Where did "Munchkin" come from?

[Simon Magalis]

I assume it means "overly powerful" or something like that
but where did the term come from, because a 25th level
wizard just doesn't bring to my mind a tiny witch-fearing
man with a squeaky voice and a desire to sing merrily.

 

[Axiomatic Unicorn]

My understanding is that it is a deragatory reference to the way young children play.

If you call someone a munchkin, you are in effect calling their play style childish.

 

[Thorntangle]

That's the way I've always understood it. To make a massive generalization, younger players (shorter, see?) tend to engage in power-gamery more often. Probably because it's kewl.

 

[Simon Magalis]

AHHH! That makes sense! Thanks... I really have been wanting to ask for a while but there are alot of emotional issues with some of the posters here and I didn't want to get yelled at. Thanks.

 

[Henry]

HOW DARE YOU... What? No yelling? You sure? I mean, it's part of the package!

That's why I object to people throwing around the term so much. So many people use the term (kind of like the word "gay") these days to describe something they personally don't like, they have no clue as to it's real meaning. It is a personal insult, and many people don't realize how much of one it is.

That's why I cringe in disgust at every post I see that includes things such as "Playing with anything over 28-point buy is SOO Munchkin" or "You gave your PC's a +1 Sword at 6th level? How munchkin do you play?" or "Anyone who takes only fireballs and lightning bolts as a sorcerer is a munchkin."

It's times like that that makes me wish I were more like Jay and Silent Bob. "All that movie money would sure buy a lot of plane tickets."

 

[Dieter]

Gary, Indiana. If you've been there (or have driven through), you'll know why.

 

[Simon Magalis]

I have never been to Gary, Indiana and must ask what I would have seen if I had.

 

[Dieter]

A truly horrible and filthy place. It's an industrial wasteland full of refineries and steel mills. Something you'd likely see if they did a movie about Pittsburgh after a nuke fell on the city. I was heading for Chicago with a friend of mine and I asked,

"Argh, what is that smell?"

He said,

"Oh, that's Gary...we won't be stopping there, just try to breath through your mouth until we're further away."

 

[Don]

That's why I object to people throwing around the term so much. So many people use the term (kind of like the word "gay") these days to describe something they personally don't like, they have no clue as to it's real meaning.

Yeah. How many people know the real meaning of the word "gay" is "happy"? I mean, it's misused all the time by people thinking it means "homosexual".

Ouch! You just zapped yourself!


P.S.: My apologies if you really meant the word "gay" to mean "happy".

 

[Simon Magalis]

I am delighted by the light-hearted and witty banter my question has elicited!