NetHack 3.0 -- General information

NetHack 3.0 is a new generation of the dungeon exploration game NetHack.
It is a distant descendent of Hack, and a direct descendent of NetHack 2.3.
It is the product of a year-long, very intensive, international team
effort.  Many parts of 2.3 were rewritten for NetHack 3.0, and many new
features were added.  Judged by size alone, with all options enabled,
NetHack 3.0 is twice as big as 2.3.

While aiming at retaining the general atmosphere of NetHack 2.3, we sought
to open up new directions of development for the game.  Alignment, both for
player characters and for monsters, was introduced.  Player character
attributes were added and integrated into the game.  Special compiled
levels were added, and these open up endless future possibilities.  An
endgame was written, for a climactic ending.  The code for monsters and
objects was massively rewritten, and many new creatures and items were
added.  The self-polymorph code was debugged and greatly enriched.  Shops,
too, were enhanced.  There are now doors in doorways and chests that may
contain valuables, both of which may be closed or locked.  New commands to
open or kick doors and force locks on chests were added.  You can also use
kicking as an attack mode, and you can kick objects around if it pleases
you.  You will discover the rest for yourselves...

To compensate for the massive additions, we rewrote the code around some
new map fields for an increase in speed up to, if not beyond, that of 2.3.
The code is now organized, and nearly lint-free.

We dedicate the game to the many unknown hackers, both past and future, who
contribute so much to the game.

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