NetHack Plus
NetHack Plus is a variant of the NetHack 3.1 series. Stephen White published several versions of NetHack Plus from June 1994 to January 1995. NetHack Plus was eventually combined with NetHack-- 3.1.3 to form the first version of SLASH.
A few of the items, in particular the wand of enlightenment and ring of gain constitution, were eventually accepted into vanilla NetHack. Meanwhile, in addition to SLASH (which eventually became SLASH'EM with the addition of the Wizard Patch, NetHack brass is a variant of NetHack 3.4.3 that builds on some of the ideas established in NetHack Plus.
Contents
Availability
The last version of NetHack Plus is available at Ali Harlow's web site in two parts:
This version is ported to MS-DOS only, although other ports might be possible to make. There are no known surviving files of earlier versions.
The last released version of NetHack Plus is based mainly on NetHack 3.1.3, though many of the dungeon description files are closer to those in NetHack 3.1.0.
Significant changes
NetHack Plus adds new roles, objects, and monsters to NetHack 3.1.3, and adds the black market to the dungeon.
The adventurer
The player may choose from these roles, in addition to those present in NetHack 3.1.3:
| Role | Alignment | Initial pet |
|---|---|---|
| Doppelganger | Neutral | little dog or kitten |
| Flame Mage | Neutral | baby red dragon |
| Ice Mage | Neutral | baby white dragon |
| Lycanthrope | Chaotic | wolf |
| Monk | Neutral | little dog or kitten |
| Undead Slayer | Lawful | little dog or kitten |
Barbarians are changed from neutral to chaotic, and Elves are changed from chaotic to lawful.
All classes permit male and female adventurers, except the Valkyrie which must be female.
The adventurer has experience, hit points, magical energy, armor class, alignment, and the six major attributes. They may advance to experience level 30.
Dungeon features
The dungeon is similar to that of NetHack 3.1.3, with the addition of the black market - it can be found anywhere from 1 to 3 levels above the Castle, and is accessed by a magic portal.
The requirements to win the game are the same as in NetHack 3.1.3.
Special rooms are the same as in NetHack 3.1.3. There is one additional type of shop: a pet shop.
Special dungeon features are the same as in NetHack 3.1.3, except that the water weird fountain is added if WWEIRD is defined at compile time.
NetHack Plus defines no traps that are not present in NetHack 3.1.3.
Bestiary
In addition to those found in NetHack 3.1, NetHack Plus defines the following monsters, most of which are related to the new roles:
| Name | Symbol | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| deep dragon | D | No breath weapon; attack is drain life |
| water weird | E | if WWEIRD defined at compile time |
| black marketeer | @ | if BLACKMARKET defined at compile time |
| doppelganger | @ | |
| flame mage | @ | |
| ice mage | @ | |
| lycanthrope | @ | |
| monk | @ | |
| undead slayer | @ | |
| Master Shifter | @ | Doppelganger quest leader |
| High Flame Mage | @ | Flame Mage quest leader |
| High Ice Mage | @ | Ice Mage quest leader |
| High Lycanthrope | @ | Lycanthrope quest leader |
| Grand Master | @ | Monk quest leader |
| Master Slayer | @ | Undead Slayer quest leader |
| Transmuter | @ | Doppelganger quest nemesis |
| Water Mage | @ | Flame Mage quest nemesis |
| Earth Mage | @ | Ice Mage quest nemesis |
| Sir Lorimar | @ | Lycanthrope quest nemesis |
| Master Kaen | @ | Monk quest nemesis |
| Master Vecna | L | Undead Slayer quest nemesis |
| shifter | @ | Doppelganger quest guardian |
| igniter | @ | Flame Mage quest guardian |
| froster | @ | Ice Mage quest guardian |
| fiend | @ | Lycanthrope quest guardian |
| intern | @ | function unknown |
| abbot | @ | Monk quest guardian |
| exterminater [sic] | @ | Undead Slayer quest guardian |
Objects
Objects listed here are in addition to those in NetHack 3.1.3.
Artifacts
Some artifacts have different properties from NetHack 3.1.3, and Giantslayer is not present. Artifacts new to NetHack Plus are in boldface.
| Name | Object | Alignment | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaver | battle-axe | Chaotic | Barbarian | Neutral in 3.1.3 |
| Serpents Tongue [sic] | dagger | Chaotic | ||
| Grimtooth | orcish dagger | Chaotic | ||
| Doomblade | orcish short sword | Chaotic | ||
| Elfrist | orcish spear | None | ||
| Stormbringer | runesword | Chaotic | ||
| Thiefbane | long sword | Chaotic | if BLACKMARKET defined at compile time | |
| Disrupter | mace | Neutral | Priest | |
| Luckblade | short sword | Neutral | ||
| Mjollnir | heavy hammer | Neutral | Valkyrie | A war hammer in 3.1.3 |
| Magicbane | athame | Neutral | Wizard | |
| Frost Brand | long sword | Neutral | Ice Mage | No role in 3.1.3 |
| Fire Brand | long sword | Neutral | Fire Mage | No role in 3.1.3 |
| Dragonbane | broadsword | None | Neutral in 3.1.3 | |
| Sword of Balance | silver short sword | Neutral | ||
| Giantkiller | dwarvish mattock | None | A long sword named Giantslayer in 3.1.3 | |
| Vorpal Blade | long sword | Neutral | ||
| Grayswandir | silver saber | Lawful | ||
| Skullcrusher | club | Lawful | Caveman | |
| Quick Blade | elven short sword | Lawful | Elf | |
| Fire Dagger | dagger | Lawful | Healer | |
| Excalibur | long sword | Lawful | Knight | |
| Sunsword | long sword | Lawful | Priest | |
| Snickersnee | katana | Lawful | Samurai | |
| Demonbane | long sword | None | Lawful in 3.1.3 | |
| Werebane | silver saber | None | Lawful in 3.1.3 | |
| Trollsbane | morning star | None | Chaotic in 3.1.3 | |
| Ogresmasher | war hammer | None | Lawful in 3.1.3 | |
| Orcrist | elven broadsword | None | Chaotic and Elf in 3.1.3 | |
| Sting | elven dagger | None | Damages spiders rather than orcs; chaotic in 3.1.3 | |
| Holy Spear of Light | silver spear | Lawful | Undead Slayer | |
| Gauntlets of Defense | gauntlets of dexterity | Neutral | Monk |
The following are quest artifacts that appear only if MULDGN is defined at compile time.
Amulets
All amulets appear as ". NetHack Plus defines no amulets not present in NetHack 3.1.3.
Food
NetHack Plus adds one new food item to the list of those present in NetHack 3.1.3:
| Name | Symbol | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| holy wafer | % |
Weapons
Weapons in NetHack Plus are those present in NetHack 3.1.3, and the following:
| Name | Symbol | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| silver spear | ) | |
| silver dagger | ) | |
| axe of throwing | ) | |
| silver long sword | ) | |
| heavy hammer | ) | |
| silver mace | ) |
Tools
Tools in NetHack Plus are those in NetHack 3.1.3, and the following:
| Name | Symbol | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| magic candle | ( | |
| orb of enchantment | ( | |
| orb of charging | ( | |
| orb of destruction | ( | |
| medical kit | ( |
Armor
Armor items in NetHack Plus are those present in NetHack 3.1.3, plus the following:
| Name | Symbol | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| deep dragon scale mail | [ | |
| deep dragon scales | [ | |
| robe | [[[[ | |
| robe of protection | [[[[ | |
| robe of power | [[[[ | |
| robe of weakness | [[[[ | |
| bracers of defense | [ | |
| bracers of absorption | [ | |
| crystal shield | [ |
Potions
Potions in NetHack Plus have randomized appearances (except for water), occurring as one of ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !.
NetHack Plus defines no potions that are not present in NetHack 3.1.3.
Scrolls
All scrolls appear as ?.
NetHack Plus defines no scrolls that are not present in NetHack 3.1.3.
Wands
Wands in NetHack Plus have randomized appearances, occurring as one of / / / / / /. Additionally, one new wand is introduced alongside the wands present in NetHack 3.1.3:
Spellbooks
Spellbooks in NetHack Plus have randomized appearances (except for blank paper and the Book of the Dead), occurring as one of + + + + + + + + + + + + + +. In addition to the ones in NetHack 3.1.3, new spellbooks are introduced:
- spellbook of resist poison
- spellbook of resist sleep
- spellbook of know enchantment
- spellbook of endure heat
- spellbook of endure cold
- spellbook of insolate [sic]
- spellbook of enlighten
- spellbook of enchant weapon
- spellbook of enchant armor
It should be noted here that spells in NetHack Plus (as in NetHack 3.1.3) work rather like wands, having a limited number of charges per read of a spellbook, and that spellbooks can only be read once. Many of these spells, among them enlighten, enchant armor, and enchant weapon, would be unbalancing if combined with the modern spellcasting system.
Rings
Rings in NetHack Plus have randomized appearances, occurring as one of = = = = = = = = = = = =. They are, in addition to those in NetHack 3.1.3:
Stones
Stones in NetHack Plus are, in addition to those in NetHack 3.1.3:
| Name | Symbol | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| stone of health | * | |
| stone of rotting | * |
