RPGSpeak
                                    --------

                                      by 

                                 John M. Ford 


            CHARACTER:  A set of numbers created for the purpose of
          killing things.

            THINGS:  Sets of numbers created to be killed by
          characters.

            MONSTER: A subset of THINGS that may occcasionally kill
          characters in return, as determined by DICE (which see).

            CHARACTER CREATION SYSTEM:  There are two varieties.  In
          DIE-ROLLING SYSTEMS the player rolls dice until an acceptably
          large set of values appears.  POINT-ALLOCATION SYSTEMS save
          time by permitting the player to make up the numbers.

            COMBAT SYSTEM:  A method of dramatically postponing the
          killing of things.

            MAGIC SYSTEM:  A method of dramatically increasing the
          number of things that may be killed in one game-turn.

            ATTRIBUTES:  Points scored for successful play of the
          CHARACTER CREATION SYSTEM (which see).  ATTRIBUTES come in
          many named varieties, each of which measures the character's
          ability to kill things.  (Exceptions are HIT POINTS, which
          measure things' ability to kill the character, and WISDOM,
          which measures nothing.)

            EXPERIENCE POINTS:  1) A mathematical expression of the
          designer's awe at his latest monster.  2) An award of no
          intrinsic value, which may be exchanged for the ability to
          accumulate such awards at an increased rate.  See WAGE-PRICE
          SPIRAL.

            MONEY:  See EXPERIENCE POINTS (defs. 1 and 2).

            ALIGNMENT:  An acceptable form of prejudice in RPG
          societies, leading to random violence, political overthrow,
          and occasionally genocide.

            CLASS:  An arbitrary set of union rules that influence the
          players' selection of numbers in the CHARACTER CREATION
          SYSTEM.  ("The history of role-playing games is a history of
          class struggle."  -- Gandalf Marx, 14th-level Philospher)

            LEVEL:  Method of counting EXPERIENCE POINTS for those who
          cannot cope with three-digit numbers.

            NPC CLASS:  A CLASS (which see), forbidden to players,
          which is so effective at killing things that all players
          immediately acuire such characters.

            MODIFIER:  Any number which may be ignored.

            TABLE:  A graphic device consisting of a numbered list of
          vaguely related words, intended to save time and enhance play
          by ensuring that the same three goblins appear every five
          minutes.

            GAMEMASTER SCREEN:  A graphic device that combines
          frequently-used reference materials into a form they should
          have had to begin with.  Theoretically intended to stand
          erect, shielding GM documents from view; in practice,
          designed to topple over when subjected to such game table
          events as rolling dice or breathing.

            PLAYER SATISFACTION:  Calculated by the neo-Lanchester
          formula:

                             (TK/CK x NS/CP)ND x BC

            where TK = number of things killed by characters
                  CK = number of characters killed by things
                  CP = cover price of rules and supplements
                  NS = number of supplements
                  ND = number of types of dice required for play
                  BC = beers consumed during session

            BASIC SET: The first three volumes of a game system, always
          packaged as an independent unit whether or not they are
          adequate to begin play.

            ADVANCED SETS:  Volumes that must be added to the BASIC SET
          to make play possible, unless advertised as an ENTIRELY NEW
          GAME (which see).

            SUPPLEMENTS:  Method of avoiding REVISION (which see).

            PUBLISHER'S MAGAZINE:  Method of insuring that errata,
          rules modifications, discussions, etc. go out of print in the
          shortest possible time.

            MINIATURES:  A time-consuming and expensive art form in
          which many role-players indulge, in the same hope of eventual
          utility that leads others to save pieces of string.

            COMPUTER ROLE-PLAYING:  A technique for enjoying all the
          tedious mechanical aspects of gaming with none of the human
          response or interaction.

            REVISION:  See ENTIRELY NEW GAME.

            ENTIRELY NEW GAME:  See REVISION.

            DICE:  Small objects used to generate excuses for poor
          performance.