dNetHack

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Revision as of 20:58, 27 January 2021 by Umbire the Phantom (talk | contribs)

dNetHack is a NetHack variant created by ChrisANG (also known as simply "Chris"). Originating as a variant of NetHack 3.4.3, dNetHack has come into an identity of its own much like other variants - it draws from the source material of the older Dungeons & Dragons editions, similar to EvilHack, but does so to a much greater extent that also leans heavier into the Fantasy Kitchen Sink aspects of the original NetHack.

dNetHack's initial main goals are as follows:

  1. Increase the selection of artifacts.
  2. Implement new monsters.
  3. Re-organize and expand the dungeon.
  4. Revamp existing roles and items.
  5. Re-balance armors to make more choices viable in the late game.
  6. Replace the Elbereth mechanic with a warding sign system.

dNetHack can be played online at Hardfought or ASCRUN; the latest version available for play is 3.20.0 (found on Hardfought) as of December 28, 2020. The github for the game can be found here.

Tropes used in DNetHack include:


  • Acquired Poison Immunity: Changed from the original - intrinsics from corpses are still binary ("on" or "off"), but now time out after up to 5000 turns, and players can potentially gain multiple such intrinsics from a single corpse that offers more than one.
  • Anachronism Stew: Invoked with the Tourist, who is the only role allowed to wish for anachronistic items such as lightsabers.
  • An Ice Person: Yuki-onna are one of the new playable races.
  • Cap: Various caps within the game are altered.
  • Cold Iron: Elves' hatred of iron causes them to take extra damage and slows their Regenerating Health.
  • Everything's Better With Dinosaurs
  • Game Mod
  • Half-Human Hybrid: Half-dragons are a playable race, and even come with their own breath weapon (randomly selected at generation).
  • Laser-Guided Amnesia: Nerfed in comparison to NetHack, as it no longer applies to item identities.
  • Mission Pack Variant: Of a sort. The basic plot and goals are the same, but there's far more to do in comparison to the original NetHack.
  • Pirate: One of the new playable roles integrated from a popular NetHack patch into the base game of dNetHack.
  • Plot Coupons: Some new ones are added in the alignment keys.
  • Required Secondary Powers:
    • Half-dragon characters are immune to damage from the element of their breath weapon.
  • Sanity Meter: A heavily-detailed sanity system is one of dNetHack's 'signature' major changes.
  • Sidequests: Many are altered, and new ones are added.
    • Sokoban: The branch now uses stone crates instead of boulders, making it more in the spirit of the original game; random food items are removed, as the crates will now release food if pushed into a hole (or if broken by other means, though this incurs a Luck penalty).