đ GnollHack provides a vast array of configuration options that allow you to customize the user interface, gameplay mechanics, controls, and audio settings to fit your playstyle. This page serves as a comprehensive reference for all available options, whether you are playing on a modern graphical port or a classic terminal interface.
đ Getting Started
- Accessing Options File â How to access the Options file on various platforms
đĨī¸ User Interface & Display
| Option Name | Values | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| crawl_interval | (varies) | 15 |
Crawl movement interval in milliseconds |
| dark_room |
true / false
|
true |
Show floor outside line of sight differently |
| detailed_weights |
true / false
|
false |
Show object weights using more accurate units |
| implicit_uncursed |
true / false
|
true |
Omit "uncursed" from inventory |
| inventory_weights_last |
true / false
|
true |
Display object weights in parentheses after object name |
| last_item_show_duration | (varies) | 10 |
Duration for showing last item in context menu |
| legacy |
true / false
|
true |
Show introductory message |
| lit_corridor |
true / false
|
false |
Show dark corridors as lit if in sight |
| long_charge_text |
true / false
|
false |
Long format for charges and rechargings in inventory |
| menu_headings | (varies) | (varies) | Text attribute for menu headings |
| menucolors |
true / false
|
true |
Use colors in menus |
| menustyle | (varies) | (varies) | User interface for object selection |
| move_interval | (varies) | 15 |
Normal movement interval in milliseconds |
| runmode | (varies) | (varies) | Display frequency when running' or travelling' |
| show_comparison_stats |
true / false
|
true |
Show comparison statistics for items when picking them up |
| show_damage_formula |
true / false
|
false |
Show damage formula in examine |
| show_dice_as_ranges |
true / false
|
true |
Show dice as ranges (e.g., 2-12 instead of 2d6) |
| show_weight_summary |
true / false
|
true |
Show total weight at the end of inventory |
| showrace |
true / false
|
false |
Show your character by race rather than role |
| showscore |
true / false
|
true |
Show current score in status line |
| skill_table_format |
true / false
|
false |
Show skills in a table format rather than a list |
| sortloot | (varies) | (varies) | Sort object selection lists by description |
| sparkle |
true / false
|
true |
Display sparkly effect when resisting magic |
| spell_table_format |
true / false
|
false |
Show spells in a table format rather than a list |
| tombstone |
true / false
|
true |
Show tombstone when your character dies |
| whatis_menu |
true / false
|
false |
Show menu when getting a map location |
| wiz_mstatusline |
true / false
|
false |
Enable extended monster status line in wizard mode |
| wizweight |
true / false
|
false |
Show weights in inventory in wizard mode |
| worn_shows_equipment |
true / false
|
true |
Worn items shows equipment screen |
âī¸ Gameplay & Mechanics
| Option Name | Values | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| autodescribe |
true / false
|
true |
Describe terrain under cursor |
| autodig |
true / false
|
true |
Dig if moving and wielding a digging tool |
| autokick |
true / false
|
true |
Walking into a door attempts to kick it |
| autoopen |
true / false
|
true |
Walking into a door attempts to open it |
| autopickup |
true / false
|
false |
Automatically pick up objects |
| autoquiver |
true / false
|
false |
Fill empty quiver automatically when firing |
| autoswap_launchers |
true / false
|
true |
Automatically swap launchers on for ranged attacks and off for melee attacks |
| autoswap_polearms |
true / false
|
true |
Automatically swap polearms off for melee attacks |
| autounlock |
true / false
|
true |
Automatically unlock a locked door or chest |
| baseacasbonus |
true / false
|
true |
Display base armor class as a bonus rather than a number starting at 10 |
| bones |
true / false
|
true |
Allow loading bones files |
| checkpoint |
true / false
|
true |
Save game state after each level change |
| confirm |
true / false
|
true |
Ask before hitting tame or peaceful monsters |
| disclose | (varies) | (varies) | The kinds of information to disclose at end of game |
| displace_peaceful |
true / false
|
true |
Walking into a peaceful monster attempts to displace it |
| dumplog |
true / false
|
false |
Print dumplogs |
| exchange_prompt |
true / false
|
true |
Prompt when exchanging a worn object for another |
| fixinv |
true / false
|
true |
Inventory items keep their letters |
| force_hint |
true / false
|
false |
Force giving hints regardless of other settings |
| force_invmenu |
true / false
|
true |
Commands asking for inventory item show a menu |
| goldX |
true / false
|
false |
Classify gold as unknown or uncursed |
| ignore_stopping |
true / false
|
false |
Travelling is not interrupted by items, doors, or engravings |
| knapsack_prompt |
true / false
|
true |
Prompt for an action when inventory is full |
| lootabc |
true / false
|
false |
Use a/b/c rather than o/i/c when looting |
| max_hint_difficulty | (varies) | 10 |
Maximum difficulty level for showing hints |
| mention_walls |
true / false
|
false |
Give feedback when walking into walls |
| metric_system |
true / false
|
false |
Use the metric system for weights |
| monpolycontrol |
true / false
|
false |
Control monster polymorphs |
| multishot_always_fire |
true / false
|
false |
Attack always as many times as possible |
| packorder | (varies) | (varies) | The inventory order of the items in your pack |
| paranoid_confirmation | (varies) | (varies) | Extra prompting in certain situations |
| pickup_burden | (varies) | (varies) | Maximum burden picked up before prompt |
| pickup_thrown |
true / false
|
true |
Autopickup thrown items |
| pickup_types | (varies) | (varies) | Types of objects to pick up automatically |
| pile_limit | (varies) | (varies) | Threshold for 'there are many objects here' |
| player_selection | (varies) | (varies) | Choose character via dialog or prompts |
| playmode | (varies) | (varies) | Classic or modern play, non-scoring explore or casual mode, or debug mode |
| pushweapon |
true / false
|
false |
Previous weapon goes to secondary slot |
| rlecomp |
true / false
|
true |
Use rlecomp |
| sanity_check |
true / false
|
false |
Perform data sanity checks |
| scores | (varies) | (varies) | The parts of the score list you wish to see |
| search_box_traps |
true / false
|
true |
Search command searches boxes for traps first |
| selectsaved |
true / false
|
true |
Select a saved game at program start |
| sortpack |
true / false
|
true |
Group inventory items by type |
| spellorder | (varies) | (varies) | Default spell sorting |
| stash_on_autopickup |
true / false
|
false |
Stash items into a container on autopickup (but no thrown if pick_thrown is on) |
| suppress_alert | (varies) | (varies) | Suppress alerts about version-specific features |
| swap_rhand_only |
true / false
|
false |
Swap right hand weapon only rather than objects in both hands |
| takeoff_uses_all |
true / false
|
true |
Takeoff command uses takeoffall command rather than normal implementation |
| tellexp |
true / false
|
true |
Report experience points gained |
| verbose |
true / false
|
true |
Enable longer messages |
| wiz_alwaysenc |
true / false
|
false |
Always generate an encounter in wizard mode |
| zerocomp |
true / false
|
true |
Use zerocomp |
đąī¸ Controls & Input
| Option Name | Values | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOS |
true / false
|
false |
Use IBM ROM BIOS calls |
| altkeyhandler | (varies) | (varies) | Alternate key handler |
| altmeta |
true / false
|
true |
Treat 'ESC c' as M-c |
| clickfire |
true / false
|
true |
Enable firing via mouse click |
| clicklook |
true / false
|
true |
Enable looking via mouse click |
| clickpole |
true / false
|
true |
Enable use of polearm via mouse click |
| cmdassist |
true / false
|
true |
Give help for errors on direction input |
| engrave_quickstyle | (varies) | 0 |
Stylus selection style for engrave quick command |
| engrave_quicktext | (varies) | (none) | The preset text for engrave quick command |
| help |
true / false
|
true |
Show all available info when using whatis-command |
| herecmd_menu |
true / false
|
false |
Show commands available in this location |
| inventory_obj_cmd |
true / false
|
true |
Display a command menu upon selecting an object in inventory |
| middle_click_command | (varies) | (none) | Command upon clicking middle mouse button |
| mouse_support | (varies) | (varies) | Game receives click info from mouse |
| number_pad | (varies) | (varies) | Use the number pad for movement |
| prefer_fast_move |
true / false
|
false |
Swap slow move and fast move commands' key bindings |
| rest_on_space |
true / false
|
false |
Space bar is bound to the rest-command |
| right_click_command | (varies) | (none) | Command upon clicking right mouse button |
| run_spot_distance | (varies) | 0 |
Longest distance for spotting a monster to stop running or travelling |
| self_click_action |
true / false
|
false |
Clicking the player character executes an action |
| softkeyboard |
true / false
|
false |
Soft keyboard |
| subkeyvalue | (varies) | (varies) | Override keystroke value |
| travel |
true / false
|
true |
Enable traveling via mouse click |
| travel_debug |
true / false
|
false |
Display debugging graphics for travel algorithm |
| whatis_filter | (varies) | (varies) | Filter coordinate locations when targeting next or previous |
| whatis_moveskip |
true / false
|
false |
Skip same glyph when getting map location |
đž Pets & Companions
| Option Name | Values | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| catbreed | (varies) | (none) | The breed of your (first) cat (e.g., catbreed:white persian) |
| catgender | (varies) | (none) | The gender of your (first) cat (e.g., catgender:female) |
| catname | (varies) | (none) | The name of your (first) cat (e.g., catname:Tabby) |
| dogbreed | (varies) | (none) | The breed of your (first) dog (e.g., dogbreed:black labrador) |
| doggender | (varies) | (none) | The gender of your (first) dog (e.g., doggender:male) |
| dogname | (varies) | (none) | The name of your (first) dog (e.g., dogname:Fang) |
| horsegender | (varies) | (none) | The gender of your (first) horse (e.g., horsegender:female) |
| horsename | (varies) | (none) | The name of your (first) horse (e.g., horsename:Silver) |
| partydetails |
true / false
|
false |
Give detailed information for each pet |
| partylinecolor |
true / false
|
true |
Use colors for pet statistics |
| partymultiline |
true / false
|
false |
Print statistics of each pet on a separate status line |
| petattr | (varies) | (varies) | Attributes for highlighting pets |
| pets_not_gifted |
true / false
|
false |
You receive no gifted pets |
| pettype | (varies) | (varies) | Your preferred initial pet type |
| ramgender | (varies) | (none) | The gender of your (first) ram (e.g., ramgender:male) |
| ramname | (varies) | (none) | The name of your (first) ram (e.g., ramname:Silver) |
| safe_pet |
true / false
|
true |
Prevent you from hitting pets |
| underline_peaceful |
true / false
|
true |
Underline peaceful monsters |
| wolfgender | (varies) | (none) | The gender of your (first) direwolf (e.g., wolfgender:female) |
| wolfname | (varies) | (none) | The name of your (first) direwolf (e.g., wolfname:Shadow) |
đ Audio & Sound
| Option Name | Values | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| acoustics |
true / false
|
true |
Can your character hear anything |
| shield_effect_length | (varies) | 20 |
Shield effect length |
| sound_volume_ambient | (varies) | 20 |
Ambient volume |
| sound_volume_dialogue | (varies) | 20 |
Dialogue volume |
| sound_volume_effects | (varies) | 20 |
Sound effect volume |
| sound_volume_general | (varies) | 20 |
General game volume |
| sound_volume_music | (varies) | 20 |
Music volume |
| sound_volume_ui | (varies) | 20 |
User interface sound volume |
| soundcard | (varies) | (varies) | Type of sound card to use |
| talk_effect_length | (varies) | 20 |
Talk effect length |
đ§Ŧ Character & Roleplay
| Option Name | Values | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| align | (varies) | (varies) | Your starting alignment (lawful, neutral, or chaotic) |
| blind |
true / false
|
false |
Your character is permanently blind |
| female |
true / false
|
false |
Is your character female |
| fruit | (varies) | (varies) | The name of a fruit you enjoy eating |
| gender | (varies) | (varies) | Your starting gender (male or female) |
| luggagename | (varies) | (varies) | The name of your (first) luggage (e.g., luggagename:Albert) |
| name | (varies) | (varies) | Your character's name (e.g., name:Merlin-W) |
| nudist |
true / false
|
false |
Start your character without armor |
| race | (varies) | (varies) | Your starting race (e.g., Human, Elf) |
| role | (varies) | (varies) | Your starting role (e.g., Barbarian, Valkyrie) |
â¨ī¸ ASCII
âšī¸ Note: These options pertain to the legacy ASCII version of the game. They are not used by the modern versions of GnollHack.
| Option Name | Values | Default | Description |
| :âââ- | :â-: | :ââ: | :âââ- |
| DECgraphics | (varies) | (varies) | Load DECGraphics display symbols |
| IBMgraphics | (varies) | (varies) | Load IBMGraphics display symbols |
| Macgraphics | (varies) | (varies) | Load MACGraphics display symbols |
| ascii_map | true / false | false | Show map as text |
| classic_colors | true / false | false | Use classic colors for boulders and floor symbols |
| classic_statue_symbol | true / false | false | Use classic symbol '\' for statues |
| **color** | true / false | true | Use color in map |
| **dungeon** | *(varies)* | *(varies)* | The symbols to use in drawing the dungeon map |
| **effects** | *(varies)* | *(varies)* | The symbols to use in drawing special effects |
| **eight_bit_tty** | true / false | false | Send 8-bit characters directly to terminal |
| **enablettyarrowkeys** | true / false | false | Enable tty arrow keys |
| **extmenu** | true / false | true | Use menu for getting extended commands |
| **hilite_pet** | true / false | false | Use highlight for pets |
| **hilite_pile** | true / false | false | Highlight piles of items |
| **ibm2utf8** | true / false | false | Convert CP437 symbols to UTF8 format before output |
| **menu_deselect_all** | *(varies)* | *(varies)* | Deselect all items in a menu |
| **menu_deselect_page** | *(varies)* | *(varies)* | Deselect all items on this page of a menu |
| **menu_first_page** | *(varies)* | *(varies)* | Jump to the first page in a menu |
| **menu_invert_all** | *(varies)* | *(varies)* | Invert all items in a menu |
| **menu_invert_page** | *(varies)* | *(varies)* | Invert all items on this page of a menu |
| **menu_last_page** | *(varies)* | *(varies)* | Jump to the last page in a menu |
| **menu_next_page** | *(varies)* | *(varies)* | Goto the next menu page |
| **menu_overlay** | true / false | true | Menus overlay and align to right |
| **menu_previous_page** | *(varies)* | *(varies)* | Goto the previous menu page |
| **menu_search** | *(varies)* | *(varies)* | Search for a menu item |
| **menu_select_all** | *(varies)* | *(varies)* | Select all items in a menu |
| **menu_select_page** | *(varies)* | *(varies)* | Select all items on this page of a menu |
| **monsters** | *(varies)* | *(varies)* | The symbols to use for monsters |
| **msg_window** | *(varies)* | *(varies)* | The type of message window required |
| **null** | true / false | true | Allow nulls to be sent to terminal |
| **objects** | *(varies)* | *(varies)* | The symbols to use for objects |
| **show_decorations** | true / false | true | Show decorations via colors in ASCII mode |
| **silent** | true / false | true | Don't use terminal bell |
| **standout** | true / false | false | Use standout for --more-- |
| **symset** | *(varies)* | *(varies)* | Load a set of display symbols from the symbols file |
| **traps** | *(varies)* | *(varies)* | The symbols to use in drawing traps |
| **use_darkgray** | true / false | true | Use bold black color instead of blue |
| **use_inverse** | true / false | true | Display detected monsters in inverse |
| **video** | *(varies)* | *(varies)* | Method of video updating |
| **videocolors** | *(varies)* | *(varies)* | Color mappings for internal screen routines |
| **videoshades** | *(varies)* | *(varies)* | Gray shades to map to black/gray/white |
| **vt_tiledata** | true / false | false` | Use VT codes for tiles |
| whatis_coord | (varies) | (varies) | Show coordinates when auto-describing cursor position |
| windowchain | (varies) | (varies) | Window processor to use |
| windowtype | (varies) | (varies) | Windowing system to use |
đĨī¸ Curses Interface
âšī¸ Note: These options are specific to the curses terminal interface. They are generally not applicable to the modern GUI versions of GnollHack.
| Option Name | Values | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| align_message | (varies) | top |
Message window alignment |
| align_status | (varies) | top |
Status window alignment |
| autostatuslines |
true / false
|
false |
Adjust the number of status lines automatically |
| cursesgraphics | (varies) | (varies) | Load curses display symbols |
| fullstatuslineorder |
true / false
|
true |
Use full status line order |
| guicolor |
true / false
|
true |
Use color for UI |
| here_window_size | (varies) | 20 |
Number of rows in the here window |
| hicolor | (varies) | (varies) | Same as palette, only order is reversed |
| show_weapon_style |
true / false
|
true |
Show used weapon type in status line |
| showexp |
true / false
|
true |
Show experience points in status line |
| showmove |
true / false
|
true |
Show current movement speed in status line |
| showrealtime |
true / false
|
true |
Show elapsed wall-clock time in status line |
| status_updates |
true / false
|
true |
Allow the status lines to update |
| statushilites | (varies) | (varies) | Highlight control |
| statuslines | (varies) | (varies) | 2 to 8 lines for status display |
| term_cols | (varies) | (varies) | Number of columns |
| term_rows | (varies) | (varies) | Number of rows |
| time |
true / false
|
false |
Display game turns in status line |
| windowborders | (varies) | (varies) | 0 (off), 1 (on), 2 (auto) |
| windowcolors | (varies) | (varies) | The foreground/background colors of windows |
đĒ Legacy Windows GUI
âšī¸ Note: These options are specific to the legacy Windows GUI port (
GnollHackW.exe). They are not applicable to the modern .NET MAUI frontend.
| Option Name | Values | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| blinking_cursor_on_tiles |
true / false
|
false |
Display a blinking cursor when using tiles |
| font_map | (varies) | (varies) | The font to use in the map window |
| font_menu | (varies) | (varies) | The font to use in menus |
| font_message | (varies) | (varies) | The font to use in the message window |
| font_size_menu | (varies) | (varies) | The size of the menu font |
| font_size_message | (varies) | (varies) | The size of the message font |
| font_size_status | (varies) | (varies) | The size of the status font |
| font_size_text | (varies) | (varies) | The size of the text font |
| font_status | (varies) | (varies) | The font to use in status window |
| font_text | (varies) | (varies) | The font to use in text windows |
| fullscreen |
true / false
|
false |
Toggle fullscreen |
| herewindow |
true / false
|
true |
Show here window |
| hitpointbar |
true / false
|
false |
Show colored bar for hit points |
| map_mode | (varies) | (varies) | Map display mode under Windows |
| menu_tab_sep |
true / false
|
false |
Menu formatting |
| msghistory | (varies) | 20 |
Number of top line messages to save |
| news |
true / false
|
true |
Show any news at game start |
| palette | (varies) | (varies) | Palette |
| perm_invent |
true / false
|
false |
Show permanent inventory window |
| popup_dialog |
true / false
|
false |
Use popup dialog |
| preferred_screen_scale | (varies) | (varies) | Preferred screen scale |
| scroll_amount | (varies) | (varies) | Amount to scroll map when scroll_margin is reached |
| scroll_margin | (varies) | (varies) | Scroll map when this far from the edge |
| show_buff_timer |
true / false
|
false |
Show buff timer on tiles |
| show_grid |
true / false
|
false |
Show grid between tiles |
| show_tile_mon_hp_bar |
true / false
|
false |
Show monster hit points on tiles |
| show_tile_pet_hp_bar |
true / false
|
false |
Show pet hit points on tiles |
| show_tile_u_hp_bar |
true / false
|
false |
Show player hit points on tiles |
| splash_screen |
true / false
|
true |
Show splash screen |
| tile_file | (varies) | (varies) | Name of tile file |
| tile_height | (varies) | (varies) | Height of tiles |
| tile_width | (varies) | (varies) | Width of tiles |
| toptenwin |
true / false
|
false |
Show top scores in window |
| vary_msgcount | (varies) | (varies) | Show more old messages at a time |
đī¸ Obsolete
â ī¸ Warning: These options are obsolete, deprecated, or only used by legacy versions of the game.
| Option Name | Values | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| animation_interval | (varies) | 20 |
Animation frame interval in milliseconds |
| asksavedisk |
true / false
|
false |
Prompt for saving to a disk |
| boulder | (varies) | (varies) | Deprecated (use S_boulder in sym file instead) |
| checkspace |
true / false
|
true |
Check disk space on a floppy disk |
| fast_map |
true / false
|
true |
Use optimized, less flexible map display |
| flush |
true / false
|
false |
Use flush on Amiga |
| font_size_map | (varies) | (varies) | The size of the map font |
| ignintr |
true / false
|
false |
Ignore interrupt signals |
| large_font |
true / false
|
false |
Obsolete: use large font |
true / false
|
true |
Enable the mail daemon | |
| menu_objsyms |
true / false
|
false |
Show object symbols in menus |
| page_wait |
true / false
|
true |
Page wait on Mac |
| preload_tiles |
true / false
|
true |
Preload tiles |
| rawio |
true / false
|
false |
Allow use to raw I/O |
| roguesymset | (varies) | (varies) | Load a set of rogue display symbols from the symbols file |
| tiled_map |
true / false
|
true |
Tiled map |
| timed_delay |
true / false
|
true |
Use time delay |
| wraptext |
true / false
|
false |
Wrap text |