GAME (Publisher)
"TITLE"by AUTHOR(S)
PUBLISHER(S), YEAR, #PGS
ISBN: NUMBER
"Notes or reviews." - Source
'RPG'
'Role-Playing Game' -- the entire game context within which several scenarios or an entire campaign may take place. This term also refers to a specific gaming system which is being used to play the game, whether it was created by a publishing company, adapted from such a published game and then employed by the Game Master (GM, see below), or fashioned completely for use by those managing and/or engaging in the group storytelling.'GM, DM'
'PC, PCs'
'Game Master, Dungeon Master' -- the individual (usually a single individual, though at times pairs or groups may operate together or in succession) who referees and guides the group storytelling event, keeping track of the rules which are to be used, managing dice rolls, player record-keeping, and generally serving to craft the fictive atmosphere of the game as well as its particular randomized and decisive punctuations. Since dungeon exploration constituted the scenarios within which early fantasy role-playing initiated (consider the 'generic' term for its inception: "Dungeons and Dragons" by TSR, after Tolkien's story with Smaug), the term 'Dungeon Master' (DM) was used, though this has generally been replaced by the more expansive and meaningful title: Game Master (GM).
'Player Character, Player Characters' -- the fictional character (often a single one, sometimes a band, party, or troupe) role-played by a single player, whose statistics (characteristics, experience, skills) and possessions are tracked and scored as the story progresses.'NPC, NPCs'
'Non-Player Character, Non-Player Characters' -- those characters which are generally constructed by and role-played by the Game Master (although she may instead employ assistants to this purpose from amongst friends or even other players in the game). Depending on the level of involvement in the scenario or campaign, an NPC's statistics and possessions may be extremely well-detailed, and their background and motivations may also be specified for ease of recall by the GM or for usage of others who may facilitate their role-playing.'XP'
'Experience', 'Experience Points' -- the currency of character development, experience points are gleaned on the basis of the Game Master's reward for role-playing, strategy, or die rolling. Typically a scenario or minor portion of the storytelling plot is 'worth' an award of experience points to the characters partaking of it. Those who steered to the sidelines, who did not participate fully in the action, whose role-playing enthusiasm and engagement were sub-par, or whose die rolls indicated a general failure to add to any successful outcome of intended game action, would be awarded fewer experience points at the terminus of the gaming scenario or session.Experience points may often, depending upon the gaming system, be traded for advancement of skill levels, at times with the combination of training sessions in the skill being enhanced or improved. At times automatic skillset advancement is presumed based on accumulation of such points.