Color alchemy

Alchemy is the practice of dipping potions into other potions to create new ones.

In NetHack, and thus NitroHack, the alchemy recipes were based on the true identity of the potions, e.g. healing + speed = extra healing.

UnNetHack uses a new system called color alchemy, which bases the recipes on the random description (brightness and color) of potions, e.g. light blue + light yellow = light green.

Colors

Potions that participate in color alchemy are black, white, primary colors (red/blue/yellow) and secondary colors (purple/orange/green/brown). The colored potions may be light or dark.

Uncolored potions mix to semi-random results, as usual, i.e. 1/2 evaporate, 1/4 sickness, 1/8 random and 1/8 water.

The reference table below maps potion descriptions to their color and brightness. Keep in mind that not all of these descriptions will appear in any one game.

Primary Colors
Description Color Brightness pink red light sky-blue blue light yellow yellow light	Description Color Brightness ruby red dark indigo blue dark golden yellow dark
Secondary Colors
Description Color Brightness puce purple light orange orange light emerald green light ochre brown light	Description Color Brightness magenta purple dark amber orange dark dark green green dark brown brown dark

Mixing rules

Potions mix according to these rules:

1. Primary colors mix to secondary colors
   • red + blue = purple
   • red + yellow = orange
   • blue + yellow = green
2. Secondary colors mix to make brown
3. Potion brightness mixes as so:
   • dark + dark = dark
   • light + light = light
   • dark + light = dark or light (random)
   • brightness of diluted potions is overridden by that of pure potions
4. Black and white
   • black + any color = dark color
   • white + any color = light color
   • black + white = gray ("silver potion")

There are two exceptions:

1. A potion of polymorph always polymorphs the other potion.
2. A potion of acid always causes an alchemic explosion, dealing some damage.

Any other combination makes a semi-random result, i.e. 1/2 evaporate, 1/4 sickness, 1/8 random and 1/8 water.