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Game » consists of 7 releases. Released July 1987
ASCII is often used as a way to replace images where they can't be used, i.e. maps in a text based guide. In the past, adventure-games have also used ASCII-art.
Attributes are a numerical representation of a character's abilities who have their roots in RPGs. Today, attributes have spilled over to a wide range of game genres.
The Black Market is a concept wherein players may buy or sell items through alternative means. This is often a way to make more money but can often land the player into trouble.
Classes are different archetypes and playstyles that players can choose to play their game with.
A punishment set by the gods or in their name to a someone who has commited an offensive action towards them or the general good. If a third party (other than a god) delivers this punishment, the measure of such is given according to their point of view.
Carefully exploring a large, labyrinthine area full of enemies (i.e., a dungeon) in the hopes of finding treasure, leveling up, or completing a specific task. Having their roots in tabletop games, video game dungeon crawls are found almost exclusively in RPGs.
Freeware games are those which have their full versions legally free to download or otherwise obtain.
The concept of a game referencing another game through mockery, parody or even directly. A game reference to the same franchise does not count.
The gelatinous cube is a monster created by Gary Gygax for Dungeons & Dragons, a ten foot cube of malevolent jelly that absorbs and consumes all organic material in its path.
Health is a value that gauges how much damage players can take in a game before they die or pass out. Also known as life in some games. Health is usually represented by a bar or a percentage instead of an exact amount. Found in most non sport games
Anthropomorphic beings sent by God to wreak divine havoc. There are traditionally four horsemen, though their roles vary greatly depending on the game.
Some video games utilize a system that has the player occasionally consuming food items to keep their hunger under control. Ignoring it can result in decreased stamina, or in some cases, death of the player's character and a "Game Over" screen.
In many role-playing games, especially Western action-RPGs and roguelikes, items can be found that are unidentified - the player can see limited info about the type of item it is, but not specific stats. Usually a scroll or spell is needed to identify loot.
Illithids or mind flayers are monsters originating from D&D who use their psychic powers to shatter their foes' minds. Some become their thralls while others are simply a snack as they crack open their skulls and feast on their brains.
A situation where the player-controlled character loses their life immediately. The quickness of that demise is often a stark departure from the balance of power, and sometimes the rules, established by the developers during the rest of the game.
A MacGuffin is a plot device, having little importance itself, which exists purely in order to motivate characters and/or advance the story.
Short for mana points or magic points, the resource required to use spells or other special skills in many role-playing games.
Mythological creatures with the body of the human and the head of a bull. They are often found in video game dungeons, waiting for foolhardy players to stumble upon their lairs. Sometimes they're mindlessly violent, other times they're oddly peaceful and in tune with the world around them.
Penalties to movement speed. How far/fast the player can walk. This may depend upon difficult terrain and what type of gear is being carried.
Open source games are games that have had their source code officially released to the public, allowing anyone to modify, distribute, and create ports of the game.
Owlbears are, as the name suggests, a cross between an owl and a bear and are a staple creature in the Dungeons & Dragons universe.
A concept where the game must be restarted if you are killed. It is a mechanic found in most arcade games, but the term is usually used in reference to the RPG genre where the mechanic is less common, particularly "roguelike" games as well as strategy games such as Fire Emblem or Final Fantasy Tactics where characters die if they are defeated in battle. Often used as a significant plot device.
Some games include pets you can either ride on, battle with, or simply enjoy spending time with.
Procedural Generation refers to the creation of content algorithmically as the game is running. This content generally coexists with standard, authored content; the two are not mutually exclusive.
Dungeons that are generated randomly.
Regenerating health is a gameplay mechanic which automatically refills the players health bar after successfully escaping damage for a set amount of time. It is typically seen in RPGs and modern first/third-person shooters.
Roguelike is a sub-genre of role-playing games characterized by the exploration of randomly-generated dungeons and permanent death. These characteristics were featured in the classic computer game Rogue, hence the term "Roguelike".
A creature which is made up of mostly identical segments and has an elongated shape.
Some minions will grow weary of constantly waiting for the protagonist, allowing said protagonist to sneak past the obstacles or catch them off guard.
A succubus is a demoness with the appearance of a beautiful woman that seduces men to steal their energy during sexual encounters.
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