Ring of levitation
A ring of levitation is a type of ring that appears in NetHack.
Contents
Generation
Wizards cannot be given a ring of levitation as either of the two random rings in their starting inventory[1][2]—this is most likely to prevent a starting Wizard from immediately abusing Elbereth engravings, though the mechanic has been changed since the limitation was introduced.
General stores and jewelers shops can sell rings of levitation.
Description
A hero putting on a ring of levitation will begin levitating above the ground, auto-identifying the ring, and they will remain levitating as long as the ring is worn—removing the ring will cause the hero to float gently to the ground on their square and release them from any holding attacks.[3] Floating over a sink while wearing the ring and levitating, or else putting the ring on while standing on a sink's square, will cause the ring to come off even if it is cursed.[4][5][6]
A hero eating the ring has a 1⁄3 chance of absorbing its magic and granting intrinsic levitation for 10-200 turns if they are not already levitating.[7]
A worn cursed ring of levitation is considered a major trouble for purposes of prayer, and a successful prayer will uncurse the ring if the hero's god addresses this trouble.[8][9][10]
Strategy
Like many sources of levitation, the ring can be useful for crossing large bodies of water such as on Medusa's Island and the Castle, and is used to traverse the Plane of Air in the endgame; the ring can also come in handy for certain quest branches, such as the Valkyrie quest and its lava and fire traps, or the Monk quest where the goal level's lava can be used to prevent Master Kaen from covetous-warping near you.
A blessed ring of levitation is a common wish for the future ascension kit of heroes who obtain the Castle's wand of wishing and lack any source of levitation. Even for heroes who have a source of levitation already, the ring of levitation is often more convenient but not without risk: it will not take up an armor slot like the boots of levitation do, but is vulnerable to being destroyed by shock damage. While over water, a hero risks being instantly drowned if they are hit by lightning or any shock attacks (e.g. the bite of an electric eel), and will also drown if they are seduced and the ring is taken off by either a nymph stealing it or by a incubus that removes the ring to put a ring of adornment on the hero's finger—the latter can be prevented by keeping known or suspected adornment rings out of the hero's open inventory.
On the Elemental Planes, having a worn ring of levitation destroyed while crossing the Plane of Air, e.g. as a result of energy vortices or lightning from the clouds, is a risk to factor for as well, though it is somewhat more survivable. In general, it is safer to quaff some blessed potions of levitation on the Plane of Earth just before entering its magic portal to the Plane of Air: the potion should give you enough turns of the property to not only cross that Plane, but also the lava-filled Plane of Fire, and reduce the need to swap worn items as you go.
History
The ring of levitation first appears in Hack 1.0. Hack for PDP-11, which is based on Jay Fenlason's Hack, has a likely ancestor in the ring of floating.
Messages
- For messages shared with other sources of levitation, see Levitation#Messages.
- The sink quivers upward for a moment.
- You dropped a ring of levitation down a sink.
Variants
SLASH'EM
In SLASH'EM, Flame Mages, Ice Mages and Necromancers cannot be given a ring of levitation in their starting inventory, for the same reasons as the Wizard.[11]
dNetHack
In dNetHack, notdNetHack and notnotdNetHack, the ring of levitation will never have the randomized appearance of a black signet ring.
SpliceHack
In SpliceHack, a ring of levitation can be combined with a pair of either low boots or high boots at a furnace to create levitation boots.
SlashTHEM
In SlashTHEM, in addition to SLASH'EM details, Acid Mages, Corsairs, Electric Mages, Nobles, and Pirates will never be given a ring of levitation as any of the random rings in their starting inventory.
References
- ↑ src/u_init.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 165
- ↑ src/u_init.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 1000
- ↑ src/trap.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 2993
- ↑ src/hack.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 555
- ↑ src/hack.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 618
- ↑ src/hack.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 623
- ↑ src/eat.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 1993
- ↑ src/pray.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 214
- ↑ src/pray.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 438
- ↑ src/pray.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 441
- ↑ u_init.c in SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2, line 1522
