Orb of enchantment

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( Crystal ball.png
Name orb of enchantment
Appearance glass orb
Base price 750 zm
Weight 75
Material glass
Monster use Will not be used by monsters.

The orb of enchantment was a tool that appeared in NetHack Plus and SLASH 6. It appeared as a glass orb when unidentified.

In SLASH'EM, the orb is a deferred feature - its code can still be found in the SLASH'EM source, but has been commented out with the note of "potential for abuse".[1][2]

Effects

Applying a charged orb of enchantment alters the enchantment of your primary wielded weapon, somewhat similar to a scroll of enchant weapon; this only works on items in the weapon and weapon-tool class. The effect varies dependent on the orb's beatitude:

  • If blessed, the orb will always attempt to increase the enchantment, with a 50% chance of increasing it by 1 and a 50% chance of increasing it by 2. ("Your <weapon> glows silver").
  • If uncursed, the orb has a 2-in-3 chance of increasing the enchantment by 1 ("Your <weapon> glows bright for a moment"), and a 1-in-3 chance of decreasing it by 1. ("Your <weapon> glows dark for a moment").
  • If cursed, the orb will always attempt to decrease the enchantment, with a 50% chance of decreasing it by 1 and a 50% chance of decreasing it by 2. ("Your <weapon> glows black").

The maximum for enchantment via the orb is +5 - if a weapon that was +4 would have gained 2 points of enchantment, it will cut off at +5, and the orb will have no effect on a +5 weapon.

Nothing will happen when applying an orb of enchantment with no charges.

Strategy

All non-crystal ball glass orbs have a base price of 750 zm and weigh 75 aum, making it somewhat easier to tell an actual crystal ball apart from the other magical orbs. Beyond this, the three non-crystal ball orbs can only be distinguished by identification or use-testing.

Messages

Your <weapon> glows silver.
You applied a blessed orb of enchantment.
Your <weapon> glows bright for a moment.
You applied an uncursed orb of enchantment, and it increased your weapon's enchantment.
Your <weapon> glows dark for a moment.
You applied an uncursed orb of enchantment, and it decreased your weapon's enchantment.
Your <weapon> glows black.
You applied a cursed orb of enchantment.
This orb is burnt out.
The orb of enchantment had no charges.

References