The Ultimate TTRPG Glossary

Tabletop role-playing games, or TTRPGs, offer one of the most immersive storytelling experiences in gaming.

Whether you’re rolling dice in Dungeons & Dragons, exploring new worlds in a tabletop RPG campaign, or just getting started with pen-and-paper games, understanding common TTRPG terms is essential.

From concepts like Game Master (GM) and ability checks to mechanics such as initiative, saving throws, and critical hits, the language of tabletop RPGs can feel overwhelming for newcomers. That’s why we’ve prepared this ultimate TTRPG glossary, featuring 50+ essential tabletop RPG terms every player should know.

Whether you’re a beginner learning the basics or a veteran player looking to refresh your RPG terminology, this guide will help you navigate the world of tabletop role-playing games with ease!

TTRPG (Tabletop Role-Playing Game)

A form of role-playing game where players describe their characters' actions through speech in a physical or virtual social setting.

GM / DM (Game Master / Dungeon Master)

The person who organizes the game, acts as the narrator, and adjudicates the rules.

PC (Player Character)

A character controlled by a player rather than the Game Master.

NPC (Non-Player Character)

Any character in the game world controlled by the GM, from shopkeepers to ancient deities.

Campaign Setting

The fictional world or universe where the game takes place, such as the ash-laden and myth-rich landscapes of Odsire: Pyres of Cappadocia.

Sourcebook

A book containing rules, lore, and information for a specific game or setting; Odsire serves as a premium sourcebook for 5e enthusiasts looking for cultural depth.

5e (Fifth Edition)

The most popular version of the world's oldest role-playing game, which focuses on streamlined mechanics and accessibility.

Session 0

A preliminary meeting where players and GMs discuss expectations, safety tools, and character creation before the story begins.

One-Shot

A self-contained TTRPG adventure designed to be played in a single session.

Campaign

A series of connected adventures featuring the same group of characters over a long period.

Homebrew

Custom-made content, such as rules or settings, not found in official books; Odsire is the perfect foundation for DMs looking to enhance their homebrew worlds with Anatolian flair.

d20

The iconic twenty-sided die used for most action resolutions in many TTRPG systems.

Ability Score

Numerical values representing a character's core strengths, such as Strength, Dexterity, or Charisma.

Proficiency Bonus

A bonus added to checks, saves, and attacks for tasks a character is specifically trained in.

AC (Armor Class)

The number a creature must roll to successfully land a physical hit on a target.

DC (Difficulty Class)

The target number set by the GM that a player must meet or beat to succeed in a specific task.

Saving Throw

A roll made to resist or avoid a spell, trap, or environmental hazard.

Initiative

A check made at the start of combat to determine the turn order of participants.

Advantage / Disadvantage

A mechanic where you roll two d20s and take either the higher (advantage) or lower (disadvantage) result.

Natural 20

Rolling a 20 on a d20, usually resulting in an automatic success or a "Critical Hit" in combat.

Dungeon Crawl

A type of scenario where players navigate a labyrinthine environment, much like the vertical yeraltı (underground) cities featured in Odsire: Pyres of Cappadocia.

Flavor Text

Descriptive text meant to provide atmosphere and lore rather than mechanical rules.

Boxed Text

Pre-written descriptions in an adventure module meant to be read aloud to the players.

Lore

The history, culture, and background stories that give a campaign setting its depth and soul.

Bestiary

A collection of creatures and monsters, including their stats and habits, for use in a TTRPG.

Sandbox

A style of play where players have total freedom to explore the world and choose their own goals.

Railroading

A controversial GMing style where players are forced down a specific narrative path with little choice.

Metagaming

Using out-of-character knowledge to influence in-character decisions, often discouraged in immersive play.

Powergaming

A playstyle focused on making a character as mechanically powerful as possible, often at the expense of roleplay.

Min-Maxing

The act of maximizing a character's primary strengths while minimizing their weaknesses for mechanical benefit.

Roleplay (RP)

The act of speaking and acting as your character would, based on their personality and history.

Combat

The tactical phase of the game where characters use weapons, spells, and abilities to defeat enemies.

Exploration

The pillar of gameplay focused on discovering new locations, solving puzzles, and interacting with the environment.

Subclass

A specialized path for a character class that grants unique abilities, such as the flame-wielding and ash-themed options found in Odsire.

Feat

An optional talent or area of expertise that gives a character special capabilities outside of their class.

Cantrip

A simple spell that can be cast repeatedly without consuming a spell slot.

Spell Slot

A resource representing the number of spells of a certain level a character can cast before resting.

Multiclassing

A mechanic that allows a character to gain levels in more than one class.

VTT (Virtual Tabletop)

Software like Roll20 or Foundry used to play TTRPGs online with digital maps and dice.

Theater of the Mind

A style of play that relies entirely on verbal description rather than maps and miniatures.

Hex Crawl

A type of wilderness exploration where players move across a map divided into hexagonal tiles.

Pointcrawl

A navigation method where players travel between specific points of interest rather than exploring every inch of a map.

OSR (Old School Renaissance)

A movement in TTRPGs that focuses on high lethality, player ingenuity, and simplified rules from earlier eras.

Indie RPG

A role-playing game produced by independent creators or small studios rather than major corporations.

Kickstarter

A crowdfunding platform frequently used by indie publishers to bring ambitious TTRPG projects to life.

Actual Play

A recorded or broadcasted TTRPG session meant for an audience to watch or listen to.

Survival Mechanics

Rules governing hunger, thirst, and environmental dangers, such as the unique volcanic ash hazards introduced in Odsire.

Adventure Module

A pre-written story or scenario that a GM can use to run a game with minimal preparation.

Long Rest / Short Rest

Mechanics that allow characters to recover health and resources after periods of downtime.

Narrative Arc

The overarching story structure that connects individual sessions into a cohesive tale.

BBEG (Big Bad Evil Guy)

The primary antagonist of a campaign, often a central figure of power and malice.

TPK (Total Party Kill)

A situation where every player character in the group dies during a single encounter, often a high-stakes risk.

Grimdark

A subgenre of fantasy characterized by a dark, gritty atmosphere and moral ambiguity.

Rule of Cool

A philosophy where a Game Master allows a player to succeed at an unlikely action simply because it is creative, cinematic, or narratively satisfying.

Stat Block

A concise summary of a creature's or NPC's abilities, health, and special actions, such as the unique monsters found in the Odsire Bestiary.

Handout

A physical or digital prop - like a map, an ancient letter, or a mysterious seal - given to players to enhance immersion at the table.

System-Agnostic

Content or supplements designed to be used with any TTRPG system, allowing GMs to adapt the lore and flavor to their preferred set of rules.

Downtime

The period between adventures where characters can craft items, perform research, or pursue personal goals within the safe havens of their world.

Now that you’ve mastered these essential TTRPG terms, it’s time to put them into practice within the mist and mystery of Odsire: Pyres of Cappadocia, a premium 5e sourcebook designed specifically for collectors and DMs who crave deep cultural lore, stunning artistry, and a fresh perspective on non-Western fantasy. So be sure to join the Kickstarter and the Vernal Voyage community today to secure your place and receive exclusive updates on our upcoming launch and early-bird rewards!