Nethack is an ASCII-based adventure game. The goal is to enter the dungeon, recover the Amulet of Yendor, and return to the surface. First released in 1987, this game has stood the test of time: it is robust, humorous, addictive, and very difficult to win.
In the game, you are represented by an @ sign. Here I am entering a shop (the shopkeeper is an @ sign too):
And here is a djinni granting my wish:
As you explore the dungeon, you encounter all sorts of monsters, some friendly, some not. Then the object is to leave the dungeon. Here is a brief description of a recent game I played:
Early in the game, I rubbed a magic lamp and the djinni that appeared granted me a wish (blessed +2 GDSM, thank you very much). I had a close call when I was grabbed by an owlbear and he started squeezing the life out of me--but I got out of that bind with a wand of teleportation. Unfortunately I lost my gauntlets of dexterity when a golden naga made them vanish. Then my pet stepped onto a polymorph trap and turned into a forest centaur--time to saddle up! Past the castle, I entered the labyrinths and defeated the minotaur. With the Amulet in my grasp, I battled a dreaded arch-lich but wielding Magicbane assured I came out on top. Finally, I made my escape--victory was mine!
When you arrive at the location specified by the solution to the puzzle, choose a sword. If you choose wisely, the amulet will soon be yours.
4/30/09 A killer hint is available...inside a game of Nethack! This hint is not required to solve the puzzle. Experienced players should not have a problem; others will need to read up on the commands and perhaps a spoiler or two, and may need several attempts to make it to the clue alive. Interested? Read on.
Copy this zip file of a saved Nethack game to your Nethack directory and unzip the file. Change the filename by replacing "username" with your computer's login id (if you don't know it, start up a game of Nethack and save it, then look at the name of the save file). Then, start up Nethack and say your name is Serrabou--that will load the game in which the hint is hidden.
The hint is engraved on the floor of one of the "turret" rooms of the castle--this is the level on which you will appear ("Elbereth" is also engraved in one of the rooms--that is not the clue!) Your character is very advanced but in a bit of a bind: drunk, hallucinating, blind, levitating, and surrounded by boulders and green slime. Good luck!
Note: the hint game only works with version 3.4.3, so you'll have to find that version to download
You can check your answers for this puzzle on Geochecker.com.
Congratulations to waterfieldusa for making his 1000th cache find here!
After 1 year, 15 finds, 0 DNFs.
After 2 years, 18 finds, 0 DNFs.
After 3 years, 26 finds, 0 DNFs.
After 4 years, 29 finds, 0 DNFs.
After 5 years, 29 finds, 0 DNFs.
After 10 years, 31 finds, 0 DNFs.