Mob

A mob, mobile or monster is a computer-controlled non-player character (NPC) in a computer game such as an MMORPG^[1] or MUD.^[2][3] Depending on context, all such characters in a game may be considered "mobs",^[4][2] or usage may be limited to hostile NPCs and/or NPCs vulnerable to attack.^[1]

Purpose of mobs

Defeating mobs may be required to gather experience points,^[5] money,^[6] items,^[7] or to complete quests.^[8] Combat between player characters (PCs) and mobs is called player versus environment (PvE).^[9] PCs may attack mobs; some mobs are aggressive, and attack PCs.^[4] Monster versus monster (MvM) battles also take place in some games.^[10]

Origin and usage

The term "mob" is short for "mobile",^{[2][4][3][11]} which was used by Richard Bartle for objects that were self-mobile in MUD1.^[2] The term as it exists in MMORPGs is derived from the MUD usage.^[1][2] (Source code in DikuMUD uses the term "mob" to refer to a generic NPC; DikuMUD was a heavy influence on EverQuest.)^[12][13] The term is properly an abbreviation rather than an acronym,^[4][2] but backronyms for "MOB" such as "monster or beast", "mere ordinary beast" and "mean old bastard" have also been coined.

In some games, "mob" may be used to specifically refer to generic monstrous NPCs that the player is expected to hunt and kill, excluding NPCs that engage in dialog or sell items, or who cannot be attacked.^[1] Named mobs are distinguished by having a proper name rather than being referred to by a general type ("a goblin", "a citizen", etc.).^[14] Dumb mobs are those capable of no complex behaviors beyond attacking.^[4]

References