Common Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Terms

[geek_2049]

Now I know what the acronym PEACH means. I did not know =/= was the same as !=, but I am a lousy programmer. Is =/= in any programming language?. Shortly b4 this thread started I had thought of starting an acronym abbr thread. Its so damn useful. Iirc all my questions about abbr, acronyms were answered in the first few posts. Again my questions are answered for the most part b4 I posted here. Thanks all.

[Shhalahr Windrider]

I did not know =/= was the same as !=, but I am a lousy programmer. Is =/= in any programming language?

None that I know of. It's not on the Wikipedia list of programming relational operators either. The =/= is really a courtesy for people that don't know programming languages, as it resembles the usual "not equal to" symbol in general mathematics.

[Reltzik]

So, to summarize, =/= = !=

Er, wait. That's assignment. How about =/= == !=

THERE we go. Does that clear things up?

(Er, wait. How can it be a summary if it doesn't have a + in it?)

Oh, and to add something that's actually on topic, an acronym submission:

OP = Original Poster, the user who started the thread. Not to be confused with "Op" or "op", which is someone you really don't want to flame in IRC. I almost asked about this before figuring it out on my own.

[BelkarsDagger]

What is the definition of Effective Character Level (ECL)? I mean how does it effect game, I'm not sure which core book it's in so just telling me the page and the book would be helpful too. :)

@V oooohhh thank you!!

[Jack Mann]

Your effective character level is equal to the sum of your class levels plus any level adjustment or racial hit dice. It affects how you earn XP and rise in levels.

For example, a bugbear has three racial hit dice and a level adjustment of +1. If he's also a fighter 3, he has an ECL of seven. He counts as a level seven character. So, to level up, he needs 28,000 XP to get to the next level, just as any character would need to reach level eight.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Hey Gorbash, you can add the Expanded Psionics Handbook to the Core definition. Complete Psionic on the back cover says that the XPH is the 4th core book.


Eat your heart out psi-haters.

[bosssmiley]

Hey Gorbash, you can add the Expanded Psionics Handbook to the Core definition. Complete Psionic on the back cover says that the XPH is the 4th core book.

Eat your heart out psi-haters.

*Bah!* I'd only give that credence if the claim was made in the introduction of the XPH itself. Back cover blurbs indeed...

I see your cunning plan to inveigle psionics into the hallowed halls of the core rules Mr Vorpal Tribble, and I cry foul upon it! ;D

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Seriously, on the back cover it says:

For use with these Dungeon and Dragons core books
Player's Handbook Dungeon Master's guide Monster Manual Expanded Psionics Handbook

In plain, easy to see words.

[bosssmiley]

:o :o :o

You may well have something there...

[The Vorpal Tribble]

You may well have something there...

;D

The folks on the Wizard's psionics forums were quick to pounce on it and rub it in everyone's faces.

[Vorkosigan]

Okay. Admitted newbie question. What's this PEACH I keep seeing all over?

EDIT: Well, that WAS embarrassing. Even more so because I read the first two pages of the forum and it was never referenced. Ah, well, might as well look like a bunghole sooner than later, I s'pose.

[Shhalahr Windrider]

Okay. Admitted newbie question. What's this PEACH I keep seeing all over?

Go back to page eight and you will find the answer.

Twice.

[Rolaran]

What's a CoDzilla? I've seen people mentioning them in a few different places...

[Fhaolan]

What's a CoDzilla? I've seen people mentioning them in a few different places...

'Cleric or Druid'-zilla. I believe it's a reference to how Clerics and Druids can be min-maxed and munckin'd far easier and to a further extent than other core classes.

[geek_2049]

TLN-The Logic Ninja

[sin_sephiroth]

i read something up top, and im lost. what is a coup de grace? in the game, what does it do or how do you use it?

[geek_2049]

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/com...tm#coupdeGrace

[Kontonshin]

Generally the implication is also that you mercifully dispatch a foe who is already mortally wounded.

[InaVegt]

Generally the implication is also that you mercifully dispatch a foe who is already mortally wounded.

But then we've been using it all wrong with our lvl 1 party, the wizards cast color spray and the rogue coupe de graces them

[Fax Celestis]

Mortally wounded or completely helpless.

[InaVegt]

Mortally wounded or completely helpless.

it still isn't mercifull

[Brickwall]

it still isn't mercifull

Ending the pain of a mortal wound and/or giving a quick death was considered merciful as opposed to the alternatives during war. Merciful knights would never allow an opponent to lay wounded and in agony. Especially since back then mortal wounds couldn't be treated with their technology. That's why it's merciful.

[Dervag]

Or rather, that's why it has a name that implies mercy.

Of course, in D&D the name really doesn't fit very well, because most 'coup de grace' attacks are made against opponents that have been rendered helpless by non-mortal-injury means and would probably be just fine if you went away and left them alone.

But on the other hand 'coup de grace' sounds so much more educated than 'finishing blow'...

[stupidmonkey]

But on the other hand 'coup de grace' sounds so much more educated than 'finishing blow'...

And even more educated than: I bash his head in real good... ;)

[Peregrine]

Hey Gorbash, you can add the Expanded Psionics Handbook to the Core definition. Complete Psionic on the back cover says that the XPH is the 4th core book.

Well, there was a thread discussing this a while back... I think given the potential for controversy, and the single source in contradiction of other sources, the XPH shouldn't be moved to the Core section of the list.

[Azrael]

I love my clueless moments:

... What's better is a build that looks like ... rogue2/paladin of LE 2/ Hexblade3/Blackguard3 ...and take sorc or warmage on your last half ... meh, the idea works better ina gish game.

What's a "gish game"?

In context it seems to indicate using Gestalt... but that's Gestalt. And I'm not sure how it would refer to the race...

[Gorbash Kazdar]

I love my clueless moments:

What's a "gish game"?

In context it seems to indicate using Gestalt... but that's Gestalt. And I'm not sure how it would refer to the race...

Gish apparently refers to a fighter/wizard build. In the context you describe, it likely is referring to a gestalt game in which all characters are warrior/arcane combinations (eg. fighter/wizard, barbarian/sorcerer, ranger/wizard, etc.).

[Xaval]

Actually, Im pretty sure the term "Gish" is used to describe any extremely multiclassed character. Example: Fighter 2/ Rogue 1/ Swashbuckler 3 ect, ect.

So a "gish game" would be a full game with all the characters like that.

[Gorbash Kazdar]

Actually, after some checking around, Gish does refer to fighter/wizards, and comes from a class of Githyanki war wizards by the same name, and has since expanded to include the general idea of a fighter/wizard multiclassed character. This originated in 2e, where fighter/wizard was essentially the only combination most people could make work anyways (other combinations of wizard/x were possible depending on race - and house rules - though some were dual rather than multiclass characters ;)).

In 3.x discussions, it can be broadened to any arcane/warrior hybrid, usually an arcane caster capable of duking it out in melee without getting completely owned. The eldritch knight and spellsword PrCs make these builds even more viable. Note that hyrbid classes like hexblades, bards, duskblades, and warmages are not technically considered gishes, as they are unusual single classes rather than multiclass builds.

Info consolidated here nicely.

[Gorbash Kazdar]

EDIT: Updated the first two posts. Anyone have any requests/suggestions/corrections? New updates in blue.

Also, looking for abbreviations for new classes such as the duskblade, beguiler, knight, dragon shaman, the psionic classes from CP, and others not already on the list.