Don't know what a word or acronym means?

Don't know what a word or acronym means? We'll help you!
Below you find a list of terms that you might encounter in, or in association with, PBEM (Play By EMail) games or this website.

PBEM Glossary

GM: Game Master.
The person responsible for running the game. The Game Master should always be ready to step in if the story moves in an undesireable direction or if it is slowing down. This person usually also runs the administrative side of the game such as recruiting new players.

AGM: Assistant Game Master.
The AGM helps the Game Master with running the game. Exactly what aspects of the game the Assistant Game Master takes care of is up to the GM and AGM to decide. Sometimes the Assistant Game Master can be responsible for the administrative side, such as post counts and recruitment while the Game Master takes responsability for the creative side.

ACTING GM: Acting Game Master.
A person that takes over the responsabilities of the Game Master if he or she is not availible.

RL: Real Life.
The big scary place outside of the PBEM game.

IC: In Character
Denotes that what you write is to be considered part of what your character does. Usually used with OOC to flip back and forth between what you write and what is part of your post.

OOC: Out Of Character
Tells the reader that what you write after OOC is not part of what your character does but is something you as the writer wants to say. Can be used for example to explain or clarify parts of the post if needed. Often used togeather with IC.

RPG: Role Playing Game
1) See IC.
2) A game where each player takes on the role of a made up character.

NRPG: Non Role Playing Game
See OOC.

PC: Player character.
A character that is controlled by a player in the game. Opposite of NPC. Another person's PC is usually considered protected and can not be used in ways that the owner of the character has not approved.

NPC: Non Player character.
A character not explicitly controlled by a player. In some cases, a NPC character is to be considered protected just like a PC.

Post.
Each player in a PBEM game writes his or her part of the story in a series of posts. A post can be in the form of an email, message on a message board or in any other form as decided by the GM. All posts togeather form an ongoing story, like a book, that describes what happens to the characters and the setting.

PBEM: Play By EMail.
A game where several players collectively writes an ongoing story by taking turns writing down what happens. Also see Post.