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Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2024-07-17T06:00:25Z

Guybrush: /* 0–9 */

[[Category: Glossary]] [[Category: Dungeons & Dragons]]

This page is intended as a repository for abbreviations and jargon used when discussing ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (or ''[[Pathfinder]]'', generic d20 fantasy games etc.). While not all originated on the RPG.net D&D forum, a term should be used there before it appears on this list. It is not meant to be a glossary of game terms as presented in the rules, but rather terms invented by or primarily used by players, and not appearing in the books.

== Format ==
Entries should be in alphabetical order, with numbers preceding letters and symbols preceding numbers.

Each entry should be written like this:
:<tt><nowiki>;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.</nowiki></tt>

When formatted, it looks like this:

;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.

'''Term''' is the abbreviation being defined. '''Definition''' should be brief; in most cases, it will simply be the full term which the acronym or abbreviation replaces. It can be omitted for terms which are not abbreviations. Any further explanation or notes should go after the dash. Where possible, include a '''context''' for the abbreviation; is the term used to describe a particular edition of D&D (3E, 3.5, 4E etc.), Pathfinder, FantasyCraft or some other game?

== Terms ==

=== 0–9 ===

; 0e
: '''0[th] Edition''' - The original version of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', the ''3-Volume Set''. The retronym came to refer to the true first edition of the game after the later but more popular ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 1st edition became known as "1E". Sometimes distinguished by the year of publication (1974) or box colors (the original woodgrain/brown or the later and more common white). See also LBB, OCE, OD&D, and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

;3E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Third Edition'''. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.5 : '''Dungeons & Dragons, 3.5 Edition''' - a major update to the third edition rules. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.X : refers to both or either of 3E or 3.5, above. Also sometimes includes games derived from third edition D&D, especially Pathfinder and FantasyCraft. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;4E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fourth Edition'''. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;5E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fifth Edition'''. Collectively used for both the 2014 and 2024 versions, or sometimes just for the 2014 version. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;5.14E or 5e14 : Specifically the original 2014 version of '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fifth Edition'''. Also known as D&D Next during its development and playtesting.
;5.24E or 5e24 : Specifically the revised 2024 version of '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fifth Edition'''. Also known as One D&D during its development and playtesting.
;5.5E : Another name for the updated 2024 version of '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fifth Edition'''.

=== A ===

;AD&D : '''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''' - the "advanced" version of the game, a distinct line from the various "basic" versions of the first two editions. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;A-shaped class : (4E) also "A class" or "A-class"; a class for which all builds share the same primary ability score, but have differing secondary ability scores. The Wizard is a good example: Intelligence is always primary, but Charisma, Constitution or Wisdom could be a good secondary score depending on what kind of spells you want to cast.
;AWED : '''At-Will, Encounter, Daily''' (4E) - short hand for the basic division of power usage in "standard" 4E classes.

=== B ===

; BD&D
: '''Basic ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - one term for the second branch in the fork that occurred when 0e split into "Basic" and "Advanced" lines. Started with the Holmes blue box in 1977 and continued through 1999 with the the B/X, BECMI, RC, black box, and later editions. "Basic" is something of a misnomer, since it only refers to three of the box sets (Holmes, Moldvay, and the first Menzter box) and levels from 1–3. See also Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; BECMI
: '''Basic, Expert, Companion, Master, and Immortals''' - the version of the game by Frank Menzter, delineated in ''Dungeons & Dragons Sets 1–5: Basic'', ''Expert'', ''Companion'', ''Master'', and ''Immortals Rules''. Sometimes distinguished by the author, color of the first box set (red), year of release (1983 for the ''Basic Rules'', though the ''Immortals Rules'' was not published until 1986), or the cover artist (Larry Elmore). In contrast to the more limited level range of the earlier Holmes and B/X sets, Mentzer's version provided rules for mortal characters of levels 1–36, and up to another 36 levels as immortals. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; black box
: A reference to ''The New Easy-to-Master Dungeons & Dragons Game'' (1991), which came in a predominately black box. Served as the RC's "Basic Set", but unlike the earlier box sets, it covered levels 1–5. Sometimes loosely applied to any of the post-1989 introductory box sets, like the two printings of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' or the ''Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game'' (only one of the versions of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' is primarily black).

; blue box
: The first ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' (in 1977) was compiled by Eric J. Holmes, and comes in a blue box. Sometimes distinguished by the author/editor or the cover artist (David Sutherland). Covers levels 1–3. More closely related to 0e than any other edition, including the later ''Basic Sets''.

; B/X
: '''Basic/eXpert''' - the version of the ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' by Tom Moldvay combined with the ''Expert Set'' by Dave Cook and Steve Marsh. Sometimes distinguished by the authors, color of the first box set (mauve/purple), year of release (1980 for both sets), or cover artist (Erol Otus). In contrast to the Holmes and BECMI sets, B/X covers levels 1–14. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== C ===

;CB : '''Character Builder''' (4E) - the official ''Dungeons & Dragons'' character creation software offered by Wizards of the Coast.

; Classic D&D
: A term used to refer variously to just BD&D, BD&D and 0e, or all pre-3E versions of ''D&D''.

=== D ===

; d20
: Either a 20-sided die, the d20 System, or the d20STL. The last two are often confused.

; d20 System
: The system underlying 3E, v.3.5, and 4E. See OGL, GSL.

; d20STL
: '''d20 System Trademark License''' - a license from Wizards of the Coast that allowed third party vendors to use certain trademarks and logos (most notably the "d20" logo), and include a claim of compatibility in their products. During the d20 boom from 2000 to 2003, most third party d20 System products used the d20STL in conjunction with the OGL. The bust following WotC's v.3.5 led many third party vendors to abandon the d20STL, which was ultimately revoked by Wizards of the Coast in 2008 in favor of the GSL.

;DDI : '''Dungeons & Dragons Insider''' (4E) - the online subscription service offered by Wizards of the Coast, including ''Dragon'' and ''Dungeon'' magazines and the Character Builder.

=== E ===

; endgame
: The stage of the game where characters retire from adventuring, build castles or other strongholds, and engage war and diplomacy. Often associated with name level.

;E6: (3.X) a variant where player characters stop gaining levels after level 6 and instead receive a feat every 5000xp.

=== F ===

;Fightbrain: (4E) the Battlemind character class from Player's Handbook 3.
;flex stat : (4E) a racial ability score bonus which can be applied to one of two (or more) scores. e.g. Minotaurs get +2 Strength, and +2 Constitution ''or'' +2 Wisdom. Introduced with the races in Player's Handbook 3, with later updates introducing this for nearly all races.

=== G ===

; GSL
: "Gaming System License": The successor to Wizard of the Coast's d20STL and OGL, released in 2008. Far more restrictive than either of its predecessors.

=== L ===

; LBBs
: '''Little Brown Books''' - also "little brown booklets"; a nickname for the parchment-colored, digest-sized booklets in the 0e box set. The three volumes are ''Men & Magic'', ''Monsters & Treasure'', and ''The Underworld and Wilderness Adventures''. Not to be confused with ''Traveller's'' "little black books". See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== M ===

;MAD : '''Multiple Ability Dependency''' (4E, 5E) - a class (or Paragon Path, etc.) that relies on more than one Ability Score; seen as a deficiency since this requires splitting points between abilities, and thus lower possible maximum scores.

; megadungeon
: A dungeon large enough to challenge an adventuring party for their entire career, from 1st level to the endgame. The campaigns played by the creators of the hobby (Gygax and Arneson) both featured megadungeons (Castles Blackmoor and Greyhawk), but no true examples were published during the peak of ''D&D'''s popularity. Considered one of the cornerstones of the OSR.

; metaplot
: A larger plot happening in the game world expressed through published adventures, that players may or may not be able to change. Most often used in reference to White Wolf’s ''World of Darkness'' games, but sometimes applied to the ongoing history of D&D campaign worlds like the Forgotten Realms.

=== N ===

;NAD : '''Non-Armor Class Defences''' (4E) - Shorthand for a character or monster's Fortitude, Reflex and Will defences.

; name level
: The level at which a character stops gaining new level titles (which are associated with each class and level in pre-3E versions of the game), often 9th. For example, a fighting-man in 0e is called a "Super Hero" at 8th level, a "Lord" at 9th level, and a "Lord, 10th Level" at 10th level. Since that is not a new descriptive title, the fighting-man reaches name level at 9th. Often considered the start of the endgame, and usually the point at which character advancement dramatically slows.

=== O ===

; OD&D
: '''Original ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - also "Old ''Dungeons & Dragons''". Among adherents of the OSR, the term has come to refer strictly to the edition represented by the 0e box set and the supplements, and often the Holmes ''Basic Set''. Among the broader group of old school fans, the term is often used more broadly, and includes the rest of the BD&D line. There is some controversy over which is is the proper usage.

; OG
: '''Old Geezer''' - the username of RPG.net poster Michael Mornard, who was a player in the original Castle Greyhawk campaign co-DMed by Gary Gygax and Rob Kuntz in the early 1970s.

; OGC
: '''Open Game Content''' - any material released under the Open Game License (OGL).

; OGL
: '''Open Game License''' - an open-source license released by Wizards of the Coast in 2000 that allows third party vendors to use Open Game Content (OGC), like the SRD. Commonly used in conjunction with the more restrictive d20STL until 2003. Proposed revisions to the OGL were leaked in early 2023 that met with significant backlash due to the negative impact it would have had on third-party publishers. The revision was scrapped, and a minor revision made instead. The fifth edition OGC was also dual-licensed under a Creative Commons license, but other publishers also reacted by using alternative licenses of their own, like the Open RPG Creative (ORC) license.

; ORC
: '''Open RPG Creatice license''' - an open-source license released by a Paizo and other RPG publishers as an alternative to the Open Game License (OGL).

; OS
: '''Old school''' - a general adjective used to describe the style of early role-playing games. While primarily used to refer to ''D&D'' and its variants, the term can be more broadly applied to any early games. Different definitions have different cut off times; some exclude 3.X, 2E, 1E, everything but 0e, or various finer distinctions (lines are often drawn at ''AD&D'' 2nd edition's ''Player Option'' books, or 1E's ''Unearthed Arcana'').

; OSR
: '''Old School Renaissance''' - also ''Old School Revolution'' or ''Old School Revival''; the recent surge in popularity of older roleplaying games and styles. While partially attributable to the death of Gary Gygax in 2008, earlier retro games like ''HackMaster'' and ''Castles & Crusades'' (2006) tapped into the same sentiment. While there is a no true center or uniformity of opinion, the public face of the group is a fairly cohesive collection of games, magazines, message boards, publishers, and blogs (the most prominent of the latter being Grognardia). Common themes, as articulated in Finch's ''A Quick Primer for Old School Gaming'', are megadungeons, sandbox campaigns, an emphasis on player rather than character skill, and a focus on rediscovering how the creators of the games actually played. There's a heavy focus on 0e, with a secondary focus on ''AD&D'', specifically the pre-''Unearthed Arcana'' 1st edition.

=== P ===

;PoLand : '''"Points of Light" land''' (4E) - the "implied setting" found in the core fourth edition books, which uses the "Points of Light" concept.
;primary ability score : (4E) the ability score upon which all or most of a class's attack powers are based. It is usually used for both the attack roll and damage rolls. A character should have a high score in their class's primary ability. For example, Strength is the primary ability score for Fighters.
;rider : (4E) a secondary effect granted by a power in addition to its main effect. Often dependent on a class's secondary ability score or choice of class feature.

=== R ===

; RC
: '''''Rules Cyclopedia''''' - a single-volume version of Menzter's BECMI sets, compiled by Aaron Allston in 1991. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; red box
: Usually refers to the first box set in the BECMI series by Frank Metzer; see BECMI for full details. May also refer to the Fourth Edition Beginner's Box set which was released in a nearly identical box. (The ''Stranger Things''-themed Starter Set for the fifth edition also used a very similar box.)

; retro-clone
: A replica (or near-replica) of an out of print version of a game. Originally and most commonly used to refer to clones of ''D&D''. Based on the principle that the rules of a game cannot be copyrighted, only the specific ''expression'' of the rules. Many clones rely on the OGC to allow them to use trademarked terms and specific elements (like the names of spells, monsters, or game terms). Also known as a simulacrum.

; rider
: (4E) A secondary effect of an attack power, often based on a class's secondary ability score. For example, the first-level Paladin power "Bolstering Strike" deals damage based on Charisma (it's main effect), and also grants bonus hit points based on Wisdom (the rider). Derived from the "rider" clause in famous band's contracts, which states what they expect to be provided for them backstage (drinks, beverages etc.) in addition to their payment.

=== S ===
; sandbox
: A campaign style where there is no overarching plot driving the players toward a scripted conclusion. See metaplot.

;secondary ability score : (4E) an ability score which provides secondary bonuses to a class's powers, often in "riders" (q.v.).

; SRD
: '''System Reference Document''' - a compilation of Open Game Content (OGC) released under the Open Gaming Licence (OGL) by Wizards of the Coast (WotC). The original third edition SRD included material from ''Player's Handbook'', ''Dungeon Master's Guide'', and ''Monster Manual'', but later expansions added content from the ''Epic Level Handbook'', ''Deities & Demigods'', and ''Psionics Handbook''. While most of ''Unearthed Arcana'' was also declared OGC, none of the material was added to the SRD. A ''d20 Modern'' SRD was also released, with material from the core rules, ''Modern Arcana'', and the ''Menace Manual''. The fourth edition did not have an SRD, but the fifth edition does; it has been released both under the OGL and a Creative Commons license. Many third party vendors have also adopted the terminology, with Anime, ''Fudge'', and ''Traveller'' SRDs among many others.

; S&W
: '''''Swords & Wizardry''''' - a 0e retro-clone that comes in two versions. The ''Core Rules'' version replicates the ''3-Volume Set'' plus selected material from the Supplements, primarily ''Greyhawk''. Not a particularly faithful clone, because some elements were excluded (e.g. no thieves), there is support for both ascending and descending AC, and the five saves have become a single number. The ''White Box'' is the ''Core Rules'' minus all material not in the original ''3-Volume Set''.

=== T ===
; TSR
: '''Tactical Studies Rules''' - the company founded by Gary Gygax and Don Kaye in 1973 to publish ''Dungeons & Dragons''. It later become known as TSR Hobbies, then TSR Inc. It owned and operated many properties including D&D, various war games, fantasy fiction, and the Gen Con gaming convention. After a decline in profits, its licenses were bought by Wizards of the Coast in 1996, and many sold off to other entities.

=== V ===

;V-shaped class : (4E) also "V class" or "V-class"; a class which offers a choice of primary ability score, depending on build, but always uses the same secondary ability score. The Warlock is a good example; they might choose Constitution or Charisma as a primary ability score depending on their build and pact, but Intelligence is always a good choice for a secondary score.

=== W ===

;WotC : '''Wizards of the Coast''' - current developers, publishers and owners of ''Dungeons & Dragons’'.

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2024-06-28T04:56:42Z

Guybrush: /* Terms */ Various updates, additions and tweaks

[[Category: Glossary]] [[Category: Dungeons & Dragons]]

This page is intended as a repository for abbreviations and jargon used when discussing ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (or ''[[Pathfinder]]'', generic d20 fantasy games etc.). While not all originated on the RPG.net D&D forum, a term should be used there before it appears on this list. It is not meant to be a glossary of game terms as presented in the rules, but rather terms invented by or primarily used by players, and not appearing in the books.

== Format ==
Entries should be in alphabetical order, with numbers preceding letters and symbols preceding numbers.

Each entry should be written like this:
:<tt><nowiki>;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.</nowiki></tt>

When formatted, it looks like this:

;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.

'''Term''' is the abbreviation being defined. '''Definition''' should be brief; in most cases, it will simply be the full term which the acronym or abbreviation replaces. It can be omitted for terms which are not abbreviations. Any further explanation or notes should go after the dash. Where possible, include a '''context''' for the abbreviation; is the term used to describe a particular edition of D&D (3E, 3.5, 4E etc.), Pathfinder, FantasyCraft or some other game?

== Terms ==

=== 0–9 ===

; 0e
: '''0[th] Edition''' - The original version of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', the ''3-Volume Set''. The retronym came to refer to the true first edition of the game after the later but more popular ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 1st edition became known as "1E". Sometimes distinguished by the year of publication (1974) or box colors (the original woodgrain/brown or the later and more common white). See also LBB, OCE, OD&D, and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

;3E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Third Edition'''. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.5 : '''Dungeons & Dragons, 3.5 Edition''' - a major update to the third edition rules. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.X : refers to both or either of 3E or 3.5, above. Also sometimes includes games derived from third edition D&D, especially Pathfinder and FantasyCraft. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;4E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fourth Edition'''. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;5E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fifth Edition'''. Collectively used for both the 2014 and 2024 versions, or sometimes just for the 2014 version. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;5.14E : Specifically the original 2014 version of '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fifth Edition'''. Also known as D&D Next during its development and playtesting.
;5.24E : Specifically the updated 2024 version of '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fifth Edition'''. Also known as One D&D during its development and playtesting.
;5.5E : Another name for the updated 2024 version of '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fifth Edition'''.

=== A ===

;AD&D : '''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''' - the "advanced" version of the game, a distinct line from the various "basic" versions of the first two editions. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;A-shaped class : (4E) also "A class" or "A-class"; a class for which all builds share the same primary ability score, but have differing secondary ability scores. The Wizard is a good example: Intelligence is always primary, but Charisma, Constitution or Wisdom could be a good secondary score depending on what kind of spells you want to cast.
;AWED : '''At-Will, Encounter, Daily''' (4E) - short hand for the basic division of power usage in "standard" 4E classes.

=== B ===

; BD&D
: '''Basic ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - one term for the second branch in the fork that occurred when 0e split into "Basic" and "Advanced" lines. Started with the Holmes blue box in 1977 and continued through 1999 with the the B/X, BECMI, RC, black box, and later editions. "Basic" is something of a misnomer, since it only refers to three of the box sets (Holmes, Moldvay, and the first Menzter box) and levels from 1–3. See also Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; BECMI
: '''Basic, Expert, Companion, Master, and Immortals''' - the version of the game by Frank Menzter, delineated in ''Dungeons & Dragons Sets 1–5: Basic'', ''Expert'', ''Companion'', ''Master'', and ''Immortals Rules''. Sometimes distinguished by the author, color of the first box set (red), year of release (1983 for the ''Basic Rules'', though the ''Immortals Rules'' was not published until 1986), or the cover artist (Larry Elmore). In contrast to the more limited level range of the earlier Holmes and B/X sets, Mentzer's version provided rules for mortal characters of levels 1–36, and up to another 36 levels as immortals. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; black box
: A reference to ''The New Easy-to-Master Dungeons & Dragons Game'' (1991), which came in a predominately black box. Served as the RC's "Basic Set", but unlike the earlier box sets, it covered levels 1–5. Sometimes loosely applied to any of the post-1989 introductory box sets, like the two printings of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' or the ''Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game'' (only one of the versions of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' is primarily black).

; blue box
: The first ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' (in 1977) was compiled by Eric J. Holmes, and comes in a blue box. Sometimes distinguished by the author/editor or the cover artist (David Sutherland). Covers levels 1–3. More closely related to 0e than any other edition, including the later ''Basic Sets''.

; B/X
: '''Basic/eXpert''' - the version of the ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' by Tom Moldvay combined with the ''Expert Set'' by Dave Cook and Steve Marsh. Sometimes distinguished by the authors, color of the first box set (mauve/purple), year of release (1980 for both sets), or cover artist (Erol Otus). In contrast to the Holmes and BECMI sets, B/X covers levels 1–14. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== C ===

;CB : '''Character Builder''' (4E) - the official ''Dungeons & Dragons'' character creation software offered by Wizards of the Coast.

; Classic D&D
: A term used to refer variously to just BD&D, BD&D and 0e, or all pre-3E versions of ''D&D''.

=== D ===

; d20
: Either a 20-sided die, the d20 System, or the d20STL. The last two are often confused.

; d20 System
: The system underlying 3E, v.3.5, and 4E. See OGL, GSL.

; d20STL
: '''d20 System Trademark License''' - a license from Wizards of the Coast that allowed third party vendors to use certain trademarks and logos (most notably the "d20" logo), and include a claim of compatibility in their products. During the d20 boom from 2000 to 2003, most third party d20 System products used the d20STL in conjunction with the OGL. The bust following WotC's v.3.5 led many third party vendors to abandon the d20STL, which was ultimately revoked by Wizards of the Coast in 2008 in favor of the GSL.

;DDI : '''Dungeons & Dragons Insider''' (4E) - the online subscription service offered by Wizards of the Coast, including ''Dragon'' and ''Dungeon'' magazines and the Character Builder.

=== E ===

; endgame
: The stage of the game where characters retire from adventuring, build castles or other strongholds, and engage war and diplomacy. Often associated with name level.

;E6: (3.X) a variant where player characters stop gaining levels after level 6 and instead receive a feat every 5000xp.

=== F ===

;Fightbrain: (4E) the Battlemind character class from Player's Handbook 3.
;flex stat : (4E) a racial ability score bonus which can be applied to one of two (or more) scores. e.g. Minotaurs get +2 Strength, and +2 Constitution ''or'' +2 Wisdom. Introduced with the races in Player's Handbook 3, with later updates introducing this for nearly all races.

=== G ===

; GSL
: "Gaming System License": The successor to Wizard of the Coast's d20STL and OGL, released in 2008. Far more restrictive than either of its predecessors.

=== L ===

; LBBs
: '''Little Brown Books''' - also "little brown booklets"; a nickname for the parchment-colored, digest-sized booklets in the 0e box set. The three volumes are ''Men & Magic'', ''Monsters & Treasure'', and ''The Underworld and Wilderness Adventures''. Not to be confused with ''Traveller's'' "little black books". See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== M ===

;MAD : '''Multiple Ability Dependency''' (4E, 5E) - a class (or Paragon Path, etc.) that relies on more than one Ability Score; seen as a deficiency since this requires splitting points between abilities, and thus lower possible maximum scores.

; megadungeon
: A dungeon large enough to challenge an adventuring party for their entire career, from 1st level to the endgame. The campaigns played by the creators of the hobby (Gygax and Arneson) both featured megadungeons (Castles Blackmoor and Greyhawk), but no true examples were published during the peak of ''D&D'''s popularity. Considered one of the cornerstones of the OSR.

; metaplot
: A larger plot happening in the game world expressed through published adventures, that players may or may not be able to change. Most often used in reference to White Wolf’s ''World of Darkness'' games, but sometimes applied to the ongoing history of D&D campaign worlds like the Forgotten Realms.

=== N ===

;NAD : '''Non-Armor Class Defences''' (4E) - Shorthand for a character or monster's Fortitude, Reflex and Will defences.

; name level
: The level at which a character stops gaining new level titles (which are associated with each class and level in pre-3E versions of the game), often 9th. For example, a fighting-man in 0e is called a "Super Hero" at 8th level, a "Lord" at 9th level, and a "Lord, 10th Level" at 10th level. Since that is not a new descriptive title, the fighting-man reaches name level at 9th. Often considered the start of the endgame, and usually the point at which character advancement dramatically slows.

=== O ===

; OD&D
: '''Original ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - also "Old ''Dungeons & Dragons''". Among adherents of the OSR, the term has come to refer strictly to the edition represented by the 0e box set and the supplements, and often the Holmes ''Basic Set''. Among the broader group of old school fans, the term is often used more broadly, and includes the rest of the BD&D line. There is some controversy over which is is the proper usage.

; OG
: '''Old Geezer''' - the username of RPG.net poster Michael Mornard, who was a player in the original Castle Greyhawk campaign co-DMed by Gary Gygax and Rob Kuntz in the early 1970s.

; OGC
: '''Open Game Content''' - any material released under the Open Game License (OGL).

; OGL
: '''Open Game License''' - an open-source license released by Wizards of the Coast in 2000 that allows third party vendors to use Open Game Content (OGC), like the SRD. Commonly used in conjunction with the more restrictive d20STL until 2003. Proposed revisions to the OGL were leaked in early 2023 that met with significant backlash due to the negative impact it would have had on third-party publishers. The revision was scrapped, and a minor revision made instead. The fifth edition OGC was also dual-licensed under a Creative Commons license, but other publishers also reacted by using alternative licenses of their own, like the Open RPG Creative (ORC) license.

; ORC
: '''Open RPG Creatice license''' - an open-source license released by a Paizo and other RPG publishers as an alternative to the Open Game License (OGL).

; OS
: '''Old school''' - a general adjective used to describe the style of early role-playing games. While primarily used to refer to ''D&D'' and its variants, the term can be more broadly applied to any early games. Different definitions have different cut off times; some exclude 3.X, 2E, 1E, everything but 0e, or various finer distinctions (lines are often drawn at ''AD&D'' 2nd edition's ''Player Option'' books, or 1E's ''Unearthed Arcana'').

; OSR
: '''Old School Renaissance''' - also ''Old School Revolution'' or ''Old School Revival''; the recent surge in popularity of older roleplaying games and styles. While partially attributable to the death of Gary Gygax in 2008, earlier retro games like ''HackMaster'' and ''Castles & Crusades'' (2006) tapped into the same sentiment. While there is a no true center or uniformity of opinion, the public face of the group is a fairly cohesive collection of games, magazines, message boards, publishers, and blogs (the most prominent of the latter being Grognardia). Common themes, as articulated in Finch's ''A Quick Primer for Old School Gaming'', are megadungeons, sandbox campaigns, an emphasis on player rather than character skill, and a focus on rediscovering how the creators of the games actually played. There's a heavy focus on 0e, with a secondary focus on ''AD&D'', specifically the pre-''Unearthed Arcana'' 1st edition.

=== P ===

;PoLand : '''"Points of Light" land''' (4E) - the "implied setting" found in the core fourth edition books, which uses the "Points of Light" concept.
;primary ability score : (4E) the ability score upon which all or most of a class's attack powers are based. It is usually used for both the attack roll and damage rolls. A character should have a high score in their class's primary ability. For example, Strength is the primary ability score for Fighters.
;rider : (4E) a secondary effect granted by a power in addition to its main effect. Often dependent on a class's secondary ability score or choice of class feature.

=== R ===

; RC
: '''''Rules Cyclopedia''''' - a single-volume version of Menzter's BECMI sets, compiled by Aaron Allston in 1991. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; red box
: Usually refers to the first box set in the BECMI series by Frank Metzer; see BECMI for full details. May also refer to the Fourth Edition Beginner's Box set which was released in a nearly identical box. (The ''Stranger Things''-themed Starter Set for the fifth edition also used a very similar box.)

; retro-clone
: A replica (or near-replica) of an out of print version of a game. Originally and most commonly used to refer to clones of ''D&D''. Based on the principle that the rules of a game cannot be copyrighted, only the specific ''expression'' of the rules. Many clones rely on the OGC to allow them to use trademarked terms and specific elements (like the names of spells, monsters, or game terms). Also known as a simulacrum.

; rider
: (4E) A secondary effect of an attack power, often based on a class's secondary ability score. For example, the first-level Paladin power "Bolstering Strike" deals damage based on Charisma (it's main effect), and also grants bonus hit points based on Wisdom (the rider). Derived from the "rider" clause in famous band's contracts, which states what they expect to be provided for them backstage (drinks, beverages etc.) in addition to their payment.

=== S ===
; sandbox
: A campaign style where there is no overarching plot driving the players toward a scripted conclusion. See metaplot.

;secondary ability score : (4E) an ability score which provides secondary bonuses to a class's powers, often in "riders" (q.v.).

; SRD
: '''System Reference Document''' - a compilation of Open Game Content (OGC) released under the Open Gaming Licence (OGL) by Wizards of the Coast (WotC). The original third edition SRD included material from ''Player's Handbook'', ''Dungeon Master's Guide'', and ''Monster Manual'', but later expansions added content from the ''Epic Level Handbook'', ''Deities & Demigods'', and ''Psionics Handbook''. While most of ''Unearthed Arcana'' was also declared OGC, none of the material was added to the SRD. A ''d20 Modern'' SRD was also released, with material from the core rules, ''Modern Arcana'', and the ''Menace Manual''. The fourth edition did not have an SRD, but the fifth edition does; it has been released both under the OGL and a Creative Commons license. Many third party vendors have also adopted the terminology, with Anime, ''Fudge'', and ''Traveller'' SRDs among many others.

; S&W
: '''''Swords & Wizardry''''' - a 0e retro-clone that comes in two versions. The ''Core Rules'' version replicates the ''3-Volume Set'' plus selected material from the Supplements, primarily ''Greyhawk''. Not a particularly faithful clone, because some elements were excluded (e.g. no thieves), there is support for both ascending and descending AC, and the five saves have become a single number. The ''White Box'' is the ''Core Rules'' minus all material not in the original ''3-Volume Set''.

=== T ===
; TSR
: '''Tactical Studies Rules''' - the company founded by Gary Gygax and Don Kaye in 1973 to publish ''Dungeons & Dragons''. It later become known as TSR Hobbies, then TSR Inc. It owned and operated many properties including D&D, various war games, fantasy fiction, and the Gen Con gaming convention. After a decline in profits, its licenses were bought by Wizards of the Coast in 1996, and many sold off to other entities.

=== V ===

;V-shaped class : (4E) also "V class" or "V-class"; a class which offers a choice of primary ability score, depending on build, but always uses the same secondary ability score. The Warlock is a good example; they might choose Constitution or Charisma as a primary ability score depending on their build and pact, but Intelligence is always a good choice for a secondary score.

=== W ===

;WotC : '''Wizards of the Coast''' - current developers, publishers and owners of ''Dungeons & Dragons’'.

Editions of Dungeons and Dragons

2024-06-28T04:32:31Z

Guybrush: Added category

{| class="wikitable"
!style="width:4em;"| YEAR
!colspan="2"| GAME
|- style="text-align:center;"
! 1974
| style="background:#dddddd; text-align:center;" colspan="2" |'''''"Little Brown Books" or "White Box" Dungeons & Dragons''''' (original white/brown box edition with three booklets)
''Men & Magic'' • ''Monsters & Treasure'' • ''The Underworld & Wilderness Adventures''
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! 1977
|style="background:#ddbbff;"| '''''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''''' (1st Edition)
''Monster Manual'' (December)
|style="background:#dddddd;" rowspan="3"| '''''"Blue Box" Dungeons & Dragons''''' (2nd version)
''"Holmes" Basic Set'' (blue box) (levels 1–3)
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! 1978
|style="background:#ddbbff;"| ''Players Handbook'' (June)
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! 1979
|rowspan="2" style="background:#ddbbff;"| ''Dungeon Master Guide'' (August)
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! 1981
|style="background:#ffddbb;"| '''''"B/X" Dungeons & Dragons''''' (3rd version)
''"Moldvay" Basic Set'' (magenta box) (levels 1-3) 
''"Cook/Marsh" Expert Set'' (light blue box) (levels 4–14)
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! 1983
|style="background:#ddbbff;" rowspan="2"| Core rulebooks reprinted with new orange-spined covers
|style="background:#ffddbb;"| '''''"BECMI" or "Red Box" Dungeons & Dragons''''' (4th version)
''"Mentzer" Basic Set'' (red box) (levels 1-3) 
''"Mentzer" Expert Set'' (blue box) (levels 4-14) 
''Companion Set'' (cyan box) (levels 15–25)
|- style="background:#white; vertical-align:top;"
! 1984
|style="background:#ffddbb;"| ''Master Set'' (black box) (levels 26–36)
|- style="background:#white; vertical-align:top;"
! 1985
|style="background:#ddbbff;"| ''Unearthed Arcana'' (a fourth "core" rulebook)  
|style="background:#ffddbb;" rowspan="2"|''Immortals Set'' (gold box) (levels 36+)
|- style="background:#white; vertical-align:top;"
! 1989
|style="background:#ddbbff;" rowspan="3" | '''''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd edition'''
''Player's Handbook'' 
''Dungeon Master's Guide'' 
''Monstrous Compendium''
|- style="background:#white; vertical-align:top;"
! 1991
|style="background:#ffddbb;"| '''''"RC" Dungeons & Dragons''''' (5th version)
''Rules Cyclopedia'' (levels 1–36)
|- style="background:#white; vertical-align:top;"
! 1992
|style="background:#ffddbb;" rowspan="3"| ''Wrath of the Immortals'' (levels 36+)
|- style="background:#white; vertical-align:top;"
! 1993
|style="background:#ddbbff;"| ''Monstrous Manual''
|- style="background:#white; vertical-align:top;"
! 1996
|style="background:#ddbbff;"| '''''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd edition''' revised
''Player's Handbook'' 
''Dungeon Masters Guide''
|- style="background:white; text-align:center;"
! 2000
|style="background:#bbffdd;" colspan="2"| '''''Dungeons & Dragons'' 3rd edition''' (three ''Core'' rulebooks)
''Player's Handbook'' • ''Dungeon Master's Guide'' • ''Monster Manual''
|- style="background:white; text-align:center;"
! 2003
|style="background:#bbffdd;" colspan="2"| '''''Dungeons & Dragons'' 3rd edition revised''' (v3.5)
Revised editions of the core rulebooks (compatible with 3.0 via errata)
|- style="background:white; text-align:center;"
! 2008
|style="background:#ffcccc;" colspan="2"| '''''Dungeons & Dragons'' 4th edition''' (three ''Core'' rulebooks)
''Player's Handbook'' • ''Monster Manual'' • ''Dungeon Master's Guide''
|- style="background:white; text-align:center;"
! 2009
|style="background:#ffcccc;" colspan="2"| ''Player's Handbook 2'' • ''Monster Manual 2'' • ''Dungeon Master's Guide 2''
|- style="background:white; text-align:center;"
! 2010
|style="background:#ffcccc;" colspan="2"| ''Player's Handbook 3'' • ''Monster Manual 3''
|- style="background:white; text-align:center;"
! 2010
|style="background:#ffcccc;" colspan="2"| '''''Dungeons & Dragons'' 4th edition''' (''Essentials'')
''Starter Set'' • ''Heroes of the Fallen Lands'' • ''Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms'' 
''Rules Compendium'' • ''Dungeon Master's Kit'' • ''Monster Vault''
|- style="background:white; text-align:center;"
! 2014
|style="background:#bbccff;" colspan="2"| '''''Dungeons & Dragons'' 5th edition''' (three 2014 ''Core'' rulebooks)
''Player's Handbook'' • ''Monster Manual'' • ''Dungeon Master's Guide''
|- style="background:white; text-align:center;"
! 2024
|style="background:#bbccff;" colspan="2"| '''''Dungeons & Dragons'' 5th edition''' (three 2024 ''Core'' rulebooks)
''Player's Handbook'' • ''Monster Manual'' • ''Dungeon Master's Guide''
|- style="background:white;"
!
|-
! Notes:
| colspan="2" | Titles in quotes are unofficial titles commonly used by players to distinguish between the six different versions all simply called "Dungeons & Dragons" by TSR.
|-
!
| style="background:#cccccc;" colspan="2" | The grey group of editions is commonly known as "Original D&D" or "OD&D". 
However, some people use this term exclusively for the white/brown box version.
|-
!
| style="background:#ddbbff;" colspan="2" | The purple group of editions is commonly known as "AD&D".
|-
!
| style="background:#ffddbb;" colspan="2" | The orange group of editions is commonly known as "Classic D&D" or "Basic D&D". 
However, some people use the term "Classic D&D" to apply to the orange and grey groups combined. 
Additionally, some people use the term "BECMI D&D" to refer to both the 4th and 5th versions (but not the 3rd version).
|-
!
| style="background:#bbffdd;" colspan="2" | The green group of editions is commonly known as "D&D 3.x" or "d20 D&D". 
Additionally, some people refer to the green, red and blue groups together as "WotC D&D" and all earlier groups as "TSR D&D".
|-
!
| style="background:#ffcccc;" colspan="2" | The red group of editions is commonly known as "D&D 4e".
|-
!
| style="background:#bbccff;" colspan="2" | The blue group of editions is commonly known as "D&D 5e"; also known as "D&D Next" during its initial development, and “One D&D” during the 2024 revision.
|}

[[Category:Dungeons & Dragons]]

Editions of Dungeons and Dragons

2024-06-27T13:30:50Z

Guybrush: Added 2024 D&D

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2016-02-01T17:01:28Z

Guybrush: /* R */ Reordered

[[Category: Glossary]] [[Category: Dungeons & Dragons]]

This page is intended as a repository for abbreviations and jargon used when discussing ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (or ''[[Pathfinder]]'', generic d20 fantasy games etc.). While not all originated on the RPG.net D&D forum, a term should be used there before it appears on this list. It is not meant to be a glossary of game terms as presented in the rules, but rather terms invented by or primarily used by players, and not appearing in the books.

== Format ==
Entries should be in alphabetical order, with numbers preceding letters and symbols preceding numbers.

Each entry should be written like this:
:<tt><nowiki>;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.</nowiki></tt>

When formatted, it looks like this:

;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.

'''Term''' is the abbreviation being defined. '''Definition''' should be brief; in most cases, it will simply be the full term which the acronym or abbreviation replaces. It can be omitted for terms which are not abbreviations. Any further explanation or notes should go after the dash. Where possible, include a '''context''' for the abbreviation; is the term used to describe a particular edition of D&D (3E, 3.5, 4E etc.), Pathfinder, FantasyCraft or some other game?

== Terms ==

=== 0–9 ===

; 0e
: '''0[th] Edition''' - The original version of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', the ''3-Volume Set''. The retronym came to refer to the true first edition of the game after the later but more popular ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 1st edition became known as "1E". Sometimes distinguished by the year of publication (1974) or box colors (the original woodgrain/brown or the later and more common white). See also LBB, OCE, OD&D, and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

;3E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Third Edition'''. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.5 : '''Dungeons & Dragons, 3.5 Edition''' - a major update to the third edition rules. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.X : refers to both or either of 3E or 3.5, above. Also sometimes includes games derived from third edition D&D, especially Pathfinder and FantasyCraft. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;4E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fourth Edition'''. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;5E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fifth Edition'''. Also known as "D&D Next" during it's development. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== A ===

;AD&D : '''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''' - the "advanced" version of the game, a distinct line from the various "basic" versions of the first two editions. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;A-shaped class : (4E) also "A class" or "A-class"; a class for which all builds share the same primary ability score, but have differing secondary ability scores. The Wizard is a good example: Intelligence is always primary, but Charisma, Constitution or Wisdom could be a good secondary score depending on what kind of spells you want to cast.
;AWED : '''At-Will, Encounter, Daily''' (4E) - short hand for the basic division of power usage in "standard" 4E classes.

=== B ===

; BD&D
: '''Basic ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - one term for the second branch in the fork that occurred when 0e split into "Basic" and "Advanced" lines. Started with the Holmes blue box in 1977 and continued through 1999 with the the B/X, BECMI, RC, black box, and later editions. "Basic" is something of a misnomer, since it only refers to three of the box sets (Holmes, Moldvay, and the first Menzter box) and levels from 1–3. See also Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; BECMI
: '''Basic, Expert, Companion, Master, and Immortals''' - the version of the game by Frank Menzter, delineated in ''Dungeons & Dragons Sets 1–5: Basic'', ''Expert'', ''Companion'', ''Master'', and ''Immortals Rules''. Sometimes distinguished by the author, color of the first box set (red), year of release (1983 for the ''Basic Rules'', though the ''Immortals Rules'' was not published until 1986), or the cover artist (Larry Elmore). In contrast to the more limited level range of the earlier Holmes and B/X sets, Mentzer's version provided rules for mortal characters of levels 1–36, and up to another 36 levels as immortals. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; black box
: A reference to ''The New Easy-to-Master Dungeons & Dragons Game'' (1991), which came in a predominately black box. Served as the RC's "Basic Set", but unlike the earlier box sets, it covered levels 1–5. Sometimes loosely applied to any of the post-1989 introductory box sets, like the two printings of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' or the ''Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game'' (only one of the versions of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' is primarily black).

; blue box
: The first ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' (in 1977) was compiled by Eric J. Holmes, and comes in a blue box. Sometimes distinguished by the author/editor or the cover artist (David Sutherland). Covers levels 1–3. More closely related to 0e than any other edition, including the later ''Basic Sets''.

; B/X
: '''Basic/eXpert''' - the version of the ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' by Tom Moldvay combined with the ''Expert Set'' by Dave Cook and Steve Marsh. Sometimes distinguished by the authors, color of the first box set (mauve/purple), year of release (1980 for both sets), or cover artist (Erol Otus). In contrast to the Holmes and BECMI sets, B/X covers levels 1–14. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== C ===

;CB : '''Character Builder''' (4E) - the official ''Dungeons & Dragons'' character creation software offered by Wizards of the Coast.

; Classic D&D
: A term used to refer variously to just BD&D, BD&D and 0e, or all pre-3E versions of ''D&D''.

=== D ===

; d20
: Either a 20-sided die, the d20 System, or the d20STL. The last two are often confused.

; d20 System
: The system underlying 3E, v.3.5, and 4E. See OGL, GSL.

; d20STL
: '''d20 System Trademark License''' - a license from Wizards of the Coast that allowed third party vendors to use certain trademarks and logos (most notably the "d20" logo), and include a claim of compatibility in their products. During the d20 boom from 2000 to 2003, most third party d20 System products used the d20STL in conjunction with the OGL. The bust following WotC's v.3.5 led many third party vendors to abandon the d20STL, which was ultimately revoked by Wizards of the Coast in 2008 in favor of the GSL.

;DDI : '''Dungeons & Dragons Insider''' (4E) - the online subscription service offered by Wizards of the Coast, including ''Dragon'' and ''Dungeon'' magazines and the Character Builder.

=== E ===

; endgame
: The stage of the game where characters retire from adventuring, build castles or other strongholds, and engage war and diplomacy. Often associated with name level.

;E6: (3.X) a variant where player characters stop gaining levels after level 6 and instead receive a feat every 5000xp.

=== F ===

;Fightbrain: (4E) the Battlemind character class from Player's Handbook 3.
;flex stat : (4E) a racial ability score bonus which can be applied to one of two (or more) scores. e.g. Minotaurs get +2 Strength, and +2 Constitution ''or'' +2 Wisdom. Introduced with the races in Player's Handbook 3, with later updates introducing this for nearly all races.

=== G ===

; GSL
: "Gaming System License": The successor to Wizard of the Coast's d20STL and OGL, released in 2008. Far more restrictive than either of its predecessors.

=== L ===

; LBBs
: '''Little Brown Books''' - also "little brown booklets"; a nickname for the parchment-colored, digest-sized booklets in the 0e box set. The three volumes are ''Men & Magic'', ''Monsters & Treasure'', and ''The Underworld and Wilderness Adventures''. Not to be confused with ''Traveller's'' "little black books". See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== M ===

;MAD : '''Multiple Ability Dependency''' (4E) - a class (or Paragon Path, etc.) that relies on more than one Ability Score; seen as a deficiency since this requires splitting points between abilities, and thus lower possible maximum scores.

; megadungeon
: A dungeon large enough to challenge an adventuring party for their entire career, from 1st level to the endgame. The campaigns played by the creators of the hobby (Gygax and Arneson) both featured megadungeons (Castles Blackmoor and Greyhawk), but no true examples were published during the peak of ''D&D'''s popularity. Considered one of the cornerstones of the OSR.

=== N ===

;NAD : '''Non-Armor Class Defences''' (4E) - Shorthand for a character or monster's Fortitude, Reflex and Will defences.

; name level
: The level at which a character stops gaining new level titles (which are associated with each class and level in pre-3E versions of the game), often 9th. For example, a fighting-man in 0e is called a "Super Hero" at 8th level, a "Lord" at 9th level, and a "Lord, 10th Level" at 10th level. Since that is not a new descriptive title, the fighting-man reaches name level at 9th. Often considered the start of the endgame, and usually the point at which character advancement dramatically slows.

=== O ===

; OD&D
: '''Original ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - also "Old ''Dungeons & Dragons''". Among adherents of the OSR, the term has come to refer strictly to the edition represented by the 0e box set and the supplements, and often the Holmes ''Basic Set''. Among the broader group of old school fans, the term is often used more broadly, and includes the rest of the BD&D line. There is some controversy over which is is the proper usage.

; OG
: '''Old Geezer''' - the username of RPG.net poster Michael Mornard, who was a player in the original Castle Greyhawk campaign co-DMed by Gary Gygax and Rob Kuntz in the early 1970s.

; OGC
: '''Open Game Content''' - any material released under the OGL.

; OGL
: '''Open Game License''' - an open-source license released by Wizards of the Coast in 2000 that allows third party vendors to use OGC, like the SRD. Commonly used in conjunction with the more restrictive d20STL until 2003.

; OS
: '''Old school''' - a general adjective used to describe the style of early role-playing games. While primarily used to refer to ''D&D'' and its variants, the term can be more broadly applied to any early games. Different definitions have different cut off times; some exclude 3.X, 2E, 1E, everything but 0e, or various finer distinctions (lines are often drawn at ''AD&D'' 2nd edition's ''Player Option'' books, or 1E's ''Unearthed Arcana'').

; OSR
: '''Old School Renaissance''' - also ''Old School Revolution'' or ''Old School Revival''; the recent surge in popularity of older roleplaying games and styles. While partially attributable to the death of Gary Gygax in 2008, earlier retro games like ''HackMaster'' and ''Castles & Crusades'' (2006) tapped into the same sentiment. While there is a no true center or uniformity of opinion, the public face of the group is a fairly cohesive collection of games, magazines, message boards, publishers, and blogs (the most prominent of the latter being Grognardia). Common themes, as articulated in Finch's ''A Quick Primer for Old School Gaming'', are megadungeons, sandbox campaigns, an emphasis on player rather than character skill, and a focus on rediscovering how the creators of the games actually played. There's a heavy focus on 0e, with a secondary focus on ''AD&D'', specifically the pre-''Unearthed Arcana'' 1st edition.

=== P ===

;PoLand : '''"Points of Light" land''' (4E) - the "implied setting" found in the core fourth edition books, which uses the "Points of Light" concept.
;primary ability score : (4E) the ability score upon which all or most of a class's attack powers are based. It is usually used for both the attack roll and damage rolls. A character should have a high score in their class's primary ability. For example, Strength is the primary ability score for Fighters.
;rider : (4E) a secondary effect granted by a power in addition to its main effect. Often dependent on a class's secondary ability score or choice of class feature.

=== R ===

; RC
: '''''Rules Cyclopedia''''' - a single-volume version of Menzter's BECMI sets, compiled by Aaron Allston in 1991. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; red box
: Usually refers to the first box set in the BECMI series by Frank Metzer; see BECI for full details. May also refer to the Fourth Edition Beginner's Box set, which was released in a nearly identical box.

; retro-clone
: A replica of an out of print version of a game. Originally and most commonly used to refer to clones of ''D&D''. Based on the principle that the rules of a game cannot be copyrighted, only the specific ''expression'' of the rules. Many clones rely on the OGC to allow them to use trademarked terms and specific elements (like the names of spells, monsters, or game terms). Also known as a simulacrum.

; rider
: (4E) A secondary effect of an attack power, often based on a class's secondary ability score. For example, the first-level Paladin power "Bolstering Strike" deals damage based on Charisma (it's main effect), and also grants bonus hit points based on Wisdom (the rider). Derived from the "rider" clause in famous band's contracts, which states what they expect to be provided for them backstage (drinks, beverages etc.) in addition to their payment.

=== S ===
; sandbox
: A campaign style where there is no overarching plot driving the players toward a scripted conclusion. See metaplot.

;secondary ability score : (4E) an ability score which provides secondary bonuses to a class's powers, often in "riders" (q.v.).

; SRD
: '''System Reference Document''' - a compilation of Open Game Content (OGC) released under the Open Gaming Licence (OGL) by Wizards of the Coast (WotC). The original SRD included material from ''Player's Handbook'', ''Dungeon Master's Guide'', and ''Monster Manual'', but later expansions added content from the ''Epic Level Handbook'', ''Deities & Demigods'', and ''Psionics Handbook''. While most of ''Unearthed Arcana'' was also declared OGC, none of the material was added to the SRD. A ''d20 Modern'' SRD was also released, with material from the core rules, ''Modern Arcana'', and the ''Menace Manual''. Third party vendors have also adopted the terminology, with Anime, ''Fudge'', and ''Traveller'' SRDs among many others.

; S&W
: '''''Swords & Wizardry''''' - a 0e retro-clone that comes in two versions. The ''Core Rules'' version replicates the ''3-Volume Set'' plus selected material from the Supplements, primarily ''Greyhawk''. Not a particularly faithful clone, because some elements were excluded (e.g. no thieves), there is support for both ascending and descending AC, and the five saves have become a single number. The ''White Box'' is the ''Core Rules'' minus all material not in the original ''3-Volume Set''.

=== T ===
; TSR
: '''Tactical Studies Rules''' - the company founded by Gary Gygax and Don Kaye in 1973 to publish ''Dungeons & Dragons''. It later become known as TSR Hobbies, then TSR Inc. It owned and operated many properties including D&D, various war games, fantasy fiction, and the Gen Con gaming convention. After a decline in profits, its licenses were bought by Wizards of the Coast in 1996, and many sold off to other entities.

=== V ===

;V-shaped class : (4E) also "V class" or "V-class"; a class which offers a choice of primary ability score, depending on build, but always uses the same secondary ability score. The Warlock is a good example; they might choose Constitution or Charisma as a primary ability score depending on their build and pact, but Intelligence is always a good choice for a secondary score.

=== W ===

;WotC : '''Wizards of the Coast''' - current developers, publishers and owners of ''Dungeons & Dragons''.

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2016-02-01T16:59:54Z

Guybrush: /* R */ added "rider"

[[Category: Glossary]] [[Category: Dungeons & Dragons]]

This page is intended as a repository for abbreviations and jargon used when discussing ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (or ''[[Pathfinder]]'', generic d20 fantasy games etc.). While not all originated on the RPG.net D&D forum, a term should be used there before it appears on this list. It is not meant to be a glossary of game terms as presented in the rules, but rather terms invented by or primarily used by players, and not appearing in the books.

== Format ==
Entries should be in alphabetical order, with numbers preceding letters and symbols preceding numbers.

Each entry should be written like this:
:<tt><nowiki>;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.</nowiki></tt>

When formatted, it looks like this:

;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.

'''Term''' is the abbreviation being defined. '''Definition''' should be brief; in most cases, it will simply be the full term which the acronym or abbreviation replaces. It can be omitted for terms which are not abbreviations. Any further explanation or notes should go after the dash. Where possible, include a '''context''' for the abbreviation; is the term used to describe a particular edition of D&D (3E, 3.5, 4E etc.), Pathfinder, FantasyCraft or some other game?

== Terms ==

=== 0–9 ===

; 0e
: '''0[th] Edition''' - The original version of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', the ''3-Volume Set''. The retronym came to refer to the true first edition of the game after the later but more popular ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 1st edition became known as "1E". Sometimes distinguished by the year of publication (1974) or box colors (the original woodgrain/brown or the later and more common white). See also LBB, OCE, OD&D, and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

;3E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Third Edition'''. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.5 : '''Dungeons & Dragons, 3.5 Edition''' - a major update to the third edition rules. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.X : refers to both or either of 3E or 3.5, above. Also sometimes includes games derived from third edition D&D, especially Pathfinder and FantasyCraft. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;4E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fourth Edition'''. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;5E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fifth Edition'''. Also known as "D&D Next" during it's development. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== A ===

;AD&D : '''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''' - the "advanced" version of the game, a distinct line from the various "basic" versions of the first two editions. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;A-shaped class : (4E) also "A class" or "A-class"; a class for which all builds share the same primary ability score, but have differing secondary ability scores. The Wizard is a good example: Intelligence is always primary, but Charisma, Constitution or Wisdom could be a good secondary score depending on what kind of spells you want to cast.
;AWED : '''At-Will, Encounter, Daily''' (4E) - short hand for the basic division of power usage in "standard" 4E classes.

=== B ===

; BD&D
: '''Basic ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - one term for the second branch in the fork that occurred when 0e split into "Basic" and "Advanced" lines. Started with the Holmes blue box in 1977 and continued through 1999 with the the B/X, BECMI, RC, black box, and later editions. "Basic" is something of a misnomer, since it only refers to three of the box sets (Holmes, Moldvay, and the first Menzter box) and levels from 1–3. See also Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; BECMI
: '''Basic, Expert, Companion, Master, and Immortals''' - the version of the game by Frank Menzter, delineated in ''Dungeons & Dragons Sets 1–5: Basic'', ''Expert'', ''Companion'', ''Master'', and ''Immortals Rules''. Sometimes distinguished by the author, color of the first box set (red), year of release (1983 for the ''Basic Rules'', though the ''Immortals Rules'' was not published until 1986), or the cover artist (Larry Elmore). In contrast to the more limited level range of the earlier Holmes and B/X sets, Mentzer's version provided rules for mortal characters of levels 1–36, and up to another 36 levels as immortals. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; black box
: A reference to ''The New Easy-to-Master Dungeons & Dragons Game'' (1991), which came in a predominately black box. Served as the RC's "Basic Set", but unlike the earlier box sets, it covered levels 1–5. Sometimes loosely applied to any of the post-1989 introductory box sets, like the two printings of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' or the ''Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game'' (only one of the versions of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' is primarily black).

; blue box
: The first ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' (in 1977) was compiled by Eric J. Holmes, and comes in a blue box. Sometimes distinguished by the author/editor or the cover artist (David Sutherland). Covers levels 1–3. More closely related to 0e than any other edition, including the later ''Basic Sets''.

; B/X
: '''Basic/eXpert''' - the version of the ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' by Tom Moldvay combined with the ''Expert Set'' by Dave Cook and Steve Marsh. Sometimes distinguished by the authors, color of the first box set (mauve/purple), year of release (1980 for both sets), or cover artist (Erol Otus). In contrast to the Holmes and BECMI sets, B/X covers levels 1–14. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== C ===

;CB : '''Character Builder''' (4E) - the official ''Dungeons & Dragons'' character creation software offered by Wizards of the Coast.

; Classic D&D
: A term used to refer variously to just BD&D, BD&D and 0e, or all pre-3E versions of ''D&D''.

=== D ===

; d20
: Either a 20-sided die, the d20 System, or the d20STL. The last two are often confused.

; d20 System
: The system underlying 3E, v.3.5, and 4E. See OGL, GSL.

; d20STL
: '''d20 System Trademark License''' - a license from Wizards of the Coast that allowed third party vendors to use certain trademarks and logos (most notably the "d20" logo), and include a claim of compatibility in their products. During the d20 boom from 2000 to 2003, most third party d20 System products used the d20STL in conjunction with the OGL. The bust following WotC's v.3.5 led many third party vendors to abandon the d20STL, which was ultimately revoked by Wizards of the Coast in 2008 in favor of the GSL.

;DDI : '''Dungeons & Dragons Insider''' (4E) - the online subscription service offered by Wizards of the Coast, including ''Dragon'' and ''Dungeon'' magazines and the Character Builder.

=== E ===

; endgame
: The stage of the game where characters retire from adventuring, build castles or other strongholds, and engage war and diplomacy. Often associated with name level.

;E6: (3.X) a variant where player characters stop gaining levels after level 6 and instead receive a feat every 5000xp.

=== F ===

;Fightbrain: (4E) the Battlemind character class from Player's Handbook 3.
;flex stat : (4E) a racial ability score bonus which can be applied to one of two (or more) scores. e.g. Minotaurs get +2 Strength, and +2 Constitution ''or'' +2 Wisdom. Introduced with the races in Player's Handbook 3, with later updates introducing this for nearly all races.

=== G ===

; GSL
: "Gaming System License": The successor to Wizard of the Coast's d20STL and OGL, released in 2008. Far more restrictive than either of its predecessors.

=== L ===

; LBBs
: '''Little Brown Books''' - also "little brown booklets"; a nickname for the parchment-colored, digest-sized booklets in the 0e box set. The three volumes are ''Men & Magic'', ''Monsters & Treasure'', and ''The Underworld and Wilderness Adventures''. Not to be confused with ''Traveller's'' "little black books". See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== M ===

;MAD : '''Multiple Ability Dependency''' (4E) - a class (or Paragon Path, etc.) that relies on more than one Ability Score; seen as a deficiency since this requires splitting points between abilities, and thus lower possible maximum scores.

; megadungeon
: A dungeon large enough to challenge an adventuring party for their entire career, from 1st level to the endgame. The campaigns played by the creators of the hobby (Gygax and Arneson) both featured megadungeons (Castles Blackmoor and Greyhawk), but no true examples were published during the peak of ''D&D'''s popularity. Considered one of the cornerstones of the OSR.

=== N ===

;NAD : '''Non-Armor Class Defences''' (4E) - Shorthand for a character or monster's Fortitude, Reflex and Will defences.

; name level
: The level at which a character stops gaining new level titles (which are associated with each class and level in pre-3E versions of the game), often 9th. For example, a fighting-man in 0e is called a "Super Hero" at 8th level, a "Lord" at 9th level, and a "Lord, 10th Level" at 10th level. Since that is not a new descriptive title, the fighting-man reaches name level at 9th. Often considered the start of the endgame, and usually the point at which character advancement dramatically slows.

=== O ===

; OD&D
: '''Original ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - also "Old ''Dungeons & Dragons''". Among adherents of the OSR, the term has come to refer strictly to the edition represented by the 0e box set and the supplements, and often the Holmes ''Basic Set''. Among the broader group of old school fans, the term is often used more broadly, and includes the rest of the BD&D line. There is some controversy over which is is the proper usage.

; OG
: '''Old Geezer''' - the username of RPG.net poster Michael Mornard, who was a player in the original Castle Greyhawk campaign co-DMed by Gary Gygax and Rob Kuntz in the early 1970s.

; OGC
: '''Open Game Content''' - any material released under the OGL.

; OGL
: '''Open Game License''' - an open-source license released by Wizards of the Coast in 2000 that allows third party vendors to use OGC, like the SRD. Commonly used in conjunction with the more restrictive d20STL until 2003.

; OS
: '''Old school''' - a general adjective used to describe the style of early role-playing games. While primarily used to refer to ''D&D'' and its variants, the term can be more broadly applied to any early games. Different definitions have different cut off times; some exclude 3.X, 2E, 1E, everything but 0e, or various finer distinctions (lines are often drawn at ''AD&D'' 2nd edition's ''Player Option'' books, or 1E's ''Unearthed Arcana'').

; OSR
: '''Old School Renaissance''' - also ''Old School Revolution'' or ''Old School Revival''; the recent surge in popularity of older roleplaying games and styles. While partially attributable to the death of Gary Gygax in 2008, earlier retro games like ''HackMaster'' and ''Castles & Crusades'' (2006) tapped into the same sentiment. While there is a no true center or uniformity of opinion, the public face of the group is a fairly cohesive collection of games, magazines, message boards, publishers, and blogs (the most prominent of the latter being Grognardia). Common themes, as articulated in Finch's ''A Quick Primer for Old School Gaming'', are megadungeons, sandbox campaigns, an emphasis on player rather than character skill, and a focus on rediscovering how the creators of the games actually played. There's a heavy focus on 0e, with a secondary focus on ''AD&D'', specifically the pre-''Unearthed Arcana'' 1st edition.

=== P ===

;PoLand : '''"Points of Light" land''' (4E) - the "implied setting" found in the core fourth edition books, which uses the "Points of Light" concept.
;primary ability score : (4E) the ability score upon which all or most of a class's attack powers are based. It is usually used for both the attack roll and damage rolls. A character should have a high score in their class's primary ability. For example, Strength is the primary ability score for Fighters.
;rider : (4E) a secondary effect granted by a power in addition to its main effect. Often dependent on a class's secondary ability score or choice of class feature.

=== R ===

; red box
: Usually refers to the first box set in the BECMI series by Frank Metzer; see BECI for full details. May also refer to the Fourth Edition Beginner's Box set, which was released in a nearly identical box.

; retro-clone
: A replica of an out of print version of a game. Originally and most commonly used to refer to clones of ''D&D''. Based on the principle that the rules of a game cannot be copyrighted, only the specific ''expression'' of the rules. Many clones rely on the OGC to allow them to use trademarked terms and specific elements (like the names of spells, monsters, or game terms). Also known as a simulacrum.

; rider
: (4E) A secondary effect of an attack power, often based on a class's secondary ability score. For example, the first-level Paladin power "Bolstering Strike" deals damage based on Charisma (it's main effect), and also grants bonus hit points based on Wisdom (the rider). Derived from the "rider" clause in famous band's contracts, which states what they expect to be provided for them backstage (drinks, beverages etc.) in addition to their payment.

; RC
: '''''Rules Cyclopedia''''' - a single-volume version of Menzter's BECMI sets, compiled by Aaron Allston in 1991. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== S ===
; sandbox
: A campaign style where there is no overarching plot driving the players toward a scripted conclusion. See metaplot.

;secondary ability score : (4E) an ability score which provides secondary bonuses to a class's powers, often in "riders" (q.v.).

; SRD
: '''System Reference Document''' - a compilation of Open Game Content (OGC) released under the Open Gaming Licence (OGL) by Wizards of the Coast (WotC). The original SRD included material from ''Player's Handbook'', ''Dungeon Master's Guide'', and ''Monster Manual'', but later expansions added content from the ''Epic Level Handbook'', ''Deities & Demigods'', and ''Psionics Handbook''. While most of ''Unearthed Arcana'' was also declared OGC, none of the material was added to the SRD. A ''d20 Modern'' SRD was also released, with material from the core rules, ''Modern Arcana'', and the ''Menace Manual''. Third party vendors have also adopted the terminology, with Anime, ''Fudge'', and ''Traveller'' SRDs among many others.

; S&W
: '''''Swords & Wizardry''''' - a 0e retro-clone that comes in two versions. The ''Core Rules'' version replicates the ''3-Volume Set'' plus selected material from the Supplements, primarily ''Greyhawk''. Not a particularly faithful clone, because some elements were excluded (e.g. no thieves), there is support for both ascending and descending AC, and the five saves have become a single number. The ''White Box'' is the ''Core Rules'' minus all material not in the original ''3-Volume Set''.

=== T ===
; TSR
: '''Tactical Studies Rules''' - the company founded by Gary Gygax and Don Kaye in 1973 to publish ''Dungeons & Dragons''. It later become known as TSR Hobbies, then TSR Inc. It owned and operated many properties including D&D, various war games, fantasy fiction, and the Gen Con gaming convention. After a decline in profits, its licenses were bought by Wizards of the Coast in 1996, and many sold off to other entities.

=== V ===

;V-shaped class : (4E) also "V class" or "V-class"; a class which offers a choice of primary ability score, depending on build, but always uses the same secondary ability score. The Warlock is a good example; they might choose Constitution or Charisma as a primary ability score depending on their build and pact, but Intelligence is always a good choice for a secondary score.

=== W ===

;WotC : '''Wizards of the Coast''' - current developers, publishers and owners of ''Dungeons & Dragons''.

Editions of Dungeons and Dragons

2016-02-01T16:41:24Z

Guybrush: Added fifth edition, D&D Essentials for fourth edition; removed non-existent DMG3 for 4E

{| class="wikitable"
!style="width:4em;"| YEAR
!colspan="2"| GAME
|- style="text-align:center;"
! 1974
| style="background:#dddddd; text-align:center;" colspan="2" |'''''"Little Brown Books" or "White Box" Dungeons & Dragons''''' (original white/brown box edition with three booklets)
''Men & Magic'' • ''Monsters & Treasure'' • ''The Underworld & Wilderness Adventures''
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! 1977
|style="background:#ddbbff;"| '''''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''''' (1st Edition)
''Monster Manual'' (December)
|style="background:#dddddd;" rowspan="3"| '''''"Blue Box" Dungeons & Dragons''''' (2nd version)
''"Holmes" Basic Set'' (blue box) (levels 1–3)
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! 1978
|style="background:#ddbbff;"| ''Players Handbook'' (June)
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! 1979
|rowspan="2" style="background:#ddbbff;"| ''Dungeon Master Guide'' (August)
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! 1981
|style="background:#ffddbb;"| '''''"B/X" Dungeons & Dragons''''' (3rd version)
''"Moldvay" Basic Set'' (magenta box) (levels 1-3) 
''"Cook/Marsh" Expert Set'' (light blue box) (levels 4–14)
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
! 1983
|style="background:#ddbbff;" rowspan="2"| Core rulebooks reprinted with new orange-spined covers
|style="background:#ffddbb;"| '''''"BECMI" or "Red Box" Dungeons & Dragons''''' (4th version)
''"Mentzer" Basic Set'' (red box) (levels 1-3) 
''"Mentzer" Expert Set'' (blue box) (levels 4-14) 
''Companion Set'' (cyan box) (levels 15–25)
|- style="background:#white; vertical-align:top;"
! 1984
|style="background:#ffddbb;"| ''Master Set'' (black box) (levels 26–36)
|- style="background:#white; vertical-align:top;"
! 1985
|style="background:#ddbbff;"| ''Unearthed Arcana'' (a fourth "core" rulebook)  
|style="background:#ffddbb;" rowspan="2"|''Immortals Set'' (gold box) (levels 36+)
|- style="background:#white; vertical-align:top;"
! 1989
|style="background:#ddbbff;" rowspan="3" | '''''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd edition'''
''Player's Handbook'' 
''Dungeon Master's Guide'' 
''Monstrous Compendium''
|- style="background:#white; vertical-align:top;"
! 1991
|style="background:#ffddbb;"| '''''"RC" Dungeons & Dragons''''' (5th version)
''Rules Cyclopedia'' (levels 1–36)
|- style="background:#white; vertical-align:top;"
! 1992
|style="background:#ffddbb;" rowspan="3"| ''Wrath of the Immortals'' (levels 36+)
|- style="background:#white; vertical-align:top;"
! 1993
|style="background:#ddbbff;"| ''Monstrous Manual''
|- style="background:#white; vertical-align:top;"
! 1996
|style="background:#ddbbff;"| '''''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd edition''' revised
''Player's Handbook'' 
''Dungeon Masters Guide''
|- style="background:white; text-align:center;"
! 2000
|style="background:#bbffdd;" colspan="2"| '''''Dungeons & Dragons'' 3rd edition''' (three ''Core'' rulebooks)
''Player's Handbook'' • ''Dungeon Master's Guide'' • ''Monster Manual''
|- style="background:white; text-align:center;"
! 2003
|style="background:#bbffdd;" colspan="2"| '''''Dungeons & Dragons'' 3rd edition revised''' (v3.5)
Revised editions of the core rulebooks (compatible with 3.0 via errata)
|- style="background:white; text-align:center;"
! 2008
|style="background:#ffcccc;" colspan="2"| '''''Dungeons & Dragons'' 4th edition''' (three ''Core'' rulebooks)
''Player's Handbook'' • ''Monster Manual'' • ''Dungeon Master's Guide''
|- style="background:white; text-align:center;"
! 2009
|style="background:#ffcccc;" colspan="2"| ''Player's Handbook 2'' • ''Monster Manual 2'' • ''Dungeon Master's Guide 2''
|- style="background:white; text-align:center;"
! 2010
|style="background:#ffcccc;" colspan="2"| ''Player's Handbook 3'' • ''Monster Manual 3''
|- style="background:white; text-align:center;"
! 2010
|style="background:#ffcccc;" colspan="2"| '''''Dungeons & Dragons'' 4th edition''' (''Essentials'')
''Starter Set'' • ''Heroes of the Fallen Lands'' • ''Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms'' 
''Rules Compendium'' • ''Dungeon Master's Kit'' • ''Monster Vault''
|- style="background:white; text-align:center;"
! 2014
|style="background:#bbccff;" colspan="2"| '''''Dungeons & Dragons'' 5th edition''' (three ''Core'' rulebooks)
''Player's Handbook'' • ''Monster Manual'' • ''Dungeon Master's Guide''
|- style="background:white;"
!
|-
! Notes:
| colspan="2" | Titles in quotes are unofficial titles commonly used by players to distinguish between the six different versions all simply called "Dungeons & Dragons" by TSR.
|-
!
| style="background:#cccccc;" colspan="2" | The grey group of editions is commonly known as "Original D&D" or "OD&D". 
However, some people use this term exclusively for the white/brown box version.
|-
!
| style="background:#ddbbff;" colspan="2" | The purple group of editions is commonly known as "AD&D".
|-
!
| style="background:#ffddbb;" colspan="2" | The orange group of editions is commonly known as "Classic D&D" or "Basic D&D". 
However, some people use the term "Classic D&D" to apply to the orange and grey groups combined. 
Additionally, some people use the term "BECMI D&D" to refer to both the 4th and 5th versions (but not the 3rd version).
|-
!
| style="background:#bbffdd;" colspan="2" | The green group of editions is commonly known as "D&D 3.x" or "d20 D&D". 
Additionally, some people refer to the green, red and blue groups together as "WotC D&D" and all earlier groups as "TSR D&D".
|-
!
| style="background:#ffcccc;" colspan="2" | The red group of editions is commonly known as "D&D 4e".
|-
!
| style="background:#bbccff;" colspan="2" | The blue group of editions is commonly known as "D&D 5e"; also known as "D&D Next" during its development.
|}

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2016-02-01T16:16:49Z

Guybrush: /* 0–9 */ Added 5E

[[Category: Glossary]] [[Category: Dungeons & Dragons]]

This page is intended as a repository for abbreviations and jargon used when discussing ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (or ''[[Pathfinder]]'', generic d20 fantasy games etc.). While not all originated on the RPG.net D&D forum, a term should be used there before it appears on this list. It is not meant to be a glossary of game terms as presented in the rules, but rather terms invented by or primarily used by players, and not appearing in the books.

== Format ==
Entries should be in alphabetical order, with numbers preceding letters and symbols preceding numbers.

Each entry should be written like this:
:<tt><nowiki>;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.</nowiki></tt>

When formatted, it looks like this:

;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.

'''Term''' is the abbreviation being defined. '''Definition''' should be brief; in most cases, it will simply be the full term which the acronym or abbreviation replaces. It can be omitted for terms which are not abbreviations. Any further explanation or notes should go after the dash. Where possible, include a '''context''' for the abbreviation; is the term used to describe a particular edition of D&D (3E, 3.5, 4E etc.), Pathfinder, FantasyCraft or some other game?

== Terms ==

=== 0–9 ===

; 0e
: '''0[th] Edition''' - The original version of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', the ''3-Volume Set''. The retronym came to refer to the true first edition of the game after the later but more popular ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 1st edition became known as "1E". Sometimes distinguished by the year of publication (1974) or box colors (the original woodgrain/brown or the later and more common white). See also LBB, OCE, OD&D, and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

;3E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Third Edition'''. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.5 : '''Dungeons & Dragons, 3.5 Edition''' - a major update to the third edition rules. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.X : refers to both or either of 3E or 3.5, above. Also sometimes includes games derived from third edition D&D, especially Pathfinder and FantasyCraft. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;4E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fourth Edition'''. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;5E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fifth Edition'''. Also known as "D&D Next" during it's development. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== A ===

;AD&D : '''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''' - the "advanced" version of the game, a distinct line from the various "basic" versions of the first two editions. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;A-shaped class : (4E) also "A class" or "A-class"; a class for which all builds share the same primary ability score, but have differing secondary ability scores. The Wizard is a good example: Intelligence is always primary, but Charisma, Constitution or Wisdom could be a good secondary score depending on what kind of spells you want to cast.
;AWED : '''At-Will, Encounter, Daily''' (4E) - short hand for the basic division of power usage in "standard" 4E classes.

=== B ===

; BD&D
: '''Basic ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - one term for the second branch in the fork that occurred when 0e split into "Basic" and "Advanced" lines. Started with the Holmes blue box in 1977 and continued through 1999 with the the B/X, BECMI, RC, black box, and later editions. "Basic" is something of a misnomer, since it only refers to three of the box sets (Holmes, Moldvay, and the first Menzter box) and levels from 1–3. See also Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; BECMI
: '''Basic, Expert, Companion, Master, and Immortals''' - the version of the game by Frank Menzter, delineated in ''Dungeons & Dragons Sets 1–5: Basic'', ''Expert'', ''Companion'', ''Master'', and ''Immortals Rules''. Sometimes distinguished by the author, color of the first box set (red), year of release (1983 for the ''Basic Rules'', though the ''Immortals Rules'' was not published until 1986), or the cover artist (Larry Elmore). In contrast to the more limited level range of the earlier Holmes and B/X sets, Mentzer's version provided rules for mortal characters of levels 1–36, and up to another 36 levels as immortals. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; black box
: A reference to ''The New Easy-to-Master Dungeons & Dragons Game'' (1991), which came in a predominately black box. Served as the RC's "Basic Set", but unlike the earlier box sets, it covered levels 1–5. Sometimes loosely applied to any of the post-1989 introductory box sets, like the two printings of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' or the ''Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game'' (only one of the versions of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' is primarily black).

; blue box
: The first ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' (in 1977) was compiled by Eric J. Holmes, and comes in a blue box. Sometimes distinguished by the author/editor or the cover artist (David Sutherland). Covers levels 1–3. More closely related to 0e than any other edition, including the later ''Basic Sets''.

; B/X
: '''Basic/eXpert''' - the version of the ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' by Tom Moldvay combined with the ''Expert Set'' by Dave Cook and Steve Marsh. Sometimes distinguished by the authors, color of the first box set (mauve/purple), year of release (1980 for both sets), or cover artist (Erol Otus). In contrast to the Holmes and BECMI sets, B/X covers levels 1–14. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== C ===

;CB : '''Character Builder''' (4E) - the official ''Dungeons & Dragons'' character creation software offered by Wizards of the Coast.

; Classic D&D
: A term used to refer variously to just BD&D, BD&D and 0e, or all pre-3E versions of ''D&D''.

=== D ===

; d20
: Either a 20-sided die, the d20 System, or the d20STL. The last two are often confused.

; d20 System
: The system underlying 3E, v.3.5, and 4E. See OGL, GSL.

; d20STL
: '''d20 System Trademark License''' - a license from Wizards of the Coast that allowed third party vendors to use certain trademarks and logos (most notably the "d20" logo), and include a claim of compatibility in their products. During the d20 boom from 2000 to 2003, most third party d20 System products used the d20STL in conjunction with the OGL. The bust following WotC's v.3.5 led many third party vendors to abandon the d20STL, which was ultimately revoked by Wizards of the Coast in 2008 in favor of the GSL.

;DDI : '''Dungeons & Dragons Insider''' (4E) - the online subscription service offered by Wizards of the Coast, including ''Dragon'' and ''Dungeon'' magazines and the Character Builder.

=== E ===

; endgame
: The stage of the game where characters retire from adventuring, build castles or other strongholds, and engage war and diplomacy. Often associated with name level.

;E6: (3.X) a variant where player characters stop gaining levels after level 6 and instead receive a feat every 5000xp.

=== F ===

;Fightbrain: (4E) the Battlemind character class from Player's Handbook 3.
;flex stat : (4E) a racial ability score bonus which can be applied to one of two (or more) scores. e.g. Minotaurs get +2 Strength, and +2 Constitution ''or'' +2 Wisdom. Introduced with the races in Player's Handbook 3, with later updates introducing this for nearly all races.

=== G ===

; GSL
: "Gaming System License": The successor to Wizard of the Coast's d20STL and OGL, released in 2008. Far more restrictive than either of its predecessors.

=== L ===

; LBBs
: '''Little Brown Books''' - also "little brown booklets"; a nickname for the parchment-colored, digest-sized booklets in the 0e box set. The three volumes are ''Men & Magic'', ''Monsters & Treasure'', and ''The Underworld and Wilderness Adventures''. Not to be confused with ''Traveller's'' "little black books". See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== M ===

;MAD : '''Multiple Ability Dependency''' (4E) - a class (or Paragon Path, etc.) that relies on more than one Ability Score; seen as a deficiency since this requires splitting points between abilities, and thus lower possible maximum scores.

; megadungeon
: A dungeon large enough to challenge an adventuring party for their entire career, from 1st level to the endgame. The campaigns played by the creators of the hobby (Gygax and Arneson) both featured megadungeons (Castles Blackmoor and Greyhawk), but no true examples were published during the peak of ''D&D'''s popularity. Considered one of the cornerstones of the OSR.

=== N ===

;NAD : '''Non-Armor Class Defences''' (4E) - Shorthand for a character or monster's Fortitude, Reflex and Will defences.

; name level
: The level at which a character stops gaining new level titles (which are associated with each class and level in pre-3E versions of the game), often 9th. For example, a fighting-man in 0e is called a "Super Hero" at 8th level, a "Lord" at 9th level, and a "Lord, 10th Level" at 10th level. Since that is not a new descriptive title, the fighting-man reaches name level at 9th. Often considered the start of the endgame, and usually the point at which character advancement dramatically slows.

=== O ===

; OD&D
: '''Original ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - also "Old ''Dungeons & Dragons''". Among adherents of the OSR, the term has come to refer strictly to the edition represented by the 0e box set and the supplements, and often the Holmes ''Basic Set''. Among the broader group of old school fans, the term is often used more broadly, and includes the rest of the BD&D line. There is some controversy over which is is the proper usage.

; OG
: '''Old Geezer''' - the username of RPG.net poster Michael Mornard, who was a player in the original Castle Greyhawk campaign co-DMed by Gary Gygax and Rob Kuntz in the early 1970s.

; OGC
: '''Open Game Content''' - any material released under the OGL.

; OGL
: '''Open Game License''' - an open-source license released by Wizards of the Coast in 2000 that allows third party vendors to use OGC, like the SRD. Commonly used in conjunction with the more restrictive d20STL until 2003.

; OS
: '''Old school''' - a general adjective used to describe the style of early role-playing games. While primarily used to refer to ''D&D'' and its variants, the term can be more broadly applied to any early games. Different definitions have different cut off times; some exclude 3.X, 2E, 1E, everything but 0e, or various finer distinctions (lines are often drawn at ''AD&D'' 2nd edition's ''Player Option'' books, or 1E's ''Unearthed Arcana'').

; OSR
: '''Old School Renaissance''' - also ''Old School Revolution'' or ''Old School Revival''; the recent surge in popularity of older roleplaying games and styles. While partially attributable to the death of Gary Gygax in 2008, earlier retro games like ''HackMaster'' and ''Castles & Crusades'' (2006) tapped into the same sentiment. While there is a no true center or uniformity of opinion, the public face of the group is a fairly cohesive collection of games, magazines, message boards, publishers, and blogs (the most prominent of the latter being Grognardia). Common themes, as articulated in Finch's ''A Quick Primer for Old School Gaming'', are megadungeons, sandbox campaigns, an emphasis on player rather than character skill, and a focus on rediscovering how the creators of the games actually played. There's a heavy focus on 0e, with a secondary focus on ''AD&D'', specifically the pre-''Unearthed Arcana'' 1st edition.

=== P ===

;PoLand : '''"Points of Light" land''' (4E) - the "implied setting" found in the core fourth edition books, which uses the "Points of Light" concept.
;primary ability score : (4E) the ability score upon which all or most of a class's attack powers are based. It is usually used for both the attack roll and damage rolls. A character should have a high score in their class's primary ability. For example, Strength is the primary ability score for Fighters.
;rider : (4E) a secondary effect granted by a power in addition to its main effect. Often dependent on a class's secondary ability score or choice of class feature.

=== R ===

; red box
: Usually refers to the first box set in the BECMI series by Frank Metzer; see BECI for full details. May also refer to the Fourth Edition Beginner's Box set, which was released in a nearly identical box.

; retro-clone
: A replica of an out of print version of a game. Originally and most commonly used to refer to clones of ''D&D''. Based on the principle that the rules of a game cannot be copyrighted, only the specific ''expression'' of the rules. Many clones rely on the OGC to allow them to use trademarked terms and specific elements (like the names of spells, monsters, or game terms). Also known as a simulacrum.

; RC
: '''''Rules Cyclopedia''''' - a single-volume version of Menzter's BECMI sets, compiled by Aaron Allston in 1991. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== S ===
; sandbox
: A campaign style where there is no overarching plot driving the players toward a scripted conclusion. See metaplot.

;secondary ability score : (4E) an ability score which provides secondary bonuses to a class's powers, often in "riders" (q.v.).

; SRD
: '''System Reference Document''' - a compilation of Open Game Content (OGC) released under the Open Gaming Licence (OGL) by Wizards of the Coast (WotC). The original SRD included material from ''Player's Handbook'', ''Dungeon Master's Guide'', and ''Monster Manual'', but later expansions added content from the ''Epic Level Handbook'', ''Deities & Demigods'', and ''Psionics Handbook''. While most of ''Unearthed Arcana'' was also declared OGC, none of the material was added to the SRD. A ''d20 Modern'' SRD was also released, with material from the core rules, ''Modern Arcana'', and the ''Menace Manual''. Third party vendors have also adopted the terminology, with Anime, ''Fudge'', and ''Traveller'' SRDs among many others.

; S&W
: '''''Swords & Wizardry''''' - a 0e retro-clone that comes in two versions. The ''Core Rules'' version replicates the ''3-Volume Set'' plus selected material from the Supplements, primarily ''Greyhawk''. Not a particularly faithful clone, because some elements were excluded (e.g. no thieves), there is support for both ascending and descending AC, and the five saves have become a single number. The ''White Box'' is the ''Core Rules'' minus all material not in the original ''3-Volume Set''.

=== T ===
; TSR
: '''Tactical Studies Rules''' - the company founded by Gary Gygax and Don Kaye in 1973 to publish ''Dungeons & Dragons''. It later become known as TSR Hobbies, then TSR Inc. It owned and operated many properties including D&D, various war games, fantasy fiction, and the Gen Con gaming convention. After a decline in profits, its licenses were bought by Wizards of the Coast in 1996, and many sold off to other entities.

=== V ===

;V-shaped class : (4E) also "V class" or "V-class"; a class which offers a choice of primary ability score, depending on build, but always uses the same secondary ability score. The Warlock is a good example; they might choose Constitution or Charisma as a primary ability score depending on their build and pact, but Intelligence is always a good choice for a secondary score.

=== W ===

;WotC : '''Wizards of the Coast''' - current developers, publishers and owners of ''Dungeons & Dragons''.

Major Projects

2016-02-01T16:14:23Z

Guybrush: /* Terminology */ Added link to D&D glossary project (about time!)

If you are working on a major project which you expect to span 6+ pages, please enter it alphabetically in the appropriate section of this page. Use a level 3 header, so that you'll appear in the table of contents, include a link to your project's main page, and then briefly describe your project.

==Game Systems==
This is a list of original game systems being developed at the RPGnetWiki.

===Æther===
'''Page:''' [[Æther: Main Page|Æther]]

Did you think Earth was the only world? The world of Æther is closer than you think, a fantastic world of magic, and faeries, castles and wonder. . . and dark powers trying to conquer two worlds. Æther is a campaign setting using the '''GURPS''' rules set. Characters must leap between worlds countering threats to both worlds and facing evil spirits, dragons, and both wonderful and terrible magics.

===Alter Aeon===
'''Page:''' [[Alter_Aeon]]
Dare you enter the world the world of Alter Aeon. Classic text based RPG with extensive quest, communication, and game play options. Online 24/7. Broadband NOT REQUIRED!

===Ancient & Deadly===
'''Page:''' [[Ancient_And_Deadly| Ancient & Deadly]]

===BASH! Basic Action Super Heroes===
'''Page:''' [[BASH:Main_Page|BASH!]]

===Basic FANGS: Fantasy Adventure Network Gaming System===
'''Page:''' [[FANGS:_Main Page|FANGS]]

Version 1.6.1 of a classless skill-based [[RPG]] system, with some minimal compatibility with [[d20 System|d20]] modules. By Christopher Allen and Steve Perrin.

===B-Grade===
'''Page:'''[[B-Grade]]

B-Grade is an rpg where the players take on the role of B-Grade movie characters such as vampires, mummys, martians, leprechauns, deformed hunchbacks, and wolfmen...they fight secretly for allied forces in 1935 at the brink of what will become world war 2...adventures focus on thwarting the schemes of cthulhuan occultists, far east criminal geniuses, mad scientists, double agents and facist governments...finding themselves in locations such as prehistoric dinosaur islands, archaelogical dig-sites, and secret military installations...fighting against foes such as japanese robots, radioactive mutants, sadistic superhuman nazis and legions of ninjas. Uses a heavily customised version of the One roll Engine (ORE) system.

===CP2020===
'''Page:''' [[CP2020:Main_Page|CP2020]]

Miscellaneous resources for running a Cyberpunk 2020 campaign.

===DarkCraft===
'''Page:''' [[DarkCraft:Main_Page|DarkCraft]]

A SpyCraft 2.0 implementation of Classic World of Darkness.

===Dice & Glory===
'''Page:''' [[Dice&Glory:Main_Page]]

First Edition of a universal game system using skeletal character classes and a "buy" based experience point system and skill based magic and psionic systems. By Robert A Neri Jr.

===Do Not Go Gentle===
'''Page:''' [[Do Not Go Gentle: Main Page]]

Post war superhero game, rules-lite. By Asklepios.

===Fabuland===
'''Page:''' [[Fabuland:_Main Page|Fabuland]]

A furry rpg aimed at children with a system based on the ideas presented in the Rough Quests RPGnet column.

===Flamepunk===
'''Page:''' [[Flamepunk:Main Page|Flamepunk]]

''Cyberpunk meets pyromancy'' in this detailed and complete game. ''Blazers'', grab your obsidian deck and run the flameweb to take down the ''Church of Holy Flame''. ''Burners'', tool up with pyrecaster, ashblade and stonecarve armour, and take on the ''Guild Hellforged''. ''Binders'' catch yourself an elemental, fetter in to a flesh-tattoo then go hand to hand against the ''Hadar Shadows''. It's all here, and you can take the burn back to the Man. Hope you brough something fireproof...

===Gangwars===
'''Page:''' [[Gangwars:Main_Page|Gangwars]]

A classless d20 based system emphasizing skills and traits, with similarities to the shadowrun setting.

=== Genius: the Transgression ===
'''Page:''' [[Genius_The_Transgression|Genius The Transgression]]

A game for playing mad scientists, designed to fit into the New World of Darkness alongside similar games.

===Hyperborean Mice===
'''Page:''' [[HyperboreanMice:Main_Page|Hyperborean Mice]]

Gritty Swords & Sorcery action... as performed by talking mice and rats. Available from Lulu.

===Irradiated Fur===
Page: [[IrradiatedFur:Main Page|Irradiated Fur]]

A simplistic anthropomorphic apocalyptic one-shot game system.
===FableScape===
'''Page:''' [[FableScape|FableScape]]

An RPG taking place in the made up world of Morasadell {More-isa-dell.}The gama is in a Mythology/Fantasy/Simi-Shonen Genre Game. The Wiki-Page is is under-constuction.

===Fantasy Rules for Fate 3.0===
'''Page: ''' [[Geos:Fate-Fudge_Rules|Fantasy Fate 3.0]]

Geos is a standalone fantasy gameworld, using a variation on the [http://www.faterpg.com/ Fate 3.0] rules. The main magic system is based on Atlas Games' [http://www.atlas-games.com/arsmagica/ Ars Magica]. The system is primarily narrativist, with secondary emphasis on gamist and simulationist perspectives.

===Land of Xel===
'''Page:''' [[Land_of_Xel|Land of Xel]]

Under construction RPG system. The Land of Xel is a fantasy RPG with a mix of technology, magic, and metal. The land is divided into four different factions each with its own internal strife and outward aggression.

===Legends===
'''Page:''' [[Legends: Main Page]]

Epic fantasy roleplaying. Work in progress. By Asklepios.

===Leviathan: The Tempest===
'''Page:''' [[http://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/LeviathanTempest:Main_Page| Leviathan: The Tempest]]

A new setting for the nWoD where players take the roll of hybrids between humanity and primordial gods of evolution and chaos. Described by one contributor as being a game where you play "The Mayor of Innsmouth".

===Lexicon, an RPG===
'''Page:''' [[Original Lexicon post]]

A copy of the page that introduced the Lexicon wiki-based RPG to the world. Originally written by Neel Krishnaswami; taken from his blog "The 20 x 20 Room".

===Mano a Mano===
'''Page:''' [[Mano a Mano]]

A simple, generic system. Mano a Mano is well-suited for combat-intensive games with non-humanoid characters.

===Marvel Universe Game===
'''Page:''' [[MUG:Main Page]]

A giant game of What If? featuring your favorite marvel characters. Eschews individual character control for a more collaborative storytelling environment.

===Mini mam===
'''Page:''' [[Mini mam]]

An extremely simple fantasy RPG system, derived from older versions of Mano a Mano. Mini mam is designed for absolute beginners to role-playing games and gamers who have a need for a system so simple that it doesn't require a character sheet.

===McMercenaries===
'''Page:''' [[McMercenaries:Orientation]]

A game and setting of corporate warfare in the all-too-near future.
Input is encouraged!

===Morturi Te Salutant===
'''Page:''' [[Morturi Te Salutant: Main Page]]

Gladiatorial mini-skirmish game. By Asklepios.

===Nexus D20===
'''Page:''' [http://www.wiki.garrowolf.net/index.php?title=Main_Page Nexus D20]

An alternate D20 system designed to solve all of those aspects of D20 that irritated people. It has a skill based feat system and a Class Framework instead of a hundred classes that allows players to create any kind of character they want. It has support for many different settings and technology levels. It allows you to play in settings that you like but in a system that makes more sense. All actions are based on one dice roll instead of many that slow games down. Combat is very fast and easy to resolve but extremely deadly forcing your players to actually seek cover instead of standing around and taking it. It has a totally different magic system based on a smaller set of powers with each spell a feat within the powers.

===nWoD Fantasy===
'''Page:''' [[NWoD_Fantasy:Main_Page]]

A modification of Whitewolf's nWoD system into a fantasy setting similar to that of Dungeons and Dragons.

===Ogre===
'''Page:''' [[Ogre:Main_Page|Open, Generic Roleplaying Environment]]

A generic rpg system without classes, general levels and with continuous initiative based on the OGC content.

===Open4E===
""Page:"" [[Open4E:Main_Page|Open4E]]

An OGL derivative of the [[d20 System|d20]] system for fantasy roleplaying inspired by the 4th Edition of a popular D20 system, with an emphasis on class balance and mechanical consistency.

===OpenD20===
'''Page:''' [[Opend20:_Main_Page|OpenD20]]

A classless skills based [[d20 System|d20]] derivative. Designed for elegant simplicity. The intention is to create a more universal [[RPG]] system by getting input from the online community (are you reading this? Then that means YOU!)

===Open Game Repository===
'''Page:''' [[OGR:Main Page|Open Game Repository]]

A repository for various rules released under the [[Open Game License]]. This is intended to include everything from the SRD, games distributed by third parties, and home-brew rules.

===Rebirth===
'''Page:''' [[Rebirth:Main Page|Rebirth]]

Set in Ancient India, 1 night spans decades with the constant death-rebirth-death system. By Fleming Publications.

===SAMSARA===
'''Page:''' [[Samsara:Main Page|SAMSARA]]

A fairly rules-lite system of mechanics based around the resolution of contests. Designed to be modular and eminently tweakable.

===Scratch RPS===
'''Page:''' [[Scratch|Scratch Role-Playing System]]

The Scratch Role-Playing System (Scratch RPS) is a simple set of RPG rules used in the [http://gameartsguild.com/squawk Squawk Role-Playing Game]. Stats for Scratch characters can be as simple as a few abilities and ability levels which are added to rolls when those abilities are used. The Scratch RPS has a few basic rules and many optional rules.

===Scum===
'''Page:''' [[Scum: Main Page]]

Brutal and random game of playing chavs and scum in 21st century Britain. By Asklepios.

===Serenity===
'''Page:''' [[Serenity:Main Page|Serenity]]

Miscellaneous resources for running a Serenity/Firefly campaign.

===Shattered Prism===
'''Page:''' [[ShatteredPrism:Main_Page|Shattered Prism]]

In-Development RPG series. Shattered Prism is intended to be a series of related RPGs using a unified rules system, set within a predominately Sci-Fi galaxy.

===Star Wars Saga===
'''Page:''' [[Star Wars Saga:_Main Page|Star Wars Saga]]

Miscellaneous resources for running a SW Saga campaign.

===Symphony of Stars===
'''Page:''' [[SymphonyofStars]]

An Experiment in Cooperative Game Design via Actual Play.

===Texas===
'''Page:''' [[Texas:_Main_Page|Texas]]

A rules light poker-based game system. Designed to emulate the genre of Spaghetti Westerns, in the Sergio Leone / Clint Eastwood style. By Asklepios.

===24 Hour RPGs===
Page: [[List of 24 Hour RPGs by rating]]

A listing of all the quickie RPGs created as part of the [http://www.24hourrpg.com/ 24 Hour RPG] event/contest.

===Wiki RPG===
'''Page:''' [[Wiki RPG]]

The goal of the Wiki RPG project is to create computer based role playing games collaboratively.
Games are both edited in the browser (via this Wiki) and played in the browser (the Wiki HTML pages are downloaded and the game code is interpreted by a JavaScript game engine).

===WikiHow RPG===
'''Page''' [[WikiHow RPG]]

A system of Roleplaying where you make a persona on WIkiHow.com and roleplay it.

===Xia===
'''Page:''' [[Xia: Main Page|Xia]]

Wushu heroes kick ass in fantasy ancient China! A detailed and complete roleplaying game designed for playing wuxia style games of kung fu action. By Asklepios.

==Game Design Resources==

===System design grab-bags===
'''Page''': [[System_grab-bags:Main_page]]

A collection of all kinds of game mechanics used in different systems.

===Character Role Catalog===

The [[Character Role Catalog]] is an attempt to list the roles characters can play in roleplaying games. The page also contains some theory on these roles.

===Aspects List===

The [[Aspects_List|Aspects List]] is a catalog of useful aspects that can be of use to narrators and players playing RPGs such as FATE, Houses of the Blooded, Universalis, etc.

==Generic Backgrounds==
This is a list of generic backgrounds, not tied to any game system, that are being developed at the RPGnetWiki.

===Across the Spiral Arms===
Spiral arms is a space opera setting, designed to emulate many of the common Anime tropes. As such it's got a lot of drama, a lot of scope, and very little science included.

* '''Page:''' [[SpiralArms:_Main_Page|Across the Spiral Arms]] 

===Adventure! RPG Campaigns===
'''Page:''' [[Adventure!_RPG_Campaigns:Main_Page|Adventure! RPG Campaigns: Main Page]]

A page open for game groups to provide details and resource on individual campaigns based on the Adventure! roleplaying game.

===Alvatia: Game Setting===
Alvatia is a fantasy game setting originally developed for use with [[FANGS:_Main Page|FANGS]], however, is quite suitable as a generic low-magic fantasy setting.

* '''Page:''' [[ALVATIA:_Main_Page|Alvatia]] 
** '''Page:''' [[ALVATIA:_Ingsby_-_Village_and_Manor|The Village and Manor of Ingsby]]
** '''Page:''' [[ALVATIA:_City_of_Wedburgh|City_of_Wedburgh]]

===AMBER===
Page: [[Amber RPG:_Main Page]] A page open for game groups to provide details and resource on individual campaigns based on the RPG for the Amber Setting.

===Ars Nova===

'''Page:''' [[Ars Nova]]

14th century historical fantasy setting

===Athanatos: A Transhumanist Fantasy Setting===
'''Page:''' [[ATHANATOS:_Main_Page|Athanatos]]

A fantasy setting where powerful magics have allowed souls to stay connected to the material plane even after the death of the body.

===Basilicus===
'''Page:''' [[Basilicus]]

A massive open content wiki project featuring worldbuilding in several genres, free fiction, and other invaluable resources.

===Chaos Diceless===
'''Page:''' [[Chaos_Diceless|Chaos Diceless]]

Chaos, Rebma, The New Pattern and all these places you have never visited or re-invented a thousand times. They're here.

A repository of Courts and places for ADRPG.

===Conan RPG Campaigns===
'''Page:''' [[Conan_RPG_Campaigns:Main_Page|Conan RPG Campaigns: Main Page]]

A page open for game groups to provide details and resource on individual campaigns based on the sword and sorcery setting of Conan and the Hyborian world.

===Contribute Your Eerie Event===
'''Page:''' [[Eerie Event]]

Following up on the thread from rpg.net, this is a Wiki designed to collate weird events for use in a variety of horror games.

===Covenant, West Virginia===
'''Page:''' [[Covenant]]

A hyper-historical, modern day setting in the style of Lost. Contributions needed!

===Diaspora Adaptations: Diaspora Does Dallas===

'''Page:''' [[DiasporaAdaptations:Main_Page]]

A hub page for write-ups using ''Diaspora'' to build settings and characters for shows like ''Cowboy Bebop'' and ''Planetes'', together with webcomics like ''A Miracle of Science''.

===Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals===

'''Page:''' [[Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals]]

Information about prehistoric creatures for use in RPGs, simulations or just "playing dinosaurs".

===Dragon Kings Project===

'''Page:''' [[Dragon_Kings_Project:Main_Page | Dragon Kings Project]]

A collection of links, official and fan-made resources for the Dragon Kings, a fantasy game world conceived and presented in fiction, art, and music simultaneously by Timothy Brown, creator of Dark Sun and 2300AD.

===Encyclopedia Galactica===
'''Page:''' [[Encyclopedia_Galactica:Main_Page]]

A hard sci-fi collection of solar systems, planets, lifeforms and sentient societies, suitable as a GM resource or as a subtrate for any sci-fi or fantasy campaign.

===Eternal Empire===
'''Page:''' [[EternalEmpire:Main_Page|Eternal Empire]]

Eternal Empire is a synthesis of Dark Fantasy and Science Fiction with a lenghty background that emphasizes the roles of religion, social structures, language, and race on both individuals and societies.

===EverQuest rpg===
'''Page:''' [[EverQuest rpg:Main Page|EQrpg Main]]

The EverQuest Role-Playing Game system is built on the d20 Open GL rules, and based in the world of Norrath, of the online rpg EverQuest.

===Fantasy City Project===
'''Page:''' [[Fantasy_City_Project:Main_Page|Fantasy City Project]]

Shared development of a generic fantasy city, its locations, NPCs, organizations and adventure seeds.

===Federal Space===
'''Page: ''' [[FederalSpace:Main_Page]]

Shadowjack's alternative-universe variation of Star Trek, lensed in the direction of harder science, more consistent worldbuilding, and uniforms with hats.

===Geos===
'''Page: ''' [[Geos:Main Page|Geos]]

Geos is a fantasy gameworld, based loosely on 13th century Europe. The current incarnation is skewed towards more realistic fantasy - while folk magic is common, actual wizards and faeries are hard to find.

===The Gift===
'''Page''' [[The_Gift:Main_Page|The Gift]]

Mages have been Earth's top predators for as long as their history records, secretly enslaving humanity to further their own ends. Their power has only ever been limited by their ability to cooperate and the little gods have been free to do with this world whatever they desired. So, throughout history, they have made war on one another.

===HarnWorld===
'''Page:''' [[HarnWorld:Main_Page|HarnWorld]]

A compilation for adventuring the world of Kethira and Harn island in particular.

===Infinite Horizons===
'''Page''' [[Infinite_Horizons:Main_Page|Infinite Horizons]]

A sandbox Space Opera universe for GURPS, drawing heavily on Firefly and Mass Effect.

===Lineage===
'''Page''' [[Lineage:Main_Page|Lineage]]

There is no higher purpose for mankind, laid down from above. The mages have always known that. Heaven exists, but it cares nothing for humanity, not even to rule it. Hell is more attentive. The demons like it when we suffer and a demon can make a human suffer forever. Faced with a meaningless universe, will the mages stand up to defend humanity, or will they fight for personal power and glory?

===Meamnar===
'''Page:''' [[Meamnar:Main_Page|Meamnar]]

A classic campaign setting constructed for the d20 game system.

===Magipunk===
'''Page:''' [[Magipunk:Main_Page|Magipunk]]

A weird fantasy game of urban dystopia and rapidly changing social conflict -- cyberpunk crossed with swords and sorcery.

===Marvel Realtime===
'''Page:''' [[Marvel_Realtime:Main_Page|Marvel Realtime]]

Extrapolating what the Marvel Universe might look like if time advanced normally.

===Meanwhile, Back Home...===
'''Page:''' [[MEANWHILE:_Main_Page|Meanwhile, Back Home...]]

A (mostly) humourous Alien Contact setting focusing on Earth.

===Midnight RPG Campaigns===
'''Page:''' [[Midnight RPG Campaigns: Main Page]]

Midnight RPG Campaigns, is a wiki open for game groups to provide details and resource on individual campaigns based on the D20 Dungeons & Dragons MIDNIGHT Setting published by Fantasy Flight Games.

===Necromunda Bible===
'''page:''' [[Necomunda_Bible]]

Necromunda Bible - Is an [[OpenGamingResource]] intended to create a one stop shop for everything Necromunda. Including: New gangs, Fluff, Campaign Ideas and other user generated material based around the Necromunda board game.

=== New Space ===
'''Page:''' [[New_Space:Main_Page|New Space]]

Originally designed for the SpaceMaster: Privateers game, New Space is an original background set in an Alternate World where the Valacantha invaded Earth during World War II. It was a big mistake. Mankind has made the Valacantha flee beyond the Orion Spur and have colonized a fraction of the worlds left behind.

===Paradise City===
'''Page:''' [[Paradise_City:Main_Page|Paradise City]]

Paradise City, Nevada, is a "cyberpunk" setting designed for use with GURPS. The city is huge and contains a wide variety of urban environments, most of them dangerous.

===Pokethulhu RPG Campaigns===
'''Page:''' [[Pokethulhu RPG Campaigns: Main Page]] Pokethulhu RPG Campaigns, is a wiki open for game groups to provide details and resource on individual campaigns based on the Pokethulhu RPG. The game is written and designed by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S._John_Ross S. John Ross] and currently published (in its 3rd Edition) as a free game available from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumberland_Games_and_Diversions Cumberland Games and Diversions].

===Post-Future===

'''Page:''' [[Post-Future:Main_Page|Post Future]]

Your favorite setting, cast forward into a darker future.

=== Prometheus Project ===

'''Page:''' [[Prometheus_Project:Main_Page|Prometheus Project]]

A user created, non game system specific, Bronze age setting composed of numerous city states united by trade and divided by politics, religion and war.

=== Skein of Worlds ===

'''Page:''' [[Skein_of_Worlds:Main_Page|Skein of Worlds]]

A medieval fantasy setting in which the universe really is infinite, and just about anything is possible. Primarily for D&D 3.x, but contains very little system specific details.

===Stardust & Aether Winds===

'''Page:''' [[Stardust&AetherWinds:Main_Page|Stardust & Aether Winds]]

A simple little fantasy setting designed as a spin on the Swashbuckling Sailing Ships in Spaaaace!

===Tekumel===

Welcome to MAR Barker's gloriously baroque world of Tekumel, one of the oldest and most detailed FRP settings. This site will include some general background info, and material specific to 'The Shrine of Petrified Wisdom' campaign.

'''Page:''' [[Tekumel]]

===The Freelancers===

'''Page:''' [[The_Freelancers]]
A campaign set in the roaring twenties. The Freelancers are a group of persons in the Bureau of Investigations special "Freelancers"-unit. Based on RMSS-system, but contains mainly generic material.

===TRaiders===

'''Page:''' [[Traiders]]

Surviving and thriving after the collapse of the global economy.

===Triptych: The Elemental Realms===

'''Page:''' [[TRIPTYCH|Triptych]]

A new mythology for modern magic games. Original elemental creatures wanted. 
Encompasses three parallel worlds: The Great Gale, The White Waste, and the Blasted Lands.

===The Twin Cities of Glass===

'''Page:''' [[TheTwinCitiesOfGlass:Main_Page|The Twin Cities of Glass]]

A fantasy setting of fantastic places.
Encompasses three cities: Narcissus the City of Mirrors, Diaphane the Crystal City, and Iridos the Spectrum City; and the surrounding kingdoms.

===24-Hour RPG Settings===

'''Page:''' [[24HourSettings]]

A new GM challenge set up by Knockwood: similar to the 24-Hour RPG, but focusing on ''settings'' rather than rules. (New, Jan 2008)

===Ubantu: Bantu/African version of GURPS Banestorm===

'''Page:''' [[Ubantu:Contents]]

This a continent based on Bantu mythology, a kind of African setting based on serious anthropology and mythography. It is designed as an add-in content in the GURPS Banestorm world (3e), with an empire than can take on and possibly win against Megalos.

===Wisrtum: Wiki-Based Classic Fantasy Setting===
'''Page:''' [[Wisrtum:Main_Page|Wisrtum]]

This is a ''classic fantasy'' setting, intended to be creativly developed by the community without care for what RPG-System might be used to play it. The community can then produce ports of the source material to whatever game system they wish, as needed.

===The World===
'''Page:''' [[TROS in the Hammer|The World at 'TROS in the Hammer']]

A post-apocalyptic, fairly dark and gritty fantasy setting with several unique cultures and shamanic magic. Currently for use with the Riddle of Steel, but very little game specific stuff.

==GM Resources==
Everything needed to make a [[GM]]'s life easier

===General Resources and Links===
These are generic resources covering various topics that might be of use to game masters.

'''Page:''' [[Free_Adventures|Free Adventures]] 
'''Page:''' [[Free_RPGs|Free RPGs]] 
'''Page:''' [[Free_Software|Free Software]] 
'''Page:''' [[RESOURCES:_Npcs|Npcs]] 
'''Page:''' [[RESOURCES:_Gaming_Websites|Gaming Websites]] 
'''Page:''' [[Non_Gaming_Websites|Non Gaming Websites]] 
'''Page:''' [[Cool_Fight_Locations|Cool Fight Locations]] 
'''Page:''' [[Stereotype_List|Stereotype List]] 
'''Page:''' [[Great_Quotes_List|Great Quotes of RPGNet]] 
'''Page:''' [[Aspects_List|Aspects List]] 

===How to Run Game X===
A continuation of the thread of the same name from RPOpen--game-specific advice on how to GM. Additional contributions are welcome! [[How_to_Run:Main_Page|The main page is here]], and [[:Category:How_to_Run|the category page is here.]]

===XXX: GROK IT!===
A resource page with links to various "review" guides, formatted in a style similar to "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_Dummies For Dummies]" books. Topics include games and game related material.
 '''Page:''' [[RESOURCES: GROK IT! Guide Reviews]] 

===Short Adventures===
A resource page with short [[adventure]]s that [[GM]]s can drop into games to fill a night of play.

'''Page:''' [[Short_Adventures]] 

===Campaign Setups===
A resource page filled with thumbnail designs for [[campaign]]s, campaign ideas, and outlines to help jump-start a game.

'''Page:''' [[Campaign_Setups]] 

===War Stories===

'''Page:''' [[War_Stories|War Stories]] 

Tales of things that have happened during your gaming sessions which can amuse other gamers or serve as inspiration for GMs.

===Game Meta-Info and Logs===

This is where GMs can put information relating to their ''specific'' games, such as character sheets, logs, plot threads, et cetera.

[[Game Info Page]].

===System Bugbears===

Not just the monster; a collection of notable issues in commonly used systems that should be considered or worked around before running the system.

[[System Bugbears]]

===Mission Generator===

A random generic [[Mission Generator]].

===Open Game Systems===

A [[Open_Game_Systems|List of Games]] available under an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_license Open License] and thus usable for your own published games.

== LARP Resources ==

=== Gender Neutral Character Names ===

A list of [[LARP:Gender Neutral Character Names|gender neutral names]] for those times when you don't know who will be playing a character.

=== LARP Scenarios ===

A list of [[LARP Scenarios|LARP scenarios]] that are available for purchase or free download from various sources.

===The Westlands===
'''Page:''' [[The_WestLands:Main_Page]]

A European-style Weird-West LARP, near Seattle, WA.

== RPGnet Meta-resources ==

===The "Create a Character" Challenge===
'''Page:''' [[The "Create a Character" Challenge]]

The challenge: Create one character for each game you own! View the thread created by "chaldfont" [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?t=345113 HERE].

===Overly Honest RPG Book Covers===
'''Page:''' [[Overly Honest RPG Book Covers]]

An archive of the hilarious images generated by the RPGnet thread of the same name. View the thread created by "Neko Ewen" [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?t=193489 HERE].

===Number Lists===

'''Page:''' [[Number Lists]]

A collection of various open-ended lists that have sprung up over time and added to by various users, presented here in a more read-friendly format.

===RPG Motivational Posters===

'''Page:''' [[Motivational_Posters:Main_Page]]

A collection of the posters from the Ultra-Thread on Roleplaying Open, "[http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?t=264472 RPG Motivational Posters]" Still being transferred--please check the Template page before contributing!

===RPGnet Thread Archive===

'''Page:''' [[Forum_Archive:Main_Page|Forums Archive]]

A user created archive of classic threads, in the spirit of the old "Best Of Forums" page. Organized by forum, and alphabetics.

=== RPGnet Gatherings ===

'''Page:''' [[Gatherings|RPGnet_Gatherings]]

For information regarding any official meetups, gatherings and get togethers of RPGnet members.

=== Tangency Timeline ===

'''Page:''' [[Tangency_Timeline|Tangency Timeline]]

A timeline of important dates in the history of Tangency.

=== Let's Play Threads ===

'''Page:''' [[Lets_Play|Let's Play Threads]]

An archive of Let's Play threads from Video Games Open

=== Video Games Open Community Resources ===

'''Page:''' [[VGO Community Resources]]

A collection of community resources, threads and links for the readers of VGO.

==System Supplements==
This is a list of supplements for specific [[game system]]s. Please be sure to list which game system your [[supplement]] is for if you include something in this section. (If you prefer to search by system then look at the [[Special:Categories]] page.)

''For ease of use, this section has been moved to a sub-page, Please see [[Major_Projects/System_Supplements|here]]''.

== Terminology ==
These are guides to common rpg terminology.

===Dungeons & Dragons glossary===
'''Page:''' [[Dungeons & Dragons Glossary]]

A collection of terms used on RPG.net (among other places) in discussions of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' and related games. As some of the oldest RPGs, they have accrued jargon all of their own.

===Game title abbreviation===
'''Page:''' [[Game_title_abbreviations]] 

This is a collection of abbreviations used for various games and game lines.

===RPG Lexica===

A collection of [[RPG_Lexica:Main_Page|Gamer Jargon]]--terms used by the ''players'' as opposed to the game's authors and designers.
Still very much a work in progress... please contribute!

===What's in a (GM's) Name?===
'''Page:''' [[Referee]] 

This is a collection of various game master names for different games

==MMORPG Guilds==

[[Blacksky Company]] (WoW Kirin Tor Horde)

[[Pig and Whistle Society]] (WoW Kirin Tor Alliance)

[[Meta Forces]] (CoH/CoV)

[[Versus Gloria Omnis]] (Eve Online)

===Where Did I Come From?===
A game where an orphan kills his parents by travelling in time!
====BOO====

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2012-06-13T06:00:47Z

Guybrush: /* R */

[[Category: Glossary]] [[Category: Dungeons & Dragons]]

This page is intended as a repository for abbreviations and jargon used when discussing ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (or ''[[Pathfinder]]'', generic d20 fantasy games etc.). While not all originated on the RPG.net D&D forum, a term should be used there before it appears on this list. It is not meant to be a glossary of game terms as presented in the rules, but rather terms invented by or primarily used by players, and not appearing in the books.

== Format ==
Entries should be in alphabetical order, with numbers preceding letters and symbols preceding numbers.

Each entry should be written like this:
:<tt><nowiki>;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.</nowiki></tt>

When formatted, it looks like this:

;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.

'''Term''' is the abbreviation being defined. '''Definition''' should be brief; in most cases, it will simply be the full term which the acronym or abbreviation replaces. It can be omitted for terms which are not abbreviations. Any further explanation or notes should go after the dash. Where possible, include a '''context''' for the abbreviation; is the term used to describe a particular edition of D&D (3E, 3.5, 4E etc.), Pathfinder, FantasyCraft or some other game?

== Terms ==

=== 0–9 ===

; 0e
: '''0[th] Edition''' - The original version of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', the ''3-Volume Set''. The retronym came to refer to the true first edition of the game after the later but more popular ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 1st edition became known as "1E". Sometimes distinguished by the year of publication (1974) or box colors (the original woodgrain/brown or the later and more common white). See also LBB, OCE, OD&D, and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

;3E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Third Edition''' See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.5 : '''Dungeons & Dragons, 3.5 Edition''' - a major update to the third edition rules. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.X : refers to both or either of 3E or 3.5, above. Also sometimes includes games derived from third edition D&D, especially Pathfinder and FantasyCraft. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;4E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fourth Edition''' See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== A ===

;AD&D : '''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''' - the "advanced" version of the game, a distinct line from the various "basic" versions of the first two editions. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;A-shaped class : (4E) also "A class" or "A-class"; a class for which all builds share the same primary ability score, but have differing secondary ability scores. The Wizard is a good example: Intelligence is always primary, but Charisma, Constitution or Wisdom could be a good secondary score depending on what kind of spells you want to cast.
;AWED : '''At-Will, Encounter, Daily''' (4E) - short hand for the basic division of power usage in "standard" 4E classes.

=== B ===

; BD&D
: '''Basic ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - one term for the second branch in the fork that occurred when 0e split into "Basic" and "Advanced" lines. Started with the Holmes blue box in 1977 and continued through 1999 with the the B/X, BECMI, RC, black box, and later editions. "Basic" is something of a misnomer, since it only refers to three of the box sets (Holmes, Moldvay, and the first Menzter box) and levels from 1–3. See also Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; BECMI
: '''Basic, Expert, Companion, Master, and Immortals''' - the version of the game by Frank Menzter, delineated in ''Dungeons & Dragons Sets 1–5: Basic'', ''Expert'', ''Companion'', ''Master'', and ''Immortals Rules''. Sometimes distinguished by the author, color of the first box set (red), year of release (1983 for the ''Basic Rules'', though the ''Immortals Rules'' was not published until 1986), or the cover artist (Larry Elmore). In contrast to the more limited level range of the earlier Holmes and B/X sets, Mentzer's version provided rules for mortal characters of levels 1–36, and up to another 36 levels as immortals. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; black box
: A reference to ''The New Easy-to-Master Dungeons & Dragons Game'' (1991), which came in a predominately black box. Served as the RC's "Basic Set", but unlike the earlier box sets, it covered levels 1–5. Sometimes loosely applied to any of the post-1989 introductory box sets, like the two printings of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' or the ''Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game'' (only one of the versions of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' is primarily black).

; blue box
: The first ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' (in 1977) was compiled by Eric J. Holmes, and comes in a blue box. Sometimes distinguished by the author/editor or the cover artist (David Sutherland). Covers levels 1–3. More closely related to 0e than any other edition, including the later ''Basic Sets''.

; B/X
: '''Basic/eXpert''' - the version of the ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' by Tom Moldvay combined with the ''Expert Set'' by Dave Cook and Steve Marsh. Sometimes distinguished by the authors, color of the first box set (mauve/purple), year of release (1980 for both sets), or cover artist (Erol Otus). In contrast to the Holmes and BECMI sets, B/X covers levels 1–14. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== C ===

;CB : '''Character Builder''' (4E) - the official ''Dungeons & Dragons'' character creation software offered by Wizards of the Coast.

; Classic D&D
: A term used to refer variously to just BD&D, BD&D and 0e, or all pre-3E versions of ''D&D''.

=== D ===

; d20
: Either a 20-sided die, the d20 System, or the d20STL. The last two are often confused.

; d20 System
: The system underlying 3E, v.3.5, and 4E. See OGL, GSL.

; d20STL
: '''d20 System Trademark License''' - a license from Wizards of the Coast that allowed third party vendors to use certain trademarks and logos (most notably the "d20" logo), and include a claim of compatibility in their products. During the d20 boom from 2000 to 2003, most third party d20 System products used the d20STL in conjunction with the OGL. The bust following WotC's v.3.5 led many third party vendors to abandon the d20STL, which was ultimately revoked by Wizards of the Coast in 2008 in favor of the GSL.

;DDI : '''Dungeons & Dragons Insider''' (4E) - the online subscription service offered by Wizards of the Coast, including ''Dragon'' and ''Dungeon'' magazines and the Character Builder.

=== E ===

; endgame
: The stage of the game where characters retire from adventuring, build castles or other strongholds, and engage war and diplomacy. Often associated with name level.

;E6: (3.X) a variant where player characters stop gaining levels after level 6 and instead receive a feat every 5000xp.

=== F ===

;Fightbrain: (4E) the Battlemind character class from Player's Handbook 3.
;flex stat : (4E) a racial ability score bonus which can be applied to one of two (or more) scores. e.g. Minotaurs get +2 Strength, and +2 Constitution ''or'' +2 Wisdom. Introduced with the races in Player's Handbook 3, with later updates introducing this for nearly all races.

=== G ===

; GSL
: "Gaming System License": The successor to Wizard of the Coast's d20STL and OGL, released in 2008. Far more restrictive than either of its predecessors.

=== L ===

; LBBs
: '''Little Brown Books''' - also "little brown booklets"; a nickname for the parchment-colored, digest-sized booklets in the 0e box set. The three volumes are ''Men & Magic'', ''Monsters & Treasure'', and ''The Underworld and Wilderness Adventures''. Not to be confused with ''Traveller's'' "little black books". See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== M ===

;MAD : '''Multiple Ability Dependency''' (4E) - a class (or Paragon Path, etc.) that relies on more than one Ability Score; seen as a deficiency since this requires splitting points between abilities, and thus lower possible maximum scores.

; megadungeon
: A dungeon large enough to challenge an adventuring party for their entire career, from 1st level to the endgame. The campaigns played by the creators of the hobby (Gygax and Arneson) both featured megadungeons (Castles Blackmoor and Greyhawk), but no true examples were published during the peak of ''D&D'''s popularity. Considered one of the cornerstones of the OSR.

=== N ===

;NAD : '''Non-Armor Class Defences''' (4E) - Shorthand for a character or monster's Fortitude, Reflex and Will defences.

; name level
: The level at which a character stops gaining new level titles (which are associated with each class and level in pre-3E versions of the game), often 9th. For example, a fighting-man in 0e is called a "Super Hero" at 8th level, a "Lord" at 9th level, and a "Lord, 10th Level" at 10th level. Since that is not a new descriptive title, the fighting-man reaches name level at 9th. Often considered the start of the endgame, and usually the point at which character advancement dramatically slows.

=== O ===

; OD&D
: '''Original ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - also "Old ''Dungeons & Dragons''". Among adherents of the OSR, the term has come to refer strictly to the edition represented by the 0e box set and the supplements, and often the Holmes ''Basic Set''. Among the broader group of old school fans, the term is often used more broadly, and includes the rest of the BD&D line. There is some controversy over which is is the proper usage.

; OG
: '''Old Geezer''' - the username of RPG.net poster Michael Mornard, who was a player in the original Castle Greyhawk campaign co-DMed by Gary Gygax and Rob Kuntz in the early 1970s.

; OGC
: '''Open Game Content''' - any material released under the OGL.

; OGL
: '''Open Game License''' - an open-source license released by Wizards of the Coast in 2000 that allows third party vendors to use OGC, like the SRD. Commonly used in conjunction with the more restrictive d20STL until 2003.

; OS
: '''Old school''' - a general adjective used to describe the style of early role-playing games. While primarily used to refer to ''D&D'' and its variants, the term can be more broadly applied to any early games. Different definitions have different cut off times; some exclude 3.X, 2E, 1E, everything but 0e, or various finer distinctions (lines are often drawn at ''AD&D'' 2nd edition's ''Player Option'' books, or 1E's ''Unearthed Arcana'').

; OSR
: '''Old School Renaissance''' - also ''Old School Revolution'' or ''Old School Revival''; the recent surge in popularity of older roleplaying games and styles. While partially attributable to the death of Gary Gygax in 2008, earlier retro games like ''HackMaster'' and ''Castles & Crusades'' (2006) tapped into the same sentiment. While there is a no true center or uniformity of opinion, the public face of the group is a fairly cohesive collection of games, magazines, message boards, publishers, and blogs (the most prominent of the latter being Grognardia). Common themes, as articulated in Finch's ''A Quick Primer for Old School Gaming'', are megadungeons, sandbox campaigns, an emphasis on player rather than character skill, and a focus on rediscovering how the creators of the games actually played. There's a heavy focus on 0e, with a secondary focus on ''AD&D'', specifically the pre-''Unearthed Arcana'' 1st edition.

=== P ===

;PoLand : '''"Points of Light" land''' (4E) - the "implied setting" found in the core fourth edition books, which uses the "Points of Light" concept.
;primary ability score : (4E) the ability score upon which all or most of a class's attack powers are based. It is usually used for both the attack roll and damage rolls. A character should have a high score in their class's primary ability. For example, Strength is the primary ability score for Fighters.
;rider : (4E) a secondary effect granted by a power in addition to its main effect. Often dependent on a class's secondary ability score or choice of class feature.

=== R ===

; red box
: Usually refers to the first box set in the BECMI series by Frank Metzer; see BECI for full details. May also refer to the Fourth Edition Beginner's Box set, which was released in a nearly identical box.

; retro-clone
: A replica of an out of print version of a game. Originally and most commonly used to refer to clones of ''D&D''. Based on the principle that the rules of a game cannot be copyrighted, only the specific ''expression'' of the rules. Many clones rely on the OGC to allow them to use trademarked terms and specific elements (like the names of spells, monsters, or game terms). Also known as a simulacrum.

; RC
: '''''Rules Cyclopedia''''' - a single-volume version of Menzter's BECMI sets, compiled by Aaron Allston in 1991. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== S ===
; sandbox
: A campaign style where there is no overarching plot driving the players toward a scripted conclusion. See metaplot.

;secondary ability score : (4E) an ability score which provides secondary bonuses to a class's powers, often in "riders" (q.v.).

; SRD
: '''System Reference Document''' - a compilation of Open Game Content (OGC) released under the Open Gaming Licence (OGL) by Wizards of the Coast (WotC). The original SRD included material from ''Player's Handbook'', ''Dungeon Master's Guide'', and ''Monster Manual'', but later expansions added content from the ''Epic Level Handbook'', ''Deities & Demigods'', and ''Psionics Handbook''. While most of ''Unearthed Arcana'' was also declared OGC, none of the material was added to the SRD. A ''d20 Modern'' SRD was also released, with material from the core rules, ''Modern Arcana'', and the ''Menace Manual''. Third party vendors have also adopted the terminology, with Anime, ''Fudge'', and ''Traveller'' SRDs among many others.

; S&W
: '''''Swords & Wizardry''''' - a 0e retro-clone that comes in two versions. The ''Core Rules'' version replicates the ''3-Volume Set'' plus selected material from the Supplements, primarily ''Greyhawk''. Not a particularly faithful clone, because some elements were excluded (e.g. no thieves), there is support for both ascending and descending AC, and the five saves have become a single number. The ''White Box'' is the ''Core Rules'' minus all material not in the original ''3-Volume Set''.

=== T ===
; TSR
: '''Tactical Studies Rules''' - the company founded by Gary Gygax and Don Kaye in 1973 to publish ''Dungeons & Dragons''. It later become known as TSR Hobbies, then TSR Inc. It owned and operated many properties including D&D, various war games, fantasy fiction, and the Gen Con gaming convention. After a decline in profits, its licenses were bought by Wizards of the Coast in 1996, and many sold off to other entities.

=== V ===

;V-shaped class : (4E) also "V class" or "V-class"; a class which offers a choice of primary ability score, depending on build, but always uses the same secondary ability score. The Warlock is a good example; they might choose Constitution or Charisma as a primary ability score depending on their build and pact, but Intelligence is always a good choice for a secondary score.

=== W ===

;WotC : '''Wizards of the Coast''' - current developers, publishers and owners of ''Dungeons & Dragons''.

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2012-02-15T00:41:12Z

Guybrush: /* S */ formatting, copyedit

[[Category: Glossary]] [[Category: Dungeons & Dragons]]

This page is intended as a repository for abbreviations and jargon used when discussing ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (or ''[[Pathfinder]]'', generic d20 fantasy games etc.). While not all originated on the RPG.net D&D forum, a term should be used there before it appears on this list. It is not meant to be a glossary of game terms as presented in the rules, but rather terms invented by or primarily used by players, and not appearing in the books.

== Format ==
Entries should be in alphabetical order, with numbers preceding letters and symbols preceding numbers.

Each entry should be written like this:
:<tt><nowiki>;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.</nowiki></tt>

When formatted, it looks like this:

;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.

'''Term''' is the abbreviation being defined. '''Definition''' should be brief; in most cases, it will simply be the full term which the acronym or abbreviation replaces. It can be omitted for terms which are not abbreviations. Any further explanation or notes should go after the dash. Where possible, include a '''context''' for the abbreviation; is the term used to describe a particular edition of D&D (3E, 3.5, 4E etc.), Pathfinder, FantasyCraft or some other game?

== Terms ==

=== 0–9 ===

; 0e
: '''0[th] Edition''' - The original version of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', the ''3-Volume Set''. The retronym came to refer to the true first edition of the game after the later but more popular ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 1st edition became known as "1E". Sometimes distinguished by the year of publication (1974) or box colors (the original woodgrain/brown or the later and more common white). See also LBB, OCE, OD&D, and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

;3E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Third Edition''' See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.5 : '''Dungeons & Dragons, 3.5 Edition''' - a major update to the third edition rules. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.X : refers to both or either of 3E or 3.5, above. Also sometimes includes games derived from third edition D&D, especially Pathfinder and FantasyCraft. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;4E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fourth Edition''' See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== A ===

;AD&D : '''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''' - the "advanced" version of the game, a distinct line from the various "basic" versions of the first two editions. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;A-shaped class : (4E) also "A class" or "A-class"; a class for which all builds share the same primary ability score, but have differing secondary ability scores. The Wizard is a good example: Intelligence is always primary, but Charisma, Constitution or Wisdom could be a good secondary score depending on what kind of spells you want to cast.
;AWED : '''At-Will, Encounter, Daily''' (4E) - short hand for the basic division of power usage in "standard" 4E classes.

=== B ===

; BD&D
: '''Basic ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - one term for the second branch in the fork that occurred when 0e split into "Basic" and "Advanced" lines. Started with the Holmes blue box in 1977 and continued through 1999 with the the B/X, BECMI, RC, black box, and later editions. "Basic" is something of a misnomer, since it only refers to three of the box sets (Holmes, Moldvay, and the first Menzter box) and levels from 1–3. See also Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; BECMI
: '''Basic, Expert, Companion, Master, and Immortals''' - the version of the game by Frank Menzter, delineated in ''Dungeons & Dragons Sets 1–5: Basic'', ''Expert'', ''Companion'', ''Master'', and ''Immortals Rules''. Sometimes distinguished by the author, color of the first box set (red), year of release (1983 for the ''Basic Rules'', though the ''Immortals Rules'' was not published until 1986), or the cover artist (Larry Elmore). In contrast to the more limited level range of the earlier Holmes and B/X sets, Mentzer's version provided rules for mortal characters of levels 1–36, and up to another 36 levels as immortals. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; black box
: A reference to ''The New Easy-to-Master Dungeons & Dragons Game'' (1991), which came in a predominately black box. Served as the RC's "Basic Set", but unlike the earlier box sets, it covered levels 1–5. Sometimes loosely applied to any of the post-1989 introductory box sets, like the two printings of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' or the ''Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game'' (only one of the versions of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' is primarily black).

; blue box
: The first ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' (in 1977) was compiled by Eric J. Holmes, and comes in a blue box. Sometimes distinguished by the author/editor or the cover artist (David Sutherland). Covers levels 1–3. More closely related to 0e than any other edition, including the later ''Basic Sets''.

; B/X
: '''Basic/eXpert''' - the version of the ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' by Tom Moldvay combined with the ''Expert Set'' by Dave Cook and Steve Marsh. Sometimes distinguished by the authors, color of the first box set (mauve/purple), year of release (1980 for both sets), or cover artist (Erol Otus). In contrast to the Holmes and BECMI sets, B/X covers levels 1–14. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== C ===

;CB : '''Character Builder''' (4E) - the official ''Dungeons & Dragons'' character creation software offered by Wizards of the Coast.

; Classic D&D
: A term used to refer variously to just BD&D, BD&D and 0e, or all pre-3E versions of ''D&D''.

=== D ===

; d20
: Either a 20-sided die, the d20 System, or the d20STL. The last two are often confused.

; d20 System
: The system underlying 3E, v.3.5, and 4E. See OGL, GSL.

; d20STL
: '''d20 System Trademark License''' - a license from Wizards of the Coast that allowed third party vendors to use certain trademarks and logos (most notably the "d20" logo), and include a claim of compatibility in their products. During the d20 boom from 2000 to 2003, most third party d20 System products used the d20STL in conjunction with the OGL. The bust following WotC's v.3.5 led many third party vendors to abandon the d20STL, which was ultimately revoked by Wizards of the Coast in 2008 in favor of the GSL.

;DDI : '''Dungeons & Dragons Insider''' (4E) - the online subscription service offered by Wizards of the Coast, including ''Dragon'' and ''Dungeon'' magazines and the Character Builder.

=== E ===

; endgame
: The stage of the game where characters retire from adventuring, build castles or other strongholds, and engage war and diplomacy. Often associated with name level.

;E6: (3.X) a variant where player characters stop gaining levels after level 6 and instead receive a feat every 5000xp.

=== F ===

;Fightbrain: (4E) the Battlemind character class from Player's Handbook 3.
;flex stat : (4E) a racial ability score bonus which can be applied to one of two (or more) scores. e.g. Minotaurs get +2 Strength, and +2 Constitution ''or'' +2 Wisdom. Introduced with the races in Player's Handbook 3, with later updates introducing this for nearly all races.

=== G ===

; GSL
: "Gaming System License": The successor to Wizard of the Coast's d20STL and OGL, released in 2008. Far more restrictive than either of its predecessors.

=== L ===

; LBBs
: '''Little Brown Books''' - also "little brown booklets"; a nickname for the parchment-colored, digest-sized booklets in the 0e box set. The three volumes are ''Men & Magic'', ''Monsters & Treasure'', and ''The Underworld and Wilderness Adventures''. Not to be confused with ''Traveller's'' "little black books". See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== M ===

;MAD : '''Multiple Ability Dependency''' (4E) - a class (or Paragon Path, etc.) that relies on more than one Ability Score; seen as a deficiency since this requires splitting points between abilities, and thus lower possible maximum scores.

; megadungeon
: A dungeon large enough to challenge an adventuring party for their entire career, from 1st level to the endgame. The campaigns played by the creators of the hobby (Gygax and Arneson) both featured megadungeons (Castles Blackmoor and Greyhawk), but no true examples were published during the peak of ''D&D'''s popularity. Considered one of the cornerstones of the OSR.

=== N ===

;NAD : '''Non-Armor Class Defences''' (4E) - Shorthand for a character or monster's Fortitude, Reflex and Will defences.

; name level
: The level at which a character stops gaining new level titles (which are associated with each class and level in pre-3E versions of the game), often 9th. For example, a fighting-man in 0e is called a "Super Hero" at 8th level, a "Lord" at 9th level, and a "Lord, 10th Level" at 10th level. Since that is not a new descriptive title, the fighting-man reaches name level at 9th. Often considered the start of the endgame, and usually the point at which character advancement dramatically slows.

=== O ===

; OD&D
: '''Original ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - also "Old ''Dungeons & Dragons''". Among adherents of the OSR, the term has come to refer strictly to the edition represented by the 0e box set and the supplements, and often the Holmes ''Basic Set''. Among the broader group of old school fans, the term is often used more broadly, and includes the rest of the BD&D line. There is some controversy over which is is the proper usage.

; OG
: '''Old Geezer''' - the username of RPG.net poster Michael Mornard, who was a player in the original Castle Greyhawk campaign co-DMed by Gary Gygax and Rob Kuntz in the early 1970s.

; OGC
: '''Open Game Content''' - any material released under the OGL.

; OGL
: '''Open Game License''' - an open-source license released by Wizards of the Coast in 2000 that allows third party vendors to use OGC, like the SRD. Commonly used in conjunction with the more restrictive d20STL until 2003.

; OS
: '''Old school''' - a general adjective used to describe the style of early role-playing games. While primarily used to refer to ''D&D'' and its variants, the term can be more broadly applied to any early games. Different definitions have different cut off times; some exclude 3.X, 2E, 1E, everything but 0e, or various finer distinctions (lines are often drawn at ''AD&D'' 2nd edition's ''Player Option'' books, or 1E's ''Unearthed Arcana'').

; OSR
: '''Old School Renaissance''' - also ''Old School Revolution'' or ''Old School Revival''; the recent surge in popularity of older roleplaying games and styles. While partially attributable to the death of Gary Gygax in 2008, earlier retro games like ''HackMaster'' and ''Castles & Crusades'' (2006) tapped into the same sentiment. While there is a no true center or uniformity of opinion, the public face of the group is a fairly cohesive collection of games, magazines, message boards, publishers, and blogs (the most prominent of the latter being Grognardia). Common themes, as articulated in Finch's ''A Quick Primer for Old School Gaming'', are megadungeons, sandbox campaigns, an emphasis on player rather than character skill, and a focus on rediscovering how the creators of the games actually played. There's a heavy focus on 0e, with a secondary focus on ''AD&D'', specifically the pre-''Unearthed Arcana'' 1st edition.

=== P ===

;PoLand : '''"Points of Light" land''' (4E) - the "implied setting" found in the core fourth edition books, which uses the "Points of Light" concept.
;primary ability score : (4E) the ability score upon which all or most of a class's attack powers are based. It is usually used for both the attack roll and damage rolls. A character should have a high score in their class's primary ability. For example, Strength is the primary ability score for Fighters.
;rider : (4E) a secondary effect granted by a power in addition to its main effect. Often dependent on a class's secondary ability score or choice of class feature.

=== R ===

; retro-clone
: A replica of an out of print version of a game. Originally and most commonly used to refer to clones of ''D&D''. Based on the principle that the rules of a game cannot be copyrighted, only the specific ''expression'' of the rules. Many clones rely on the OGC to allow them to use trademarked terms and specific elements (like the names of spells, monsters, or game terms). Also known as a simulacrum.

; RC
: '''''Rules Cyclopedia''''' - a single-volume version of Menzter's BECMI sets, compiled by Aaron Allston in 1991. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== S ===
; sandbox
: A campaign style where there is no overarching plot driving the players toward a scripted conclusion. See metaplot.

;secondary ability score : (4E) an ability score which provides secondary bonuses to a class's powers, often in "riders" (q.v.).

; SRD
: '''System Reference Document''' - a compilation of Open Game Content (OGC) released under the Open Gaming Licence (OGL) by Wizards of the Coast (WotC). The original SRD included material from ''Player's Handbook'', ''Dungeon Master's Guide'', and ''Monster Manual'', but later expansions added content from the ''Epic Level Handbook'', ''Deities & Demigods'', and ''Psionics Handbook''. While most of ''Unearthed Arcana'' was also declared OGC, none of the material was added to the SRD. A ''d20 Modern'' SRD was also released, with material from the core rules, ''Modern Arcana'', and the ''Menace Manual''. Third party vendors have also adopted the terminology, with Anime, ''Fudge'', and ''Traveller'' SRDs among many others.

; S&W
: '''''Swords & Wizardry''''' - a 0e retro-clone that comes in two versions. The ''Core Rules'' version replicates the ''3-Volume Set'' plus selected material from the Supplements, primarily ''Greyhawk''. Not a particularly faithful clone, because some elements were excluded (e.g. no thieves), there is support for both ascending and descending AC, and the five saves have become a single number. The ''White Box'' is the ''Core Rules'' minus all material not in the original ''3-Volume Set''.

=== T ===
; TSR
: '''Tactical Studies Rules''' - the company founded by Gary Gygax and Don Kaye in 1973 to publish ''Dungeons & Dragons''. It later become known as TSR Hobbies, then TSR Inc. It owned and operated many properties including D&D, various war games, fantasy fiction, and the Gen Con gaming convention. After a decline in profits, its licenses were bought by Wizards of the Coast in 1996, and many sold off to other entities.

=== V ===

;V-shaped class : (4E) also "V class" or "V-class"; a class which offers a choice of primary ability score, depending on build, but always uses the same secondary ability score. The Warlock is a good example; they might choose Constitution or Charisma as a primary ability score depending on their build and pact, but Intelligence is always a good choice for a secondary score.

=== W ===

;WotC : '''Wizards of the Coast''' - current developers, publishers and owners of ''Dungeons & Dragons''.

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2012-02-15T00:39:40Z

Guybrush: /* S */ consistent formatting; expanded some acronyms to make reading easier.

[[Category: Glossary]] [[Category: Dungeons & Dragons]]

This page is intended as a repository for abbreviations and jargon used when discussing ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (or ''[[Pathfinder]]'', generic d20 fantasy games etc.). While not all originated on the RPG.net D&D forum, a term should be used there before it appears on this list. It is not meant to be a glossary of game terms as presented in the rules, but rather terms invented by or primarily used by players, and not appearing in the books.

== Format ==
Entries should be in alphabetical order, with numbers preceding letters and symbols preceding numbers.

Each entry should be written like this:
:<tt><nowiki>;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.</nowiki></tt>

When formatted, it looks like this:

;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.

'''Term''' is the abbreviation being defined. '''Definition''' should be brief; in most cases, it will simply be the full term which the acronym or abbreviation replaces. It can be omitted for terms which are not abbreviations. Any further explanation or notes should go after the dash. Where possible, include a '''context''' for the abbreviation; is the term used to describe a particular edition of D&D (3E, 3.5, 4E etc.), Pathfinder, FantasyCraft or some other game?

== Terms ==

=== 0–9 ===

; 0e
: '''0[th] Edition''' - The original version of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', the ''3-Volume Set''. The retronym came to refer to the true first edition of the game after the later but more popular ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 1st edition became known as "1E". Sometimes distinguished by the year of publication (1974) or box colors (the original woodgrain/brown or the later and more common white). See also LBB, OCE, OD&D, and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

;3E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Third Edition''' See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.5 : '''Dungeons & Dragons, 3.5 Edition''' - a major update to the third edition rules. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.X : refers to both or either of 3E or 3.5, above. Also sometimes includes games derived from third edition D&D, especially Pathfinder and FantasyCraft. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;4E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fourth Edition''' See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== A ===

;AD&D : '''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''' - the "advanced" version of the game, a distinct line from the various "basic" versions of the first two editions. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;A-shaped class : (4E) also "A class" or "A-class"; a class for which all builds share the same primary ability score, but have differing secondary ability scores. The Wizard is a good example: Intelligence is always primary, but Charisma, Constitution or Wisdom could be a good secondary score depending on what kind of spells you want to cast.
;AWED : '''At-Will, Encounter, Daily''' (4E) - short hand for the basic division of power usage in "standard" 4E classes.

=== B ===

; BD&D
: '''Basic ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - one term for the second branch in the fork that occurred when 0e split into "Basic" and "Advanced" lines. Started with the Holmes blue box in 1977 and continued through 1999 with the the B/X, BECMI, RC, black box, and later editions. "Basic" is something of a misnomer, since it only refers to three of the box sets (Holmes, Moldvay, and the first Menzter box) and levels from 1–3. See also Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; BECMI
: '''Basic, Expert, Companion, Master, and Immortals''' - the version of the game by Frank Menzter, delineated in ''Dungeons & Dragons Sets 1–5: Basic'', ''Expert'', ''Companion'', ''Master'', and ''Immortals Rules''. Sometimes distinguished by the author, color of the first box set (red), year of release (1983 for the ''Basic Rules'', though the ''Immortals Rules'' was not published until 1986), or the cover artist (Larry Elmore). In contrast to the more limited level range of the earlier Holmes and B/X sets, Mentzer's version provided rules for mortal characters of levels 1–36, and up to another 36 levels as immortals. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; black box
: A reference to ''The New Easy-to-Master Dungeons & Dragons Game'' (1991), which came in a predominately black box. Served as the RC's "Basic Set", but unlike the earlier box sets, it covered levels 1–5. Sometimes loosely applied to any of the post-1989 introductory box sets, like the two printings of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' or the ''Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game'' (only one of the versions of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' is primarily black).

; blue box
: The first ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' (in 1977) was compiled by Eric J. Holmes, and comes in a blue box. Sometimes distinguished by the author/editor or the cover artist (David Sutherland). Covers levels 1–3. More closely related to 0e than any other edition, including the later ''Basic Sets''.

; B/X
: '''Basic/eXpert''' - the version of the ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' by Tom Moldvay combined with the ''Expert Set'' by Dave Cook and Steve Marsh. Sometimes distinguished by the authors, color of the first box set (mauve/purple), year of release (1980 for both sets), or cover artist (Erol Otus). In contrast to the Holmes and BECMI sets, B/X covers levels 1–14. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== C ===

;CB : '''Character Builder''' (4E) - the official ''Dungeons & Dragons'' character creation software offered by Wizards of the Coast.

; Classic D&D
: A term used to refer variously to just BD&D, BD&D and 0e, or all pre-3E versions of ''D&D''.

=== D ===

; d20
: Either a 20-sided die, the d20 System, or the d20STL. The last two are often confused.

; d20 System
: The system underlying 3E, v.3.5, and 4E. See OGL, GSL.

; d20STL
: '''d20 System Trademark License''' - a license from Wizards of the Coast that allowed third party vendors to use certain trademarks and logos (most notably the "d20" logo), and include a claim of compatibility in their products. During the d20 boom from 2000 to 2003, most third party d20 System products used the d20STL in conjunction with the OGL. The bust following WotC's v.3.5 led many third party vendors to abandon the d20STL, which was ultimately revoked by Wizards of the Coast in 2008 in favor of the GSL.

;DDI : '''Dungeons & Dragons Insider''' (4E) - the online subscription service offered by Wizards of the Coast, including ''Dragon'' and ''Dungeon'' magazines and the Character Builder.

=== E ===

; endgame
: The stage of the game where characters retire from adventuring, build castles or other strongholds, and engage war and diplomacy. Often associated with name level.

;E6: (3.X) a variant where player characters stop gaining levels after level 6 and instead receive a feat every 5000xp.

=== F ===

;Fightbrain: (4E) the Battlemind character class from Player's Handbook 3.
;flex stat : (4E) a racial ability score bonus which can be applied to one of two (or more) scores. e.g. Minotaurs get +2 Strength, and +2 Constitution ''or'' +2 Wisdom. Introduced with the races in Player's Handbook 3, with later updates introducing this for nearly all races.

=== G ===

; GSL
: "Gaming System License": The successor to Wizard of the Coast's d20STL and OGL, released in 2008. Far more restrictive than either of its predecessors.

=== L ===

; LBBs
: '''Little Brown Books''' - also "little brown booklets"; a nickname for the parchment-colored, digest-sized booklets in the 0e box set. The three volumes are ''Men & Magic'', ''Monsters & Treasure'', and ''The Underworld and Wilderness Adventures''. Not to be confused with ''Traveller's'' "little black books". See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== M ===

;MAD : '''Multiple Ability Dependency''' (4E) - a class (or Paragon Path, etc.) that relies on more than one Ability Score; seen as a deficiency since this requires splitting points between abilities, and thus lower possible maximum scores.

; megadungeon
: A dungeon large enough to challenge an adventuring party for their entire career, from 1st level to the endgame. The campaigns played by the creators of the hobby (Gygax and Arneson) both featured megadungeons (Castles Blackmoor and Greyhawk), but no true examples were published during the peak of ''D&D'''s popularity. Considered one of the cornerstones of the OSR.

=== N ===

;NAD : '''Non-Armor Class Defences''' (4E) - Shorthand for a character or monster's Fortitude, Reflex and Will defences.

; name level
: The level at which a character stops gaining new level titles (which are associated with each class and level in pre-3E versions of the game), often 9th. For example, a fighting-man in 0e is called a "Super Hero" at 8th level, a "Lord" at 9th level, and a "Lord, 10th Level" at 10th level. Since that is not a new descriptive title, the fighting-man reaches name level at 9th. Often considered the start of the endgame, and usually the point at which character advancement dramatically slows.

=== O ===

; OD&D
: '''Original ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - also "Old ''Dungeons & Dragons''". Among adherents of the OSR, the term has come to refer strictly to the edition represented by the 0e box set and the supplements, and often the Holmes ''Basic Set''. Among the broader group of old school fans, the term is often used more broadly, and includes the rest of the BD&D line. There is some controversy over which is is the proper usage.

; OG
: '''Old Geezer''' - the username of RPG.net poster Michael Mornard, who was a player in the original Castle Greyhawk campaign co-DMed by Gary Gygax and Rob Kuntz in the early 1970s.

; OGC
: '''Open Game Content''' - any material released under the OGL.

; OGL
: '''Open Game License''' - an open-source license released by Wizards of the Coast in 2000 that allows third party vendors to use OGC, like the SRD. Commonly used in conjunction with the more restrictive d20STL until 2003.

; OS
: '''Old school''' - a general adjective used to describe the style of early role-playing games. While primarily used to refer to ''D&D'' and its variants, the term can be more broadly applied to any early games. Different definitions have different cut off times; some exclude 3.X, 2E, 1E, everything but 0e, or various finer distinctions (lines are often drawn at ''AD&D'' 2nd edition's ''Player Option'' books, or 1E's ''Unearthed Arcana'').

; OSR
: '''Old School Renaissance''' - also ''Old School Revolution'' or ''Old School Revival''; the recent surge in popularity of older roleplaying games and styles. While partially attributable to the death of Gary Gygax in 2008, earlier retro games like ''HackMaster'' and ''Castles & Crusades'' (2006) tapped into the same sentiment. While there is a no true center or uniformity of opinion, the public face of the group is a fairly cohesive collection of games, magazines, message boards, publishers, and blogs (the most prominent of the latter being Grognardia). Common themes, as articulated in Finch's ''A Quick Primer for Old School Gaming'', are megadungeons, sandbox campaigns, an emphasis on player rather than character skill, and a focus on rediscovering how the creators of the games actually played. There's a heavy focus on 0e, with a secondary focus on ''AD&D'', specifically the pre-''Unearthed Arcana'' 1st edition.

=== P ===

;PoLand : '''"Points of Light" land''' (4E) - the "implied setting" found in the core fourth edition books, which uses the "Points of Light" concept.
;primary ability score : (4E) the ability score upon which all or most of a class's attack powers are based. It is usually used for both the attack roll and damage rolls. A character should have a high score in their class's primary ability. For example, Strength is the primary ability score for Fighters.
;rider : (4E) a secondary effect granted by a power in addition to its main effect. Often dependent on a class's secondary ability score or choice of class feature.

=== R ===

; retro-clone
: A replica of an out of print version of a game. Originally and most commonly used to refer to clones of ''D&D''. Based on the principle that the rules of a game cannot be copyrighted, only the specific ''expression'' of the rules. Many clones rely on the OGC to allow them to use trademarked terms and specific elements (like the names of spells, monsters, or game terms). Also known as a simulacrum.

; RC
: '''''Rules Cyclopedia''''' - a single-volume version of Menzter's BECMI sets, compiled by Aaron Allston in 1991. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== S ===
; sandbox
: A campaign style where there is no overarching plot driving the players toward a scripted conclusion. See metaplot.

;secondary ability score : (4E) an ability score which provides secondary bonuses to a class's powers, often in "riders" (q.v.).

; SRD
: '''System Reference Document''' - a compilation of Open Game Content (OGC) released under the Open Gaming Licence (OGL) by Wizards of the Coast (WotC). The original SRD included material from ''Player's Handbook'', ''Dungeon Master's Guide'', and ''Monster Manual'', but later expansions added content from the ''Epic Level Handbook'', ''Deities & Demigods'', and ''Psionics Handbook''. While most of ''Unearthed Arcana'' was also declared OGC, none of the material was added to the SRD. A ''d20 Modern'' SRD was also released, with material from the core rules, ''Modern Arcana'', and the ''Menace Manual''. Third party vendors have also adopted the terminology, with Anime, ''Fudge'', and ''Traveller'' SRDs among many others.

; S&W
: "''Swords & Wizardry'': A 0e retro-clone that comes in two versions. The ''Core Rules'' version replicates the ''3-Volume Set'' plus selected material from the Supplements, primarily ''Greyhawk''. Not a particularly faithful clone, because some elements were excluded (e.g. no thieves), there is support for both ascending and descending AC, and the five saves have become a single number. The ''White Box'' took the ''Core Rules'' and strips out all material not in the original ''3-Volume Set''.

=== T ===
; TSR
: '''Tactical Studies Rules''' - the company founded by Gary Gygax and Don Kaye in 1973 to publish ''Dungeons & Dragons''. It later become known as TSR Hobbies, then TSR Inc. It owned and operated many properties including D&D, various war games, fantasy fiction, and the Gen Con gaming convention. After a decline in profits, its licenses were bought by Wizards of the Coast in 1996, and many sold off to other entities.

=== V ===

;V-shaped class : (4E) also "V class" or "V-class"; a class which offers a choice of primary ability score, depending on build, but always uses the same secondary ability score. The Warlock is a good example; they might choose Constitution or Charisma as a primary ability score depending on their build and pact, but Intelligence is always a good choice for a secondary score.

=== W ===

;WotC : '''Wizards of the Coast''' - current developers, publishers and owners of ''Dungeons & Dragons''.

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2010-07-05T07:26:31Z

Guybrush: Added T section, listed TSR

[[Category: Glossary]] [[Category: Dungeons & Dragons]]

This page is intended as a repository for abbreviations and jargon used when discussing ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (or ''[[Pathfinder]]'', generic d20 fantasy games etc.). While not all originated on the RPG.net D&D forum, a term should be used there before it appears on this list. It is not meant to be a glossary of game terms as presented in the rules, but rather terms invented by or primarily used by players, and not appearing in the books.

== Format ==
Entries should be in alphabetical order, with numbers preceding letters and symbols preceding numbers.

Each entry should be written like this:
:<tt><nowiki>;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.</nowiki></tt>

When formatted, it looks like this:

;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.

'''Term''' is the abbreviation being defined. '''Definition''' should be brief; in most cases, it will simply be the full term which the acronym or abbreviation replaces. It can be omitted for terms which are not abbreviations. Any further explanation or notes should go after the dash. Where possible, include a '''context''' for the abbreviation; is the term used to describe a particular edition of D&D (3E, 3.5, 4E etc.), Pathfinder, FantasyCraft or some other game?

== Terms ==

=== 0–9 ===

; 0e
: '''0[th] Edition''' - The original version of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', the ''3-Volume Set''. The retronym came to refer to the true first edition of the game after the later but more popular ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 1st edition became known as "1E". Sometimes distinguished by the year of publication (1974) or box colors (the original woodgrain/brown or the later and more common white). See also LBB, OCE, OD&D, and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

;3E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Third Edition''' See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.5 : '''Dungeons & Dragons, 3.5 Edition''' - a major update to the third edition rules. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.X : refers to both or either of 3E or 3.5, above. Also sometimes includes games derived from third edition D&D, especially Pathfinder and FantasyCraft. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;4E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fourth Edition''' See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== A ===

;AD&D : '''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''' - the "advanced" version of the game, a distinct line from the various "basic" versions of the first two editions. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;A-shaped class : (4E) also "A class" or "A-class"; a class for which all builds share the same primary ability score, but have differing secondary ability scores. The Wizard is a good example: Intelligence is always primary, but Charisma, Constitution or Wisdom could be a good secondary score depending on what kind of spells you want to cast.
;AWED : '''At-Will, Encounter, Daily''' (4E) - short hand for the basic division of power usage in "standard" 4E classes.

=== B ===

; BD&D
: '''Basic ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - one term for the second branch in the fork that occurred when 0e split into "Basic" and "Advanced" lines. Started with the Holmes blue box in 1977 and continued through 1999 with the the B/X, BECMI, RC, black box, and later editions. "Basic" is something of a misnomer, since it only refers to three of the box sets (Holmes, Moldvay, and the first Menzter box) and levels from 1–3. See also Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; BECMI
: '''Basic, Expert, Companion, Master, and Immortals''' - the version of the game by Frank Menzter, delineated in ''Dungeons & Dragons Sets 1–5: Basic'', ''Expert'', ''Companion'', ''Master'', and ''Immortals Rules''. Sometimes distinguished by the author, color of the first box set (red), year of release (1983 for the ''Basic Rules'', though the ''Immortals Rules'' was not published until 1986), or the cover artist (Larry Elmore). In contrast to the more limited level range of the earlier Holmes and B/X sets, Mentzer's version provided rules for mortal characters of levels 1–36, and up to another 36 levels as immortals. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; black box
: A reference to ''The New Easy-to-Master Dungeons & Dragons Game'' (1991), which came in a predominately black box. Served as the RC's "Basic Set", but unlike the earlier box sets, it covered levels 1–5. Sometimes loosely applied to any of the post-1989 introductory box sets, like the two printings of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' or the ''Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game'' (only one of the versions of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' is primarily black).

; blue box
: The first ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' (in 1977) was compiled by Eric J. Holmes, and comes in a blue box. Sometimes distinguished by the author/editor or the cover artist (David Sutherland). Covers levels 1–3. More closely related to 0e than any other edition, including the later ''Basic Sets''.

; B/X
: '''Basic/eXpert''' - the version of the ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' by Tom Moldvay combined with the ''Expert Set'' by Dave Cook and Steve Marsh. Sometimes distinguished by the authors, color of the first box set (mauve/purple), year of release (1980 for both sets), or cover artist (Erol Otus). In contrast to the Holmes and BECMI sets, B/X covers levels 1–14. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== C ===

;CB : '''Character Builder''' (4E) - the official ''Dungeons & Dragons'' character creation software offered by Wizards of the Coast.

; Classic D&D
: A term used to refer variously to just BD&D, BD&D and 0e, or all pre-3E versions of ''D&D''.

=== D ===

; d20
: Either a 20-sided die, the d20 System, or the d20STL. The last two are often confused.

; d20 System
: The system underlying 3E, v.3.5, and 4E. See OGL, GSL.

; d20STL
: '''d20 System Trademark License''' - a license from Wizards of the Coast that allowed third party vendors to use certain trademarks and logos (most notably the "d20" logo), and include a claim of compatibility in their products. During the d20 boom from 2000 to 2003, most third party d20 System products used the d20STL in conjunction with the OGL. The bust following WotC's v.3.5 led many third party vendors to abandon the d20STL, which was ultimately revoked by Wizards of the Coast in 2008 in favor of the GSL.

;DDI : '''Dungeons & Dragons Insider''' (4E) - the online subscription service offered by Wizards of the Coast, including ''Dragon'' and ''Dungeon'' magazines and the Character Builder.

=== E ===

; endgame
: The stage of the game where characters retire from adventuring, build castles or other strongholds, and engage war and diplomacy. Often associated with name level.

;E6: (3.X) a variant where player characters stop gaining levels after level 6 and instead receive a feat every 5000xp.

=== F ===

;Fightbrain: (4E) the Battlemind character class from Player's Handbook 3.
;flex stat : (4E) a racial ability score bonus which can be applied to one of two (or more) scores. Introduced with the races in Player's Handbook 3; for example, Minotaurs get +2 Strenght, and +2 Constitution ''or'' +2 Wisdom.

=== G ===

; GSL
: "Gaming System License": The successor to Wizard of the Coast's d20STL and OGL, released in 2008. Far more restrictive than either of its predecessors.

=== L ===

; LBBs
: '''Little Brown Books''' - also "little brown booklets"; a nickname for the parchment-colored, digest-sized booklets in the 0e box set. The three volumes are ''Men & Magic'', ''Monsters & Treasure'', and ''The Underworld and Wilderness Adventures''. Not to be confused with ''Traveller's'' "little black books". See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== M ===

;MAD : '''Multiple Ability Dependency''' (4E) - a class (or Paragon Path, etc.) that relies on more than one Ability Score; seen as a deficiency since this requires splitting points between abilities, and thus lower possible maximum scores.

; megadungeon
: A dungeon large enough to challenge an adventuring party for their entire career, from 1st level to the endgame. The campaigns played by the creators of the hobby (Gygax and Arneson) both featured megadungeons (Castles Blackmoor and Greyhawk), but no true examples were published during the peak of ''D&D'''s popularity. Considered one of the cornerstones of the OSR.

=== N ===

;NAD : '''Non-Armor Class Defences''' (4E) - Shorthand for a character or monster's Fortitude, Reflex and Will defences.

; name level
: The level at which a character stops gaining new level titles (which are associated with each class and level in pre-3E versions of the game), often 9th. For example, a fighting-man in 0e is called a "Super Hero" at 8th level, a "Lord" at 9th level, and a "Lord, 10th Level" at 10th level. Since that is not a new descriptive title, the fighting-man reaches name level at 9th. Often considered the start of the endgame, and usually the point at which character advancement dramatically slows.

=== O ===

; OD&D
: '''Original ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - also "Old ''Dungeons & Dragons''". Among adherents of the OSR, the term has come to refer strictly to the edition represented by the 0e box set and the supplements, and often the Holmes ''Basic Set''. Among the broader group of old school fans, the term is often used more broadly, and includes the rest of the BD&D line. There is some controversy over which is is the proper usage.

; OG
: '''Old Geezer''' - the username of RPG.net poster Michael Mornard, who was a player in the original Castle Greyhawk campaign co-DMed by Gary Gygax and Rob Kuntz in the early 1970s.

; OGC
: '''Open Game Content''' - any material released under the OGL.

; OGL
: '''Open Game License''' - an open-source license released by Wizards of the Coast in 2000 that allows third party vendors to use OGC, like the SRD. Commonly used in conjunction with the more restrictive d20STL until 2003.

; OS
: '''Old school''' - a general adjective used to describe the style of early role-playing games. While primarily used to refer to ''D&D'' and its variants, the term can be more broadly applied to any early games. Different definitions have different cut off times; some exclude 3.X, 2E, 1E, everything but 0e, or various finer distinctions (lines are often drawn at ''AD&D'' 2nd edition's ''Player Option'' books, or 1E's ''Unearthed Arcana'').

; OSR
: '''Old School Renaissance''' - also ''Old School Revolution'' or ''Old School Revival''; the recent surge in popularity of older roleplaying games and styles. While partially attributable to the death of Gary Gygax in 2008, earlier retro games like ''HackMaster'' and ''Castles & Crusades'' (2006) tapped into the same sentiment. While there is a no true center or uniformity of opinion, the public face of the group is a fairly cohesive collection of games, magazines, message boards, publishers, and blogs (the most prominent of the latter being Grognardia). Common themes, as articulated in Finch's ''A Quick Primer for Old School Gaming'', are megadungeons, sandbox campaigns, an emphasis on player rather than character skill, and a focus on rediscovering how the creators of the games actually played. There's a heavy focus on 0e, with a secondary focus on ''AD&D'', specifically the pre-''Unearthed Arcana'' 1st edition.

=== P ===

;PoLand : '''"Points of Light" land''' (4E) - the "implied setting" found in the core fourth edition books, which uses the "Points of Light" concept.
;primary ability score : (4E) the ability score upon which all or most of a class's attack powers are based. It is usually used for both the attack roll and damage rolls. A character should have a high score in their class's primary ability. For example, Strength is the primary ability score for Fighters.
;rider : (4E) a secondary effect granted by a power in addition to its main effect. Often dependent on a class's secondary ability score or choice of class feature.

=== R ===

; retro-clone
: A replica of an out of print version of a game. Originally and most commonly used to refer to clones of ''D&D''. Based on the principle that the rules of a game cannot be copyrighted, only the specific ''expression'' of the rules. Many clones rely on the OGC to allow them to use trademarked terms and specific elements (like the names of spells, monsters, or game terms). Also known as a simulacrum.

; RC
: '''''Rules Cyclopedia''''' - a single-volume version of Menzter's BECMI sets, compiled by Aaron Allston in 1991. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== S ===
; sandbox
: A campaign style where there is no overarching plot driving the players toward a scripted conclusion. See metaplot.

;secondary ability score : (4E) an ability score which provides secondary bonuses to a class's powers, often in "riders" (q.v.).

; SRD
: "System Reference Document": The SRD is a compilation of OGC released under the OGL by WotC. The original SRD included material from ''Player's Handbook'', ''Dungeon Master's Guide'', and ''Monster Manual'', but later expansions added content from the ''Epic Level Handbook'', ''Deities & Demigods'', and ''Psionics Handbook''. While most of ''Unearthed Arcana'' was also declared OGC, none of the material was added to the SRD. A ''d20 Modern'' SRD was also released, with material from the core rules, ''Modern Arcana'', and the ''Menace Manual''. Third party vendors have also adopted the terminology, with Anime, ''Fudge'', and ''Traveller'' SRDs among many others.

; S&W
: "''Swords & Wizardry'': A 0e retro-clone that comes in two versions. The ''Core Rules'' version replicates the ''3-Volume Set'' plus selected material from the Supplements, primarily ''Greyhawk''. Not a particularly faithful clone, because some elements were excluded (e.g. no thieves), there is support for both ascending and descending AC, and the five saves have become a single number. The ''White Box'' took the ''Core Rules'' and strips out all material not in the original ''3-Volume Set''.

=== T ===
; TSR
: '''Tactical Studies Rules''' - the company founded by Gary Gygax and Don Kaye in 1973 to publish ''Dungeons & Dragons''. It later become known as TSR Hobbies, then TSR Inc. It owned and operated many properties including D&D, various war games, fantasy fiction, and the Gen Con gaming convention. After a decline in profits, its licenses were bought by Wizards of the Coast in 1996, and many sold off to other entities.

=== V ===

;V-shaped class : (4E) also "V class" or "V-class"; a class which offers a choice of primary ability score, depending on build, but always uses the same secondary ability score. The Warlock is a good example; they might choose Constitution or Charisma as a primary ability score depending on their build and pact, but Intelligence is always a good choice for a secondary score.

=== W ===

;WotC : '''Wizards of the Coast''' - current developers, publishers and owners of ''Dungeons & Dragons''.

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2010-07-05T07:15:49Z

Guybrush: /* R */ Formatting

[[Category: Glossary]] [[Category: Dungeons & Dragons]]

This page is intended as a repository for abbreviations and jargon used when discussing ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (or ''[[Pathfinder]]'', generic d20 fantasy games etc.). While not all originated on the RPG.net D&D forum, a term should be used there before it appears on this list. It is not meant to be a glossary of game terms as presented in the rules, but rather terms invented by or primarily used by players, and not appearing in the books.

== Format ==
Entries should be in alphabetical order, with numbers preceding letters and symbols preceding numbers.

Each entry should be written like this:
:<tt><nowiki>;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.</nowiki></tt>

When formatted, it looks like this:

;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.

'''Term''' is the abbreviation being defined. '''Definition''' should be brief; in most cases, it will simply be the full term which the acronym or abbreviation replaces. It can be omitted for terms which are not abbreviations. Any further explanation or notes should go after the dash. Where possible, include a '''context''' for the abbreviation; is the term used to describe a particular edition of D&D (3E, 3.5, 4E etc.), Pathfinder, FantasyCraft or some other game?

== Terms ==

=== 0–9 ===

; 0e
: '''0[th] Edition''' - The original version of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', the ''3-Volume Set''. The retronym came to refer to the true first edition of the game after the later but more popular ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 1st edition became known as "1E". Sometimes distinguished by the year of publication (1974) or box colors (the original woodgrain/brown or the later and more common white). See also LBB, OCE, OD&D, and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

;3E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Third Edition''' See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.5 : '''Dungeons & Dragons, 3.5 Edition''' - a major update to the third edition rules. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.X : refers to both or either of 3E or 3.5, above. Also sometimes includes games derived from third edition D&D, especially Pathfinder and FantasyCraft. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;4E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fourth Edition''' See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== A ===

;AD&D : '''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''' - the "advanced" version of the game, a distinct line from the various "basic" versions of the first two editions. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;A-shaped class : (4E) also "A class" or "A-class"; a class for which all builds share the same primary ability score, but have differing secondary ability scores. The Wizard is a good example: Intelligence is always primary, but Charisma, Constitution or Wisdom could be a good secondary score depending on what kind of spells you want to cast.
;AWED : '''At-Will, Encounter, Daily''' (4E) - short hand for the basic division of power usage in "standard" 4E classes.

=== B ===

; BD&D
: '''Basic ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - one term for the second branch in the fork that occurred when 0e split into "Basic" and "Advanced" lines. Started with the Holmes blue box in 1977 and continued through 1999 with the the B/X, BECMI, RC, black box, and later editions. "Basic" is something of a misnomer, since it only refers to three of the box sets (Holmes, Moldvay, and the first Menzter box) and levels from 1–3. See also Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; BECMI
: '''Basic, Expert, Companion, Master, and Immortals''' - the version of the game by Frank Menzter, delineated in ''Dungeons & Dragons Sets 1–5: Basic'', ''Expert'', ''Companion'', ''Master'', and ''Immortals Rules''. Sometimes distinguished by the author, color of the first box set (red), year of release (1983 for the ''Basic Rules'', though the ''Immortals Rules'' was not published until 1986), or the cover artist (Larry Elmore). In contrast to the more limited level range of the earlier Holmes and B/X sets, Mentzer's version provided rules for mortal characters of levels 1–36, and up to another 36 levels as immortals. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; black box
: A reference to ''The New Easy-to-Master Dungeons & Dragons Game'' (1991), which came in a predominately black box. Served as the RC's "Basic Set", but unlike the earlier box sets, it covered levels 1–5. Sometimes loosely applied to any of the post-1989 introductory box sets, like the two printings of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' or the ''Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game'' (only one of the versions of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' is primarily black).

; blue box
: The first ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' (in 1977) was compiled by Eric J. Holmes, and comes in a blue box. Sometimes distinguished by the author/editor or the cover artist (David Sutherland). Covers levels 1–3. More closely related to 0e than any other edition, including the later ''Basic Sets''.

; B/X
: '''Basic/eXpert''' - the version of the ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' by Tom Moldvay combined with the ''Expert Set'' by Dave Cook and Steve Marsh. Sometimes distinguished by the authors, color of the first box set (mauve/purple), year of release (1980 for both sets), or cover artist (Erol Otus). In contrast to the Holmes and BECMI sets, B/X covers levels 1–14. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== C ===

;CB : '''Character Builder''' (4E) - the official ''Dungeons & Dragons'' character creation software offered by Wizards of the Coast.

; Classic D&D
: A term used to refer variously to just BD&D, BD&D and 0e, or all pre-3E versions of ''D&D''.

=== D ===

; d20
: Either a 20-sided die, the d20 System, or the d20STL. The last two are often confused.

; d20 System
: The system underlying 3E, v.3.5, and 4E. See OGL, GSL.

; d20STL
: '''d20 System Trademark License''' - a license from Wizards of the Coast that allowed third party vendors to use certain trademarks and logos (most notably the "d20" logo), and include a claim of compatibility in their products. During the d20 boom from 2000 to 2003, most third party d20 System products used the d20STL in conjunction with the OGL. The bust following WotC's v.3.5 led many third party vendors to abandon the d20STL, which was ultimately revoked by Wizards of the Coast in 2008 in favor of the GSL.

;DDI : '''Dungeons & Dragons Insider''' (4E) - the online subscription service offered by Wizards of the Coast, including ''Dragon'' and ''Dungeon'' magazines and the Character Builder.

=== E ===

; endgame
: The stage of the game where characters retire from adventuring, build castles or other strongholds, and engage war and diplomacy. Often associated with name level.

;E6: (3.X) a variant where player characters stop gaining levels after level 6 and instead receive a feat every 5000xp.

=== F ===

;Fightbrain: (4E) the Battlemind character class from Player's Handbook 3.
;flex stat : (4E) a racial ability score bonus which can be applied to one of two (or more) scores. Introduced with the races in Player's Handbook 3; for example, Minotaurs get +2 Strenght, and +2 Constitution ''or'' +2 Wisdom.

=== G ===

; GSL
: "Gaming System License": The successor to Wizard of the Coast's d20STL and OGL, released in 2008. Far more restrictive than either of its predecessors.

=== L ===

; LBBs
: '''Little Brown Books''' - also "little brown booklets"; a nickname for the parchment-colored, digest-sized booklets in the 0e box set. The three volumes are ''Men & Magic'', ''Monsters & Treasure'', and ''The Underworld and Wilderness Adventures''. Not to be confused with ''Traveller's'' "little black books". See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== M ===

;MAD : '''Multiple Ability Dependency''' (4E) - a class (or Paragon Path, etc.) that relies on more than one Ability Score; seen as a deficiency since this requires splitting points between abilities, and thus lower possible maximum scores.

; megadungeon
: A dungeon large enough to challenge an adventuring party for their entire career, from 1st level to the endgame. The campaigns played by the creators of the hobby (Gygax and Arneson) both featured megadungeons (Castles Blackmoor and Greyhawk), but no true examples were published during the peak of ''D&D'''s popularity. Considered one of the cornerstones of the OSR.

=== N ===

;NAD : '''Non-Armor Class Defences''' (4E) - Shorthand for a character or monster's Fortitude, Reflex and Will defences.

; name level
: The level at which a character stops gaining new level titles (which are associated with each class and level in pre-3E versions of the game), often 9th. For example, a fighting-man in 0e is called a "Super Hero" at 8th level, a "Lord" at 9th level, and a "Lord, 10th Level" at 10th level. Since that is not a new descriptive title, the fighting-man reaches name level at 9th. Often considered the start of the endgame, and usually the point at which character advancement dramatically slows.

=== O ===

; OD&D
: '''Original ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - also "Old ''Dungeons & Dragons''". Among adherents of the OSR, the term has come to refer strictly to the edition represented by the 0e box set and the supplements, and often the Holmes ''Basic Set''. Among the broader group of old school fans, the term is often used more broadly, and includes the rest of the BD&D line. There is some controversy over which is is the proper usage.

; OG
: '''Old Geezer''' - the username of RPG.net poster Michael Mornard, who was a player in the original Castle Greyhawk campaign co-DMed by Gary Gygax and Rob Kuntz in the early 1970s.

; OGC
: '''Open Game Content''' - any material released under the OGL.

; OGL
: '''Open Game License''' - an open-source license released by Wizards of the Coast in 2000 that allows third party vendors to use OGC, like the SRD. Commonly used in conjunction with the more restrictive d20STL until 2003.

; OS
: '''Old school''' - a general adjective used to describe the style of early role-playing games. While primarily used to refer to ''D&D'' and its variants, the term can be more broadly applied to any early games. Different definitions have different cut off times; some exclude 3.X, 2E, 1E, everything but 0e, or various finer distinctions (lines are often drawn at ''AD&D'' 2nd edition's ''Player Option'' books, or 1E's ''Unearthed Arcana'').

; OSR
: '''Old School Renaissance''' - also ''Old School Revolution'' or ''Old School Revival''; the recent surge in popularity of older roleplaying games and styles. While partially attributable to the death of Gary Gygax in 2008, earlier retro games like ''HackMaster'' and ''Castles & Crusades'' (2006) tapped into the same sentiment. While there is a no true center or uniformity of opinion, the public face of the group is a fairly cohesive collection of games, magazines, message boards, publishers, and blogs (the most prominent of the latter being Grognardia). Common themes, as articulated in Finch's ''A Quick Primer for Old School Gaming'', are megadungeons, sandbox campaigns, an emphasis on player rather than character skill, and a focus on rediscovering how the creators of the games actually played. There's a heavy focus on 0e, with a secondary focus on ''AD&D'', specifically the pre-''Unearthed Arcana'' 1st edition.

=== P ===

;PoLand : '''"Points of Light" land''' (4E) - the "implied setting" found in the core fourth edition books, which uses the "Points of Light" concept.
;primary ability score : (4E) the ability score upon which all or most of a class's attack powers are based. It is usually used for both the attack roll and damage rolls. A character should have a high score in their class's primary ability. For example, Strength is the primary ability score for Fighters.
;rider : (4E) a secondary effect granted by a power in addition to its main effect. Often dependent on a class's secondary ability score or choice of class feature.

=== R ===

; retro-clone
: A replica of an out of print version of a game. Originally and most commonly used to refer to clones of ''D&D''. Based on the principle that the rules of a game cannot be copyrighted, only the specific ''expression'' of the rules. Many clones rely on the OGC to allow them to use trademarked terms and specific elements (like the names of spells, monsters, or game terms). Also known as a simulacrum.

; RC
: '''''Rules Cyclopedia''''' - a single-volume version of Menzter's BECMI sets, compiled by Aaron Allston in 1991. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== S ===

; sandbox
: A campaign style where there is no overarching plot driving the players toward a scripted conclusion. See metaplot.

;secondary ability score : (4E) an ability score which provides secondary bonuses to a class's powers, often in "riders" (q.v.).

; SRD
: "System Reference Document": The SRD is a compilation of OGC released under the OGL by WotC. The original SRD included material from ''Player's Handbook'', ''Dungeon Master's Guide'', and ''Monster Manual'', but later expansions added content from the ''Epic Level Handbook'', ''Deities & Demigods'', and ''Psionics Handbook''. While most of ''Unearthed Arcana'' was also declared OGC, none of the material was added to the SRD. A ''d20 Modern'' SRD was also released, with material from the core rules, ''Modern Arcana'', and the ''Menace Manual''. Third party vendors have also adopted the terminology, with Anime, ''Fudge'', and ''Traveller'' SRDs among many others.

; S&W
: "''Swords & Wizardry'': A 0e retro-clone that comes in two versions. The ''Core Rules'' version replicates the ''3-Volume Set'' plus selected material from the Supplements, primarily ''Greyhawk''. Not a particularly faithful clone, because some elements were excluded (e.g. no thieves), there is support for both ascending and descending AC, and the five saves have become a single number. The ''White Box'' took the ''Core Rules'' and strips out all material not in the original ''3-Volume Set''.

=== V ===

;V-shaped class : (4E) also "V class" or "V-class"; a class which offers a choice of primary ability score, depending on build, but always uses the same secondary ability score. The Warlock is a good example; they might choose Constitution or Charisma as a primary ability score depending on their build and pact, but Intelligence is always a good choice for a secondary score.

=== W ===

;WotC : '''Wizards of the Coast''' - current developers, publishers and owners of ''Dungeons & Dragons''.

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2010-07-05T07:14:50Z

Guybrush: /* O */ Copyedit, formatting

[[Category: Glossary]] [[Category: Dungeons & Dragons]]

This page is intended as a repository for abbreviations and jargon used when discussing ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (or ''[[Pathfinder]]'', generic d20 fantasy games etc.). While not all originated on the RPG.net D&D forum, a term should be used there before it appears on this list. It is not meant to be a glossary of game terms as presented in the rules, but rather terms invented by or primarily used by players, and not appearing in the books.

== Format ==
Entries should be in alphabetical order, with numbers preceding letters and symbols preceding numbers.

Each entry should be written like this:
:<tt><nowiki>;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.</nowiki></tt>

When formatted, it looks like this:

;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.

'''Term''' is the abbreviation being defined. '''Definition''' should be brief; in most cases, it will simply be the full term which the acronym or abbreviation replaces. It can be omitted for terms which are not abbreviations. Any further explanation or notes should go after the dash. Where possible, include a '''context''' for the abbreviation; is the term used to describe a particular edition of D&D (3E, 3.5, 4E etc.), Pathfinder, FantasyCraft or some other game?

== Terms ==

=== 0–9 ===

; 0e
: '''0[th] Edition''' - The original version of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', the ''3-Volume Set''. The retronym came to refer to the true first edition of the game after the later but more popular ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 1st edition became known as "1E". Sometimes distinguished by the year of publication (1974) or box colors (the original woodgrain/brown or the later and more common white). See also LBB, OCE, OD&D, and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

;3E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Third Edition''' See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.5 : '''Dungeons & Dragons, 3.5 Edition''' - a major update to the third edition rules. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.X : refers to both or either of 3E or 3.5, above. Also sometimes includes games derived from third edition D&D, especially Pathfinder and FantasyCraft. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;4E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fourth Edition''' See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== A ===

;AD&D : '''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''' - the "advanced" version of the game, a distinct line from the various "basic" versions of the first two editions. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;A-shaped class : (4E) also "A class" or "A-class"; a class for which all builds share the same primary ability score, but have differing secondary ability scores. The Wizard is a good example: Intelligence is always primary, but Charisma, Constitution or Wisdom could be a good secondary score depending on what kind of spells you want to cast.
;AWED : '''At-Will, Encounter, Daily''' (4E) - short hand for the basic division of power usage in "standard" 4E classes.

=== B ===

; BD&D
: '''Basic ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - one term for the second branch in the fork that occurred when 0e split into "Basic" and "Advanced" lines. Started with the Holmes blue box in 1977 and continued through 1999 with the the B/X, BECMI, RC, black box, and later editions. "Basic" is something of a misnomer, since it only refers to three of the box sets (Holmes, Moldvay, and the first Menzter box) and levels from 1–3. See also Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; BECMI
: '''Basic, Expert, Companion, Master, and Immortals''' - the version of the game by Frank Menzter, delineated in ''Dungeons & Dragons Sets 1–5: Basic'', ''Expert'', ''Companion'', ''Master'', and ''Immortals Rules''. Sometimes distinguished by the author, color of the first box set (red), year of release (1983 for the ''Basic Rules'', though the ''Immortals Rules'' was not published until 1986), or the cover artist (Larry Elmore). In contrast to the more limited level range of the earlier Holmes and B/X sets, Mentzer's version provided rules for mortal characters of levels 1–36, and up to another 36 levels as immortals. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; black box
: A reference to ''The New Easy-to-Master Dungeons & Dragons Game'' (1991), which came in a predominately black box. Served as the RC's "Basic Set", but unlike the earlier box sets, it covered levels 1–5. Sometimes loosely applied to any of the post-1989 introductory box sets, like the two printings of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' or the ''Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game'' (only one of the versions of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' is primarily black).

; blue box
: The first ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' (in 1977) was compiled by Eric J. Holmes, and comes in a blue box. Sometimes distinguished by the author/editor or the cover artist (David Sutherland). Covers levels 1–3. More closely related to 0e than any other edition, including the later ''Basic Sets''.

; B/X
: '''Basic/eXpert''' - the version of the ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' by Tom Moldvay combined with the ''Expert Set'' by Dave Cook and Steve Marsh. Sometimes distinguished by the authors, color of the first box set (mauve/purple), year of release (1980 for both sets), or cover artist (Erol Otus). In contrast to the Holmes and BECMI sets, B/X covers levels 1–14. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== C ===

;CB : '''Character Builder''' (4E) - the official ''Dungeons & Dragons'' character creation software offered by Wizards of the Coast.

; Classic D&D
: A term used to refer variously to just BD&D, BD&D and 0e, or all pre-3E versions of ''D&D''.

=== D ===

; d20
: Either a 20-sided die, the d20 System, or the d20STL. The last two are often confused.

; d20 System
: The system underlying 3E, v.3.5, and 4E. See OGL, GSL.

; d20STL
: '''d20 System Trademark License''' - a license from Wizards of the Coast that allowed third party vendors to use certain trademarks and logos (most notably the "d20" logo), and include a claim of compatibility in their products. During the d20 boom from 2000 to 2003, most third party d20 System products used the d20STL in conjunction with the OGL. The bust following WotC's v.3.5 led many third party vendors to abandon the d20STL, which was ultimately revoked by Wizards of the Coast in 2008 in favor of the GSL.

;DDI : '''Dungeons & Dragons Insider''' (4E) - the online subscription service offered by Wizards of the Coast, including ''Dragon'' and ''Dungeon'' magazines and the Character Builder.

=== E ===

; endgame
: The stage of the game where characters retire from adventuring, build castles or other strongholds, and engage war and diplomacy. Often associated with name level.

;E6: (3.X) a variant where player characters stop gaining levels after level 6 and instead receive a feat every 5000xp.

=== F ===

;Fightbrain: (4E) the Battlemind character class from Player's Handbook 3.
;flex stat : (4E) a racial ability score bonus which can be applied to one of two (or more) scores. Introduced with the races in Player's Handbook 3; for example, Minotaurs get +2 Strenght, and +2 Constitution ''or'' +2 Wisdom.

=== G ===

; GSL
: "Gaming System License": The successor to Wizard of the Coast's d20STL and OGL, released in 2008. Far more restrictive than either of its predecessors.

=== L ===

; LBBs
: '''Little Brown Books''' - also "little brown booklets"; a nickname for the parchment-colored, digest-sized booklets in the 0e box set. The three volumes are ''Men & Magic'', ''Monsters & Treasure'', and ''The Underworld and Wilderness Adventures''. Not to be confused with ''Traveller's'' "little black books". See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== M ===

;MAD : '''Multiple Ability Dependency''' (4E) - a class (or Paragon Path, etc.) that relies on more than one Ability Score; seen as a deficiency since this requires splitting points between abilities, and thus lower possible maximum scores.

; megadungeon
: A dungeon large enough to challenge an adventuring party for their entire career, from 1st level to the endgame. The campaigns played by the creators of the hobby (Gygax and Arneson) both featured megadungeons (Castles Blackmoor and Greyhawk), but no true examples were published during the peak of ''D&D'''s popularity. Considered one of the cornerstones of the OSR.

=== N ===

;NAD : '''Non-Armor Class Defences''' (4E) - Shorthand for a character or monster's Fortitude, Reflex and Will defences.

; name level
: The level at which a character stops gaining new level titles (which are associated with each class and level in pre-3E versions of the game), often 9th. For example, a fighting-man in 0e is called a "Super Hero" at 8th level, a "Lord" at 9th level, and a "Lord, 10th Level" at 10th level. Since that is not a new descriptive title, the fighting-man reaches name level at 9th. Often considered the start of the endgame, and usually the point at which character advancement dramatically slows.

=== O ===

; OD&D
: '''Original ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - also "Old ''Dungeons & Dragons''". Among adherents of the OSR, the term has come to refer strictly to the edition represented by the 0e box set and the supplements, and often the Holmes ''Basic Set''. Among the broader group of old school fans, the term is often used more broadly, and includes the rest of the BD&D line. There is some controversy over which is is the proper usage.

; OG
: '''Old Geezer''' - the username of RPG.net poster Michael Mornard, who was a player in the original Castle Greyhawk campaign co-DMed by Gary Gygax and Rob Kuntz in the early 1970s.

; OGC
: '''Open Game Content''' - any material released under the OGL.

; OGL
: '''Open Game License''' - an open-source license released by Wizards of the Coast in 2000 that allows third party vendors to use OGC, like the SRD. Commonly used in conjunction with the more restrictive d20STL until 2003.

; OS
: '''Old school''' - a general adjective used to describe the style of early role-playing games. While primarily used to refer to ''D&D'' and its variants, the term can be more broadly applied to any early games. Different definitions have different cut off times; some exclude 3.X, 2E, 1E, everything but 0e, or various finer distinctions (lines are often drawn at ''AD&D'' 2nd edition's ''Player Option'' books, or 1E's ''Unearthed Arcana'').

; OSR
: '''Old School Renaissance''' - also ''Old School Revolution'' or ''Old School Revival''; the recent surge in popularity of older roleplaying games and styles. While partially attributable to the death of Gary Gygax in 2008, earlier retro games like ''HackMaster'' and ''Castles & Crusades'' (2006) tapped into the same sentiment. While there is a no true center or uniformity of opinion, the public face of the group is a fairly cohesive collection of games, magazines, message boards, publishers, and blogs (the most prominent of the latter being Grognardia). Common themes, as articulated in Finch's ''A Quick Primer for Old School Gaming'', are megadungeons, sandbox campaigns, an emphasis on player rather than character skill, and a focus on rediscovering how the creators of the games actually played. There's a heavy focus on 0e, with a secondary focus on ''AD&D'', specifically the pre-''Unearthed Arcana'' 1st edition.

=== P ===

;PoLand : '''"Points of Light" land''' (4E) - the "implied setting" found in the core fourth edition books, which uses the "Points of Light" concept.
;primary ability score : (4E) the ability score upon which all or most of a class's attack powers are based. It is usually used for both the attack roll and damage rolls. A character should have a high score in their class's primary ability. For example, Strength is the primary ability score for Fighters.
;rider : (4E) a secondary effect granted by a power in addition to its main effect. Often dependent on a class's secondary ability score or choice of class feature.

=== R ===

; retro-clone
: A replica of an out of print version of a game. Originally and most commonly used to refer to clones of ''D&D''. Based on the principle that the rules of a game cannot be copyrighted, only the specific ''expression'' of the rules. Many clones rely on the OGC to allow them to use trademarked terms and specific elements (like the names of spells, monsters, or game terms). Also known as a simulacrum.

; RC
: "''Rules Cyclopedia''": The one-volume compilation of Menzter's BECMI sets by Aaron Allston in 1991. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== S ===

; sandbox
: A campaign style where there is no overarching plot driving the players toward a scripted conclusion. See metaplot.

;secondary ability score : (4E) an ability score which provides secondary bonuses to a class's powers, often in "riders" (q.v.).

; SRD
: "System Reference Document": The SRD is a compilation of OGC released under the OGL by WotC. The original SRD included material from ''Player's Handbook'', ''Dungeon Master's Guide'', and ''Monster Manual'', but later expansions added content from the ''Epic Level Handbook'', ''Deities & Demigods'', and ''Psionics Handbook''. While most of ''Unearthed Arcana'' was also declared OGC, none of the material was added to the SRD. A ''d20 Modern'' SRD was also released, with material from the core rules, ''Modern Arcana'', and the ''Menace Manual''. Third party vendors have also adopted the terminology, with Anime, ''Fudge'', and ''Traveller'' SRDs among many others.

; S&W
: "''Swords & Wizardry'': A 0e retro-clone that comes in two versions. The ''Core Rules'' version replicates the ''3-Volume Set'' plus selected material from the Supplements, primarily ''Greyhawk''. Not a particularly faithful clone, because some elements were excluded (e.g. no thieves), there is support for both ascending and descending AC, and the five saves have become a single number. The ''White Box'' took the ''Core Rules'' and strips out all material not in the original ''3-Volume Set''.

=== V ===

;V-shaped class : (4E) also "V class" or "V-class"; a class which offers a choice of primary ability score, depending on build, but always uses the same secondary ability score. The Warlock is a good example; they might choose Constitution or Charisma as a primary ability score depending on their build and pact, but Intelligence is always a good choice for a secondary score.

=== W ===

;WotC : '''Wizards of the Coast''' - current developers, publishers and owners of ''Dungeons & Dragons''.

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2010-07-05T07:11:06Z

Guybrush: /* L */ Formatting

[[Category: Glossary]] [[Category: Dungeons & Dragons]]

This page is intended as a repository for abbreviations and jargon used when discussing ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (or ''[[Pathfinder]]'', generic d20 fantasy games etc.). While not all originated on the RPG.net D&D forum, a term should be used there before it appears on this list. It is not meant to be a glossary of game terms as presented in the rules, but rather terms invented by or primarily used by players, and not appearing in the books.

== Format ==
Entries should be in alphabetical order, with numbers preceding letters and symbols preceding numbers.

Each entry should be written like this:
:<tt><nowiki>;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.</nowiki></tt>

When formatted, it looks like this:

;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.

'''Term''' is the abbreviation being defined. '''Definition''' should be brief; in most cases, it will simply be the full term which the acronym or abbreviation replaces. It can be omitted for terms which are not abbreviations. Any further explanation or notes should go after the dash. Where possible, include a '''context''' for the abbreviation; is the term used to describe a particular edition of D&D (3E, 3.5, 4E etc.), Pathfinder, FantasyCraft or some other game?

== Terms ==

=== 0–9 ===

; 0e
: '''0[th] Edition''' - The original version of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', the ''3-Volume Set''. The retronym came to refer to the true first edition of the game after the later but more popular ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 1st edition became known as "1E". Sometimes distinguished by the year of publication (1974) or box colors (the original woodgrain/brown or the later and more common white). See also LBB, OCE, OD&D, and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

;3E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Third Edition''' See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.5 : '''Dungeons & Dragons, 3.5 Edition''' - a major update to the third edition rules. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.X : refers to both or either of 3E or 3.5, above. Also sometimes includes games derived from third edition D&D, especially Pathfinder and FantasyCraft. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;4E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fourth Edition''' See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== A ===

;AD&D : '''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''' - the "advanced" version of the game, a distinct line from the various "basic" versions of the first two editions. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;A-shaped class : (4E) also "A class" or "A-class"; a class for which all builds share the same primary ability score, but have differing secondary ability scores. The Wizard is a good example: Intelligence is always primary, but Charisma, Constitution or Wisdom could be a good secondary score depending on what kind of spells you want to cast.
;AWED : '''At-Will, Encounter, Daily''' (4E) - short hand for the basic division of power usage in "standard" 4E classes.

=== B ===

; BD&D
: '''Basic ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - one term for the second branch in the fork that occurred when 0e split into "Basic" and "Advanced" lines. Started with the Holmes blue box in 1977 and continued through 1999 with the the B/X, BECMI, RC, black box, and later editions. "Basic" is something of a misnomer, since it only refers to three of the box sets (Holmes, Moldvay, and the first Menzter box) and levels from 1–3. See also Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; BECMI
: '''Basic, Expert, Companion, Master, and Immortals''' - the version of the game by Frank Menzter, delineated in ''Dungeons & Dragons Sets 1–5: Basic'', ''Expert'', ''Companion'', ''Master'', and ''Immortals Rules''. Sometimes distinguished by the author, color of the first box set (red), year of release (1983 for the ''Basic Rules'', though the ''Immortals Rules'' was not published until 1986), or the cover artist (Larry Elmore). In contrast to the more limited level range of the earlier Holmes and B/X sets, Mentzer's version provided rules for mortal characters of levels 1–36, and up to another 36 levels as immortals. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; black box
: A reference to ''The New Easy-to-Master Dungeons & Dragons Game'' (1991), which came in a predominately black box. Served as the RC's "Basic Set", but unlike the earlier box sets, it covered levels 1–5. Sometimes loosely applied to any of the post-1989 introductory box sets, like the two printings of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' or the ''Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game'' (only one of the versions of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' is primarily black).

; blue box
: The first ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' (in 1977) was compiled by Eric J. Holmes, and comes in a blue box. Sometimes distinguished by the author/editor or the cover artist (David Sutherland). Covers levels 1–3. More closely related to 0e than any other edition, including the later ''Basic Sets''.

; B/X
: '''Basic/eXpert''' - the version of the ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' by Tom Moldvay combined with the ''Expert Set'' by Dave Cook and Steve Marsh. Sometimes distinguished by the authors, color of the first box set (mauve/purple), year of release (1980 for both sets), or cover artist (Erol Otus). In contrast to the Holmes and BECMI sets, B/X covers levels 1–14. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== C ===

;CB : '''Character Builder''' (4E) - the official ''Dungeons & Dragons'' character creation software offered by Wizards of the Coast.

; Classic D&D
: A term used to refer variously to just BD&D, BD&D and 0e, or all pre-3E versions of ''D&D''.

=== D ===

; d20
: Either a 20-sided die, the d20 System, or the d20STL. The last two are often confused.

; d20 System
: The system underlying 3E, v.3.5, and 4E. See OGL, GSL.

; d20STL
: '''d20 System Trademark License''' - a license from Wizards of the Coast that allowed third party vendors to use certain trademarks and logos (most notably the "d20" logo), and include a claim of compatibility in their products. During the d20 boom from 2000 to 2003, most third party d20 System products used the d20STL in conjunction with the OGL. The bust following WotC's v.3.5 led many third party vendors to abandon the d20STL, which was ultimately revoked by Wizards of the Coast in 2008 in favor of the GSL.

;DDI : '''Dungeons & Dragons Insider''' (4E) - the online subscription service offered by Wizards of the Coast, including ''Dragon'' and ''Dungeon'' magazines and the Character Builder.

=== E ===

; endgame
: The stage of the game where characters retire from adventuring, build castles or other strongholds, and engage war and diplomacy. Often associated with name level.

;E6: (3.X) a variant where player characters stop gaining levels after level 6 and instead receive a feat every 5000xp.

=== F ===

;Fightbrain: (4E) the Battlemind character class from Player's Handbook 3.
;flex stat : (4E) a racial ability score bonus which can be applied to one of two (or more) scores. Introduced with the races in Player's Handbook 3; for example, Minotaurs get +2 Strenght, and +2 Constitution ''or'' +2 Wisdom.

=== G ===

; GSL
: "Gaming System License": The successor to Wizard of the Coast's d20STL and OGL, released in 2008. Far more restrictive than either of its predecessors.

=== L ===

; LBBs
: '''Little Brown Books''' - also "little brown booklets"; a nickname for the parchment-colored, digest-sized booklets in the 0e box set. The three volumes are ''Men & Magic'', ''Monsters & Treasure'', and ''The Underworld and Wilderness Adventures''. Not to be confused with ''Traveller's'' "little black books". See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== M ===

;MAD : '''Multiple Ability Dependency''' (4E) - a class (or Paragon Path, etc.) that relies on more than one Ability Score; seen as a deficiency since this requires splitting points between abilities, and thus lower possible maximum scores.

; megadungeon
: A dungeon large enough to challenge an adventuring party for their entire career, from 1st level to the endgame. The campaigns played by the creators of the hobby (Gygax and Arneson) both featured megadungeons (Castles Blackmoor and Greyhawk), but no true examples were published during the peak of ''D&D'''s popularity. Considered one of the cornerstones of the OSR.

=== N ===

;NAD : '''Non-Armor Class Defences''' (4E) - Shorthand for a character or monster's Fortitude, Reflex and Will defences.

; name level
: The level at which a character stops gaining new level titles (which are associated with each class and level in pre-3E versions of the game), often 9th. For example, a fighting-man in 0e is called a "Super Hero" at 8th level, a "Lord" at 9th level, and a "Lord, 10th Level" at 10th level. Since that is not a new descriptive title, the fighting-man reaches name level at 9th. Often considered the start of the endgame, and usually the point at which character advancement dramatically slows.

=== O ===

; OD&D
: "Original" (or "Old") "''Dungeons & Dragons''": Among adherents of the OSR, the term has come to refer strictly to the edition represented by the 0e box set and the supplements, and often the Holmes ''Basic Set''. Among the broader group of old school fans, the term is often used more broadly, and includes the rest of the BD&D line. There is some controversy over which is is the proper usage.

; OG
: "Old Geezer": The user name of a RPGnet poster (real name Michael Mornard) who was a player in the original Castle Greyhawk campaign co-DMed by Gary Gygax and Rob Kuntz in the early 1970s.

; OGC
: "Open Game Content": Any material released under the OGL.

; OGL
: "Open Game License": An open-source license released by Wizards of the Coast in 2000 that allows third party vendors to use OGC, like the SRD. Commonly used in conjunction with the more restrictive d20STL until 2003.

; OS
: "Old school": A general adjective used to the style and games from yesterday. While primarily used to refer to ''D&D'' and its variants, the term can be more broadly applied to any early games. Different definitions have different cut off times; some exclude 3.X, 2E, 1E, everything but 0e, or various finer distinctions (lines are often drawn at ''AD&D'' 2nd edition's ''Player Option'' books, or 1E's ''Unearthed Arcana'').

; OSR
: "Old School Renaissance" (occasionally "Revolution" or "Revival"): The recent surge in popularity of older roleplaying games and styles. While partially attributable to the death of Gary Gygax in 2008, earlier retro games like ''HackMaster'' and ''Castles & Crusades'' (2006) tapped into the same sentiment. While there is a no true center or uniformity of opinion, the public face of the group is a fairly cohesive collection of games, magazines, message boards, publishers, and blogs (the most prominent of the latter being Grognardia). Common themes, as articulated in Finch's ''A Quick Primer for Old School Gaming'', are megadungeons, sandbox campaigns, an emphasis on player rather than character skill, and a focus on rediscovering how the creators of the games actually played. There's a heavy focus on 0e, with a secondary focus on ''AD&D'', specifically the pre-''Unearthed Arcana'' 1st edition.

=== P ===

;PoLand : '''"Points of Light" land''' (4E) - the "implied setting" found in the core fourth edition books, which uses the "Points of Light" concept.
;primary ability score : (4E) the ability score upon which all or most of a class's attack powers are based. It is usually used for both the attack roll and damage rolls. A character should have a high score in their class's primary ability. For example, Strength is the primary ability score for Fighters.
;rider : (4E) a secondary effect granted by a power in addition to its main effect. Often dependent on a class's secondary ability score or choice of class feature.

=== R ===

; retro-clone
: A replica of an out of print version of a game. Originally and most commonly used to refer to clones of ''D&D''. Based on the principle that the rules of a game cannot be copyrighted, only the specific ''expression'' of the rules. Many clones rely on the OGC to allow them to use trademarked terms and specific elements (like the names of spells, monsters, or game terms). Also known as a simulacrum.

; RC
: "''Rules Cyclopedia''": The one-volume compilation of Menzter's BECMI sets by Aaron Allston in 1991. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== S ===

; sandbox
: A campaign style where there is no overarching plot driving the players toward a scripted conclusion. See metaplot.

;secondary ability score : (4E) an ability score which provides secondary bonuses to a class's powers, often in "riders" (q.v.).

; SRD
: "System Reference Document": The SRD is a compilation of OGC released under the OGL by WotC. The original SRD included material from ''Player's Handbook'', ''Dungeon Master's Guide'', and ''Monster Manual'', but later expansions added content from the ''Epic Level Handbook'', ''Deities & Demigods'', and ''Psionics Handbook''. While most of ''Unearthed Arcana'' was also declared OGC, none of the material was added to the SRD. A ''d20 Modern'' SRD was also released, with material from the core rules, ''Modern Arcana'', and the ''Menace Manual''. Third party vendors have also adopted the terminology, with Anime, ''Fudge'', and ''Traveller'' SRDs among many others.

; S&W
: "''Swords & Wizardry'': A 0e retro-clone that comes in two versions. The ''Core Rules'' version replicates the ''3-Volume Set'' plus selected material from the Supplements, primarily ''Greyhawk''. Not a particularly faithful clone, because some elements were excluded (e.g. no thieves), there is support for both ascending and descending AC, and the five saves have become a single number. The ''White Box'' took the ''Core Rules'' and strips out all material not in the original ''3-Volume Set''.

=== V ===

;V-shaped class : (4E) also "V class" or "V-class"; a class which offers a choice of primary ability score, depending on build, but always uses the same secondary ability score. The Warlock is a good example; they might choose Constitution or Charisma as a primary ability score depending on their build and pact, but Intelligence is always a good choice for a secondary score.

=== W ===

;WotC : '''Wizards of the Coast''' - current developers, publishers and owners of ''Dungeons & Dragons''.

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2010-07-05T07:07:55Z

Guybrush: /* L */ Formatting

[[Category: Glossary]] [[Category: Dungeons & Dragons]]

This page is intended as a repository for abbreviations and jargon used when discussing ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (or ''[[Pathfinder]]'', generic d20 fantasy games etc.). While not all originated on the RPG.net D&D forum, a term should be used there before it appears on this list. It is not meant to be a glossary of game terms as presented in the rules, but rather terms invented by or primarily used by players, and not appearing in the books.

== Format ==
Entries should be in alphabetical order, with numbers preceding letters and symbols preceding numbers.

Each entry should be written like this:
:<tt><nowiki>;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.</nowiki></tt>

When formatted, it looks like this:

;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.

'''Term''' is the abbreviation being defined. '''Definition''' should be brief; in most cases, it will simply be the full term which the acronym or abbreviation replaces. It can be omitted for terms which are not abbreviations. Any further explanation or notes should go after the dash. Where possible, include a '''context''' for the abbreviation; is the term used to describe a particular edition of D&D (3E, 3.5, 4E etc.), Pathfinder, FantasyCraft or some other game?

== Terms ==

=== 0–9 ===

; 0e
: '''0[th] Edition''' - The original version of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', the ''3-Volume Set''. The retronym came to refer to the true first edition of the game after the later but more popular ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 1st edition became known as "1E". Sometimes distinguished by the year of publication (1974) or box colors (the original woodgrain/brown or the later and more common white). See also LBB, OCE, OD&D, and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

;3E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Third Edition''' See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.5 : '''Dungeons & Dragons, 3.5 Edition''' - a major update to the third edition rules. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.X : refers to both or either of 3E or 3.5, above. Also sometimes includes games derived from third edition D&D, especially Pathfinder and FantasyCraft. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;4E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fourth Edition''' See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== A ===

;AD&D : '''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''' - the "advanced" version of the game, a distinct line from the various "basic" versions of the first two editions. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;A-shaped class : (4E) also "A class" or "A-class"; a class for which all builds share the same primary ability score, but have differing secondary ability scores. The Wizard is a good example: Intelligence is always primary, but Charisma, Constitution or Wisdom could be a good secondary score depending on what kind of spells you want to cast.
;AWED : '''At-Will, Encounter, Daily''' (4E) - short hand for the basic division of power usage in "standard" 4E classes.

=== B ===

; BD&D
: '''Basic ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - one term for the second branch in the fork that occurred when 0e split into "Basic" and "Advanced" lines. Started with the Holmes blue box in 1977 and continued through 1999 with the the B/X, BECMI, RC, black box, and later editions. "Basic" is something of a misnomer, since it only refers to three of the box sets (Holmes, Moldvay, and the first Menzter box) and levels from 1–3. See also Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; BECMI
: '''Basic, Expert, Companion, Master, and Immortals''' - the version of the game by Frank Menzter, delineated in ''Dungeons & Dragons Sets 1–5: Basic'', ''Expert'', ''Companion'', ''Master'', and ''Immortals Rules''. Sometimes distinguished by the author, color of the first box set (red), year of release (1983 for the ''Basic Rules'', though the ''Immortals Rules'' was not published until 1986), or the cover artist (Larry Elmore). In contrast to the more limited level range of the earlier Holmes and B/X sets, Mentzer's version provided rules for mortal characters of levels 1–36, and up to another 36 levels as immortals. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; black box
: A reference to ''The New Easy-to-Master Dungeons & Dragons Game'' (1991), which came in a predominately black box. Served as the RC's "Basic Set", but unlike the earlier box sets, it covered levels 1–5. Sometimes loosely applied to any of the post-1989 introductory box sets, like the two printings of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' or the ''Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game'' (only one of the versions of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' is primarily black).

; blue box
: The first ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' (in 1977) was compiled by Eric J. Holmes, and comes in a blue box. Sometimes distinguished by the author/editor or the cover artist (David Sutherland). Covers levels 1–3. More closely related to 0e than any other edition, including the later ''Basic Sets''.

; B/X
: '''Basic/eXpert''' - the version of the ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' by Tom Moldvay combined with the ''Expert Set'' by Dave Cook and Steve Marsh. Sometimes distinguished by the authors, color of the first box set (mauve/purple), year of release (1980 for both sets), or cover artist (Erol Otus). In contrast to the Holmes and BECMI sets, B/X covers levels 1–14. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== C ===

;CB : '''Character Builder''' (4E) - the official ''Dungeons & Dragons'' character creation software offered by Wizards of the Coast.

; Classic D&D
: A term used to refer variously to just BD&D, BD&D and 0e, or all pre-3E versions of ''D&D''.

=== D ===

; d20
: Either a 20-sided die, the d20 System, or the d20STL. The last two are often confused.

; d20 System
: The system underlying 3E, v.3.5, and 4E. See OGL, GSL.

; d20STL
: '''d20 System Trademark License''' - a license from Wizards of the Coast that allowed third party vendors to use certain trademarks and logos (most notably the "d20" logo), and include a claim of compatibility in their products. During the d20 boom from 2000 to 2003, most third party d20 System products used the d20STL in conjunction with the OGL. The bust following WotC's v.3.5 led many third party vendors to abandon the d20STL, which was ultimately revoked by Wizards of the Coast in 2008 in favor of the GSL.

;DDI : '''Dungeons & Dragons Insider''' (4E) - the online subscription service offered by Wizards of the Coast, including ''Dragon'' and ''Dungeon'' magazines and the Character Builder.

=== E ===

; endgame
: The stage of the game where characters retire from adventuring, build castles or other strongholds, and engage war and diplomacy. Often associated with name level.

;E6: (3.X) a variant where player characters stop gaining levels after level 6 and instead receive a feat every 5000xp.

=== F ===

;Fightbrain: (4E) the Battlemind character class from Player's Handbook 3.
;flex stat : (4E) a racial ability score bonus which can be applied to one of two (or more) scores. Introduced with the races in Player's Handbook 3; for example, Minotaurs get +2 Strenght, and +2 Constitution ''or'' +2 Wisdom.

=== G ===

; GSL
: "Gaming System License": The successor to Wizard of the Coast's d20STL and OGL, released in 2008. Far more restrictive than either of its predecessors.

=== L ===

; LBBs
: '''Little brown book[let]s''' - a nickname for the parchment-colored, digest-sized booklets in the 0e box set. The three volumes are ''Men & Magic'', ''Monsters & Treasure'', and ''The Underworld and Wilderness Adventures''. Not to be confused with ''Traveller'''s "little black books". See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== M ===

;MAD : '''Multiple Ability Dependency''' (4E) - a class (or Paragon Path, etc.) that relies on more than one Ability Score; seen as a deficiency since this requires splitting points between abilities, and thus lower possible maximum scores.

; megadungeon
: A dungeon large enough to challenge an adventuring party for their entire career, from 1st level to the endgame. The campaigns played by the creators of the hobby (Gygax and Arneson) both featured megadungeons (Castles Blackmoor and Greyhawk), but no true examples were published during the peak of ''D&D'''s popularity. Considered one of the cornerstones of the OSR.

=== N ===

;NAD : '''Non-Armor Class Defences''' (4E) - Shorthand for a character or monster's Fortitude, Reflex and Will defences.

; name level
: The level at which a character stops gaining new level titles (which are associated with each class and level in pre-3E versions of the game), often 9th. For example, a fighting-man in 0e is called a "Super Hero" at 8th level, a "Lord" at 9th level, and a "Lord, 10th Level" at 10th level. Since that is not a new descriptive title, the fighting-man reaches name level at 9th. Often considered the start of the endgame, and usually the point at which character advancement dramatically slows.

=== O ===

; OD&D
: "Original" (or "Old") "''Dungeons & Dragons''": Among adherents of the OSR, the term has come to refer strictly to the edition represented by the 0e box set and the supplements, and often the Holmes ''Basic Set''. Among the broader group of old school fans, the term is often used more broadly, and includes the rest of the BD&D line. There is some controversy over which is is the proper usage.

; OG
: "Old Geezer": The user name of a RPGnet poster (real name Michael Mornard) who was a player in the original Castle Greyhawk campaign co-DMed by Gary Gygax and Rob Kuntz in the early 1970s.

; OGC
: "Open Game Content": Any material released under the OGL.

; OGL
: "Open Game License": An open-source license released by Wizards of the Coast in 2000 that allows third party vendors to use OGC, like the SRD. Commonly used in conjunction with the more restrictive d20STL until 2003.

; OS
: "Old school": A general adjective used to the style and games from yesterday. While primarily used to refer to ''D&D'' and its variants, the term can be more broadly applied to any early games. Different definitions have different cut off times; some exclude 3.X, 2E, 1E, everything but 0e, or various finer distinctions (lines are often drawn at ''AD&D'' 2nd edition's ''Player Option'' books, or 1E's ''Unearthed Arcana'').

; OSR
: "Old School Renaissance" (occasionally "Revolution" or "Revival"): The recent surge in popularity of older roleplaying games and styles. While partially attributable to the death of Gary Gygax in 2008, earlier retro games like ''HackMaster'' and ''Castles & Crusades'' (2006) tapped into the same sentiment. While there is a no true center or uniformity of opinion, the public face of the group is a fairly cohesive collection of games, magazines, message boards, publishers, and blogs (the most prominent of the latter being Grognardia). Common themes, as articulated in Finch's ''A Quick Primer for Old School Gaming'', are megadungeons, sandbox campaigns, an emphasis on player rather than character skill, and a focus on rediscovering how the creators of the games actually played. There's a heavy focus on 0e, with a secondary focus on ''AD&D'', specifically the pre-''Unearthed Arcana'' 1st edition.

=== P ===

;PoLand : '''"Points of Light" land''' (4E) - the "implied setting" found in the core fourth edition books, which uses the "Points of Light" concept.
;primary ability score : (4E) the ability score upon which all or most of a class's attack powers are based. It is usually used for both the attack roll and damage rolls. A character should have a high score in their class's primary ability. For example, Strength is the primary ability score for Fighters.
;rider : (4E) a secondary effect granted by a power in addition to its main effect. Often dependent on a class's secondary ability score or choice of class feature.

=== R ===

; retro-clone
: A replica of an out of print version of a game. Originally and most commonly used to refer to clones of ''D&D''. Based on the principle that the rules of a game cannot be copyrighted, only the specific ''expression'' of the rules. Many clones rely on the OGC to allow them to use trademarked terms and specific elements (like the names of spells, monsters, or game terms). Also known as a simulacrum.

; RC
: "''Rules Cyclopedia''": The one-volume compilation of Menzter's BECMI sets by Aaron Allston in 1991. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== S ===

; sandbox
: A campaign style where there is no overarching plot driving the players toward a scripted conclusion. See metaplot.

;secondary ability score : (4E) an ability score which provides secondary bonuses to a class's powers, often in "riders" (q.v.).

; SRD
: "System Reference Document": The SRD is a compilation of OGC released under the OGL by WotC. The original SRD included material from ''Player's Handbook'', ''Dungeon Master's Guide'', and ''Monster Manual'', but later expansions added content from the ''Epic Level Handbook'', ''Deities & Demigods'', and ''Psionics Handbook''. While most of ''Unearthed Arcana'' was also declared OGC, none of the material was added to the SRD. A ''d20 Modern'' SRD was also released, with material from the core rules, ''Modern Arcana'', and the ''Menace Manual''. Third party vendors have also adopted the terminology, with Anime, ''Fudge'', and ''Traveller'' SRDs among many others.

; S&W
: "''Swords & Wizardry'': A 0e retro-clone that comes in two versions. The ''Core Rules'' version replicates the ''3-Volume Set'' plus selected material from the Supplements, primarily ''Greyhawk''. Not a particularly faithful clone, because some elements were excluded (e.g. no thieves), there is support for both ascending and descending AC, and the five saves have become a single number. The ''White Box'' took the ''Core Rules'' and strips out all material not in the original ''3-Volume Set''.

=== V ===

;V-shaped class : (4E) also "V class" or "V-class"; a class which offers a choice of primary ability score, depending on build, but always uses the same secondary ability score. The Warlock is a good example; they might choose Constitution or Charisma as a primary ability score depending on their build and pact, but Intelligence is always a good choice for a secondary score.

=== W ===

;WotC : '''Wizards of the Coast''' - current developers, publishers and owners of ''Dungeons & Dragons''.

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2010-07-05T07:07:15Z

Guybrush: /* D */ Formatting

[[Category: Glossary]] [[Category: Dungeons & Dragons]]

This page is intended as a repository for abbreviations and jargon used when discussing ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (or ''[[Pathfinder]]'', generic d20 fantasy games etc.). While not all originated on the RPG.net D&D forum, a term should be used there before it appears on this list. It is not meant to be a glossary of game terms as presented in the rules, but rather terms invented by or primarily used by players, and not appearing in the books.

== Format ==
Entries should be in alphabetical order, with numbers preceding letters and symbols preceding numbers.

Each entry should be written like this:
:<tt><nowiki>;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.</nowiki></tt>

When formatted, it looks like this:

;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.

'''Term''' is the abbreviation being defined. '''Definition''' should be brief; in most cases, it will simply be the full term which the acronym or abbreviation replaces. It can be omitted for terms which are not abbreviations. Any further explanation or notes should go after the dash. Where possible, include a '''context''' for the abbreviation; is the term used to describe a particular edition of D&D (3E, 3.5, 4E etc.), Pathfinder, FantasyCraft or some other game?

== Terms ==

=== 0–9 ===

; 0e
: '''0[th] Edition''' - The original version of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', the ''3-Volume Set''. The retronym came to refer to the true first edition of the game after the later but more popular ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 1st edition became known as "1E". Sometimes distinguished by the year of publication (1974) or box colors (the original woodgrain/brown or the later and more common white). See also LBB, OCE, OD&D, and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

;3E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Third Edition''' See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.5 : '''Dungeons & Dragons, 3.5 Edition''' - a major update to the third edition rules. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.X : refers to both or either of 3E or 3.5, above. Also sometimes includes games derived from third edition D&D, especially Pathfinder and FantasyCraft. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;4E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fourth Edition''' See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== A ===

;AD&D : '''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''' - the "advanced" version of the game, a distinct line from the various "basic" versions of the first two editions. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;A-shaped class : (4E) also "A class" or "A-class"; a class for which all builds share the same primary ability score, but have differing secondary ability scores. The Wizard is a good example: Intelligence is always primary, but Charisma, Constitution or Wisdom could be a good secondary score depending on what kind of spells you want to cast.
;AWED : '''At-Will, Encounter, Daily''' (4E) - short hand for the basic division of power usage in "standard" 4E classes.

=== B ===

; BD&D
: '''Basic ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - one term for the second branch in the fork that occurred when 0e split into "Basic" and "Advanced" lines. Started with the Holmes blue box in 1977 and continued through 1999 with the the B/X, BECMI, RC, black box, and later editions. "Basic" is something of a misnomer, since it only refers to three of the box sets (Holmes, Moldvay, and the first Menzter box) and levels from 1–3. See also Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; BECMI
: '''Basic, Expert, Companion, Master, and Immortals''' - the version of the game by Frank Menzter, delineated in ''Dungeons & Dragons Sets 1–5: Basic'', ''Expert'', ''Companion'', ''Master'', and ''Immortals Rules''. Sometimes distinguished by the author, color of the first box set (red), year of release (1983 for the ''Basic Rules'', though the ''Immortals Rules'' was not published until 1986), or the cover artist (Larry Elmore). In contrast to the more limited level range of the earlier Holmes and B/X sets, Mentzer's version provided rules for mortal characters of levels 1–36, and up to another 36 levels as immortals. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; black box
: A reference to ''The New Easy-to-Master Dungeons & Dragons Game'' (1991), which came in a predominately black box. Served as the RC's "Basic Set", but unlike the earlier box sets, it covered levels 1–5. Sometimes loosely applied to any of the post-1989 introductory box sets, like the two printings of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' or the ''Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game'' (only one of the versions of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' is primarily black).

; blue box
: The first ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' (in 1977) was compiled by Eric J. Holmes, and comes in a blue box. Sometimes distinguished by the author/editor or the cover artist (David Sutherland). Covers levels 1–3. More closely related to 0e than any other edition, including the later ''Basic Sets''.

; B/X
: '''Basic/eXpert''' - the version of the ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' by Tom Moldvay combined with the ''Expert Set'' by Dave Cook and Steve Marsh. Sometimes distinguished by the authors, color of the first box set (mauve/purple), year of release (1980 for both sets), or cover artist (Erol Otus). In contrast to the Holmes and BECMI sets, B/X covers levels 1–14. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== C ===

;CB : '''Character Builder''' (4E) - the official ''Dungeons & Dragons'' character creation software offered by Wizards of the Coast.

; Classic D&D
: A term used to refer variously to just BD&D, BD&D and 0e, or all pre-3E versions of ''D&D''.

=== D ===

; d20
: Either a 20-sided die, the d20 System, or the d20STL. The last two are often confused.

; d20 System
: The system underlying 3E, v.3.5, and 4E. See OGL, GSL.

; d20STL
: '''d20 System Trademark License''' - a license from Wizards of the Coast that allowed third party vendors to use certain trademarks and logos (most notably the "d20" logo), and include a claim of compatibility in their products. During the d20 boom from 2000 to 2003, most third party d20 System products used the d20STL in conjunction with the OGL. The bust following WotC's v.3.5 led many third party vendors to abandon the d20STL, which was ultimately revoked by Wizards of the Coast in 2008 in favor of the GSL.

;DDI : '''Dungeons & Dragons Insider''' (4E) - the online subscription service offered by Wizards of the Coast, including ''Dragon'' and ''Dungeon'' magazines and the Character Builder.

=== E ===

; endgame
: The stage of the game where characters retire from adventuring, build castles or other strongholds, and engage war and diplomacy. Often associated with name level.

;E6: (3.X) a variant where player characters stop gaining levels after level 6 and instead receive a feat every 5000xp.

=== F ===

;Fightbrain: (4E) the Battlemind character class from Player's Handbook 3.
;flex stat : (4E) a racial ability score bonus which can be applied to one of two (or more) scores. Introduced with the races in Player's Handbook 3; for example, Minotaurs get +2 Strenght, and +2 Constitution ''or'' +2 Wisdom.

=== G ===

; GSL
: "Gaming System License": The successor to Wizard of the Coast's d20STL and OGL, released in 2008. Far more restrictive than either of its predecessors.

=== L ===

; LBBs
: "Little brown book[let]s": A reference to the parchment-colored, digest-sized booklets in the 0e box set. The three volumes are ''Men & Magic'', ''Monsters & Treasure'', and ''The Underworld and Wilderness Adventures''. Not to be confused with ''Traveller'''s "little black books". See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== M ===

;MAD : '''Multiple Ability Dependency''' (4E) - a class (or Paragon Path, etc.) that relies on more than one Ability Score; seen as a deficiency since this requires splitting points between abilities, and thus lower possible maximum scores.

; megadungeon
: A dungeon large enough to challenge an adventuring party for their entire career, from 1st level to the endgame. The campaigns played by the creators of the hobby (Gygax and Arneson) both featured megadungeons (Castles Blackmoor and Greyhawk), but no true examples were published during the peak of ''D&D'''s popularity. Considered one of the cornerstones of the OSR.

=== N ===

;NAD : '''Non-Armor Class Defences''' (4E) - Shorthand for a character or monster's Fortitude, Reflex and Will defences.

; name level
: The level at which a character stops gaining new level titles (which are associated with each class and level in pre-3E versions of the game), often 9th. For example, a fighting-man in 0e is called a "Super Hero" at 8th level, a "Lord" at 9th level, and a "Lord, 10th Level" at 10th level. Since that is not a new descriptive title, the fighting-man reaches name level at 9th. Often considered the start of the endgame, and usually the point at which character advancement dramatically slows.

=== O ===

; OD&D
: "Original" (or "Old") "''Dungeons & Dragons''": Among adherents of the OSR, the term has come to refer strictly to the edition represented by the 0e box set and the supplements, and often the Holmes ''Basic Set''. Among the broader group of old school fans, the term is often used more broadly, and includes the rest of the BD&D line. There is some controversy over which is is the proper usage.

; OG
: "Old Geezer": The user name of a RPGnet poster (real name Michael Mornard) who was a player in the original Castle Greyhawk campaign co-DMed by Gary Gygax and Rob Kuntz in the early 1970s.

; OGC
: "Open Game Content": Any material released under the OGL.

; OGL
: "Open Game License": An open-source license released by Wizards of the Coast in 2000 that allows third party vendors to use OGC, like the SRD. Commonly used in conjunction with the more restrictive d20STL until 2003.

; OS
: "Old school": A general adjective used to the style and games from yesterday. While primarily used to refer to ''D&D'' and its variants, the term can be more broadly applied to any early games. Different definitions have different cut off times; some exclude 3.X, 2E, 1E, everything but 0e, or various finer distinctions (lines are often drawn at ''AD&D'' 2nd edition's ''Player Option'' books, or 1E's ''Unearthed Arcana'').

; OSR
: "Old School Renaissance" (occasionally "Revolution" or "Revival"): The recent surge in popularity of older roleplaying games and styles. While partially attributable to the death of Gary Gygax in 2008, earlier retro games like ''HackMaster'' and ''Castles & Crusades'' (2006) tapped into the same sentiment. While there is a no true center or uniformity of opinion, the public face of the group is a fairly cohesive collection of games, magazines, message boards, publishers, and blogs (the most prominent of the latter being Grognardia). Common themes, as articulated in Finch's ''A Quick Primer for Old School Gaming'', are megadungeons, sandbox campaigns, an emphasis on player rather than character skill, and a focus on rediscovering how the creators of the games actually played. There's a heavy focus on 0e, with a secondary focus on ''AD&D'', specifically the pre-''Unearthed Arcana'' 1st edition.

=== P ===

;PoLand : '''"Points of Light" land''' (4E) - the "implied setting" found in the core fourth edition books, which uses the "Points of Light" concept.
;primary ability score : (4E) the ability score upon which all or most of a class's attack powers are based. It is usually used for both the attack roll and damage rolls. A character should have a high score in their class's primary ability. For example, Strength is the primary ability score for Fighters.
;rider : (4E) a secondary effect granted by a power in addition to its main effect. Often dependent on a class's secondary ability score or choice of class feature.

=== R ===

; retro-clone
: A replica of an out of print version of a game. Originally and most commonly used to refer to clones of ''D&D''. Based on the principle that the rules of a game cannot be copyrighted, only the specific ''expression'' of the rules. Many clones rely on the OGC to allow them to use trademarked terms and specific elements (like the names of spells, monsters, or game terms). Also known as a simulacrum.

; RC
: "''Rules Cyclopedia''": The one-volume compilation of Menzter's BECMI sets by Aaron Allston in 1991. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== S ===

; sandbox
: A campaign style where there is no overarching plot driving the players toward a scripted conclusion. See metaplot.

;secondary ability score : (4E) an ability score which provides secondary bonuses to a class's powers, often in "riders" (q.v.).

; SRD
: "System Reference Document": The SRD is a compilation of OGC released under the OGL by WotC. The original SRD included material from ''Player's Handbook'', ''Dungeon Master's Guide'', and ''Monster Manual'', but later expansions added content from the ''Epic Level Handbook'', ''Deities & Demigods'', and ''Psionics Handbook''. While most of ''Unearthed Arcana'' was also declared OGC, none of the material was added to the SRD. A ''d20 Modern'' SRD was also released, with material from the core rules, ''Modern Arcana'', and the ''Menace Manual''. Third party vendors have also adopted the terminology, with Anime, ''Fudge'', and ''Traveller'' SRDs among many others.

; S&W
: "''Swords & Wizardry'': A 0e retro-clone that comes in two versions. The ''Core Rules'' version replicates the ''3-Volume Set'' plus selected material from the Supplements, primarily ''Greyhawk''. Not a particularly faithful clone, because some elements were excluded (e.g. no thieves), there is support for both ascending and descending AC, and the five saves have become a single number. The ''White Box'' took the ''Core Rules'' and strips out all material not in the original ''3-Volume Set''.

=== V ===

;V-shaped class : (4E) also "V class" or "V-class"; a class which offers a choice of primary ability score, depending on build, but always uses the same secondary ability score. The Warlock is a good example; they might choose Constitution or Charisma as a primary ability score depending on their build and pact, but Intelligence is always a good choice for a secondary score.

=== W ===

;WotC : '''Wizards of the Coast''' - current developers, publishers and owners of ''Dungeons & Dragons''.

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2010-07-05T07:06:30Z

Guybrush: /* B */ Formatting

[[Category: Glossary]] [[Category: Dungeons & Dragons]]

This page is intended as a repository for abbreviations and jargon used when discussing ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (or ''[[Pathfinder]]'', generic d20 fantasy games etc.). While not all originated on the RPG.net D&D forum, a term should be used there before it appears on this list. It is not meant to be a glossary of game terms as presented in the rules, but rather terms invented by or primarily used by players, and not appearing in the books.

== Format ==
Entries should be in alphabetical order, with numbers preceding letters and symbols preceding numbers.

Each entry should be written like this:
:<tt><nowiki>;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.</nowiki></tt>

When formatted, it looks like this:

;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.

'''Term''' is the abbreviation being defined. '''Definition''' should be brief; in most cases, it will simply be the full term which the acronym or abbreviation replaces. It can be omitted for terms which are not abbreviations. Any further explanation or notes should go after the dash. Where possible, include a '''context''' for the abbreviation; is the term used to describe a particular edition of D&D (3E, 3.5, 4E etc.), Pathfinder, FantasyCraft or some other game?

== Terms ==

=== 0–9 ===

; 0e
: '''0[th] Edition''' - The original version of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', the ''3-Volume Set''. The retronym came to refer to the true first edition of the game after the later but more popular ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 1st edition became known as "1E". Sometimes distinguished by the year of publication (1974) or box colors (the original woodgrain/brown or the later and more common white). See also LBB, OCE, OD&D, and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

;3E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Third Edition''' See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.5 : '''Dungeons & Dragons, 3.5 Edition''' - a major update to the third edition rules. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.X : refers to both or either of 3E or 3.5, above. Also sometimes includes games derived from third edition D&D, especially Pathfinder and FantasyCraft. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;4E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fourth Edition''' See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== A ===

;AD&D : '''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''' - the "advanced" version of the game, a distinct line from the various "basic" versions of the first two editions. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;A-shaped class : (4E) also "A class" or "A-class"; a class for which all builds share the same primary ability score, but have differing secondary ability scores. The Wizard is a good example: Intelligence is always primary, but Charisma, Constitution or Wisdom could be a good secondary score depending on what kind of spells you want to cast.
;AWED : '''At-Will, Encounter, Daily''' (4E) - short hand for the basic division of power usage in "standard" 4E classes.

=== B ===

; BD&D
: '''Basic ''Dungeons & Dragons''''' - one term for the second branch in the fork that occurred when 0e split into "Basic" and "Advanced" lines. Started with the Holmes blue box in 1977 and continued through 1999 with the the B/X, BECMI, RC, black box, and later editions. "Basic" is something of a misnomer, since it only refers to three of the box sets (Holmes, Moldvay, and the first Menzter box) and levels from 1–3. See also Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; BECMI
: '''Basic, Expert, Companion, Master, and Immortals''' - the version of the game by Frank Menzter, delineated in ''Dungeons & Dragons Sets 1–5: Basic'', ''Expert'', ''Companion'', ''Master'', and ''Immortals Rules''. Sometimes distinguished by the author, color of the first box set (red), year of release (1983 for the ''Basic Rules'', though the ''Immortals Rules'' was not published until 1986), or the cover artist (Larry Elmore). In contrast to the more limited level range of the earlier Holmes and B/X sets, Mentzer's version provided rules for mortal characters of levels 1–36, and up to another 36 levels as immortals. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; black box
: A reference to ''The New Easy-to-Master Dungeons & Dragons Game'' (1991), which came in a predominately black box. Served as the RC's "Basic Set", but unlike the earlier box sets, it covered levels 1–5. Sometimes loosely applied to any of the post-1989 introductory box sets, like the two printings of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' or the ''Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game'' (only one of the versions of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' is primarily black).

; blue box
: The first ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' (in 1977) was compiled by Eric J. Holmes, and comes in a blue box. Sometimes distinguished by the author/editor or the cover artist (David Sutherland). Covers levels 1–3. More closely related to 0e than any other edition, including the later ''Basic Sets''.

; B/X
: '''Basic/eXpert''' - the version of the ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' by Tom Moldvay combined with the ''Expert Set'' by Dave Cook and Steve Marsh. Sometimes distinguished by the authors, color of the first box set (mauve/purple), year of release (1980 for both sets), or cover artist (Erol Otus). In contrast to the Holmes and BECMI sets, B/X covers levels 1–14. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== C ===

;CB : '''Character Builder''' (4E) - the official ''Dungeons & Dragons'' character creation software offered by Wizards of the Coast.

; Classic D&D
: A term used to refer variously to just BD&D, BD&D and 0e, or all pre-3E versions of ''D&D''.

=== D ===

; d20
: Either a 20-sided die, the d20 System, or the d20STL. The last two are often confused.

; d20 System
: The system underlying 3E, v.3.5, and 4E. See OGL, GSL.

; d20STL
: "d20 System Trademark License": A license from Wizards of the Coast that allowed third party vendors to use certain trademarks and logos (most notably the "d20" logo), and include a claim of compatibility in their products. During the d20 boom from 2000 to 2003, most third party d20 System products used the d20STL in conjunction with the OGL. The bust following WotC's v.3.5 led many third party vendors to abandon the d20STL, which was ultimately revoked by Wizards of the Coast in 2008 in favor of the GSL.

;DDI : '''Dungeons & Dragons Insider''' (4E) - the online subscription service offered by Wizards of the Coast, including ''Dragon'' and ''Dungeon'' magazines and the Character Builder.

=== E ===

; endgame
: The stage of the game where characters retire from adventuring, build castles or other strongholds, and engage war and diplomacy. Often associated with name level.

;E6: (3.X) a variant where player characters stop gaining levels after level 6 and instead receive a feat every 5000xp.

=== F ===

;Fightbrain: (4E) the Battlemind character class from Player's Handbook 3.
;flex stat : (4E) a racial ability score bonus which can be applied to one of two (or more) scores. Introduced with the races in Player's Handbook 3; for example, Minotaurs get +2 Strenght, and +2 Constitution ''or'' +2 Wisdom.

=== G ===

; GSL
: "Gaming System License": The successor to Wizard of the Coast's d20STL and OGL, released in 2008. Far more restrictive than either of its predecessors.

=== L ===

; LBBs
: "Little brown book[let]s": A reference to the parchment-colored, digest-sized booklets in the 0e box set. The three volumes are ''Men & Magic'', ''Monsters & Treasure'', and ''The Underworld and Wilderness Adventures''. Not to be confused with ''Traveller'''s "little black books". See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== M ===

;MAD : '''Multiple Ability Dependency''' (4E) - a class (or Paragon Path, etc.) that relies on more than one Ability Score; seen as a deficiency since this requires splitting points between abilities, and thus lower possible maximum scores.

; megadungeon
: A dungeon large enough to challenge an adventuring party for their entire career, from 1st level to the endgame. The campaigns played by the creators of the hobby (Gygax and Arneson) both featured megadungeons (Castles Blackmoor and Greyhawk), but no true examples were published during the peak of ''D&D'''s popularity. Considered one of the cornerstones of the OSR.

=== N ===

;NAD : '''Non-Armor Class Defences''' (4E) - Shorthand for a character or monster's Fortitude, Reflex and Will defences.

; name level
: The level at which a character stops gaining new level titles (which are associated with each class and level in pre-3E versions of the game), often 9th. For example, a fighting-man in 0e is called a "Super Hero" at 8th level, a "Lord" at 9th level, and a "Lord, 10th Level" at 10th level. Since that is not a new descriptive title, the fighting-man reaches name level at 9th. Often considered the start of the endgame, and usually the point at which character advancement dramatically slows.

=== O ===

; OD&D
: "Original" (or "Old") "''Dungeons & Dragons''": Among adherents of the OSR, the term has come to refer strictly to the edition represented by the 0e box set and the supplements, and often the Holmes ''Basic Set''. Among the broader group of old school fans, the term is often used more broadly, and includes the rest of the BD&D line. There is some controversy over which is is the proper usage.

; OG
: "Old Geezer": The user name of a RPGnet poster (real name Michael Mornard) who was a player in the original Castle Greyhawk campaign co-DMed by Gary Gygax and Rob Kuntz in the early 1970s.

; OGC
: "Open Game Content": Any material released under the OGL.

; OGL
: "Open Game License": An open-source license released by Wizards of the Coast in 2000 that allows third party vendors to use OGC, like the SRD. Commonly used in conjunction with the more restrictive d20STL until 2003.

; OS
: "Old school": A general adjective used to the style and games from yesterday. While primarily used to refer to ''D&D'' and its variants, the term can be more broadly applied to any early games. Different definitions have different cut off times; some exclude 3.X, 2E, 1E, everything but 0e, or various finer distinctions (lines are often drawn at ''AD&D'' 2nd edition's ''Player Option'' books, or 1E's ''Unearthed Arcana'').

; OSR
: "Old School Renaissance" (occasionally "Revolution" or "Revival"): The recent surge in popularity of older roleplaying games and styles. While partially attributable to the death of Gary Gygax in 2008, earlier retro games like ''HackMaster'' and ''Castles & Crusades'' (2006) tapped into the same sentiment. While there is a no true center or uniformity of opinion, the public face of the group is a fairly cohesive collection of games, magazines, message boards, publishers, and blogs (the most prominent of the latter being Grognardia). Common themes, as articulated in Finch's ''A Quick Primer for Old School Gaming'', are megadungeons, sandbox campaigns, an emphasis on player rather than character skill, and a focus on rediscovering how the creators of the games actually played. There's a heavy focus on 0e, with a secondary focus on ''AD&D'', specifically the pre-''Unearthed Arcana'' 1st edition.

=== P ===

;PoLand : '''"Points of Light" land''' (4E) - the "implied setting" found in the core fourth edition books, which uses the "Points of Light" concept.
;primary ability score : (4E) the ability score upon which all or most of a class's attack powers are based. It is usually used for both the attack roll and damage rolls. A character should have a high score in their class's primary ability. For example, Strength is the primary ability score for Fighters.
;rider : (4E) a secondary effect granted by a power in addition to its main effect. Often dependent on a class's secondary ability score or choice of class feature.

=== R ===

; retro-clone
: A replica of an out of print version of a game. Originally and most commonly used to refer to clones of ''D&D''. Based on the principle that the rules of a game cannot be copyrighted, only the specific ''expression'' of the rules. Many clones rely on the OGC to allow them to use trademarked terms and specific elements (like the names of spells, monsters, or game terms). Also known as a simulacrum.

; RC
: "''Rules Cyclopedia''": The one-volume compilation of Menzter's BECMI sets by Aaron Allston in 1991. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== S ===

; sandbox
: A campaign style where there is no overarching plot driving the players toward a scripted conclusion. See metaplot.

;secondary ability score : (4E) an ability score which provides secondary bonuses to a class's powers, often in "riders" (q.v.).

; SRD
: "System Reference Document": The SRD is a compilation of OGC released under the OGL by WotC. The original SRD included material from ''Player's Handbook'', ''Dungeon Master's Guide'', and ''Monster Manual'', but later expansions added content from the ''Epic Level Handbook'', ''Deities & Demigods'', and ''Psionics Handbook''. While most of ''Unearthed Arcana'' was also declared OGC, none of the material was added to the SRD. A ''d20 Modern'' SRD was also released, with material from the core rules, ''Modern Arcana'', and the ''Menace Manual''. Third party vendors have also adopted the terminology, with Anime, ''Fudge'', and ''Traveller'' SRDs among many others.

; S&W
: "''Swords & Wizardry'': A 0e retro-clone that comes in two versions. The ''Core Rules'' version replicates the ''3-Volume Set'' plus selected material from the Supplements, primarily ''Greyhawk''. Not a particularly faithful clone, because some elements were excluded (e.g. no thieves), there is support for both ascending and descending AC, and the five saves have become a single number. The ''White Box'' took the ''Core Rules'' and strips out all material not in the original ''3-Volume Set''.

=== V ===

;V-shaped class : (4E) also "V class" or "V-class"; a class which offers a choice of primary ability score, depending on build, but always uses the same secondary ability score. The Warlock is a good example; they might choose Constitution or Charisma as a primary ability score depending on their build and pact, but Intelligence is always a good choice for a secondary score.

=== W ===

;WotC : '''Wizards of the Coast''' - current developers, publishers and owners of ''Dungeons & Dragons''.

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2010-07-05T07:04:33Z

Guybrush: /* 0–9 */ Slight copyedit (formatting mostly)

[[Category: Glossary]] [[Category: Dungeons & Dragons]]

This page is intended as a repository for abbreviations and jargon used when discussing ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (or ''[[Pathfinder]]'', generic d20 fantasy games etc.). While not all originated on the RPG.net D&D forum, a term should be used there before it appears on this list. It is not meant to be a glossary of game terms as presented in the rules, but rather terms invented by or primarily used by players, and not appearing in the books.

== Format ==
Entries should be in alphabetical order, with numbers preceding letters and symbols preceding numbers.

Each entry should be written like this:
:<tt><nowiki>;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.</nowiki></tt>

When formatted, it looks like this:

;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.

'''Term''' is the abbreviation being defined. '''Definition''' should be brief; in most cases, it will simply be the full term which the acronym or abbreviation replaces. It can be omitted for terms which are not abbreviations. Any further explanation or notes should go after the dash. Where possible, include a '''context''' for the abbreviation; is the term used to describe a particular edition of D&D (3E, 3.5, 4E etc.), Pathfinder, FantasyCraft or some other game?

== Terms ==

=== 0–9 ===

; 0e
: '''0[th] Edition''' - The original version of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', the ''3-Volume Set''. The retronym came to refer to the true first edition of the game after the later but more popular ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 1st edition became known as "1E". Sometimes distinguished by the year of publication (1974) or box colors (the original woodgrain/brown or the later and more common white). See also LBB, OCE, OD&D, and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

;3E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Third Edition''' See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.5 : '''Dungeons & Dragons, 3.5 Edition''' - a major update to the third edition rules. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;3.X : refers to both or either of 3E or 3.5, above. Also sometimes includes games derived from third edition D&D, especially Pathfinder and FantasyCraft. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;4E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fourth Edition''' See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== A ===

;AD&D : '''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''' - the "advanced" version of the game, a distinct line from the various "basic" versions of the first two editions. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].
;A-shaped class : (4E) also "A class" or "A-class"; a class for which all builds share the same primary ability score, but have differing secondary ability scores. The Wizard is a good example: Intelligence is always primary, but Charisma, Constitution or Wisdom could be a good secondary score depending on what kind of spells you want to cast.
;AWED : '''At-Will, Encounter, Daily''' (4E) - short hand for the basic division of power usage in "standard" 4E classes.

=== B ===

; BD&D
: "Basic ''Dungeons & Dragons''": One term for the second branch in the fork that occurred when 0e split into "Basic" and "Advanced" lines. Started with the Holmes blue box in 1977 and continued through 1999 with the the B/X, BECMI, RC, black box, and later editions. "Basic" is something of a misnomer, since it only refers to three of the box sets (Holmes, Moldvay, and the first Menzter box) and levels from 1–3. See also Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; BECMI
: "Basic, Expert, Companion, Master, and Immortals": The version of the game by Frank Menzter, delineated in ''Dungeons & Dragons Sets 1–5: Basic'', ''Expert'', ''Companion'', ''Master'', and ''Immortals Rules''. Sometimes distinguished by the author, color of the first box set (red), year of release (1983 for the ''Basic Rules'', though the ''Immortals Rules'' was not published until 1986), or the cover artist (Larry Elmore). In contrast to the more limited level range of the earlier Holmes and B/X sets, Mentzer's version provided rules for mortal characters of levels 1–36, and up to another 36 levels as immortals. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

; black box
: A reference to ''The New Easy-to-Master Dungeons & Dragons Game'' (1991), which came in a predominately black box. Served as the RC's "Basic Set", but unlike the earlier box sets, it covered levels 1–5. Sometimes loosely applied to any of the post-1989 introductory box sets, like the two printings of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' or the ''Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game'' (only one of the versions of the ''Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game'' is primarily black).

; blue box
: The first ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' (in 1977) was compiled by Eric J. Holmes, and comes in a blue box. Sometimes distinguished by the author/editor or the cover artist (David Sutherland). Covers levels 1–3. More closely related to 0e than any other edition, including the later ''Basic Sets''.

; B/X
: "Basic/eXpert": The version of the ''Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set'' by Tom Moldvay combined with the ''Expert Set'' by Dave Cook and Steve Marsh. Sometimes distinguished by the authors, color of the first box set (mauve/purple), year of release (1980 for both sets), or cover artist (Erol Otus). In contrast to the Holmes and BECMI sets, B/X covers levels 1–14. See also BD&D, Classic D&D and [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== C ===

;CB : '''Character Builder''' (4E) - the official ''Dungeons & Dragons'' character creation software offered by Wizards of the Coast.

; Classic D&D
: A term used to refer variously to just BD&D, BD&D and 0e, or all pre-3E versions of ''D&D''.

=== D ===

; d20
: Either a 20-sided die, the d20 System, or the d20STL. The last two are often confused.

; d20 System
: The system underlying 3E, v.3.5, and 4E. See OGL, GSL.

; d20STL
: "d20 System Trademark License": A license from Wizards of the Coast that allowed third party vendors to use certain trademarks and logos (most notably the "d20" logo), and include a claim of compatibility in their products. During the d20 boom from 2000 to 2003, most third party d20 System products used the d20STL in conjunction with the OGL. The bust following WotC's v.3.5 led many third party vendors to abandon the d20STL, which was ultimately revoked by Wizards of the Coast in 2008 in favor of the GSL.

;DDI : '''Dungeons & Dragons Insider''' (4E) - the online subscription service offered by Wizards of the Coast, including ''Dragon'' and ''Dungeon'' magazines and the Character Builder.

=== E ===

; endgame
: The stage of the game where characters retire from adventuring, build castles or other strongholds, and engage war and diplomacy. Often associated with name level.

;E6: (3.X) a variant where player characters stop gaining levels after level 6 and instead receive a feat every 5000xp.

=== F ===

;Fightbrain: (4E) the Battlemind character class from Player's Handbook 3.
;flex stat : (4E) a racial ability score bonus which can be applied to one of two (or more) scores. Introduced with the races in Player's Handbook 3; for example, Minotaurs get +2 Strenght, and +2 Constitution ''or'' +2 Wisdom.

=== G ===

; GSL
: "Gaming System License": The successor to Wizard of the Coast's d20STL and OGL, released in 2008. Far more restrictive than either of its predecessors.

=== L ===

; LBBs
: "Little brown book[let]s": A reference to the parchment-colored, digest-sized booklets in the 0e box set. The three volumes are ''Men & Magic'', ''Monsters & Treasure'', and ''The Underworld and Wilderness Adventures''. Not to be confused with ''Traveller'''s "little black books". See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== M ===

;MAD : '''Multiple Ability Dependency''' (4E) - a class (or Paragon Path, etc.) that relies on more than one Ability Score; seen as a deficiency since this requires splitting points between abilities, and thus lower possible maximum scores.

; megadungeon
: A dungeon large enough to challenge an adventuring party for their entire career, from 1st level to the endgame. The campaigns played by the creators of the hobby (Gygax and Arneson) both featured megadungeons (Castles Blackmoor and Greyhawk), but no true examples were published during the peak of ''D&D'''s popularity. Considered one of the cornerstones of the OSR.

=== N ===

;NAD : '''Non-Armor Class Defences''' (4E) - Shorthand for a character or monster's Fortitude, Reflex and Will defences.

; name level
: The level at which a character stops gaining new level titles (which are associated with each class and level in pre-3E versions of the game), often 9th. For example, a fighting-man in 0e is called a "Super Hero" at 8th level, a "Lord" at 9th level, and a "Lord, 10th Level" at 10th level. Since that is not a new descriptive title, the fighting-man reaches name level at 9th. Often considered the start of the endgame, and usually the point at which character advancement dramatically slows.

=== O ===

; OD&D
: "Original" (or "Old") "''Dungeons & Dragons''": Among adherents of the OSR, the term has come to refer strictly to the edition represented by the 0e box set and the supplements, and often the Holmes ''Basic Set''. Among the broader group of old school fans, the term is often used more broadly, and includes the rest of the BD&D line. There is some controversy over which is is the proper usage.

; OG
: "Old Geezer": The user name of a RPGnet poster (real name Michael Mornard) who was a player in the original Castle Greyhawk campaign co-DMed by Gary Gygax and Rob Kuntz in the early 1970s.

; OGC
: "Open Game Content": Any material released under the OGL.

; OGL
: "Open Game License": An open-source license released by Wizards of the Coast in 2000 that allows third party vendors to use OGC, like the SRD. Commonly used in conjunction with the more restrictive d20STL until 2003.

; OS
: "Old school": A general adjective used to the style and games from yesterday. While primarily used to refer to ''D&D'' and its variants, the term can be more broadly applied to any early games. Different definitions have different cut off times; some exclude 3.X, 2E, 1E, everything but 0e, or various finer distinctions (lines are often drawn at ''AD&D'' 2nd edition's ''Player Option'' books, or 1E's ''Unearthed Arcana'').

; OSR
: "Old School Renaissance" (occasionally "Revolution" or "Revival"): The recent surge in popularity of older roleplaying games and styles. While partially attributable to the death of Gary Gygax in 2008, earlier retro games like ''HackMaster'' and ''Castles & Crusades'' (2006) tapped into the same sentiment. While there is a no true center or uniformity of opinion, the public face of the group is a fairly cohesive collection of games, magazines, message boards, publishers, and blogs (the most prominent of the latter being Grognardia). Common themes, as articulated in Finch's ''A Quick Primer for Old School Gaming'', are megadungeons, sandbox campaigns, an emphasis on player rather than character skill, and a focus on rediscovering how the creators of the games actually played. There's a heavy focus on 0e, with a secondary focus on ''AD&D'', specifically the pre-''Unearthed Arcana'' 1st edition.

=== P ===

;PoLand : '''"Points of Light" land''' (4E) - the "implied setting" found in the core fourth edition books, which uses the "Points of Light" concept.
;primary ability score : (4E) the ability score upon which all or most of a class's attack powers are based. It is usually used for both the attack roll and damage rolls. A character should have a high score in their class's primary ability. For example, Strength is the primary ability score for Fighters.
;rider : (4E) a secondary effect granted by a power in addition to its main effect. Often dependent on a class's secondary ability score or choice of class feature.

=== R ===

; retro-clone
: A replica of an out of print version of a game. Originally and most commonly used to refer to clones of ''D&D''. Based on the principle that the rules of a game cannot be copyrighted, only the specific ''expression'' of the rules. Many clones rely on the OGC to allow them to use trademarked terms and specific elements (like the names of spells, monsters, or game terms). Also known as a simulacrum.

; RC
: "''Rules Cyclopedia''": The one-volume compilation of Menzter's BECMI sets by Aaron Allston in 1991. See also [[Editions of Dungeons and Dragons]].

=== S ===

; sandbox
: A campaign style where there is no overarching plot driving the players toward a scripted conclusion. See metaplot.

;secondary ability score : (4E) an ability score which provides secondary bonuses to a class's powers, often in "riders" (q.v.).

; SRD
: "System Reference Document": The SRD is a compilation of OGC released under the OGL by WotC. The original SRD included material from ''Player's Handbook'', ''Dungeon Master's Guide'', and ''Monster Manual'', but later expansions added content from the ''Epic Level Handbook'', ''Deities & Demigods'', and ''Psionics Handbook''. While most of ''Unearthed Arcana'' was also declared OGC, none of the material was added to the SRD. A ''d20 Modern'' SRD was also released, with material from the core rules, ''Modern Arcana'', and the ''Menace Manual''. Third party vendors have also adopted the terminology, with Anime, ''Fudge'', and ''Traveller'' SRDs among many others.

; S&W
: "''Swords & Wizardry'': A 0e retro-clone that comes in two versions. The ''Core Rules'' version replicates the ''3-Volume Set'' plus selected material from the Supplements, primarily ''Greyhawk''. Not a particularly faithful clone, because some elements were excluded (e.g. no thieves), there is support for both ascending and descending AC, and the five saves have become a single number. The ''White Box'' took the ''Core Rules'' and strips out all material not in the original ''3-Volume Set''.

=== V ===

;V-shaped class : (4E) also "V class" or "V-class"; a class which offers a choice of primary ability score, depending on build, but always uses the same secondary ability score. The Warlock is a good example; they might choose Constitution or Charisma as a primary ability score depending on their build and pact, but Intelligence is always a good choice for a secondary score.

=== W ===

;WotC : '''Wizards of the Coast''' - current developers, publishers and owners of ''Dungeons & Dragons''.

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2010-06-23T03:21:32Z

Guybrush: Added more terms

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2010-06-23T03:16:32Z

Guybrush: /* Terms */ Added 3.X

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2010-06-23T03:14:49Z

Guybrush: /* Terms */ Fixed B/X formatting

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2010-06-23T03:13:38Z

Guybrush: Added some edition and version abbreviations

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2010-06-23T02:53:19Z

Guybrush:

Dungeons & Dragons Abbreviations

2010-06-23T02:39:35Z

Guybrush: moved Dungeons & Dragons Abbreviations to Dungeons & Dragons Glossary: Expanded scope to include terms which are not abbreviations.

#REDIRECT [[Dungeons & Dragons Glossary]]

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2010-06-23T02:39:35Z

Guybrush: moved Dungeons & Dragons Abbreviations to Dungeons & Dragons Glossary: Expanded scope to include terms which are not abbreviations.

[[Category: Glossary]] [[Category: Dungeons & Dragons]]

This page is intended as a repository for abbreviations used when discussing ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (or ''[[Pathfinder]]'', generic d20 fantasy games etc.). Some originated on the RPG.net forum, others elsewhere, but this is meant to be a handy reference. It is not meant to be a glossary of game terms as presented in the rules.

== Format ==
Entries should be in alphabetical order, with numbers preceding letters and symbols preceding numbers.

Each entry should be written like this:
:<tt><nowiki>;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.</nowiki></tt>

When formatted, it looks like this:

;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.

'''Term''' is the abbreviation being defined. '''Definition''' should be brief; in most cases, it will simply be the full term which the acronym or abbreviation replaces. It can be omitted for terms which are not abbreviations. Any further explanation or notes should go after the dash. Where possible, include a '''context''' for the abbreviation; is the term used to describe a particular edition of D&D (3E, 3.5, 4E etc.), Pathfinder, FantasyCraft or some other game?

== Terms ==
;4E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fourth Edition'''
;A-shaped class : (4E) a class for which all builds share the same primary ability score, but have differing secondary ability scores. The Wizard is a good example: Intelligence is always primary, but Charisma, Constitution or Wisdom could be a good secondary score depending on what kind of spells you want to cast.
;AWED : '''At-Will, Encounter, Daily''' (4E) - short hand for the basic division of power usage in "standard" 4E classes.
;MAD : '''Multiple Ability Dependency''' (4E) - a class etc. that relies on more than one Ability Score; seen as a deficiency since this requires splitting points between abilities, and thus lower possible maximum scores.
;NAD : '''Non-Armor Class Defences''' (4E) - Shorthand for a character or monster's Fortitude, Reflex and Will defences.
;PoLand : '''"Points of Light" land''' (4E) - the "implied setting" found in the core fourth edition books, which uses the "Points of Light" concept.
;primary ability score : (4E) the ability score upon which all or most of a class's attack powers are based. A character should have a high score in their class's primary ability.
;V-shaped class : (4E) a class which offers a choice of primary ability score, depending on build, but always uses the same secondary ability score. The Warlock is a good example; they might choose Constitution or Charisma as a primary ability score depending on their build and pact, but Intelligence is always a good choice for a secondary score.

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2010-06-23T02:38:58Z

Guybrush: /* Format */ Fixed formatting, broadened guidelines

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2010-06-23T02:37:07Z

Guybrush: /* Terms */ Added more terms; will change title since this isn't just abbreviations.

[[Category: Glossary]] [[Category: Dungeons & Dragons]]

This page is intended as a repository for abbreviations used when discussing ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (or ''[[Pathfinder]]'', generic d20 fantasy games etc.). Some originated on the RPG.net forum, others elsewhere, but this is meant to be a handy reference. It is not meant to be a glossary of game terms as presented in the rules.

== Format ==
Entries should be in alphabetical order, with numbers preceding letters and symbols preceding numbers.

Each entry should be written like this:
:<tt>;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.</tt>

When formatted, it looks like this:

;Term : '''Definition''' (context) - notes and/or explanation.

'''Term''' is the abbreviation being defined. '''Definition''' should be brief; in most cases, it will simply be the full term which the acronym or abbreviation replaces. Any further explanation or notes should go after the dash. Where possible, include a '''context''' for the abbreviation; is the term used to describe a particular edition of D&D (3E, 3.5, 4E etc.), Pathfinder, FantasyCraft or some other game?

== Terms ==
;4E : '''Dungeons & Dragons, Fourth Edition'''
;A-shaped class : (4E) a class for which all builds share the same primary ability score, but have differing secondary ability scores. The Wizard is a good example: Intelligence is always primary, but Charisma, Constitution or Wisdom could be a good secondary score depending on what kind of spells you want to cast.
;AWED : '''At-Will, Encounter, Daily''' (4E) - short hand for the basic division of power usage in "standard" 4E classes.
;MAD : '''Multiple Ability Dependency''' (4E) - a class etc. that relies on more than one Ability Score; seen as a deficiency since this requires splitting points between abilities, and thus lower possible maximum scores.
;NAD : '''Non-Armor Class Defences''' (4E) - Shorthand for a character or monster's Fortitude, Reflex and Will defences.
;PoLand : '''"Points of Light" land''' (4E) - the "implied setting" found in the core fourth edition books, which uses the "Points of Light" concept.
;primary ability score : (4E) the ability score upon which all or most of a class's attack powers are based. A character should have a high score in their class's primary ability.
;V-shaped class : (4E) a class which offers a choice of primary ability score, depending on build, but always uses the same secondary ability score. The Warlock is a good example; they might choose Constitution or Charisma as a primary ability score depending on their build and pact, but Intelligence is always a good choice for a secondary score.

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2010-06-13T05:32:46Z

Guybrush: /* Terms */

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2010-02-17T10:47:46Z

Guybrush: /* Terms */

Dungeons & Dragons Glossary

2010-02-17T06:37:24Z

Guybrush: Created basic page

The "Create a Character" Challenge

2007-12-09T08:28:13Z

Guybrush: /* NWoD: Changling */ Spelling

"I'm going to create a PC for every game I own. I need to honor all those lonely forgotten games on my shelf." - ''chaldfont, in [http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?t=345113 this thread].''

It seemed like a good idea at the time. 

==How It Works==
Simple: create a character for each game you own, and post them up, with any commentary you wish to add, right here. Set whatever other rules for yourself that you wish (e.g. whether or not to let the dice fall as they may, whether to count all settings and/or splatbooks for one system as separate games or not, et cetera) or just make it up as you go.

For ease of reference, the archive is sorted into two lists: the first arranged by game; the second arranged by creator, in the order of creation.

==Characters Sorted By Game==

===Example===

*[[Character:A. Sample]] — Character Concept Here. ''(creator name here)''

===2300 AD===

*[[Character:James Steelman]] - Army Grunt. ''(psychojosh13)''
*[[Character:Estelle Laviraz]] — Small Time Trader with a Past. ''(Screen Monkey)''

===Aberrant===

*[[Character:Cursor]] - Reality Hacker. ''(Shisumo)''

===Aces and Eights===

*[[Character:Gentleman Jack Miller]] - Vagrant with an empty colt new line. ''(Screen Monkey)''

===Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, 1st Ed===

*[[Character:Ortega Montague]] - Dwarven Locks/Traps expert. ''(Fenris)''

===Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, 2nd Ed===

*[[Character:Joseth'Jack Frost'Nithodyn]] - Half-Elven Ranger/Giant-killer. ''(Fenris)''

===Adventure!===

*[[Character:Cassandra Mayberry]] - Hard-bitten Sailor. ''(Shisumo)''

===Amber Diceless Roleplaying===

*[[Character:Evangeline di Borgia]] - Trump Artist and Made Woman. ''(Shisumo)''

===Ars Magica===

*[[Character:Cinzia di Palermo]] - Fiery demon tainted sorceress. ''(Screen Monkey)''

===Big Eyes, Small Mouth (BESM) 2 Ed.===

*[[Character: Nesse Erekena]] -- Fantasty Mermaid ''((MadWritter)''

===Big Eyes, Small Mouth (BESM) 3 Ed.===

*[[Character: Crystral]] -- Robotical superhero ''((MadWritter))''

===Broken Gears===

*[[Character:Bruce "Taipan" Hornsby]] - Australian Mercenary. ''(psychojosh13)''

===Call of Cthulhu===

*[[Character:Benedict Willard]] - Protestant Minister. ''(psychojosh13)''
*[[Character:Dominic Vespers]] - Graduate Hacker. ''(Thanatos02)''
*[[Character:G. Oscar Cotton]] - Old Feebled-Minded Antiquarian. ''(Screen Monkey)''
*[[Character:Ernie Pitt]] - Streetwise private eye on a quest for vengeance. ''(g026r)''

===Cartoon Action Hour===

*[[Character: Dr. Annabelle Archer]] - Mad Sciencist (''MadWritter)''

===Cartoon Action Hour Presents "Darkness Unleased"===

* [[Character: Xera]] -- Leader of the Altantis Force ''(MadWritter)''

===Cartoon Action Hour Presents "Metal Wars"===

* [[Character: Annoyance]] -- Annoying Warbot tank ''(MadWritter)''

===Cartoon Action Hour Presents "Warriors of Iconia"===

* [[Character: Princess Stingara]] -- Royal Beeiods ''(MadWritter)''

===Cat===

*[[Character:Albert]] - Kitty cat. ''(Tog)''

===Chain of Being===

*[[Character:Thagrom]] - Troll Librarian. ''(psychojosh13)''

===Cinematic Unisystem===

====Angel====

*[[Character:Reggie Grant]] - Redeemed Demonic Revenant. ''(Shisumo)''

====Buffy the Vampire Slayer====

*[[Character:Ethel Carlyle]] - Wannabe Armored Superhero. ''(Shisumo)''

===The d6 System===

*[[Character:Marcus Catallus]] - Cocky Knight Aeris from Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series. ''(Shisumo)''

===DC Universe RPG===

*[[Character:Stone Dragon]] - Mystically-transforming Martial Artist. ''(Shisumo)''

===Dread===

*[[Character:Ken Sorenson]] - College Philosophy Major. ''(Screen Monkey)''

===D&D (Original)===

*[[Character:Khazerik]] - Fighting man. ''(Tog)''

===D&D 3.0/3.5===

*[[Character:Birindar]] - Elven Mage Hunter. ''(psychojosh13)''
*[[Character:Garin the Implacable]] - Human Hexblade in Service to St. Cuthbert. ''(Shisumo)''
*[[Character:William Sommerset McAllister]] - Ex-Company Scout. ''(Thanatos02)''

====Eberron====

*[[Character:Flametouched]] - Warforged Favored Soul of the Silver Flame. ''(Shisumo)''

===Drones RPG===

*[[Character:Harvey_James_Botterson]] - Man-about-town ''(Tog)''

===The Dying Earth RPG===

*[[Character:Ildestin the Active]] - Elegantly Attired Miscreant. ''(Screen Monkey)''

===Elric!===

*[[Character:Wealgud of the Purple Towns]] — Sword-slinging Troubadour. ''(Screen Monkey)''

===Donjon===

*[[Character:Al-Zoaran]]

===Gamma World===

*[[Character:Willie Maize]] - A mutated corn plant, for the third edition. ''(g026r)''

===Godlike===

*[[Character:Abigail_Williams]] - A.K.A. "Grinder Girl" ''(Tomb's Grave)''

===GURPS===

*[[Character:Alfred Chisel]] - Inexperienced Assassin. ''(psychojosh13)''

===Heroquest===

*[[Character:Ernaldina Who Laughed]] - Peacemaker in a time of war. ''(Screen Monkey)''

===Kobolds Ate My Baby!===

*[[Character:Ed Able]] - XP Fodder. ''(Celisasu)''

===Kult===

*[[Character:Gage Strawberry]] - Guilt ridden pacifist gulf war veteran. ''(Screen Monkey)''

===Land of Og===

*[[Character:Ugh]] - Slightly above average Strong Caveman. ''(g026r)''

===MegaTraveller===

*[[Character:Dema Amura]] - Marine Sergeant. ''(Screen Monkey)''

===Meddling Kids===

*[[Character: Waterfall]] = Wild Card/Mermaid ''(MadWritter)''

===New World of Darkness===

====NWoD: Core====

*[[Character:Karen Cauling]] - Troubled College Freshman. ''(Thanatos02)''
*[[Character:George Smith]] - Construction Worker Who's Seen Too Much. ''(Celisasu)''

====NWoD: Mage====

*[[Character:Xi]] - Ascetic Mastigos. ''(Thanatos02)''

====NWoD: Changeling: The Lost====

*[[Charcter:Mickey Scott]] - Resigned Redcap. ''(Thanatos02)''

===Old World of Darkness===

====OWoD: Mage====

*[[Character:Tycho Jennersby]] - Scientist-Adventurer. ''Revised Edition'' ''(Thanatos02)''

*[[Character:Joshua Andersen]] - young spinner of the Wheel. ''(Fenris)''

*[[Character:AloyisusJHintenlooper]] - Victorian scientist and Man Out Of Time. ''Revised Ed.'' ''(Tog)''

====OWoD: Vampire====

*[[Character:Eric Black]] - Goth Club DJ. ''(psychojosh13)''
*[[Character:Phillip MacKenzie]] - Slacker Philosopher. ''(Thanatos02)''

===Over the Edge===

*[[Character:Bernardo Martinez]] – Handyman. ''(shadowjack)''

===Paranoia===

*[[Character:Smoovop-R-ATR-1]] — Fast-talking Troubleshooter ''(g026r)''

===Pendragon===

*[[Character:Sir Briant of Stapleford]] — Sporty Country Knight. ''(Screen Monkey)''

===Prime Time Adventures===

*[[Character:Jared Gypsy]] - Teenage Spaceman. ''(Screen Monkey)''

===Risus===

*[[Character:Jack Harrington]] - Superspy. ''(psychojosh13)''

===Runequest===

*[[Character:Naeem of the Brave Water]] – Farmer turned Sorcer's Apprentice. ''(shadowjack)''

===SenZar===

*[[Character:Varoom The Inconviencer]] - ''(Tog)''

===Space: 1889===

*[[Character:Sjt. Geoffrey White]] - Career soldier stationed on Mars. ''(g026r)''

===Talislanta===

*[[Character:Khatelo]] - Harakin warrior-woman. ''(Tog)''

===Toon===

*[[Character:Seamus O'Primate]] - Lucky Gorilla. ''(psychojosh13)''

===Traveller===

*[[Character:Ronez Ildwor]] - Smuggler. ''(psychojosh13)''
*[[Character:Jedda McQueen]] - Navy Swab. ''(Screen Monkey)''

===Traveller: The New Era===
*[[Character:Rebba Lee Torres]] - Doctor and Ships Officer. ''(Screen Monkey)''

===TWERPS===

*[[Character:Galadosi Yu]] — Lovely Elf Butt-Kicker. ''(shadowjack)''

===Usagi Yojimbo===

*[[Character:Mino Miyagami]] - Rabbit Gambler. ''(Screen Monkey)'

===Violence RPG===

*[[Character:Joseph “Joe” Holliday]] - Psychotic Would-Be Yuppie ''(Thanatos02)''

===Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay===

*[[Character:Khalos Krugerholt]] — Suicidal Troll Slayer. ''(Screen Monkey)''

==Characters Sorted By Creator==

===Example===

#[[Character:A. Sample]] — Character Concept Here. ''(game name here)''
#[[Character:B. Sample]] — Character Concept Here. ''(game name here)''
#[[Character:C. Sample]] — Character Concept Here. ''(game name here)''

===Celisasu===

#[[Character:Ed Able]] - XP Fodder. ''(Kobolds Ate My Baby!)''
#[[Character:George Smith]] -Construction Worker Who's Seen Too Much. ''(NWoD: Core)''

===Fenris===

#[[Character:Ortega Montague]] - Dwarven Lock/Trap Expert. ''(AD&D 1e)''

#[[Joseth'Jack Frost'Nithodyn]] - Half-Elven Ranger/Giant-killer. ''(AD&D 2e)''

#[[Joshua Andersen]] - young spinner of the Wheel. ''(oWoD Mage)''

===g026r===

#[[Character:Ugh]] — Slightly above-average Strong Caveman. ''(Land of Og)''
#[[Character:Sjt. Geoffrey White]] - Career soldier stationed on Mars. ''(Space: 1889)''
#[[Character:Smoovop-R-ATR-1]] — Fast-talking Troubleshooter ''(Paranoia)''
#[[Character:Willie Maize]] - Mutated corn plant for the third edition. ''(Gamma World, 3rd ed.)''
#[[Character:Ernie Pitt]] - Streetwise private eye on a quest for vengeance. ''(Call of Cthulhu, 6th ed.)''

===MadWritter===

#[[Character: Dr. Annabelle Archer]] - Mad Sciencist ''("Cartoon Action Hour")''
#[[Character: Waterfall]] = Wild Card/Mermaid ''(Medding Kids)''
#[[Character: Nesse Erekena]] -- Fantasty Mermaid ''(Big Eyes, Small Mouth [A.K.A. BESM -- 2 Ed.)''
#[[Character: Crystral]] -- Robotical superhero ''(Big Eyes, SMall Mouth [A.K.A. BESM -- 3 Ed.)''
#[[Character: Xera]] -- Leader of the Altantis Force ''("Cartoon Action Hour: Presents Darkness Unleashed"
# [[Character: Princess Stingara]] -- Royal Beeiods ''("Cartoon Action Hour: Presents Warriors of the Cosmos)''
# [[Character: Annoyance]] -- Annoying Warbot tank ''("Cartoon Action Hour: Presents Metal Wars")''

===psychojosh13===

#[[Character:Alfred Chisel]] - Inexperienced Assassin. ''(GURPS)''
#[[Character:Birindar]] - Elven Mage Hunter. ''(D&D 3.0)''
#[[Character:Benedict Willard]] - Protestant Minister. ''(Call of Cthulhu)''
#[[Character:Thagrom]] - Troll Librarian. ''(Chain of Being)''
#[[Character:Jack Harrington]] - Superspy. ''(Risus)''
#[[Character:Bruce "Taipan" Hornsby]] - Australian Mercenary. ''(Broken Gears)''
#[[Character:James Steelman]] - Army Grunt. ''(2300 AD)''
#[[Character:Eric Black]] - Goth Club DJ. ''(Vampire: the Masquerade)''
#[[Character:Al-Zoaran]] - Amateur Necromancer. ''(Donjon)''
#[[Character:Ronez Ildwor]] - Smuggler. ''(Traveller)''
#[[Character:Seamus O'Primate]] - Lucky Gorilla. ''(Toon)''

===Screen Monkey===

#[[Character:Sir Briant of Stapleford]] — Sporty Country Knight. ''(Pendragon 4th Edition)''
#[[Character:Estelle Laviraz]] — Small Time Trader with a Past. ''(2300 AD)''
#[[Character:Khalos Krugerholt]] — Suicidal Troll Slayer. ''(WFRP)''
#[[Character:Wealgud of the Purple Towns]] — Sword-slinging Troubadour. ''(Elric!)''
#[[Character:Jedda McQueen]] - Navy Swab. ''(Traveller)''
#[[Character:Ken Sorenson]] - College Philosophy Major. ''(Dread)''
#[[Character:Mino Miyagami]] - Rabbit Gambler. ''(Usagi Yojimbo)''
#[[Character:Jared Gypsy]] - Teenaged Spaceman. ''(Prime Time Adventures)''
#[[Character:G. Oscar Cotton]] - Old Feebled-Minded Antiquarian. ''(Call of Cthulhu)''
#[[Character:Dema Amura]] - Marine Sergeant. ''(MegaTraveller)''
#[[Character:Ildestin the Active]] - Elegantly Attired Miscreant. ''(Dying Earth)''
#[[Character:Gentleman Jack Miller]] - Vagrant with an empty colt new line. ''(Aces and Eights)''
#[[Character:Ernaldina Who Laughed]] - Peacemaker in a time of war. ''(Heroquest)''
#[[Character:Cinzia di Palermo]] - Fiery demon tainted sorceress. ''(Ars Magica)''
#[[Character:Gage Strawberry]] - Guilt ridden pacifist gulf war veteran. ''(Kult)''
#[[Character:Rebba Lee Torres]] - Doctor and Ships Officer. ''(Traveller The New Era)''
#[[Character:Space Captain Biff Degan]] - Space Corp Captain in a parallel Universe. ''(Spaceship Zero)''

===Shadowjack===

#[[Character:Galadosi Yu]] — Lovely Elf Butt-Kicker. ''(TWERPS)''
#[[Character:Bernardo Martinez]] — Handyman. ''(Over the Edge)''
#[[Character:Naeem of the Brave Water]] – Farmer turned Sorcer's Apprentice. ''(Runequest)''

===Shisumo===

#[[Character:Cassandra Mayberry]] - Hard-bitten Sailor. ''(Adventure!)''
#[[Character:Cursor]] - Reality Hacker. ''(Aberrant)''
#[[Character:Ethel Carlyle]] - Wannabe Armored Superhero. ''(Buffy the Vampire Slayer)''
#[[Character:Evangeline di Borgia]] - Trump Artist and Made Woman. ''(Amber Diceless Roleplaying)''
#[[Character:Flametouched]] - Warforged Favored Soul of the Silver Flame. ''(Eberron)''
#[[Character:Garin the Implacable]] - Human Hexblade in Service to St. Cuthbert. ''(D&D 3.5)''
#[[Character:Marcus Catallus]] - Cocky Knight Aeris from Jim Butcher's Codex Alera series. ''(The d6 System)''
#[[Character:Reggie Grant]] - Redeemed Demonic Revenant. ''(Angel)''
#[[Character:Stone Dragon]] - Mystically-transforming Martial Artist. ''(DC Universe RPG)''

===Thanatos02===

#[[Character:Karen Cauling]] - Troubled College Freshman. ''(NWoD Core)'' 
#[[Character:Xi]] - Ascetic Mastigos. ''(NWoD Mage)''
#[[Character:Tycho Jennersby]] - Scientist-Adventurer. ''Revised Edition'' ''(OWoD Mage)''
#[[Character:Phillip MacKenzie]] - Slacker Philosopher. ''Revised Edition'' ''(OWoD Vampire)''
#[[Character:William Sommerset McAllister]] - Ex-Company Scout. ''(D&D 3.5)''
#[[Character:Dominic Vespers]] - Graduate Hacker. ''(Call of Cthulhu)''
#[[Character:Joseph “Joe” Holliday]] - Psychotic Would-Be Yuppie. ''(Violence RPG)''
#[[Character:Mickey Scott]] - Resigned Redcap. ''(NWoD Changling)''

===Tog===

#[[Character:Khazerik]] - Fighting man. ''(D&D (Original))'' 
#[[Character:Varoom The Inconviencer]] - ''(SenZar)''
#[[Character:Harvey_James_Botterson]] - Man-about-town ''(The Drones RPG)''
#[[Character:Albert]] - Kitty cat. ''(Cat)''
#[[Character:AloyisusJHintenlooper]] - Victorian scientist and Man Out Of Time. ''(oWoD M:tA Rev.)''
#[[Character:Khatelo]] - Harakin warrior-woman. ''(Talislanta 4th Ed.)''

===Tomb's Grave===

#[[Character:Abigail_Williams]] - A.K.A. "Grinder Girl" ''(Godlike)''