Broadsword

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) Broadsword.png
Name broadsword
Appearance broadsword
Damage vs. small 2d4
Damage vs. large 1d6+1
To-hit bonus +0
Weapon skill broadsword
Size one-handed
Base price 10 zm
(+10/positive
enchant)
Weight 70
Material iron

A broadsword is a type of weapon that appears in NetHack. It is a one-handed melee weapon that is made of iron.

For Samurai, the broadsword appears as a ninja-to.

Generation

Ordinary broadswords make up about 0.8% of randomly generated weapons (on the floor, as death drops, or in shops).

General stores and antique weapons outlets can sell broadswords.

Yendorian Army lieutenants have a 12 chance of being generated with a broadsword.[1] Balrogs are always generated with broadswords.[2]

Broadsword skill

Broadsword
Max Role
Basic
Skilled

The following weapons use the broadsword skill:

Three artifacts use the broadsword skill:

Strategy

Broadswords by themselves are serviceable if unremarkable weapons, but can usually be replaced by a better weapon such as an elven broadsword in short order. The broadsword skill in general is most often relevant for chaotic characters seeking to obtain Stormbringer as early as possible, or else using an elven broadsword as a secondary option for twoweapon.

History

The broadsword first appears in NetHack 1.3d, where it is known as a broad sword. In NetHack 3.0.0, the item's name is changed to "broadsword".

From NetHack 3.0.0 to NetHack 3.0.10, the base item of Stormbringer is a broadsword.

Origin

"Broadsword" is an informal name for the historical basket-hilted sword, whose eponymous guard is more thoroughly armored compared to other sword hilts due to the development of firearms rendering many forms of armor ineffective. The term "broad" contrasts it with the similar rapier, which has a more slender blade.

Variants

Some variants that incorporate the Convict patch usually include their designated first sacrifice gift: Luck Blade, a chaotic artifact broadsword that acts as a luck item while carried.

SLASH'EM

In SLASH'EM, a broadsword is always generated next to the left sink on the goal level of the Yeoman quest.

Upgrading a broadsword will produce an elven broadsword, and vice versa.

UnNetHack

In UnNetHack, Luck Blade is a chaotic artifact broadsword that acts as the first sacrifice gift for Convicts.

dNetHack

dNetHack and notdNetHack add the isamusei, beamsword and force sword as weapons that use the broadsword skill.

Several artifacts in dNetHack use the broadsword skill:

  • Fire and Frost Brand can generate in broadsword form.
  • The Fuma-itto no Ken is a chaotic broadsword that is permanently poisoned, grants +1 to-hit and +1d8 damage bonuses versus cross-aligned targets, and can be invoked to create shuriken.
  • The Atma Weapon is an unaligned beamsword that can be applied to turn it on and off, and follows lightsaber rules with the following exceptions:
    • While on, it deals 3d10+(3x enchantment) to both large and small monsters, with bonuses of +1d6 to-hit and +3d6 damage against nasty monsters.
    • If wielded without drain resistance, Atma Weapon adds +1dx damage (where x is the wielder's current experience level) while severely reducing the wielder's natural healing rate, and scales its damage with their current HP percentage. Additionally, if Atma Weapon wielded while cursed and activated, or else it is activated while cursed or uncharged, it will drain an experience level and uncurse and/or charge itself.
    • If wielded with drain resistance, its base damage is decreased to 2d10+(2x enchantment) against all monsters.
  • Glamdring is a lawful elven broadsword that favors Nobles and is the first sacrifice gift for dwarven Knights. It has +1d5 to-hit and deals +1d10 damage versus all monsters, along with dealing an additional +1d20 to orcs and demons and warning of both monster types while wielded. Glamdring cannot be knocked out of the player character's hands while wielded.
  • The Rod of the Elvish Lords is a lawful elven Noble-favoring artifact that can take the form of an elven broadsword, and engraves at the same quality as an athame in this form.

The Water Crystal increases a character's skill cap for broadswords by 1.

EvilHack

In EvilHack, Monks and Rangers can now train the broadsword skill - Monks can reach Basic, Rangers can reach Skilled, and Knights can reach Expert.

Luck Blade has the same traits as in UnNetHack, but is made of steel rather than iron.

A broadsword can be created at a forge by combining a scimitar and a short sword. Broadswords can be used to create a few items:

Encyclopaedia entry

Bring me my broadsword
And clear understanding.
Bring me my cross of gold,
As a talisman.
[ "Broadsword" (refrain) by Ian Anderson ]

References