Scroll of light
? 
| |
|---|---|
| Name | light |
| Appearance | random |
| Base price | 50 zm |
| Weight | 5 |
| Ink to write | 4–7 |
| Monster use | Will not be used by monsters. |
A scroll of light is a type of scroll that appears in NetHack.
Contents
Description
Reading a noncursed scroll of light will created a radius of permanent light around you—an uncursed scroll creates light in a 5-square radius, while a blessed scroll creates a 9-unit radius of light. Reading a cursed scroll of light instead darkens a 5-square area around you. In either case, the scroll will auto-identify.
Reading the scroll of light while confused will create a radius of darkness corresponding to the scroll's beatitude around you. However, they also have a 1⁄5 chance of summoning a light monster—reading noncursed scrolls while confused can summon a yellow light, while the cursed scroll can summon a black light. The scroll will not auto-identify if it creates a monster.[1]
The following information pertains to an upcoming version (NetHack 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.
Per commit 5d3e237f, Izchak may stock scrolls of light in his shop.
Reading the scroll while confused instead summons multiple tame cancelled lights. An uncursed scroll will summon 3–4 yellow lights; a blessed scroll will summon 5–6 yellow lights; and a cursed scroll will summon 3–4 black lights. Nothing will be summoned if the appropriate type of light is genocided.
Per commit e8341dc9, reading cursed and blessed scrolls of light while not confused may respectively decrease or increase the beatitude status of Sunsword, gold dragon scales, and gold dragon scale mail....xxxxx... Area lit by uncursed scroll |
...xxxxx... Area darkened by cursed scroll |
......xxxxxxx...... Area lit by blessed scroll |
Strategy
While a scroll useful for lighting up a single room, the wand of light and the light spell tend to be more efficient, as is any light source tool. A player that has a consistent source of lighting can reliably save this scroll for blanking.
History
The scroll of light has been present in the game since Hack 1.21, a variant of Jay Fenlason's Hack. The confused reading of a scroll creating a yellow or black light was added in NetHack 3.6.0—variants based on previous versions retain the usual behavior for confused readings, though this is not always the case.
Messages
- A lit field surrounds you!
- You read a blessed or uncursed scroll.
- You are surrounded by darkness!
- You read a cursed scroll, or a scroll of any beatitude while confused.
- Your <light source> goes out!
- You read a cursed scroll or read any scroll of light while confused, and your lit lamp or lantern went out.
- Your <candle>'s flame is extinguished.
- As above, with a candle.
- Suddenly, the only light left comes from Sunsword!
- As above, but you are wielding Sunsword.
The following information pertains to an upcoming version (NetHack 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.
- Lights appear all around you!
- You read the scroll while confused and summoned lights. This auto-identifies the scroll if you can see any of the lights.
- Tiny lights sparkle in the air momentarily.
- You read the scroll while confused, but lights could not be summoned because they are genocided.
- The ambient light seems dimmer.
- You read a cursed scroll of light while not confused. This replaces the Sunsword message above.
Variants
UnNetHack
In UnNetHack, reading a scroll of light while confused has a different effect than reading a cursed scroll. If blessed or uncursed, it will summon 5–10 yellow lights scattered throughout the level. If the scroll is cursed, it will instead summon up to 15 black lights.
xNetHack
In xNetHack, an uncursed scroll of light illuminates a radius of 11 squares rather than 5. A blessed scroll illuminates the entire level, even areas that are not within line of sight. Otherwise, scrolls of light use the same behavior as NetHack 3.7.0.
