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A bit of an odd question, how much rule book jargon do you folks use as actual setting slang? Do your magic users refer to potential psychic energy as PPE? Or do they have more colorful and culturally biased euphemisms for it? Like the force or dragon chi? Do your men at arms refer to megadamage as a real thing? Or do they discuss how many joules different energy weapons can output?

I tend to use "psychic energy" & "inner strength"

I had also worded the spells into minor major greater greatest common basic superior legend etc. but I seem to have misplaced my final notes.

In character our group stays away from game jargon. We use terms like mana, magical energies, even divine power for PPE. Terms like mental focus, mental energies, or psychic power for ISP. Chi still tends to be chi.

I try to steer clear of game terminology as much as possible or hint at it. Not always easy in game but I'll get there.

The only setting slang I have used so far is derogatory in nature used to aggravate the characters.

Oh

And the Naruni employees and other natives of Phaseworld always put Space in front of things.

"Do you guys know where I can get good a Space-Soda?"
"Those didn't look like ordinary Space-Ninja."
"Makes Space-sense to me guys."
"Make peace with Space-God sucker, you're done!"

Etc, Etc, Etc.

This is normally met with queer and confused looks from the PC party... I am not quite sure they've figured out why some people do it and others don't yet but thats half the fun.

If I recall correctly, PPE (Potential Psychic Energy) is a setting slang from Beyond the Supernatural, so I do allow it. For others, it's on a case by case basis (MDC and MD I don't allow in game speak, etc.).

My spell casters have always referred to their PPE as "my power" as in "my power has been taxed too highly already and I must rest before opening the rift..."

MD weapons have always been "tactical superiority weapons", while sustaining mega damage is called "catastrophic damage".

hasn't come up in any of my games, but i like to think of "MDC" in universe (such as some of the use of the term by erin tarn) as "mega-joule destruction class".. referring to the fact most weapons of that power are imparting megajoules of energy to their targets. and since the amount and type of destruction different weapons do can be guaged by the amount of energy they impart, classifying weapons by that seems likely.

though i'd say SDC is a pure game mechanic, and in universe it's just whatever term we'd use in real life.

Bill wrote:A bit of an odd question, how much rule book jargon do you folks use as actual setting slang? Do your magic users refer to potential psychic energy as PPE? Or do they have more colorful and culturally biased euphemisms for it? Like the force or dragon chi? Do your men at arms refer to megadamage as a real thing? Or do they discuss how many joules different energy weapons can output?

"PPE" and "Megadamage" are in-game terms as well as out-of-game.

Usually, in my groups, they don't refer to it.
When they DO, they refer to PPE as "energy," and "megadamage" stuff as "mega," which also means "awesome" or "cool.

SpiritInterface wrote:In character our group stays away from game jargon. We use terms like mana, magical energies, even divine power for PPE. Terms like mental focus, mental energies, or psychic power for ISP. Chi still tends to be chi.

This is how things should be.

The use of the terms PPE and ISP should be limited to those cultures which are highly magic based.
And MD & MDC should be referred to as "military grade" or something similar.

When we play, my players will ask if a structure is regular or MDC. For instance he wants to kick a door in he asks if he can visually tell if its a regular (SDC) dorr or MDC door. Sometimes I allow them to know by describing the setting in very detailed manner or they test it out with their vibro blade, or numerous other ways. For most things, in my setting, I allow them to visually ascertain the difference, but it is fun to throw the odd curveball in there. Just think how boring it would be if you had a character have to constantly ask if the, insert item here, is MDC so it could withstand their weight (obviously a 'borg pc).
As for guns, I show them the damage in the book (when purchasing a new weapon for instance) but they don't say "hey do you have the new triax rifle that does 4d6md ?" to the shop keeper. I describe damage done to them as either sd or md (again usually descriptively in game) and tell them how much damage they sustained for game mechanic reasons.
Magic and Psionics, same thing, my players state they are using their powers but don't say they need more PPE to cast that, they just say (if anything) something like they are too tired, drained, taxed, etc.