Potion of blindness
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| |
|---|---|
| Name | blindness |
| Appearance | random |
| Base price | 150 zm |
| Weight | 20 |
| Monster use | May be used offensively by monsters. |
A potion of blindness is a type of magical potion that appears in NetHack. The default randomized appearance associated with the potion is a "yellow potion".[1]\
Contents
Generation
Wizards may be given a potion of blindness as any of the three random potions in their starting inventory.[2]
Potions of blindness make up 1⁄25 (4%) of all randomly generated potions. General stores and liquor emporiums can sell potions of blindness.
Randomly created monsters may be generated with a potion of blindness as a offensive item.[3]
Description
A hero quaffing a potion of blindness will auto-identify the potion and become blind for a duration dependent on its beatitude:[4] a blessed potion blinds the hero for 125-324 turns, an uncursed potion blinds the hero for 250-449 turns, and a cursed potion blinds the hero for 375-574 turns. Quaffing the potion has no effect if the hero is already temporary blind from a similar source (i.e., not from a worn blindfold or towel).
Monsters that have eyes and are hit with a potion of blindness will be blinded for 64-127 turns if they are not already blind.[5] A hero hit by a thrown potion of blindness or subjected to its vapors will become blind for up to 5 turns if they are not already blind[6]—monsters will use the potion offensively, and hostile ones will throw them at the hero for the same effect.
Dipping a unicorn horn into a potion of blindness will produce an uncursed potion of water.[7]
Mixing one of a potion of healing, extra healing, or full healing with a potion of blindness will produce uncursed water.
Strategy
Blindness from the potion is troublesome to deal with, especially if it was quaffed while unidentified or else the hero does not yet have intrinsic telepathy—potions thrown at the hero will not blind them for too long, though they must be careful not to attack peaceful monsters or pets until the condition is cured. Fortunately, blindness has several cures, including healing and extra healing potions (which are somewhat dependent on beatitude). The potion is not that useful for the hero themselves, since it can only blind one monster per potion and must hit successfully: various items such as the wand of lightning and expensive camera are much better for blinding monsters and provide additional benefits (e.g. damage for lightning, or scaring for the camera).
A hero that needs to blind themselves temporarily (e.g. to block gaze attacks, use intrinsic telepathy or even deal with Medusa) may consider using the potion in a pinch, though once they obtain a blindfold or towel, they can blind themselves at will and have no use for the potion. A unicorn horn can easily cure blindness and turn potions of blindness into water.
History
The potion of blindness first appears in Hack 1.21, Hack for PDP-11 and PC/IX Hack, which are all based on Jay Fenlason's Hack. It is included in the initial item list for Hack 1.0.
In NetHack 3.4.3 and some earlier versions, including variants based on those versions, wielding a potion of blindness in the main hand or offhand blocked the blinding attacks of Archons and yellow lights. This is bug C343-335, and is fixed in NetHack 3.6.0.
Messages
- A cloud of darkness falls upon you.
- You became blind by quaffing the potion.
- It suddenly gets dark.
- You were blinded by the thrown potion.
Variants
SLASH'EM
In SLASH'EM, Healers start the game with knowledge of the potion of blindness's appearance.[8] Flame Mages, Ice Mages and Necromancers may be given a potion of blindness as any of the random potions in their starting inventories.[9][10][11]
The Lawful Quest has a 2⁄5 chance of generating a cursed potion of hallucination among the items found within the Chamber of Junk at level creation.
UnNetHack
In UnNetHack, weeping angels and weeping archangels have a 1⁄3 chance of generating with a potion of blindness.
References
- Jump up ↑ src/objects.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 796
- Jump up ↑ src/u_init.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 166
- Jump up ↑ src/muse.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 1598
- Jump up ↑ src/potion.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 953
- Jump up ↑ src/potion.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 1499
- Jump up ↑ src/potion.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 1742
- Jump up ↑ src/potion.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 1822
- Jump up ↑ u_init.c in SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2, line 1076
- Jump up ↑ u_init.c in SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2, line 66
- Jump up ↑ u_init.c in SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2, line 96
- Jump up ↑ u_init.c in SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2, line 137
