Editing RPG Lexica:STU
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− | ;Skarka's Law: This is an observation, originally attributed to | + | ;Skarka's Law: This is an observation, originally attributed to now banned RPGnet poster Gareth Skarka, that, on internet messageboards, there is no subject so vile or indefensible that someone won't post positively/in defense of it. |
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− | ;SLF: A | + | ;SLF: A german expression (SpielLeiterFicken = lit. Game Master Fucking) that is used when it becomes obvious that the character of the [[GM]]'s Significant Other is getting special treatment from the [[GM]] due to their OOC relationship. Also used when a [[player]] tries to charm a [[GM]] of the opposite sex into doing as they wish. In English-speaking countries, this is generally alluded to by the phrase "GM's Girlfriend" or "GM's Wife" (or boyfriend/husband, naturally). |
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− | ;Social Contract: The (often unstated) rules that govern the interactions taking place during an [[RPG]]. ''Not'' a statement of basic social etiquette, which is assumed to be in force regardless: rather the social contract of an RPG defines the expectations and | + | ;Social Contract: The (often unstated) rules that govern the interactions taking place during an [[RPG]]. ''Not'' a statement of basic social etiquette, which is assumed to be in force regardless: rather the social contract of an RPG defines the expectations and responsibilites of the [[player]]s with regard to the entertainment of the RPG [[session]]. For example, many games have the rule that the [[GM]] may break the rules if doing so is to the good of the game; the social contract would include the definition of what "the good of the game" means in the particular group. As mentioned above, these are often unstated and not discussed, which can later lead to friction in the group. |
− | ;Social Skills Problem: A problem arising in many [[RPG]]s where social skills are | + | ;Social Skills Problem: A problem arising in many [[RPG]]s where social skills are modelled as part of the rules system. The typical problem is that resolving the results of these skills via a simple [[dice]] roll, as usually mandated by the rules, will leave the [[player]]s and [[GM]] with no idea of what was actually said or done by the [[character]] - highly unsatisfactory. On the other hand, if the player is required to speak in-character and to play out the social situation, then the situation will be determined by the player's social skills, not the character's. |
− | ; | + | ;Specialisation problem: A game balance (q.v.) problem arising in games where characters are able to specialise in particular fields. Typically, the problem arises when a group contains only a single specialist in a particular area: any hazard in that area that is challenging to the specialist is utterly impossible for the other characters, leaving their players with nothing to do but sit and grow bored; and any hazard that would be challenging but possible for the other characters is trivially solved by the specialist, again leaving the non-specialist players with nothing to do. (A concrete example would be, in the d20 system, a fighter with a +22 attack bonus and a wizard with a +2 bonus. Any enemy that the wizard has a chance of hitting, the fighter can never miss; and any enemy that the fighter will not always hit, the wizard will never hit. D&D introduces special rules for handling very high attack bonuses to prevent exactly this situation arising.) This can lead to player boredom and disengagement and in extreme cases may result in players attempting to manipulate the game story to ensure their characters' specialised talents get used and those of other characters do not. |
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:Superhero [[RPG]]s enable [[player]]s to play [[character]]s with any of several types of powers, like the characters in comic books. Certain combinations of powers and abilities occur frequently enough that shorthand terms have been created for them. | :Superhero [[RPG]]s enable [[player]]s to play [[character]]s with any of several types of powers, like the characters in comic books. Certain combinations of powers and abilities occur frequently enough that shorthand terms have been created for them. | ||
:The following are some of the more common terms: | :The following are some of the more common terms: | ||
− | *'''Brick''': A character whose primary attribute is high strength (Superman, the Hulk, the Thing from the Fantastic Four), especially in systems like ''[[Hero]]'' in which Strength adds to defenses, making them tougher. Sometimes applied to games in other genres to refer to high-strength | + | *'''Brick''': A character whose primary attribute is high strength (Superman, the Hulk, the Thing from the Fantastic Four), especially in systems like ''[[Hero]]'' in which Strength adds to defenses, making them tougher. Sometimes applied to games in other genres to refer to high-strength characters (such as a typical [[D&D]] fighter). |
− | *'''Dex Monster''': A character whose primary attribute is high Dexterity. Usually has good weapon skill, classic “thief skills” | + | *'''Dex Monster''': A character whose primary attribute is high Dexterity. Usually has good weapon skill, classic “thief skills”, and is often quicker than other characters (though not as quick as a '''speedster''', below). |
*'''Egoist''': A ''[[Hero]]'' term for a '''Mentalist''', below, since the main statistic they use in ''Hero'' is called “Ego”. | *'''Egoist''': A ''[[Hero]]'' term for a '''Mentalist''', below, since the main statistic they use in ''Hero'' is called “Ego”. | ||
− | *'''Energy Projector''': A character that “throws” an energy discharge of some sort, such as a fire blast, lightning bolt, or just the blast of destructive energy typical of many comic book characters. Originally a ''[[Champions]]'' term | + | *'''Energy Projector''': A character that “throws” an energy discharge of some sort, such as a fire blast, lightning bolt, or just the blast of destructive energy typical of many comic book characters. Originally a ''[[Champions]]'' term. |
*'''Gadgeteer''': A character that relies on technical ability and machines. May be applied to characters from other genres as well. | *'''Gadgeteer''': A character that relies on technical ability and machines. May be applied to characters from other genres as well. | ||
*'''Martial Artist''': A character that relies on hand-to-hand combat skill without necessarily having high strength. Usually skilled in Eastern [[martial arts]] (or fake pseudo-Eastern super martial arts). | *'''Martial Artist''': A character that relies on hand-to-hand combat skill without necessarily having high strength. Usually skilled in Eastern [[martial arts]] (or fake pseudo-Eastern super martial arts). | ||
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::"Swine" refers to more than just RPG f***tards. Generally a "swine" is a self-absorbed human being who wishes to be recognized for abilities or talents he does not have, and accomplishments he has not attained." | ::"Swine" refers to more than just RPG f***tards. Generally a "swine" is a self-absorbed human being who wishes to be recognized for abilities or talents he does not have, and accomplishments he has not attained." | ||
::"He represents the infinitely inferior man in every respect, who nevertheless wishes to impose his putrid will on the world, and usually fucks the world up in the process." | ::"He represents the infinitely inferior man in every respect, who nevertheless wishes to impose his putrid will on the world, and usually fucks the world up in the process." | ||
− | :He strongly believes in a form of Gonzo journalism to make a point. The term swine was adapted from Hunter | + | :He strongly believes in a form of Gonzo journalism to make a point. The term swine was adapted from Hunter Thompsons "Generation of Swine". |
− | ;Symbiote problem: A | + | ;Symbiote problem: A spinoff of the ''specialization problem'' that arises when a group of PCs is composed entirely of specialists, each specialised in a different field. Because typically no individual PC will be able to survive or progress in any challenging situation that is not his/her specialty, the group is forced to stick together at all times, and thus almost all significant actions (such as where the group should travel next) will have to be decided on by the group as a whole or by a designated leader. This can damage the players' ability to role-play their characters, as well as making the game session very boring for players other than the group leader who may get to do nothing in the session but declare when they are making use of their specialty. This problem is especially insidious because the group of specialists is often considered the best possible make-up for a party. |
==T== | ==T== | ||
− | ;Tank: As a noun, an extremely tough character capable of taking | + | ;Tank: As a noun, an extremely tough character capable of taking lots of damage. |
:As a verb, for a character to deliberately place themselves in harm's way on the basis that if they didn't do so, another more vulnerable character would be there instead. This is a critical technique for protecting weaker party members in most RPGs. (This meaning is similar to '''meat shield''', but with no implied pejorative.) | :As a verb, for a character to deliberately place themselves in harm's way on the basis that if they didn't do so, another more vulnerable character would be there instead. This is a critical technique for protecting weaker party members in most RPGs. (This meaning is similar to '''meat shield''', but with no implied pejorative.) | ||
:As a noun, also, any strategy for defeating an enemy that is based on resisting that enemy's attacks. | :As a noun, also, any strategy for defeating an enemy that is based on resisting that enemy's attacks. | ||
− | ;Thelma: A gamer who would go to any extreme, including | + | ;Thelma: A gamer who would go to any extreme, including commiting suicide, rather than be caught. Two of them are called ''Thelma & Louise''. |
− | ;TLP: | + | ;TLP: Abbrevation for '''(check for) Traps, Listen, Pick''' - the standard behaviour of a thief or rogue character when encountering an unknown door in a dungeon that the party needs to pass through. |
− | ;Total Party Kill: | + | ;Total Party Kill: Any course of action in a [[RPG]] that results in the entire [[party]] of [[player character]]s winding up either dead or incapacitated. May be the result of bad tactics (the party biting off more than it can chew), bad luck (rotten rolls for [[PC]]s combined with excellent rolls for the opposition), or bad [[GM]]ing (say, the GM cheating because he's annoyed at the [[player]]s). |
− | ;TRPG: Abbreviation for ''Tabletop Role Playing Game'' or ''Table Talk Roleplaying Game''. An alternate abbreviation used in Japan, where the | + | ;TPK: Abbreviation for '''Total Party Kill'''. Sometimes verbed: "Man, I'm never playing with Ernie again... he had an argument with his girlfriend and retaliated by TPKing the entire group!" |
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+ | ;TRPG: Abbreviation for ''Tabletop Role Playing Game'' or ''Table Talk Roleplaying Game''. An alternate abbreviation used in Japan, where the abbrevation RPG is usually taken to mean CRPG. | ||
:This is also a generally accepted abbreviation for 'Tactical Role-Playing Game', a type of electronic RPG which focuses on chess-like or wargame-like mechanics for resolving combats. Examples of this electronic type of TRPG are Shining Force, Fire Emblem, Final Fantasy Tactics, and others. | :This is also a generally accepted abbreviation for 'Tactical Role-Playing Game', a type of electronic RPG which focuses on chess-like or wargame-like mechanics for resolving combats. Examples of this electronic type of TRPG are Shining Force, Fire Emblem, Final Fantasy Tactics, and others. | ||
− | ;Turtle: A [[player]] who avoids taking any action during the game unless it is either clearly necessary for their [[character]]'s safety or obviously prompted by the [[GM]]. This | + | ;Turtle: A [[player]] who avoids taking any action during the game unless it is either clearly necessary for their [[character]]'s safety or obviously prompted by the [[GM]]. This behaviour is usually the result of one of several beliefs developed from previous RPGing experience: a) that the GM's job is to subject their characters to adversity, and therefore they must minimize the opportunities the GM has to do so, or b) that the GM is intending to '''[[RPG_Lexica:PQR|railroad]]''' them and thus any proactive action would be doomed to fail as it would disrupt the railroad. Convincing a player who has learned to turtle to stop doing so is often extremely challenging. |
:Also, ''v.'' '''Turtling''', to refer to this behavior. | :Also, ''v.'' '''Turtling''', to refer to this behavior. | ||
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;Twink: see Munchkin. Originated in the world of MUSH/MUX/whatever. | ;Twink: see Munchkin. Originated in the world of MUSH/MUX/whatever. | ||
: Also a verb in CRPGs for the (often time-consuming and difficult) process of manipulating a PC's stats to accomplish a specific goal. The most common forms of twinking are | : Also a verb in CRPGs for the (often time-consuming and difficult) process of manipulating a PC's stats to accomplish a specific goal. The most common forms of twinking are | ||
− | :1) maximizing the PC's usefulness for a specific gaming function ( | + | :1) maximizing the PC's usefulness for a specific gaming function (i.e., PvP combat), in which case the PC's development is generally frozen at a predetermined optimal point, and |
− | :2) artificially enhancing the PC's stats through | + | :2) artificially enhancing the PC's stats through outside buffs, equipment, or other means in a way that is not necessarily ideal for playing the character for the sole purpose of equipping a specific item or similar purpose (see, eg., [http://forums.anarchy-online.com/showthread.php?t=449803 ''Anarchy Online'' Character Twinking Guide]), after which the enhancements are generally undone and/or allowed to lapse and the character returned to its standard, playable configuration. |
− | : | + | :As a noun in CRPGs, a PC which has been optimized as described above, usually in sense #1. |
==U== | ==U== | ||
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;"Use the force, Luke!":(movie quote) usu. spoken to someone about to try something extremely difficult or that cannot be done under normal conditions. | ;"Use the force, Luke!":(movie quote) usu. spoken to someone about to try something extremely difficult or that cannot be done under normal conditions. |