This is a page about our lingo. It will be non-game specific where possible. This is not a place to detail every term used at each game, but more of a general resource for parents or new players.
If you are the concerned parent or friend of a gamer and are looking for a good basic overview of what this hobby is and isn't, try reading Uncle Figgy's Guide to Roleplaying for Non-Roleplayers or the Christian Gamer Guild's Roleplaying FAQ.
LARP - Live Action Roleplay, a style of RPG wherein the players actively portray a distinctly defined persona based on traits recorded on the character sheet. This style of roleplay differs from traditional tabletop gaming in that the players dress up and interact with the physical environment as would their characters. LARP is also sometimes referred to as "Improvisational Theatre" due to the interactive nature of the roleplay.
LARP Floor - The physical space where we have recruiting tables and where we play. Signs are generally posted in the play space delineating what room belongs to which game. Convention badges are required to be on the LARP Floor, and radios are provided to each game for instant communication with the convention LARP staff in case of a security issue or medical emergency.
Check-in / Wrap-up - Check-in is the period immediately before the game session when players register their existing character for the game and pick up special materials they might need for game play, or when announcements are made by the staff to advise players about things their character would know as the game begins. Wrap-up (or "Post") is the period immediately following the session when players turn in their character items or when staff announces game awards and gives a debriefing about things that happened during the game.
IC (In-Character) - Things that the player will say or do during the game session as the LARP persona. Most LARPs help players and non-players to distinguish anyone In-Character by providing badges or ribbons that are worn during the game session. Players should strive to be IC at all times when they are in the play space, as OOC chatter is disrupting to the game environment and to the enjoyment of all players within it.
OOC (Out-of-Character) - Things said or done by the player that are not to be taken as in-game statements or actions. Asking a Narrator for clarification about the setting or rules, or leaving the game area to take a phone call from a Real World family member are examples of OOC activities. Most LARPs require players to signify when they are OOC, whether by holding up crossed fingers (for a quick question if the player is confused about something in the game environment) or removing the game badge and leaving the play space (if the player needs to be OOC for more than a minute or so).
PC / NPC - These are the characters that the game's story is about. PC means "Player Character", or characters that are developed and portrayed by the players. NPC means "Non-Player Character", or characters that are created and portrayed by game staff with a goal of progressing plot.
GM / ST / Narrator - GM means "Game Master". ST means "Storyteller". There are other synonyms for this, but these are the ones you're likely to hear most often for the person in charge of the game. Narrators are staff members that assist the ST/GM in running the game.
Player Mentor - An experienced player assigned to assist novice players in learning the ropes of a particular game. We are proud to say that all games on our LARP Floor offer this help to new players. This assignment is most often made at the recruitment table or during Check-in. Novice players without an assigned mentor should request one before entering play.
PhysRep - Props, index cards, neon tape, sashes, bead strings, ribbons, or other items used to represent something that a player, for whatever reason, can't physically carry or have on them during the game session. This applies most notably to weapons, so players will often wear an empty holster or sheath with a card taped to it describing the "weapon" within. PhysReps can also be used to represent any sort of bodily damage, non-human body parts that would be too difficult to costume, or any time there is something remarkably unusual about the PC's physical appearance.
Killbox / Gakking - Actual physical contact is often not allowed during salon-style games, and is very closely monitored in boffer-style games. That said, there will be times that PCs will want to square off against each other via GM/ST moderated confrontation. To run challenge resolution for these confrontations can often take longer to work through than the actual action would take in Real Life, so GMs/STs will often run these mini-scenes away from the main group, thus allowing social or political interaction to continue among PCs not in the conflict. "Killbox" signifies the area set aside for these mini-scenes when PC death is likely to be the result. "Game HQ" and "Gakking" are the terms we encourage players to use when discussing PC death outside of the LARP floor, as "gakking Joe in Game HQ" doesn't raise alarm bells for non-gamers (or law enforcement authorities) the same way that talk of "ambushing Joe in a killbox" is likely to do.
Source Material - The official documentation for the game, usually published in books, PDFs, or straight on the production company's website. It is common to request that "Source" be checked if there is a question about the application of powers or rules that could result in PC death.
Game Mechanics - These are the actual rules in the source material by which the game is played. They determine how your powers or special abilities interact with the environment or other powers wielded within it. PCs are usually aware of game mechanics, but only in the most general "physics of the world" sense.
Character Sheet / PreGen - This is the piece of paper where all the game mechanics for your character are recorded, along with any special notations about powers and abilities. A "PreGen" sheet is one that already has a short backgroud bio and all the relevant traits filled in. It is often used for new players at convention games, as it allows them to drop straight into game without time spent on character creation.
Traits / Stats - These are the things on the character sheet that represent how well (or how poorly) your character does a particular thing. Traits are most often referenced during character creation (to help translate background story into game mechanics) or during challenge resolution when players attempt in-game actions.
Twinks - A less-than-friendly term for players that optimize their character sheet to the detriment or exclusion of character development. Also called "Munchkins", "Cheeseheads", "Min-Maxers", or "One-Trick Ponies" in some RPG circles. While all games on the LARP Floor encourage their players to learn how to make effective use of the traits on the character sheet, be aware that all of our ongoing chronicle games actively discourage concepts and play styles that promote trait-play over roleplay.
XP (Experience Points) - In ongoing RPGs, players earn experience points that they can spend to improve character traits. Many of the games on our LARP floor are part of games that run year-round, and so offer XP to players for participating PCs. Whether or not this XP can be spent during the course of the 4 day convention varies per individual game policy.
Winning the Game - RPGs aren't like board games, so there isn't really a Win/Lose for the people that play. Players win at LARP by meeting their character goals for that game session and having a great time making fantastic story with their friends. We hope that every player has a great time at our games, and remembers to make it a great time for the players with whom they interact. Good Stories to take home = WIN! Contrary to what the "twinks" will say, it really is just as simple as that.