Scimitar
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| |
|---|---|
| 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, and is made of iron. It appears as a curved sword when unidentified.
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. The scimitar skill is merged into the saber skill in 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 NetHack 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.
dNetHack
In dNetHack, notdNetHack and notnotdNetHack, the scimitar grants a 4-point bonus to AC and a 4-point DR bonus to the hand slot while wielded. 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.
Scimitars 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.
SpliceHack
In SpliceHack, Barbarians may start the game with a scimitar as their one-handed weapon.
The defunct Dancer role starts with a blessed +1 scimitar.
EvilHack
In EvilHack, 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, and Werebane is their first sacrifice gift.
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:
- A scimitar can be combined with a spear to create a trident.
- A scimitar can be combined with a long sword to create a saber.
- A scimitar can be combined with a short sword to create a broadsword.
- A scimitar can be combined with an elven short sword to create an elven broadsword.
SlashTHEM
In SlashTHEM, in addition to SLASH'EM details, Corsairs start the game with a +1 scimitar and use the same alternate item names as Pirates do.
Hack'EM
In Hack'EM, Barbarians have a 1⁄2 chance of starting with a scimitar as in SpliceHack. Pirates start each game with a +0 scimitar, and as in the original Pirate patch they know the scimitar as a "cutlass".
In addition to EvilHack forging recipes, two scimitars can be combined at a forge to create a falchion.
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-L417: chances of weapons for Mordor orcs
- ↑ src/makemon.c in NetHack 5.0.0, line 413-L414: 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
