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The problem with the other classes is that their starting equipment is less random, so it's more difficult to figure out which seed you are on. You would have to include more of the generated map in the database to figure out which seed you are on.

And of course this would all be shot to hell if Nethack went to a 64 bit seed.

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yeah, i wonder how much of the game information you would have to include to make it unique.

that being said, wouldn't map information be sufficient for the remainder of the classes? so using starting equipment is really just an optimization available for this class?

The problem with using the map is that you can't see most of it when you first load the game. So you have to play more (and build up more state) before you get to a completely unique solution. Being able to use the starting equipment makes it much simpler.

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