by Mr Falcone October 17, 2007
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Get the toon love mug.A toon is a synonym for a character in a video game that is a role-playing game, usually used only in the context of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing Games (MMORPG), such as World of Warcraft.
Character, avatar, or toon are synonyms in this context.
(Avatar is a misnomer, however.)
In role-playing games, a great deal of effort is spent in creating a unique persona or character before play begins. During character generation, the player makes choices that will affect the gameplay, such as appearance, name, gender, race, and class. Once created, these characteristics are immutable, as they define the play experience. The selection of class determines the strategies the character will use to succeed.
In short, Role-playing games have great replay value because a player can re-experience the game using a new character or toon.
ETYMOLOGY
Toon is presumably a contracted form of cartoon; video game characters are animated, after all. The origin of this term can be attributed to the standard root of all leetspeak (internet jargon): a need for efficiency for lazy typists.
Toon is probably used because it is shorter and easier to type than the word character. Anyone familiar with these games can easily surmise the meaning of the term from context. Furthermore, the term avatar is avoided as it can possibly create confusion. In roleplaying games, avatar also refers to the incarnation of a deity.
Character, avatar, or toon are synonyms in this context.
(Avatar is a misnomer, however.)
In role-playing games, a great deal of effort is spent in creating a unique persona or character before play begins. During character generation, the player makes choices that will affect the gameplay, such as appearance, name, gender, race, and class. Once created, these characteristics are immutable, as they define the play experience. The selection of class determines the strategies the character will use to succeed.
In short, Role-playing games have great replay value because a player can re-experience the game using a new character or toon.
ETYMOLOGY
Toon is presumably a contracted form of cartoon; video game characters are animated, after all. The origin of this term can be attributed to the standard root of all leetspeak (internet jargon): a need for efficiency for lazy typists.
Toon is probably used because it is shorter and easier to type than the word character. Anyone familiar with these games can easily surmise the meaning of the term from context. Furthermore, the term avatar is avoided as it can possibly create confusion. In roleplaying games, avatar also refers to the incarnation of a deity.
by Brain Gremlin January 21, 2011
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by shhh its a secret April 24, 2004
Get the Paddy Thornycroft mug.The verbal confusion of the words "tomorrow" and "this morning" when speaking past 12 AM where it is technically morning
Person 1: Man it's late, it's almost 2 o'clock!
Person 2: Yeah I'm tired. What are our plans for tomorning? I mean tomorrow. I mean, this morning.
Person 2: Yeah I'm tired. What are our plans for tomorning? I mean tomorrow. I mean, this morning.
by GF2themax January 2, 2010
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