Item size (dNetHack)
In dNetHack, notdNetHack and notnotdNetHack, item size works much differently compared to NetHack. Rather than items of a specific type always occurring as a singular defined size, each item can now occur in multiple possible sizes that affect their weight and often their functions as well—an item's size will generally be appended to their name, e.g. a small orcish helm or a huge long sword. The physical size of a hero or monster can affect their ability to utilize items of particular sizes in turn, especially when it comes to wielding weapons and other items, wearing armor, and putting on jewelry or other accessories.
Renamed items
Due to the addition of varying sizes for items, some objects are renamed in order to avoid redundancies:
- small shield -> buckler
- large shield -> kite shield
- large box -> box
Weapon size
The size of a weapon relative to a hero or monster's own size determines their ability to wield it in the first place, as well as whether the weapon will be one-handed or two-handed. The damage of any given weapon scales along with its size, with medium weapons being considered the baseline, and the size of that weapon's damage dice is increased or decreased accordingly as described by the table below:
| Weapon size | Die size bonus |
|---|---|
| Tiny | -2 |
| Small | -1 |
| Medium | 0 |
| Large | +1 |
| Huge | +2 |
| Gigantic | +3 |
As an example, a large two-handed sword will deals 1d13 versus small monsters and 3d7 versus large monsters, compared to 1d12 and 3d6 for a standard-sized medium one.
Heroes that are either Cavepeople or have the spirit Ymir bound can wield weapons as though they are one size larger, meaning that they can wield weapons that would be two-handed for other medium-sized characters (e.g. a two-handed sword) in one hand. This also affects their ability to use larger weapons in two weapon combat.
Armor size
As a general rule, both the hero and monsters can only wear armor that is the appropriate size and body shape for them—e.g., any orcish chain mail worn by a slain hostile mumak will never fit an orcish hero, no matter what the armor's size is.
The following rules apply to armor size for each slot of armor:
- Helmets must be of the same size as the wearer.
- Cloaks can be up to one size larger or smaller than the wearer.
- Armor must be of the same size as the wearer.
- Shirts must be of the same size as the wearer.
- Shields can be of any size.
- Gloves must be of the same size as the wearer.
- Boots must be of the same size as the wearer.
- Belts must be of the same size as the wearer.
- No armor of a different shape than the wearer's body may be worn.
A user has suggested improving this page or section as follows:
"Mention the different body shapes of armor somewhere."
Weight
An item's weight impacts the weight multiplier that is applied to it. Medium items are considered to be baseline weight. For armor and weapons, items have their weight multiplied as follows:
| Armor/weapon size | Weight multiplier |
|---|---|
| Tiny | 1/3 |
| Small | 1/2 |
| Medium | 1 |
| Large | 2x |
| Huge | 3x |
| Gigantic | 6x |
Non-armor items such as tools follow a different formula:
| Armor/weapon size | Weight multiplier |
|---|---|
| Tiny | 1/9 |
| Small | 1/4 |
| Medium | 1 |
| Large | 4x |
| Huge | 9x |
| Gigantic | 36x |
Starting inventory and item size
A hero will always start with armor and weapons that are made to fit their body shape and size, unless there are rules for any items in that hero's inventory which state otherwise.
Monster starting inventory
When generating the monster starting inventory for a randomly generated monster, all weapons and armor that are created as part of that inventory will match the size of the created monster, unless there are rules for any items in that monster's inventory which state otherwise.
Messages
- You don't have a head.
- You tried to wear a helmet while in a headless form.
- You can't wear a helm or hat.
- You tried to wear a helmet or hat while in a form that cannot wear either.
- The <helmet> is the wrong shape for your head.
- You tried to wear a helmet of a shape that doesn't match your body.
- The <helmet> won't fit over your horns.
- You tried to wear a headpiece that doesn't allow horns.
- The <helmet> is the wrong size for you.
- You tried to wear a helmet that was smaller or larger than your head.
- The <shirt> is the wrong size for you.
- You tried to wear a shirt that was smaller or larger than your body.
- The <shirt> is the wrong shape for your body.
- You tried to wear a shirt of a shape that doesn't match your body.
- Already wearing a belt.
- You tried to wear armor while already wearing a cursed belt.
- The <armor> is the wrong size for you.
- You tried to wear armor that was smaller or larger than you.
- The <armor> is the wrong shape for your body.
- You tried to wear armor of a shape that doesn't match your body.
- You don't have proper hands.
- You tried to wear gloves while in a form that has no hands.
- <The arm blaster> fits too tightly to allow such bulky, rigid gloves.
- You tried to wear gloves while wielding a arm blaster.
- The gloves are the wrong size for you.
- You tried to wear gloves that were smaller or larger than your hands.
- The <cloak> is the wrong size for you.
- You tried to wear a cloak that was more than one size larger or smaller than you.
- You cannot wear a ring on your right hand with this artifact.
- You tried to wear a ring on your right finger while wearing the Claws of the Revenancer.
- You have too many legs to wear <boots>.
- You tried to wear boots in a form that has more than two legs.
- The <boots> are the wrong size for you.
- You tried to wear boots that were smaller or larger than your feet.
