{"schemaVersion":1,"record":{"key":"mechanic/roguelike--family-40","type":"mechanic","id":"roguelike--family-40","lang":"en","title":"Characteristic mechanics of classic roguelikes that are often overlooked","summary":"Food, pets, remains of earlier heroes and voluntary restrictions add interconnected challenges within a run.","updatedAt":"2026-10-22","status":"active","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-40/","jsonUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-40.json","markdownUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-40.md","aliases":["Classic roguelike systems"],"tags":["Roguelikes and roguelites","Mechanics catalog"],"sourceIds":["source-06bbf50733ce87d7","source-9a1664e49d0e8f50","source-87856bbeffa16f0c"],"sources":[{"id":"source-06bbf50733ce87d7","title":"Official Guide","url":"https://www.nethack.org/v367/Guidebook.html","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-9a1664e49d0e8f50","title":"NetHack (menucolors)","url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nethack-inventory.png","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-87856bbeffa16f0c","title":"NetHack Guidebook","url":"https://www.nethack.org/v343/Guidebook.html","verifiedAt":null}],"sections":[{"id":"principle","title":"How it works","body":"Many of these interactions are documented in NetHack, including pets, remains of past characters, food, and voluntary behavior restrictions. NetHack Guide"},{"id":"variants","title":"Variants","body":"### Variants and applications\n\n<a id=\"family-40-variants\"></a>\n\n- Eating the bodies of creatures with consequences for the character <a id=\"variant-roguelike-40-01\"></a>\n- Obtaining resistances and other properties through food <a id=\"variant-roguelike-40-02\"></a>\n- Food prohibitions and behavioral restrictions <a id=\"variant-roguelike-40-03\"></a>\n- Transforming a character or enemy into another creature <a id=\"variant-roguelike-40-04\"></a>\n- Transforming objects into other objects <a id=\"variant-roguelike-40-05\"></a>\n- Desire: Obtaining an item through a special rare action <a id=\"variant-roguelike-40-06\"></a>\n- Species Extermination: Eliminating a specific type of creature from the world <a id=\"variant-roguelike-40-07\"></a>\n- Theft and use of player items by opponents <a id=\"variant-roguelike-40-08\"></a>\n- Monsters picking up equipment lying on the ground <a id=\"variant-roguelike-40-09\"></a>\n- Taming and feeding animals <a id=\"variant-roguelike-40-10\"></a>\n- Using a pet to test item properties <a id=\"variant-roguelike-40-11\"></a>\n- Special interactions with altars, fountains, graves and other objects <a id=\"variant-roguelike-40-12\"></a>\n- Inscriptions on the surface with playful action <a id=\"variant-roguelike-40-13\"></a>\n- Removal of levels and permanent damage to characteristics <a id=\"variant-roguelike-40-14\"></a>\n- Deferred fatal conditions requiring specific rescue <a id=\"variant-roguelike-40-15\"></a>\n- Preservation of bodies, things and dangers of the previous deceased hero in a new playthrough <a id=\"variant-roguelike-40-16\"></a>"},{"id":"context","title":"Context and limits","body":"A wide author's map of classic turn-based roguelikes, modern roguelites and hybrids. Families describe options for organizing a run, and not mandatory features of the genre. Constant metaprogression is not found in all roguelikes. Related systems can be combined; the list is not a closed standard."}],"relations":[],"placements":[{"catalogId":"roguelike","id":"family-40","title":"Roguelikes and roguelites","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/roguelike/#family-40","categoryIds":["section-1"]}],"supersededBy":[],"attributes":{"preview":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-22","title":"Classic roguelike systems","description":"Food, pets, remains of earlier heroes and voluntary restrictions add interconnected challenges within a run.","image":{"src":"images/mechanics/systems-nethack-inventory.webp","width":644,"height":461,"game":"NetHack (menucolors)","sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nethack-inventory.png","originalUrl":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Nethack-inventory.png","credit":"NetHack developers; screenshot by Shen, 2006, with the menucolors patch","rights":"NetHack General Public License. Converted to WebP on 2026-10-22. License: https://www.nethack.org/common/license.html; bundled copy: images/mechanics/nethack-license.txt. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nethack-inventory.png","caption":"Food supplies are part of exploration preparation","alt":"Food supplies are part of exploration preparation","markers":[{"x":54,"y":30,"label":"Three food rations are counted separately from apples and oranges"}]},"tips":["Show how an additional system affects decisions within the run."],"examples":[{"title":"NetHack Guidebook","url":"https://www.nethack.org/v343/Guidebook.html"}]}},"endsAt":null,"provenance":"Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.","license":"CC-BY-4.0","codeLicense":"MIT","attribution":"gamemechanics.pro contributors","catalogKey":"catalog/roguelike"}}