Dimensional lock
| ( | |
|---|---|
| Name | dimensional lock |
| Appearance | cerulean-willow-engraved disk |
| Base price | 2000 zm |
| Weight | 10 |
| Material | mineral |
| Monster use | Will not be used by monsters. |
A dimensional lock is a type of magical tool that appears in dNetHack, notdNetHack and notnotdNetHack. It is a non-stackable and ensouled tool that is made of mineral and appears as a cerulean-willow-engraved disk when unidentified, or simply as a disk if the hero is blind.
Contents
Generation
Dimensional locks have a small chance of being randomly generated in Gehennom. Vaults with hellish seals have varying odds of containing dimensional locks:
- Devil and demon vaults each have a 1⁄9 chance (≈11.11%) of containing a dimensional lock.
- Tanninim vaults have a 1⁄5 chance (20%) of containing a dimensional lock.
- Ancient vaults have a 1⁄4 chance (25%) of containing a dimensional lock.
- Miscellaneous vaults have a 1⁄8 chance (12.5%) of containing a dimensional lock.
Dimensional locks are always generated uncursed and cannot be obtained through polypiling, though they can be wished for.
Description
A hero applying a dimensional lock will temporarily block most forms of summoning level-wide for both them and other monsters, with a duration of 100 turns—subsequent applications of dimension locks will extend the duration by 100 turns, as opposed to exponential increments used for other ensouled items like the catapsi vortex. When a dimensional lock is applied, all temporary summons are dispelled as if the abjuration spell had been cast, and any and all items and abilities that summon monsters are prevented for the duration of the item's effects—the section below presents more details on what is impacted by a dimensional lock. Monsters will not use this item.
A dimensional lock on the ground behaves as an engraved and non-reinforced elder sign, similar to a stave placed on the ground.
Monster creation under dimension locks
While a dimensional lock is active, the following items, abilities, status properties, and other traits have specific restrictions applied to them, mostly relating to summoning or otherwise generating monsters:
- The scroll of create monster and wand of create monster will have no effect when read or zapped, and the create monster and create familiar spells cannot be cast by the hero.
- The following monster spells cannot be cast: summon sphere, summon insects, raise dead, summon monsters, summon devil, summon tannin, summon angel, summon alien, summon young, time duplicate, and Double Trouble.
- Demon gating is blocked, with the exception of certain monster abilities such as demons or devils being generated from the blood of a demon or devil ruler like Asmodeus or Verier.
- The Great Cthulhu's star spawn summoning ability is blocked.
- Hounds of Tindalos cannot be generated.
- The hero cannot be afflicted with the "non-Euclidean" madness while a dimensional lock is active, and an already-afflicted hero has the effects of the madness blocked for that duration.
- A hero with the spirit Eurynome bound cannot create temporary pets via her "shape the wind" ability.
- Wishes cannot be obtained through candles of invocation, thrones or the Star-Emperor's Ring, constellation pets cannot be summoned using the Star-Emperor's Ring, and artifact wishes cannot be made using any ring of wishes (though normal ones are still allowed). In the case of candles of invocation, they cannot be used at all while the dimensional lock is active, while in the case of a throne, a hero that sits on one and would have obtained a wish will instead have their luck increased.
The following forms of monster generation are not affected by a dimensional lock:
- Random monster generation.
- The blinding and deafening effect of a magic trap that also generates monsters.
- Minions being summoned by an angry god.
Strategy
Though it is by no means necessary for most kits, a dimensional lock is an invaluable asset for those going up against high-level casters that have a predilection for casting summoning type spells, or as an insurance policy to be applied before entering R'lyeh: disabling a hostile spellcaster's ability to swarm you is a significant edge, especially in a battle of attrition, and in emergencies where a hero is facing a demon lord, the Stranger or a strong spellcaster and is already being swarmed by summons, it can be used for a guaranteed one-turn abjuration effect.
The dimensional lock's restrictive generation does encourage either scrounging hell vaults for them, or simply wishing for one if the need arises. When engaging with a large group of primordials it might be useful to have one that you can drop for an on-demand scare effect, and a dimensional lock on the ground can replace the elder sign in illiterate runs.
Origin
The dimensional lock item is based on the spell of the same name from Dungeons & Dragons, where it debuts in the 3.5e Player's Handbook. It is an 8th level abjuration spell that completely blocks extradimensional travel. While the RAW ruling of the spell doesn't block summoning per se, most summoning abilities such as a devil's summon baatezu ability are at least mechanically similar enough to teleporting or plane shifting an enemy into the area. The effect of the dimensional lock item in dNetHack and its derivatives more closely resembles the effects of an anti-magic field or the banishment/dismissal spells of Dungeons & Dragons.
The appearance of the item as a cerulean-willow-engraved disk (not to be confused with the cerulean sign) is based on a similar symbol that also appears in Dungeons & Dragons, where it is first found in the 2005 Lords of Madness supplementary rulebook. Both the shape and theme of the symbol, as well as both the cerulean sign and elder sign in dNetHack and its derivatives, are based on the alternative depictions of the elder sign as seen in Lovecraft's letter to Clark Ashton Smith (H. P. Lovecraft Selected Letters III, 1929-1931 letter on Nov. 7th 1930), which is distinct from the version later popularized in August Derleth's writings.
The cerulean sign in Dungeons & Dragons is a five-limbed tree with bowed branches that is of ambiguous origin in-universe, and is similar in basic appearance to a cerulean-blue mulberry or willow tree—it is closely associated with the Keepers of the Cerulean Sign, an organization dedicated to fighting the threat of aberrations and the infiltration of their cults into normal society and the natural world. The encyclopedia entry quote comes from a keeper named Selsharra Derissor. The keepers use the power of the sign to keep aberrations at bay and can invoke the sign to potentially stun them; they additionally can use the sign's powers to ward doorways and portals, and it serves as their focus much like a cleric utilizes a symbol of their deity.
Messages
- The cerulean tree flashes and disappears.
- You used a dimensional lock.
- The disk crumbles to dust!
- As above, but you are blind.
- Summons <are/were> blocked.
- Enlightenment (including the end-of-game report) indicates that a dimensional lock is or was active.
- Can be applied to temporarily prevent summoning.
- The item's in-game lookup description.
- The <dimensional lock> doesn't fit in the skull!
- You tried to fit a dimensional lock into a crystal skull.
- Nothing happens.
- You tried to use a summoning item, spell or ability while in the area of effect a dimensional lock.
- Unfortunately, nothing happens.
- You tried to zap a wand of create monster while in the area of effect of a dimensional lock.
Encyclopedia entry
The inexplicably-sky-blue image of the willow hints at the
aetheral power of the simple disk. While active, dimensional
magics (typical of summonings) fail.
"The enemy is ancient, eternal, and forever. Yet they are not
without weakness, for they have been put down before and shall
be put down again.
"The power of the Cerulean Sign has not faded over the eons; it
has grown. With its power within my soul, I cannot help but
prevail against the Elder Evils, and they cannot help but fall
against my might."
