Bugle
( 
| |
|---|---|
| Name | bugle |
| Appearance | bugle |
| Base price | 15 zm |
| Weight | 10 |
| Material | copper |
| Monster use | May be used defensively by monsters. |
A bugle is a type of musical instrument that appears in NetHack. The bugle is the only non-magical tonal instrument that lacks a magical equivalent, and it is made of copper.
Contents
Generation
Elven Priests and Wizards have a 1⁄6 chance of starting the game with a bugle.[1]
Bugles make up 1⁄250 (0.4%) of all randomly-generated tools, and are always generated uncursed outside of bones levels and trap "bones". General stores and hardware stores can sell bugles.
Yendorian Army sergeants, lieutenants, and captains have a 1⁄3 chance of being generated with a bugle.
Description
A hero can play a bugle by applying it. Improvising abuses wisdom and can awaken or scare nearby monsters, as with a tooled horn[2][3]—however, it will also awaken, anger and unparalyze all soldiers and watchmen on the level.[4]
Yendorian Army fighters with bugles are capable of using them to the same effect, and will do so if there is another soldier that is asleep or otherwise immobile in a 7×7 square around the bugle player, with the sound awakening other monsters and potentially scaring any pets as well.[5][6]
The following information pertains to an upcoming version (3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that the information below is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate it.
Per commit 141a7915, bugles scare the same monsters as tooled horns, and monster types that are immune to a scroll of scare monster on the ground are no longer scared by bugles.
Per commit 6e49372d, mindless monsters are immune to musical scaring.Strategy
A bugle can be a good substitute for a tooled horn: they are lighter and have a good chance of scaring most monsters outside of the Yendorian Army. However, they cannot be safely used in Minetown unless you can neutralize or pacify the watch, and it is best to check a level for barracks if possible before using your bugle on later levels, including the Castle. Bugles are also a reason to tread carefully when clearing out any barracks, as one of the higher-ranked fighters may carry one and will wake up their sleeping comrades the first chance they get, spoiling any sleep- or stealth-based approach you were employing at that point.
Bugles are very useful tools for the late game on, since you are likely to obtain one that you can play the passtune with before you reach the Castle; they can also keep hostile priests from surrounding you in the Sanctum, and drive away air elementals on the Plane of Air.
The following information pertains to an upcoming version (3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that the information below is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate it.
As a consequence of commit 141a7915, priests and Angels are no longer scared by bugles.History
The bugle first appears in NetHack 3.0.0. From this version to NetHack 3.4.3, including some variants based on those versions, bugles are simply a lightweight tonal instrument that may be worth using at the Castle: the risk of awakening soldiers is usually not that significant for most heroes who reach this point, and a monster that can cast the aggravate monster spell, e.g. a master lich or arch-lich (who will usually warp to the hero soon after they enter the floor), may awaken the denizens of the barracks anyway.
The bugle's ability to scare monsters when the hero applies it is introduced in NetHack 3.6.0.
Messages
- You extract a loud noise from <your bugle>.
- You applied a bugle and improvised.
- You extract a strange sound from the bugle!
- You applied a bugle and played a specific melody with it.
- You blow into the bugle.
- As above, while deaf.
- You hear a bugle playing reveille!
- A soldier played a bugle.
- <The soldier> is now ready for battle!
- One or more soldiers were awakened, unparalyzed and made hostile.
- You hear the rattle of battle gear being readied.
- As above while outside your range of vision.
Variants
Some variants based on NetHack 3.4.3 and earlier versions may not add the bugle's scaring properties introduced in later versions.
dNetHack
In dNetHack, notdNetHack, notnotdNetHack, orcish Troubadours have a 1⁄2 chance of their starting tonal instrument being a bugle.
The bugle is the preferred instrument for playing Rally, Charge and Inspire Courage via the Troubadour's musicalize spell skill, and is an alternate instrument for playing Disruption.
SlashTHEM
In SlashTHEM, orcish Bards have a 1⁄2 chance of starting with a bugle, as in dNetHack and its derivatives.
The bugle is the preferred instrument for playing Inspire Courage via the musicalize spell skill.
Encyclopedia entry
'I read you by your bugle horn
And by your palfrey good,
I read you for a Ranger sworn
To keep the King's green-wood.'
'A Ranger, Lady, winds his horn,
And 'tis at peep of light;
His blast is heard at merry morn,
And mine at dead of night.'
