"proc"

Discussion in 'Dungeons of Dredmor General' started by Zombie Dachshund, Oct 16, 2011.

  1. I've seen the term "proc" used a bunch, and I... can't work out what it means. Help?
     
  2. bobross419

    bobross419 Member

    Proc refers to the chance for an effect to process. As a very general example, a sword with a 30% chance to proc electricity means that when you hit, a 100 sided die is rolled. If the number is 30 or less then the electricity goes off.
     
  3. Derakon

    Derakon Member

    Generally speaking procs are slang for "things that have a chance to happen when other things happen." So you have procs on hit, procs on attack (even if you miss), procs on being hit, procs on shooting, etc. As BobRoss noted the original word was "process", which I believe was an official term in some early MUD or something along those lines.

    So if you take the Vampirism skill, then you have a 100% chance to proc a Vampiric Attack when you hit something in melee. If you cast Magic Steel (from the Viking Wizardry line), then you have a 55% chance to proc a lightning bolt each time you hit something. If you cast Radiant Aura, then you have a 35% chance to proc Blinding Flash when you are hit. And so on.
     
  4. Marak

    Marak Member

    Related: Mob

    Mob stands for/is short for "mobile (unit)", and generally refers to any NPC that can move and engage the Player Character. Also has its origins in old, text-based games. Basically it's a nerdy way of saying "monster" or "enemy".
     
  5. Daynab

    Daynab Community Moderator Staff Member

    Yeah, I'm so used to these terms while playing MMOs that I tend to use them in every game and people have no idea what I'm talking about sometimes :)
     
  6. Thanks for the information, folks! Suddenly, all is much clearer.

    This one I did know! I remember asking about it on some Usenet group (maybe rec.games.roguelike.angband) ages ago. I was confused when monsters seemed to be referred to in the plural!

    I suppose it might be useful to compile a list of DoD jargon & abbreviations, somewhere...
     
  7. Haldurson

    Haldurson Member

    I thought Mob's origin was computer slang from way back in the C64/Vic20 times for a movable object (ie. a sprite), but that it evolved into meaning, specifically any monster in a computer game. Of course that may be my aging mind playing tricks on me...
     
  8. DavidB1111

    DavidB1111 Member

    Well, the first computer bug was a real bug. :)
    So, that's been around a lot longer than MUDs. Which I've played a tiny amount of.
     
  9. Vykk Draygo

    Vykk Draygo Member

    I tried my hand at some MUDs, but I could never get into it. Roleplaying just ain't my thing. Did have some fun in a few though, and I did pick up the habit of calling mobs mobs.

    Anyhow, I knew what proc meant, but not the etymology, so this thread was helpful.
     
  10. kuhchung

    kuhchung Member

    I wasted a few years of my life on muds... I'm glad I have the street (mud?) cred to know all these terms, but I'm glad I'm out.
     
  11. tcjsavannah

    tcjsavannah Member

    MUSH = roleplay
    MUD = hack and slash
    Yes, I did both. I'm not proud. Or tired.
     
  12. kuhchung

    kuhchung Member

    There are definitely muds that enforce roleplaying. I played cosrin a long time ago back when it was free... they had a silly system that was gameable, but the spirit of the game was to rp.

    I believe Achaea is very heavily rp, but I didn't try it too much.
     
  13. Mr_Strange

    Mr_Strange Member

    proc means "process?" I thought for sure it meant "procure" - as in "potentially gain posession of."
     
  14. Essence

    Essence Will Mod for Digglebucks

    Nope, it means process. I think there's an alternate universe in which it's an acronym meaning "Process Randomly On Command", but that's clearly an alternate.
     
    k0rd likes this.
  15. moof

    moof Member

    Actually, from what i recall it's always been debatable what "proc" meant. I was always on the side of "programmed random occurence". When everquest came out, "proc" changed to people believing it meant "process". I guess for your weapon to "process" it's special effect or whatever. But that's not where it came from, only a perversion/derivation of the original meaning.
     
  16. Vykk Draygo

    Vykk Draygo Member

    I doubt it's origin was an acronym, but I wouldn't actually know. It just seems to have all the hallmarks of a backronym. Anyway, here is an article I found on it. It doesn't really say what it is, just sort of lists the common source attributions.

    http://www.nerfbat.com/2006/04/15/what-is-a-proc/
     
    Marak likes this.