Scimitar
) 
| |
|---|---|
| Name | scimitar |
| Appearance | curved sword |
| Damage vs. small | 1d8 |
| Damage vs. large | 1d8 |
| To-hit bonus | +0 |
| Weapon skill | scimitar |
| Size | one-handed |
| Base price | 15 zm (+10/positive enchant) |
| Weight | 40 |
| Material | iron |
A scimitar is a type of edged melee weapon that appears in NetHack. It is made of iron, and appears as a curved sword when unidentified.
Contents
Generation
Scimitars make up about 1.5% of randomly generated weapons (on the floor, as death drops, or in shops).
Many orcs are generated with scimitars: hobgoblins, orcs and hill orcs have a 1⁄4 chance of generating with a scimitar.[1] Mordor orcs have a 1⁄3 chance of being generated with a scimitar;[2] orc-captains have a 1⁄2 chance of being generated with Mordor orc weapons, giving them an effective 1⁄6 chance of generating with scimitars.[3]
The statue of Perseus on Medusa's Island has a 1⁄2 chance of containing a blessed +2 scimitar.[4][5][6][7]
Scimitar skill
| Scimitar | |
|---|---|
| Max | Role |
| Basic | |
| Skilled | |
The scimitar is the only weapon to use the scimitar skill. There are no artifact scimitars.
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.
As of commit 296a3ac2, the scimitar skill is merged into the saber skill. Barbarians can reach Skilled in saber to maintain consistency with the former scimitar skill.Strategy
Scimitars deal respectable damage, but are not often used since most roles with the skill prefer the upgrade paths afforded by the long sword or silver saber, the versatility of daggers, or the sheer power of the unicorn horn or dwarvish mattock.
Roles with poor starting weapons, such as the Tourist, might consider using a scimitar early on; illiterate and wishless conduct players might consider making use of a scimitar until they gain access to an altar or other means of obtaining artifact weapons. Especially unlucky players might find Perseus' scimitar to be the best non-artifact one-handed weapon available.
History
The scimitar first appears in NetHack 1.3d.
Origin
A scimitar (/ˈsɪmɪtər/ or /ˈsɪmɪtɑːr/) is a type of single-edged sword with a convex curved blade that is often used for mounted combat. The term is European in origin, and covers an assortment of different "Eastern" curved swords inspired by sword types introduced to regions in western Asia by Central Asian ghilman (early Islamic slave-soldiers and/or mercenaries). These swords were originally derived from earlier curved swords developed in Turkic Central Asia (Turkestan), and the earliest evidence of their use dates back to the 9th century CE; among them is the Persian shamshir, from which the term "scimitar" is derived.
Though commonly associated with West Asian, South Asian, and North African cultures, various types of curved saber have seen use in various other cultures, including several "Western" ones; more modern sabers are often distinguished from 'scimitar'-type curved swords by the cross-guard connecting to the pommel (end of the hilt). The scimitar serves a symbolic role in many cultures, both "Eastern" and otherwise - Akkadians and other Old Babylonian peoples viewed the the scimitar as a symbol of royalty or godhood; the scimitar also appears as a symbol of the Russians in the coat of arms of Finland, which depicts a lion brandishing a sword and trampling a scimitar.
In the works of Shakespeare and other classic literature (such as The Count of Monte Cristo, which provides the encyclopedia entry), the scimitar was a symbol for the East and the Islamic world. This association has since gained connotations of "Muslim barbarity", with a possible root in Crusades-era religious propaganda: though the Muslims of the Crusades used straight-edge swords for the first two centuries, European Christians may have tied the cross-like shape of those swords more closely to their own cause.
Variants
Pirate patch
In variants that incorporate the Pirate role, Pirates know the scimitar as a cutlass. Mayor Cummerbund, the Pirate quest leader, has a 1⁄3 chance of generating with a rustproof cutlass, and quest guardian pirate brothers each generate with a cutlass. Reaver is an artifact cutlass that serves as the Pirate crowning gift. Skeletal pirates are generated with rusted cutlasses.
NetHack brass
In NetHack brass, the skill system consolidates scimitars into the saber skill group.
dNetHack
In dNetHack, the high-elven warsword is a weapon that uses the scimitar skill, and appears as a "runed curved sword" when unidentified.
Pirates know the scimitar as a cutlass.
SpliceHack
In SpliceHack pre-Rewrite, the Dancer role starts with a blessed +1 scimitar.
The falchion is a weapon in SpliceHack and SpliceHack-Rewrite that uses the scimitar skill. Barbarians may start the game with a falchion and scimitar as their weapons.
EvilHack
In EvilHack, orcs generate with orcish scimitars instead of the standard scimitar.
A scimitar can be created at a forge by combining a short sword and a knife. Scimitars can be used at a forge to create various weapons:
- Combining a scimitar with a spear creates a trident.
- Combining a scimitar with a long sword creates a saber.
- Combining a scimitar with a short sword creates a broadsword.
- Combining a scimitar with an elven short sword creates an elven broadsword.
SlashTHEM
In SlashTHEM, Corsairs start the game with a +1 cutlass, and use the same alternate item names as Pirates do.
Hack'EM
In Hack'EM, the scimitar skill is merged into the saber skill, and Barbarians can start with a falchion and scimitar as in SpliceHack.
A falchion can be created at a forge by combining two scimitars.
Encyclopedia entry
Oh, how handsome, how noble was the Vizier Ali Tebelin,
my father, as he stood there in the midst of the shot, his
scimitar in his hand, his face black with powder! How his
enemies fled before him!
References
- ↑ src/makemon.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 426: default orcish weapons
- ↑ src/makemon.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 402: armor and weapons for Mordor orcs
- ↑ src/makemon.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 400: switch for orc-captains
- ↑ dat/medusa.des in NetHack 3.6.7, line 56
- ↑ dat/medusa.des in NetHack 3.6.7, line 155
- ↑ dat/medusa.des in NetHack 3.6.7, line 273
- ↑ dat/medusa.des in NetHack 3.6.7, line 373
