Workbench

In dNetHack, notdNetHack and notnotdNetHack, a workbench or workbench-altar is an altar aligned to one of the three gods of the Undead Hunter pantheon: The College, The Choir or Defilement. Unlike altars, they do not reveal the beatitude of any items dropped on them, nor can they be used to directly interact with any of the three gods through sacrifice or prayer, including holy and unholy water prayers as well as crowning. Vampires will still be scared and flee if a character stands on a workbench. Attempting to engrave a message or ward on a workbench is treated as if it were a floor square, and kicking a workbench, while it may strain a leg, has no effect otherwise. They remain indestructible through normal means, and are still treated as altars aligned to their respective gods. Temples which would house an aligned priest will instead be treated as if they were a regular room, with no priest being generated.

Instead, Undead Hunters can use workbenches to perform research to advance in one or all three of the philosophies, depending on what research thoughts are currently slotted and active.

Messages

You need a workbench.
Your fellows disguse them as holy altars, to obscure the true nature of the Work

You attempted to perform research while not standing on a workbench to the philosophies.

This is an actual holy altar and thus unsuitable for your use.

You attempted to perform research or apply a dissection kit on a non-Undead Hunter pantheon altar.

You attempt to adapt the workbench's hidden tools to better suit your own line of research.

You tried to convert an altar of one of the philosophies to your alignment.

You need a workbench

You attempted to apply a worm gnawed skull while not standing on an altar to the philosophies.

Use your <tool> while standing at a workbench-altar to <philosophy>.

Hint given in the self-inspect menu when a new upgrade for one of the philosophies can be obtained.

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