Boolean options not under specific compile flags (with default values in []): (You can learn which options exist in your version by checking your current option setting, which is reached via the 'O' cmd.) autodescribe describe the terrain under cursor [FALSE] autodig dig if moving and wielding digging tool [FALSE] autoopen walking into a door attempts to open it [TRUE] autopickup automatically pick up objects you move over [TRUE] autoquiver when firing with an empty quiver, select some suitable inventory weapon to fill the quiver [FALSE] BIOS allow the use of IBM ROM BIOS calls [FALSE] cmdassist give help for errors on direction & other commands [TRUE] confirm ask before hitting tame or peaceful monsters [TRUE] DECgraphics use DEC/VT line-drawing characters for the dungeon [FALSE] eight_bit_tty send 8-bit characters straight to terminal [FALSE] extmenu use a menu for selecting extended commands (#) [FALSE] fixinv try to retain the same letter for the same object [TRUE] help print all available info when using the / command [TRUE] IBMgraphics use IBM extended characters for the dungeon [FALSE] ignintr ignore interrupt signal, including breaks [FALSE] implicit_uncursed omit "uncursed" from inventory, if possible [TRUE] legacy print introductory message [TRUE] lit_corridor show a dark corridor as lit if in sight [FALSE] lootabc use a/b/c rather than o/i/b when looting [FALSE] menu_overlay overlay menus on the screen and align to right [TRUE] mail enable the mail daemon [TRUE] null allow nulls to be sent to your terminal [TRUE] try turning this option off (forcing NetHack to use its own delay code) if moving objects seem to teleport across rooms perm_invent keep inventory in a permanent window [FALSE] pickup_thrown override pickup_types for thrown objects [TRUE] pushweapon when wielding a new weapon, put your previously wielded weapon into the secondary weapon slot [FALSE] rawio allow the use of raw I/O [FALSE] rest_on_space count the space bar as a rest character [FALSE] safe_pet prevent you from (knowingly) attacking your pet(s) [TRUE] showexp display your accumulated experience points [FALSE] showrace show yourself by your race rather than by role [FALSE] silent don't use your terminal's bell sound [TRUE] sortpack group similar kinds of objects in inventory [TRUE] sound enable messages about what your character hears [TRUE] (note: this has nothing to do with your computer's audio capabilities, and the game resets it periodically) sparkle display sparkly effect for resisted magical [TRUE] attacks (e.g. fire attack on fire-resistant monster) standout use standout mode for --More-- on messages [FALSE] time display elapsed game time, in moves [FALSE] tombstone print tombstone when you die [TRUE] toptenwin print topten in a window rather than stdout [FALSE] travel enable the command to travel to a map location via [TRUE] a shortest-path algorithm, usually invoked by '_'. use_darkgray use bold black instead of blue for black glyphs. [TRUE] use_inverse display detected monsters in highlighted manner [FALSE] verbose print more commentary during the game [TRUE] There are further boolean options controlled by compilation flags. Boolean option if INSURANCE was set at compile time: checkpoint save game state after each level change, for possible [TRUE] recovery after program crash Boolean option if NEWS was set at compile time: news print any news from game administrator on startup [TRUE] Boolean option if MFLOPPY was set at compile time: checkspace check free disk space before writing files to disk [TRUE] Boolean option if SCORE_ON_BOTL was set at compile time: showscore display your approximate accumulated score [FALSE] Boolean options if TEXTCOLOR was set at compile time: color use different colors for objects on screen [TRUE for micros] hilite_pet display pets in a highlighted manner [FALSE] Boolean option if TIMED_DELAY was set at compile time (tty interface only): timed_delay on unix and VMS, use a timer instead of sending extra screen output when attempting to pause for display effect. on MSDOS without the termcap lib, whether or not to pause for visual effect. [TRUE] Boolean option for Amiga, or for others if ALTMETA was set at compile time: altmeta For Amiga, treat Alt+key as Meta+key. [TRUE] altmeta For unix and VMS, treat two character sequence "ESC c" as M-c (Meta+c, 8th bit set) when nethack obtains a command from player's keyboard. [FALSE] Boolean option if USE_TILES was set at compile time (MSDOS protected mode only): preload_tiles control whether tiles get pre-loaded into RAM at the start of the game. Doing so enhances performance of the tile graphics, but uses more memory. [TRUE] Any Boolean option can be negated by prefixing it with a '!' or 'no'. Compound options are written as option_name:option_value. Compound options which can be set during the game are: boulder override the default boulder symbol with another default: [`] disclose the types of information you want offered at the end of the game [ni na nv ng nc no] fruit the name of a fruit you enjoy eating [slime mold] (basically a whimsy which NetHack uses from time to time). menustyle user interface for selection of multiple objects: Traditional -- prompt for classes of interest, then prompt item-by-item for those classes; Combination -- prompt for classes of interest, then use a menu for choosing items; Full -- menu for classes of interest, then item menu; Partial -- skip class filtering, use menu of all items; only the first letter ('T','C','P','F') matters; 'N' (None) is a synonym for 'T', as is boolean style negation [Full] number_pad alphabetic versus numeric control over movement: 0 -- traditional hjkl + yubn movement (default); 1 -- digits control movement, for use with numeric keypad; 2 -- same as 1, but '5' works as 'g' prefix rather than 'G'; 3 -- numeric for phone keypad (1,2,3 above, 7,8,9 below); 4 -- phone keypad (3) combined with MSDOS compatibility (2); -1 -- alphabetic movement but 'z' swapped with 'y'. [0] packorder a list of default symbols for kinds of objects that gives the order in which your pack will be displayed [")[%?+!=/(*`0_] (If you specify only some kinds of items, the others from the default order will be appended to the end.) paranoid_confirmation space separated list of situations where alternate prompting is desired [paranoid_confirmation:pray] Confirm -- when requiring yes, also require no to reject quit -- yes vs y to confirm quitting or to enter explore mode die -- yes vs y to confirm dying (for explore or debug mode) bones -- yes vs y to confirm saving bones data in debug mode attack -- yes vs y to confirm attacking a peaceful monster pray -- y to confirm an attempt to pray; on by default Remove -- always pick from inventory for 'R' and 'T' even when wearing just one applicable item to remove or take off pickup_burden when you pick up an item that exceeds this encumberance level (Unencumbered, Burdened, streSsed, straiNed, overTaxed, or overLoaded), you will be asked if you want to continue. [S] pickup_types a list of default symbols for kinds of objects to autopickup when that option is on [all] pile_limit for feedback when walking across floor objects, threshold at which "there are many objects here" is displayed instead of listing the objects. (0 means "always list objects.") [5] runmode controls how often the map window is updated when performing multi-step movement (various running modes or travel command): teleport -- don't update map until movement stops; run -- periodically update map (interval is seven steps); walk -- update map after every step; crawl -- like walk, but delay after making each step. (This only affects screen display, not actual movement.) [run] scores the parts of the score list you wish to see when the game ends You choose a combination of top scores, scores around the top scores, and all of your own scores. [!own/3 top/2 around] suppress_alert disable various version-specific warnings about changes in game play or the user interface, such as notification given for the 'Q' command that quitting is now done via #quit (e.g., use suppress_alert:3.3.1 to stop that and any other notifications added in that version or earlier) default: [(none)] whatis_coord controls whether to include map coordinates when autodescribe is active for the '/' and ';' commands. Value is the first letter of one of compass -- ('east' or '3s' or '2n,4w') map -- (map column x=0 is not used) screen -- [row,column] (row is offset to match tty usage) none -- no coordinates shown; default: [n] Compound options which may be set only on startup are: align Your starting alignment (align:lawful, align:neutral, or align:chaotic). You may specify just the first letter. [RANDOM] catname the name of your first cat [NONE] dogname the name of your first dog [NONE] gender Your starting gender (gender:male or gender:female). You may specify just the first letter. Although you can still denote your gender using the "male" and "female" options, the "gender" option will take precedence. [RANDOM] horsename the name of your first horse [NONE] menu_* create single character accelerators for menu commands. Below is a list of all commands. Each is followed by a list of window- ports that implement them: 'x' is X11, 't' is tty, 'g' is Gem, 'a' is Amiga. menu_deselect_all deselect all items in a menu [-](gxta) menu_deselect_page deselect all items on this menu page [\](gta) menu_first_page jump to the first page in a menu [^](gta) menu_invert_all invert all items in a menu [@](gxta) menu_invert_page invert all items on this menu page [~](gta) menu_last_page jump to the last page in a menu [|](gta) menu_next_page goto the next menu page [>](gta) menu_previous_page goto the previous menu page [<](gta) menu_search search for a menu item [:](gxta) menu_select_all select all items in a menu [.](gxta) menu_select_page select all items on this menu page [,](gta) msghistory number of top line messages to save [20] name the name of your character [obtained by asking the system or the player] pettype your preferred type of pet (cat or dog), if your character class uses both types; or none for no pet [RANDOM] playmode normal play or non-scoring explore mode or debug mode [normal] race Your starting race (e.g., race:Human, race:Elf). [RANDOM] role Your starting role (e.g., role:Barbarian, role:Valk). Although you can specify just the first letter(s), it will choose only the first role it finds that matches; thus, it is recommended that you spell out as much of the role name as possible. You can also still denote your role by appending it to the "name" option (e.g., name:Vic-V), but the "role" option will take precedence. [RANDOM] windowtype windowing system to be used [depends on operating system] Compound option if TTY_GRAPHICS was set at compile time: msg_window the type of message window to use: single -- One message at a time full -- Full window with all saved top line messages reverse -- Same as full, but messages printed most-recent-first combination -- Two single messages, then as full default: single Some sample options lists are: !autopickup,!tombstone,name:Gandalf,scores:own/3 top/2 around female,nonews,dogname:Rover,rest_on_space,!verbose,menustyle:traditional