RPG/D&D terms and phrases that are no longer clever or amusing.

[Dark Jezter]

(since I started gaming before TSR went out of business - and I still have no idea what TSR stands for ).

TSR = They Sue Regularly.

Seriously, though. TSR stood for Tactical Studies Rules.

 

[Hardhead]

In case anyone doesn't know where this came from it spawned much the same way crunch and fluff did. It is from a poem that described a good deal of what was "wrong" in 3e.

It's much older than 3e. I first heard it playing Magic: The Gathering when D&D was still in 2e. That was about seven or eight years ago now. It may have come to Magic from some other source, but I don't think so. In fact, I think it can be traced back to an old Duelist (the old Magic magazine put out by WotC) in which they described how their game designers thought some cards needed to be banned or restricted because they were so good they "broke the game."

The new focus on "crunch" over "fluff" in 3e probably helped hasten the migration of the term from Magic to D&D, though.

And "nerf" has to go. Seriously.

What would you replace it with? I find it a pretty handy word. Words tend to catch on because they fufill a useful role, and there's no synonym for "nerf" except possibly "fix," but that word doesn't make sense without "broken."

And "nerf" had different connotations than "fix," anyway.

Incidently, "nerf" originally comes from computer games, where it migrated to Magic.

You know what really is irratating? The **** terms like WOTC = Wizards of the Coast; FRCS = Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting; BoVD = Book of Vile Darkness; BoEF = Book of Erotic Fantasy; barb = barbarian, paly = paladin; etc. Can't people just type the name? But what really gets me is when the gamers that I play with say "Hand me the BOED, would you? I need to look up something for my paly - and I need the FRCS to look up something for his barb...." YOU'RE NOT TYPING!!!!!!! SAY THE **** WORD ALREADY!!!!!!

When you type, it's just a lot easier to use acronyms.

As for speech, hey, love it or hate it, people are going to come up with "nicknames" for common words.

 

[Goddess FallenAngel]

By the way, Hong, nice signature quote.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Those terms were "grandfathered-in" my way of thinking of D&D. The newer terms are not.

Regardless... it's fairly irrational to object to FRCS but not DMG.

-Hyp.

 

[Goddess FallenAngel]

Never claimed to be rational.

If I were, I would not be derailing this thread quite as much as I am.

 

[hong]

By the way, Hong, nice signature quote.

Hm? Wha?

 

[MerakSpielman]

I like the terms "crunch" and "fluff." They are instantly recognizable, and any terms that can accurately replace them take longer to say. Heck, I find myself reading D&D rules stuff and thinking, "mmmm... crunchy...."

I don't like books coming out with their own little "catchword." Examples:

Epic level handbook. Every other word is "Epic." Let's double the bonuses on feats and call them "Epic" versions of the normal feat. We don't do spellcasting anymore, we do "Epic" spellcasting. The magic items are the same as the previous versions but offer better plusses, we better tack "Epic" on in front of their name. Now we have "Epic" damage reduction. EpicEpicEpicEpic everywhere.

The BoVD does it too, but not quite as bad, with the word "Vile." Vile damage. Vile feats. VileVileVileVile.

 

[kirinke]

lol

i don't see anything wrong with the word newbie. quite frankly, i am a newbie at 3e (both versions).

but i do agree. munchkin has to go. most people who create munchkin characters either don't perfectly understand the rules or have a closet shopping addiction (raises hand sheepishly in acknowledgment to both) while irritating at times, they can be easily corrected with a simple 'need to shave those stats a bit. or honey-child, we use the point buy system. you cannot have a 24 natural strength. And you cannot have a +5 celestial defender. here. a mace works just as well against skelitons. just have a cleric bless it. lol

 

[Holy Bovine]

Terms that must die

Munchkin, "roll"playing vs. "role"playing (and the idiots who think they are being insightful and witty in pointing it out ), "splat"books, fluff, crunch, "leet" speak of any kind.

The first 3 really irriatate me to no end mainly because those using them usually try to affect an air of superiority that is wholly undeserved.

And if you have used these terms and think I am attacking you - well, I probably am

 

[Nightfall]

Some of us enjoy using Acroynyms. You try typing out the Divine and the Defeated along with Relics and Rituals PLUS Scarred Lands Campaign Setting: Ghelspad/Termana EACH time you talk. It hurts!