Terminology

[CodeCass]

So I've played FFXIV: ARR for about 5 months, and have played many other MMO's in my day, but there are always some terms that come up that I never quite understand. A few in this particular game keep coming up, so I figured I'd ask, hopefully in a shame-free environment

I hear/read the terms "Proc", "Static Group", and "Pug" quite a bit on these forums and I was just curious of their definitions or meaning in this game.

As always thanks for any and all help!

*Note* If anyone else has any terms they'd like definitions to, please don't hesitated to post them here!

[Anova]

"proc" is a short term for procedure. It refers to a program procedure that runs contingent on something else. Similarly, some actions only become available once you meet a criteria (mercystroke and misery's end only proc if the enemy is at 20% hp). For example, Thunder has a 5% chance of giving you the buff, thundercloud. Therefore, Thunder procs are used to refer to the buff and actions that result when you cast thunder.

"static groups" are basically a group of players who decide to schedule themselves to meet up for specific game events or raids. This usually includes endgame raids, such as the coil of bahamut. In other words, treat it as you would any meeting with people. Most will be very precise in their desired date and time.

"pug" is short for pick-up group. It is used to refer to a party with players you do not know or have no experience playing with. Usually, it is because you are simply asking whoever is online, available, and looking to join. Nobody knows anybody's playing level, strength, or style. You are literally picking people off the street for your party, hence the name.

[Lucke]

Damage dealers are referred to as "DPS" here. Calling them "DD's" will get you odd stares.

"HoT" : Never hear it in ARR, but that means "Heal over Time". These are spells like Regen that don't heal you a bunch right away, they heal you a little bit over time.

Characters are referred to as "characters". Rarely "avatars". Never use "toon" in these here woods.

"Main" is the character you play most of the time. They are the best equipped (usually). "Alts" are alternate characters you create to try something new. These characters may not be as well off in terms of gear.

"Gear" refers to equipment. Saying "I'm geared for coil." means you have equipment that is suitable for that task.

That's all I can think of.

[munkt0r]

PROC explanation is correct, but it actually refers to a Programmed Random OCcurrence (not procedure)

[MartaDemireux]

munkt0r beat me too it.

I'd also like to add that g2g/gtg are generally understood as meaning "got to go" and not "good to go" like it does in some other games. If you say you're "g2g" you might be met with "ok ill find you a rep" here. Instead "rdy", "/", or "o/" should be used to mean you are ready. This comes from Japanese players in FFXI and has carried over here where / is shorthand for o/ which represents a person's head and their hand/arm raised up saying "me", "I'm ready!" or thereabouts.

Also, talking of Japanese: 〆 (閉め, shime, "shee-may") is Japanese slang for "closed" or "party filled up" in MMOs should you see it in a shout ever.

[Niwashi]

"Main" is the character you play most of the time. They are the best equipped (usually). "Alts" are alternate characters you create to try something new. These characters may not be as well off in terms of gear.

And this distinction is further confused in FFXIV because of the way you can play multiple classes on the same character. In most MMOs, an "alt" would be a completely separate character from the one you refer to as your "main". Some players who actually have multiple characters use it the same way here. But here, the same term "alt" can also be applied to secondary classes on your main character. These two meanings can be distinguished if mentioned as "alt character" or "alt class", but if that distinction isn't mentioned the term can be ambiguous.

[ruskie]

DD or DPS is mostly up to the area of the servers one uses it seems. I mostly use DD. It makes more sense since it means damage dealer and not damage per second.

[Enkidoh]

I've always been partial to 'DD' too, but that was more because of what players used in FFXI which I spent nearly 8 years playing so old habits die hard I'm afraid.

As for other terminologies used in the game, this is a good resource to use.