A Word on Acronyms

[Dr. B]

This will be a short post:

When new or inexperienced players ask for advice, especially build advice, I often see people giving answers like the following:

Try playing a 2H SB/DC.

FOIG. WYSIWYG. And remember WBTHTGA.

If you play a SS/ftr you can pick up EWS and EMA.

Just use FoM and NEP.

Take ESF: Div for the extended TS.

This is unhelpful, because new players have no idea what any of this means.

That is all.

[Borin Drakkmurl]

...I've been playing here for ages and I understood less than half of that.

[Dachlatte]

Guys thats easy
2H SB/DC
It is a Double-Ham Super Burger/ with free DC mini-comic

[Jagel]

Hear hear

[strong yeet]

"What's FOM?"

"Freedom of Movement."

"Oh, ok!"

Subscribe for more easy interpersonal communication tips.

[thimblegiant]

"What's FOM?"

"Freedom of Movement."

"Oh, ok!"

Subscribe for more easy interpersonal communication tips.

Hmm. Your ideas are intriguing to me, and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

Honestly scratching my head on NEP though. Finding nothing related to nwn, and the only gaming reference the internet coughs up is "Nice Euchre, Partner". Like anyone says that - pfft.

*edit - figured it out. Doh! Still wouldn't mind the newsletter though...

[Dr. B]

"What's FOM?"

"Freedom of Movement."

"Oh, ok!"

Subscribe for more easy interpersonal communication tips.

Someone who is completely new to this environment might not ask for clarification. There are a variety of reasons for that. They might get the impression that the people communicating with them don't want to be helpful and are trying to be hard to understand to discourage them from asking questions. They might be afraid of looking dumb. They might not realize that these are abbreviations for something and try to look them up. They might be non-native English speakers who actually took several minutes to write out their questions, and have difficulty asking a bunch of follow up questions. They might be kids or young teens who have the same issue. I see a lot of people (especially in the Discord) who are obviously ignorant of both the server and the base game ask questions, get responses that are overloaded with acronyms, then not ask follow ups. Bombarding people with this kind in-group lingo (the acronyms make people look knowledgeable and that's probably a reason why they are often used) is off-putting in many ways. So try to use your best judgment and if you want to help someone who obviously has no idea what they're doing, try to think about what they don't know and communicate your ideas accessibly.

[Zavandar]

you can start doing this if you want

still gonna use acronyms

[strong yeet]

Good lord, dude. Talk about mountains and molehills -- there's an awful lot of "mights" and "maybes" in there. Really, I think people use things like "NEP" and "FOM" because negative energy protection and freedom of movement are a lot of characters to type and it's much easier to use three than twenty four. Do you honestly believe things like "ROFL" came about because people wanted to look more knowledgeable?

Anyone sane is all for accessibility and a welcoming community when we're concerned with such a niche hobby as NWN (oops, an acronym) persistent worlds, but I really don't think this kind of thing is that much of a problem.

Though on this note, I do find "build talk," so to speak, seems to degrade with excessive frequency into a laughably pseudo-macho match of one dork's ego against another's. If you ask me, this is a far greater issue regarding accessibility than someone typing STR instead of strength. Take from that what you will.

Edited: for very bad language.

[Skibbles]

To maybe try and turn this thread into something constructive:

Maybe a thread can be made and stickied to the build forum that simply lists all these acronyms and their meaning?

That might help both newbies understand, and veterans save keystrokes.

I certainly only recognize about half those acronyms and I'd find it useful if there was a centralized list.

[Spriggan Bride]

Do you understand what you're saying when you call someone a "limpwrist"? Please don't use terms like that? I want to give you the benefit of the doubt that you're not being as homophobic as you sound.

I think a thread defining acronyms would be a good idea, Maybe a wiki page too?

[Anira]

I have to admit, I've been playing this game for 20 years and I still don't understand the mechanics.

Getting a paragraph full of acronyms really doesn't help me. I know they are easier to type and all, but if you don't have a clue what Negative Energy Protection does, then seeing NEP tells me nothing. I wish folks would take the time to just type it out for the clueless among us. I mean, if you're going looking for answers, the last thing you want to do is ask a zillion more questions and look like a complete and utter idiot.

[Royal Blood]

I think the OP is pretty reasonable. The amount of 'edgy posting' has me scratching my head. It just goes to show you can be outraged by anything. Like even I've been playing for awhile but figuring out what the acronyms in build sheets can be difficult.

All the OP is asking is that people consider that when giving advice, explain or do not use acronyms.
As some users pointed out the acronyms save time but have you really saved any time if the person reading has no idea what you said?

If the forums really want something to fight about I'm starting a thread about Wharftown and also lights keep.. (This is sarcasm))

[DM Rex]

There is validity in the concern that someone might not understand your shorthand. It does happen.
Perhaps going forward we can either initially strive to put in our first post "DW (Death Ward)" and have that as a reference as an example. Ultimately there's no harm in getting clarification.

Please be respectful.

[Hazard]

IDK TBCH N IDGAF B TY 4 P OKTTYL TY BB

Maybe a reference list. I've been playing since there's been a game to play and I still don't know some of the short-hand for a lot of stuff.

[Tarkus the dog]

I think that finding out what FoM and NEP is as a new player is highly recommended considering that lacking either will, most of the time, be what kills you in PvP.

That said, the context of the post seems to be missing.

[Archnon]

I'll admit I'm guilty of this. Will start to be more aware. Couple of things:

A forum post is a great idea. Also. Wiki page to be honest. New players really do read the wiki.

Context matters. If your talking to people you know, abbreviate. If it is new players, spell it out. I don't text acronyms to my grandma because I know she won't understand.

Finally acronyms develop and change as the community changes. You may be in the know now but may be the confused one later. (DD or EKD or ED anyone? All ways I have seen Earthling Defender written.) Always best to be respectful.

[mjones3]

I put what came to mind quickly in the new player guide. Hit me up with more here on on the wiki part of the discord and I'll add more in. I'll give you some of my Hoodoo coins if you put them in alphabetical order for me.

http://wiki.nwnarelith.com/New_player_g ... d_Acronyms

[Security_Blanket]

Just ask when you don't know, repeat each acronym followed by a question mark, it's not hard. I understand it can seem annoying when you're a new player, but at the same time, this game is 20 years old. I understood all of that because I've been playing that long, it just comes with exposure. I'm fully aware that most people won't understand what I mean when I say "II", veteran players will know what it means but many others don't but I'll throw a bone and use the longer short form of "imp invis". As you play and even just work them out for yourself it will get easier. You'll still run into confusion sometimes as to whether "ESF" means "Epic Skill Focus" or "Epic Spell Focus".

[CNS]

CL.

Oh Character level?

No CL

Caster level?

No CL

Class level?

NO CL!!!!

What do you mean?

CL for dispells

Ahh Effective creator level

Yes! Finally.

[Dr. B]

Listen, I'm not saying you can never use acronyms. I use acronyms. I'm just saying use your best judgment and avoid using them in situations where they're clearly unhelpful for the person you're speaking to.

[Maladus]

I put what came to mind quickly in the new player guide. Hit me up with more here on on the wiki part of the discord and I'll add more in. I'll give you some of my Hoodoo coins if you put them in alphabetical order for me.

http://wiki.nwnarelith.com/New_player_g ... d_Acronyms

FOIG
WYSIWYG

[Itikar]

I put what came to mind quickly in the new player guide. Hit me up with more here on on the wiki part of the discord and I'll add more in. I'll give you some of my Hoodoo coins if you put them in alphabetical order for me.

http://wiki.nwnarelith.com/New_player_g ... d_Acronyms

FoM has been mistakently attached at the end of the EWS line, instead of being on its own line.

[Skibbles]

From to OP I bolded some to add, the ones I didn't understand, so hopefully someone can chime in on what they mean too.

Try playing a 2H SB/DC.

FOIG. WYSIWYG. And remember WBTHTGA.

On the wiki FoM needs to be formatted to its own line and freedom is misspelled.

Also,

I put what came to mind quickly in the new player guide. Hit me up with more here on on the wiki part of the discord and I'll add more in. I'll give you some of my Hoodoo coins if you put them in alphabetical order for me.

http://wiki.nwnarelith.com/New_player_g ... d_Acronyms

Thank you for doing this.

[Tikin]

EDR Epic Damage Reduction (feat)

WYSWYG What You See is What You Get

FOIG Find Out In Game

SD Shadow Dancer (class)

AA Arcane Archer (class)

TF True Flame (class)

LM Lore Master (class)

CoT Champion of Torm (=vanilla name of Arelith's DC Divine Champion) (class)

DC Divine Champion (class)

IB Invisible Blade (class)

FS Favored Soul (class)

PM Pale Master (class)

BG Black Guard (class)

SB SwashBuckler (class)

WM Weapon Master (class)

CD Cool Down

WoF Word of Faith (spell)

MoD Mark of Destiny / Mark of Despair (xp factor)



I am sure I missed a lot but this was just going throught Char build section of Arelith official discord over few days.
Really good idea this list to help newcomers
I added in parenthesis a short indication of what it is, just an idea to help further.

Thanks a lot for your work on the WIKI (What I Know Is xD)