Help with terminology?

[Dykstrav]

I realize that I'm dating myself as an old dude when I bring this up... But bluntly, I don't understand what some of my players are saying to me.

I've gathered that a "toon" is a character. I also understand that "aggro" is a term for marking creatures.

Could someone tell me what a "sherrop" (sp) and a "bennie" (sp) is?

 

[Garthanos]

I realize that I'm dating myself as an old dude when I bring this up... But bluntly, I don't understand what some of my players are saying to me.

I've gathered that a "toon" is a character. I also understand that "aggro" is a term for marking creatures.

Could someone tell me what a "sherrop" (sp) and a "bennie" (sp) is?

bennie is a generalized benefit. ... somebody else for
could that be charop? character optimiziation?

 

[FireLance]

Could someone tell me what a "sherrop" (sp) and a "bennie" (sp) is?

I'm not 100% certain myself, but my best guesses are:

Charop: Character optimization.

Bennie: Benefit.

Aggro: "Drawing aggro (aggravation)" means getting an enemy to attack you. It's related to marking in that it influences an enemy's target selection, but it's not quite the same. "Aggravation" or "aggro" is a mechanic used by some computer games to determine which PC an enemy attacks instead of, say, determining a target randomly. Generally, on an enemy's turn, it will attack the PC that has aggravated it the most at that point in time. Different games will have different "aggro" mechanics, but common PC actions that "draw aggro" are: dealing large amounts of damage to the enemy, inflicting status conditions on the enemy, taunting the enemy, healing other PCs, etc.

 

[N0Man]

I really hope this isn't an attempt to troll with another 4E is like an MMO comparison... but I am probably just paranoid.

I've never really heard "aggro" discussed *except* in MMRPGs, except in jest.

I don't know what game system they might be talking about, but if it is 4E, I would say that I don't see 4E Defender mechanics as being "aggro control" exactly, as much as "encouraging" a monster to focus on the defender, by threat of punishing them if they don't. I don't feel any obligation as DM to follow the Defender marks. I ignore them when it is strategic, when opponents are bloodthirsty or non-tactical, or as a whim just to give Defenders a chance to use their abilities.

 

[FireLance]

I've never really heard "aggro" discussed *except* in MMRPGs, except in jest.

Well, any computer/video game in which the computer has to select one out of multiple targets (one PC to attack out of a party of PCs, for example) and doesn't simply randomly determine which target is selected has to have some kind of aggro mechanic. It's a CRPG mechanic, not necessarily a MMORPG mechanic.

It's essentially translating a human DM's target selection decision making process into an artificial intelligence algorithm. And like all algorithms, it is then subject to manipulation by a clever player. Of course, a clever player could theoretically manipulate a human DM into attacking his PC instead of another, more tempting target (with or without the use of 4E-style marks, although marks will impose a mechanical penalty on the enemy if the DM decides to attack another target instead), but human DMs are typically less predictable than computer ones, so the attempt may not always work.

 

[Garthanos]

I don't feel any obligation as DM to follow the Defender marks. I ignore them when it is strategic, when opponents are bloodthirsty or non-tactical, or as a whim just to give Defenders a chance to use their abilities.

Well I think you are intended to be influenced by it not obligated ... heck yeah let the defenders do some punishing... keeps things hopping.

Just as I think you are intended to be influenced to clump minions who have abilities that work in unison when clumped.... it is counter strategic for there survival.

 

[Garthanos]

Well, any computer/video game in which the computer has to select one out of multiple targets (one PC to attack out of a party of PCs, for example) and doesn't simply randomly determine which target is selected has to have some kind of aggro mechanic. It's a CRPG mechanic, not necessarily a MMORPG mechanic.

It's essentially translating a human DM's target selection decision making process into an artificial intelligence algorithm. And like all algorithms, it is then subject to manipulation by a clever player. Of course, a clever player could theoretically manipulate a human DM into attacking his PC instead of another, more tempting target (with or without the use of 4E-style marks, although marks will impose a mechanical penalty on the enemy if the DM decides to attack another target instead), but human DMs are typically less predictable than computer ones, so the attempt may not always work.

Exactly well expressed. But for some reason I have to spread around experience points.

 

[Nikosandros]

Where does toon come from? Is is a shortened version of cartoon, as in the cartoon that represents a character?

 

[Merkuri]

Where does toon come from? Is is a shortened version of cartoon, as in the cartoon that represents a character?

Exactly. I'm not sure if it was first coined in World of Warcraft, but the characters in that game do look a bit cartoony (at least in the sense that they are brightly colored) and I wouldn't be surprised if that was the origin.

 

[Dykstrav]

I appreciate the responses, thanks everyone. I just wish that the people who use these terms would be as gracious.

I really hope this isn't an attempt to troll with another 4E is like an MMO comparison... but I am probably just paranoid.

I've never really heard "aggro" discussed *except* in MMRPGs, except in jest.

No attempt at trolling here, I'm dead serious. I keep hearing the terms bandied about by certain players, and when I flat-out ask them what the hell they're talking about, they usually either laugh or just shrug and smile.

All these terms come from MMORPGs? I played World of Warcraft for a few months, I play Age of Conan on and off now, and I've never heard any of them. It's all Greek to me.