Forge (dungeon feature)

A forge is a dungeon feature that appears in EvilHack and Hack'EM, and is represented by an orange left curly bracket, {. It first appears in EvilHack, and is adapted from the furnaces of SpliceHack.

Generation

Forges are randomly generated throughout the dungeon like other features, and some forges can appear in specific areas depending on the variant.

EvilHack

In EvilHack, each room that is generated at level creation has a ¹⁄₄₀ chance of a forge being placed within it. Pouring a potion of polymorph down a sink has a chance of turning that sink into a forge.

A forge always appears in each variation of the first level of Goblin Town.

Mines' End has a forge that appears in the "Mimic of the Mines", "Wine Cellar" and "Orc Temple" maps for the level.

A forge has a ¹⁄₄ chance of appearing in the northeast corner on the last floor of Vecna's Domain.

On the lowest floor of the Wizard's Tower, a specific square within the soldier-inhabited training areas on each side has a ¹⁄₂ chance of a forge being placed there at level creation.

Two forges are always found on the first floor of Purgatory in the room containing the up stair.

Hack'EM

In Hack'EM, each room that is generated upon level creation at a depth greater than 2 has a ¹⁄₄₀ chance of a forge being placed within it.

Mines' End has a forge that appears in the "Mimic of the Mines", "Wine Cellar" and "Orc Temple" maps for the level.

A forge is placed in one of eight locations within the village level of the Town branch.

The black market will always contain a forge in the side room north of the shop area.

Description

Forges are volcanic vents filled with lava that can be used in manners similar to fountains, e.g. dipping items into them. The hero can also use forges for functions such as repairing weapon or armor erosion, and can even forge new weapons and equipment.

An earthquake that causes a pit to appear on a forge's square will destroy it.

Dipping

When dipping any item into a forge, any sliming affecting the hero is aborted. Dipped items that are flammable are incinerated and destroyed unless they are fireproof.

If the hero is dipping a worn metallic object and does not have complete fire resistance, they will burn themselves for 1d8 of fire damage, with a ¹⁄₃ chance of a message to remove worn items before dipping them; if they are completely fire resistant, a message is printed about being unable to reforge a worn object. If the object is flammable and not fireproof, the object will be incinerated and the hero takes 2d6 fire damage unless fire resistant.

If the hero dips a heavy iron ball that is chained to them into a forge, there is a ¹⁄₄ chance of a message hinting at using a hammer to break the chain, followed by one of the normal dipping effects listed below. If the hero does this while wielding a hammer of any kind, they will instead attempt to break the ball's chain using that hammer; this has a ¹⁄₈ chance of succeeding, which is raised to ¹⁄₂ if they have Skilled or better skill level in hammers.

The following special effects can occur when dipping any object into a forge:

Probability	Message	Effect
5⁄30	No other message.	No other effect.
4⁄30	A weird sensation runs up your <arm>.	No other effect.
9⁄30	You successfully reforge your <item>, repairing some of the damage. (if repaired and not blind) Your <item> glows briefly from the heat, but looks reforged and as new as ever. (if not repaired and not blind)	If a metallic item is dipped while your current Luck is not negative, one level of erosion is removed from the object. Otherwise, the item is subjected to damage from the lava or incineration, if applicable.
2⁄30	Your <item> glows blue for a moment. (if not blind)	If a metallic item is dipped while your current Luck is 6 or higher, it is blessed. Otherwise, the item is subjected to damage from the lava or incineration, if applicable.
1⁄30	You summon a lava demon! (if a monster is summoned) You feel the temperature rise significantly. (if summoned while blind) Freed from the depths of Gehennom, <he/she> offers to aid you in your quest! (if the summoned monster is peaceful) The forge violently spews lava for a moment, then settles. (if nothing)	There is a further 1⁄8 chance of a lava demon appearing; (80+DL)/100 chance of being hostile (100% if you have the Amulet of Yendor); if not hostile, the demon will generate tame. Otherwise, a message is printed and nothing happens.
1⁄30	The forge rumbles, then explodes! Molten lava splashes everywhere! (if Luck is negative) Molten lava surges up and splashes all over you! (if Luck is not negative)	If your current Luck is negative, the forge explodes: you take d30 fire damage, and applicable items in your inventory may be burnt or destroyed. Otherwise, you take 3d8 fire damage from a splash of lava.
8⁄30	You feel a sudden flare of heat.	A strange feeling occurs with no other effect.

Quaffing

Like fountains, it is possible to quaff from a forge - however, unless the hero is in the form of a monster that likes fire, they will always take an amount of damage equal to your maximum HP and die; if you are polymorphed but their current form does not like fire, they will take the same amount of damage and be returned to normal form unless they have unchanging. If the hero is in the form of a monster that likes fire, they will cure sliming, and some special effects may also occur:

Probability	Message	Effect
Always happens if you are not a monster that likes fire	Molten lava incinerates its way down your gullet...	You take damage equal to your maximum HP, which instantly kills you; if polymorphed, you return to your normal form unless you have unchanging.
1⁄20	You drink some molten lava. Mmmmm mmm!	You gain 50 nutrition.
1⁄20	The forge splits in two as molten lava rushes forth!	The forge breaks and is replaced with a lava square; this will also submerge you in the lava unless you are flying, and can potentially destroy flammable items in your inventory.
2⁄20	The <lava> moves as though of its own will! But it settles down. (if a monster is not created)	A fire elemental is generated, unless they are extinct.
16⁄20	You take a sip of molten lava.	You gain 5 nutrition.

Forging

Forging objects can be done by using the appropriate extended command while standing on a forge's square and wielding the appropriate item: the command is #forge in EvilHack, or #craft in Hack'EM; both games also accept the meta shortcut of (shift + m) + (shift + f). There is no specific skill or race required to craft a given item, but the hero must meet typically meet certain other conditions.

In EvilHack, forging requires the hero to wield the blacksmith hammer and have a pair of component objects available in their open inventory; the hero can also apply the blacksmith hammer, which causes them to wield it and prompts for ingredients. The hero must not be stunned or confused, and must have at least 4 strength. In Hack'EM, the hero must wield any weapon that uses the hammer skill to forge items with, and that hammer itself cannot be used as a component.

To forge items, the hero must select two different compatible items or item stacks while standing on the forge (not counting the hammer being used to combine them). Only specific combinations of items can be employed to create new items—attempting to forge with a pair of items that cannot be combined for any reason will simply have the attempt fail without either item being lost. Specific artifacts can be combined in this manner to create a wholly unique artifact that cannot be generated by any other means, depending on the specific variant.

List of forging recipes by game

Below is a comprehensive list of forging recipes that are available in each game. For regular recipes, both objects must usually be metallic or gemstone, with the exception of specific items such as rocks and saddles.

Selecting a specific pair of components for a desired object will always produce the same crafted item type, regardless of order—the beatitude, enchantment, material, and quality (if applicable) of the components along with the order they are selected in can influence which of those attributes are taken on by the resulting item:

• As an example, a mithril scimitar used as a base (i.e. selected first) and combined with a steel spear will produce a steel trident; using the same pair of objects with the steel spear as the base and the mithril scimitar as secondary produces a mithril trident.
• Combinations that would result in a material that is not possible for the crafted item (e.g., copper for a dwarvish weapon) use the first item's material instead.
• The crafted item will inherit the second object's beatitude.
• The crafted item will inherit the higher between the two components' enchantments if they are of the same object class.
• When forging with at least one item that has an object property, the forged object will inherit that property; if both objects have properties, the combined result will inherit the properties of the secondary object. Additionally, if the hero forges an item using components with object properties, the forge they used has a ¹⁄₆ chance of cooling down and disappearing, leaving a normal floor tile in its place.
• In EvilHack, the beatitude of the blacksmith hammer also has the following effects.
  • If either component object is inferior, the forged item will also be inferior regardless of the hammer's beatitude.
  • If using a blessed blacksmith hammer, there is a random chance that the forged item it creates will be superior or exceptional.
  • If using a blessed blacksmith hammer and both component objects are of exceptional quality, the forged item will be exceptional.
  • If using a blessed blacksmith hammer and either both component objects are of superior quality or better, or else if one is superior and the other is exceptional, the forged item has a chance of being exceptional and will otherwise be superior.
  • If using a blessed blacksmith hammer with component objects of normal quality or lower, and both components have an enchantment of +3 or more, the forged item will be superior with an enchantment of +0.
  • If using a blessed blacksmith hammer with component objects of normal quality or lower, and both components have an enchantment of +5 or more, the forged item will be exceptional with an enchantment of +0.
  • If using a non-blessed blacksmith hammer with component objects that both have a negative enchantment, the forged item will be inferior.
  • If using a cursed blacksmith hammer, the forged item has a ⁴⁄₅ of being inferior.

The Blacksmith's Cookbook

The Blacksmith's Cookbook is the name of a novel that details a list of recipes for crafting various weapons and armor using a forge. The book itself is not necessary for the forging process, and serves as a form of in-game reference. The first chapter is a general overview of how forging works, with subsequent chapters detailing possible combinations of all mundane objects and their end products—the list of recipes below is generally presented in the same order given by the in-game book.

In EvilHack, The Blacksmith's Cookbook is always found in Goblin Town, where it is placed within a chest behind the iron bars of one of the cells—the cell is always the same per map, and the chest will also contain the blacksmith hammer. The book can also generate randomly or appear in bones files, making it possible to obtain multiple copies.

In Hack'EM, the Goblin Town branch is deferred so that the item cannot be accessed normally, and its contents are instead made part of the main data base file.

EvilHack

Below is the list of forging recipes available in EvilHack, sorted by weapons, armor, barding, dark elven items, and artifacts.

Weapons

First item	Second item	Result
2 darts	dagger	3-4 shuriken
2 arrows	dagger	spear
2 elven arrows	elven dagger	elven spear
2 orcish arrows	orcish dagger	orcish spear
2 arrows	spear	dwarvish spear
2 crossbow bolts	spear	javelin
scimitar	spear	trident
2 arrows	knife	dagger
2 elven arrows	knife	elven dagger
2 orcish arrows	knife	orcish dagger
dagger	stiletto	athame
knife	stiletto	scalpel
2 arrows	2 darts	knife
2 crossbow bolts	knife	stiletto
dagger	spear	axe
axe	dwarvish short sword	dwarvish bearded axe
axe	broadsword	battle-axe
2 crossbow bolts	dagger	short sword
2 crossbow bolts	elven dagger	elven short sword
2 crossbow bolts	orcish dagger	orcish short sword
short sword	dwarvish spear	dwarvish short sword
short sword	knife	scimitar
orcish short sword	knife	orcish scimitar
scimitar	long sword	saber
scimitar	short sword	broadsword
scimitar	elven short sword	elven broadsword
short sword	short sword	long sword
elven short sword	elven short sword	elven long sword
orcish short sword	orcish short sword	orcish long sword
broadsword	long sword	two-handed sword
long sword	long sword	katana
katana	two-handed sword	tsurugi
broadsword	dagger	runesword
broadsword	spear	partisan
stiletto	spear	ranseur
knife	spear	spetum
short sword	spear	glaive
javelin	glaive	lance
ranseur	axe	halberd
battle-axe	spear	bardiche
axe	spear	voulge
pick-axe	dwarvish short sword	dwarvish mattock
saber	spear	fauchard
grappling hook	spear	guisarme
guisarme	spear	bill-guisarme
heavy war hammer	spear	lucern hammer
war hammer	spear	bec de corbin
club	dagger	mace
mace	mace	heavy mace
2 rubies	mace	rod
mace	dagger	morning star
mace	orcish dagger	orcish morning star
mace	flail	war hammer
war hammer	war hammer	heavy war hammer
2 arrows	2 crossbow bolts	club
flail	club	aklys
morning star	mace	flail
3 rocks	dart	3-4 sling bullets

Armor

First item	Second item	Result
Helms
dented pot	orcish dagger	orcish helm
helmet	dwarvish short sword	dwarvish helm
war hammer	knife	dented pot
dented pot	dagger	helmet
Body Armor
splint mail	chain mail	plate mail
3 dilithium crystals	plate mail	crystal plate mail
scale mail	chain mail	splint mail
plate mail	plate mail	large splint mail
scale mail	ring mail	banded mail
ring mail	ring mail	chain mail
chain mail	dwarvish roundshield	dwarvish chain mail
chain mail	elven shield	elven chain mail
ring mail	orcish shield	orcish chain mail
ring mail	helmet	scale mail
large shield	helmet	ring mail
orcish shield	orcish helm	orcish ring mail
Shields
dagger	helmet	small shield
elven dagger	small shield	elven shield
orcish shield	orcish shield	Uruk-hai shield
orcish helm	orcish boots	orcish shield
helmet	helmet	large shield
large shield	dwarvish helm	dwarvish roundshield
small shield	helmet	bracers
Gauntlets and boots
mace	helmet	gauntlets
gauntlets	dwarvish short sword	dwarvish boots
gauntlets	orcish short sword	orcish boots
Barding
plate mail	saddle	barding
barding	morning star	spiked barding
barding	shield of reflection	barding of reflection

Dark elven items

Dark elven items require the forge square to be unlit when forging them.

First item	Second item	Result
2 dark elven arrows	dark elven dagger	dark elven spear
2 dark elven arrows	2 dark elven crossbow bolts	dark elven dagger
2 dark elven crossbow bolts	dark elven dagger	dark elven short sword
dark elven dagger	dark elven short sword	dark elven broadsword
dark elven short sword	dark elven short sword	dark elven long sword
dark elven dagger	dark elven dagger	dark elven mace
dark elven mace	dark elven mace	dark elven heavy mace
dark elven heavy mace	dark elven bracers	dark elven chain mail
dark elven dagger	dark elven mace	dark elven bracers

Forged artifacts

As of version 0.8.1, there are artifacts that can only be made by forging two other specific artifacts: this is the only way in the game to obtain these artifacts, as they will not generate randomly, cannot be wished for, and will revert to their base item (with its object material) if left in bones. Forged artifacts usually retain most of the intrinsic properties of their component materials.

Creating an artifact at a forge will use up a charge from the blacksmith hammer, and will always cause that forge to cool down and become a floor square afterward.

Below are a list of the artifacts that can be obtained through forging, and the two artifact components that each one requires:

First item	Second item	Result
Angelslayer	The Eye of Vecna or The Hand of Vecna	Sword of Annihilation
Orcrist	Sting	Glamdring
Magicbane	Secespita	The Staff of the Archmagi
Stormbringer	Werebane	Shadowblade
Dragonbane	Grayswandir	Gauntlets of Purity
Trollsbane	Ogresmasher	Ashmar
Sunsword	Demonbane	Hammer of the Gods
Cleaver	Mjollnir	Tempest
Fire Brand	Frost Brand	Dichotomy
Vorpal Blade	Dramborleg	Ithilmar
Giantslayer	Keolewa	Harbinger
Sword of Annihilation	Ashmar	Armor of Retribution

Hack'EM

Below is the list of forging recipes available in Hack'EM sorted by weapons, armor, barding, and artifacts.

This list is built on the one used in earlier versions of EvilHack and combined with some iterations, changes and additions to account for weapons that are imported from SLASH'EM and SpliceHack. The addition of a revised upgrading system based on the one from SLASH'EM also opens more routes to create specific weapons. Of note is that the iron chain, traditionally considered to be the most useless item in NetHack, has several recipes that utilize it, including several firearms adapated from SLASH'EM and SpliceHack (primarily the latter).

Weapons

First item	Second item	Result
2 arrows	knife	dagger
2 elven arrows	knife	elven dagger
2 orcish arrows	knife	orcish dagger
dagger	stiletto	athame
dagger	knife	parazonium
parazonium	knife	great dagger
2 arrows 2 elven arrows 2 orcish arrows	2 darts	knife
2 crossbow bolts	knife	stiletto
knife	stiletto	scalpel
orcish spear dwarvish spear elven spear spear	flail	aklys
2 darts	dagger	3-4 shuriken
boomerang	shuriken	chakram

First item	Second item	Result
2 arrows	dagger	spear
2 arrows	dagger	spear
2 elven arrows	elven dagger	elven spear
2 orcish arrows	orcish dagger	orcish spear
2 arrows	spear	dwarvish spear
2 crossbow bolts	spear	javelin

First item	Second item	Result
dagger	spear	axe
dagger	axe	throwing axe
axe	dwarvish short sword	dwarvish bearded axe
axe	broadsword axe	battle-axe
pick-axe	dwarvish short sword	dwarvish mattock

First item	Second item	Result
2 crossbow bolts	dagger	short sword
2 crossbow bolts	elven dagger	elven short sword
2 crossbow bolts	orcish dagger	orcish short sword
short sword	dwarvish spear	dwarvish short sword
broadsword	short sword	gladius

First item	Second item	Result
knife	short sword	scimitar
knife	orcish short sword	orcish scimitar
scimitar	long sword	saber
scimitar	scimitar	falchion
spear	scimitar	trident

First item	Second item	Result
scimitar	short sword	broadsword
scimitar	elven short sword	elven broadsword
broadsword	dagger	runesword

First item	Second item	Result
short sword	short sword	long sword
elven short sword	elven short sword	elven long sword
orcish short sword	orcish short sword	orcish long sword
long sword	long sword	katana

First item	Second item	Result
broadsword	long sword	two-handed sword
katana	two-handed sword	tsurugi

First item	Second item	Result
war hammer club	dagger	mace
2 arrows	2 crossbow bolts	club
mace	mace	heavy mace
2 rubies	mace	rod
heavy mace	spiked chain	executioner's mace

First item	Second item	Result
mace	dagger	morning star
mace	orcish dagger	orcish morning star
mace	flail	war hammer
war hammer	war hammer	heavy war hammer
mace	morning star	flail
iron chain	18 shuriken	spiked chain

First item	Second item	Result
javelin	glaive	lance
spear	broadsword	partisan
spear	stiletto	ranseur
spear	knife	spetum
spear	short sword	glaive
axe	ranseur	halberd
spear	battle-axe	bardiche
spear	axe	voulge
spear	saber	fauchard
spear	grappling hook	guisarme
spear	guisarme	bill-guisarme
spear	heavy war hammer	lucern hammer
spear	war hammer	bec de corbin

First item	Second item	Result
3 rocks	dart	3-4 sling bullets
2 rocks	flint stone

First item	Second item	Result
Firearms
flintlock	iron chain	pistol
pistol	iron chain	submachine gun
submachine gun	iron chain	heavy machine gun
pistol	crossbow	rifle
rifle	iron chain	sniper rifle
pistol	broadsword	shotgun
shotgun	iron chain	auto shotgun

Armor

First item	Second item	Result
Helms
dented pot	orcish dagger	orcish helm
helmet	dwarvish short sword	dwarvish helm
war hammer	knife	dented pot
dented pot	dagger	helmet

First item	Second item	Result
Body armor
splint mail	chain mail	plate mail
3 dilithium crystals	plate mail	crystal plate mail
scale mail	chain mail	splint mail
plate mail	plate mail	large splint mail

First item	Second item	Result
scale mail	ring mail	banded mail
ring mail	ring mail	chain mail
chain mail	dwarvish roundshield	dwarvish chain mail
chain mail	elven shield	elven chain mail
ring mail	orcish shield	orcish chain mail

First item	Second item	Result
ring mail	helmet	scale mail
large shield	helmet	ring mail
orcish shield	orcish helm	orcish ring mail

First item	Second item	Result
Shields
dagger	helmet	small shield
elven dagger	small shield	elven shield
orcish shield	orcish shield	Uruk-hai shield
orcish helm	orcish boots	orcish shield
helmet	helmet	large shield
large shield	small shield	tower shield
large shield	dwarvish helm	dwarvish roundshield

First item	Second item	Result
Gauntlets and boots
mace	helmet	gauntlets
gauntlets	dwarvish short sword	dwarvish boots
gauntlets	orcish short sword	orcish boots

First item	Second item	Result
Barding
plate mail	saddle	barding
barding	morning star	spiked barding
barding	shield of reflection	barding of reflection

Other items

As in EvilHack, some artifacts in Hack'EM can only be made by forging two other specific artifacts: this is the only way in the game to obtain these artifacts, as they will not generate randomly, cannot be wished for, and will revert to their base item (with its object material) if left in bones. Forged artifacts usually retain most of the intrinsic properties of their component materials.

Currently, there is only one artifact that can be made this way:

First item	Second item	Result
The Key of Law	The Key of Chaos	The Key of Access
The Key of Law	The Key of Neutrality
The Key of Chaos	The Key of Neutrality

Strategy

Forges provide every role with a means to further tailor their weapons and armor to their liking, provided they have the spare materials available.

A user has suggested improving this page or section as follows:

"Flesh out and detail forging strategy."

Messages

You hear a slow bubbling.

You hear crackling flames.

There is a forge on the current level.

You hear chestnuts roasting on an open fire.

As above, while you are hallucinating.