Common Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Terms

[Gorbash Kazdar]

This thread includes a number of abbreviations, acronyms, and terms commonly or uncommonly used on these boards that may not be common knowledge. This list is by no means exhaustive; if you see an error or have something that should be added, feel free to bring it up. Please note that this thread assumes a working knowledge of tabletop gaming, particularly RPGs, and is not useful as a primer for those completely new to the hobby.

I made this thread because sometimes posts end up looking like alphabet soup, and decoding all the esoteric jargon we use can be intimidating for newcomers. I hope this helps clear up some confusion.

Recent updates and changes in blue.

Abbreviations and Acronyms

D&D Books:
¹ A 3.0 book.
² Significant portions may be found in the SRD.

Core
- PhB²: Players Hand Book
- DMG²: Dungeon Master's Guide
- MM or MM1²: Monster Manual
- PsiHB¹: Psionics Handbook
- XPH²: Expanded Psionics Handbook

Expansions to the Core
- A&E, AEG, AEq, A&Eq, or A&EG¹: Arms and Equipment Guide
- BoC¹: Book of Challenges
- BoED: Book of Exalted Deeds
- BoVD¹: Book of Vile Darkness
- DD, DDG, or D&DG¹: Deities and Demigods
- DMGII or DMG2: Dungeon Master’s Guide II
- DrM or DraMa: Dragon Magic
- E&A¹: Enemies and Allies
- ELH¹: Epic Level Handbook
- FF: Fiend Folio
- HBG¹: Hero Builders Guidebook
- LGG¹: Living Greyhawk Gazetteer
- MH: Minatures Handbook
- MM2 or MMII¹: Monster Manual II
- MM3 or MMIII: Monster Manual III
- MM4 or MMIV: Monster Manual IV
- MM5 or MMV: Monster Manual V
- MoI: Magic of Incarnum
- MotP¹: Manual of the Planes
- OA¹: Oriental Adventures
- PHBII or PHB2: Player's Handbook II
- PlH: Planar Handbook
- SBG or SHBG¹: Stronghold Builders Guidebook
- SavS or SS¹: Savage Species. The latter can be confused with Song & Silence (below).
- ToB or Bo9S: Tome of Battle: The Book of Nine Swords
- ToM: Tome of Magic: Pact, Shadow, and Truename Magic
- UA²: Unearthed Arcana
- WoL: Weapons of Legacy

Class Books
- CAd or CV: Complete Adventurer
- CAr or CA: Complete Arcane
- CC or CCham: Complete Champion
- CD: Complete Divine
- CM: Complete Mage
- CP or CPsi: Complete Psionics
- CS or CScn: Complete Scoundrel
- CW: Complete Warrior
- DotF¹: Defenders of the Faith
- MotW¹: Masters of the Wild
- S&F¹: Sword and Fist
- S&S or SS¹: Song and Silence
- T&B¹: Tome and Blood

Race Books
- RoD: Races of Destiny
- RotD: Races of the Dragon
- RoS: Races of Stone
- RotW: Races of the Wild

Heroes Books
- HoB: Heroes of Battle
- HoH: Heroes of Horror

Monster Books
- DotU: Drow of the Underdark
- LM or LiMo: Libris Mortis
- LoM or LoMad: Lords of Madness
- FC1: Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss
- FC2: Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells

Compendium Books
- MiC: Magic Item Compendium
- RC or RuC: Rules Compendium
- SC or SpC: Spell Compendium

Eberron Books
- 5N: Five Nations
- CoS or CoSR: City of Stormreach
- DoE: Dragons of Eberron (ECS)
- ECS: Eberron Campaign Setting
- EHB: Explorer’s Handbook
- FoE: Faiths of Eberron
- FoW or tFoW: The Forge of War
- MoE: Magic of Eberron
- PGtE or PGE: Player's Guide to Eberron
- RoE: Races of Eberron
- SCT, S:CT, or S:CoT: Sharn: City of Towers
- SoS: Secrets of Sarlona (ECS)
- SoX: Secrets of Xen'drik

FR (Forgotten Realms) Books
- A:tEoS: Anauroch: The Empire of Sand
- CoR: Champions of Ruin
- CoV: Champions of Valor (FR)
- CotSQ¹: City of the Spider Queen
- DoF or DoFR¹: Dragons of Faerûn
- F&P¹: Faiths and Pantheons
- FRCS¹: Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting
- LEF or LEoF: Lost Empires of Faerûn
- LoD¹: Lords of Darkness
- MaF or MaFR¹: Magic of Faerûn
- MoF or MoFR¹: Monsters of Faerûn
- MoM or MotM: Mysteries of the Moon Sea
- PGtF or PGFR: Player's Guide to Faerûn
- PoF: Power of Faerûn
- RoF or RaFR¹: Races of Faerûn
- SK: Serpent Kingdoms
- SM¹: Silver Marches
- UE¹: Unapproachable East
- UND: Underdark

DL (DragonLance) Books
- AoM: Age of Mortals
- BoK: Bestiary of Krynn
- DLCS: DragonLance Campaign Setting
- THoS or THS: Towers of High Sorcery
- WotL: War of the Lance

Adventures
- RttToEE or RToEE¹: Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil. A very large adventure for 3.0 that is a sequel to a famous AD&D adventure.

D&D Books not yet published:
4E

D&D Versions:
- 1e: Usually the first edition of AD&D
- 2e: The second edition of AD&D.
- 2.5e: Term sometimes used to indicate AD&D games that used the later rules supplements (“Skills and Powers,” “Combat and Tactics,” “Spells and Magic,” etc.).
- 3.0 or 3e: Third edition or original d20 D&D.
- 3.5: The revised version of 3e or original d20 D&D.
- 3.x: Refers to 3rd edition and 3.5/original d20 D&D collectively.
- 4E: Fourth edition D&D, system apparently based of the original d20 system from 3.x but subtantially updated. Core books to be released June 2008.
- AD&D: Advanced Dungeons and Dragons; official name for editions that preceded 3rd edition but after the original D&D. The "A" was dropped for 3rd because it seemed superfluous and was thought to potentially confuse or intimidate new players (as in, if there's an Advanced version, where do I find the basic version?)
- D&D: Dungeons and Dragons. Can refer to all versions of the RPG inclusive, or to the d20 version specifically. Each version has its proponents and detractors; arguments over the “superiority” of one version over the others is a hot button issue.
- OD&D: Original (or "Old") Dungeons and Dragons. First version of the game. Properly called Dungeons and Dragons, but OD&D keeps it from being confused with 3.0/3.5.

D&D Terms:
- AC: Armor Class
- AMF: Anti-Magic Field
- AoE: Area of Effect*; can refer to the area affected by a spell, or as a generic designator for spells (especially damaging spells) that affect an area rather than a single target (ie. fireball's AoE is a 20ft radius; fireball is an AoE spell)
- AoO: Attack of Opportunity
- atk: Attack
- BAB: Base Attack Bonus
- BBEG: Big Bad Evil Guy. The main (or at least a very major) villain in a campaign. Xykon from the OotS comic would be an example of a BBEG.
- Bbn: Barbarian
- Bg or bg: Background, particularly a write-up of one for a character.
- Brd: Bard
- CdG: Coup de Grace
- CE: Chaotic Evil
- CG: Chaotic Good
- Cha: Charisma
- Clr: Cleric. Also sometimes seen as Cle.
- CLW: Cure Light Wounds. A basic healing spell.
- CMW: Cure Moderate Wounds. A basic healing spell.
- CN: Chaotic Neutral
- Con: Constitution
- cp: Copper pieces (Saying “Just my 2cp” is analogous to saying “Just my two cents.”)
- CR: Challenge Rating
- CSW: Cure Serious Wounds. A strong healing spell.
- DC: Difficulty Class
- Dex: Dexterity
- DM: Dungeon Master
- dmg: Damage. Usually the amount an attack or spell deals, or the amount taken by a creature.
- DoT: Damage over Time*; refers to effects that do damage over several rounds, or as a generic designator for a spell that deals damage over several round (eg. Melf's acid arrow is a DoT spell)
- DR: Damage Reduction
- Drd: Druid
- DvR: Divine Rank
- ECL: Effective Character Level
- EL: Encounter Level
- Fort: Fortitude Save
- Ftr: Fighter
- GP: Gold pieces
- HP: Hit Points
- Int: Intelligence
- IOTSOV: Initiate of the Seven Veils. A PrC from CAr. An abjuration specialist that can set up different warding "veils" keyed to seven colors of the rainbow.
- LA: Level Adjustment
- LE: Lawful Evil
- LG: Lawful Good
- LN: Lawful Neutral
- MAD: Multiple Attribute/Ability Dependency. In 3.0, refers to psionic casting, in which the ability score connected to manifesting a power changed depending on the discipline of the power. For example, metacreative powers were based off of Int, while telepathic powers were based off of Cha. In 3.5, refers to a group of caster classes that base different casting modifiers off different attributes. For example, the spirit shaman bases bonus spells per day off of Wis but spell DC off of Cha. Also occasionally used in reference to classes that are felt to require several above average ability scores to be effective, such as the monk.
- Mnk: Monk
- N, NN, or TN: Neutral, or True Neutral. Neutral on both alignment axes.
- NE: Neutral Evil
- NG: Neutral Good
- Pal: Paladin
- PaO: Polymorph Any Object. A sor/wiz spell that can turn one thing into another; considered to be very powerful and/or broken.
- PBS: Point Blank Shot
- pp: Platinum pieces
- PP: Power points
- PrC: Prestige Class
- Psi: Psion
- PvE: Player versus Environment.* Refers to when the players combat NPC opponents primarily. Compare PvP.
- PvP: Player versus Player.* Refers to when the players combat other players. Compare PvE.
- PW: Psychic Warrior
- RAW: Rules as Written
- Ref: Reflex Save
- Rgr: Ranger
- Rog: Rogue
- SK: Soulknife
- Sor: Sorcerer
- SP: Silver pieces
- SR: Spell Resistance
- Stats: The statistical representation of a character, or more specifically a set of ability scores.
- Str: Strength
- THAC0: To Hit AC Zero. A pre-3/3.5 term that refers to how the probability of a creature hitting its target with an attack was figured. In this case, each class granted a base To Hit number, modified by Str or Dex depending on the attack type, magic, and other factors. Then it has the AC of the target subtracted from it to determine the actual To Hit number for a specific AC. The attacker has to roll higher than the final number. AC 0 does not modify the final To Hit number, so it is easy to use this number to figure other To Hit numbers from THAC0. THAC0 is roughly analagous to BAB.
- TPK: Total Party Kill
- TWF: Two-Weapon Fighting
- UMD: Use Magic Device
- WBL: Wealth by level (guidelines). Refers to a chart in the DMG listing the approximate value of gear and treasure a character is assumed/expected to have by a certain character level.
- Will: Will, or Willpower, Save
- Wis: Wisdom
- Wiz: Wizard
- Wld: Wilder
- XP: Experience Points

*These terms are most often associated with and used regarding MMORPGs, but have begun to cross over into tabletop terminology.

Dice:
- d[X]: A die of [X] sides; for example, a 20 sided die is d20. A standard set of polyhedral dice contains a d4, one to three d6s, a d8, two d10s (one usually a different color or numbered 00-90 for use as a d%), a d12, and a d20. Typical non-standard types include the d16, d24, and d32. Unusual variants such as the d5 and d7 also known to exist. With the advent of dice rolling software, [X] can potentially be any whole number. Commonly encountered but unusual dice types listed below.
- d2: Two sided die, usually "rolled" by either flipping a coin or using a d4 and counting a 3 as a 1 and a 4 as a 2.
- d3: Three sided die, rolled similarly to a d2, but in this case with a d6 (4 becomes 1, 5 becomes 2, 6 becomes 3). Some examples of "true" d3s do exist.
- d% or d100: One hundred sided die. Some actual d100s exist, but usually rolled using two d10s of different colors (one as the 10s the other as the 1s). By convention, double 0 is 100. d% sometimes also refers to a d10 numbered by 10s (00-90) specifically for rolling these checks. A triple zero result with this die is 100.

Other Gaming Related:
- CCG: Collectible Card Game
- CoC: Call of Cthulhu, refers to any version of the game.
- CoCd20: Call of Cthulhu d20
- d20M: d20 Modern. d20F refers to the d20 Future supplement, and games utilizing it.
- FASA: Fredonian Aeronautics and Space Administration. The company that originally published BattleTech and Shadowrun, among other RPG, miniature, and board games. The name is a joke referencing a made up country featured in Marx Brothers’ skits. Most of their best known licenses have been acquired by WizKids, who has licensed Catalyst Games (previously they were with FanPro) to publish a few of them, specifically Shadowrun and Classic BattleTech.
- FLGS: Friendly Local Gaming Store
- FRPG: Fantasy Role-Playing Game. Perhaps the most common genre of RPG.
- GM: Game Master
- GSL: Game Systems License. The successor to OGL for 4th Edition D&D. Full details not yet released.
- IK: Iron Kingdoms. A d20 FRPG (the ruleset is a highly variant version of D&D 3.5) published by Privateer Press and set in the same world as that company's Warmachine miniatures game.
- L5R: Legend of the Five Rings. Often used to refer to the series of games and novels set in the oriental fantasy world of Rokugan, but can also mean a specific game, depending on context.
- L5RCCG: Refers to the card game that originated the L5R series
- L5Rd10: The original L5R RPG.
- L5Rd20: The newer version of the L5R RPG, originally found in OA. Greatly disliked by those who prefer the d10 version; the feeling of L5Rd20 players is generally mutual. A hot button issue.
- LGS: Local Gaming Store; same as FLGS, except most commonly used to indicate stores that aren't as friendly or well liked (ie, "I buy from Amazon instead of my LGS because they charge more and often don't have what I'm looking for. Plus, the owner is a jerk.")
- Mini: Plural minis; a miniature figurine representing a character or unit, or a game that specifically focuses on combat using minis (as opposed to a RPG that uses minis in combat, but does not focus on them primarily). Also a synonym for miniatures wargaming.
- M:tG: Magic: The Gathering
- nWoD: New World of Darkness. A major revision of WW's main line of horror RPGs. Includes Vampire: the Requiem, Werewolf: the Forsaken, and Mage: the Awakening.
- OGC: Open Gaming Content. Material published under the OGL.
- OGL: Open Gaming License. An "open source" concept for d20 rules that allows them to be used and published by third party sources. Not all d20 material is OGL; generally, only hard stats are OGL, and occasionally not even that for certain products.
- oWoD: Old (or Original) World of Darkness. Original version of WW's signature line of RPGs. The main products included Vampire: the Masquerade, Werewolf: the Apocalypse, Hunter: the Reckoning, Mage: the Ascension, and Changeling: the Dreaming.
- RPG: Roleplaying Game
- RPGA: Roleplaying Games Association. Nationwide group run by WotC to organize and run ongoing shared campaign worlds, especially at conventions.
- SR: ShadowRun. A cyberpunk/fantasy RPG originally created by FASA, now owned by WizKids and published by FanPro Catalyst Games.
- SR3: ShadowRun 3rd Edition, the last edition published by FASA. Recently replaced as the most current by SR4.
- SR4: Refers to ShadowRun 4th Edition, the recently released current version of the game.
- SRD: System Reference Document. The SRD refers to the 3.x D&D SRD; other SRDs prefixed by the name of the game (ie. d20M SRD, aka MSRD).
- SWd20: Star Wars d20 from WotC.
- SWd6 or WEGSW: The original SWRPG version published by WEG. As with L5R, players of one version of the SWRPG usually dislike the other version to some degree. Also a hot button issue.
- SWRPG: Star Wars Roleplaying Game, refers to any version.
- SWS or SWSaga: Star Wars Saga edition. Uses 4E type ruleset.
- TCG: Trading Card Game; generally understood as a synonym for CCG
- TSR: Tactical Studies Rules. Original publishers of D&D, purchased by and absorbed into WotC.
- V:tM: Vampire: the Masquerade
- V:DA: Vampire: Dark Ages
- V:tR: Vampire: the Requiem
- W:tA: Werewolf: the Apocalypse. Usually seen simply as Werewolf.
- W:tF: Werewolf: the Forsaken; considered amusing due to closeness to a profane Internet abbreviation
- WEG: West End Games. Published the version of Star Wars RPG that preceded SWd20.
- WH or WHF: Warhammer Fantasy, a popular game setting created by Games Workshop. Known for being especially dark and gothic in style. Primarily known for the Warhammer Fantasy Battles (WHFB) miniatures game; when one refers to WHF, it is often assumed to be a reference to the miniatures game. There is also an RPG, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplaying Game (WHFRP or WHFRPG), associated with the setting.
- WH40k: Warhammer 40,000, a science-fantasy miniatures game published by Game Workshop sharing many themes and some backstory with WHF. Also noted for its dark, gritty, and gothic themes. Associated with the popular Dawn of War (DoW) real-time strategy computer game series.
- WoD: World of Darkness. The shared universe of most WW games. Sometimes referred to pejoratively as Monster: the Angst or Monster: the Something, playing off the names of the games in this line. Uses the Storyteller rules (a d10 based system).
- WotC: Wizards of Wizards of the Coast, publishers of D&D and other d20 games, plus a little card game called Magic: the Gathering, among other things.
- WW: White Wolf, publishers of the World of Darkness or Storyteller games and Exalted.

Giant in the Playground Forum & General Internet:
(Note: Most internet abbreviations can appear without capitalization, or with alternate capitalization, and mean the same thing.)
- 5FS: Five Foot Steps. Rich’s other comic, appeared in the RPGA newsletter.
- AFK*: Away from keyboard. Can be used like BRB, or when one expects to be gone longer
- ATM: At the Moment
- B*: Back. Used after BRB. Rarely used, especially on a message board, also seen as BAK (Back At Keyboard) occasionally, especially after AFK.
- BBIAB*: Be back in a bit. Used like BRB, but when you expect to be gone longer.
- BBL*: Be back later. Used like BRB, but when you expect to be gone longer. Can be used in place of BBIAB, or for an even longer period of absence.
- BG: Blue Guy or Blue Gal, a character who followed the OotS around in order to execute them for supposed crimes. Later comics revealed her name to be Miko, rendering this term defunct.
- BRB*: Be right back. Rarely used on a message board.
- BTW:By the way
- EOM*: End of message. Usually used to indicate the end of a message that exceeded the maximum characters allowed by a chat or instant message program for a single send.
- FB: Friendly Banter
- FTW! or FTW: For the win! It basically is used to say &quot;that one is the best!&quot; Probably derives from the game show “Hollywood Squares,” which is essentially a game of tic-tac-toe. A celebrity in a booth (there’s a stack of them set up like a tic-tac-toe board) states a “fact,” which the player agrees or disagrees with, depending on if they think the fact was true or not. If the player guesses correctly, they get the square. If the player was about to get a win (three in a row/column/diagonal), they would say "<celebrity's name> for the win!"
- FTL: 1. Faster Than Light. Refers to anything - but usually modes of travel, communication, or detection - that operates at greater than light speed, either in actual fact or from the reference point of a theoretical observer. Commonly used in science fiction/fantasy. 2. For the lose. The opposite of FTW.
- FUBAR: Fracked Up Beyond All (or Any) Recognition. Originates with military usage. When things have gotten completely out of control. Can be used as a verb or adverb. Compare SNAFU.
- FWIW: For what it’s worth
- FYI: For your information. Usually not used in the sarcastic or defensive manner the full phrase is, but to alert the person its directed at to a piece of important information they might otherwise be unaware of.
- GitP: Giant in the Playground. Also sometimes refers to Rich Burlew, the Giant himself.
- GK: Gorbash Kazdar, a moderator on the forum.
- GW: Grey Watcher, a moderator on the forum.
- IC: In Character. Anything said in a PbP in the manner your character would say it. Also the Play board.
- IIRC: If I Recall Correctly
- IMHO: In My Humble Opinion. Occasionally IM(NS)HO (In My (Not So) Humble Opinion), or IMO (In My Opinion).
- IRC: Internet Relay Chat. A venerable real-time chat protocol that is non-proprietary and can be accessed by a number of client programs.
- L: Laugh. Displays mirth at something mildly amusing. Rare.
- LG: Linear Guild, the OotS’s nemeses.
- LOL: Laugh out loud. Displays mirth at something amusing to the poster. Most common variant.
- MitD: Monster in the Darkness. Refers to the enigmatic and child-like monster that serves Xykon and Redcloak in the OotS comic. So called because it has thus far spent the entire comic lurking in the shadows.
- MMORPG: Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game. Refers to a type of computer game in which you connect to an online, persistent world and play a character in that world. These games usually have a monthly fee. These games include Everquest (EQ), Everquest 2 (EQ2), World of Warcraft (WoW), Star Wars Galaxies (SWG), Guild Wars, and numerous others.
- Mod: Moderator
- NSFW: Not Safe for Work. Refers to a site with content one would not want on screen at work (generally adult content). Indicates a basic level of acceptability; NSFW content is not safe for any generally public venue, not just a place of work, and is also generally used to indicate content not acceptable to be viewed by minors.
- OOC: Out of Character; anything said in a PbP that is not in character. Also the Finding Players board.
- OotS: Order of the Stick, the GitP comic and the group featured in it.
- OP: Original poster. Refers to the person who started a particular thread.
- OTOH: On the other hand
- PbP: Play-by-Post, or an RPG game run on the forum.
- PEACH: Please Examine And Comment Honestly. A request usually seen attached to posts presenting original gaming content requesting constructive feedback and criticism.
- Pics: Pictures. Sometimes used to mean photographs specifically, but can apply to any image.
- PM: Private Message. A mail function that allows users of the forum to send each other info without posting it for all to see. At the top left is a link that tells you how many messages you have, clicking it bring up your PM mailbox.
- ppl*: People
- QFT: Quoted For Truth. Placed after a selection of quoted text to indicate the poster agrees with and wishes to emphasize the information in the quote.
- ROFL: Rolling on the floor laughing. Displays a great deal of amusement.
- ROFLMAO: Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off. Displays a great deal of amusement, strongest variant.
- Simul-Post or Simu-Post: Simultaneous post. Refers to when two people post at essentially the same time, especially when they say more or less the same thing. One or both of the posters then usually edit their post to say something to the effect of "oh, simul-posted."
- SMBG: Silly Message Board Games. Both the forum and the game threads in it.
- SNAFU: Situation Normal, All Fracked Up. Originates with military usage. Used to describe the usual level of chaos, confusion, or general stupidity found in many situations. Implication is that whatever problems are currently occurring are not major or beyond the norm and require no special attention. Compare FUBAR.
- Thx*: Thanks
- TTYL*: Talk to you later. A way of saying good-bye.
- ty*: Thank you
- UBB: Universal Bulletin Board code; the code used for formatting posts. Most forum software recognizes the same basic formatting codes and code structure, which is itself based off HTML code.
- V: Vaarsuvius, one of the characters in the OotS comic.
- vB: vBulletin, the forum software currently used by the GitP forums.
- wb*: Welcome back. Used when someone comes back from a BRB (or variant) or AFK.
- wtf: Put in board appropriate euphemism, "what the frack?"
- YaBB: Yet Another Bulletin Board, the previous forum software used by the GitP forums.
- YMMV: Your Mileage May Vary (as in ‘this is what happened for me, you may get different results’)
- yw*: You’re welcome

* Usually used in a chat or instant message; most of these should not be used on the boards normally.

[Gorbash Kazdar]

Terminology

D&D Books:
- Class Book: A book that focuses on one or two classes, or a specific class archetype. 3.5 class books are CW, CD, CAr, CAd, CP, CM, CS, CC; 3.0 class books were S&F, DotF, T&B, MotW.
- Heroes Book: A series of splat books designed to provide additional rules and tips for running specific iconic campaign types (eg. war campaigns, horror compaigns). Includes HoB and HoH.
- Environment Book: A series of splat books on specific types of environments to set adventures in. Currently includes Frostburn (arctic), Sandstorm (desert), Stormwrack (oceanic & underwater), Cityscape (urban), and Dungeonscape (underground & dungeon).
- Monster Book: A splat book series focussing on a particular variety of well-known or oft encountered monsters. Includes Draconomicon (dragons), Libris Mortis (undead), Lords of Madness (aberrations) (aka Codex Anathema), Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss (demons), Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells (devils), and Drow of the Underdark.
- Race Book: A series in which each book focuses on a few connected core races, as well as introducing and detailing a new playable race. Includes RoS, RoD, RotW, and RotD. RoE is in the style of this series, but specific to Eberron. RoF contains similar material for FR, but is in a different format and style, and thus not really a part of this series.
- Splat Book: Any non-core book that introduces new rule material, aka a rules supplement. Comes from the practice of companies using an asterisk (*, or splat) to designate supplements in their product catalogs.

Gaming:
- Bag'o'rats: A trick where a D&D 3.x character with Great Cleave empties a bag of rats in order create a situation where the character gets more attacks on a foe. The original 3rd edition version combined this with Whirlwind Attack to get multiple attacks on a single foe at the highest base attack bonus; 3.5 changed it so one could not cleave during a whirlwind attack. In 3.5, the trick keys off getting an attack of opportunity when a rat moves to get an extra attack on the opponent. It is assumed that the character would deal enough damage even on a lowest roll to kill the rat, and that the character would only miss the rat on a 1.
- Batman Mage: Refers to the fact that mages, and specifically wizards, are generally seen as the most powerful mid-to-late game class in D&D 3.5 if properly built and played. Sometimes seen in other systems where caster type characters have similar capabilities. Named for DC superhero Batman, whose superpower is apparently being better at contingency planning than anyone or anything else, implying that a properly prepared wizard is unbeatable. Batman Wizards tend to follow a specific build that differentiates them from Blaster wizards by eschewing direct damage spells. Compare CoDzilla.
- Blaster: 1. A caster build (in D&D 3.5 usually a sorcerer or wizard) focusing on direct damage spells. Sometimes called an artillery mage. Generally seen as the most basic caster build. Compare Batman Mage. 2. The standard sidearm in Star Wars, also used as a generic term for any energy weapon that fires distinct bolts.
- Bones: Synonym for dice, stems from the time when dice were actuall made of bone. Most modern dice are made of high-impact plastics, but some made of wood, bone, or semi-precious or even precious stone can still be found.
- Breaking a character/game/build: Using a rules loophole or arcane (as in complex) build to make a character that is far more powerful than is expected, to the point of unbalancing - “breaking” - the game.
- Broken: An ability, spell, class, or other rule that appears to be capable of “breaking” a game with little or no special effort. Occasionally something that is unbalanced by being too weak may also be referred to as “broken.” Refers both to “breaking a(n) X” as above, and also that the subject in and of itself does not function as it should.
- Cheese: Describes an ability, spell, class, or other rule thought to be problematic in some manner. Sometimes used as a synonym for broken, more often refers to a build or rule that makes a character very powerful but not quite broken (eg. spiked chain cheese, divine meta-cheese), especially if the particular build becomes a dominant option for a particular class. Also often applied if the subject is considered absurd or ridiculous - ie. cheesy. For example, double weapons may be considered cheese as they are statistically sound but realistically improbable or impossible. May also refer to stereotypical fluff or backstory.
- CoDzilla: Cleric-or-Druid-zilla. Refers to the fact that most D&D players view the cleric and druid as the most easily "breakable" base classes in D&D 3.5. The zilla ending is a reference to the infamous Japanese movie monster that flattened Tokyo several times, implying that a properly min/maxed cleric or druid can cause destruction on a similar scale. Compare Batman Mage.
- Crunch: Game rules and statistical information found in a publication, sometimes called "hard" information. The term is used in contrast to fluff. Can be used as an adjective (eg. "CW is a rather crunchy book"). Less common than fluff.
- Errata: Corrections to published material, usually found on the website of the company that printed the material in question.
- Fudge: When a DM changes the results of a die roll because the actual results were not satisfactory. It's cheating when a player does it, and usually only acceptable for the DM to fudge in the player's favor, or to make the story more interesting without causing any real detriment to the PCs. Often looked down on, but also recognized as a useful DM tool. Excessive fudging is seen as bad form, though.
- Fluff: Non-rule or statistical information found in a publication, most often backstory, flavor text, or descriptive text. Sometimes called "soft" material. Likely stems from view that this material is used to "fluff out" a publication, or in comparison to "marshmallow fluff" - that is, without much substance but nice to have. Rarely used as an adjective (eg. "S:CoT has a lot of fluff" instead of "S:CoT is rather fluffy").
- Gestalt: An optional ruleset from UA that allows characters to advance in two classes simultaneously, taking the best features of each class at each level.
- Gish: A fighter/wizard multiclass character, specifically one capable of casting higher level spells and surviving melee combat. May also be broadened to refer to any combination of warrior/arcane (or psionic caster) classes. Hybrid classes such as bards, duskblades, hexblades, and psychic warriors are generally not considered examples (multiclass characters only). Originates from the term for a Githyanki war wizard (in 2e, a fighter/wizard or rogue/wizard).
- Go Nova: Refers to the tactic of a caster with limited resources exhausting those resources in a single encounter or short period of time to produce powerful effects at the expense of endurance, especially if the caster is essentially helpless/useless afterwards. In D&D 3.x, psionic casters are especially good at this as all of their powers are scalable.
- Golfball: Derogatory name for an actual one hundred sided die, since it does in fact look remarkably like a golfball. Very rare.
- Grognard: An older gamer, especially a wargamer, often one who is somewhat cantankerous and feels that the “old days” of gaming were better. Also often in possession of a story or anecdote from personal experience for every occasion, many of them amusing.
- Grok: To understand. Comes from Robert Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land, and is a Martian word meaning literally “to drink,” but is really a metaphor to “fully take in” or “be one with.” Used by gamers and on the Internet to indicate either having a complete understanding of something, or as a synonym for “digging” or being into something. Usually associated with older gamers or computer/Internet aficionados, becoming rather rare.
- Hack and slash, or hack'n'slash: Gaming that focuses on killing creatures and taking their stuff; sometimes a synonym for roll-playing. Someone who does this is a hack and slasher (hack'n'slasher).
- Homebrew: A class, feat, skill, PrC, campaign setting, rule, or other piece of game material created for personal use (generally not for profit, at least initially). As in “brewed it up at home.” Term often also implies to a certain degree that the product may be somewhat unusual in nature. Some homebrew products may equal (or, depending on opinion, exceed) professionally produced material, but many are viewed as lower quality.
- House rule: A rule modification used by a group in their campaign, as opposed to the RAW. Rule questions are generally answered assuming no house rules, unless they are specifically stated to be in effect. Often, though, this will lead to analysis and questioning of the house rule.
- Metagame: Using information you know as a player, but is unknown to your character, in order to make decisions for your character. More simply, using OOC knowledge to make IC decisions. Such knowledge is usually called “metagame knowledge.”
- Min/Maxing*: The practice of attempting to derive the maximum benefit for the minimum penalty. Oft times looked down upon as power gaming or munchkinism, but in most cases is merely attempting to build the best character given a certain set of stats and other restrictions. Usually does not attempt to exploit rules loopholes intentionally. Someone who does this is a “min/maxer.”
- Munchkin*: Sometimes a synonym for power gaming, especially when the desire for power overrides all other concerns and is a detriment to the game, more often refers to someone who has the same goals as a power gamer but violates or ignores rules in order to achieve his goals. Also someone who ignores issues of suspension of disbelief, ability to fit into a campaign in a role-play sense, and common sense in their quest for power in game. Can also refer to the process of doing things the way a munchkin would. Munchkinism refers to the mindset that leads to this, or the practice itself.
- Nerf: A verb, means to weaken something in the game by changing the rules in some way. As in, “they nerfed haste for 3.5.” Comes from the Nerf toys that fired foam arrows, darts, or other projectiles, implying that the new version has a relationship with the old version similar to that between a real arrow and a Nerf dart.
- Oberoni Fallacy: The statement that there are no problematic or broken rules, as any identified as such can simply be corrected by application of Rule 0. A fallacy as having another overarching rule allowing for corrective action to be taken does not mean that there were not problems in the first place. Formally identified as a logical fallacy by WotC forum member Oberoni.
- Optimizer: 1. A poster on WotC's Character Optimization boards. 2. A synonym for the given definition of min/maxer. Has generally replaced that term as it is less pejorative.
- Power Gaming*: Varying definitions, but usually refers to attempting to “break” certain aspects of the game in the player’s favor. Also, the intent to gather as much power in game as possible, sometimes to the detriment of the campaign. Someone who does this a “power gamer.” Differs from munchkinism in that a power gamer nominally still works within the system's rules, though they often exploit loopholes and questionable rule interpretations. Sometimes used as a synonym for the given definition of “min/maxing,” and other times as a synonym for “munchkin.”
- Pun-Pun: A specific kobold character build that can get essentially infinitely high ability scores in any ability, just about any special ability, and more. Considered the most powerful character possible within the constraints of the D&D 3.5 system. More here.
- Roll-playing: Gaming that focuses on the statistical capabilities and features of characters and the game itself. Often used pejoratively; play on “role-play” and “die rolls” (as in, the players always roll dice to resolve situations rather than role playing them). Someone who does this called a roll-player.
- Rule 0: The concept that the DM or GM of a game has final say in rules disputes, and has the authority to change game rules. Sometimes used to defend unfair behavior on the part of a DM. Originally specific to 3e D&D, which explicitly identified this concept by name in the DMG, but has since expanded to be used for any game, though still primarily brought up in discussions of d20 games.
- Source Material: The original film, story, or television show an RPG is based off of. For example, CoC is based off of the horror stories of H.P. Lovecraft, while SWRPG is naturally based off the Star Wars films, novels, comic books, and other material connected to that universe.
- Stormwind Fallacy: The statement that optimization (specifically character optimization) and roleplaying are mutually exclusive. Formally identified as a logical fallacy by WotC forum member Tempest Stormwind.
- Twink: To min/max a character to an extreme degree, often synonymous with power gaming or munchkinism. Can also be used as a noun to describe either the person doing the twinking, or the character that is being twinked. Derogatory.

* This is a generalized definition. Depending on the person using it or reading it, these terms can mean very different things. Some view min/maxing, power gaming, and munchkinism as all one and the same, others consider power gaming to more closely match the definition of min/maxing, though potentially to a more involved degree. The meaning and use of these words can be a hot button issue.

Giant in the Playground and Internet:
- *action*: A method of indicating physical action via typed text. For example, *wink*. Common shortened versions include *g* for grin, *eg* for evil grin. Sometimes seen as ::action::.
- Antibanjoists: A group of posters opposed to Banjoism (see below). Somewhat less organized than the Banjoists. Antibanjoism is simply the attitude of disliking Banjoists, rather than any sort of philosophy. Apparently defunct.
- Banjoism: A cult-like movement on the forums based around reverance of Banjo, the hand-puppert deity ivented in the OotS comic by Elan in a (mostly) unsuccessful attempt to gain clerical powers. A follower of Banjoism is called a Banjoist. Something of a role-playing exercise and inside joke. Apparently defunct.
- Bump: The practice of “bumping” an old thread to the top of the forum by adding a post, specifically one with no actual new content (the post often simply reads “bump”), usually by the thread’s author. Bumping is considered to be bad form on these forums.
- Catgirls: A running meme on the forums suggests that whenever someone brings up real world physics in a discussion of magic (particularly magic in an FRPG) or science fantasy "technology," a catgirl is killed. The statement "please, think of the catgirls!" is meant to deter such discussions from starting in the first place.
- Conspiracy, the: [CLASSIFIED]
- Dead thread: A thread that has not had replies added to it in at least several days, usually a week or more, depending on the forum it is in. In slower forums, such as Features, a thread can still be considered “alive” even if no new replies have been added in quite some time. In more active forums, a thread can be considered “dead” much sooner.
- Feud, the: The 'secret' plot to do something to the poster BlackFox for some reason no one seems to really recall. Other similar conflicts exist(ed), always identified by a specific synonym for feud or conflict posted in a specific color.
- Forum Rules: The rules you have to abide by in order to post by on these forums. Can be found here. Some specific boards, especially Community World Building, Contests, and SMBG, have additional rules particular to themselves.
- Lurking: Reading a message board regularly but rarely, if ever, contributing to the discussion by actually posting. Someone who does this is a lurker.
- me love thog: Loose organization of fans of Thog from the OotS comic. Most display a variation of me love thog in their signatures.
- Ninja'd: When several posters reply to a question or comment with the same answer in a short period of time, all posters after the first are said to have been ninja'd. See simul-ninja.
- OotSatar: A forum avatar image in the style of the OotS comic.
- Peeps: People. Also, a kind of marshmallow covered with yellow sugar and shaped like a baby chick.
- Simu-ninja or simul-ninja: The person whose post shows up first in a simul-post situation. Orginated by Sneak. Specific term chosen because ninjas are sneaky bastards.
- Spam: Posting repeated, off-topic, usually innocuous or nonsensical comments to a thread that overwhelm and eventually derail that thread. These posts are referred to as “spam,” and someone who posts spam often is called a “spammer.” The latter term is also extremely derogatory and insulting, especially when used to describe someone who is not in fact spamming, as it essentially means that the poster finds that someone’s posts to no better than spam.
- Staff Forums: A rumored and legendary set of boards only accessible to Website Staff, such as mods. The existence of such has long been rumored or suspected, but never truly confirmed or denied.
- Threadomancy or thread necromancy: The practice of reviving “dead” threads, especially very old ones, and especially if no new content is added when the thread is revived, and often when the main argument or discourse of the thread has been more or less resolved. Differs from bumping mainly in the age of the thread, and that the person doing it is often not the thread’s author. Someone who does this (especially on a regular basis) is a threadomancer or thread necromancer.
- Town, the: A persistent shared world PbP for freestyle roleplay by members of the GitP forums. Please check here for more rules and information.
- Townie: A poster who primarily spends their time in the Town section of the message board. Alternatively, anyone who is very active in that forum.
- <X>-atar: An OotSatar made by a specific avatar artist (Losator, for example, for an avatar made by Losar). Refers to an OotS style avatar not drawn by Rich. Originated as Veeratar, for Veera, the first forum user to manage to duplicate the OotS style and offer custom made avatars upon request.

[hr]
This thread was inspired by a previous thread cataloging terms that needed to be defined for new users, and many of the definitions and terms were either taken from or inspired by the ones found there. That thread has been locked since this thread was started, but be sure to recognize everyone who helped out there! :smallgrin:

Also, check out TROLLBILL’S UNOFFICIAL DICTIONARY OF COMMON D&D MESSAGE BOARD TERMINOLOGY, found on the WotC forums. I didn't take any entries directly from his work, but some of mine were inspired by ones found there (though I usually tried to expand upon them).

[Mad_Max]

I was wondering what some of the abbreviations ment. Thanks Gorbash.

[geek_2049]

kool i was thinking of starting a thread similar to this one. Two I did not know were iirc and SRD but I have the phb so srd was not so important. I did not start the thread cause I figuered out iirc was if i recall correctly, though it took me 2 days to figure it out. in retrospect i guess i could have just looked it up online like i for did srd.

off topic question... is srd identical to phb or is there any errata in it for the core stuff, not like epic sections or any such thing?

[Caelestion]

CAd or CA: Complete Arcane

I would have thought that that would have been &quot;CA or CArc&quot;. There's no D in Arcane!

Cael.

[AtomicKitKat]

I would have thought that that would have been &quot;CA or CArc&quot;. There's no D in Arcane!

Cael.

CAd should probably refer to Complete Adventurer.

Adventurer - CAd/CV/CAdv
Arcane - CArc/CAM(Arcane Magic?)

[Norhg]

Never seen CAM
CArc/CAr/CompMageguy/Ca
Is what I have seen for Complete Arcane

Where do you place Divine Rank?
Dr =! DR?

[Gorbash Kazdar]

I transposed Complete Adventurer and Complete Arcane. My bad.

I haven't ever really seen Divine Rank abbreviated in a discussion, particularly since DR is the official abbreviated form of Damage Reduction.

[Zherog]

D&amp;D Books:
&lt;&lt;snippage&gt;&gt;
- CAd or CA: Complete Arcane

Like the others, I've never seen CAd for Complete Arcane, though I have seen it used for Complete Adventurer. I've seen CA and CArc for Complete Arcane, though.

- A&amp;E: Arms and Equipment

I've also seen A&amp;EG and AEG for this book. Also also, the title of the book is Arms and Equipment Guide. ;)

Some books you're missing:

LM = Libris Mortis
PGtF = Player's Guide to Faerun
CotSQ = City of the Spider Queen
RttToEE = Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil
MH or Mini = Miniatures Handbook

And I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if there's still more.

D&amp;D Versions
&lt;&lt;snippage&gt;&gt;

You missed OD&amp;D, which refers to the White Book game that was originally released.

D&amp;D Terms:
&lt;&lt;snippage&gt;&gt;

- BaB: Base Attack Bonus

I've honestly always seen this one with a capital A - BAB.

Two other terms I've seen often - on other boards if not here:

EL = Encounter Level
MAD = Multiple Attribute Dependency

Some others that may be painfully obvious, but that I've seen people ask about on other message boards:

d2 = 2 sided die; you can acquire this number multiple ways, including flipping a coin, rolling a die and doing odd/even, rolling a die and dividing by 2, etc

d3 = 2 sided die; you can acquire this multiple ways by rolling a d6; either 1-2 = 1, 3-4 = 2, 5-6 = 3; or 1 and 4 = 1, 2 and 5 = 2, 3 and 6 = 3; or probably a few other ways. You can by 3-sided dice in 2 varieties. One is a d6 with the numbers 1,2,3 on it twice each; the other is a 3-sided prism with rounded edges.

d% or d100 - percenatage dice; Roll 2 10 sided dice; one die represents the 10's digit, the other represents the ones digit. So, for example, rolling a 7 on the first die and a 3 on the second die equals 73. rolling two zeroes typically equals 100.

I'm sure there's more - I'll make new posts when I think of anything else....

[Zherog]

Yeah, some more already...

- DD: Deities and Demigods

I've also seen DDG and D&amp;DG for this bad boy.

Another book not on your list is Heroes of Horror (abbreviated HoH), which I'm fairly sure is still a future release.

[Gorbash Kazdar]

Several added. And I corrected the switch with Complete Adventurer and Complete Arcane, so quit bugging me about it! ;)

Also, I don't own the majority of the FR books, so I know I've missed the majority of them. I'll need help there.

[Zherog]

I like your footnotes for 3.0 stuff. FYI - CotSQ is also 3.0. ;)

As I recall, a lot of the FR books don't get abbreviated. But here's a few that I can recall:

UE = Unapproachable East (3.0)
RoF = Races of Faerun (3.0)
SM = Silver Marches (3.0)
LoD = Lords of Darkness (3.0)

*sigh* Alright - I'll open the product catalog, because I know I'm missing a few. I'll include non-FR books too...

CoR = Champions of Ruin (FR)
CoV = Champions of Valor (FR, coming out in November)
LEF or LEoF = Lost Empires of Faerun (FR)
SK = Serpent Kingdoms (FR)
MoF = Magic of Faerun (FR, 3.0)
MoE = Magic of Eberron (Eberron, coming out in October)
MoI = Magic of Incarnum (coming out in September)
WoL = Weapons of Legacy
BoC = Book of Challenges (3.0)
SBG = Stronghold Builders Guidebook (3.0)
F&amp;P = Faiths and Pantheons (FR, 3.0)
E&amp;A = Enemies and Allies (3.0)
OA = Oriental Adventures (3.0)
HBG = Hero Builders Guidebook (3.0)
LGG = Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (3.0)


books I've never seen abbreviated:

Waterdeep: City of Splendors (FR)
Shining South (FR)
Underdark (FR)
Stormwrack (coming out in August)
Explorer's Handbook (Eberron, co-authored by Rich)
Sandstorm
Sharn: City of Towers (Eberron)
Frostburn
Draconomicon
Ghostwalk

And I suppose while we're talking about abbreviations, we should add:

FR = Forgotten Realms ;)

And that should cover all the books. If anybody's seen abbreviations for the books I've listed without 'em, now's the time to share.

[AtomicKitKat]

Sorry to nitpick again, but why would Complete Arcane be CV?

[Gorbash Kazdar]

Mostly because I crossed the abbreviations up for Complete Arcane and Complete Adventurer the first time around, and mixed them up again the second time through.

Zherog: Check the section header for FR ;) I added the new ones you listed (I did have a couple already - OA, and WoL.

Anyone know the etymology of &quot;splat book&quot;? I'm pretty sure its from the sound the paper-back books would make when you dropped them on a table or counter, but I'd like confirmation if possible.

[Zherog]

Anyone know the etymology of &quot;splat book&quot;? I'm pretty sure its from the sound the paper-back books would make when you dropped them on a table or counter, but I'd like confirmation if possible.

From Trollbill's Dictionary of Terminology on the Wotc Boards:

Splatbook, 1: Any published, non-core, supplementary game book, especially one dedicated to a specific class, race or campaign location. 2: (considered derogatory) Any unnecessary, excessive and/or poorly designed published game supplement. Etymology: Game industry, refers to the asterisk (*), also known as a splat, sometimes used by game publishers to designate supplementary material in catalogues.

[Gorbash Kazdar]

Hrm, that makes more sense. I was misinformed, it seems.

In any case, I think I might move the link to Trollbill's dictionary into the main post, though some things are repeated.

Also, everyone, feel free to post here to ask me to define something you've seen that I haven't put into the main post.

[MrNexx]

Huh... I always figured it to come from the figurative &quot;splat&quot; as you dropped a bunch of information on the table about a single subject.

[Zherog]

The other one I've heard (I've heard the etymology from Trollbill's dictionary prior to reading it there) was that it has to do with the book titles all being similar, and using the * (splat) as a wildcard for the name. For example, &quot;Complete *&quot;

[Drudwyn]

Not precisely a technical question, but why do some use DM and some GM? Is it purely a preference thing (and if so, why?), or is there some historical reason why variation developed and was adopted.

[Wukei]

Because some GMs play stuff like Star Wars or Vampire, and are no longer a DM (dungeon master) but a GM (game master). People normally refer to me as the latter.

[Caelestion]

DM is trademarked!

Also, the abbreviation for Divine Rank is DvR.

Cael.

[Gorbash Kazdar]

As Cael said, Dungeon Master (DM) was trademarked by TSR (and now WotC), and thus can only be used legally by them (except under the auspices of the OGL). Other companies thus needed a different name for those who ran their games; Game Master (GM) was a nice, generic term that could be used by anyone. However, some companies also chose and trademarked specific names - for example, a WoD GM is officially a &quot;Storyteller&quot; (hence the name for their ruleset). Again, only White Wolf can use that term for its GMs.

Generally speaking, GM is the most general term - a DM is a type of GM, and a Storyteller is a type of GM, but a GM is not a type of DM or a type of Storyteller.

[RobbieOC]

I don't think I saw WEG (West End Games), which might be important for any of the &quot;I hate SWd20! WEG rules!&quot; crowd. It doesn't come up a lot, but everytime there is a Star Wars discussion it seems that at least one person feels the necessity to post something of that sort...

[laughingfuzzball]

I don't think I saw WEG (West End Games), which might be important for any of the &quot;I hate SWd20! WEG rules!&quot; crowd. It doesn't come up a lot, but everytime there is a Star Wars discussion it seems that at least one person feels the necessity to post something of that sort...

Try to find a copy. They're on eBay all the time for fair prices (though usually the revised version, which has better exqmples and explanations, but horrid fluff text). They both have their strengths and weaknesses, and both are about equally true to the source material, though D20 includes a lot more of the later EU which, imho, sticks out a bit from the movies and older EU.

Also:
fluff: background 'in character' text in a rule book. Also called 'fluff text'.

source material (not really a gaming term and kind of obvious, but it is used a lot): the material that a work is derived from. ie, the Star Wars movies for the SWRPGs, and HP Lovecraft's storys for Call of Cthulhu.

CoC: shorthand for Call of Cthulhu, a horror game based primarily on the works of HP Lovecraft.

[Gorbash Kazdar]

Check the entry for &quot;fluffy,&quot; LFB ;) The other two I'm adding now.

[Wally]

Perhaps you should add these to http://acronymfinder.com

[Gorbash Kazdar]

Bah, its enough work to keep this thread up. If you want to, though, go ahead.

[Winged One]

Somebody should define simu-ninja here. I know what a simu-ninja is, but I'm not very good with official definitions.

[Wukei]

Simu-ninja: One who posts first in a simultanious post.

IE:

Me (8:37 am): that's great!
Winged One (8:37 am): wow, that's cool!

I would be the simu-ninja.

[Gorbash Kazdar]

Looks good. I'll get simul-post while I'm at it.