What the heck does that mean?
A quick guide to role playing terms.
A quick guide to role playing terms.
Many new role players, especially new to the internet, can get confused and lost in the terms that are commonly used in a role play. Even those that aren't new can get lost in the un-common terms. This guide is basically your pocket guide to the terms of role playing. Should you not see anything here, please let me know and I will add it immediately.
Terms
AFK: Away from keyboard. This is mostly used in a chat role play, to let people know someone is away or not there.
Antagonist: The villain/s, the bad guys who plot the downfall of the good guys
Anti-Hero: A character who lacks the characteristics that would make him a hero (or her a heroine). Not always a villian, sometimes a rival character.
FFRP: Free form role playing. Role playing without any bound standard ruleset. What most role plays are on this forum. They may have rules to obide, but no true victory condition or ruleset that would allow characters to win or loose.
GM: Game master. Someone who creates and runs a role play for others to participate in. GM can also mean Global Moderator. A global moderator is someone appointed to a staff position on a website, to maintain order and help those who need assistance; amongst other staff needs.
Godmodding: A term to describe someone who roleplays a character with the the ability to avoid all potentional character-damaging, fatal attacks or any boon that should have happened to a character during roleplay. The also claim powers beyond what is allowed in a role play.
IC: In Character. Some players use this term to let other players know that what they are saying is in character. This means what they say, is what their character is doing.
Metagaming: A term to describe someone who uses knowledge gained out of character and not obtained in character or within the storyline. For example, they read that a character was doing something, that their character didn't see; however they said their character reacted to it. They can also get such information from discussion outside of the game.
NPC: Non-Player Character. A character in the game that isn't controlled by a player. These are generally controlled by the game master. Sometimes they are used by a player to create interaction that normally wouldn't be there.
OOC: Out of character. Mostly used when you're speaking out of character in the middle of a roleplaying. Sometimes used before a statement or description when breaking out of roleplaying to ask a question or make a comment. Our forum has an OOC category that allows you to make a thread for such discussion, without having to do so in the role play. This allows for a better flow of story. (As well as a better looking role play.)
PC: Player Character. A character played by a person playing in the game.
Powergaming/Powergamer: A term to describe someone who roleplays a character with too many/much/powerful magic, abilities, or skills defined by one with authority. Much like a god modder, but they tend to stay borderline with the rules, when allowed.
Protagonist: The hero/es or heroine/s of the RP, usually the good people seeking justice and peace etc
RP: Role Play. The actual place where the gaming takes its course. This is the whole reason you are here! It is the individual game session itself.
Remember, if you don't see something that you think you should, please let me know immediately! I'll be more than happy to answer any questions or concerns!
