Difference between revisions of "Scroll of earth"

From NetHackWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(refsrc, ver, word choice, potholes, messages, organize...)
 
(12 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{scroll|name=earth|cost=200|ink=4-7|muse=off}}
+
{{scroll|name=earth|cost=200|ink=4–7|muse=off}}
  
The '''scroll of earth''' creates [[boulders]] when read. An uncursed scroll will create 9 boulders: 8 around the player and one on top of their head. A blessed scroll will create 8 boulders around the player without dropping one on them, and a cursed scroll will create a single boulder over the character's head. If there is a wall where a boulder would normally fall, that boulder will not be created. If read while confused, the scroll will create [[rock]]s instead of boulders, using the same pattern based on the [[beatitude]] of the scroll. The first level of [[Sokoban]] has two guaranteed scrolls of earth in the lower-left corner.
+
A '''scroll of earth''' is a type of [[scroll]] the appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. It creates [[boulder]]s when read.
  
The scroll has no effect on the [[Rogue level]] and the [[Elemental Planes]] (with the exception of the [[Plane of Earth]]),{{refsrc|read.c|1154}} and reading one in Sokoban will decrease [[Luck]] by 1.{{refsrc|read.c|1167}}
+
==Generation==
 +
The first level of [[Sokoban]] always has two separate scrolls of earth in a corner past the first set of pits.
  
The boulder that falls on the players head does 1d20 points of damage; if they are wearing a hard helmet, it bounces off for 2 points of damage. A scroll of earth does no damage to amorphous, phasing, noncorporeal, and unsolid monsters.{{refsrc|read.c|1191}}
+
Monsters may receive a scroll of earth as a random [[offensive item]], but only if they are generated wearing a metal helm; if not, they will receive a [[wand of striking]] instead.{{refsrc|src/muse.c|1588|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
  
== Strategy ==
+
==Effects==
* This scroll can be used to create a "[[boulder fort]]".  Monsters will not attack you if they can't see you through the boulders, and most cannot enter spaces containing boulders, but you can use [[telepathy]] to detect them and attack with missile weapons and spells (be careful of {{Spell of|force bolt}}, though, as it will destroy boulders). This is a relatively safe way to deal with a horde of dangerous monsters, or one extremely tough monster.
+
Reading a scroll of earth will [[auto-identify]] it and drop boulders around and/or on the reader, depending on its [[beatitude]]:{{refsrc|src/read.c|1668|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} An uncursed scroll of earth will create 9 boulders - 8 around the reader and one on top of their head - while a blessed scroll will create 8 boulders around the reader without dropping one on them, and a cursed scroll will create a single boulder over the reader's head. If there is a wall or [[door]] where a boulder would normally fall, that boulder will not be created. If read while confused, the scroll will drop a few [[rock]]s per square instead of boulders, using the same pattern based on the [[beatitude]] of the scroll.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1742|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
** It's also possible to create a fort and then carefully move a single boulder so as to allow only one monster to reach you at a time. This is best done on a staircase or a permanent [[Elbereth]] square (or both) so as to allow some means of escape if things do poorly.
 
* This scroll can be used as a convenient source of boulders to fill [[trapdoor]]s, [[hole]]s, and [[moat]]s. This can be especially useful to cross [[Medusa's Island|Medusa's level]] or to fill in the moat and some of the trapdoors at the [[Castle]] if you don't have levitation (be careful not to fill them all in, as they're the only way to enter [[Gehennom]]).
 
* Be careful not to let [[nymph|nymphs]] or other intelligent monsters steal the [[Sokoban]] scrolls and use them—if you have to break the resulting boulders, you have to take the luck penalty even though you didn't create the boulders. However, monsters that don't have a hard helmet will only read them 10% of the time{{refsrc|muse.c|1072}}, so it is rare for this to become a problem if you kill them fast enough.
 
  
==UnNetHack==
+
Reading a scroll of earth on a Sokoban level before solving that floor will decrease your [[Luck]] by 1;{{refsrc|src/read.c|1665|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/trap.c|5435|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} reading the scroll on the [[Rogue level]] and the [[Elemental Planes]] has no effect, except for the [[Plane of Earth]].{{refsrc|src/read.c|1654|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
In the [[UnNetHack]] [[Black market (UnNetHack)|Black Market]], a scroll of earth will have no effect 50% of the time.
 
  
== References ==
+
A boulder that falls on a monster does 1d20 points of damage and can wake up nearby monsters with the [[noise]]{{refsrc|src/read.c|1762|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} - if they are wearing a hard helmet, it bounces off and deals just 2 points of damage. A scroll of earth does no damage to [[amorphous]], [[phasing]], noncorporeal, or [[unsolid]] monsters.{{refsrc|src/read.c|1747|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} Intelligent monsters can read this scroll for offensive purposes, but will only read them 10% of the time ''unless'' they would be unaffected by the boulders, or else are wearing a hard helmet. Monsters will not read the scroll in areas where the scroll has no effect.{{refsrc|src/muse.c|1204|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 +
 
 +
==Strategy==
 +
The scroll of earth is most commonly used to create "[[boulder fort]]s" as a relatively safe way to deal with a dangerous monster or horde of monsters - many monsters will not be able to attack a player they cannot see, and the boulders prevent most monsters from approaching even if they are aware of your position. While within this "fort", the player can use [[telepathy]] to detect them and attack with missile weapons and spells. Be careful of {{Spell of|force bolt}}s and {{wand of|striking}} wands, as they will destroy boulders.
 +
 
 +
Alternately, you can use the boulders to create your own choke point, e.g. by carefully moving a single boulder to allow only one monster through. This is best done on a staircase, a [[scroll of scare monster]] and/or a burnt [[Elbereth]] square to allow a means of escape if things go poorly. You can also use the boulders to block off up [[stair]]s or [[ladder]]s to prevent [[demon lord]]s and other [[covetous]] monsters from warping and fleeing to another floor. Boulders from the scroll can also be used to trap [[aligned priest]]s in order to convert a [[temple]] [[altar]] - see their page for details.
 +
 
 +
Scrolls of earth can be used to fill [[trapdoor]]s, [[hole]]s, and [[moat]]s - if you lack a source of [[levitation]], this can be another way to cross large bodies of water, such as [[Medusa's Island]] or the moat at the [[Castle]]. While you can use them to fill the Castle trap doors, keep in mind that filling all of them means you must dig one out again to reach Gehennom.
 +
 
 +
===Sokoban===
 +
The scrolls of earth found in Sokoban are intended as backups in case boulders are destroyed or additional pits/holes need to be filled, and can be used to informally identify any other scrolls you may have picked up previously. Remember that reading any scroll of earth on an unsolved level will incur a Luck penalty, and try to identify their [[beatitude]] beforehand if possible - for example, a blessed scroll will leave more boulders free to move, and there are situations where a single boulder from a cursed scroll is preferable. You may also want to position yourself before reading depending on how many boulders are actually needed.
 +
 
 +
Breaking boulders on unsolved levels also incurs a Luck penalty - as such, try not to let any intelligent monsters (e.g., [[nymph]]s) steal and use scrolls of earth in Sokoban, or you may be forced to repair your Luck ''and'' their mess. Thankfully, most monsters will hesitate to read the scroll unless they have a hard helm, hopefully providing time to kill them fast enough.
 +
 
 +
==History==
 +
The scroll of earth first appears in [[NetHack 3.3.0]].
 +
 
 +
==Messages==
 +
{{message|The ceiling rumbles <around/above> you!|You read a scroll of earth in the main dungeon and produced boulders, with "around" used if the scroll is blessed and "above" used otherwise.}}
 +
 
 +
==Variants==
 +
Many variants add new Sokoban levels, including possible first level maps that include one or two scrolls of earth.
 +
 
 +
===UnNetHack===
 +
In [[UnNetHack]], scrolls of earth have no effect 50% of the time in the [[Black market (UnNetHack)|black market]].
 +
 
 +
===AceHack===
 +
In [[AceHack]], scrolls of earth are identified for you as soon as you reach the guaranteed scrolls in Sokoban.
 +
 
 +
===SpliceHack===
 +
In [[SpliceHack]] and [[SpliceHack-Rewrite]], you can combine a scroll of earth with a [[leather drum]] at a furnace to make a [[drum of earthquake]].
 +
 
 +
[[Dal Zethire]], the [[Cartomancer]] [[quest nemesis]], generates with a scroll of earth.
 +
 
 +
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
 +
{{nethack-367}}
 
[[Category:Scrolls|Earth]]
 
[[Category:Scrolls|Earth]]
{{nethack-343}}
 

Latest revision as of 10:38, 15 June 2023

? Scroll.png
Name earth
Appearance random
Base price 200 zm
Weight 5
Ink to write 4–7
Monster use May be used offensively by monsters.

A scroll of earth is a type of scroll the appears in NetHack. It creates boulders when read.

Generation

The first level of Sokoban always has two separate scrolls of earth in a corner past the first set of pits.

Monsters may receive a scroll of earth as a random offensive item, but only if they are generated wearing a metal helm; if not, they will receive a wand of striking instead.[1]

Effects

Reading a scroll of earth will auto-identify it and drop boulders around and/or on the reader, depending on its beatitude:[2] An uncursed scroll of earth will create 9 boulders - 8 around the reader and one on top of their head - while a blessed scroll will create 8 boulders around the reader without dropping one on them, and a cursed scroll will create a single boulder over the reader's head. If there is a wall or door where a boulder would normally fall, that boulder will not be created. If read while confused, the scroll will drop a few rocks per square instead of boulders, using the same pattern based on the beatitude of the scroll.[3]

Reading a scroll of earth on a Sokoban level before solving that floor will decrease your Luck by 1;[4][5] reading the scroll on the Rogue level and the Elemental Planes has no effect, except for the Plane of Earth.[6]

A boulder that falls on a monster does 1d20 points of damage and can wake up nearby monsters with the noise[7] - if they are wearing a hard helmet, it bounces off and deals just 2 points of damage. A scroll of earth does no damage to amorphous, phasing, noncorporeal, or unsolid monsters.[8] Intelligent monsters can read this scroll for offensive purposes, but will only read them 10% of the time unless they would be unaffected by the boulders, or else are wearing a hard helmet. Monsters will not read the scroll in areas where the scroll has no effect.[9]

Strategy

The scroll of earth is most commonly used to create "boulder forts" as a relatively safe way to deal with a dangerous monster or horde of monsters - many monsters will not be able to attack a player they cannot see, and the boulders prevent most monsters from approaching even if they are aware of your position. While within this "fort", the player can use telepathy to detect them and attack with missile weapons and spells. Be careful of force bolts and striking wands, as they will destroy boulders.

Alternately, you can use the boulders to create your own choke point, e.g. by carefully moving a single boulder to allow only one monster through. This is best done on a staircase, a scroll of scare monster and/or a burnt Elbereth square to allow a means of escape if things go poorly. You can also use the boulders to block off up stairs or ladders to prevent demon lords and other covetous monsters from warping and fleeing to another floor. Boulders from the scroll can also be used to trap aligned priests in order to convert a temple altar - see their page for details.

Scrolls of earth can be used to fill trapdoors, holes, and moats - if you lack a source of levitation, this can be another way to cross large bodies of water, such as Medusa's Island or the moat at the Castle. While you can use them to fill the Castle trap doors, keep in mind that filling all of them means you must dig one out again to reach Gehennom.

Sokoban

The scrolls of earth found in Sokoban are intended as backups in case boulders are destroyed or additional pits/holes need to be filled, and can be used to informally identify any other scrolls you may have picked up previously. Remember that reading any scroll of earth on an unsolved level will incur a Luck penalty, and try to identify their beatitude beforehand if possible - for example, a blessed scroll will leave more boulders free to move, and there are situations where a single boulder from a cursed scroll is preferable. You may also want to position yourself before reading depending on how many boulders are actually needed.

Breaking boulders on unsolved levels also incurs a Luck penalty - as such, try not to let any intelligent monsters (e.g., nymphs) steal and use scrolls of earth in Sokoban, or you may be forced to repair your Luck and their mess. Thankfully, most monsters will hesitate to read the scroll unless they have a hard helm, hopefully providing time to kill them fast enough.

History

The scroll of earth first appears in NetHack 3.3.0.

Messages

The ceiling rumbles <around/above> you!
You read a scroll of earth in the main dungeon and produced boulders, with "around" used if the scroll is blessed and "above" used otherwise.

Variants

Many variants add new Sokoban levels, including possible first level maps that include one or two scrolls of earth.

UnNetHack

In UnNetHack, scrolls of earth have no effect 50% of the time in the black market.

AceHack

In AceHack, scrolls of earth are identified for you as soon as you reach the guaranteed scrolls in Sokoban.

SpliceHack

In SpliceHack and SpliceHack-Rewrite, you can combine a scroll of earth with a leather drum at a furnace to make a drum of earthquake.

Dal Zethire, the Cartomancer quest nemesis, generates with a scroll of earth.

References