Project Lore

We've all been there. Those early days when we first start playing a game, and it seems that we know less about it than everyone around us. The gameplay mechanics are totally new, maybe the controls are something unlike what we've ever used before, and it's sometimes hard to find a place to even begin to learn how to get around menus and customization. But for me, one of the most alienating aspects of this delicate time period boils down to lingo. When it came to WoW, I was one of the last among my RL friends to start playing. Now I don't need babying, but I did appreciate the occasional explanation of one of any number of 3-letter combinations common to WoW. Let's face it: for a game that can fill an entire glossary, there's a lot of terminology. And when multiple terms are grouped together, it can be perplexing for a new player to discern what it all means. With a little help along the way, soon the game became second nature. I knew the difference between BoE and BoP (not to be confused with Bot).  I could find my way to RFC, RFD and RFK, and once inside I could pwn on trash without anyone knowing I was a newb. Just don't ask me the difference between CoA, CoD, CoEx, CoR or any of those other warlock spells. I still get them confused! But I can see it going an entirely different direction. If I had started out playing and joined a guild of non-RL friends who only laughed or scoffed at my lack of knowledge, I also could have just decided the game wasn't for me. And I'd never have gotten to the point of watching the Project Lore crew tearing it up in Naxx and knowing enough to laugh along when Alex joyfully proclaims, "Now this is what we call crowd control!" There's a lot of lingo that overlaps with gaming in general, so anyone with experience with other RPGs, especially MMOs, has a bit of an advantage starting out in WoW. But try to remember: there are tons of other RL people on the same server with you, and not every one is going to be a lingo expert right away. Don't potentially ruin someone else's gaming experience by being an ass. Just like with me, babying isn't required. But a shred of common courtesy goes a long way. So do you all remember your first days of WoW? What abbreviations or terminology tripped you up at first, or still puzzles you now? I still can't keep track of all the dungeons, but then again there's still plenty that I haven't been in yet. Leveling FTW!

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I just finished uploading the first revision of the Project Lore Glossary! I think we have a pretty good start, but I'm sure you guys can think of some abbreviations or terms we are missing. Or maybe you've heard some phrase in game that you just don't understand. If so, just fire off an email to editor@projectlore.com and let me know what you think we should add.

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