NETHACK QUICK START


	Nethack has a whole bunch of commands.  The fastest way to learn
them is just to play.  Start a game now and see how long it takes you
to get killed.  (The record is zero turns.)

	That 'd', 'f', or 'u' is your pet dog, cat, or pony. 


	A few commands to get you (barely) started:

   o  To check your inventory, use 'i'.

   o  To open a door or chest, use 'o'.  If it's locked, stand beside
      it and kick it open with Ctrl-D.

   o  ',' to pick something up, or 'D' to drop stuff.

   o  To learn what something is, use '/', move the cursor, and '.'.


	When you see something new, look at Appendix 1.  It lists
commands you can use on stuff like '<' (staircase up) and '!' 
(potion).

	To learn more about a command, use '?' (or see the Guidebook).


Suggestions:

   o  You automatically pick up stuff you move onto.  This quickly loads
      you down.  Fix:  go into the options with 'O'.  Near the end, 
      there's a 'pickup_type' option.  Select that.  Turn off everything 
      except gold.

   o  "Tiles" replace all the letters and symbols with little pictures.
      Edit your defaults file (defaults.nh for DOS or Windows; Something-
      OrOther.rc for *nix) to enable tiles.  For me, the normal tiles are
      too small to make out; ask on rec.games.roguelike.nethack for where
      to get bigger tiles.

   o  Once you get rolling, check out the guidebook.  Especially #enhance
      and #pray!




		APPENDIX 1:  STUFF AND THE COMMANDS FOR THEM


Notes:

   o  These are only the obvious commands.

   o  '#' lets you enter a complete word as a command.

   o  Some non-PCs use a special key as their ALT key.  e.g.:  Apples
      have a key with an apple on it.



             TERRAIN

-  |     Wall or open door  'c' close  's' search for secret doors
#        Corridor
|        Grave 
+        Closed door        'o' open  Ctrl-D to kick open
.        Floor              'E' engrave  'E-' engrave with your finger
>        Stairs down        '>' to go down
<        Stairs up          '<' to go up
^        Trap               #untrap
#        Sink               'q' quaff   #dip
{        Fountain           'q' quaff   #dip
}        Water or lava
_        Altar              #offer
\        Throne             #sit
         Shops              'p' to pay  'd' drop to sell stuff



             OBJECTS

$        Gold
)        Weapon     'w' wield  'f' fire  't' throw
[        Armor      'W' wear   'T' take off
%        Food       'e' eat
!        Potion     'q' quaff   #dip
?        Scroll     'r' read
+        Spellbook  'r' read    'Z' zap a learned spell
/        Wand       'z' zap it  'z.' zap yourself
=        Ring       'P' put on  'R' remove
"        Amulet     'P' put on  'R' remove
(        Tool       'a' apply (= use the tool)
*        Gem or rock
`        Boulder or statue
0        Iron ball
_        Iron chain