Gaming Terms and Memes

[Dannyalcatraz]

And how is rolling maximum damage disparaging?

The term refers to rolling a 1 for your crit damage in those games where you still roll for crit damage. Some games, instead of simply doing max or double max damage, you double, triple or quadruple your damge roll...and if you roll a 1? Well, there you go.

 

[Ahwe Yahzhe]

Gaming Terms

The term refers to rolling a 1 for your crit damage in those games where you still roll for crit damage. Some games, instead of simply doing max or double max damage, you double, triple or quadruple your damge roll...and if you roll a 1? Well, there you go.

That's interesting... In 4th Edition play, I've always heard it referred to when you roll maximum damage instead of rolling a natural 20 on your attack roll, giving you the same damage as a critical hit (minus magic item damage dice, of course). In this usage, it's less pejorative and more like "Poor Man's Crit." It was harder to get there, but the result is the same.

And while we're practicing thread necromancy, here are some common gaming terms that might have crept outside of D&D to gaming in general, at least (*Thanks Gary):
Dungeon Master/"DM"*/Game Master/"GM"
Player Character/"PC"*
Non-Player Character/"NPC"*
hit points/"HP"*
armor class/"AC"*
class*
level* (as a measure of class prowess, magic spell difficulty, dungeon depth/difficulty, or a verb: "level up")
alignment*
lawful good*
chaotic evil*
chaotic stupid
experience points/"XP"*
"DC" (difficulty class)
min-max
munchkin
in-character
out-of-character/"OOC"
roll up (a character)
"TPK" (Total Party Kill)

...and that's just off the top of my head for gaming terms that leave newbies heads spinning.

 

[Thunderfoot]

Ghetto Crit is an evolved term - it went from the one (rolling 1s on a crit damage roll) to rolling max damage outside of a critical. So depending upon edition, your usage may vary. As to being offensive to ghettos, I lived in one for 15 years, NOTHING is offensive to ghettos - they suck and no one should have to live that way. I think the term is quite apropos when you roll ones for damage - not so sure about the other.

"I whack it with my (sharp/sharpened) metal club!" - a short lived but humorous meme from the late 80s owning to fighter's being sick of saying, "I swing/attack/hit it with my sword".

"I attack the darkness!" - reference to a comedy sketch describing the "horrors and evil" associated with D&D, that then depicts the most inane group of roleplayers in the history of the game including "Galstaff sorcerer of light" who uses Magic Missile to - attack the darkness.

"I declare my dodge on you!" - El Senor Vorpal Kickasso's catch phrase from the Goblins web comic, said when he used dodge on an enemy. Saw lots of use at RPGA tourneys after the release of 3.5.

"I FART on it." - Abbreviation for "Find And Remove Traps" from the thief skills in 1st/2nd and OD&D. Obviously said by thieves.

"Save versus Cat" - Usually stated when a feline runs across a gaming table scattering minis, dice or whatever. Can also be used as save versus child/baby/etc. Has seen a resurgence in use in MMOs for when said feline's jump on the keyboard of a player in an attempt to secure "pettins". - usage "Sri guys, I failed my save vs cat, she ran me into the lava."

"You fall in lava, you die, no save" - a quote from the Lava Rules released a few years ago. Quite literally the entire text of the rule.

 

[Ahwe Yahzhe]

The Biggest Gaming Meme?

"I attack the darkness!" - reference to a comedy sketch describing the "horrors and evil" associated with D&D, that then depicts the most inane group of roleplayers in the history of the game including "Galstaff sorcerer of light" who uses Magic Missile to - attack the darkness.

Or "I wanna cast MAGIC MISSILE." But you must say it in a nasal voice for it to count.

For many gamers of a certain age, there is always a way to work Holy Grail quotes into the current in-game situation, because It's Not a Gaming Session Until Somebody Quotes Monty Python:
"None shall pass." (in ominous deep voice)
"'Tis just a flesh wound" (followed by "I'll bleed on you!" or "I'll bite your kneecaps off!")
"I'm not dead yet" (followed by "I feel better" or "I feel happy!")
"She turned me into a newt!" (followed by "I got better.")
"King of the Who?" (in response to anybody referring to a king/royalty)
"We are the Knights who say 'Ni'!" and "We require... a shrubbery!" (anytime the party hits a group of knights or a gatekeeper)
"African or European?" (anytime the party encounters a monster with several varieties, like a dragon, demon, or elemental)
"He who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he see...." ("WHAT is your name?" "WHAT is your quest?" and "WHAT is your favorite color?" etc. etc.)
"Sir (XXXXX) bravely ran away" or "Run away! Run away!" (in reference to any tactical retreat)
Any references to a Holy Hand Grenade (especially when joking about your Laser Cleric)
"Some call me... Tim?" (or any reference to Tim the Wizard, both in M:tG and D&D)
"It's got a vicious streak a mile wide! He's got cruel, sharp fangs!" (AKA the Vorpal Bunny, Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog)
"The Castle of Aaaauuuggghhhh" (Any castle location with a ominous or unpronouncable name)
Finally, "NOBODY EXPECTS THE SPANISH INQUISITION!!! OUR CHIEF ELEMENT IS SURPRISE!!!"

-whew- Did I get them all, and spare everyone a thread-jacking?

 

[TarionzCousin]

"You fall in lava, you die, no save" - a quote from the Lava Rules released a few years ago. Quite literally the entire text of the rule.

Yes, but you really need to visit the website to get the full effect.

 

[Thunderfoot]

Yes, but you really need to visit the website to get the full effect.

True, very very true....

 

[Thunderfoot]

<SNIP>
-whew- Did I get them all, and spare everyone a thread-jacking?

Nope - you forgot...
NOOOOO!!!!! NOT THE COMFY CHAIR!!!!

 

[TheUltramark]

i've never even heard of memes

me = save vs stupid

 

[Alaxk Knight of Galt]

We had SDOP (Standard Door Opening Procedure) for some time. We'd listen, check it for traps, and (after the rogue failed to find a trap and freaked out) had the fighter open the door.

 

[Thunderfoot]

i've never even heard of memes

me = save vs stupid

"save vs stupid" counts - congratulations you just created one.