DynaHack

A NetHack variant with randomized equipment, new items, new monsters, new maps, new challenges and an advanced ASCII interface.

What is DynaHack?

DynaHack is a variant of NetHack that aims to modernize core aspects of its gameplay and interface. It merges the new content and gameplay refinements of UnNetHack with the interface changes of NitroHack, along with the randomized equipment from GruntHack (e.g. you can find a "short sword of fire" or "speed boots of stealth") and a broad mixture of minor improvements to many other aspects of the game.

In NetHack, though the maps, items and monsters you encounter always change, the tactics and strategies are always the same; DynaHack was created as a response to this phenomenon. The philosophy behind many design choices in DynaHack are less stashing, backtracking and repetition, and more player experimentation and exploration.

Interface Changes

DynaHack makes better use of larger terminal sizes, showing a multi-line message box and inventory sidebar.

Unlike NetHack, options in DynaHack are set with an in-game menu, and changes are saved automatically.

Other interface changes include:

Some interface changes provide more information than in NetHack:

Several changes have been made to make the game more convenient to play:

For those used to playing on NAO, automatic travel can target stairs even when covered, stops when becoming hungry or enemies come into view, routes around peacefuls and even works in Sokoban.

Autopickup in DynaHack is much smarter than in NetHack thanks to the new autopickup rules system, offering fine-grained control over what it picks up or leaves. Autopickup in DynaHack also leaves dropped items alone, and grabs thrown and fired items.

Item class filters (e.g. when pressing D to drop multiple items) are smarter: choosing cursed and armor will match only cursed armor, unlike NetHack which shows all cursed items mixed with all armor.

DynaHack allows all controls to be remapped, which is especially useful for people with QWERTZ keyboards.

New Content

DynaHack was originally a merge of UnNetHack's gameplay with NitroHack as its base, so all of this new content sources from UnNetHack 4.1.1:

New Challenges

Wishing in DynaHack is divided into magical and non-magical items, like in UnNetHack. Only wands of wishing can grant wishes for magical items, while every other source can only provide non-magical items, such as shields of reflection and dragon scales (but not dragon scale mail). Unlike NetHack, wands of wishing cannot be recharged.

Like UnNetHack, dragons in DynaHack are given random names and colors every game, thwarting attempts to wish for optimal varieties of dragon scale mail early. Dragon armors are also heavier and grant less AC than in NetHack.

DynaHack introduces color alchemy from UnNetHack, meaning that potions will mix by their colors instead of by their type, e.g. mixing red and yellow potions makes orange potions. This thwarts powerful alchemy combinations present in NetHack, but adds variety across games and can lead to interesting combinations.

With its roots in UnNetHack, DynaHack also adds these new challenges:

DynaHack addresses two forms of farming in NetHack: pudding farming and throne farming. Both of these are still possible in limited forms, but as in UnNetHack, puddings no longer split forever or drop items when killed. Thrones take time to loot and may disappear in the process.

More Fairness

DynaHack reduces the punishments for hazards players cannot or do not expect to have to defend themselves against:

DynaHack also reduces the spoiler advantage that long-time NetHack players have over novices by providing a newer and more informative database of item descriptions from NetHack4 and detailed monster descriptions from UnNetHackPlus (press / and target a monster with ;, or enter its name).

More Variety

DynaHack can generate randomized equipment: weapons, armor, rings and amulets with magical properties that freely mix and match with their base items. Some examples:

Twenty different magical powers can inhabit an item marked "magical"; see what you can find!

DynaHack encourages more weapon variety. Weapons may reveal their enchantment when used, based on skill and race. Weapon skills also cross-train, accelerating the training of related skills, allowing playesr to experiment with skills early without having to fully commit to them into the late game. The weapon skill groups are:

Some weapon skills (not listed above) belong to more than one group:

DynaHack introduces the new heavyshot mechanic, complementing multishot. Certain fired or thrown weapons, rather than launching multiple volleys, will instead launch a single volley that inflicts mulitplied damage. This makes crossbows more interesting than being merely heavier bows with rare ammo, and also applies to shuriken, spears, javelins and boomerangs. Spears of matching race and javelins (for everybody) receive a bonus multiplier when thrown.

Ranged combat is enhanced in DynaHack. Items, especially ammo, stacks much more readily than in NetHack. Further, switching main and alternate weapons with x no longer costs a turn, making launchers more viable.

DynaHack differentiates roles further than NetHack by improving their quest artifact. The quest artifact cannot be stolen by the Wizard of Yendor in DynaHack, making it a reliable source of resistances. It also grants magic resistance when carried by their role, giving most characters a good reason to make use of their unique powers.

DynaHack reduces incentives to stash and backtrack: