Playing a MMORPG is not all fun and games, you better have the right vocabulary

Term

Definition

Description and notes

MMORPG

massively multiplayer online role playing game

The game genre World of Warcraft exists in

Mob

mobile object block

A programming term that refers to all computer controlled entities in the game. These computer controlled characters may also be called monsters, bad guys, etc. Mob remains in use because it is easy to type.

N00B

New or inexperienced player

You can substitute newb and newbie.

Leet speak

A form of chat that mixes numbers and characters to substitute for English

Frowned upon in most quarters.

Gank

To kill be killed by another player in a surprise attack

In some circles ganking is considered bad form.

Grief

To kill other players with the intention of causing them frustration and grief

Being labeled a griefer could ruin your gaming experience.

Kill stealing

To kill a Mob another player was in the process of attacking

World of Warcraft and other contemporary games have made this practice practically obsolete, but it was a major problem in earlier MMORPG generations like EverQuest

LFG

Looking for group

Use this when you trying to find a pickup group to play with.

PUG

Pickup group

For those times when you can't find your guild mates.

LOC or loc

Location

The exact coordinates of your current position or position you want to reach, usually expressed Vertical X Horizontal (64 X48).

Loot

The object you find on Mobs you defeat in battle

Most of the objects you find are good for either wearing, selling or questing; very little should be thrown away.

Bio break

Taking a break for a biological function

Usually precedes a BRB and/or AFK.

BRB

Be right back

Similar to AFK.

BBL

Be back later

Usually precedes a log out from the game.

AFK

Away from keyboard

It is good game etiquette to let your group know you are away.

Buff

To cast a spell that increases a beneficial attribute of another player

For example, increasing the intelligence or strength of a player.

Debuff

To cast a spell that decreases a beneficial attribute of a Mob or another player

For example, decreasing the intelligence or strength of a player or mob.

Mana or Power

The element necessary for casting spells

A caster needs to have enough mana or power in order to cast their spells.

Nerf

To reduce the capabilities or attributes of a specific class or type of character

When players feel their characters have be reduced in power in an attempt by the developers to balance the game play, they will often claim they have been nerfed.

OOC

Out of character

Chatting out of character, for example about last night's football game or episode of Survivor.

PL

Power leveling

When a more advanced character helps a lower level character quest and hunt mobs for experience.

Camping

To stay in one area waiting for a specific mob to spawn

Sometimes more than one player or group will be trying to kill certain a specific mob, causing a conflict.

Ding

The sound effect of gaining a level

For some players, gaining a level is such a big deal that they will announce that they just "dinged"

Grats, or congrats

Congratulations

When someone announces they just dinged you type or say "congrats."

Proc

Weapon process

Some weapons have magic or poison or a special attack that has chance to activate during a battle. This is called a process and when it happens you say your weapon "proc'd."

PVP

Player versus player

Fighting against player controlled characters. This is the opposite of PVE.

PVE

Player versus environment

Fighting against Mobs and other game controlled enemies. This is the opposite of PVP.

Alt

Alternative character

Many players have at least two characters available to play in their MMORPG. One is the main character they play most often and one is the alternative character they play less frequently.

Main

Main character

Many players have at least two characters available to play in their MMORPG. One is the main character they play most often and one is the alternative character they play less frequently.

Resisting, resist factors, resists

A measurement of your one's ability to resist spells and attacks

All mobs and players have some measurable ability to resist melee and magic attacks. Knowing this resist factor can determine the outcome of a battle.

Rez or res

Resurrect

If you die in battle, some players of certain classes can resurrect you. You would say, "I need a rez please."

Roll

"Roll" a random number between 1-100

During the course of a playing you will come across loot that more than one player needs or wants. To determine who gets that item you roll for it. In WoW, it is a slash command /random.

Slash commands

A set of in-game commands that start with the "/" character

For example, /random, /laugh, /dance

Train

To run for you life trailing angry mobs behind you.

Training was a common occurrence in previous MMORPGs. In Everquest, for example, mobs would follow you for as long as your were in a zone. That meant that you could potentially drag nasty angry mobs to unsuspecting bystanders causing them grief. This is one of my favorite train stories.

Uber

An exceptionally skilled player

As in, "you are so uber!"

Exp

Experience

As you complete quests and kill mobs you earn experience points that eventually translates into leveling your character. Don't forget to say Ding!

Leveling

To achieve the next level

One of the ultimate goals in an RPG is to improve the abilities of your character. Achieving a new level is one measurement of this improvement.

Corpse run

Running to your corpse after losing a battle with a mob

In EQ a corpse run was necessary to collect your equipment. WoW has eliminated much of the pain from dying for which I am eternally grateful.

Zerg

To overwhelm the enemy with excessive numbers

Zerg is a reference to Starcraft a real time strategy game. The tactic is frowned upon by some because the victory is assured by sheer mass of numbers and not by superior tactical skill.

Zone

The boundary between areas in the game universe

As the technology of MMORPGs has improved, the number of zones has been reduced.

AH, Bazaar

A marketplace where players can sell items to other players

As the number of players increased, a system that allowed for efficient buying and selling between players became a necessity.

LD

Link dead

MMO games are complex systems. Interruptions are inevitable which is generally designated as going link dead.

Med

Meditate

When you stop fighting to rest, eat, drink or take other steps to recover your health and mana you are "medding."

Pop

Popping or respawning mobs

In close quarters, mobs will respawn near your group, often while you are medding or in the middle of a fight. When that happens, you alert the group by typing "pop." As in "pop behind us," or "pop left."

Att

Attributes

An attribute is a trait associated with a specific character or mob. Common examples include: intelligence, stamina, strength, agility, and dexterity.

BOE, BOP

Bind on equip (BOE) and Bind of pickup (BOP)

The most desirable weapons and items in an MMORPG will usually become bound to you, which means that you cannot sell or give them away. Some will bind when you pick them, others will bind when you first wear them. When looting you should always be sure which method applies. You will incur wrath if an item you cannot use becomes bound to you because you inadvertently picked it up.

Farming

Playing the game for the specific purpose of acquiring desirable items.

The game developers frown upon players that farm the best items for the sole purpose of selling them to other players at inflated prices.

GM

Game master

A game master is a representative of the game developer playing a character inside the game. GMs can help you with in-game problems like anti-social players and harassment.

Guilds

A semi-permanent group of players with common interests.

Technologia is the guild formed by members and friends of TechRepublic members.

Instance

A specific area that exists in a state particular to a specific group of players.

Instanced areas are usually dungeons where there is a specific goal to achieve. As you progress toward that goal, the instance reflects it by not respawning mobs and other obstacles like locked doors.

Mule

An alternative character whose job is to carry items for your other characters.

Because storage space is limited, some enterprising players will create a low level character that operates as a bank for other high level characters.

Nija looting

Jumping in to loot a unique or hard to find item before anyone else in your group has a chance

This practice has been mitigated somewhat by game mechanics, but can still occur. Don't loot something special until it has been rolled on or other arrangements have been made to fairly distribute the item.

PC

Player controlled character

A character controlled by a player and not by the game.

Solo

Playing without a group

Sometimes you just want to do things by yourself. Some classes are better suited for solo game play then others.

Twink

A PC with gear and weapons that would normally be found on a character of higher level

One way to make your character more powerful is to twink it with gear normally reserved for players who have achieved a higher level.

Twisting

Casting magic spells quickly and in a certain sequence.

Some classes can chant buffs that will last a certain amount of time. By casting the spells at specific intervals you can effectively keep several chanted buffs active at the same time. A very advanced skill.

Leech

Stealing experience and/or items

Sometimes a player will follow closely behind a group or higher level player as they perform a specific quest. The group does all the work clearing a path to the quest and the leech can then complete the quest without doing all the work.

Pet

A companion for your character

Some classes can summon or tame a pet to fight along side them. Some players also like to by a non-combat pet to travel with them. Many consider non-combat pets to be status symbols.

Vendor trash

Loot that players won't buy

Only one of the computer controlled vendors is willing to pay you for some items. The majority of loot you receive from mobs will fall into this category.

Raid

A large group operation

Groups are generally limited to five or so members. However, special raid groups can be created for high-end encounters, usually involving 10 to 40 or more players.

Named mob

A mob with a name

Named mobs are generally tougher then their generic contemporaries. A wolf named Fang is going to be tougher to fight then the starving wolves that hang around him.

Elite

A mob with more hit points and better equipment

An elite mob is going to be considerably more difficult to defeat in battle. Elite mobs are usually found in instances and in boss battles that end a long quest string. Elites also grant considerably more experience if you are victorious.

Grinding

Killing mobs for experience without regard to a quest or other goal.

Grinding may be necessary at the end of some levels as a means to reaching the next leveling plateau.

Term

Definition

Description and notes

Tanking

Assuming the group position of taking the most agro from Mobs

A tank is usually a warrior or other melee specialized character. Because of their inherent high armor factor, they can take more damage than most characters. For healing classes, it is much more efficient to heal only one player in a group as opposed to all group members. Choosing a tank is a fundamental group tactical decision.

Aggro

Aggression

Aggro is a measure of a mob's interest in a specific character. In many groups you want the tank to hold aggro so other less hearty characters don't get any damage.

Spouse aggro

Spousal aggression

As a companion to aggro, spouse aggro is when a player's spouse interrupts play with real life. As in, "Stop playing that game and pay attention to me for a change." When this happens, all a player has to say is "spouse aggro" and the group will know all it needs to know.

Add

Additional mobs

During a battle a mob not part of the original battle may join the fight. Group members should announce an add so everyone knows there are more to fight.

BAF

Bring a friend

If you pull one mob for a fight, it will bring at least one friend – so pulling one really means pulling at least two.

KOS

Kill on sight

Many mobs will try to kill you without provocation.

Con

Consider

To consider the fighting ability of a mob before engaging it. In most games mobs are color coded to make it easier to identify a trivial encounter from an epic one.

Crit

Critical hit

Most damage dealt by a player will be within a range. When the maximum amount of damage for that attack is reached, it is called a critical hit.

DD

Direct damage

An attack or spell that does direct damage to a specific target.

DOT

Damage over time

An attack or spell that does damage to a target over a specific span of time. For example, 10 points of damage every second for 10 seconds.

AOE

Area of effect

Doing damage to mobs standing within a certain range radiating out from the spot where the spell was targeted.

PBAE

Point blank area of effect

Doing damage mobs standing within a certain range radiating out from the caster.

HOT

Heal over time

Healing a target a certain amount over a specific span of time. For example, healing for 10 points every second for 10 seconds.

Channeling

Casting a spell that requires that you don't move

To get the full effect of a channeling spell, the caster must not move or be interrupted by a mob during a specific time.

Kiting

A tactical technique that reduces the amount of melee damage taken

For some casting classes, an effect fighting technique is to cast a spell run for a bit cast another spell and run some more. Like flying a kite, the mob follows you until it is dead.

Mez or mes

Mesmerize

A form of crowd control. The player casts a spell or initiates an attack that mesmerizes a mob for a certain amount of time. While "mezzed," the mob will not participate in a fight. Damage will often break a mez, so players should be careful not to break mez until the proper time.

OOP or OOM

Out of mana or out of power

As a caster it is your responsibility to inform your group when you are out of power and cannot cast until you create more.

Pulling

The art of initiating a battle with a mob

Pulling is an art form. A good puller can make a grouping experience pleasant while a bad puller will likely lead to frustration. Some classes are better at pulling then others. Some players have an affinity for pulling, but many don't.

Root

Casting a spell or an attack to hold a mob in place

A form of crowd control where a mob is held in place by some form of magic for a certain amount of time. Damage will often break a root, so players should be careful not to break root until the proper time.

Threat list

The ranking a mob uses to determine whom to fight next in a group encounter.

A tank tries to keep on top of the threat list, but healing or doing a large amount of damage can cause the mob to move a caster up on the threat list.

CC

Crowd control

A tried and true technique where certain party members will take steps to limit the number of mobs actively fighting during an encounter. Taking a group of mobs on one at a time is preferential to taking them all on at once.

Stun

Casting a spell or an attack that will stop a mob from fighting

Part of the crowd control options. Stun usually doesn't last as long as other CC techniques.

Stacking

The ability for one spell to co-exist with another spell

Some spells stack and compliment other spells, but some spells will cancel the effects of another spell. Every game has different rules about what can stack, but the general rule of thumb is that spells that have the exact same effect will not stack. In other words, you cannot get a stamina increasing buff from two casters and multiply the benefits.

DPS

Damage per second

A measurement of how much damage a player, weapon, or spell can do. DPS is used to compare one item with another or one spell with another.

Term

Definition

Description and notes

WoW

World of Warcraft

My current addiction

DAOC

Dark Age of Camelot

My previous addition – a MMORPG set in medieval times (more or less)

EQ

EverQuest

The first addiction for many

EQ2

EverQuest 2

An update to EQ

COH/COV

City of Heroes and City of Villains

An MMORPG for superhero or supervillain wannabes.

NBG

Need before greed

A looting regimen that says you should loot what you need before you loot what you want to satisfy your greed.

PST or PSW

Please send tell or Please send whisper

Seen in chat conversations – a request for a personal conversation that others cannot see

WC

Wailing caverns

An instance dungeon in WoW

WF

Westfall

A area in WoW

UC

Undercity

A capitol city in WoW

TB

Thunder Bluff

A capitol city in WoW

RR

Redridge Mountains

A area in WoW

RFD

Razorfen Downs

An instance dungeon in WoW

IF

Iron Forge

A capitol city in WoW

GS

Goldshire

A area in WoW

LBS

Lower Blackrock Spire

An instance dungeon in WoW

UBS

Upper Blackrock Spire

An instance dungeon in WoW