Species
A species refers to a distinct group of living beings within the game world, categorized based on shared biological, cultural, or magical characteristics. Each species may possess unique traits, abilities, and cultural significance, shaping their interactions and roles within the game environment.
Monster
A monster is a hostile or adversarial inhabitant of the game world that creates challenges or threats to player characters. Monsters range from traditional fantasy creatures like dragons and ogres to races particularly made for SORC, such as Boogers (giant frog-like species), Yawnies (sloth-like humanoids), and Pearlings (an exotic race evolved from clans millions of years ago). Their characteristics, abilities, and behaviors are defined by the rules of the game, and their purpose is usually to serve as obstacles for player characters to overcome in pursuit of quest objectives.
Creature
A broad term that encompasses any living entity within the game world, including both friendly and neutral beings. This includes critters (bugs and insects), sentient races, animals, magical beings, and even monsters. Creatures play many roles — allies, antagonists, both harmful (like mosquitos) and helpful elements (like edible mushrooms) — as well as background elements within the narrative and game mechanics.
Mythical Creature Species
Beings of legend and folklore, often possessing magical traits or remarkable powers. These creatures might include beings like unicorns, griffins, or phoenixes, and their existence often carries significant cultural or historical importance.
Beast
Any feral Fauna or Monster with a high amount of Strength, Toughness, and Willpower. Beasts are typically feral creatures, often possessing heightened physical attributes. They can range from powerful predators to wild, untamed animals and can interact with the game world as threats or companions.
Flora and Fauna
Flora refers to the plant life present in the game world — trees, shrubs, flowers, and any other vegetative elements that contribute to the environment. Flora can serve various narrative functions, including providing resources (like healing herbs), creating obstacles (such as dense thickets), or enhancing the setting's atmosphere. Players may interact with flora through discovery, harvesting, and even communication and/or combat.
Fauna encompasses the animal life within the game world, including any creatures not classified as monsters or NPCs. Fauna contributes to the ecosystem and may provide players with resources through hunting, taming, farming, and through quests or exploration.
Higher Power Species
Beings that possess extraordinary abilities and heightened intellect, often exhibiting traits associated with advanced knowledge, spiritual connection, or divine influence. These beings might serve as guides, guardians, or powerful allies in the game world.
Humanoid Species
Species resembling human characteristics in appearance and behavior but varying in attributes such as size, skin color, and additional features like horns, claws, or tails. This includes races such as elves, dwarves, and halflings.
Mythical Beast Species
Awe-inspiring and formidable beings derived from myths and legends — legendary dragons, chimeras, or other fantastical beings that embody both the ferocity of beasts and the magical qualities of mythical creatures.
Critter Species
Smaller, often innocuous creatures that populate the game world. These beings range from insects to tiny mammals and often provide unique resources or lore. Although critters are small, many — such as spiders, centipedes, and other insects — carry extremely powerful venoms, poisons, and/or diseases, and often travel in swarms or armies.
Elemental Species
Species embodying the fundamental forces of nature — fire, water, earth, and air. They often possess abilities related to their elemental nature and can shape the environment and gameplay through powerful elemental connections.
Extraterrestrial Species
Beings from beyond the known realms, often featuring unique biological and cultural traits. These species might introduce new mechanics, abilities, and narratives, expanding the game world's diversity.
Reptilian Species
Characterized by scaly skin, cold-blooded physiology, and a variety of adaptations to diverse environments. These beings may include lizardfolk, dragons, and other reptilian creatures, often possessing unique traits and skills.
Additional Definitions
- Class
- A specific role or archetype that dictates a character's abilities, strengths, and combat style. Each class comes with a unique set of skills and attributes, influencing how they interact with game mechanics, contribute to a party, and face challenges.
- Talents
- Specialized abilities or enhancements that characters possess, reflecting their training, innate gifts, or experiences. Talents provide unique advantages in gameplay, allowing characters to execute specialized actions, gain bonuses in specific scenarios, or influence narrative interactions.
- Skills
- Practical abilities related to crafting and other non-combat tasks. These can include proficiency in creating items, gathering resources, or performing tasks that require knowledge, dexterity, or artistry. Skills often enhance a character's ability to contribute to the party's success in ways other than combat.
- Abilities
- Unique combat mechanics or techniques that characters utilize in battle. Each ability typically involves a defined effect — offensive attacks, defensive maneuvers, or support measures that bolster allies or hinder foes.
- Traits
- Inherent survival characteristics that a character possesses, granting advantages in difficult situations or challenges. Traits represent resilience, adaptability, or specialized aptitudes, functioning to mitigate risks or boost performance in specific scenarios. Different from talents (non-combat actions) and skills (profession-related).
- Gear
- Armaments, Equipment, and Items. Any equipment.
- Loot
- Items dropped by defeated enemies.
- Buff
- Positive effects applied to characters or allies — can enhance stats, abilities, or performance.
- Debuff
- Negative effects applied to enemies or oneself — can reduce stats, abilities, or overall performance.
- Consumable
- Items used for temporary effects, such as potions or food.
Role Definitions
- Healer
- A character specialized in recovery and support.
- Tank
- A character designed to absorb damage and control enemy interactions.
- DPS
- Damage Per Second — refers to characters focused on dealing damage.
- Support
- A character who aids teammates through buffs or resources, excluding healing.
Game Features
- Background
- The character's history and story before the adventure begins.
- Mission Statement
- The driving force behind the character's actions and goals.
- Prestige
- A measure of the character's identity, reputation, and how the world perceives them.
- Character Album
- Character Profile Sheet and consolidation of cards.
- Quest
- Objectives given to players to achieve rewards or progress the story.
- Dungeon
- An area designed for groups, typically featuring many challenges and enemies.
- Raid
- Large scale encounters designed for multiple players to complete.
- APs
- Achievement Points — points earned by completing specific activities.
- SPs
- Spirit Points.
General Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| XP | Experience Points |
| LB | Life Blood — the threshold of a character or NPC's limit before reaching death. |
| AP | Action Points / Attack Power (increases the damage of physical attacks) |
| TP | Technique Points |
| DPS | Damage Per Second — a measure of damage output |
| LBS | Healing Per Second — a measure of healing output |
| AoE | Area of Effect — spells/abilities affecting multiple targets within a specified area |
| PBAE | Point Blank Area of Effect |
| CC | Crowd Control — abilities or effects that hinder or control opponent actions |
| DoT | Damage over Time — effects that inflict damage over a period instead of all at once |
| HoT | Heal over Time — effects that heal over a period instead of all at once |
| PvE | Player vs. Environment — content involving NPCs, quests, and dungeons |
| PvP | Player vs. Player — combat against other players (see Trials of Combat) |
| PK | Player Kill |
| LFM | Looking for More |
| AFK | Away From Keyboard |
| OT | Off Tank — secondary tank, usually handles additional enemies |
| MT | Main Tank — the primary tank in a group/raid |
| RNG | Random Number Generator — often related to loot generation or effect determination |
| OOC | Out of Character (in roleplaying contexts) |
| OOS | Out of Spirit |
| LOS | Line of Sight — the ability to see or target enemies based on obstructions |
| Link | Connecting enemies in combat, causing others to join if one is attacked |
| Single Target | An ability or attack that affects only one enemy or ally at a time |
| BAM | BigAss Monster — a notable, powerful enemy |
| SD | Spell Damage |
| CD | Cooldown — the time before a skill or ability can be used again |
| RMT | Real Money Trading |
| ELB | Effective Life Blood |
| TBD | To Be Determined — for unresolved aspects of game mechanics or content |
| OOM | Out of Mana |
| RP | Role Play — acting or roleplaying as a character |
| CAP | The highest number a skill or ability can be granted without a buff |
Miscellaneous Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| BG | Battleground — areas for structured PvP |
| GZ | Grats (Congratulations) |
| Zerg | A term sometimes used in reference to overwhelming numbers |
| Guild | A player community group |
| Gear | Equipment that enhances a character's attributes and powers |
| Link | When a mob of Hosts attacks after you've attacked their nearby allies |
| Rare Find | Such as a Unique pet that a Hunter can attempt to calm, capture, and eventually tame as their own |
| Nerf | A reduction in power/effectiveness of a class, item, or ability |
| Buff | A positive effect or enhancement applied to a character |
| Debuff | A negative effect imposed upon a character |
| Res | Resurrection — bringing a character back to life |
| Set Bonus | 8set / 6set / 4set / 2set — referring to tier gear bonuses |
| Kite | To maneuver enemies to avoid damage or mechanics |
| Wipe | When the whole party/group is wiped out during an encounter |
SORC Beyond
SORC Beyond is the online companion platform for Slayers of Rings & Crowns. Each box set includes a unique code that automatically advances your user profile to Pro status when submitted online. Features include:
- Digital character profile customization and export (images or printouts)
- High-resolution character portraits
- Downloadable reference cards, character sheets, and game materials
- Online tracking and trading via Character UIDs
- QR code access to digital Prize Cards (must be refreshed periodically)
- Party map networking — parties near one another can communicate if they've uploaded their location to SORC servers
Materials can also be ordered via mail using the SORC Catalog included in each box set.
Other Resources and Links (under development) — Vocational and Profession Trees (link pending).