# Nethack

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nethack/136327>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [November 11, 2002, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nethack/136327 "2002-11-11T22:33:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Masamune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4da419/32.png) [@Masamune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Masamune)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nethack/136327/41 "2002-11-17T18:40:13Z")

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I have to add my two cents. I’ve played the game for 10+ years and never ascended, even when I still savescummed. But I still think I have the best death ever: A chaotic priest, killed by the ghost of Jesus, after converting an alter.

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**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nethack/136327/42 "2002-11-17T21:44:13Z")

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The “ghost” of Jesus?..

What is “Savescummed”?

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**Author:** ![Orbifold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orbifold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orbifold)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nethack/136327/43 "2002-11-17T22:07:52Z")

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“Savescummed” = making backup copies of the \*.sav files in your nethack directory, so that you can replay characters after they’ve died. Many nethackers contend that this practice is either (a) a crutch which hampers your ability to become a better player over time, or (b) cheating, morally repugnant, and possibly fattening. It’s been the subject of many a spirited Usenet debate, with predictable results, i.e. none whatsoever.

Regarding ghosts: they’re a particular type of monster. If you play for long enough you’ll run into ghosts named after various members of the Dev. Team, as well as previous characters.

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**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nethack/136327/44 "2002-11-18T02:23:43Z")

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I think my personal best for a hilarious death is genociding myself. Whoops… forgot what race I was.

I never got any farther than the Gnomish Mines (or whatever) though. I often starve. Granted I only played the game for a few weeks before moving on…

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