Ring of protection from shape changers
A ring of protection from shape changers is a type of ring that appears in NetHack.
Contents
Generation
Wizards may be given a ring of protection from shape changers as one of the two random rings in their starting inventory.[1]
General stores and jewelers shops can sell rings of protection from shape changers.
Description
A hero putting on a ring of protection from shape changers gains protection from shape changers as an extrinsic property, which causes most shape changers and other similar monsters to lose their shifting ability while the ring is worn:[2][3]
- Chameleons, doppelgangers, sandestins, and vampires will be forced to their base form, become vulnerable to being polymorphed completely into another monster, and may suffer system shock as a result as with polymorphing other monsters.
- Werecreatures will similarly be forced into their human form a majority of the time, and are still capable of shifting to animal form, but will shift back to human form on their next turn[4][5]—they also cannot summon help or infect the hero with lycanthropy.[6][7][8]
- Mimics are de-cloaked and cannot disguise themselves.
- Monsters with a digestion attack will not polymorph when swallowing a shape changer whole.
Monsters will not wear this ring.
A hero eating the ring has a 1⁄3 chance of successfully absorbing its magic and gaining protection from shape changers as an intrinsic.[9][10]
Strategy
An early ring of protection from shape changers can be valuable against werecreatures: though they can still assume their animal forms, they are reliably prevented from infecting you or summoning help, which can be especially dangerous when done by werewolves. The ring will also reliably prevent other shape changers from chameleons and doppelgangers from shifting, which prevents them taking on out-of-depth forms like the arch-lich that can possibly end your game in an instant.
Pet keepers may be particularly interested in a ring of protection from shape changers: pet vampires have a tendency to shift to vampire bat or fog cloud form and drop any armor and other items you have given them, and vampire lords (as well as Vlad the Impaler) can break torso armor by shapeshifting into wolves. The ring of protection from shape changers will keep them in their humanoid form, which is also their best one for combat even without factoring in armor, though they cannot revive if killed as they would from their other forms. Pets with digestion attacks such as purple worms will also not polymorph if they use those attacks to swallow a chameleon or doppelganger whole while you are wearing the ring, though they will still polymorph from eating their corpses normally.
A Rogue embarking on their Quest will likely want an identified ring to trivialize hunting down the many chameleons on each floor.
The following information pertains to an upcoming version (3.7.0). If this version is now released, please verify that the information below is still accurate, then update the page to incorporate it.
Pets will no longer eat shapeshifter corpses unless they are starving or on the verge of untaming.Identification
A non-cursed 100zm ring can be informally tested for protection from shape changers by putting it on while around known shapeshifters, e.g. mimics in a shop or on the top level of Sokoban, whom the ring will uncloak immediately.
History
The ring of protection from shape-changers appears in Hack for PDP-11, which is based on Jay Fenlason's Hack, and is included in the initial item list for Hack 1.0.
Messages
- The sink looks nothing like a fountain.
- You dropped a ring of protection from shape changers into a sink.
Variants
SLASH'EM
In SLASH'EM, Flame Mages, Ice Mages and Necromancers may be given a ring of protection from shape changers as the random ring in their starting inventory.[11][12][13]
Changes to polymorph mechanics and the introduction of new werecreatures make the ring of protection from shape changers much more valuable. Shapeshifted monsters that are killed return to the form they were first generated in, and both werecreatures and other shape changers like chameleons are wont to shapeshift again before you can kill them in their base form: putting on the ring stops them from changing shape and ensures that a kill sticks.
dNetHack
In dNetHack, a ring of protection from shape changers can be used to repair the self-bored lens of an imperial elven helm, granting protection from shape changers while the helm is worn.
notdNetHack
In notdNetHack and notnotdNetHack, in addtion to dNetHack details, yuki-onna Madwomen start the game with a worn cursed ring of protection from shape changers: the property blocks the ability of yuki-onna heroes to polymorph into snow clouds, which would otherwise allow the Madwoman to easily remove her straitjacket at the start of the game.
SlashTHEM
In SlashTHEM, in addition to SlashTHEM details, Acid Mages, Corsairs, Electric Mages, Nobles, and Pirates may be given a ring of protection from shape changers as the random ring in their starting inventory.
References
- ↑ src/u_init.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 165
- ↑ src/do_wear.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 985
- ↑ src/do_wear.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 1103
- ↑ src/mhitu.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 600: chance of changing to animal form when attacking
- ↑ src/were.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 38: changing back to human form always occurs if protection from shape changers is active
- ↑ src/were.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 137: summoning help checks for protection from shape changers
- ↑ src/mhitu.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 600: chance of changing to animal form when attacking
- ↑ src/mhitu.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 1310: lycanthropy cannot occur with with protection from shape changers active
- ↑ src/eat.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 1959
- ↑ src/eat.c in NetHack 3.6.7, line 1990
- ↑ u_init.c in SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2, line 69
- ↑ u_init.c in SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2, line 99
- ↑ u_init.c in SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2, line 136
