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Ionik Knight
Learned Scribe
USA
222 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Sep 2010 : 03:50:29
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This is a serious, but still stupidly funny (at least to me), question...when did munchkin replace monty-haul and where does the phrase come from?
Thanks
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Fools to right of them,
Jesters to left of them,
Clowns in front of them
Pun'd and parody'd. |
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Daviot
Senior Scribe
USA
372 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2010 : 21:36:20
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I've yet to see a conclusive etymology, but the Dictionary of Terminology assumes it's a borrowing from the Small-sized Wizard of Oz humanoids.
That said, munchkin is not necessarily a replacement for "monty haul", and I've continued to hear both in common usage, though munchkin stuck into the gamers' lexicon sometime in the '90's.
Monty Haul remains well-defined, whereas munchkin is a bit more controversial in its exact meaning; many have used it as a sort of an umbrella term for a non-constructive player. RPG.net's Lexica uses the following:
quote:
a player who, through inexperience or immaturity, disrupts the game to the detriment of the other players, usually by any or all of the following:
* Creating a character that's inappropriate to the setting (Classic definition: A munchkin is someone who, in a game of courtly politics and intrigue in 16th century France, wants to play a ninja.)
* Insisting his character either is or has to be the absolute best at everything he does.
* Roleplays poorly, seeing his character (and the other characters) as mere game pieces, without personality or motivations beyond advancing in the game.
* Relating to the last one: approaching all problems, obstacles, and frustrations with violence as a first resort
* Attempting to "win" the game, even at the expense of the other players, in situations where it would be inappropriate.
By comparison, "Monty Haul" generally refers to a character/campaign/GM that's extremely loot/treasure-focused, usually to the detriment of the game.
References:
Munchkin on the TV Tropes Wiki*
Monty Haul on the TV Tropes Wiki*
Trollbill's Unofficial Dictionary of Common D&D Messageboard Terminology 1.22 on the WotC forums
The RPG Lexica on the rpg.net wiki
*So I'm a contributor there, too. What's your point?  |
One usually has far more to fear from the soft-spoken wizard with a blade and well-worn boots than from the boisterous one in the ivory tower.
My Tabletop Writing CV. |
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Ionik Knight
Learned Scribe
USA
222 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2010 : 22:18:19
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| A most erudite and well researched answer Daviot, many thanks! |
Fools to right of them,
Jesters to left of them,
Clowns in front of them
Pun'd and parody'd. |
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Munchkin? Or educate a geezer the new hip jive!
