Scimitar
) 
| |
|---|---|
| Name | scimitar |
| Appearance | curved sword |
| Damage vs. small | 1d8 |
| Damage vs. large | 1d8 |
| To-hit bonus | +0 |
| Weapon skill | saber |
| Size | one-handed |
| Base price | 15 zm (+10/positive enchant) |
| Weight | 40 |
| Material | iron |
A scimitar is a type of weapon that appears in NetHack. It is a one-handed melee weapon that uses the saber skill. It is made of iron, and appears as a curved sword when unidentified.
Contents
Generation
The scimitar makes up 3⁄200 (1.5%) of all weapons that are randomly generated on the floor, in general shops or as death drops. Used armor dealerships and antique weapon outlets can also stock scimitars.
Some orcs are generated with scimitars:
- Mordor orcs have a 1⁄3 chance of being generated with a scimitar.[1]
- 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.[2]
- Hobgoblins, orcs and hill orcs have a 1⁄2 chance of generating with a scimitar.[3]
The statue of Perseus on Medusa's Island has a 1⁄2 chance of containing a blessed +2 scimitar.[4][5][6][7]
Strategy
Though scimitars deal respectable damage, many roles that have access to the saber skill may prefer the upgrade paths afforded by the long sword, the versatility of daggers, or the sheer power of the unicorn horn or dwarvish mattock. Heroes such as Archeologists, Healers or Tourists that have poor starting weapons or melee skills, might consider using a scimitar early on until they can gain access to an artifact weapon or a stronger mundane weapon.
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—a few especially needy characters (conduct play and otherwise) might find Perseus' scimitar to be the best one-handed non-artifact weapon that is guaranteed to be available.
History
The scimitar first appears in NetHack 1.3d.
From the introduction of the skill system in NetHack 3.2.0 to NetHack 3.6.7, including some variants based on those versions, the scimitar has its own weapon skill separate from the saber:
| Scimitar | |
|---|---|
| Max | Role |
| Basic | |
| Skilled | |
The scimitar skill is merged into the saber skill for NetHack 5.0.0 via commit 296a3ac2.
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 serves as a symbol of 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
Some NetHack variants created prior to the release of 5.0.0 may retain the scimitar as a separate weapon skill, while others merge the scimitar into the saber skill class themselves.
Pirate patch
In variants that incorporate the Pirate role patch (particularly the second patch by Chris), Pirates know the scimitar as a cutlass. Reaver is an artifact cutlass that serves as the Pirate crowning gift.
Mayor Cummerbund, the leader for the Pirate quest, has a 1⁄3 chance of generating with a rustproof cutlass, and quest guardian pirate brothers always generate with a cutlass. Skeletal pirates are generated with rusted cutlasses.
SLASH'EM
SLASH'EM retains the scimitar skill as a separate weapon skill, and the caps of that skill per role are as follows:
| SLASH'EM scimitar skill caps | |
|---|---|
| Max | Role |
| Basic | |
| Skilled | |
NetHack brass
In NetHack brass, the skill system consolidates scimitars into the saber skill group.
dNetHack
dNetHack, notdNetHack and notnotdNetHack retain the scimitar skill as a separate weapon skill, and the caps of that skill per role are as follows:
| *dNetHack scimitar skill caps | |
|---|---|
| Max | Role |
| Basic |
|
| Skilled |
|
| Expert | |
The spirit Dantalion grants skill in scimitars while bound.
dNetHack, notdNetHack and notnotdNetHack also add the elven scimitar, cutlass, high-elven warsword, and bow-blade as weapons that use the scimitar skill.
Scimitars themselves are slightly less common, making up 13⁄1000 (1.3%) of all weapons that are randomly generated on the floor, in general shops or as death drops. They also deal more damage, with 1d12 damage against small monsters and the same 1d8 damage against large monsters. A hero that wields a scimitar while they are at Skilled or better in scimitars gains the "long slash" and "striking" expert traits.
SpliceHack
SpliceHack adds the falchion as a two-handed weapon that uses the scimitar skill.
Barbarians may start the game with a falchion and scimitar as their weapons.
The defunct Dancer role starts with a blessed +1 scimitar.
EvilHack
EvilHack consolidates scimitars into the saber skill group and adds the orcish scimitar, which uses the saber skill and replaces the standard scimitar in the inventory of non-undead orcs.
Werebane has its base item changed to a scimitar made of silver.
Druids have a 1⁄2 chance of starting the game with a +1 scimitar as their weapon.
The Rat King is always generated with a rustproof scimitar of venom that has an enchantment ranging from +1 to +3.
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
SlashTHEM retains the separate scimitar and saber skills as SLASH'EM does, and the skill caps for the roles added in SlashTHEM are as follows:
| SLASH'EM scimitar skill caps | |
|---|---|
| Max | Role |
| Basic | |
| Skilled | |
| Expert | |
Of the roles retained from SLASH'EM, Ice Mages are restricted in the skill in SlashTHEM, while the skill caps of all other SLASH'EM roles are unchanged. Orcish heroes can always reach a minimum of Skilled in scimitars.
Corsairs start the game with a +1 scimitar, and use the same alternate item names as Pirates do.
Hack'EM
Hack'EM adds the falchion from SpliceHack and the orcish scimitar from EvilHack, and the scimitar skill is merged into the saber skill as in EvilHack. As in the original Pirate patch, Pirates know the scimitar as a "cutlass".
Barbarians have a 1⁄2 chance of starting with a falchion and scimitar as in SpliceHack. Pirates start each game with a +0 scimitar.
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 5.0.0, line 416: chances of weapons for Mordor orcs
- ↑ src/makemon.c in NetHack 5.0.0, line 413: switch for orc-captains
- ↑ src/makemon.c in NetHack 5.0.0, line 439-L443: default orcish weapons
- ↑ dat/medusa-1.lua in NetHack 5.0.0, line 69-L71
- ↑ dat/medusa-2.lua in NetHack 5.0.0, line 64-L66
- ↑ dat/medusa-3.lua in NetHack 5.0.0, line 91-L93
- ↑ dat/medusa-4.lua in NetHack 5.0.0, line 93-L95
