metagaming
Player knowledge exploitation
Metagaming is using knowledge or strategies from outside the game to gain advantage within it.
In tabletop roleplaying, a player metagames by acting on information their character wouldn't know: My character hasn't met the villain, but I know from last session he's a vampire.
In competitive gaming, metagaming means exploiting knowledge of dominant strategies or opponent tendencies rather than playing purely in-game: The current meta favors aggressive decks.
The noun form, the meta or the metagame, refers to the prevailing strategic landscape.
Optimizing character builds strategically
- loopholingExploiting rule gaps
- glitchingShowing intermittent digital faults
- exploitNotable act or abuse
- cheeseFermented milk solid
abuse · griefing · smurfing · boosting · camping · kiting · farming · tool-assisted
Conveys information verbally
- bluffingDeceiving about one's position
- deductionConclusion from premises
- predictionForecast of coming events
- profilingCharacterizing by patterns
tendencies · leveling · table-talk · GTO
Maximizing efficiency or performance
- counterplayActive defense through offense
- loadoutSelected equipment configuration
- synergyCombined effect exceeding components
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
Conceptual stage boundary
- out-of-characterUnlike one's normal behavior
- in-characterMaintaining a persona
- separationState of being apart
- genre-savvyAware of narrative patterns
min-maxing
Optimizing character builds strategically
- loopholingExploiting rule gaps
- glitchingShowing intermittent digital faults
- exploitNotable act or abuse
cheese · abuse · griefing · smurfing · boosting · camping · kiting · farming · tool-assisted · speedrunning
tells
Conveys information verbally
- bluffingDeceiving about one's position
- deductionConclusion from premises
- predictionForecast of coming events
profiling · tendencies · leveling · table-talk · GTO
optimization
Maximizing efficiency or performance
- counterplayActive defense through offense
- loadoutSelected equipment configuration
- synergyCombined effect exceeding components
composition · rotation · positioning · adaptation · scouting
fourth-wall
Conceptual stage boundary
- out-of-characterUnlike one's normal behavior
- in-characterMaintaining a persona
- separationState of being apart
- gamingbuff, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, e-sports, noob
- RPG designplayer agency, worldbuilding, house rules, homebrew, session zero
- gaming psychologyflow state, dopamine, immersion, gratification, reward systems