Here are some of the key terms that the game and this guide will use while discussing various play styles and tactics. Familiarize yourself with these so you're up on the lingo.
AoE: "Area of Effect." A talent or spell that affects a radius, not just a single target. AoE spells and attacks damage multiple targets at once and can help greatly against large groups of enemies. Keep in mind that you may hit multiple targets, but you also may draw additional threat and possibly nullify existing effects on the targeted enemies.
Armor Stat: Reduces damage done to a character from physical attacks. A weapon's armor penetration score directly counteracts the opponent's armor rating.
Attack Stat: Increases the likelihood of successfully landing physical attacks.
Buff: A talent or spell that delivers a positive effect for a prolonged time.
Camp : To remain in one spot in order to kill a specific NPC or monster, or trigger a certain event.
Cold Resistance: Measures resistance or vulnerability to cold-based attacks against the character. Cold damage is reduced (if green) or increased (if red) by this percentage.
Constitution: Constitution represents health and resilience. Higher constitution directly increases the amount of damage a character can take before falling on the battlefield.
Crit: Short for "critical chance" or "critical strike chance."
Cunning: Cunning determines how well a character learns and reasons. Most skills, such as Herbalism or Combat Tactics, require a quick mind to master—and an observant eye can more easily find weaknesses in enemy armor. Rogues benefit most from this statistic, as many of their class talents and special attacks rely on subtlety or reading the target, not raw strength.
Damage Stat: The equipped weapon's potential damage against an unarmored opponent, adjusted for the speed of the weapon.
Debuff: A skill or ability that delivers a negative effect for a prolonged time.
Defense Stat: Increases the chance of dodging or parrying physical attacks.
Dexterity: Dexterity is the measure of agility, reflexes, and balance. Higher dexterity improves a character's chances to hit, makes the character more likely to dodge incoming blows, and contributes to the damage dealt by piercing weapons such as bows or crossbows. Archery and dual-weapon fighting styles demand high dexterity to master, making this attribute a favorite for rogues.
DLC: Abbreviation for "downloadable content."
DoT: "Damage over time." Talents or spells that deal initial damage and then additional damage every few seconds for a set amount of time.
DPS: "Damage per second." A stat that factors in the speed and power of a weapon to gauge its average damage every second. DPS is also used as a generic reference to damage and dealing damage.
DPSer: A character whose primary role in the group is to deal damage.
Electrical Resistance: Measures resistance or vulnerability to electricity-based attacks against the character. Electrical damage is reduced (if green) or increased (if red) by this percentage.
Fatigue: Wearing armor causes fatigue, which is a percentage increase of the basic mana or stamina cost to activate a spell or talent.
Follower: A companion who travels with you on your quests. There can only be four people in your party at one time: the main (player) character, plus three followers. The rest stay back at party camp and level as you level.
Fire Resistance: Measures resistance or vulnerability to fire-based attacks against the character. Fire damage is reduced (if green) or increased (if red) by this percentage.
Health: How much damage a character can sustain without falling in battle. A character whose health is completely depleted may sustain an injury.
Injuries: When one of your party members has fallen in combat, he or she may sustain a serious injury. These injuries cause penalties that can only be cured with an injury kit or certain high-level spells.
Loot: Another term for treasure or rewards.
Magic: In the general sense, it's energies beyond the material world. In a stat sense, magic is the measure of a character's natural affinity for the arcane. This attribute is crucial for mages, because it directly increases a character's spellpower score, which determines the potency of all spells. The magic attribute also determines how effective potions, poultices, and salves are for all classes.
Dexterity: Dexterity is the measure of agility, reflexes, and balance. Higher dexterity improves a character’s chances to hit, makes the character more likely to dodge incoming blows, and contributes to the damage dealt by piercing weapons such as bows or crossbows. Archery and dual weapon fighting styles demand high dexterity to master, making this attribute a favorite for rogues.
DLC: Abbreviation for “downloadable content.”
DoT: “Damage over time.” Talents or spells that deal initial damage and then additional damage every few seconds for a set amount of time.
DPS: “Damage per second.” A stat that factors in the speed and power of a weapon to gauge its average damage every second. DPS is also used as a generic reference to damage and dealing damage.
DPSer: A character whose primary role in the group is to deal damage.
Electrical Resistance: Measures resistance or vulnerability to electricity-based attacks against the character. Electrical damage is reduced (if green) or increased (if red) by this percentage.
Fatigue: Wearing armor causes fatigue, which is a percentage increase of the basic mana or stamina cost to activate a spell or talent.
Follower: A companion who travels with you on your quests. There can only be four people in your party at one time: the main (player) character, and up to three followers. The rest stay back at party camp and level as you level.
Fire Resistance: Measures resistance or vulnerability to fire-based attacks against the character. Fire damage is reduced (if green) or increased (if red) by this percentage.
Health: How much damage a character can sustain without falling in battle. A character whose health is completely depleted may sustain an injury.
Mana : Magical energy consumed when casting spells.
Mental Resistance: Measures the character’s ability to resist mental effects such as a sleep spell.
Mob : A group of enemies.
Nature Resistance : Measures resistance or vulnerability to nature-based attacks against the character (like poisoning). Nature damage is reduced (if green) or increased (if red) by this percentage.
NPC : “Non-player Character.” Any character in the game not in your party.
Party : A group of characters who adventure together, limited to four. You can always return to party camp to recruit other followers.
PC : Abbreviation for “Player Character.”
Physical Resistance : Measures the character’s ability to resist physical effects such as being knocked down.
Pull : To draw an enemy toward you, usually to avoid engaging other enemies as well.
Root: To freeze an enemy in place with a special talent or spell.
Spawn Point : A spot where the game generates a mob.
Spirit Resistance: Measures resistance or vulnerability to spirit-based attacks against the character. Spirit damage is reduced (if green) or increased (if red) by this percentage.
Stamina : Physical energy consumed when using talents or skills.
Strength : Strength measures a character’s physical prowess, and directly affects the damage a character deals in physical combat. It also contributes to the accuracy of melee attacks. High strength is essential for warriors, in particular if they wish to wield two-handed weapons, and is nearly as critical for rogues.
Tank : A character who draws threat well and holds a mob’s attention. An “off-tank” is a secondary character who holds the attention of the second strongest mob. Warriors generally tank the best, especially due to their “Weapon and Shield” talent tree.
Taunt : To enrage a mob so that it focuses its threat and attention on you.
Threat : Sometimes referred to as “aggro” or “aggression” of a mob. The game ranks threat based on your actions, generally revolving around the amount of damage or healing you do. The more threat you generate, the greater the chance that a monster will attack you.
Willpower: Willpower represents a character’s determination and mental fortitude. With high willpower, mages can cast more spells thanks to a deeper mana pool. For warriors and rogues, willpower grants more stamina for combat techniques and special attacks.
Wipe : A term for the death of everyone in the party.
XP : Stands for “experience points.” Experience marks your progress as you level up in your class.