Runesword (dNetHack)
) 
| |
|---|---|
| Name | runesword |
| Appearance | runed black blade |
| Damage vs. small | 1d10+1 |
| Damage vs. large | 1d10+1d4 |
| Damage type | slashing |
| To-hit bonus | +0 |
| Weapon skill | broadsword |
| Expert traits | graze |
| Primary attribute | strength |
| Magical item? | no |
| Properties |
|
| Base size | large |
| Base price | 300 zm (+10/positive enchant) |
| Default weight | 40 |
| Base material | iron |
In dNetHack, notdNetHack and notnotdNetHack, the runesword is significantly altered from its appearance in NetHack. It is a large melee weapon, making it one-handed for a medium-sized wielder, and uses the broadsword skill as it does in NetHack. It has a base material of iron, and appears as a runed black blade when unidentified (or as simply a runed blade if the hero is blind).
The runesword is the base item for three artifacts:
- Stormbringer, the default crowning gift for a chaotic hero
- Malice, the first sacrifice gift for chaotic human Kensei
- Aryfaern Kerym, the crowning gift for neutral elven Nobles, Priests, Rangers, and Wizards
Generation
Barbarians, Kensei, Knights, Samurai, and Valkyries start the game with knowledge of the runesword's appearance.
Runeswords are not randomly generated, though they can be wished for or found in bones.
The artifacts Fire Brand and Frost Brand can only be wished for by or gifted in runesword form to a chaotic human Kensei, and only chaotic human Kensei can reshape the Brands into runeswords by dipping the chosen artifact into a forge or fountain respectively—this reshaping requires the hero to either have a runesword in their inventory or be at least Skilled in broadswords.
A cursed +3 runesword is generated on the Chaos Temple Quest, where it is placed within a chest in the southeast portion of the Ruined Temple area during level creation.
Several monsters can be generated with runeswords.
- Doom knights are always generated with a runesword that has a cumulative 1⁄40 chance of being given an object property: a 1⁄80 chance of the desecrated property, a 1⁄160 chance of the unholy property, and a 1⁄160 chance of the life-drinking property.
- Garland is always generated with a runesword. If Garland transforms into Chaos while Kary, the Fiend of Fire is still alive, he will also be given four +4 runeswords that each have the red-hot property upon transforming.
- Mariliths that are generated in Gehennom or slated for good equipment have a 1⁄3 chance of being given a runesword as their third of six weapons.
- Death knights that are generated outside of the future (i.e. the Anachrononaut quest and Android quest) are always generated with a runesword.
- Player monsters generated on the Astral Plane have a 1⁄20 chance of their melee weapon being made into a runesword.
Description
Runeswords inflict slashing damage, dealing 1d10+1d4 damage against small monsters and 1d10+1 against large monsters. A Knight or any hero with the spirit Naberius bound can utilize the runic style knightly stance. Any hero wielding a runesword while they are at Skilled or better in broadswords will gain the "graze" expert trait.
In terms of monster weapon preference, monsters will prefer the runesword to a battle-axe, and they will prefer a church blade, a silverknight scythe (if they can use polearms) or better to the runesword.
Encyclopedia entry
Runes are an intensely magical form of writing. Anything
written in Runes is going to be a Spell.
[...]
6. Written on Rings and Swords. These Runes always
make words and nearly always mean trouble. Avoid any
artifact with Runes on it, even if the Runes prove only to
spell the maker's name.
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