishing village|Fishing village map inclusions]] in the [[User:Chris/dNetHack/dNethack Outlands#Outlands rings|Outlands rings]] have a {{frac|9}} chance of generating a spear on each square.
 +
 +
===SpliceHack===
 +
In [[SpliceHack]], [[Merfolk (starting race)|merfolk]] characters in any role that would start with a spear start with a [[trident]] instead.
 +
 +
===notdNetHack===
 +
In [[notdNetHack]], in addition to dNetHack details, [[Cavepeople]] start with a +1 spear instead of a [[club]], and have the ability to knap soft [[stone]]s into [[spearhead]]s by applying [[rock]]s - [[The Sceptre of Might]], their [[quest artifact]], is also changed to a [[bone]] spear.
 +
 +
[[Salamander (starting race)|Salamander]] characters can always reach Expert in spears.
 +
 +
The spirit [[Shiro]] generates with an uncursed [[mineral]] spear when summoned by an [[Illithanachronounbinder]].
 +
 +
===EvilHack===
 +
[[EvilHack]] adds the [[Atlatl (EvilHack)|atlatl]] and [[dark elven spear]] as weapons that use the spear skill. Wizards are restricted in the spear skill, while [[Archeologist]]s are unrestricted and can train to Expert in spears.
 +
 +
Monsters that randomly generate with spears of any type will generate with a stack of them. Watchmen and soldiers that do not receive [[racial equipment]] have an effective {{frac|3}} chance of generating with a stack of spears. [[Sea tortle]]s have a {{frac|4|5}} chance of generating with a stack of spears.
 +
 +
A spear can be created at a [[Forge (dungeon feature)|forge]] by combining 2 [[arrow]]s and a [[dagger]]. Spears can be used to create many other items:
 +
 +
* A spear can be combined with 2 arrows to create a dwarvish spear.
 +
* A spear can be combined with 2 [[crossbow bolt]]s to create a javelin.
 +
* A spear can be combined with a [[scimitar]] to create a trident.
 +
* A spear can be combined with a dagger to create an [[axe]].
 +
* A spear can be combined with a [[broadsword]] to create a [[partisan]].
 +
* A spear can be combined with a [[stiletto]] to create a [[ranseur]].
 +
* A spear can be combined with a [[knife]] to create a [[spetum]].
 +
* A spear can be combined with a [[short sword]] to create a [[glaive]].
 +
* A spear can be combined with a [[battle-axe]] to create a [[bardiche]].
 +
* A spear can be combined with an axe to create a [[voulge]].
 +
* A spear can be combined with a [[saber]] to create a [[fauchard]].
 +
* A spear can be combined with a [[grappling hook]] to create a [[guisarme]].
 +
* A spear can be combined with a guisarme to create a bill-guisarme.
 +
* A spear can be combined with a [[war hammer]] to create a [[bec de corbin]].
 +
* A spear can be combined with a [[heavy war hammer]] to create a [[lucern hammer]].
 +
 +
===SlashTHEM===
 +
In [[SlashTHEM]], in addition to SLASH'EM details, [[Kobold (starting race)|kobold]] characters can always reach at least Basic in spears.
 +
 +
===Hack'EM===
 +
[[Hack'EM]] adds the atgeir from dNetHack as a weapon that uses the spear skill, and adds Elfrist and the Holy Spear of Light (known simply as the [[Spear of Light]]) from SLASH'EM and [[Gungnir]] from dNetHack as artifact weapons that use the spear skill with the same base items.
  
−
The spear is a weapon designed for thrusting. Chimpanzees use very rudimentary spears, so it is likely that humans used spears for an extremely long time.
+
Successfully [[untrap]]ping a [[spear trap]] has a chance of generating an intact spear.
  
−
The related [[lance]] is designed for jousting and the [[javelin]] for throwing.
+
In addition to EvilHack forging recipes, a spear can be combined with a [[flail]] at a forge to create an [[aklys]].
  
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== Encyclopedia entry ==
+
[[Upgrading]] a spear will produce an elven spear, and upgrading an orcish spear will produce a regular spear.
  
 +
==Encyclopedia entry==
 
{{encyclopedia|
 
{{encyclopedia|
 
- they come together with great random, and a spear is brast,
 
- they come together with great random, and a spear is brast,
 
and one party brake his shield and the other one goes down,
 
and one party brake his shield and the other one goes down,
 
horse and man, over his horse-tail and brake his neck, and
 
horse and man, over his horse-tail and brake his neck, and
−
then the next candidate comes randoming in, and brast his  
+
then the next candidate comes randoming in, and brast his
−
pear, and the other man brast his shield, and down he goes,
+
spear, and the other man brast his shield, and down he goes,
 
horse and man, over his horse-tail, and brake his neck, and
 
horse and man, over his horse-tail, and brake his neck, and
 
then there's another elected, and another and another and
 
then there's another elected, and another and another and
Line 72: Line 149:
 
fireman brake his neck!'  Why, that ain't a picture!
 
fireman brake his neck!'  Why, that ain't a picture!
 
|[ A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, by Mark
 
|[ A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, by Mark
−
          Twain ]
+
  Twain ]}}
−
}}
 
  
 +
==References==
 +
<references />
 +
{{nethack-367}}
 
[[Category:Weapons]]
 
[[Category:Weapons]]

Latest revision as of 16:06, 19 April 2024

) Spear.png
Name spear
Appearance spear
Damage vs. small 1d6
Damage vs. large 1d8
To-hit bonus +0
Weapon skill spear
Size one-handed
Base price 3 zm
(+10/positive
enchant)
Weight 30
Material iron

A spear is a type of weapon that appears in NetHack. It is a stackable one-handed weapon that can be used in melee or thrown as a projectile, and is made of iron.

Generation

Ordinary spears make up about 5% of randomly generated weapons (on the ground, as death drops, and in shops).

Watchmen and soldiers in the Yendorian army have a 1⁄3 chance of being generated with a spear.[1] Salamanders have a 6⁄7 chance of generating with a spear.[2] Ice devils have a 1⁄4 chance of generating with a spear.[3]

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

Per commit c09ae332, Valkyries start with a spear weapon instead of a long sword: human Valkyries start with a +1 spear, while dwarven Valkyries start the game with a +1 dwarvish spear.

Spear skill

Spear
Max Role
Basic
Skilled
Expert

The following weapons use the spear skill:

Spears of all kinds make up about 9.7% of randomly generated weapons (on the ground, as death drops, and in shops). Spears have an additional +2 to-hit bonus against all monsters when thrown, and have a separate +2 to-hit bonus against kebabable monster classes.

Spears can be multishot, and Cavepeople get a +1 multishot bonus for throwing spears of any kind.[4][5]

There are no artifact weapons that use the spear skill.

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

Per commit c09ae33 above, Valkyries can reach Expert skill in spear.

Strategy

In the absence of dagger skills, a small stack of spears is a powerful ranged weapon for any Caveperson or Priest lucky enough to find more than one: most characters will require an antique weapons outlet to amass multiple spears in any timely manner. They are also quite heavy, with four spears outweighing a single pick-axe.

History

The spear first appears in Hack 1.21 and Hack for PDP-11, which are based on Jay Fenlason's Hack, and is included in the initial item list for Hack 1.0. From this version to NetHack 3.3.1, including variants based on those versions, Knights start the game with a +2 spear.

From Hack 1.0 to NetHack 3.4.3, including variants based on those versions, spears cannot be multishot, and the javelin has its own separate skill in its appearances. NetHack 3.6.0 merges the javelin skill into the spear skill and makes all spear weapons eligible for multishot.

Origin

The spear is a weapon designed for thrusting. Chimpanzees use very rudimentary spears, so it is likely that humans have used spears for an extremely long time.

Variants

In some variants, monsters that generate with spears of any type will generate with a stack of them. Other variants add artifact weapons that use the spear skill.

SLASH'EM

In SLASH'EM, non-dwarven Valkyries start the game with a +1 spear, while dwarven Valkyries start the game with a +1 dwarvish spear.[6][7] Lycanthropic characters in any role that start with a silver spear (i.e. Undead Slayer) will instead receive a regular spear.[8][9]

Gnolls have a 1⁄3 a chance of being generated with a spear.[10] Yendorian army soldiers no longer generate with spears.

The Holy Spear of Light is an intelligent artifact that uses the spear skill.

SporkHack

In SporkHack, Dragonbane uses the spear skill, with its base item changed to a dwarvish spear.

UnNetHack

In UnNetHack, Dragonbane uses the spear skill, with its base item changed to a dwarvish spear as in SporkHack.

dNetHack

dNetHack adds the atgeir and droven spear as weapons that use the spear skill.

The Water Crystal increases a character's skill cap in spears by 1 while carried.

The spirit Huginn and Muninn grants skill in spears while bound.

Many artifacts use the spear skill in some manner:

Fishing village map inclusions in the Outlands rings have a 1⁄9 chance of generating a spear on each square.

SpliceHack

In SpliceHack, merfolk characters in any role that would start with a spear start with a trident instead.

notdNetHack

In notdNetHack, in addition to dNetHack details, Cavepeople start with a +1 spear instead of a club, and have the ability to knap soft stones into spearheads by applying rocks - The Sceptre of Might, their quest artifact, is also changed to a bone spear.

Salamander characters can always reach Expert in spears.

The spirit Shiro generates with an uncursed mineral spear when summoned by an Illithanachronounbinder.

EvilHack

EvilHack adds the atlatl and dark elven spear as weapons that use the spear skill. Wizards are restricted in the spear skill, while Archeologists are unrestricted and can train to Expert in spears.

Monsters that randomly generate with spears of any type will generate with a stack of them. Watchmen and soldiers that do not receive racial equipment have an effective 1⁄3 chance of generating with a stack of spears. Sea tortles have a 4⁄5 chance of generating with a stack of spears.

A spear can be created at a forge by combining 2 arrows and a dagger. Spears can be used to create many other items:

SlashTHEM

In SlashTHEM, in addition to SLASH'EM details, kobold characters can always reach at least Basic in spears.

Hack'EM

Hack'EM adds the atgeir from dNetHack as a weapon that uses the spear skill, and adds Elfrist and the Holy Spear of Light (known simply as the Spear of Light) from SLASH'EM and Gungnir from dNetHack as artifact weapons that use the spear skill with the same base items.

Successfully untrapping a spear trap has a chance of generating an intact spear.

In addition to EvilHack forging recipes, a spear can be combined with a flail at a forge to create an aklys.

Upgrading a spear will produce an elven spear, and upgrading an orcish spear will produce a regular spear.

Encyclopedia entry

- they come together with great random, and a spear is brast,
and one party brake his shield and the other one goes down,
horse and man, over his horse-tail and brake his neck, and
then the next candidate comes randoming in, and brast his
spear, and the other man brast his shield, and down he goes,
horse and man, over his horse-tail, and brake his neck, and
then there's another elected, and another and another and
still another, till the material is all used up; and when you
come to figure up results, you can't tell one fight from
another, nor who whipped; and as a picture of living, raging,
roaring battle, sho! why it's pale and noiseless - just
ghosts scuffling in a fog. Dear me, what would this barren
vocabulary get out of the mightiest spectacle? - the burning
of Rome in Nero's time, for instance? Why, it would merely
say 'Town burned down; no insurance; boy brast a window,
fireman brake his neck!' Why, that ain't a picture!

[ A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, by Mark
  Twain ]

References

  1. ↑ src/makemon.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 179
  2. ↑ src/makemon.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 485
  3. ↑ src/makemon.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 770
  4. ↑ src/dothrow.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 138: Caveman multishot
  5. ↑ src/dothrow.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 1065
  6. ↑ u_init.c in SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2, line 229: Valkyrie spear
  7. ↑ u_init.c in SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2, line 343: dwarven replacements
  8. ↑ u_init.c in SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2, line 217: Undead Slayer spear
  9. ↑ u_init.c in SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2, line 351: lycanthrope-safe spears
  10. ↑ makemon.c in SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2, line 684
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