Common Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Terms

[Gorbash Kazdar]

The meaning of IRC (not IIRC nor IC but IRC) eludes me. Perhaps someone could enlighten?
???

My best guess is that you're referring to Internet Relay Chat. It's an older open protocol for chatting online that relies on a client-to-server connection, using TCP (SSL as well in some cases). You can find out more about it here.

If it's not that... I'll need some context ;)

[Pedantic]

Well, it's been used at least three times i this thread.

http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/yabb...num=1137545925

Upon second look, it seems likely your first instinct was correct.

[nightfire8199]

what would i do without this thread?

[Gorbash Kazdar]

what would i do without this thread?

Probably be at least a little bit more confused ;)

[Qi_Chin]

There are two abbreviations I can't figure out:

BBEG and RAW. What do those mean?

Qi

[Gorbash Kazdar]

- 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.

- RAW: Rules as Written

The latter is meant to mean the most up to date version (usually including errata) of the rules for any particular system, as opposed to any house rules someone may use.

[Qi_Chin]

Thanks. I think I actually guessed something along the lines of Big Bad Evil Guy, but I wasn't sure.

Qi

[Adghar]

What exactly does (sp) or (sp?) entail? Is the original poster just indicating that he or she probably spelled a word wrong? Should you correct him or her if she makes this mark? Should you tell him or her she is correct if he or she is correct?

[Gorbash Kazdar]

(sp) or (sp?) do in fact indicate a probable spelling error on the part of the OP. (sp) is usually when the OP is certain that the word in question is incorrectly spelled, while (sp?) naturally suggests that the OP made their best attempt but remains uncertain, but they can be used interchangeably.

If the OP includes either of those in their post, and you know the correct spelling, it's usually good form to go ahead and provide it.

[Hadrian_Emrys]

The Forgotten Realms listing is missing Shining South (SS). Just a little something I noticed. :)

I really need to pick up the Fiend Folio.

[stainboy]

I've got one for you. Who or what is Pun-pun?

[Ikkitosen]

Pun-Pun is a stupidly broken build that beats all other builds - I believe it gets almost infinite stats and is based on a low-level kobold character. It's the perfect example of how the rules can be massively taken advantage of and why D&D needs a DM so much!

[NEO|Phyte]

I've got one for you. Who or what is Pun-pun?

The original Pun-pun's stat block

pun-pun
Psion 12
Small Humanoid (reptilian)
Divine Rank: Infinite
Hit Dice: 12d4 + Infinity (Infinite HP)
Initiative: Infinite
Speed: Infinite
AC: Infinite
Attacks: Infinite. pun-pun always recieves a roll of 20 on his attacks.
Damage: Infinite
Space/Reach: 5 ft. by 5ft./Infinite
Special Attacks: All
Special Qualities: All
Saves: Fortitude, Reflex, and Will at + Infinity
Abilities: All Infinite
Skills: All Skills at + Infinity
Feats: All. Those that can be taken more than once have been taken an infinite number of times.
Salient Divine Abilities: All. Those that can be taken more than once have been taken an infinite number of times.

Most overdeities do not bother with worshipers. But pun-pun remembers what it was like to be pathetic and weak like it was 6 seconds ago. So, he helps out any mortal that prays to him. Which are few, since he became a god like 6 seconds ago. He's going to give it a minute though.

Done via a damn clever Infinite loop. the thread where this horror was unleashed is right here

[TinSoldier]

What is 'Gestalt'? I've seen it a few times on this board but I don't know what it means or what books it is from.

[NEO|Phyte]

What is 'Gestalt'? I've seen it a few times on this board but I don't know what it means or what books it is from.

The SRD entry on Gestalt

In a nutshell, you level in 2 classes simultaniously, taking the better saves/BAB/Skillpoints of the 2

[Darkie]

Gestalt

Essentially, you pick two classes, and use the abilities from both.

So a Cleric/Fighter gestalt would have full BAB, full clerical casting progression, fighter bonus feats...

Picure making a new class by melding two classes and keeping the best from each source.

[TinSoldier]

Thanks, Neo|Phyte and Jeff! I've only glanced through the SRD and skimmed the PHB and DMG (the only two I have so far). I don't remember hearing the term from earlier versions.

Sounds like multiclassing from earlier versions of the game.

Just looked in the D&D Glossary and it isn't even in there.

[Shhalahr Windrider]

What's this PEACH that i've seen a few times on custom classes?

[Azrael]

I believe that it is Please Examine And Comment Honestly

[Shhalahr Windrider]

I believe that it is Please Examine And Comment Honestly

Thanks! I was beginning to wonder if anyone was going to answer. ;D

[TinSoldier]

Without going throught the entire thread...

Does '=/=' mean 'not-equal-to'? As a (wannabe) programmer I am used to the notation '!='.

[Gorbash Kazdar]

Without going throught the entire thread...

Does '=/=' mean 'not-equal-to'? As a (wannabe) programmer I am used to the notation '!='.

Yes. Not everyone is familiar with the programming notation of != (or <>), and =/= is the closest one can come in appearence to the standard not-equal sign using ASCII characters.

[Democratus]

What does it mean when someone puts "PEACH" in a thread title?

[Shhalahr Windrider]

What does it mean when someone puts "PEACH" in a thread title?

I, uh, just asked that question five posts ago.

The answer I got was "Please Examine And Comment Honestly."

[Leon]

I, uh, just asked that question five posts ago.

The answer I got was "Please Examine And Comment Honestly."

Yay, ive been wondering that too

[Jocko]

WoTC...or somethign to that effect? what does it mean??

[Shhalahr Windrider]

WoTC...or somethign to that effect? what does it mean??

Wizards of the Coast. It's the company that publishes Dungeons and Dragons. Also the origin of the "Spooky Wizard that Lives on the Coast" running gag in the comic.

[Jocko]

thanks...wow...i must be a half-orc ;)

[Brett Wong]

can someone explain to me the point buy system? im just not getting it.

[Jack Mann]

Basically, it's a way of making characters that are equally powerful. Instead of rolling the dice, where you could potentially have one character with all eighteens and another with scores barely worth keeping, each player has a number of points they can put into their abilities.

Each ability starts at eight. You have a certain number of points to place, usually somewhere from twenty-five to thirty-two.

Going from eight to fourteen is a one-to-one buy. That is, it's six points to bring it to fourteen. However, to raise it further, it costs more to continue raising the score. Raising it to fifteen costs two points, and raising it to sixteen is another two points. Seventeen is another three points, and so is eighteen. So to have a score of eighteen, you need to spend sixteen points (six up to fourteen, four up to sixteen, and six up to eighteen). It creates a roughly level playing field. Sure, you won't end up with Grog the unstoppable, but at least you won't be a powerless mook.