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| Last Updated: Sunday, July 2nd, 2006; Under Construction |
This section is devoted to recording and defining Tabletop Role Playing Game (TRPG) terminology. This is meant to promote the study of tabletop gaming generally, as well as the understanding of TRPGs. Drawing on insights from Gary Alan Fine’s Shared Fantasy (1983), I have divided this page into general gaming terms and idiocultural terms. In both these sections the terms are organized alphabetically. Whenever possible, I quote outside sources in the definitions but try to explain the terms in my own words. I also have included at minimum 4 hyper links under each definition which lead to pages that can enhance your knowledge and understanding of the concept in question. I have found while writing both this page and my thesis documents that TRPG terminology exists as a kind of Gordian knot: it is difficult to describe a given concept or term without relying on the interwoven web of other related concepts (all esoteric from a non-gaming perspective) that exist in semantic synergy with that term. Thus, I have included inner-document links whenever this happens inside a definition. Enjoy!
Section One: General Gaming Terminology
Section Two: Idiocultural Gaming Terminology
Links to other TRPG Terminology Listings
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Section One: General Gaming Terminology
H Terminology
| Hit Point |
Hit points simply represent how much damage a character, or item can take before dieing or breaking. Hit points are universally integer, positive numbers, and so the damage a thing in a TRPG takes as the story progresses are usually expressed in the same units. Every game system has rules for the hit point values at which incapacitation or death occurs for living characters, or breakage occurs for inanimate objects. Typically, objects break when they get reduced to zero hit points, and characters fall unconscious at zero hit points. In most editions of Dungeons and Dragons for example, a character dies when they reach -10 hit points. Hit points are typically referred to as HPs.Many of the terms common to all of gaming originated in the first tabletop RPG, Dungeons and Dragons. The concept of hit points is a good example of this. Hit points basically represent a quantitative measure of a creature’s life. As gaming concepts developed in complexity in the early years of Dungeons and Dragons, there were discussions as to which percentage of a character’s hit points were raw measures of life, and which represented skill and training. This concern developed from the fact that as characters in TRPGs like Dungeons and Dragons acquired Experience Points (another quantitative measure, of how much characters learn from their experiences – sort of), they gained levels and consequently gained more hit points. Thus, a third level character could have, for example, three times the hit points of a first level (introductory) character. It seemed illogical that the third level character’s body were actually that much more “tough” or “durable,” so the idea of skill and training was attractive. As the (First Edition) Dungeon Master’s Guide explains, “It is quite unreasonable to assume that as a character gains levels of ability in his or her class that a corresponding gain in actual ability to sustain physical damage takes place…Why then the increase in hit points? Because these reflect both the actual physical ability of the character to withstand damage – as indicated by constitution bonuses – and a commensurate increase in such areas as skill in combat and similar life-or-death situations, the “sixth sense” which warns the individual of some otherwise unforeseen events, sheer luck, and the fantastic provisions of magical protections and/or divine protection…” (Gygax 1979: 82). While Gygax’s explanation evokes the idea that hit points have some sort of ambient magical quality about them, we might also postulate that hit points represent a literary function: main characters have to be more durable than supporting characters. |
| The Official D&D Web Site's Definition of Hit Point |
The RPGnet Wiki Definition of Hit Point |
| Wikipedia's Definition of Hit Points |
A Paper Discussing Hit Points... |
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Section Two: Idiocultural Gaming Terminology
D Terminology
| Dice! |
Source: "Hill Street Garage" Gaming Idioculture. |
| In my gaming group, when a gamemaster (and only a gamemaster has the right to do this) points at someone and says “dice!” the other players will immediately attempt to be the first person to throw one of their dice (typically the one with the most sides) at the targeted player. This ritual is complex; the gamemaster can also point (even subtly) at the person to be diced, or point and say things like “dice the fuck out of him!” (for example). There are several ways in which a player becomes eligible for a dice event, but the most common way is by making a diceable comment. These kind of comments are usually bad puns, obnoxious jokes, and similar utterances. A legendary diceable comment goes like this: (after the gamemaster described an orchard) “Are they angry grapes?” “Why?” “Then they’d be the grapes of wrath!” Sometimes players purposefully create diceable situations, and since there is a tangible reward for being the first player to hit the targeted player, occasionally a player will make a diceable comment so other players can benefit, thus “Taking one for the team” (see the creative section’s dice! rules here). Gamemasters also blatantly call dice as a means of social control; they usually announce this fact playfully, partly as a means to defuse the situation. A gamemaster might dice someone in this way for acting too much like the gamemaster (by, for example, asking for rolls as a gamemaster might), or for trying to order (or even ask) the gamemaster to do something. Thus, dice! events are a part of the stereotypical player-gamemaster tension idiom (that is fun to act out). |
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H Terminology
| "Hill Street Garage" Gaming Idioculture |
Source: "Hill Street Garage" Gaming Idioculture. |
| This refers to a particular history of gaming which originated in Port Jervis, NY at 12 Hill Street. It was here that Ruthmary, also known as “Ruthmama” took in Michael Van Ness as a room mate slash sort-of-adopted-pseudo-son for twenty dollars a week rent. Her generosity was limitless; she converted her garage into the coolest gaming space in the history of the universe (from my perspective) and it was here that a group of friends would develop a style and history, a languaculture of gaming I have labeled as the term on the left. Characteristics of this idioculture include [1] gamemasters calling Dice!, [2] a fondness for house rules, particularly in regard to “improving” Dungeons and Dragons, [3] a tendency to draw and decorate on game tables and the gaming environment, [4] Dink’s Heat Seeking Missile!, [5] a cultural preference to, as a player, prefer to role-play characters that are your gender – to name but a few. Campaigns to arise from this history include “The Big Adventure”, “The Eye of Minstael”, “Ranger Adventure I.”, “Bergamont”, “Ranger Adventure II.”, “The Cirocene Campaign”, and “The Twilight Faerie Realm Campaign” – also to name but a few. |
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Links to other TRPG Terminology Listings
| Entries in this color are not focussed specifically on TRPG terminology. |
Entries in this color are of marginal utility; these generally link to brief listings. |
| The Official D&D Web Site's Glossary of Terms |
This Glossary is focused on the latest edition of Dungeons and Dragons (3.5). While there have been some innovative and groovy changes in D&D in the later editions, most of the core concepts were built on and expanded, not eliminated. Many thanks to Wizards of the Coast for producing this listing. |
| The RPGnet Wiki Lexica: Main Page |
Described in their own terms: “I think we all could use a "serious" dictionary occasionally (to settle the question "What does this term mean again?" without digging through a dozen sourcebooks) ...but, personally, I like the not-so-serious stuff myself, because every now and then you need a term to describe some aspect of the game that irritates you, or exasperates your players, or maybe just reminds everyone of some entertaining shared experience. There used to be a site called GamerJargon.com that had several of these, some of which I would use in my games (such as "Freight Train from Hell" for a roll of 18 (6-6-6) in GURPS, which is a critical failure) and some of which were just amusing stories in themselves (One word: gazebo). Unfortunately, when the RPG.net Terminology thread was active, I went looking for that site... and found out it had bought the farm, and wound up in the Great Web Server In The Sky. So, I'm thinking ... let's bring it back! Let's have a place where people can put the terms they use in their games, serious or not, so that the rest of us can use them, and have a, um, cohesive vocabulary of role-playing-game elements to, um, facilitate understanding. (Yeah, that's it.) And maybe we can bring back GamerJargon.com, too.” This listing is organized alphabetically, and was the inspiration for the rpgresearch.org glossary. |
| An archived version of gamerjargon.com |
The source of the previuos glossary listing, this archive is an awesome array of idiocultural and general-to-gaming terminology, including terminology from related popular culture, like “Boom-Stick.” |
| The Treasure Tables Glossary of GMing Terms |
Treasure Tables is an excellent Dungeon Mastering resource, and their glossary is superior. The author explains that: “Built with the help of TT [Treasure Table] readers, this glossary attempts to cover every gaming term that is both related to GMing and common to most RPGs. A lot of these terms originated with D&D, but they’re so widely used they’ve have effectively become the default terms (even though many other RPGs call them different things). Because I want this glossary to be useful to GMs of all skill levels, it includes some very basic terms. (Even veteran GMs might find some surprises here, though.)”. |
| The Bloodslayers.com Glossary of RPG Terms |
In the author’s own words: “This is where you can find out what some of those RPG (role-playing game) terms mean... Note: This glossary is drawn from the pages of "Dungeons & Dragons Player's Manual," copyright 1981, TSR; "Dungeons & Dragons Player's Manual," copyright 1983, TSR; and "Dungeons & Dragons Player Handbook, Core Rulebook I, v.3.5," copyright 2003, Wizards of the Coast.” This glossary is fairly detailed, of good size, and contains brief explanations. |
| A BoardGameGeek Gaming Glossary |
While this glossary is oriented more toward board gaming, there is enough overlap that it is a useful resource. The author explains: “Here is a little Gaming Glossary for the uninitiated…by Derk and Ken.” |
| Icelan's Guide to Common Gaming Slang & Related Terminology |
This listing, like the entry above, is not exactly geared toward RPG terms, but again there is enough crossover terms it might be useful. Icelan explains that: "Remember when you first got into this Internet thing? Remember your first Internet chat room? You might have been a bit confused and maybe even felt a little left out with all the crazy lingo that was being flung about so casually. AFK? BRB? Remember those? Well now they’re like second nature to you but as soon as you joined the Internet gaming scene, there’s a whole new slew of catch phrases, slang, and abbreviations that you gotta learn. Icelan to the rescue! Whether you are a new to the Internet, new to computer gaming, or just plain bored, you should find this little section of our site informative and enlightening." |
| Guild Wars Gold Online RPG Glossary |
Again, this listing is geared toward online role-playing. I have included it as a means to examine some of the crossover between TRPGs and Online RPGs. A well laid out page. |
| roleofthedie.com's RPG Terminology page |
A short listing of 12 concepts, including a neat link (in green, scroll down) to “the RPG Concept.” In the author’s own words: “See a role-playing game related word in the strip that you don't understand? No worries! You should be able to find it listed below along with a quick definition/explination. If there's a term you don't see here that you want to see here, tell me about it. Terms are alphabetically listed for your browsing convenience.” |
| RPGGateway.com's Glossary |
A detailed, yet poorly presented glossary of TRPG terms, including concepts related to Mudding and electronic gaming. |
| John H. Kim's Universal Terms List |
In the author’s own words: “This is a basic list of “universal” terminology for taletop role-playing games. Different games will use different terms for these, so I pick what I see as the most common and note variations.” The page is organized alphabetically, and contains roughly 20 entries. |
| Another General RPG Glossary |
An interesting list, based on “John Kim’s Frequently-Asked Questions on rec.games.frp.advocacy." Many of these terms relate to theatre theory, or are quite esoteric. |
| The Easy Role Playing Site's Glossary |
Composed in 1999 by George Woolley, this page contains perhaps 20 entries and is of marginal value to this list. The entries blend the idiocultural with the general, and has succinct descriptions. |
| Gamehybrid's Brief List of RPG abbreviations |
Exactly 24 entries, brief and to the point, detailing some of the more common RPG abbreviations. |
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