Everquest 2: The Language of gaming

A new generation of speaking has been unfolding in our society for over ten years now. What began as genre specific slang began being adopted by adept game players throught the world. Pretty soon, the gaming industry itself began utilizing a lot of these terms as official descriptions for actions or events in games. I thought it was very funny today, when I was sitting in the gazeebo in the local mall and I could hear two teenages having a very animated discussion. The tiny gray haired woman clutching her J.C Penny's bag next to me sat with the queerest expressions as these anxious boys spoke... listen in:

Boy 1: I managed to kill two but one conned higher than me.
Boy 2: Any phat loot?
Boy 1: No, wasted my MP.
Boy 2: That sucks.
Boy 1: How much HP you got?
Boy 2: Not enough since they nerfed me.
Boy 1: cry more.
Boy 2: I can't even run from aggro now.
Boy 1: Even with buffs?
Boy 2: With buffs I am uber.
Boy 1: Make a bot.
Boy 2: I just use my alt.
Boy 1: A high one?
Boy 2: Took it on raids to grind to 30.
Boy 1: Maybe I can PL you.

Well, needless to say I could understand every word, but the people around sat with glazed expressions as the conversation continued on. It occurred to me that the gaming community has a distinct language all it's own, one in which other, less informed individuals are completely oblivious too. It's like talking in code, and not a soul would have any idea what is being discussed.

The first experience I had in gaming was during the beta for Dark Age Of Camelot. Actually it was my nephews account, he was 14 at the time and very hip on gaming, having previously been an Everquest fiend. However the concept was entirely new to me. I sat down late one evening without anything better to do and started it up, created my character and in the blink of an eye sat staring at the back of my own blonde head. It literally astonished me that the people I saw running around were actually other players somewhere in the world and I was seeing them in real time.

Now as intimidating as it was, the first time someone spoke to me was to say something to this effect; "can u plz buff me?" I wondered if I should have been offended, but as I didn't know how to chat in the interface, I sat there, jumped up and down a few times, and he ran off.

Recently in Lineage 2, I've encountered a few new lingo terms I was unfamiliar with, as a mage I had countless people run up to me and shout "HP!"

I had always been under the impression HP meant "Hit Points" but apparently in lineage, after a LOT of asking, I discovered it means, "Heal, Please." So, sorry to those who died at my feet.

Perhaps even more amazing is the fact that this terminology for game associated references does not appear game specific. Wether you are playing in the Dark Ages (Dark Age of Camelot) or in the far future outer space (Star Wars: Galaxies) you will hear these terms commonly and from everyone. It is a part of the fabric of gaming, as a whole.

For new people who are coming aboard, I've provided a constantly in progress, terminally incomplete gaming glossary hosted in our FAQ section. It might help bridge the gap between the real world and... well... our world.

Ravenorous