Here is a list of role-playing terms you may encounter during your Borderlands Trek PBEM RPG experience, and some explanation as to what they mean.
If you have not done so already, take a look at our player's manual, which has a lot of helpful hints on how to get started in the game.
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Backpost: A post that contains events that occurred before the current game time. Often used to 'fill in the blanks' in the plot. See also: Post.
Backchannel: An email that is sent to another player, but is not sent to the list server.
Borderlands Council: The ruling body of Borderlands. Comprised of the CO, XO, and two elected members from all duty stations. The council makes decisions on important in-game issues, and votes on promotions above Lieutenant Commander/Marine Major.
Character: A person involved in the game world. Also see: PC, NPC, and RNPC.
CO (Commanding Officer): Typically the most senior player in the game, the CO is the commanding officer of the duty station. He and the XO moderate plots, act as a liaison between the duty station and the Borderlands Council, and resolve in-game disputes.
DS (Duty Station): The place where the characters live and interact. Each ship or space station is a duty station. IC (In Character): See RPG.
List Server: The central hub of the posting. Each player sends his posts to the list server, which logs that post, and then forwards it to all other players. All posts going to the server are automatically public knowledge to all other players, and can be accessed from the server's files. See also: Post.
NPC (Non-Player Character): A character that is a part-time or limited figure in the game. Most NPCs can be played by anyone. See also: PC, RNPC.
NRPG (Non-Role Playing Game): A marker that usually appears at the top or bottom of a post, and is used to indicate that whatever follows is 'out of character'. Is used to ask questions, give information, or make announcements. Can also stand alone as a post, or can appear in the middle of a post, bracketed (in-the-middle posts are usually VERY brief). See also: RPG.
OOC (Out Of Character): See NRPG.
PC (Player Character): Any character that is written only by the owner, and is considered a viewpoint or primary character for that player.
Plot: The main story in the game. See also: Subplot.
Post: An email sent to the list server that advances the plot. See also: Backpost, Solo Post, Tagging Post.
RNPC (Reserved Non-Player Character): A non-player character played only by the owner. See also: NPC, PC.
RPG (Role Playing Game): A marker that indicates that what follows is part of the game again. 'IC' can also be used instead of 'RPG'. See also: NRPG.
Solo Post: A post where a player describes a scene, performs actions, etc. without tagging anybody else. Does not require an answer. See also: Post.
Subplot: A small story that can run at the same time as a main plot, and usually involves only a few people. See also: Plot.
SHS (Super Hero Syndrome): Used to describe a character that always seems to solve the problem, and is often written as performing above and beyond what his abilities should be- like a "superhero".
Tag: A request for a response from another character.
Tagging Post: A post where a player leaves a place for one or more characters to answer his words and actions. See also: Post.
XO (eXecutive Officer): The second in command on a duty station. Usually the second most senior player in the game, the XO works with the CO, helps him fulfill the duties of moderator and liaison, and represents their duty station on the Borderlands Council.
