Spetum
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| |
|---|---|
| Name | spetum |
| Appearance | forked polearm |
| Damage vs. small | d6+1 |
| Damage vs. large | 2d6 |
| To-hit bonus | +0 |
| Weapon skill | polearm |
| Size | two-handed |
| Base price | 5 zm (+10/positive enchant) |
| Weight | 50 |
| Material | iron |
A spetum is a type of weapon that appears in NetHack. It is a two-handed polearm that is made of iron, and appears as a forked polearm when unidentified.
Contents
Generation
In addition to random generation, general shops and antique weapons outlets can sell spetums.
Watchmen and soldiers may be generated with a spetum.[1] Trolls have an effective 1⁄8 chance of being generated with a spetum.[2]
Strategy
The spetum is the lightest of the polearms at 50 aum, and deals solid damage for its weight: among polearms, it has respectable average damage versus small monsters, while its average damage against large monsters is tied for the best with the halberd.
History
The spetum is introduced with all other polearms in NetHack 1.3d.
Origin
A spetum is a pole weapon that was used in Europe during the 13th century, and consists of a 6–8 ft (1.8–2.4 m) pole with a mounted spearhead that has two single-edged bladed "prongs" at its base; the main blade was 12–14 inches (30–36 cm) long, with the side blades about half that length and set at acute angles. This makes the NetHack description of a "forked polearm" somewhat imprecise: the phrase is more accurate for military "forks" that were derived from pitchforks used in farming - a diagram of these weapons can be viewed here for comparison.
The spetum is considered a variation of the partisan according to antiquarian John Hewitt, and is typically distinguished from the partisan and ranseur by the single-edge blades that are used for slashing. The blades can also bind and disarm weapons, with their blunt backs allowing the spetum to trip enemy combatants and knock aside shields while providing far more strength to the sharpened side and points than a dual-edged blade.
Variants
GruntHack
In GruntHack, Vlad the Impaler is always generated with a thirsty spetum.
xNetHack
xNetHack removes the spetum and many other polearms.
EvilHack
In EvilHack, a spetum can be created at a forge by combining a knife and a spear. This also applies to Hack'EM.
SlashTHEM
In SlashTHEM, troll characters that are not Convicts have a 1⁄4 chance of generating with a spetum as their starting polearm.
Encyclopedia entry
- See the encyclopedia entry for polearm.
