Abbreviations and Definitions
.ace - A compressed file, like a .zip file.
Acrobat Reader - A free program that can be used to view any .pdf file.
Adobe - Company that created PhotoShop, Acrobat, and Acrobat Viewer.
AI – "Artificial Intelligence" – the part of the program, which controls the behavior of "living beings" in the game.
3D Studio Max - Professional program used to create the 3D objects of the game.
.bsa - This file holds all the objects, sounds, etc files used by an .esm.
Bug - A programming error. Just about any program contains some minor "bugs", which can be fixed with updates or patches.
CS (or TESCS) – The Elder Scrolls Construction Set.
CTD - Crash To Desktop; when you’re playing Oblivion and it suddenly stops, disappears, and is replaced by the desktop.
D-Click, D-Click’d - Double click.
.dds – Image format used for textures in Oblivion.
Dependent – Plug-in files are dependent upon one or more master files. You cannot load a plug-in in the CS, nor in the game, without loading the master files it is dependent upon.
Discreet - Company that owns and sells 3D Studio Max.
.esm - Elder Scrolls Master file; like a plugin only you cannot modify it.
.esp - Elder Scrolls Plug-in file. All changes made with the CS are stored in this file.
.ess - Elder Scrolls Save file. These are your saved game files.
Expansions – Knights of the Nine (KOTN) and Shivering Isles (SI) are the two official expansions available for Oblivion.
FPS - Frames Per Second. Your computer redraws the screen constantly. Each time it does this is referred to as a ‘frame’. The more it has to draw the fewer frames per second
GIMP - A free software program used to create ‘image’, or ‘art’, files (i.e. textures).
HD or HDD - Hard Drive, or Hard Disk Drive.
ID - Identification (name of an object or thing in the CS). Not necessarily the Name of an object, but the ID name the CS keeps track of an object by.
.kf - File associated with a .nif file that has animation in it.
L-Click, L-Click’d - Left-click.
Leveled List - A list created with creatures or treasure. It is accessed by the game to provide a creature to fight appropriate to the PC’s level, or distribute treasure appropriate to the PC’s level.
Meshes - The 3-dimensional wireframe form of an object.
MilkShape - A cheap program used to create meshes. Not as capable as 3D Studio Max.
Mod - A plug-in, to include all files necessary to play it.
.nif - NetImmerse File Format. All 3D models in Oblivion are this format.
Northmarker - Object placed in an interior cell to denote which way is north.
NPC - Non Player Character, every character in the game except the one playing.
OBSE – Oblivion Script Extender
Object - Anything that can be placed in the game, is an object, and treated as such by the game.
Paint Shop Pro - Software used to create ‘image’, or ‘art’, files.
PC - Player Character, the one playing the game.
.pdf - Portable Data File. This type of file can be opened and viewed by anyone on a PC or MAC computer with Adobe Acrobat Reader.
PhotoShop - Software used to create ‘image’, or ‘art’, files.
R-Click, R-Click’d - Right-click.
.rar - A compressed file, like a .zip file.
Readme.txt - A simple text file that explains what a file is for, what it does, how to install it, and what to expect. This is basically everything about the file. Should be included with any mod you create, upload, or download.
Reference - Any time you place an object in the game you create a reference of that object.
RPG - Abbreviation of "role-playing game".
Script, Scripting - Manually written code to execute, or augment, an effect in the game (often hidden from the player, though it’s effects or results may not be).
Skills - Statistical actions you can take to accomplish something in the game.
Spell - A magical effect cast by actors/PC composed of spell effects.
Spell Effects - Spell effects are used to create spells that are used in the game world.
Skin - The texture file that is ‘wrapped’ around a mesh to create an object.
Skinning - The process of altering and fitting a texture onto a wireframe to create an object.
Stats - The PC’s defining statistical abilities (attributes and skills).
TC - Total Conversion; when someone completely deletes everything from Oblivion (all cells, landscape, references, etc) except the game engine, and creates a new “game” from scratch as an .esm file.
TES - The Elder Scrolls.
TESCS (or CS) - The Elders Scrolls Construction Set.
Textures - An ‘image’ file used to ‘skin’ a mesh to create an object.
Toggle - Usually a key, or combination of keys, that produces an affect, or stops it, by ‘turning it on’ or ‘off’ with repeated keystrokes.
XP - Common abbreviation for "Experience Points".
.zip – A compressed file
Gaming