Difference between revisions of "Potion of oil"

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{{potion|name=oil|cost=250}}
 
{{potion|name=oil|cost=250}}
  
The '''potion of oil''' is the only [[potion]] that can be [[light sources|lit]] for an extended period of time.
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A '''potion of oil''' is a type of [[potion]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''.
  
[[Quaffing]] this potion is not useful and in fact abuses your [[wisdom]] ('''"That was smooth!"''' or, if [[cursed]], '''"This tastes like castor oil."''') If the potion is lit and you like fire, quaffing it will instead exercise wisdom ('''"Ahh, a refreshing drink."''').  It has other uses, however. One use is to untrap a [[trap|squeaky board]], similar to a [[can of grease]].
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==Generation==
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Characters that start the game with an oil lamp will have potions of oil already identified in the discoveries section.
  
Some uses involve lighting the oil by [[apply]]ing the potion. A lit potion of oil can be [[throw]]n at an enemy to [[Explosion#Fiery explosion|explode]] for 4d4 fire damage or thrown up to cause fire damage to yourself, removing [[Sliming|slime]]; no damage is incurred if unlit. A lit potion of oil is dangerous when quaffed - it deals 3d4 fire damage and abuses wisdom unless you are polymorphed into a monster that likes fire (note: this is '''not''' the same as [[intrinsic]] [[fire resistance]], although that will reduce the damage taken to 1d4). Monsters that like fire include [[vortex|fire vortices]], [[sphere|flaming spheres]], [[salamander]]s, and [[elemental|fire elementals]]. A lit potion of oil can be snuffed by applying it again.
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The lighting [[shop]] found in [[Minetown]] will occasionally have a potion of oil among its wares.
  
Oil can also be used to fix damaged weapons. By dipping a rusty or corroded weapon into a non-cursed potion of oil, it loses one measure of [[erosion]] damage. To completely repair a thoroughly corroded weapon, you thus need three potions of oil: from thoroughly corroded to very corroded to corroded to uncorroded. Oil does not repair rotten or burnt weapons, nor does it repair damaged armor. Dip testing with a [[unicorn horn]] identifies and wastes the potion, and gives a purely cosmetic message about the horn becoming oily ("Your unicorn horn gleams with an oily sheen.").
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==Description==
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The potion of oil has a surprisingly wide number of applications, but is primarily intended to be fuel for [[oil lamp]]s. This is done by [[dip]]ping the lamp into the potion of oil, which uses it up - if the lamp is lit and the potion is not, the potion will explode instead. [[Magic lamp]]s and oil lamps behave the same when dipped in potions of oil.
  
A potion of oil can be used to refill an empty [[lamp|oil lamp]], by #[[dip]]ping the lamp in the potion. However, if you attempt to do this while either the lamp or potion is lit, the potion will be wasted. (If the lamp is lit and the potion is not, the potion will explode!) [[Magic lamp]]s behave just like oil lamps in this respect, so you can't identify them with oil.
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Doing anything with a [[cursed]] potion of oil may cause the oil to spill and make your fingers [[slippery fingers|slippery]].
  
Attempts to use a [[cursed]] potion of oil can cause the oil to spill over your fingers, making them too slippery to hold a weapon. If this happens in a shop, the shopkeeper will consider your weapon his newfound property. This is another reason not to apply potions in shops. Applying a [[towel]] cleans your hands and removes this effect.
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===Dipping other objects===
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Dipping a [[unicorn horn]] into a potion of oil gives the horn an "oily sheen", which identifies and uses up the potion, but has no further effects. Dipping anything into a lit potion of oil uses up the potion and will burn the dipped item(s) if possible.  
  
==Identification==
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===Lighting oil===
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You can light a potion of oil by [[apply]]ing it, and snuff it out by applying it again; this also auto-identifies the potion. A lit potion of oil can be [[throw]]n as an [[Explosion#Fiery explosion|explosive]] projectile, dealing 4d4 fire damage to anything caught in the explosion.
  
Identifying a potion of oil is easy: just try to [[apply]] every new potion you find. If the potion lights, it's oil, and autoidentifies. Do not do this when the potion is owned by a shop, or you will be forced to pay for the potion and will be charged [[Yendorian Fuel Tax]].
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===Quaffing===
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[[Quaff]]ing an unlit potion of oil only [[exercise|abuses]] your [[Wisdom]] and identifies the potion; quaffing a lit potion additionally deals 3d4 fire damage (1d4 if [[fire resistant]]). However, if you are polymorphed into a monster that likes fire (e.g., fiery monsters such as [[fire vortex|fire vortices]] and [[salamander]]s), you instead exercise wisdom and take no damage.
  
In previous versions of NetHack, it was possible to indirectly identify the potion without actually applying it (and therefore avoiding payment in shops) by dropping everything else that could be applied, then hitting {{kbd|a}}. If the potion was a potion of oil, the player was asked what they wanted to apply; otherwise they would be told they have nothing that can be applied. This is no longer true since [[NetHack 3.6.0]], which now always shows the applying prompt as long as the player has at least one potion in their inventory, regardless of whether it can be applied or not.
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===Repairing weapons ===
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Oil can also be used to fix [[erosion|damaged]] iron weapons; dipping a rusty or corroded weapon into a non-cursed potion of oil removes one degree of damage.
  
If you start the game with an oil lamp, the potion of oil is already identified for you.
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===Squeaky boards===
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A potion of oil can be used to untrap a [[squeaky board]], similar to a [[can of grease]].
  
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==Strategy==
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Identifying a potion of oil is fairly easy, as it is the only potion that you can [[apply]], and randomly testing potions using this method is generally safe - however, doing this with a potion owned by a shop will result in you being charged a [[Yendorian Fuel Tax]] along with the price for that potion.
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The [[scroll of fire]], [[spellbook of fireball]] and other [[fireproof]]ed items can potentially be identified by dipping into a lit potion of oil, but this method is ultimately a waste of a potion (as well as likely wasting whatever you tested with it) and is not recommended.
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A lit potion of oil can be used to cure [[sliming]] if thrown upward; quaffing a lit potion of oil does '''not''' cure sliming.
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Potions of oil are useful for repairing weapons, since eroded weapons can only otherwise be repaired by reading a [[scroll of enchant weapon]] while [[confused]], or else a [[favor]] from your god.
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==History==
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In [[NetHack 3.4.3]], it was possible to indirectly identify the potion without actually applying it (and therefore avoiding payment in shops) by dropping everything else that could be applied, then hitting {{kbd|a}}. If the potion was a potion of oil, the player was asked what they wanted to apply; otherwise, they would be told they have nothing that can be applied. As of [[NetHack 3.6.0]], the applying prompt always appears as long as the player has at least one potion in their inventory, regardless of whether it can be applied or not.
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==Messages==
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{{message|Ahh, a refreshing drink.|You drank a lit potion of oil, and you are polymorphed into a monster that likes fire.}}
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{{message|That was smooth!|You drank a non-cursed potion of oil.}}
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{{message|This tastes like castor oil.|You drank a cursed potion of oil.}}
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==Variants==
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===SLASH'EM===
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In [[SLASH'EM]], it is possible to disarm a fire trap with a non-cursed [[potion of water]], similar to using a potion of oil on a squeaky board; this will also generate 1–4 potions of oil based on your [[Luck]]. Since oil can then be diluted back to water, the large number of fire traps in Gehennom offer an effective way of multiplying one's water potions.
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===EvilHack===
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In [[EvilHack]], intelligent monsters can light potions of oil to throw at you.
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{{nethack-366}}
 
[[Category:Potions|Oil]]
 
[[Category:Potions|Oil]]
{{nethack-343}}
 

Latest revision as of 02:44, 21 July 2022

! Pink potion.png
Name oil
Appearance random
Base price 250 zm
Weight 20
Monster use Will not be used by monsters.

A potion of oil is a type of potion that appears in NetHack.

Generation

Characters that start the game with an oil lamp will have potions of oil already identified in the discoveries section.

The lighting shop found in Minetown will occasionally have a potion of oil among its wares.

Description

The potion of oil has a surprisingly wide number of applications, but is primarily intended to be fuel for oil lamps. This is done by dipping the lamp into the potion of oil, which uses it up - if the lamp is lit and the potion is not, the potion will explode instead. Magic lamps and oil lamps behave the same when dipped in potions of oil.

Doing anything with a cursed potion of oil may cause the oil to spill and make your fingers slippery.

Dipping other objects

Dipping a unicorn horn into a potion of oil gives the horn an "oily sheen", which identifies and uses up the potion, but has no further effects. Dipping anything into a lit potion of oil uses up the potion and will burn the dipped item(s) if possible.

Lighting oil

You can light a potion of oil by applying it, and snuff it out by applying it again; this also auto-identifies the potion. A lit potion of oil can be thrown as an explosive projectile, dealing 4d4 fire damage to anything caught in the explosion.

Quaffing

Quaffing an unlit potion of oil only abuses your Wisdom and identifies the potion; quaffing a lit potion additionally deals 3d4 fire damage (1d4 if fire resistant). However, if you are polymorphed into a monster that likes fire (e.g., fiery monsters such as fire vortices and salamanders), you instead exercise wisdom and take no damage.

Repairing weapons

Oil can also be used to fix damaged iron weapons; dipping a rusty or corroded weapon into a non-cursed potion of oil removes one degree of damage.

Squeaky boards

A potion of oil can be used to untrap a squeaky board, similar to a can of grease.

Strategy

Identifying a potion of oil is fairly easy, as it is the only potion that you can apply, and randomly testing potions using this method is generally safe - however, doing this with a potion owned by a shop will result in you being charged a Yendorian Fuel Tax along with the price for that potion.

The scroll of fire, spellbook of fireball and other fireproofed items can potentially be identified by dipping into a lit potion of oil, but this method is ultimately a waste of a potion (as well as likely wasting whatever you tested with it) and is not recommended.

A lit potion of oil can be used to cure sliming if thrown upward; quaffing a lit potion of oil does not cure sliming.

Potions of oil are useful for repairing weapons, since eroded weapons can only otherwise be repaired by reading a scroll of enchant weapon while confused, or else a favor from your god.

History

In NetHack 3.4.3, it was possible to indirectly identify the potion without actually applying it (and therefore avoiding payment in shops) by dropping everything else that could be applied, then hitting a. If the potion was a potion of oil, the player was asked what they wanted to apply; otherwise, they would be told they have nothing that can be applied. As of NetHack 3.6.0, the applying prompt always appears as long as the player has at least one potion in their inventory, regardless of whether it can be applied or not.

Messages

Ahh, a refreshing drink.
You drank a lit potion of oil, and you are polymorphed into a monster that likes fire.
That was smooth!
You drank a non-cursed potion of oil.
This tastes like castor oil.
You drank a cursed potion of oil.

Variants

SLASH'EM

In SLASH'EM, it is possible to disarm a fire trap with a non-cursed potion of water, similar to using a potion of oil on a squeaky board; this will also generate 1–4 potions of oil based on your Luck. Since oil can then be diluted back to water, the large number of fire traps in Gehennom offer an effective way of multiplying one's water potions.

EvilHack

In EvilHack, intelligent monsters can light potions of oil to throw at you.