Following the recent announcement of the “nethack & variants” world championships, I’ve dug into that fantastic game once more which I have been playing since the late eighties, back then on my meagre Amiga 500.

Only today, I managed a decent game playing the usual “Ranger – Elf – Chaotic” character again, even meeting my ghost on level #9 or so of the gnomish mines.

Some random nymph stole my +2 elven cloak and bow on the Oracle level (hadn’t seen that in a while either as I’m usually headed straight down the Mines when I find them), only one altar in Minetown and not many else extras to speak of didn’t make things easier.

Eventually I made it to the bottom of the mines, plundering the wine cellar and all, but my AC never got below -3 at 63HP, so when faced with an air elemental on the mine bottom and a winged gargoyle on the level #9, I was faced with choosing my favourite kind of death.

I wish I would have kept that chickatrice corpse I had, but for fear of fumbling, falling down the stairs without remembering to unwield it first I carelessly dropped it.

Well, “hoover the male elven ranger” died with nearly 40k points, so it wasn’t a bad game at all. I’ve also picked up collecting and identifying daggers, they make a great weapon for throwing once your skill picks up (I could throw four at atime), sadly for lack of potions and scrolls, I never got around to blessing them or they would have made an even better weapon.

Bring on the next character! I’ve never ascended, and I probably never will, but one can dream. I had really forgotten what a wonderful game nethack is.