Ring of invisibility
A ring of invisibility is a type of ring that appears in NetHack.
Contents
Generation
Wizards may be given a ring of invisibility as one of the two random rings in their starting inventory.[1]
General stores and jewelers shops can sell rings of invisibility.
Nazgul will always generate with a cursed ring of invisibility.[2]
Description
Putting on a ring of invisibility grants extrinsic invisibility for as long as it is worn, and a hero putting on or taking off the ring will auto-identify it if they can see themselves and do not have another source of invisibility active. Monsters will not wear this ring.
A hero Eating the ring has a 1⁄3 chance of absorbing its magic and gaining permanent intrinsic invisibility, which also auto-identifies the ring if the hero is not blind, cannot see invisible and does not have invisibility from another source.[3][4]
Strategy
A ring of invisibility tends to be most useful early on, where most hostile monsters will lack see invisible: as a hero becomes more adept at combat while developing and identifying their kit, the ring becomes more of a convenience saved for specific combat encounters, though it can be superseded by potions of invisibility that are non-blessed. A hero that wants permanent invisibility and has a mummy wrapping or two to spare will usually elect for a blessed potion of invisibility or a wand of make invisible over the ring to keep their equipment slots open.
The ring of invisibility can still be useful to obtain permanent see invisible from stalker corpses, and can also be useful for killing shopkeepers that you plan to rob by taking advantage of their movement patterns.
History
The ring of invisibility first appears in NetHack 3.0.0.
Origin
While they are staples of modern fantasy works and other fiction, rings granting invisibility are found in stories dating as far back as the medieval era. Notably, one is given to the titular character in Chrétien de Troyes' 12th century Arthurian romance Yvain, the Knight of the Lion; one is also found by Geraint (whose story would later also be integrated into Arthurian legend) in the Mabinogion, a collection of Welsh tales compiled in the 12th and 13th centuries.
The rings of invisibility found on the Nazgul are intended to represent the Rings of Power that they possessed. Used by Sauron to bind the Nazgul to his will, these rings do indeed grant them invisibility, although curiously they do not seem to render their clothing invisible, unlike the One Ring when worn by Frodo and Bilbo.
Messages
- You don't see anything happen to the sink.
- You dropped a ring of invisibility down a sink.
Variants
SLASH'EM
In SLASH'EM, Flame Mages, Ice Mages and Necromancers may be given a ring of invisibility as the random ring in their starting inventory.[5][6][7] Hobbit heroes that start in roles with random rings will never be given a ring of invisibility.[8]
In ancestral and older versions, the One Ring appears as an artifact ring of invisibility that serves as the Hobbit quest artifact, and is guarded by Gollum on the Hobbit quest. The One Ring grants drain resistance, half spell damage and warning while carried, and invoking The One Ring toggles conflict.
dNetHack
In dNetHack, notdNetHack and notnotdNetHack, a ring of invisibility can be used to repair the active camouflage system of imperial elven body armor, allowing it to grant invisibility while worn.
SlashTHEM
In SlashTHEM, the One Ring is present in the game's data as a deferred feature from SLASH'EM and slated for future use. All other SLASH'EM details apply as well.
Encyclopedia entry
"When time came for the shepherds to hold their customary
assembly in order to prepare their monthly report to the king
about the state of the flocks, he came too, wearing this ring.
While he was sitting with the others, it chanced that he moved
the collet of the ring around toward himself into the inside of
his hand; having done this, he disappeared from the sight of
those who were sitting beside him, and they discussed of him as
of someone who had left. And he wondered and once again feeling
for the ring, he turned the collet outwards and, by turning it,
reappeared. Reflecting upon this, he put the ring to the test
to see if it indeed had such power, and he came to this
conclusion that, by turning the collet inwards, he became
invisible, outwards, visible. Having perceived this, he at
once managed for himself to become one of the envoys to the
king; upon arrival, having seduced his wife, with her help,
he laid a hand on the king, murdered him and took hold of the
leadership."
References
- Jump up ↑ src/u_init.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 165
- Jump up ↑ src/makemon.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 722
- Jump up ↑ src/eat.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 1959
- Jump up ↑ src/eat.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 1981
- Jump up ↑ u_init.c in SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2, line 69
- Jump up ↑ u_init.c in SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2, line 99
- Jump up ↑ u_init.c in SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2, line 136
- Jump up ↑ u_init.c in SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2, line 1532
