Difference between revisions of "User:Aximili/Test"

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m (Now that Special room is updated, remove categories from this article)
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{{otheruses||special rooms in SLASH'EM|Special room (SLASH'EM)}}
+
==Identification==
−
{{otheruses||special rooms in UnNetHack|Special room (UnNetHack)}}
 
−
{{otheruses||special rooms in dNetHack|Special room (dNetHack)}}
 
  
−
A '''special room''' is different from the normal rooms of the randomly-generated [[dungeon]]. For example, it might contain a shop or a collection of monsters. They only appear in random rooms-and-corridors levels in the [[Dungeons of Doom]], not in mazes or cavern levels.
+
===Scare monster===
 +
There are several ways to indirectly identify the scroll of scare monster:
 +
* You stand on the scroll and adjacent monsters turn to flee (including pets & shopkeepers)
 +
* You pick up the scroll and it turns to dust
 +
* You are a [[Priest|Priest(ess)]], and a scroll changes its [[BUC]] when you pick it up
  
−
NetHack attempts to generate most special rooms on a level in the order they appear in the below table. Rooms lower on the table can only be generated if all rooms higher on the table failed to generate. For example, a temple is created with probability 1/5 from level 9 onwards in an ordinary rooms-and-corridors level in the main dungeon, provided the level does not already have a shop, a throne room, a leprechaun hall or a zoo.{{refsrc|src/mklev.c|770|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}
+
===Price===
 +
{{main|Price identification}}
  
−
Vaults are an exception: they are generated independently of other special rooms.{{refsrc|src/mklev.c|730|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}
+
Scrolls of {{of|scroll|identify}}, {{of|scroll|light}}, {{of|scroll|enchant weapon}}, {{of|scroll|enchant armor}} and {{of|scroll|remove curse}} are pretty easy to identify by price. The more expensive scrolls, with base costs of 100 zm or more, are much more difficult to distinguish.
 +
 
 +
Here are the inconvenient and dangerous scrolls of each price class. A more detailed guide to price-identifying scrolls is [[Price identification#Scrolls|here]].
  
 
{|class="prettytable"
 
{|class="prettytable"
−
! Name !! Min [[Dungeon Level|DL]] !! Frequency !! Generation restrictions
+
!Base cost
 +
!Scroll
 +
!Problem
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Shop]] || 2 || 3/DL || Must be above [[Medusa's Island]]{{refsrc|src/mklev.c|760|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}, room must have 1 door and no stairs
+
|rowspan="4"|100
 +
|{{of|scroll|fire}}
 +
|Fire damage to you, your inventory, and adjacent monsters
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Throne room]] || 5 || 1/6 ||
+
|{{of|scroll|destroy armor}}
 +
|Destroying your armor
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Leprechaun hall]] || 6 || 1/8 || [[Leprechaun]]s not [[genocide]]d/[[extinct]]{{refsrc|src/mklev.c|766|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}
+
|{{of|scroll|scare monster}}
 +
|If picked up in a shop, it may turn to dust and you must pay for it
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Zoo]] || 7 || 1/7 ||
+
|{{of|scroll|teleportation}}
 +
|Teleporting into a dangerous situation, or out of a shop
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Temple]] || 9 || 1/5 ||
+
|rowspan="3"|200
 +
|{{of|scroll|amnesia}}
 +
|Forgetting object identities, map layouts, spells
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Beehive]] || 10 || 1/5 || [[Killer bee]]s not genocided/extinct{{refsrc|src/mklev.c|773|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}
+
|{{of|scroll|create monster}}
 +
|Dangerous if you're not ready to fight
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Graveyard]] || 12 || 1/6 ||
+
|{{of|scroll|earth}}
 +
|Boulders hitting you and adjacent monsters
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Anthole]] || 13 || 1/8 || [[Ant]]s not genocided/extinct{{refsrc|src/mklev.c|777|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}{{refsrc|src/mkroom.c|484|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}
+
|rowspan="2"|300
 +
|{{of|scroll|genocide}}
 +
|Genociding your own race if confused
 +
|-
 +
|{{of|scroll|punishment}}
 +
|Being chained to an iron ball
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
===Monster use===
 +
Monsters can be generated with scrolls of teleportation, earth, and create monster. If you observe them reading said scrolls, that identifies to scroll to you.
 +
 
 +
===Position===
 +
Scrolls of earth can be identified by the guaranteed ones in [[Sokoban]]. Scrolls of teleportation are the only ones generated inside [[closet]]s.
 +
 
 +
===Reading===
 +
Many veteran players will not read an unidentified scroll unless they have a pretty good guess what it could be. Nonetheless, if you are desperate and you have a large variety of price-identified, pet-tested scrolls in your inventory, you may try to identify them by reading them.
 +
 
 +
You should not try to read-identify scrolls if the game considers your character a [[beginner]]. If your character is a beginner, then several scrolls have a possibility of giving the message "You have a strange feeling for a moment, then it passes." If your character is not a beginner, then it will be possible to distinguish all scrolls by the messages and effects obtained by reading them.
 +
 
 +
====Auto-identification====
 +
Some scrolls will always identify themselves to you when you read them. Others might only identify themselves if read under certain situations.
 +
 
 +
{|class="prettytable"
 +
!Auto-identification
 +
!Scroll
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Barracks]] || 15 || 1/4 || [[Soldier]]s not extinct{{refsrc|src/mklev.c|780|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}
+
|rowspan="10" style="background-color:lightgreen"|Always
 +
|amnesia
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Swamp]] || 16 || 1/6 ||
+
|blank paper
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Cockatrice nest]] || 17 || 1/8 || [[Cockatrice]]s not genocided/extinct{{refsrc|src/mklev.c|785|version=NetHack 3.6.6}}
+
|charging
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Vault]]s || || || (Generated independently of other special rooms)
+
|earth
 +
|-
 +
|fire
 +
|-
 +
|genocide
 +
|-
 +
|identify
 +
|-
 +
|magic mapping
 +
|-
 +
|punishment
 +
|-
 +
|stinking cloud
 +
|-
 +
|style="background-color:#FFF68F"|If new monsters are seen
 +
|create monster
 +
|-
 +
|style="background-color:#FFF68F"|If not cursed, and gold on level
 +
|gold detection
 +
|-
 +
|style="background-color:#FFF68F"|If not blind
 +
|light
 +
|-
 +
|style="background-color:#FFF68F"|If blessed, or you are teleported sufficiently far
 +
|teleportation
 +
|-
 +
|style="background-color:#FFF68F" rowspan="2"|If wearing armor
 +
|destroy armor
 +
|-
 +
|enchant armor
 +
|-
 +
|style="background-color:#FFF68F"|If not cursed, and wielding a weapon
 +
|enchant weapon
 +
|-
 +
|style="background-color:#FFF68F"|If food on level
 +
|food detection
 +
|-
 +
|style="background-color:#FFF68F"|If monsters were tamed or angered
 +
|taming
 +
|-
 +
|style="background-color:pink" rowspan="3"|Never
 +
|confuse monster
 +
|-
 +
|remove curse
 +
|-
 +
|scare monster
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
== References ==
 
−
<references/>
 
  
−
== External links ==
+
 
−
* More information at http://www.steelypips.org/nethack/343/room-343.html
+
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
The majority of scrolls can only be identified by using them, or using a scroll of identification. A notable exception is the [[scroll of scare monster]], which, if cursed, will crumble upon being picked up. Seeing a monster read a [[scroll of create monster]] or [[scroll of teleportation]] also identifies the scroll for you. Scrolls of [[scroll of identify|identify]], [[Scroll of light|light]], and [[Scroll of enchant weapon|enchant weapon]] may also be [[price identification|identified by their unique price]]. The [[scroll of earth]] may be identified by finding the guaranteed ones in [[Sokoban]].
 +
 
 +
Many veteran players will not read an unidentified scroll unless they have a pretty good guess what it could be. Nonetheless, if you are desperate and you have a large variety of price-identified, pet-tested scrolls in your inventory, you may try to identify them by reading them. This should be done once you are no longer a [[beginner]], as some scrolls are not directly identifiable at that point. Read-testing scrolls can be risky, and there are several precautions that should be observed:
 +
*BUC-test all scrolls. Reading a [[scroll of genocide]] without knowing its beatitude first can be deadly, or at the very least, a waste of a valuable scroll. Likewise, a cursed [[scroll of teleportation]] can be very dangerous. Generally speaking, do not try to read-identify a cursed scroll.
 +
**If you do happen to read genocide and are unsure if it's uncursed or cursed, [[kraken]] are generally a good bet — if it's uncursed, it will save you some trouble at the [[Wizard's tower]]; if cursed, they're slow and easy to kill on land, as well as worth lots of [[experience]].
 +
*Take off any important armor if it could be a [[scroll of destroy armor]]. If you have identified this scroll, take off all armor save for the one you'd like to enchant, should you happen to read a [[scroll of enchant armor]].
 +
**Even if a [[scroll of destroy armor]] has already been identified, be careful to remove armor that could be damaged by a [[scroll of fire]].
 +
**If you are wearing only a cloak and a suit, the scroll of destroy armor always destroys the cloak.  [[Dwarvish cloak|Dwarvish]] and [[orcish cloak]]s are very common and not worth much ([[magic cancellation]] of 1, but no protection), and so are useful as sacrificial cloaks while read testing; keeping the suit on also prepares for a [[scroll of create monster]].
 +
*If your weapon is already enchanted past +5, unwield it, as reading a [[scroll of enchant weapon]] may cause its destruction.
 +
*Make sure you're only holding the scroll you're about to test, and any other scrolls, potions, or spellbooks are either put away in a bag, or at least two squares away, to prevent their destruction by a [[scroll of fire]].
 +
*Make sure any other items you wish to identify are out, in case you're reading a [[scroll of identify]]. It's also best to have a good wand or chargeable ring out, for [[scroll of charging|scrolls of charging]].
 +
*Read-testing scrolls in [[Sokoban]] is not recommended, as a [[scroll of earth]] will result in a loss of [[Luck]] (and possibly getting stuck).
 +
**However, there are guaranteed scrolls of earth on the first level of Sokoban: if you find them and name them first, this can easily be a moot point.
 +
**Likewise, make sure that you aren't in a position where you'll be trapped if you do read a scroll of earth.
 +
*Read-testing scrolls on an unmapped level is nice, so that a [[scroll of magic mapping]] won't be wasted. However, it does make reading a [[scroll of teleportation]] more dangerous.
 +
*It's nice to have a way to escape [[punishment]].
 +
*Be ready for a fight in the event that you read a [[scroll of create monster]].
 +
*Finally, don't read-ID a scroll at all unless you are sure that it is not a [[scroll of amnesia]] (either because you have already identified amnesia, or because you have price-checked it). Otherwise you may have to start all over.
 +
 
 +
===Read identification===
 +
{{todo|This section is really long. Additionally, this section implies that the usual method of identifying scrolls is by reading them after taking a couple precautions; few experienced players do this without first price- and BUC-identifying them.}}
 +
 
 +
This section is intended to make it easy to identify scrolls by the message(s) received after reading them, and without risking your Excalibur.
 +
 
 +
This section is an adjunct to the [http://www.steelypips.org/nethack/id_faq.html NetHack Object Identification Spoiler] and a summarization of the [[scrl-343.txt|Scroll spoiler]].
 +
 
 +
It is best to have identified the BUC status of each scroll before beginning this process, and only identify blessed or uncursed scrolls. Also, don't be confused, blind or hallucinating. Be sure to identify the "scroll of identify" early [[Price identification|by its price]]. That way you can have lots of stuff in your inventory. Otherwise, use the techniques below.
 +
 
 +
Beware of the scroll of amnesia. There is no defense against the possibility of losing up to 25% of your discoveries. Early in the game, this may not be a serious problem as you will not have discovered very much, but think about whether you have the spellbooks handy for any spells you would mind losing. Later on, it is wise to use [[price identification]] to check whether unidentified scrolls could be amnesia. A scroll of amnesia costs ten times as much as a scroll of identify.
 +
 
 +
There are precautions you should take to minimise the risk of other bad scroll effects. Do not stand next to a pet or peaceful monster in case the scroll you are testing is fire or earth. Also make sure that all your flammable items are kept safe from the scroll of fire (either put them in a bag or drop them two squares away from you). As a cursed scroll of enchant armor will curse the piece of armor that it disenchants, you may want to remove all your armor. If the scroll you are testing is not cursed, you can wear a helmet that you don't care about, to protect you from the boulder which the scroll of earth will drop on your head, and to ensure that destroy armor and enchant armor are auto-identified. A cursed scroll of enchant weapon does not curse your weapon, and it's a good idea to wield a weapon that you don't care about when testing cursed scrolls.
 +
 
 +
Another approach is to read scrolls while confused, because this generally reduces the effect of bad scrolls (but only do this if you are sure it is not a [[scroll of genocide]], since confused uncursed genocide is an [[instadeath]]). For example, [[scroll of punishment]] won't attach the ball and chain if you are confused. Take a look at the [[scrl-343.txt|Scroll spoiler]] for exactly what happens (especially, the messages) when you read while confused.
 +
 
 +
Optionally, you could try to ensure that food, a potion, gold, and a trap are all present on the level, so that the scrolls of food detection and gold detection can be more readily identified. The potion and trap are only needed if you are testing cursed scrolls.
 +
 
 +
Some scrolls always identify themselves when read, some identify themselves under the right conditions, and some never identify themselves. If your character is a [[beginner]] (roughly, below XP level 6 for wizards and 7 for everyone else), then several scrolls have a possibility of giving the message "You have a strange feeling for a moment, then it passes." If your character is not a beginner, then it will be possible to distinguish all scrolls by the messages and effects obtained by reading them.
 +
 
 +
*These scrolls always auto-identify:
 +
**amnesia, blank paper, charging, earth, fire, genocide, identify, magic mapping, punishment, stinking cloud
 +
*These scrolls almost always auto-identify:
 +
**create monster (if the new monsters are seen), gold detection (if not cursed and gold on level), light (if not blind), teleportation (if blessed or you are teleported sufficiently far from your old position)
 +
*These scrolls auto-identify under the right circumstances:
 +
**destroy armor (if wearing armor), enchant armor (if wearing armor), enchant weapon (if not cursed and wielding a weapon), food detection (if food on level), taming (if monsters were tamed or angered)
 +
*These scrolls never auto-identify:
 +
**confuse monster, remove curse, scare monster
 +
 
 +
Read the scroll and get the following result. Unless otherwise stated, it is assumed that the scroll is not cursed and that you are not a beginner, blind, confused, or hallucinating.
 +
{|class="wikitable"
 +
!Scroll!!Effect!!Message
 +
|-
 +
| [[scroll of amnesia|Amnesia]]
 +
| you forget a bunch of stuff (like traps, the map, discoveries, etc.)
 +
| either "Who was that Maud person anyway?" or "Thinking of Maud you forget everything else."
 +
|-
 +
| [[scroll of blank paper|Blank paper]]
 +
| not used up
 +
| "This scroll seems to be blank."
 +
|-
 +
| [[scroll of charging|Charging]]
 +
| Select an item for charging
 +
| <nowiki>"Your <ring> spins clockwise for a moment.", or "Your <item> glows (blue|white) for a moment."</nowiki>
 +
|-
 +
| [[scroll of confuse monster|Confuse monster]]
 +
| You will confuse the next (or more) monster you hit.
 +
| <nowiki>(blessed) "Your <hands> glow a brilliant red." or "Your <hands> begin to glow red."</nowiki>
 +
|-
 +
| [[scroll of create monster|Create monster]]
 +
| Creates 1 to 17 monsters around you.
 +
| none
 +
|-
 +
| [[scroll of destroy armor|Destroy armor]]
 +
| If not wearing armor it abuses your strength and constitution.
 +
| (not wearing armor) "You have a strange feeling for a moment, then it passes." (beginner) or "Your skin itches." (non-beginner) or a message describing exactly how your armor was destroyed.
 +
|-
 +
| [[scroll of earth|Earth]]
 +
| creates boulders, confused, creates 2-6 rocks around and/or on you
 +
| <nowiki>"The ceiling rumbles (above|around) you."</nowiki>
 +
|-
 +
| [[scroll of enchant armor|Enchant armor]]
 +
| <nowiki>if not wearing armor, exercises (abuses if cursed) strength and constitution.
 +
otherwise, removes curse (or blesses), increases enchantment on armor, changes dragon scales to dragon scale mail, or vaporizes armor (if it's too enchanted)</nowiki>
 +
| <nowiki>(not wearing armor) "Your skin glows then fades." or "Your <armor> glows silver for a moment."
 +
or (over-enchanted) "Your <armor> suddenly vibrates unexpectedly." or "Your <armor> violently glows silver for while, then evaporates."</nowiki>
 +
|-
 +
| [[scroll of enchant weapon|Enchant weapon]]
 +
| <nowiki>if not wielding a weapon, exercises (abuses if cursed) dexterity. otherwise uncurses a weapon, makes a worm tooth into a crysknife, increases enchantment, or it evaporates (if over-enchanted). If you are confused: erodeproofs your weapon or repairs it.</nowiki>
 +
| <nowiki>(no weapon) "Your <hands> (twitch|itch)." or (over-enchanted) "Your weapon violently glows blue for a while and then evaporates.", or "Your <weapon> glows blue for a moment.", or (added or removed proofing) "Your <weapon> is covered by a (shimmering golden shield|mottled purple glow)!" or (repaired) "Your<weapon> looks as good as new!"</nowiki>
 +
|-
 +
| [[scroll of fire|Fire]]
 +
| causes damage to yourself and surrounding monsters, B(3-5), U(2-3), C(1-2), slime is burned away
 +
| "The scroll erupts in a tower of flame." or (confused) "The scroll catches fire and you burn your <hands>." or (confused and fire-resistant) "Oh, look, what a pretty fire in your <hands>."
 +
|-
 +
| [[scroll of food detection|Food detection]]
 +
| detect food or potions (confused or cursed). if blessed it gives you the Food Appraisal intrinsic.
 +
| <nowiki>(blessed) "Your <nose> twitches then starts to tingle.", or "Your nose tingles and you smell (food|something)." or "Your nose twitches."</nowiki>
 +
|-
 +
| [[scroll of genocide|Genocide]]
 +
| destroy an entire class of monsters (blessed), a single species (uncursed), creates monsters (cursed), your own role (confused and uncursed)
 +
| "What (class of) monster do you want to genocide?" or (confused and uncursed) "Wiped out all <role>"
 +
|-
 +
| [[scroll of gold detection|Gold detection]]
 +
| detects gold, gold objects (blessed), or gold golems. If confused, detects traps (except vibrating square).
 +
| "You feel very greedy, and sense gold." or (confused)"You feel entrapped."
 +
|-
 +
| [[scroll of identify|Identify]]
 +
| identify items from your inventory, or nothing if you are confused
 +
| "This is an identify scroll."
 +
|-
 +
| [[scroll of light|Light]]
 +
| lights area around you, unless the scroll is cursed, or you are: confused, in an animal, a whirly monster, swallowed.If the scroll is cursed, causes darkness.
 +
| "A lit field surrounds you!"
 +
|-
 +
| [[scroll of magic mapping|Magic mapping]]
 +
| reveals the level, including secret doors (blessed)
 +
| "A map coalesces in your mind!" or (non-mappable level) "Your mind is filled with crazy lines!"
 +
|-
 +
| [[scroll of punishment|Punishment]]
 +
| chained to a heavy iron ball and chain, or nothing (confused or blessed)
 +
| "You are being punished for your misbehavior!" or (confused or blessed) "You feel guilty."
 +
|-
 +
| [[scroll of remove curse|Remove curse]]
 +
| removes curses or punishment (blessed)
 +
| "You feel like someone is helping you." or (confused) "You feel like you need some help."
 +
|-
 +
| [[scroll of scare monster|Scare monster]]
 +
| similar to engraving Elbereth, only one to be affecting by simply picking up or dropping
 +
| (read it, blessed or uncursed, monster affected) "You hear maniacal laughter close by." or (no creature affected) "You hear maniacal laughter in the distance." or(pick up)"The scroll turns to dust as you pick it up."
 +
|-
 +
| [[scroll of stinking cloud|Stinking cloud]]
 +
| creates a poisonous gas cloud around a square you choose (great if you're poison-resistant). You can discharge it harmlessly by choosing a square a long way away.
 +
| "You have found a scroll of stinking cloud!" and (no effect) "You smell rotten eggs."
 +
|-
 +
| [[scroll of taming|Taming]]
 +
| tames (or angers, if cursed) monsters that are directly next to you (or within 11x11 sqare area, if confused). Also calms shopkeepers.
 +
| "The neighborhood is (un)friendlier" if a monster was tamed (or angered) or "Nothing interesting (seems to) happen(s)" if there was no effect.
 +
|-
 +
| [[scroll of teleportation|Teleportation]]
 +
| teleports you to another square on the level (or another level, if cursed or confused), possibly of your choosing (if blessed or you have control teleport intrinsic)
 +
| possibly no message, or (non-teleport level) "A mysterious force prevents you from teleporting!", or (carrying the Amulet of Yendor) "You feel disoriented for a moment."
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
When bad scrolls do good:
 +
{|class="wikitable"
 +
! Scroll !! Conditions !! Effect !! Message
 +
|-
 +
| Destroy armor, cursed
 +
| confused, wearing armor
 +
| <nowiki>Makes one random worn piece of armor erodeproof (but does not repair existing damage).</nowiki>
 +
| <nowiki>"Your <armor> glows purple for a moment."</nowiki>
 +
|-
 +
| Fire
 +
| surrounded by slime, or inside a monster
 +
| The slime is burned away or causes damage to the monster.
 +
| none
 +
|}

Revision as of 00:35, 7 July 2020

Identification

Scare monster

There are several ways to indirectly identify the scroll of scare monster:

  • You stand on the scroll and adjacent monsters turn to flee (including pets & shopkeepers)
  • You pick up the scroll and it turns to dust
  • You are a Priest(ess), and a scroll changes its BUC when you pick it up

Price

Main article: Price identification

Scrolls of identify, light, enchant weapon, enchant armor and remove curse are pretty easy to identify by price. The more expensive scrolls, with base costs of 100 zm or more, are much more difficult to distinguish.

Here are the inconvenient and dangerous scrolls of each price class. A more detailed guide to price-identifying scrolls is here.

Base cost Scroll Problem
100 fire Fire damage to you, your inventory, and adjacent monsters
destroy armor Destroying your armor
scare monster If picked up in a shop, it may turn to dust and you must pay for it
teleportation Teleporting into a dangerous situation, or out of a shop
200 amnesia Forgetting object identities, map layouts, spells
create monster Dangerous if you're not ready to fight
earth Boulders hitting you and adjacent monsters
300 genocide Genociding your own race if confused
punishment Being chained to an iron ball

Monster use

Monsters can be generated with scrolls of teleportation, earth, and create monster. If you observe them reading said scrolls, that identifies to scroll to you.

Position

Scrolls of earth can be identified by the guaranteed ones in Sokoban. Scrolls of teleportation are the only ones generated inside closets.

Reading

Many veteran players will not read an unidentified scroll unless they have a pretty good guess what it could be. Nonetheless, if you are desperate and you have a large variety of price-identified, pet-tested scrolls in your inventory, you may try to identify them by reading them.

You should not try to read-identify scrolls if the game considers your character a beginner. If your character is a beginner, then several scrolls have a possibility of giving the message "You have a strange feeling for a moment, then it passes." If your character is not a beginner, then it will be possible to distinguish all scrolls by the messages and effects obtained by reading them.

Auto-identification

Some scrolls will always identify themselves to you when you read them. Others might only identify themselves if read under certain situations.

Auto-identification Scroll
Always amnesia
blank paper
charging
earth
fire
genocide
identify
magic mapping
punishment
stinking cloud
If new monsters are seen create monster
If not cursed, and gold on level gold detection
If not blind light
If blessed, or you are teleported sufficiently far teleportation
If wearing armor destroy armor
enchant armor
If not cursed, and wielding a weapon enchant weapon
If food on level food detection
If monsters were tamed or angered taming
Never confuse monster
remove curse
scare monster





The majority of scrolls can only be identified by using them, or using a scroll of identification. A notable exception is the scroll of scare monster, which, if cursed, will crumble upon being picked up. Seeing a monster read a scroll of create monster or scroll of teleportation also identifies the scroll for you. Scrolls of identify, light, and enchant weapon may also be identified by their unique price. The scroll of earth may be identified by finding the guaranteed ones in Sokoban.

Many veteran players will not read an unidentified scroll unless they have a pretty good guess what it could be. Nonetheless, if you are desperate and you have a large variety of price-identified, pet-tested scrolls in your inventory, you may try to identify them by reading them. This should be done once you are no longer a beginner, as some scrolls are not directly identifiable at that point. Read-testing scrolls can be risky, and there are several precautions that should be observed:

  • BUC-test all scrolls. Reading a scroll of genocide without knowing its beatitude first can be deadly, or at the very least, a waste of a valuable scroll. Likewise, a cursed scroll of teleportation can be very dangerous. Generally speaking, do not try to read-identify a cursed scroll.
    • If you do happen to read genocide and are unsure if it's uncursed or cursed, kraken are generally a good bet — if it's uncursed, it will save you some trouble at the Wizard's tower; if cursed, they're slow and easy to kill on land, as well as worth lots of experience.
  • Take off any important armor if it could be a scroll of destroy armor. If you have identified this scroll, take off all armor save for the one you'd like to enchant, should you happen to read a scroll of enchant armor.
  • If your weapon is already enchanted past +5, unwield it, as reading a scroll of enchant weapon may cause its destruction.
  • Make sure you're only holding the scroll you're about to test, and any other scrolls, potions, or spellbooks are either put away in a bag, or at least two squares away, to prevent their destruction by a scroll of fire.
  • Make sure any other items you wish to identify are out, in case you're reading a scroll of identify. It's also best to have a good wand or chargeable ring out, for scrolls of charging.
  • Read-testing scrolls in Sokoban is not recommended, as a scroll of earth will result in a loss of Luck (and possibly getting stuck).
    • However, there are guaranteed scrolls of earth on the first level of Sokoban: if you find them and name them first, this can easily be a moot point.
    • Likewise, make sure that you aren't in a position where you'll be trapped if you do read a scroll of earth.
  • Read-testing scrolls on an unmapped level is nice, so that a scroll of magic mapping won't be wasted. However, it does make reading a scroll of teleportation more dangerous.
  • It's nice to have a way to escape punishment.
  • Be ready for a fight in the event that you read a scroll of create monster.
  • Finally, don't read-ID a scroll at all unless you are sure that it is not a scroll of amnesia (either because you have already identified amnesia, or because you have price-checked it). Otherwise you may have to start all over.

Read identification

A user has suggested improving this page or section as follows:

"This section is really long. Additionally, this section implies that the usual method of identifying scrolls is by reading them after taking a couple precautions; few experienced players do this without first price- and BUC-identifying them."

This section is intended to make it easy to identify scrolls by the message(s) received after reading them, and without risking your Excalibur.

This section is an adjunct to the NetHack Object Identification Spoiler and a summarization of the Scroll spoiler.

It is best to have identified the BUC status of each scroll before beginning this process, and only identify blessed or uncursed scrolls. Also, don't be confused, blind or hallucinating. Be sure to identify the "scroll of identify" early by its price. That way you can have lots of stuff in your inventory. Otherwise, use the techniques below.

Beware of the scroll of amnesia. There is no defense against the possibility of losing up to 25% of your discoveries. Early in the game, this may not be a serious problem as you will not have discovered very much, but think about whether you have the spellbooks handy for any spells you would mind losing. Later on, it is wise to use price identification to check whether unidentified scrolls could be amnesia. A scroll of amnesia costs ten times as much as a scroll of identify.

There are precautions you should take to minimise the risk of other bad scroll effects. Do not stand next to a pet or peaceful monster in case the scroll you are testing is fire or earth. Also make sure that all your flammable items are kept safe from the scroll of fire (either put them in a bag or drop them two squares away from you). As a cursed scroll of enchant armor will curse the piece of armor that it disenchants, you may want to remove all your armor. If the scroll you are testing is not cursed, you can wear a helmet that you don't care about, to protect you from the boulder which the scroll of earth will drop on your head, and to ensure that destroy armor and enchant armor are auto-identified. A cursed scroll of enchant weapon does not curse your weapon, and it's a good idea to wield a weapon that you don't care about when testing cursed scrolls.

Another approach is to read scrolls while confused, because this generally reduces the effect of bad scrolls (but only do this if you are sure it is not a scroll of genocide, since confused uncursed genocide is an instadeath). For example, scroll of punishment won't attach the ball and chain if you are confused. Take a look at the Scroll spoiler for exactly what happens (especially, the messages) when you read while confused.

Optionally, you could try to ensure that food, a potion, gold, and a trap are all present on the level, so that the scrolls of food detection and gold detection can be more readily identified. The potion and trap are only needed if you are testing cursed scrolls.

Some scrolls always identify themselves when read, some identify themselves under the right conditions, and some never identify themselves. If your character is a beginner (roughly, below XP level 6 for wizards and 7 for everyone else), then several scrolls have a possibility of giving the message "You have a strange feeling for a moment, then it passes." If your character is not a beginner, then it will be possible to distinguish all scrolls by the messages and effects obtained by reading them.

  • These scrolls always auto-identify:
    • amnesia, blank paper, charging, earth, fire, genocide, identify, magic mapping, punishment, stinking cloud
  • These scrolls almost always auto-identify:
    • create monster (if the new monsters are seen), gold detection (if not cursed and gold on level), light (if not blind), teleportation (if blessed or you are teleported sufficiently far from your old position)
  • These scrolls auto-identify under the right circumstances:
    • destroy armor (if wearing armor), enchant armor (if wearing armor), enchant weapon (if not cursed and wielding a weapon), food detection (if food on level), taming (if monsters were tamed or angered)
  • These scrolls never auto-identify:
    • confuse monster, remove curse, scare monster

Read the scroll and get the following result. Unless otherwise stated, it is assumed that the scroll is not cursed and that you are not a beginner, blind, confused, or hallucinating.

Scroll Effect Message
Amnesia you forget a bunch of stuff (like traps, the map, discoveries, etc.) either "Who was that Maud person anyway?" or "Thinking of Maud you forget everything else."
Blank paper not used up "This scroll seems to be blank."
Charging Select an item for charging "Your <ring> spins clockwise for a moment.", or "Your <item> glows (blue|white) for a moment."
Confuse monster You will confuse the next (or more) monster you hit. (blessed) "Your <hands> glow a brilliant red." or "Your <hands> begin to glow red."
Create monster Creates 1 to 17 monsters around you. none
Destroy armor If not wearing armor it abuses your strength and constitution. (not wearing armor) "You have a strange feeling for a moment, then it passes." (beginner) or "Your skin itches." (non-beginner) or a message describing exactly how your armor was destroyed.
Earth creates boulders, confused, creates 2-6 rocks around and/or on you "The ceiling rumbles (above|around) you."
Enchant armor if not wearing armor, exercises (abuses if cursed) strength and constitution. otherwise, removes curse (or blesses), increases enchantment on armor, changes dragon scales to dragon scale mail, or vaporizes armor (if it's too enchanted) (not wearing armor) "Your skin glows then fades." or "Your <armor> glows silver for a moment." or (over-enchanted) "Your <armor> suddenly vibrates unexpectedly." or "Your <armor> violently glows silver for while, then evaporates."
Enchant weapon if not wielding a weapon, exercises (abuses if cursed) dexterity. otherwise uncurses a weapon, makes a worm tooth into a crysknife, increases enchantment, or it evaporates (if over-enchanted). If you are confused: erodeproofs your weapon or repairs it. (no weapon) "Your <hands> (twitch|itch)." or (over-enchanted) "Your weapon violently glows blue for a while and then evaporates.", or "Your <weapon> glows blue for a moment.", or (added or removed proofing) "Your <weapon> is covered by a (shimmering golden shield|mottled purple glow)!" or (repaired) "Your<weapon> looks as good as new!"
Fire causes damage to yourself and surrounding monsters, B(3-5), U(2-3), C(1-2), slime is burned away "The scroll erupts in a tower of flame." or (confused) "The scroll catches fire and you burn your <hands>." or (confused and fire-resistant) "Oh, look, what a pretty fire in your <hands>."
Food detection detect food or potions (confused or cursed). if blessed it gives you the Food Appraisal intrinsic. (blessed) "Your <nose> twitches then starts to tingle.", or "Your nose tingles and you smell (food|something)." or "Your nose twitches."
Genocide destroy an entire class of monsters (blessed), a single species (uncursed), creates monsters (cursed), your own role (confused and uncursed) "What (class of) monster do you want to genocide?" or (confused and uncursed) "Wiped out all <role>"
Gold detection detects gold, gold objects (blessed), or gold golems. If confused, detects traps (except vibrating square). "You feel very greedy, and sense gold." or (confused)"You feel entrapped."
Identify identify items from your inventory, or nothing if you are confused "This is an identify scroll."
Light lights area around you, unless the scroll is cursed, or you are: confused, in an animal, a whirly monster, swallowed.If the scroll is cursed, causes darkness. "A lit field surrounds you!"
Magic mapping reveals the level, including secret doors (blessed) "A map coalesces in your mind!" or (non-mappable level) "Your mind is filled with crazy lines!"
Punishment chained to a heavy iron ball and chain, or nothing (confused or blessed) "You are being punished for your misbehavior!" or (confused or blessed) "You feel guilty."
Remove curse removes curses or punishment (blessed) "You feel like someone is helping you." or (confused) "You feel like you need some help."
Scare monster similar to engraving Elbereth, only one to be affecting by simply picking up or dropping (read it, blessed or uncursed, monster affected) "You hear maniacal laughter close by." or (no creature affected) "You hear maniacal laughter in the distance." or(pick up)"The scroll turns to dust as you pick it up."
Stinking cloud creates a poisonous gas cloud around a square you choose (great if you're poison-resistant). You can discharge it harmlessly by choosing a square a long way away. "You have found a scroll of stinking cloud!" and (no effect) "You smell rotten eggs."
Taming tames (or angers, if cursed) monsters that are directly next to you (or within 11x11 sqare area, if confused). Also calms shopkeepers. "The neighborhood is (un)friendlier" if a monster was tamed (or angered) or "Nothing interesting (seems to) happen(s)" if there was no effect.
Teleportation teleports you to another square on the level (or another level, if cursed or confused), possibly of your choosing (if blessed or you have control teleport intrinsic) possibly no message, or (non-teleport level) "A mysterious force prevents you from teleporting!", or (carrying the Amulet of Yendor) "You feel disoriented for a moment."

When bad scrolls do good:

Scroll Conditions Effect Message
Destroy armor, cursed confused, wearing armor Makes one random worn piece of armor erodeproof (but does not repair existing damage). "Your <armor> glows purple for a moment."
Fire surrounded by slime, or inside a monster The slime is burned away or causes damage to the monster. none
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