View source for Twinking

{{Short description|Disapproved behavior in role-playing games}}
{{redirect-distinguish|Twink (internet slang)|Twink (gay slang)}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2021}}

'''Twinking''' is a type of behavior in [[role-playing game]]s that is disapproved of by other players. A player who engages in such behavior is known as a '''twink'''. The precise definition of twinking varies depending on the [[Role-playing game#Varieties|variety]] of role-playing game:

*In "pen and paper" role-playing games, a twink is often synonymous with a [[Munchkin (role-playing games)|munchkin]], i.e. a powergamer who seeks to acquire power and loot at the expense of their teammates.<ref name="munchkin" /> 
*In [[Multi-user dungeon|MUD]]s &ndash; Multi-User Dungeons or Domains &ndash;a twink is a player who is variously anything from a munchkin to a [[newbie]] (new player) to a [[griefer]], or a bad faith player.<ref name="koster" />  
*In [[massively multiplayer online role-playing game]]s, or MMORPGs, twinking refers to a character gaining equipment with the assistance of a higher [[level (role-playing games)|level]] character, particularly by giving the low-level character higher level equipment that is otherwise unattainable.<ref name="koster"/><ref name="bartle" /><ref name="carless" /> It can also be used to describe the process of keeping a [[video game]] character at a low level while using in-game currency, earned by a high-level character, to provide it with superior equipment.<ref name="eurogamer1" /><ref name="eurogamer2" />

A related term, '''smurfing''' also exists.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.makeuseof.com/what-is-a-smurf-in-gaming/|title=What Is a Smurf in Gaming?|work=MakeUseOf|date=April 20, 2021|accessdate=October 5, 2022}}</ref> Often used in video gaming, smurfing describes a situation in which "a highly-skilled player creates a secondary account as a disguise to play against less proficient opponents."<ref>{{cite web|last=Paez|first=Danny|url=https://www.inverse.com/gaming/smurfing-meaning-gaming-overwatch-league-of-legends|title=How an annoying video game strategy became a viral internet meme|work=[[Inverse (website)|Inverse]]|date=June 7, 2020|accessdate=October 5, 2022}}</ref> The term originates from two ''[[Warcraft II]]'' players employing the strategy under the names "[[Papa Smurf]]" and "[[Smurfette]]".<ref>{{cite web|last=Lopez|first=Jalen|url=https://dotesports.com/general/news/what-is-smurfing-in-gaming|title=What is smurfing in gaming?|work=[[Dot Esports]]|date=May 8, 2021|accessdate=October 5, 2022}}</ref>

==RPGs==
In [[role-playing video game]]s, particularly [[MMORPG]]s, twinking refers to outfitting a new character or player with items or other resources that are not normally available to new or low-level characters. A twink in this usage is a type of [[powergaming|powergamer]] and [[munchkin (role-playing games)|munchkin]]. The term can also refer to the twinked character itself (e.g., "My twink has all the best gear."). In its most basic definition, a twink is a character with better gear than one could have easily acquired on one's own.

Twinking is typically done by transferring higher-end equipment from the player's (or their friend's) more experienced characters (who often have excess gear that would be much more useful to the lower-level character). It can also be done by equipping the character with the best possible gear for their level range, and filling them with end-game enchantments.

Many new players dislike twinking of others' characters, since it gives a big advantage to established players starting a new character.<ref name="prima" /> Some new players do not like to have their own characters twinked, as they prefer to earn the equipment for themselves.

It is common for twinking items to be traded at good values due to persistent demand. Sometimes, this will go so far as to inflate twink equipment prices, as high-level players are willing to pay more than a newbie would be able to.

===Countermeasures===
*Many games have item restrictions that prevent low-level characters from using higher-level items and upsetting [[game balance]]; in ''[[Diablo II]]'' and ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'', most items require a minimum [[attribute (role-playing games)|ability score]] or level to equip. This did not totally prevent the problem of higher-level characters handing down gold or very powerful gear; it just changed what could be used in this strategy.
*Some games, such as ''[[World of Warcraft]]'' (WoW), ''[[Anarchy Online]]'' (AO), ''[[EverQuest]]'' (EQ), and ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'' (LOTRO) have certain items become restricted to one character—"Soulbound" ([[World of Warcraft|WoW]]), "NoDrop" (AO), "No Trade" (EQ), or "Bound" (LOTRO) —when the items are picked up, equipped, or used. These items cannot thereafter be transferred to other characters (even one's own characters on the same realm/server, with some limited exceptions). Some items are bound to a specific account ("Bind To Account" in WoW, "Heirloom" in EQ, "Bound to account" in LOTRO) and cannot be transferred to other people's accounts, but can be traded between characters on the same account.
*''WoW'' further reduced twinking in [[Battlegrounds (World of Warcraft)|Battlegrounds]] ([[player versus player|player-versus-player]] combat arenas) by awarding experience points for Battleground victories, so that as [[player versus player|PvP]] characters gain experience, they also gain levels and thus become disqualified from lower-level brackets.<ref name="wowhead_patchnotes" /><ref name="wow-nonxp" /> Additionally, some of the best-in-slot items became "heirlooms" that apply a percentage increase to all experience point gains.{{citation needed|date=January 2012}} Players can disable experience point gain for an in-game fee, but must play in separate Battlegrounds as long as they do so where most of the other players will also be twinkers.<ref name="eurogamer1"/><ref name="eurogamer2"/>
*''WoW'' eliminated twinking in [[player versus player|PvP]] combat arenas in patch 7.0.3, by removing all stats gained from equipment upon entry and instead giving the character predetermined [[player versus player|PvP]] stats based on its class and specialization.
*''[[Pokémon (video game series)|Pokémon]]'' games use a badge system, which makes Pokémon above a certain level tougher to control, making random actions and falling asleep instead of obeying commands until the trainer has completed enough of the [[campaign (role-playing games)|campaign]].

==Online role-playing games==
In [[online role-playing game]]s, twinking may include, but is not limited to
*[[Denial-of-service attack|Denial-of-service]] or "DoS" attacks
*[[Hack (technology slang)|Hacking]] the server
*Creating an invincible or extremely powerful character with which the twink will seek to dominate in role-play
*Aggravating and attacking the game administration or game community
*[[Exploit (online gaming)|Exploit]]
*[[Cheating (video games)|Cheating]]
*[[Powergaming]]
*[[Metagaming (role-playing games)|Metagaming]], being able to guess or preempt plot points based on prior knowledge from having previously played the game in question.

==Etymology==

{{Self-contradictory|section|date=April 2021}}
There are several possible etymologies for the word. It may not have been derived from a single source, instead evolving from multiple convergent usages. Its exact origin is unclear.

The [[Twink (gay slang)|gay-slang usage]] of "twink" has been suggested as a likely origin.<ref name="munchkin" /> One of the connotations of this usage is "a young/inexperienced person who can outfit himself fashionably because of financial benefits from an older/experienced [[sugar daddy (slang term)|sugar daddy]]." This parallels MMORPGs, where in-game money is a strong limiting factor in the [[virtual economy]] and gear is usually in the form of clothing and jewelry.

The word "twink" appeared in the ''[[Ultima Online expansions|Ultima Online: Renaissance]]'' playguide in the glossary of terms (copyrighted in 2000). It was asserted to have a meaning similar to its current one, but also included [[powerlevelling]].

On the [[Multi-user dungeon|MUD]] ''[[Sojourn (online game)|Sojourn]]'', which several creators of ''[[EverQuest]]'' played, "twink" was alternately used to refer to [[powerleveling]] and [[metagaming]]. As [[Multi-user dungeon|MUD]]s date to 1978, this use of the term may possibly predate later uses.

The term twink and twinking predated MMOs and was prevalent in many MUDs. The term came from flags on much of the high-end gear that cause gear to be displayed as (twinkling) <gear name>. It was not an alternate name for powerleveling, but could be used as a method of powerleveling.

==See also==
* [[Munchkin (role-playing games)]]
* [[Optimization (role-playing games)]]
* [[Powerleveling]]
* [[Cheating]]
* [[Powergaming]]
* [[Min-maxing]]
* [[Role-playing game terms]]
* [[Catfishing]]
* [[Sock puppet account|Sockpuppetry]] ([[Wikipedia:Sockpuppetry|especially on Wikipedia]])

==References==
{{Reflist|2|refs=
<ref name="bartle">{{cite book
 | last = Bartle | first = Richard | author-link = Richard Bartle
 | title = [[Designing Virtual Worlds]]
 | publisher = New Riders
 | year = 2003
 | isbn = 0-13-101816-7
 | page = 428
 | quote = Formally, twinked characters<sup>81</sup> are ones that have acquired equipment that they couldn't ever have obtained through the normal channels; in ''EQ''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s case, this means killing monsters and trading with other characters. [...] <sup>81</sup> Or ''twinks''.
}}</ref>
<ref name="carless">{{cite book
 | last = Carless | first = Simon | author-link = Simon Carless
 | title = Gaming Hacks
 | publisher = [[O'Reilly Media]]
 | year = 2004
 | isbn = 0-596-00714-0
 | page = 115
 | quote = '''Twink''' A character outfitted with equipment, spells, or assistance beyond her normal level.  A 5th-level character possessing a sword appropriate to a 25th-level {{Sic|character|s}} is Twinked.  Twinking is the act of outfitting a character in this manner.
}}</ref>
<ref name="prima">{{cite book
 | author = Prima Development
 | title = Everquest Player's Guide: Prima's Official Strategy Guide
 | publisher = Prima Games
 | date = 2001-10-09
 | isbn = 0-7615-3762-7
 | page = 77
 | quote = If you twink, expect to get flak from people who don't agree with twinking [...]
}}</ref>
<ref name="koster">{{cite web
 | last = Koster | first = Raph | author-link = Raph Koster
 | url = http://www.raphkoster.com/gaming/twinking.shtml
 | title = Twinking
 | work = Raph Koster's Website
 | access-date = 2010-04-30
}}</ref>
<ref name="munchkin">{{cite book
 | last1 = Desbrough | first1 = James
 | last2 = Mortimer | first2 = Steve
 | title = The Munchkin's Guide to Power Gaming
 | publisher = [[Steve Jackson Games]]
 | date = 1999-12-01
 | isbn = 1-55634-347-7
 | page = 127
}}</ref>
<ref name="wow-nonxp">{{cite web
 | url = http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/?topicId=19110336708&sid=1
 | title = Blizz: Non-XP Battlegrounds
 | work = World of Warcraft - English (NA) Forums
 | date = 2009-08-10
 | access-date = 2009-11-05
}}</ref>
<ref name="eurogamer1">{{cite web
 | last = Welsh | first = Oli
 | url = http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/wow-to-introduce-pvp-levelling
 | title = WOW to introduce PVP levelling?
 | work = [[Eurogamer]]
 | date = 2008-10-14
 | access-date = 2009-08-15
}}</ref>
<ref name="eurogamer2">{{cite web
 | last = Welsh | first = Oli
 | url = http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/wow-pvp-levelling-in-next-patch
 | title = WOW: PVP levelling in next patch
 | work = [[Eurogamer]]
 | date = 2009-06-19
 | access-date = 2009-08-15
}}</ref>
<ref name="wowhead_patchnotes">{{cite web
 | url = http://www.wowhead.com/patchnotes=3.2.0
 | title = World of Warcraft Client Patch 3.2.0
 | work = [[wowhead]]
 | date = 2009-08-04
 | access-date = 2011-01-10
}}</ref>
}}

{{MUDs|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Esports terminology]]
[[Category:MUD terminology]]
[[Category:Video game terminology]]