Glossary of Role Playing Terms
This is a glossary of the role playing terms you may hear at a Virtual Eclipse game. Live Action Role Playing, Lazer Tag and Tabletop Role Playing Games have some terms specific to that sort of game.
Some popular role playing terms (like Magic) that Virtual Eclipse do not use in their games. These have been included in italics.
- Battleboard - LARP term
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You and a Referee agree on interaction between your character and the outside world. You might discuss items you have bought and sold or weapon damage to your character. Battleboarding is usually done at the start and end of a game, in some games the Referee calls a Time-Out in order to battleboard during the game.
The VE LARP combat system has been designed so that Medics deal with damage "In Character" and we do not stop the game for battleboarding.
- Buddy System - LARP term
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For safety reasons VE operates a Buddy System at our LARP games where Players are teamed up in twos. Out of Character this ensures you should have someone near you if you get into trouble, We have also found it has the In Character benifit that you Players are more effective in pairs. Please stick with your buddy as missing people cause games to be stopped.
- Character
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A person portrayed in a Role Playing Game (as opposed to the real person who is pretending to be the Character). Either a Player Character or a Non-Player Character. See also Character Class, Character Name & Character Race for information about Characters and Character Sheet, In Character & Out Of Character which are Tabletop and LARP terms.
- Character Class
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In some Role Playing Games you choose what type of person your Character is. Each Character Class has special rules (examples of a Character Class in a Fantasy game are Wizards and Priests. A Priest or Wizard can cast Spells).
VE do not use Character Classes for our LARP system.
- Character Name
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The name of a Character (as opposed to the name of the real person who is pretending to be the Character). During Time-In you should call everyone by their Character Name.
- Character Race
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In some Role Playing games (mostly Fantasy games) non-human races are an option for a Character. Fantasy Character Races include Dwarf, Elf and Orc, Fantasy races usually have their own Special Abilities.
In the VE game the only race that exsists is the Human race.
- Character Sheet - Tabletop RPG term
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A form (usually used by Players) for recording details about a Character including his or her equipment.
- d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20, d% (d100) - Tabletop RPG term
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See Dice.
- Dice - Tabletop RPG terms
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Dice used by Players and Game Masters to decide the outcome of Tabletop game events. The type of die rolled depends on the circumstances and the rules system. Tabletop role players usually refer to a die as d and then the number of its sides (eg: d4 is a 4 sided die, d6 is six sided, etc). Percentage dice (d% or d100) are rolled using two d10s with one used for units and the second used for tens.
- Emergency Whistle - LARP signal
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- Three blasts on a whistle is a widely used emergency signal, some emergency whistles have morse-code SOS printed on them (3 short - 3 long - 3 short). If you hear either signal stop playing immediately, let other Players and Referees know what you heard, and offer assistance. Do not use an emergency whistle for other signalling as your whistles may cause people to think there is an emergency.
- As well as our emergency signal for First Aid many Players carry an emergency whistle. If you have one you can give the above signal if you get into trouble.
If you need First Aid and there are people near to you it may be quicker to call First Aid than blast a whistle.
- Forcefield - VE term
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We use Lazer Tag sensors for combat resolution in our LARP games. In Character the sensor represents a Forcefield that protects Character from six shots.
- First-Aid - LARP command
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Command shouted if someone has an accident at a Live Action Role Playing Game. The game will stop immediately. You should give any assistance you can. The game will restart only when the situation has been resolved.
At VE LARP games we use the word "Medic" when we want to summon In Character Medical Assistance.
- Game Master (GM) - Tabletop term
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A person who interprets the rules in a Tabletop Game. A Game Master is similar to a Referee in a LARP game, however a Tabletop Game only needs one Game Master. The Game Master controls all the NPCs.
- In Character - LARP term
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- Acting as your Character (if you are In Character you are pretending to be your Character).
- Something that exsists in the game (as opposed to something that exsists in the real world but not in the game).
- Lazer Tag - Lazer Tag term
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Lazer Tag (spelling is correct) does not use a laser. It is an infra-red light gun and sensor system developed by Worlds of Wonder. The sensor can be shot six times.
The Lazer Tag guns and sensors sold by Tiger Toys are not compatible with Worlds of Wonder equipment as Tiger Toys used a different frequency.
At VE LARP games we use Lazer Tag and compatible equipment for combat resolution, with the Lazer Tag sensor representing a Forcefield that can protect the user from six shots.
- Live Action Role Playing (LARP) - LARP term
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A type of Role Playing Game that involves dressing up as and performing the actions of your Character. Unlike Tabletop games the actions of your characters are usually resolved physically rather than by dice.
At VE LARP games we use Lazer Tag and compatible equipment for combat resolution.
- Magic
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Special Ability that enables Wizards and Priests and similar Character Classes to cast Magical Spells.
In the VE game Magic does not exist.
- Medic - VE term
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In Character call for medical assistance during a VE Live Action Role Playing Game. DO NOT CONFUSE WITH "First-Aid" which is a call for real emergency assistance.
- Medical Condition
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Many people with Asthma, Diabetes or Epilepsy play LARP games without problems. If you have one of these conditions here are some precautions you should take:
- Ensure that the game organisors know about your condition and where you keep your medicine. If you don't mind your privacy being invaded it is also sensible to let the other players know as they will be the first on the scene if you need help.
- Asthma - Let people know what pocket you carry your puffer in. Bring a spare and let people know where it is.
- Diabetes - Make sure you inform VE before you come so that we can let our cook know you need meals at fixed times. If you carry round a chocolate bar for emergencies make sure the people you are with know where you keep it.
- Epilepsy - Make sure people know not to stick anything in your mouth if you have a fit.
VE operates a Buddy System at its LARP games for safety. Try to pick a buddy that doesn't wander off. Please don't try to "tough it out" if you do feel ill.
- Mental Powers
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Special Ability like Telekinesis or Telepathy.
In the VE game Mental Powers do not exsist.
- Monster - LARP term
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- A Non-Player Character (this is just a Fantasy LARP term for the same thing).
- Someone involved in the team of Non-Player Characters (as opposed to a person with the Players).
- Monster Co-Ordinator - LARP term
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A Referee who co-ordinates the movements of the monsters (or NPCs). They often double as a NPC with a minor role.
At a VE game Players will not usually interact with the Monster Co-Ordinator.
- Member of the Public (MOP) - LARP term
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A person not involved in a game who has wandered into the game area. If anyone sees a MOP in the gaming area they should let all Players and Referees know. It may be necessary to stop the game and talk to a Member of the Public as they may not understand what Live Action Role Playing Games are. Always be polite to Members of the Public at all times.
- Non-Player Character (NPC)
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- In Tabletop Role Playing the Game Master portrays all the Non-Player Characters (NPCs). In Live Action Role Playing each Non-Player Character must be portrayed by a different person (however the Monster Co-Ordinator will decide what NPCs are supposed to be doing).
- A person involved in the team of Non-Player Characters (as opposed to a person with the Players).
- Out Of Character - LARP term
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- Acting as yourself (as opposed to pretending to be your Character).
- Something that does not exsist in the game but does exsist in the real world (While playing a wizard in a Fantasy LARP game you might have car keys in your pocket but in the game they would not exsist and everyone would pretend they were not there).
- Play By eMail
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The same thing as Play By Mail, but using the internet instead of post.
- Play By Mail (PBM)
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A postal Role Playing Game (often with the player controlling an army or civilisation). The Game Master posts information to all players (monthly or weekly). They then decide on their actions, fill in a form and send it back to the Game Master.
- Player
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- A person involved with the Player team in a Live Action Role Playing Game (as opposed to a person with the NPCs or Monsters).
- Sometimes people also used as anyone involved in a Role Playing Game (including NPCs).
- Player Character (PC)
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A Player Character is controlled by a Player. When you play a Character you are essentially pretending to be them for the duration of the game.
- Psionics
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See Mental Powers.
- Race
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See Character Race.
- Referee (Ref) - LARP term
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A person who interprets the rules in a Live Action Role Playing Game. A Referee is similar to a Game Master in a Tabletop game, however a Live Action Role Playing Game may have more than one Referee. A Referee in charge of the NPCs (Monsters) is often called the Monster Co-Ordinator.
The lack of Special Abilities and Battleboarding in VE games means that they usually run with little Referee intervention, but we do have them.
- Role Playing Game (RPG)
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A game that involves Role Playing. You think as your Character and make decisions based on how you think they would react. All sorts of games with Role Playing could be called Role Playing Games but people usually mean Tabletop games.
At VE LARP games we have Tabletop and LARP Role Playing Games.
- Skills
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A Skill is a normal ability that enables a Character to do something any person could learn. A Character with a Skill may be able to repair equipment, provide medical aid to other Characters or communicate using sign language.
VE uses real Skills to represent all Character abilities in our Live Action Role Playing games. Your Character can do anything that you, the Player, can do. For some technical Skills (like Forcefield recalibration) we use electronic games to simulate the dificulty of performing a skill.
- Special Ability
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A Character with a Special Ability is able to do things imposible for a normal person. They may be able to use Magic or Mental Powers, see in the dark or have resistance to damage. Special Abilities can be fun but their use in a Live Action Role Playing game sometimes requires Referee intervention.
VE do not use Special Abilities in their games.
- Spells
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See Magic.
- Tabletop - Tabletop term
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A type of Role Playing Game that involves deciding on the actions of your Character (usually using a miniture model to represent the position of your character). Unlike LARP games the actions of your characters are usually resolved by dice and rule books.
At VE Tabletop games we use free form gaming and have also experimented with Wizards of the Coast's d20 system.
- Tag - Lazer Tag term
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If you sucessfully hit a Lazer Tag sensor you have Tagged it. When a sensor is Tagged six times the person wearing is Tagged Out. People who play Lazer Tag are sometimes refered to as Taggers (as they are people who Tag people).
These Lazer Taggers terms are not often used at VE Live Action Role Playing Games.
- Tagged Out - Lazer Tag term
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See Tag.
- Tagger - Lazer Tag term
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See Tag.
- Telekinesis
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See Mental Powers.
- Telepathy
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See Mental Powers.
- Time-Freeze - LARP command
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- Command shouted by a Referree to let Players and NPCs know that the game is frozen for a few seconds (ended by a Time-In).
- The game time is suspended to allow a game effect to occur (usually Magic Spells). You should stay still during Time Freeze and keep your eyes closed.
Time-Freeze is not used often at VE games.
- Time-In - LARP command
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- Command shouted by a Referree to let Players and NPCs know that the game has started.
- Time spent In Character during the game. You should act as your Character during Time In and call people by their Character Names.
- Time-Out - LARP command
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- Command shouted by a Referree to let Players and NPCs know that the game has finished.
- Time spent Out Of Character when the game is not in progress. You should act as yourself during Time Out and call people by their real names.
If a VE game is due to be suspended for several hours, or overnight, a Time-Out will be called. Please assemble with the other Players and NPCs after a Time-Out so that people know that you are not missing.
- Time-Stop - LARP command
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- Command shouted by a Referree to let Players and NPCs know that the game is frozen for a few minutes (ended by a Time-In).
- The game time is suspended for several minutes (perhaps because a MOP has walked into the middle of the game). You can move during a Time-Stop but should remember where you were first and get back to your position before play resumes. Anything relating to the game you see during a Time-Stop is not known to your Character, so you should act as if you didn't see it.
Time-Stop is not used often at VE games.
- Wargaming
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A tabletop battle game that involves controlling an army (usually using miniture models to represent the positions of your forces). You make decisions for the actions of your troops. Similar to a Tabletop game, but with each Player controlling more than one Character and emphasis placed on winning the battle instead of role playing.
- Worlds of Wonder - Lazer Tag term
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Company that developed Lazer Tag.
After Worlds of Wonder ceased producing Lazer Tag they sold the name to Tiger Toys, however Tiger Toys equipment is not compatible with Worlds of Wonder equipment as Tiger Toys changed the frequency.
At VE LARP games we use Worlds of Wonder Lazer Tag and compatible equipment for combat resolution.
