README for Debian GNU/Linux Nethack 3.4.3 ----------------------------------------- [ Apologies for Save File Format Change ] The save-game format has changed again for Nethack 3.4.0. You should have been prompted by the installer to back up your old save game files and high score list into /tmp. Unfortunately, your old save-games are no longer useful with Nethack 3.4.0, although it may be possible to merge the old high score lists. Note that the save-game and bones format are the same between 3.4.0 and 3.4.1. You do not need to clean out your save games for this upgrade. [ New in Nethack for Debian 3.4.1-1 and Later ] Back by popular demand is the no-frills nethack-console package. This package has NO graphical interface, and does not even depend on xbase-clients. The nethack-console package supports either ~/.nethackrc or ~/.nethackrc.console files for configuration. [ New in Nethack for Debian 3.4.0-1 and Later ] The Debian Nethack packages have been restructured. Now, separate packages are provided for each graphical interface: * nethack-x11 * nethack-gnome * nethack-qt Each of these packages also contains the classic text-based interface. You can get the classic interface by running /usr/games/nethack, or a graphical interface by running: (for x11): /usr/games/xnethack (for gnome): /usr/games/nethack-gnome (for qt): /usr/games/nethack-qt [ Changing the default graphical interface ] The /usr/games/nethack symlink is maintained with update-alternatives, so if you wish to make one of the graphical interfaces the default, simply run (as root): # update-alternatives --config nethack The common dungeon files and utilities have been moved out into a separate package, nethack-common. The old nethack package is now a dummy package that just depends on nethack-common and nethack-x11 to behave how the old version did. Please note that the Gnome interface is not yet fully stable, and is known to have some bugs. If you value your character, please use the x11, qt, or text interfaces. [ Configuration Files for 3.4.0-1 and Later ] The previous Debian releases of Nethack did not provide for separate configuration files for each windowing system. (If you ran xnethack, ~/.nethackrc was ignored.) Now, each windowing system has its own set of system defaults and per-user defaults: x11: ~/.nethackrc.x11 or /etc/nethack/nethackrc.x11 gnome: ~/.nethackrc.gnome or /etc/nethack/nethackrc.gnome qt: ~/.nethackrc.qt or /etc/nethack/nethackrc.qt text: ~/.nethackrc or /etc/nethack/nethackrc.tty If the HACKOPTIONS environment variable is set to a filename, that configuration file is always used. Otherwise, the per-user config file is tried for the appropriate windowing system (~/.nethackrc.gnome for gnome, etc). If that is not found, the system-wide default in /etc/nethack is used. [ Game Dumps ] Summaries of the immediately previous game that someone has played will always be saved upon death, escape, or ascension in /var/games/nethack/dumps. These are ideal for posting to newsgroups and bragging to your friends. The configuration file hardcodes the path for 'dumpfile' (the location where this log will be saved) and it cannot be changed, so there is no chance of being able to create files in arbitrary places with gid: games. [ Description of Nethack ] Nethack is a wonderfully silly yet quite addicting Dungeons and Dragons-style adventure game. You play the part of a fierce fighter, wizard, or any of many other classes, fighting your way down to retrieve the Amulet of Yendor (try saying THAT one backwards!) for your god. On the way, you might encounter a quantum mechanic or two, or perhaps a microscopic space fleet, or -- if you're REALLY lucky -- the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal. There is a nethack-spoilers package available separately if you are really stuck, to be used only as a last resort. A few utilities -- recover, for retrieving your auto-save files in case of a power failure, and dgn_comp and lev_comp, two utilities for making your own Nethack levels and dungeons, have been included in /usr/lib/games/nethack. As of Nethack 3.4.0, the dlb utility is included for master hackers. The recover utility will be run upon bootup by /etc/init.d/nethack-common. Any auto-save files still on the system from a possible crash will be retrieved and converted into proper save files.