Eating a leprechaun gives one a bad case of teleportitis. Just so y’all know.
But as someone mentioned earlier, eating a Tengu (usually) gives one teleport control.
For non spellcasters this is an incredibly wonderful use for those otherwise ignored spell points.
Hell, even for spellcasters, it’s still pretty useful.
(Activated by Ctrl-T, IIRC)
Except for Rock Trolls, I believe. And Water Trolls don’t drown, of course.
Another way to get rid of the buggers is to stuff the corpse into a box or chest.
–
Justin
Ah, forgot to mention this back on cockatrice/statues:
Statues, especially on levels where a cockatrice/Medusa can be found, often contain useful goodies, provided one has the right tool to get at said goodies.
Not a smart move for archeologists, though. Historic statues, an’ such.
Not always. ::sigh:: I need to find another tengu or three.
Might be a smart move for a chaotic barbarian, though, hmmmm? I’ve got TWO pickaxes AND a blessed mattock!
Yep, sounds like it’s time fer some Statue Smitin’![sup]TM[/sup]
Y’know, there are several quite comprehensive NetHack guides online… they don’t take a lot of searching to find.
Many of them assume knowledge that I don’t have. Also, I KNOW the people who post here. I know which ones are fairly trustworthy, and which ones post things that they’ve pulled out of their ass.
I’d heard of nethack before this thread started, but all this discussion got me actually downloading it.
I’ve tried a bunch of professions, but my current rogue orc is a blast with the daggers. They seem to be better than melee.
I tried a tourist and died very very quick. I’ve been keeping the guide webpage open as I play so I can check stuff I don’t know how to do. I made it as far as dungeon level 6 yesterday as a monk, got killed by a white unicorn. Heh.
Never go into a shop while wearing a Hawaiian shirt, at least not where the shopkeeper can see it. You can wear the shirt under your armor, which is a good idea if the shirt has been blessed.
You mean, “if the shirt has been blessed and enchanted to +6,” right? 
Another bit of spoilerish advice.
If one is lucky enough to find both a ring of polymorph control, and a wand of polymorph, neat tricks can be pulled off.
[WonderHack Powers Activate! Shape of a Xorn!]
If you’re polymorphed into something that can eat metal, you can consume certain magic items (rings and amulets) and gain their abilities as intrinsic, without having to lug the things around, and risk having them snatched or ruined in combat.
Only works about half the time, so there’s an element of randomness to it. And only works if the ring you want is actually metallic in that session of Hack.
“Ring of fire resistance? Gulp.
Ring of teleport control? Munch.
Amulet of magical breathing? Gobble.”
Tasty, and it’s good for you too.
Sadly, my ring of polymorph control is a ruby ring, hence, no munchies. And the ring of shock resistance that I ate didn’t take. Off to find another, I guess…
Uh…right, couldn’t remember the whole thing.
Now THAT sounds like FUN. My characters always seem to find nymphs and succubi irresistable. Those monsters can charm the socks (and shoes, and helmets, and…) right off my characters. Unfortunately. I’m a BIG fan of missile weapons in certain circumstances.
And why won’t unicorns stay in my line of fire? How am I supposed to throw gems at them if they won’t hold still? Am I only supposed to throw gems at unicorns of my alignment, or will any color do?
Just keep trying. If you follow a unicorn around long enough, sooner or later you’ll get them in your line of fire long enough to toss a gem at them. The faster you are, the sooner that will happen too.
You can throw gems at unicorns of any alignment, but the results are better with unicorns of the same alignment.
I think the only unicorns that are non-hostile towards you are the ones of your alignment, so you can really only give the gems to them anyhow.
Eh, I’ve had unicorns of opposite alignment come up and attack me, and when I throw a gem at them, they quit the attack and disappear. Sometimes the unicorn graciously accepts my gift, sometimes hesitatingly accepts it. I guess it depends on whether or not I’m throwing a real gem?
I suspect this thread just became dangerous…
::YOINK!::
Don’t worry, Tengu, I let that character die, as Set was very angry at him. And I have no intention of eating a leprechaun again. Unless I’m very hungry, of course.
Lynn - the outcome of tossing a gem at a unicorn (I think) has to do with whether or not it’s a real gem, the your alignment vs the unicorn’s color, and if the gem is cursed, blessed, or neutral. Exactly what the reaction means will require more work (and more characters who actually get deep enough to run onto unicorns).