Difference between revisions of "Stethoscope"

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A '''stethoscope''' is a [[tool]] used to determine the status of a monster and to listen to dungeon acoustics. It mimics the [[real life]] medical instrument used by doctors to examine a patient's heartbeat, hence [[Healer]]s in NetHack get a stethoscope as part of their starting inventory.
+
A '''stethoscope''' is a type of [[tool]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It is made of [[iron]].
  
==Usage==
+
==Generation==
 +
In addition to random generation, stethoscopes can be found in [[tool]] shops.
  
The stethoscope is used by [[apply|applying]] it in a direction; this can be to yourself, to a square next to you, or up or down. Its use is free once per action, meaning that it doesn't count as your action for that turn.{{refsrc|Apply.c|224}} Applying it twice in a row will cost you the turn. Two stethoscopes don't give you two free uses (but saving and restoring does). A cursed stethoscope has a 1/2 chance (50%) of just sounding your own heartbeat{{refsrc|apply.c|259}}. As of version 3.6, stethoscopes will not function while you are [[deafness|deaf]].  
+
[[Healer]]s start each game with a stethoscope.
  
When applied to a monster, the stethoscope shows you the name, [[alignment]], [[experience level]], [[hitpoints]], [[armor class]] and miscellaneous attributes of the target. Such attributes are generally impairments, but can be any of: [[tame]], peaceful, eating, [[cancellation|cancelled]], [[confusion|confused]], [[blindness|blind]], [[stun]]ned, [[sleep|asleep]], can't move, [[meditating]], [[scare]]d, trapped, [[fast]], [[slow]], concealed, [[invisible]], held by you, swallowed you, engulfed you, holding you or carrying you{{refsrc|pline.c|278}}.
+
==Description==
 +
[[Apply]]ing a stethoscope will prompt you for a direction, and displays the status of your character or an adjacent [[monster]] in the selected direction; applying a stethoscope towards an adjacent wall  tile with a secret [[door]] or [[Secret passage|passage]] reveals it.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|294|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/detect.c|1732|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=Finding these by [[searching]] in particular exercises wisdom.}} Applying a stethoscope in certain other scenarios may produce [[YAFM]] - see [[#Messages|the Messages section]] below.
  
When applied to yourself, you are given an accurate appraisal of your [[alignment]], your level, HP, and AC, and any of: dying from [[food poisoning]], dying from [[illness]], solidifying, becoming [[slime|slimy]], being strangled, [[nausea]]ted, confused, blind, blinded by sticky goop, covered by sticky goop, stunned, injured leg(s), slippery hands, trapped, fast, very fast, concealed, invisible, holding <monster>, or held by <monster>{{refsrc|pline.c|357}}.
+
A stethoscope requires a free hand to use and cannot be applied while [[deaf]]. The stethoscope is free to use once per action; applying one twice in a row will increment the turn counter, and this does not stack with multiple stethoscopes.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|294|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/apply.c|323|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} A cursed stethoscope has a {{frac|2}} of failure, which prints a specific message.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|356|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}  
  
When applied to walls you listen to dungeon sounds finding the secret doors and the hollow tunnels hidden behind them. If a secret door or [[Secret passage|passage]] is there, you are guaranteed to find it. This does not exercise [[wisdom]].{{refsrc|apply.c|290}}{{refsrc|detect.c|1193}}
+
===Monsters===
 +
Applying the stethoscope to another monster will show you their name, [[alignment]], [[experience level]], [[hit points]], [[armor class]], and miscellaneous attributes of the target. Such attributes generally consist of impairments, but can be any of the following:{{reffunc|src/priest.c|mstatusline|version=NetHack 3.6.1}}
  
In [[SporkHack]] and [[UnNetHack]], a stethoscope can be used to open an [[iron safe]].
+
*[[tame]]
 +
*[[peaceful]]
 +
*eating
 +
*[[cancelled]]
 +
*[[confused]]
 +
*[[blind]]
 +
*[[stunned]]
 +
*[[asleep]]
 +
*can't move
 +
*[[meditating]]
 +
*[[scare]]d
 +
*[[trap]]ped
 +
*[[fast]]/[[slow]]
 +
*[[Hiding|concealed]]
 +
*[[invisible]]
 +
*[[Holding|held]] by you/holding you
 +
*[[digest]]ing you
 +
*[[engulfing]] you
 +
*[[Riding|carrying]] you
 +
*[[shapeshifter]]
  
==Messages==
+
[[Mimic]]s that are disguised as other objects will be revealed and uncloaked; the 'shapeshifter' attribute is only displayed for monsters in a different form from their "innate" one, and as such is not displayed for [[werecreature]]s.{{refsrc|src/priest.c|969|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 +
 
 +
In [[wizard mode]], applying a stethoscope to a [[pet]] displays its [[tameness]], hunger, and [[apport]].
 +
 
 +
===You===
 +
Applying the stethoscope to your character displays your [[experience level]], [[HP]], and [[AC]], an accurate appraisal of your [[alignment record]], and any of the following [[properties]]:{{refsrc|src/priest.c|969|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/priest.c|1033|version=NetHack 3.6.7|comment=<code>ustatusline</code> function}}
  
; "The <monster> interferes"
+
*dying from [[food poisoning]]
: You applied the stethoscope while engulfed by a [[whirly]] monster, and failed to gain any useful information. (33% chance of interference, 10% for healers)
+
*dying from [[illness]]
; "You barely hear faint splashing."
+
*[[stoning|solidifying]]
: You applied the stethoscope up or down while underwater.
+
*becoming [[sliming|slimy]]
; "You hear the crackling of hellfire."
+
*being strangled
: You applied the stethoscope to the floor of the [[castle]], beneath which lies [[Gehennom]].
+
*[[nausea]]ted
; "The <floor> seems healthy enough."
+
*confused
: You applied the stethoscope down.
+
*blind/blinded by sticky goop/covered by sticky goop
; "You hear your heart beat."
+
*stunned
: The stethoscope is cursed.
+
*[[wounded legs|injured leg(s)]]
; "You hear a faint typing noise."
+
*[[slippery fingers|slippery hands]]
: You applied the stethoscope to the edge of the map.
+
*trapped
; "The invisible monster must have moved."
+
*fast/very fast
: You applied the stethoscope to an {{gray|I}} which represents a monster which is no longer there.
+
*concealed
; "You hear a hollow sound.  This must be a secret door/passage!"
+
*invisible
: You applied the stethoscope to a wall concealing a secret door/[[Secret passage|passage]].
+
*holding <monster>
; "You hear a voice say, "It's dead, Jim."
+
*held by <monster>
: You applied the stethoscope down, to a corpse, while hallucinating.
 
; You hear a voice say, "You're both stoned, Jim."
 
: You applied the stethoscope to a statue, while hallucinating.
 
; "You determine that this/that unfortunate being is dead."
 
: You applied the stethoscope down to a corpse/towards a square containing a corpse, as a [[Healer]].
 
; "The <monster> appears to be in excellent health for a statue."
 
: You applied the stethoscope at a statue, as a [[Healer]].
 
; "The <monster> appears to be in extraordinary health for a statue."
 
: You applied the stethoscope at a statue trap, as a [[Healer]].
 
; "You hear nothing special."
 
: You applied the stethoscope at something else (e.g. a [[boulder]]).
 
; "You can't hear anything!"
 
: You applied the stethoscope while you are [[deafness|deaf]].
 
  
 
==Strategy==
 
==Strategy==
 +
Although a stethoscope is not essential for survival, it is an excellent source of tactical data when used early and often, and is thus one of the most frequently used tools. It may be a good idea to #[[adjust]] the stethoscope's inventory letter to something memorable, such as {{white|s}}.
 +
 +
Unlike [[Magicbane]] and the [[wand of probing]], a stethoscope does not show items in the monster's inventory; however, the stethoscope has an unlimited amount of uses, and the monster's AC may provide a vague hint as to what armor they are wearing, depending on how different it is from their base AC. This is particularly useful for early characters that are [[lawful]], [[Gnome (starting race)|gnomish]] or [[Dwarf (starting race)|dwarvish]]: a stethoscope will help reveal which [[peaceful]] [[Dwarf (monster)|dwarves]] and [[hobbit]]s are carrying armor worth using a pet to kill them for or even take the alignment record hit yourself, in particular [[mithril-coat]]s.
  
Unlike [[Magicbane]] and the [[wand of probing]], a stethoscope does not show items in the monster's inventory. However, unlike the wand, a stethoscope never runs out of charges and can be used for free.
+
An important use of the stethoscope is monitoring your pet's health. Consistently using the stethoscope allows you to gauge their [[experience level]], which is invaluable when attempting the [[protection racket]]. The stethoscope will also indicate when its [[hit points]] are critically low, and you can then heal it or else escort it away from danger. A stethoscope is also valuable when [[altar farming]] in order to properly appraise your alignment and avoid accidental [[crowning]].
  
Although a stethoscope is not essential for survival it becomes an excellent source of tactical data when used early and often. Therefore, it is one of the most frequently used tools and it's a good idea to #[[adjust]] the stethoscope's inventory letter [[Adjust#Strategy|to something memorable]] like the letter '''s'''.
+
The stethoscope is fine for revealing hidden passageways and doors; manually [[searching]] via {{kbd|s}} is preferable if you wish to exercise Wisdom, but using the stethoscope is often much faster. It can also be used to safely decloak mimics, especially in [[shop]]s.
  
An important use of the stethoscope is to keep your [[pet]] healthy. Consistently using the stethoscope allows you to gauge the [[experience level]]s your pet is gaining and determine when it has reached its maximum XL. This information becomes invaluable when attempting the [[protection racket]] since you are completely dependent on your pet. The stethoscope also enables you to escort your pet to a [[safe area]] when its [[hit points]] are critically low, using either a [[whistle]] or a [[leash]].
+
Blind heroes (or those without [[see invisible]]) can use it to remove {{gray|I}} symbols without using up an action by searching or running into one normally.
  
Another use is to determine hostile monsters' armor class and to infer the enchantment of the armor on their corpse.
+
==History==
 +
The stethoscope first appears in [[NetHack 1.3d]].
  
Blind heroes (or those without [[see invisible]]) can use it to remove {{white|I}} symbols. Normally, running into one would consume an action.
+
In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and earlier versions, as well as variants based on those versions, applying a stethoscope to a disguised mimic would reveal its identity, but would not uncloak it. Applying one to an unaligned monster reports it as chaotic: their alignment is &minus;128, which is a magic number for unaligned, and the code checks specifically for this number for other purposes (e.g., your [[alignment record]]), but for the stethoscope it is just a negative number.{{refsrc|include/align.h|18|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}<ref>The only 'normally' unaligned monster (with unaligned alignment in monst.c) is the [[Wizard of Yendor]]; other monsters like [[Angel]]s, [[minion]]s, and [[priest]]s of [[Moloch]] have an unaligned alignment in their EPRI or EMIN structure, which overwrites their alignment in monst.c.</ref> Both of these were changed in [[NetHack 3.6.0]].
  
[[Mimic]]s in [[shop]]s can be found with a stethoscope. They will [[Bugs_in_NetHack_3.4.3#C343-366|not uncloak]]. That saves you or your pet a fight.
+
==Origin==
 +
{{wikipedia|stethoscope}}
 +
The stethoscope is a [[real life]] medical instrument used by doctors to examine a patient's heartbeat, hence its primary usage and appearance in the Healer's starting inventory. Its other uses, especially in SporkHack and UnNetHack, are inspired by the pop cultural trope of stethoscopes being used as a safe-cracking aid.
  
== Wizard mode ==
+
==Messages==
In wizard mode, it diplays tameness, apport and hunger of pets.
+
{{message|You hear your heart beat.|You applied a cursed stethoscope; this replaces the normal message half the time.}}
 +
{{message|You can't hear anything!|You applied a stethoscope while deaf.}}
 +
{{message|The <floor> seems healthy enough.|You applied a stethoscope down.}}
 +
{{message|You barely hear faint splashing.|You applied a stethoscope up or down while underwater.}}
 +
{{message|You hear the crackling of hellfire.|You applied a stethoscope to the floor of the [[castle]], beneath which lies [[Gehennom]].}}
 +
{{message|You hear a faint typing noise.|You applied a stethoscope to the edge of the map.}}
 +
{{message|You hear a hollow sound.  This must be a secret <door/passage>!|You applied a stethoscope to a wall concealing a secret door or passage, instantly revealing it.}}
 +
{{message|The <monster> interferes.|You applied a stethoscope to yourself while engulfed by a [[whirly]] monster, which is examined instead. This happens {{frac|3}} of the time, or {{frac|10}} if you are a Healer.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|307|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}}}
 +
{{message|The invisible monster must have moved.|You applied a stethoscope to an {{gray|I}} which represented a monster that is no longer there.}}
 +
{{message|You determine that <this/that> unfortunate being is dead.|You applied a stethoscope to a [[corpse]]; the message will use "this" if the corpse is at your feet, and "that" if it is on an adjacent square.)}}
 +
{{message|You hear a voice say, "It's dead, Jim."|As above, while hallucinating.}}
 +
{{message|You determine that <this/that> unfortunate being is mostly dead.|As a Healer, you examined a corpse that will revive.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|261|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}}}
 +
{{message|The <monster> appears to be in fine health for a statue.|You applied a stethoscope to a statue.}}
 +
{{message|The <monster> appears to be in remarkable health for a statue.|As above, but you are a Healer and the statue contains items.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|285|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}}}
 +
{{message|The <monster> appears to be in extraordinary health for a statue.|As above, but you are a Healer and the statue is on a [[statue trap]].{{refsrc|src/apply.c|283|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}}}
 +
{{message|You hear a voice say, "You're both stoned, Jim."|You applied a stethoscope to a statue while hallucinating.{{refsrc|src/apply.c|211|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}}}
 +
{{message|You hear nothing special.|You applied a stethoscope to something else (such as a [[boulder]]).}}
  
== Bugs ==
+
==Variants==
A stethoscope reports unaligned monsters as chaotic. The reason is, that unaligned monsters have an alignment of -128, which is a magic number for unaligned.{{refsrc|align.h|18|nethack=3.6.1}}  For other purposes, like your [[alignment record]] the code checks specifically for this number, but for the stethoscope it is just a negative number, so it reports it as chaotic. The only unaligned monster (with unaligned alignment in MONST.C) is the [[Wizard of Yendor]]. Further some monsters like [[Angel]]s, [[Minion]]s or [[Priest]]s of [[Moloch]] have an unaligned alignment in their EPRI or EMIN structure, which overwrites their alignment in MONST.C. These monsters are found in [[Moloch's Sanctum]], on the [[Astral Plane]] or if Moloch [[smite]]s you.
+
In variants that incorporate the [[advent calendar]] branch, a stethoscope is one of the possible "Christmas present" tools.
  
This bug is fixed in [[NetHack 3.6.0]].
+
Some variants feature an [[iron safe]], which can be opened with a stethoscope.
  
== Variants ==
+
===SLASH'EM===
 +
SLASH'EM additionally displays the [[traitor]] attribute if used on a formerly tame monster that has turned on you.
  
In [[Slash'EM Extended]] a stethoscope may randomly break upon use. If it's blessed, it will also display extra information including [[apport]], [[hunger]] level and [[tame]]ness of pets, like in wizard mode in Vanilla. The bug that allows players to use it without losing a turn after restoring the game has been fixed.
+
===ZAPM===
 +
In [[ZAPM]], the tricorder is the game's analogue to the stethoscope, and functions similarly.
 +
 
 +
===SporkHack===
 +
In [[SporkHack]], the iron safe appears and can be opened with a stethoscope.
 +
 
 +
===UnNetHack===
 +
In [[UnNetHack]], the advent calendar branch appears early in the dungeon, and can contain a stethoscope in the Christmas present room. The iron safe also appears, and can be opened with a stethoscope.
 +
 
 +
===xNetHack===
 +
In [[xNetHack]], a stethoscope can be used to identify an [[egg]].
 +
 
 +
===EvilHack===
 +
In [[EvilHack]], a stethoscope can be used to open an iron safe and identify eggs.
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
 
+
{{nethack-367}}
 
[[Category:Tools]]
 
[[Category:Tools]]
{{nethack-343}}
 

Latest revision as of 07:21, 22 November 2023

( Stethoscope.png
Name stethoscope
Appearance stethoscope
Base price 75 zm
Weight 4
Material iron
Monster use Will not be used by monsters.

A stethoscope is a type of tool that appears in NetHack. It is made of iron.

Generation

In addition to random generation, stethoscopes can be found in tool shops.

Healers start each game with a stethoscope.

Description

Applying a stethoscope will prompt you for a direction, and displays the status of your character or an adjacent monster in the selected direction; applying a stethoscope towards an adjacent wall tile with a secret door or passage reveals it.[1][2] Applying a stethoscope in certain other scenarios may produce YAFM - see the Messages section below.

A stethoscope requires a free hand to use and cannot be applied while deaf. The stethoscope is free to use once per action; applying one twice in a row will increment the turn counter, and this does not stack with multiple stethoscopes.[3][4] A cursed stethoscope has a 12 of failure, which prints a specific message.[5]

Monsters

Applying the stethoscope to another monster will show you their name, alignment, experience level, hit points, armor class, and miscellaneous attributes of the target. Such attributes generally consist of impairments, but can be any of the following:[6]

Mimics that are disguised as other objects will be revealed and uncloaked; the 'shapeshifter' attribute is only displayed for monsters in a different form from their "innate" one, and as such is not displayed for werecreatures.[7]

In wizard mode, applying a stethoscope to a pet displays its tameness, hunger, and apport.

You

Applying the stethoscope to your character displays your experience level, HP, and AC, an accurate appraisal of your alignment record, and any of the following properties:[8][9]

Strategy

Although a stethoscope is not essential for survival, it is an excellent source of tactical data when used early and often, and is thus one of the most frequently used tools. It may be a good idea to #adjust the stethoscope's inventory letter to something memorable, such as s.

Unlike Magicbane and the wand of probing, a stethoscope does not show items in the monster's inventory; however, the stethoscope has an unlimited amount of uses, and the monster's AC may provide a vague hint as to what armor they are wearing, depending on how different it is from their base AC. This is particularly useful for early characters that are lawful, gnomish or dwarvish: a stethoscope will help reveal which peaceful dwarves and hobbits are carrying armor worth using a pet to kill them for or even take the alignment record hit yourself, in particular mithril-coats.

An important use of the stethoscope is monitoring your pet's health. Consistently using the stethoscope allows you to gauge their experience level, which is invaluable when attempting the protection racket. The stethoscope will also indicate when its hit points are critically low, and you can then heal it or else escort it away from danger. A stethoscope is also valuable when altar farming in order to properly appraise your alignment and avoid accidental crowning.

The stethoscope is fine for revealing hidden passageways and doors; manually searching via s is preferable if you wish to exercise Wisdom, but using the stethoscope is often much faster. It can also be used to safely decloak mimics, especially in shops.

Blind heroes (or those without see invisible) can use it to remove I symbols without using up an action by searching or running into one normally.

History

The stethoscope first appears in NetHack 1.3d.

In NetHack 3.4.3 and earlier versions, as well as variants based on those versions, applying a stethoscope to a disguised mimic would reveal its identity, but would not uncloak it. Applying one to an unaligned monster reports it as chaotic: their alignment is −128, which is a magic number for unaligned, and the code checks specifically for this number for other purposes (e.g., your alignment record), but for the stethoscope it is just a negative number.[10][11] Both of these were changed in NetHack 3.6.0.

Origin

The stethoscope is a real life medical instrument used by doctors to examine a patient's heartbeat, hence its primary usage and appearance in the Healer's starting inventory. Its other uses, especially in SporkHack and UnNetHack, are inspired by the pop cultural trope of stethoscopes being used as a safe-cracking aid.

Messages

You hear your heart beat.
You applied a cursed stethoscope; this replaces the normal message half the time.
You can't hear anything!
You applied a stethoscope while deaf.
The <floor> seems healthy enough.
You applied a stethoscope down.
You barely hear faint splashing.
You applied a stethoscope up or down while underwater.
You hear the crackling of hellfire.
You applied a stethoscope to the floor of the castle, beneath which lies Gehennom.
You hear a faint typing noise.
You applied a stethoscope to the edge of the map.
You hear a hollow sound. This must be a secret <door/passage>!
You applied a stethoscope to a wall concealing a secret door or passage, instantly revealing it.
The <monster> interferes.
You applied a stethoscope to yourself while engulfed by a whirly monster, which is examined instead. This happens 13 of the time, or 110 if you are a Healer.[12]
The invisible monster must have moved.
You applied a stethoscope to an I which represented a monster that is no longer there.
You determine that <this/that> unfortunate being is dead.
You applied a stethoscope to a corpse; the message will use "this" if the corpse is at your feet, and "that" if it is on an adjacent square.)
You hear a voice say, "It's dead, Jim."
As above, while hallucinating.
You determine that <this/that> unfortunate being is mostly dead.
As a Healer, you examined a corpse that will revive.[13]
The <monster> appears to be in fine health for a statue.
You applied a stethoscope to a statue.
The <monster> appears to be in remarkable health for a statue.
As above, but you are a Healer and the statue contains items.[14]
The <monster> appears to be in extraordinary health for a statue.
As above, but you are a Healer and the statue is on a statue trap.[15]
You hear a voice say, "You're both stoned, Jim."
You applied a stethoscope to a statue while hallucinating.[16]
You hear nothing special.
You applied a stethoscope to something else (such as a boulder).

Variants

In variants that incorporate the advent calendar branch, a stethoscope is one of the possible "Christmas present" tools.

Some variants feature an iron safe, which can be opened with a stethoscope.

SLASH'EM

SLASH'EM additionally displays the traitor attribute if used on a formerly tame monster that has turned on you.

ZAPM

In ZAPM, the tricorder is the game's analogue to the stethoscope, and functions similarly.

SporkHack

In SporkHack, the iron safe appears and can be opened with a stethoscope.

UnNetHack

In UnNetHack, the advent calendar branch appears early in the dungeon, and can contain a stethoscope in the Christmas present room. The iron safe also appears, and can be opened with a stethoscope.

xNetHack

In xNetHack, a stethoscope can be used to identify an egg.

EvilHack

In EvilHack, a stethoscope can be used to open an iron safe and identify eggs.

References