If you don't understand the following references already, here you go
Accessories: These are also known as Relics and are equipped like weapons. They have effects like adding 50% to one's max HP, preventing one from fighting random battles, upping ones attributes, or halving MP costs. Relics come in all levels of quality.
Adamantium: The material from Marvel and Final Fantasy that is used for armors, Wolverine's skeleton, and possibly Captain America's shield. Adamant Armor is one of FF4's hardest items to find, but it protects against almost everything, reducing the damage to 1 or 2!
A.R.: Armor Rating. The rating of a protection of armor. People who roll above the A.R. do damage to the armor wearer, people who roll below do damage to the armor. In Rifts, most M.D.C. armors have no A.R, protecting against all attacks until the M.D. is completely destroyed.
Avatar: A powerful servant of the All-Monster. These beings sacrifice their freedom and goodness for amazing power and a form of invulnerability, namely that their master recreates them every time they die!
BFG: Big F**king Gun.
Bionic: Bionics are military-grade, very dehumanizing cybernetics. While regular cybernetics often can be passed off to look like human or even be bio-system (i.e. mechanics that are either partially organic or emulate organic structure to enable appearance similarities while keeping augmentations), bionics are obviously unnatural. The only way to hide the bionics is through synthetic skin or clothes.
BOF: Often refers to "Breath of Fire", a game produced by Capcom.
C&C: Typically, "Command and Conquer", a real-time strategy game made by a company called Westwood. The game comes in two distinctly different flavors, one with the Nod and GDI, the other with the Allies and the Soviets. RA stands for Red Alert, a modification on the original Command and Conquer. RA2 is Red Alert 2, the newly released (as of this modification to this file) game taking up the original RA themes.
Chaingun: A minigun or gatling gun style weapon, with 6+ barrels. See Minigun and Gatling Gun.
Chainsword: Another type of enhanced sword weapon. Basically, the sword blade is given a number of serrated edges, which are then circulated around the sword like a chainsaw. References are made to it in Dr. Who and Warhammer 40K. Dark Fred's Bleeder is a chainsword.
Charge: Refers to the process of taking turns/time to build up the strength of a move. Many things be charged. Examples: Magic, Mega Man's Buster Cannon, Samus Aran's Charge Beam, Hyper Beam from Pokemon, Firebrand's fireball, Gokuh's Spirit Bomb, and psionics.
Chi/Ki: A word used for martial artist terminology. Chi may best be understood in terms of Aikido. In Aikido terminology, Chi is the energy running through all things (ala the Force). Enemies fighting each other are both using Chi. By understanding physics and going in harmony with the energy, martial artists become stronger. Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido, was apparently almost invincible in his skill. Chi is used as a point system in Rifts, and is the power source of DBZ fighters.
Magic and chi/ki have numerous similarities. Their energies can both be used to power paranormal or superhuman activity, they run through most things, humans appear to have a healthy internal supply, but sometimes must bolster their supply with ambient energy, and so on. However, the use of magic and chi is wildly different. Magicians use magic for all purposes, but they usually can't build themselves up physically with it, except with spells.
Cloaking: Typically, a technological field that, through some process, makes the person invisible to the naked eye, and often thermo-optics and ultraviolet as well.
Critical Hit: A hit that, by superior aim, targeting, or luck, does incredible damage.
Critical Zone: One surefire way to get a critical hit is to hit a Critical Zone. Think about it. Sometimes, someone gets a lucky shot (blades actually make more sense) and hit straight-on without any one else's help. However, other times a sniper will hit a head or a crotch or an eye shot every time. These are likely technically Critical Hits, but I prefer to call it "targeting the Critical Zone". Notable Critical Zones in humans include the head, the eyes (part of the head),
Cybernetics: Cybernetics are metal creations that enhance one's body. These artifical creations range from bionic limbs and blasters to amplified hearing and infrared eyes. Also see Cyborg, Borg, and Bionic.
Cyborg: Cyborgs are about 45-98% inhuman, having undergone extensive cybernetic augmentation and replacement. Although the power being a partial or full borg offers can make one the equal of a warrior in power armor or a mage, it also permanently makes someone a mountain of metal, a dehumanizing process. The dividing line between someone merely augmented and a cyborg is a faint one, but it is a real one.
DBZ: Refers to "Dragon Ball Z" OR "DeadBall Zone", as the two are very different. I typically start out a page with one of the two, and then use the acronym for the rest of the page. In the rare instances where I would compare DBZ to DBZ, the standard acronym for that page takes over, so "Gokuh from DBZ would do well in DeadBall Zone".
DC™: Detective Comics, the comic book company that owns the rights to such lucrative characters as Superman, Batman, the Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, and so on.
Doom: Either the first-person shooter of the early '90s or a FF spell causing instant death; look at the context, it shouldn't be too hard to guess.
Dynamic/Semi-Dynamic Weapons: Weapons that are capable of expanding their abilities. Read ahead for more information.
EK: Most often electrokinesis.
Electromagnetic Pulse:
EMP: EMP stands for Electromagnetic Pulse. Sometimes, people say the term EMP Shockwave, which stands for Electromagnetic Pulse Shockwave (which has a feel of redundancy, but whatever).
Etheralize: This refers to the process of either going into the ethereal realm or doing something similar. The practical effect is the ability to pass through walls and such, much like a ghost; the only way to fight these people typically is through psionics or magic, and they can return the favor. See Pass and Intangibility.
Excelsium: The alloy made by Mr. Excelsior for his armors. While Gundanium excels at mechs, Excelsium is very good at making body-sized armor or small robots. It is very shapable by magic, until it is "locked" by Mr. E or someone else who can make it. After that, it is resistant to shaping magics. Golem Alpha is made purely of the stuff, which leads to his near invulnerability. The shaping process can also make it "denser" or "lighter", although it always remains light. Mr. E's armor has been subjected to black hole levels of shaping and is thus able to offer protection sufficient to absorb a nuclear explosion in a inch-thick armor!
Exoskeleton: Either the natural body armor of insects or a strength-boosting power armor, offering superior protection with hydraulic support. Also see Power Armor.
Experience: The process of gaining experience is varied. Battles are the simplest ways, but I have also seen Kevin Siembieda's logic in making other actions and ideas count as well. There are two logics: a game designer logic and a common sense logic. The game designer logic is a quick plan should do more than give the person the benefits of the plan (if there are any), it should increase their experience and give them a non-material reward. The common sense idea is that experience is a way of gauging how experienced and good someone is. It's easy to argue that doing something in one area will something related in another. Someone who can think of a quick plan in a dangerous situation can also move that much quicker and more decisively in battle, thus demonstrating experience.
FB: Stands for Final Battle. Duh.
FF: Typically stands for "Final Fantasy".
FO: Typically stands for "Fallout", a post-apocalyptic role playing game made by Black Isle. The game is popular, well known, and makes numerous allusions to pop culture. Power Struggle's game system is based on it.
FPS: First Person Shooter.
Gatling Gun: Typically, a base-mounted multiple-barreled automatic weapon in the vein of Gatling's original Civil War weapon.
GF: Guardian Force; from the game Final Fantasy 8, GFs offer Abilities (including Junctioning) and the ability to summon them. Multiple GFs can be Junctioned onto one character. (Note: For more clarification, see GFs vs. Espers vs. Summons, in the GM Advice section)
Gundam: Gundam refers to the series Mobile Suit Gundam or Gundam Wing. Gundams are made out of a material known as gundanium, which is basically the equivalent of excelsium, adamantium, and black night. Gundams were built by 5 scientists in a future where there are Space Colonies around Earth in the L fields and the Earth, and the two view each other with distrust (especially after the assassination of the space colony leader, Heero Yuy, whom Heero is named after). Gundams are very powerful, designed to be super-mechs. They are armed with powerful weaponry and equipment and are piloted by combat geniuses.
Gundanium: The material the Gundams are made of, and what they are named after. The alloy is only made in space and is extremely expensive, meaning that large-scale use of it is impractical, even with the Gundam's technology (which appears to be in some ways behind, in some ways ahead of Rifts). The material, however, is nearly invulnerable, and even is invisible to radar!
H&K: Hechler & Koch, a well known firearms manufacturer.
HK: Most often Hydrokinesis.
HP (Rifts and FF)/M.D.C./S.D.C.: Hoo boy. All of these are lists of your capacity to take damage. DO NOT CONFUSE THIS WITH RESISTANCE. Let's go into the resistance vs. HP question first. If I am a person with 2000 HP and 30% resistance to kinetic attacks, and my enemy nails me for an attack that would do 600 damage were there no resistance, I would take 420 damage. But if he hit me with a 600 HP assault that I had no resistance for, I would take the full 600. See Resistant and Absorbant Armor for some more clarification into this subject.
All right. Now let's go into the Rifts vs. FF question. In FF, there is one currency of damage: HP. Everything has HP totals. HP stands for Hit Points. In Rifts, on the other hand, there are three types. HP is your raw endurance and capacity to take damage. If my P.E. (in Rifts) is 18, my HP is 18 at L. 1. I roll 1-6 for each additional level. But I also get S.D.C. for having a job or training. If I'm a man of science or magic, I may have 3-18 S.D.C. If I'm a man of fighting, then I may have 10-40. Any body building I might do mainly adds to my S.D.C. It helps to think of S.D.C. as armor: a person has "armor" on his body, and then when that "armor" is worn down, they are weakened to critical condition. Then comes M.D.C. A single point of M.D.C. does 100 times that much damage in S.D.C. or HP. In addition, any S.D.C. attack does not harm M.D.C.; M.D.C. refers to tanks, power armors, railguns, laser pistols, particle rifles, and other weapons of such power.
So, in Final Fantasy and therefore FB terms, here's the way it goes: There is no M.D.C. M.D.C. can be damaged by S.D.C. weapons, BUT the damage is not quite as good as expected. Most heroes can take M.D.C. shots. S.D.C. and HP are pooled for the Final Fantasy HP; when I say HP, I usually am referring to Final Fantasy, exceptions will be noted. There ARE attacks which strike directly at HP or whittle down S.D.C.; most notably being Withering Flesh, Vibrating Palm, and Vital Strike Atemis. In Vital Strike Atemi's case, critical damage is done to amounts of HP that are a small percentage of it. Thus, just like in Rifts, Vital Strike Atemi is a dangerous move.
HTH: Hand-to-Hand. Refers to combat with the hands.
Hyperspace: A theoretical device referred to in Isaac Asimov's Robot/Foundation series and in Star Wars™. The concept is simple: warp a ship into a part of reality that operates on different rules than regular space, called "hyperspace", and use this to propel something at faster-than-light speeds.
Initiative: Refers to the roll to see who goes first. In Pokemon/FB, there is no rolls, and the quickest always goes first. However, paralysis and other conditions take their toll on enemies.
Instant Death: These attacks (Doom, X-Zone, etc.) will kill automatically if they hit. Some attacks are very close to instant death, doing monumental amounts of damage, but they will not necessarily kill.
Intangibility: See Etherealize and Pass. This more often refers to the Heroes Unlimited move, which involves making molecules non-interactive.
Invincibility/Invulnerability: Either by taking 0 damage from all attacks (typical) or by having unlimited HP, one may be invulnerable to attacks. Note that types of the former can be overriden by such attacks as Kinetic Card (minor damage, but pierce invulnerability). Also, types of the latter can be overriden by using things like antimatter, Doom and other things that completely annihilate the other person, or by using things like Fallen One and Weak that bring someone down to a preset level of HP (things like Demi and Quartr, which bring others down to a percentage of HP, which is still infinite, have little to no effect). Invulnerability is also a Rifts/Heroes Unlimited power, which appears to offer intense resistance to damage and poisons/radiation alike, but is not complete invulnerability.
Iron Curtain: Refers to the Command & Conquer device that causes invulnerability
Jedi: Jedi Knight from Star Wars. Jedi utilize a power called the Force to accomplish powerful acts; the Jedis are basically psychics utilizing an ambient energy. I would like to point out something. Many people have argued that Jedis have unlimited power, because the energy they draw from is universal. I always detected something wrong with this argument, and I've found it. If you use the argument stated above, then mages and martial artists both must have unlimited energy. After all, they can draw on a universal, inexhaustible force, can they not? But most mages and martial artists do not have unlimited energy. We also see Jedis becoming tired when they use their energy. This is my argument. The force they are drawing from is universal, but using it the way they do requires their exertion, to some extent. Of course, there is little distinction in objects, meaning that Jedi TK tends to have little weight limits. Granted, Jedis are quite efficient in their use of energy (unlike the Dragon Ball Z fighters, who waste energy rampantly), but they must run out too. Their bodies just cannot channel that much energy. Oh sure, perhaps I have a generator of unlimited energy by me, but if I take it's energy and channel it through my body, eventually (this is assuming I can blast it out) it will wear me out.
Job: Refers to the Final Fantasy 5 process of Jobs. Jobs are basically O.C.C.s that you choose and build up to a Master level, learning abilities. Jobs have the advantage of transforming you into things you normally could not be, however. Jobs must be built up individually by everyone.
Juicer™: A Rifts character who has undergone a complex chemical process, making them drug-addicted supermen for 4-5 years, after which they "burn-out" and die! See Rifts RPG™, Rifts Japan™, and Juicer Uprising™ for more information on these chemical superwarriors, their lifestyle, variants on the procedure, and products designed for them.
Junction: Refers to the Final Fantasy 8 process of Junctioning. In Junctioning, characters do two things: attach spells to their attributes and elemental resistances, and attach GFs to themselves (see GFs).
KI: Often refers to "Killer Instinct", a well known fighting game.
Killed: In this case, the character is dead. They can be brought back, but it much harder; Life 1 has almost nil chance of working and even then someone will be brought back with less than 5% HP, Life 2 has a higher chance of working but still may not save the person, and same with other resurrections.For someone to be Killed, they must take much damage below 0 or be hit by a very powerful "instant death" attack. Then there is Complete Killing, which is akin to what happens to Aeris by Sephiroth and is very dififcult to reverse.
Laser: A laser is an amplified light source. It is truly an acronym, standing for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (I'm not certain if that is truly correct). A laser does not necessarily need to be a weapon; in fact, most of the time (in the real world) it isn't. Most real world laser uses involve targeting or similar non-direct combat applications. Lasers in most RPGs, on the other hand, are often intense light blasts. Basically, by intensifying light heat, you get a blast that just sears through things. Lasers have a number of advantages. First of all, if they are constructed correctly, they have a far greater atmospheric range than other energy weapons. Second of all, their speed is unparalleled (it's light, only an object travelling at hyperspatial acceleration would be faster), making it difficult to dodge (actually, nearly impossible). However, their efficiency can be reduced by armor.
LB: Limit Break. In FF7 and FF8, characters get powerful attacks at dire times. In FF7, one gets hurt and then builds up a bar. You could heal yourself constantly and still get an LB. In FF8, when you are in critical health, you randomly get a LB. There is also something similar in FF6, where you not only have to wait till you are in critical health, but you don't know until you do Fight (in FF8, you can see beforehand that you got an LB).
Level: One's FF style level. Levels determine statistics, spells, abilities, skill percentiles, and so on. Other RPGs with level-based systems, such as Rifts, D&D, Fallout, Diablo, and so on, have different conversion factors.
LOD: Refers to "Legend of Dragoon", a Square game.
LRM: Long Range Missile.
Magi: In FB terms, the type of mutant characterized by Fred. Magi have a bonding of chi and magic energy flowing through their bodies, making them natural magicians and warriors. It is a more common consideration for powerful mages and supernatural beings, but the most commonly-referred to type is the natural Magi, which is incredibly rare. Fred is one of the first, and perhaps the most successful, Magis from the past several eons. Most other magicians have a crude system which is merely amazing amounts of magic energy enriching the body; the chi-binding is unique and is what gives the Magis their distinctive martial arts/DBZ role, as well as making them visible to Scouters and offering them enhanced unique abilities.
Magic: The use of the force that humans call "magic". Magic takes myriad forms, the most common being spells and enchantments. However, there are numerous exceptions and considerations. Magic requires the use of energy known as MP or P.P.E., depending on what literature or sources you are citing; certain spell casters (mainly the ones from Paladin's Quest) cast spells using their HP as the basis! Other systems (such as the Junction system and D&D) give magicians a certain number of times to cast a particular spell. Magic has numerous potential effects, ranging from everything from lightning bolts to chameleon effects to the ability to fly and swim! Magic also runs throughout planets in lines of mystic energy called ley lines, and occurs in similar natural phenomena. There are rumored to be cosmic ley lines, and the presence of magic is an almost universal thing. Magic is likely some form of all-encompassing energy akin to gravity and electromagnetism, and influences and is influenced by those forces. Most mages use the spoken word to channel their energy, but some mages have achieved types of mastery where they can channel the energies through hand motions alone or with mere will! Some spells are simple and can be casted quickly, but other types often require complex rituals, timing, symbols and materials; Dungeons & Dragons magic is quite materialistic and somatic (hand motions). Some beings have alloted amounts of spells in a time period; there are certain disadvantages and advantages to this (the main example of creatures like this are fairies).
Magic and chi/ki have numerous similarities. Their energies can both be used to power paranormal or superhuman activity, they run through most things, humans appear to have a healthy internal supply, but sometimes must bolster their supply with ambient energy, and so on. However, the use of magic and chi is wildly different. Chi is typically used in martial arts "magic" (which usually has some sort of trickery or attack involved) and in the building of the body. Magicians use magic for all purposes, but they usually can't build themselves up physically with it, except with spells.
Talent in magic is an extreme factor. In many Final Fantasy games, some people can't use magic. In Final Fantasy 2/4j, most characters cannot use magic. In Final Fantasy 3/6j, characters must use Espers to learn magic (except for Terra and Celes). In Chrono Trigger, the people of Zeal actively discriminate against the Earthbound Ones, those who cannot use magic. However, many of these same games have some way for the layman to learn magic.
Materia: Materia are items that one equips to Materia Slots, which are typically in weapons or armor. Materia offer abilities, Summons, magic, and even the ability to boost other Materia! I have created some new Materia.
Mech: Typically refers to "mobile suits", ala Gundam Wing, BattleTech, MechWarrior, and so on. Also see Robots, Mobile Suits, Mobile Dolls, and Power Armor.
Minigun: Guns with multiple barrels, typically 6. Also see Chaingun and Gatling Gun.
Mini-missile: Small missiles with ranges around one mile. Their launchers are small enough to be handheld, albeit heavy. Also known as Micro-Missiles.
MK: Refers to "Mortal Kombat", a well known fighting game. It also sometimes refers to Mario Kart.
M.O.M: Mind Over Matter, or the Crazy treatment. This Rifts® treatment gives enhanced strength and speed and some major (not master) psionic capacities.
MP/P.P.E.: Magic Points/Potential Psychic Energy. While you could say PP/ISP are the same, these two are slightly different. In terms of magic, they are the same: a Fire spell costs you 3 M.P. or P.P.E. and you have 100, so you can cast 33 before you must replenish it. P.P.E. is greater for children and it is used to develop skills. Psychics in Rifts tend to not have much. Most characters do not have high MP at all. Everyone does have some MP/P.P.E., but a mage may have several hundred times more. However, here is a list of what can give a non-magician magic:
Please keep in mind that if a mage does everything a non-mage does, the mage will always have more MP and magic strength, but the non-mage generally has things to make up for his low totals: high strength, guns, useful commands, higher agility, etc.
MRM: Medium Range Missile.
O.C.C.: Occupational Character Class. In Rifts terms, this is basically a Job, and determines one's skills and abilities.
Pass: See Etherealize and Intangibility.
PK: Most often, pyrokinesis.
Power Armor: There are two types of power armor. I prefer to call one type "exoskeletons" and the other "mini-suits". The Fallout 2 style of power armor is a slightly larger than man-sized suit of armor with enhanced strength and reflexes. The Rifts style power armor is a small robot suit. The Glitter Boy and the SAMAS are both good examples, towering at 10 and 8 feet respectively. Also see Robots and Exoskeleton.
PP/I.S.P.: Psychic Points/Inner Strength Points. These are the points that you use up for psionic attacks. If you have 50 PP and Telekinesis costs you 3, then you can do TK 16 times before having to replenish your I.S.P. Sleeping, meditation, other types of rest, and certain potions can replenish PP/I.S.P. PP is from Earthbound, I.S.P. from Rifts. There is a different conversion ratio, but I'll have to figure out the ratio later. Here is a list of things that can give people psi:
Railgun: Railguns are electro-magnetically accelerated projectile launchers. By taking the principle of magnetic repelling and giving it amazing power and size, these weapons launch things at 10 times bullet speeds at least.
Relics: See Accessories.
Replenish: The ability most Gunmen have to get back lost ammo. However, not everything can be Replenished initally; it may take some experience before someone can Replenish Nukes, for instance.
Rifts®: This RPG is created by Palladium Books® and is quite well known and popular.
Robots: Robots refer to either automated creations of any type and size or 15+ foot tall "mobile suits" from Rifts, as contrasted to the smaller power armor. Also see Mobile Suits, Power Armor, Mechs, and Mobile Dolls.
RPG: Role Playing Game.
RTS: Real Time Strategy.
Save: This refers to "saving" your game. It came from the Final Fantasy games, where people would be able to save where they were and then return to it at a later time. Saves in FB are restricted. You may do them only on the World Maps, on Save Points, and using items that allow you to Save at moments.
Save vs.: This refers to a roll to save against an attack that does not always work. For instance: Demi halves a person's HP. If the person who is attacking has a Magic Strength high enough to force me to save above 40%, then I must do so. I roll dice and get a 42%. I am safe from his Demi, and it does no damage to me. I use Demi myself, and my strength forces him to save above 30%. He rolls 28% and has his HP halved. More specific saves follow.
Save vs. coma/death: This tends not to apply itself in battles. Generally, if you are in a scenario where you are between swooned and death, this roll decides whether you live or die. A hospital and sufficient medical care enhance your chances, as do trainings and some spells. Drugs and negative effects caused by your enemies deplete your chances.
Save vs. horror factor: A Rifts term, basically meaning a save vs. another thing's aura of horror, caused by either a supernatural feel to them or a horrible appearance or combinations.
Save vs. magic: This is not applied in all situations. Spells like Fireball or Ultima that do damage require dodges, not saves (with some rare exceptions). However, curses, spells like Doom and Demi, illusions, and similar things require the enemy to roll a save vs. magic. If he succeeds, the "Failed" effect happens. In most cases, that means the spell does nothing, but there are some spells that will do something even if the save succeeds. If the opponent fails, the "Succeeded" effect happens, which 99.9% of the time means that the spell works. Mages or those who regularly fight mages and are resistant to them have higher saves.
Save vs. psi: This is a save vs. psionic attacks and happens more often than saves vs. magic. Some psionic attacks, even telepathic ones, require no save: Pokemon moves like Psychic, Psybeam, and Psywave are examples. Other telepathic attacks do require saves vs. psi. Psychics get higher saves. Please note that moves like Pyrokinesis and Telekinesis, which cause a physical effect, almost always have no save.
SC: Might refer to "Starcraft", a real-time strategy game made by Blizzard. Starcraft is a very well-known game and centers around the battles over space by the Zerg, Protoss and Terrans.
SF: Might refer to "Street Fighter".
SOE: Often refers to "Secret of Evermore", a game made by Square USA.
SOM: Often refers to "Secret of Mana", a game made by Square.
SRM: Short Range Missile.
Status effects: Refers to effects which merely hinder or annoy characters, although they can be quite deadly in conjunction with something else. Such things include:
For other, rarer, more specific status conditions, as well as further clarification into the more conventional ones, see the Status Effects file.
SSJ: Super Saiya-jin, or Saiyan in the newer Dragon Ball Z translation. SSJs range from 1-4, and are Super Saiyan, Angel Saiyan, Devil Saiyan, and Ultimate Saiyan. The Super Saiyan merely have taller blonde hair, the Angel Saiyans gain a halo and a long mane of hair, Devil Saiyans get red fur and a new tail if the tail was cut off before, and the only Ultimate Saiyan known to exist is Gokuh after the fusion with the Dark Star Dragon Balls.
Tech Attacks: Attacks involving technique. Double, Triple, or more Tech Attacks involve many people attacking at once; these are some of the most efficient attack devices. Example: X-Cut, a move where Frog and Crono slash an enemy in an X pattern. Tech Attacks require all participants to have the proper TP/MP/PP and require all participants to be ready to attack.
Techno-Wizardry: Quite simply, the fusion of technology and magic. TW systems can be used to enhance a robot or power armor's detection and concealment capacities, create powerful magic blades, make railguns that fire telekinetic bolts, and so on.
Tesla Cannon: Typically, a weapon firing powerful bolts of electricity.
TK: Typically refers to "telekinesis", or the movement of distant objects, typically using the mind/psionic capacities.
TMNT: Most often refers to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
TP: Tech Points, or Technique Points. In Rifts, some "Techniques" are accomplished by using P.P.E. These moves which use TP are generally skills that are unique to the character or are not magical/psionic. Also, Tech Attacks are accomplished using TP; in some Tech Attacks, PP/ISP and MP/PPE are used or are the entire casting cost.
TW: Techno-Wizardry.
ULB: Refers to an Ultimate Limit Break, which is the best LB one gets.
Ultimate Personal Power: Ultimate Personal Power is a rarer thing for characters to get. It involves either finding a source of power (Firebrand becoming the Demon Realm champion, Bongo Bongo fighting the Mists of Infinity) or undergoing a personal Renaissance (Zechs Marquise finding out that he wants to protect Relena). Ultimate Personal Power ups ones attributes, increases determination, opens up moves that one may not have been able to get before, and often gives ULBs and UWs.
UPP: See Ultimate Personal Power.
Vibro-blade: One of the ways one can increase blade strength. By creating vibrations along the edges (and sometimes flat end) of the blade, one can get a powerful cutting weapon that rips through steel and even mega-damage armor like butter!
Wounded/Fainted/Swooned: This is the intermediate stage between life and death. When someone is reduced to 0 HP, they are in this state. They may be revived by Life 1 for some health or Life 2 for full. (See Killed).
