TTRPG Terminology Glossary

TTRPG / Tabletop Role-Playing Game

Collaborative game where players create a story guided by rules and dice. Players roleplay characters in an imaginary world narrated by the DM.

Example: 'D&D is the most popular TTRPG in the world.'

DM / Dungeon Master

The narrator and referee of the game. Describes the world, controls NPCs, and determines consequences of player actions.

Example: 'The DM described the dark and mysterious tavern.'

PC / Player Character

Your character that you control in the game. It's your avatar in the game world.

Example: 'My PC is an elf wizard named Eldrin.'

NPC / Non-Player Character

Characters controlled by the DM (world inhabitants, enemies, allies). Not controlled by any player.

Example: 'The shopkeeper NPC sold us healing potions.'

Campaign

Series of connected sessions telling a long story (like a TV series). Can last months or years.

Example: 'Our campaign has lasted 20 sessions and we're still in the same story.'

One-Shot

Complete adventure in a single session (like a movie). Perfect for beginners or trying new systems.

Example: 'We played a 4-hour one-shot and completed the whole adventure.'

Session

One period of play, typically 2-4 hours. Like an episode in a series.

Example: 'Our weekly session is every Friday night.'

d20

20-sided die. Used for most checks in D&D. The number indicates the result of your actions.

Example: 'Roll the d20 to see if your attack hits.'

d6, d8, d10, d12

Other common dice. The number indicates how many sides the die has. Used for damage, special abilities, etc.

Example: 'Your sword does 1d8 damage' means one 8-sided die.

Roll

Throwing dice to determine the result of an action. Most common roll is d20 + modifier.

Example: 'Make an Athletics roll to climb the wall.'

Nat 20 / Critical Success

When you roll 20 on the d20. Automatic and special success. Often causes additional effects like double damage.

Example: 'Nat 20! Your critical attack does double damage.'

Nat 1 / Critical Fail

When you roll 1 on the d20. Epic (sometimes comical) failure. Many tables add dramatic consequences.

Example: 'Nat 1 on your attack... you accidentally hit your ally.'

Advantage

Roll 2d20 and use the higher result. Represents favorable situation (attacking distracted enemy, high ground, etc.).

Example: 'You have advantage because the enemy is blinded.'

Disadvantage

Roll 2d20 and use the lower result. Represents unfavorable situation (attacking in darkness, injured, etc.).

Example: 'You have disadvantage because you're poisoned.'

Modifier

Number you add or subtract from the die result. Comes from your stats, skills, and equipment.

Example: 'You roll 15 + 3 modifier = 18 total.'

DC / Difficulty Class

Target number. If your roll + modifier ≥ DC, you succeed. Higher DC = harder task.

Example: 'The DC to pick the lock is 15. You need to roll 12 or higher with your +3.'

Initiative

Turn order in combat (determined by roll + DEX modifier). Decides who acts first.

Example: 'You rolled 18 initiative, you go first this combat.'

Class

Your character's role (Fighter, Wizard, Rogue, etc.). Determines abilities, combat style, and progression.

Example: 'My class is Fighter, I'm good at melee combat.'

Race

Your character's species (Human, Elf, Dwarf, etc.). Gives stat bonuses and special abilities.

Example: 'I chose Elf because they have darkvision.'

Alignment

Your character's moral ethics (Lawful Good, Chaotic Neutral, etc.). Guides roleplay and decisions.

Example: 'My character is Chaotic Good: does good but breaks rules.'

Level

Indicator of your character's power. You start at level 1, level up with XP. Each level unlocks new abilities.

Example: 'I reached level 5 and can now cast fireball.'

XP / Experience Points

Points you gain from playing (defeating enemies, completing objectives). Enough XP = level up.

Example: 'We earned 300 XP for defeating the dragon.'

Stats / Ability Scores

6 basic attributes (STR, DEX, CON, INT, WIS, CHA). Numbers (usually 8-18) that define your character's capabilities.

Example: 'I have 16 Strength, I'm very physically strong.'

STR / Strength

Physical strength. Determines melee weapon attacks, carrying heavy equipment, athletics.

DEX / Dexterity

Agility and reflexes. Determines Armor Class, initiative, ranged attacks, acrobatics, stealth.

CON / Constitution

Endurance and health. Determines Hit Points, resisting poison, fatigue, diseases.

INT / Intelligence

Intellect and memory. Determines arcane magic (Wizard), knowledge skills, investigation.

WIS / Wisdom

Perception and common sense. Determines divine magic (Cleric), perception, intuition, survival.

CHA / Charisma

Personality and persuasion. Determines social interaction, leadership, some types of magic.

HP / Hit Points

Health points. Reach 0 = unconscious (possible death). Recovered by resting or healing.

Example: 'I have 25 HP. The enemy did 10 damage, now I have 15 HP.'

AC / Armor Class

How hard you are to hit. Armor + DEX + others. Enemies must roll equal or higher to hit you.

Example: 'My AC is 16. Enemy rolled 14, they missed.'

Roleplay / RP

Acting as your character (dialogue, decisions, emotions). Can be minimal ('I convince the guard') or maximum (acting with voice).

Example: 'I roleplayed my character intimidating the bandit.'

Turn

Your opportunity to act in combat (typically ~6 seconds of game time). You can move, take action, bonus action, reaction.

Example: 'On my turn, I move 30 feet and attack the goblin.'

Action

Main thing you do on your turn (attack, cast spell, dodge, help ally, etc.). Only one per turn.

Example: 'I use my action to attack with my sword.'

Bonus Action

Quick secondary action (some abilities use this). Not everyone has bonus action available each turn.

Example: 'I use bonus action to drink a potion.'

Reaction

Action on someone else's turn (e.g., Opportunity Attack when enemy flees). Only one reaction per round.

Example: 'The goblin tries to flee, I use my reaction to attack it.'

Skill Check

Roll to see if you succeed at something (Persuasion, Stealth, Athletics, etc.). Roll d20 + relevant modifier.

Example: 'Make a Perception check to search for traps.'

Saving Throw / Save

Roll to resist negative effect (poison, spell, fall, etc.). Use relevant stat + proficiency if applicable.

Example: 'Make a DEX saving throw or take full fire damage.'

Attack Roll

Roll to see if you hit an enemy. d20 + modifier. Must equal or exceed enemy AC.

Example: 'You roll 17 + 5 = 22 attack. You hit! (enemy AC was 16)'

Damage Roll

Dice to determine how much damage you do if you hit. Depends on weapon/spell. Subtracted from enemy HP.

Example: 'Your sword does 1d8+3 damage. You roll 6, total 9 damage.'

Module

Pre-published adventure that DMs can use (also called 'adventure'). Includes story, maps, NPCs, encounters.

Example: 'We're playing the official Lost Mine of Phandelver module.'

Homebrew

Content created by the DM (unofficial). Can be world, rules, classes, races, custom monsters.

Example: 'This campaign is homebrew, the DM created the whole world.'

RAW / Rules As Written

Following rules exactly as written in official books. No interpretations or changes.

Example: 'By RAW, you can't do that, the book forbids it.'

RAI / Rules As Intended

Interpreting rules according to game designer's intention. Sometimes differs from RAW due to errors or ambiguity.

Example: 'RAI, I think the designer intended it to work this way.'

House Rules

Custom table rules (variations on official rules). Each DM may have their own house rules.

Example: 'House rule: you can take potion as bonus action, not action.'

D&D / Dungeons & Dragons

The world's most popular TTRPG. Medieval high fantasy with magic, dragons, dungeons. Currently in 5th edition.

Example: 'D&D 5e is perfect for beginners due to simple rules.'

Pathfinder

System similar to D&D, more complex with more options. High fantasy. Popular D&D alternative.

Example: 'Pathfinder 2e has more customization options than D&D 5e.'

Call of Cthulhu

Lovecraftian horror system. Investigation, mystery, cosmic terror. Uses d100 instead of d20.

Example: 'Call of Cthulhu is perfect if you like psychological horror.'

5e / Fifth Edition

The current edition of D&D (released 2014). Known for simplicity and accessibility for new players.

Example: '5e simplified many rules from previous editions.'

SRD / System Reference Document

Free basic rules of D&D. Doesn't include all content but enough to play.

Example: 'You can start with the free SRD before buying books.'

VTT / Virtual Tabletop

Software for playing online (Roll20, Foundry, Fantasy Grounds, etc.). Includes maps, virtual dice, character sheets.

Example: 'We use Roll20 as our VTT to play remotely.'

Character Sheet

Sheet with all your character's info (stats, abilities, equipment, history, etc.). Can be paper or digital.

Example: 'Update your character sheet when you level up.'

Dice Roller

App or bot that rolls dice virtually. Useful for playing online or if you don't have physical dice.

Example: 'Use Discord's dice roller: type '/roll 1d20+5'.'

Map

Visual representation of the play area. Can be grid (for tactical combat) or 'theater of the mind' (imaginary).

Example: 'The DM showed the dungeon map with our character tokens.'

Token / Miniature

Representation of your character on the map. Can be physical miniature, chip, or digital token in VTT.

Example: 'Move your token 6 squares toward the enemy.'

Session Zero

Pre-game session to establish expectations, boundaries (sensitive topics), safety tools, and create characters together.

Example: 'In session zero we agreed to avoid graphic horror in the campaign.'

TPK / Total Party Kill

All PCs die. Rare but possible if combat was too difficult or decisions too risky.

Example: 'We suffered a TPK against the adult dragon. We overestimated ourselves!'

Metagaming

Using player knowledge (not character knowledge). Generally avoided because it breaks immersion.

Example: 'That's metagaming. Your character doesn't know the NPC is a traitor.'

Railroading

DM forces a story without allowing player choices. Like being on train tracks (only one path). Frowned upon.

Example: 'The DM is railroading. They ignored all our decisions.'

Murderhobo

Player who only kills NPCs without roleplay or considering consequences. Homeless because they burn villages. Generally frowned upon.

Example: 'Stop being a murderhobo, we need allies, not corpses.'

Min-Maxing

Optimizing character for maximum power (maximizing strengths, minimizing weaknesses). Whether acceptable varies by table.

Example: 'They min-maxed: 20 STR but 6 CHA. Super strong but no personality.'