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<blockquote data-quote="ForceUser" data-source="post: 1036776" data-attributes="member: 2785"><p>I think &quot;nerf&quot; is a term that started in MUDs, signifying the reduction of an ability from useful to useless. In multi-user online games, nerfs occur when the game designers introduce a cool ability that is outrageously powerful or a &quot;must-have,&quot; and then later decide that the ability is too good and reduce its usefulness. This usually results in much whining from the player community and resultant messageboard flaming as a reflex response from a frustrated and angry small vocal minority of the customer base. These days, the cycle of introducing and then nerfing powerful abilities is practically an institution in multi-user online games, allowing experienced gamers the insight to - upon playing new games - be able to guess what cool new abilities are going to be nerfed and so avoid them. Ironically, experienced online gamers instead tend to gravitate toward the weaker powers initially, rightly assuming that it's usually more fun to start with a weaker ability that's due for a &quot;buff&quot; than a stronger one that's headed for a &quot;nerf.&quot; Thanks to the internet, the term has weaseled its way into the paper RPG crowd as a vehicle for expressing displeasure with change.</p></blockquote><p></p>

[QUOTE="ForceUser, post: 1036776, member: 2785"] I think "nerf" is a term that started in MUDs, signifying the reduction of an ability from useful to useless. In multi-user online games, nerfs occur when the game designers introduce a cool ability that is outrageously powerful or a "must-have," and then later decide that the ability is too good and reduce its usefulness. This usually results in much whining from the player community and resultant messageboard flaming as a reflex response from a frustrated and angry small vocal minority of the customer base. These days, the cycle of introducing and then nerfing powerful abilities is practically an institution in multi-user online games, allowing experienced gamers the insight to - upon playing new games - be able to guess what cool new abilities are going to be nerfed and so avoid them. Ironically, experienced online gamers instead tend to gravitate toward the weaker powers initially, rightly assuming that it's usually more fun to start with a weaker ability that's due for a "buff" than a stronger one that's headed for a "nerf." Thanks to the internet, the term has weaseled its way into the paper RPG crowd as a vehicle for expressing displeasure with change. [/QUOTE]

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