Hunger clock

References

1. ^ abRogue 5.4 starts the hero with 1,300 food. The stomach daemon runs once per pass of the command loop, after the hero's move, or after both moves when the hero is hasted. While food is above 0 it takes 1, plus each worn ring's cost, and 1 less while the hero carries the Amulet of Yendor, so with the Amulet and no rings the count stops.CodeRogue 5.4.4 source
   How we know

   29    food_left = HUNGERTIME;
   

   117#define HUNGERTIME	1300
   

   150    start_daemon(stomach, 0, AFTER);
   

   32    if (on(player, ISHASTE))
   

   444    do_daemons(AFTER);
   

   163	food_left -= ring_eat(LEFT) + ring_eat(RIGHT) + 1 - amulet;
   

   148	amulet = TRUE;
   

   Checked against the evidence by its author, an AI model, 2026-10-21.

   Checked by a second AI model, 2026-10-21.

   In the claim ledger

2. ^ abRogue 5.4 shows Hungry once food drops below 300 and Weak below 150. At 0 or below, rings stop counting and food drops by 1 a turn; on each turn the hero isn't already helpless, a 1-in-5 chance faints the hero for 4 to 11 turns, and the hero starves once the count is below −850.CodeRogue 5.4.4 source
   How we know

   118#define MORETIME	150
   

   146	if (food_left-- < -STARVETIME)
   

   171	else if (food_left < 2 * MORETIME && oldfood >= 2 * MORETIME)
   ⋮
   176	    else
   

   184	"", "Hungry", "Weak", "Faint"
   

   188    return range == 0 ? 0 : abs((int) RN) % range;
   

   Checked against the evidence by its author, an AI model, 2026-10-21.

   Checked by a second AI model, 2026-10-21.

   In the claim ledger

3. ^ abNetHack 3.6.7 starts the hero at 900 nutrition. Once per game turn, and again for each melee attack the hero makes, it takes 1, unless the hero has slow digestion, is polymorphed into a form that doesn't eat, or is praying under divine protection, and only at a chance of 1 in 10 while the hero is asleep or fainted. On odd turns, regeneration (not from an artifact) and a Stressed or heavier load each take 1 more; on even turns, the Hunger property and Conflict (not from an artifact) do, and once every 20 turns each worn ring that has a charge other than 0 or takes none, the worn amulet, and carrying the Amulet of Yendor take 1 each.CodeNetHack 3.6.7 sourcerevised
   How we know

   119    u.uhunger = 900;
   

   176                    /* once-per-turn things go here */
   

   281                    gethungry();
   

   2799    if ((!Unaware || !rn2(10)) /* slow metabolic rate while asleep */
   

   2821        switch ((int) (moves % 20)) { /* note: use even cases only */
   

   373#define Unaware (multi < 0 && (unconscious() || is_fainted()))
   

   25    SLT_ENCUMBER = 1, /* Burdened */
   

   1873    if (p_type == 3 && !Inhell) {
   ⋮
   1877        u.uinvulnerable = TRUE;
   

   1978overexertion()
   ⋮
   1983    gethungry();
   

   408        || overexertion())
   409        goto atk_done;
   

   Checked against the evidence by its author, an AI model, 2026-10-25.

   Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-10-21.

   Checked by a second AI model, 2026-10-25.

   In the claim ledger

4. ^ abNetHack 3.6.7 counts the hero Satiated above 1,000 nutrition, Not Hungry above 150, Hungry above 50, Weak above 0, and Fainting at 0 or below. While Fainting, a hero not already fainted or helpless faints on entering the state, and later at a chance that grows as nutrition falls (1 in 20 at 0), for 10 turns plus a tenth of the deficit; on an update where neither happens, the hero starves once nutrition is below −(100 + 10 × Constitution).CodeNetHack 3.6.7 source
   How we know

   2939                            : (h > 50) ? HUNGRY : (h > 0) ? WEAK : FAINTING;
   

   2983        if (u.uhs <= WEAK || rn2(20 - uhunger_div_by_10) >= 19) {
   

   3004        } else if (u.uhunger < -(100 + 10 * (int) ACURR(A_CON))) {
   

   2842    newuhs(TRUE);
   

   Checked against the evidence by its author, an AI model, 2026-10-21.

   Checked by a second AI model, 2026-10-21.

   In the claim ledger

5. ^ abEating any food in Rogue 5.4 first raises a negative count to 0, then adds 1,100 to 1,499 (HUNGERTIME - 200 + rnd(400)), capped at 2,000.CodeRogue 5.4.4 source
   How we know

   298    if ((food_left += HUNGERTIME - 200 + rnd(400)) > STOMACHSIZE)
   

   119#define STOMACHSIZE	2000
   

   Checked against the evidence by its author, an AI model, 2026-10-21.

   Checked by a second AI model, 2026-10-21.

   In the claim ledger

6. ^ abIn NetHack 3.6.7, food that brings nutrition to 2,000 or more chokes a hero who was Satiated (for a meal, at its start). A hero who doesn't breathe always vomits and loses 1,000 nutrition instead; a hero being strangled always dies; any other hero vomits 1 time in 20 and otherwise dies.CodeNetHack 3.6.7 sourcerevised
   How we know

   2864    if (u.uhunger >= 2000) {
   

   2543        context.victual.canchoke = (u.uhs == SATIATED);
   

   252    if (Breathless || (!Strangled && !rn2(20))) {
   

   Checked against the evidence by its author, an AI model, 2026-10-21.

   Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-10-21.

   In the claim ledger

7. ^In Rogue 5.4 each worn ring adds to the turn's food cost by kind: 2 for regeneration; 1 for protection, add strength, sustain strength, stealth, or maintain armor; 1 at a chance of 1 in 3 for searching, dexterity, or increase damage, and 1 in 5 for see invisible; 0 for adornment, aggravate monster, or teleportation. A ring of slow digestion gives 1 back at a chance of 1 in 2.CodeRogue 5.4.4 source
   How we know

   -2, /* R_DIGEST */

   Checked against the evidence by its author, an AI model, 2026-10-21.

   Checked by a second AI model, 2026-10-21.

   In the claim ledger