Reference

Glossary

The words Black Box and its guides use, in plain English. Each points to the guide that explains it.

AFK: Away from keyboard. One of the three roleplay modes, shown on your HUD and over your head. Play in character
Area attack: An ability that hits everyone in an area instead of the targets you pick: around you, in a row, or where you aim the in-world placer. Area attacks
Auth key: A code staff put in each in-world object's script so the server knows the object is the sim's own. In-world setup
Back row / front row: Where a character stands in a fight, if the sim uses rows. Melee from the back row does less damage. Rows, cover and range
Command channel: The chat channel your HUD listens on for @ commands. You set it under Settings on the HUD. Chat commands
Cover: How well hidden you are in a fight: Exposed, Stand-Off, In Cover or High Ground, if the sim uses cover ratings. Rows, cover and range
Delivery server: An in-world object that hands out the HUD and sends players a new copy when there's an update. In-world setup
Downed: What happens when a character's HP reaches 0 in a fight. They can't act until they're helped or the fight ends. Wounds
Emote: A roleplay post in local chat. If your sim rewards roleplay, emotes earn experience. What you write is never stored. Events and rewards
Energy: The points you spend to act. In a fight it can work as action points, filled up each turn; when it runs out, your turn ends. Your turn
Game system: A sim's rule set: how checks and turns work, and which optional rules are on. A group can have its own. Rule sets and options
HP: Health. Damage takes it away; healing and wound treatment give it back. Wounds
HUD: The screen you wear in Second Life to play on a Black Box sim. Your sim hands it out. Wearing the HUD
IC / OOC: In character / out of character. Switch with the HUD's button, @ic or @ooc. Play in character
Influence: What earns promotions in a group. In Black Box it's the character's experience. Groups and ranks
Leader: The person who runs a fight's party: they invite, start the fight and can kick or hand over the lead. Start a fight
Mana: What spells cost, if your sim uses magic. Magic
NPC: A character run by staff instead of a player. NPCs can talk to you in quests and fight alongside or against you. Quests and NPCs
Optional rule: One of more than two hundred fight rules a game system switches on or off, from cover to magic. Optional fight rules
Panel: Your sim's website, where players see their characters and staff run the sim. Your sim's website
Party: The group of characters in one fight, on one or two teams. Start a fight
Perk: A lasting bonus a character picks with perk points, if the sim uses perk picks. Levels, perks and respecs
Profession: A trade such as smithing or herbalism, which crafting recipes can ask for. Levels, perks and respecs
Range band: How far a target is for an ability: in range, sub-optimal (a roll penalty) or out of range. Rows, cover and range
Respec: Handing back a character's stat points (and skills and picked perks) to spend again, on the sim's terms. Levels, perks and respecs
RP channel: The chat channel your HUD speaks your character's lines on, if your sim uses one. Settings
Sparring: A practice fight that leaves no wounds and gives HP back afterwards. Start a fight
Stance: Standing, crouching or prone in a fight, if the sim uses tactical movement. Tactics
Stipend: Regular pay from a group, at a rate set by the sim. Groups and ranks
Storyteller: A staff role for running quests, events and NPCs. Groups, ranks and access
Strip: The HUD shrunk to a thin bar that stays on screen. The Home screen
Tactics: Moves besides your abilities in a fight: stance, cover, stealth, grapples, aiming and more. Tactics
Theme: The HUD's art and colours. Each sim, and each group, can have its own. The HUD's look
Titler: The text over your head: name, title, status and more. Play in character
Wound: An injury a character carries after a fight, until it heals or is treated, if the sim uses wounds. Wounds