A Definition of "Twink"

"Twinkery" is the foolish belief that you can somehow "win" a role-playing game. Thus, Twinks tend to take an approach to character creation/gameplay that enhances the chances of achieving what they view as a "win".

Combat-Twinks: Believe that to "win" in the game, you must acquire massive amounts of "Experience Points" in battle. Load up on all combat-related Abilities, acquire military-grade weapons, and pick up only those Disciplines/Spheres/Gifts that enhance their chances in combat. Tend to make "insta-kill" posts: "I leap out from the trees blowing 8 Rage and hit you nine times with my Grand Klaive for 212 Agg Damage, then fade back into the night."

Drama-Twinks: Believe that "winning" involves being at the center of attention, at ALL times. Common tactics include creating multiple-XOver characters (True Mage Gypsy/ Kinain/ Kinfolk/ Mediums) and running extensive plots in which their character is publicly put through hell--but never, ever dies. Even suicide is only a temporary state of being. Likewise, if the character routinely enters in a state of near-death, writhing on the floor as their multiple wounds bleed on the carpet (and it's amazing the places some folks will go to in order to avoid a trip to the hospital), the player is a probable Drama-Twink.

"Special" Twinks: Much like Drama Twinks, these folks try to hog the spotlight. However, they take it one step further by totally ignoring anything resembling rules for character creation. Bete of animal types that DON'T have a Changing Breed are common, here, as are out-and-out rules violations (often involving Sphere Magic-wielding Fae). Also common is the tactic of "borrowing" Merits and Flaws from other systems (Say it with me: "Wings!"). The inevitable justification for this is a loud and obnoxious defense of the "Golden Rule"--ignoring that this has no place online, where there are no STs.

Uber-Twinks: Cousin to the Combat-Twink, this fellow can't be beaten or shown up in any way, shape, or form. While rarely found to be in outright violation of the rules, this character has nothing approaching a "weakness". Whether they are an Elder (Methuselah?!?), Vampire, a Legendary Garou or a Master/Archmage, these folks can come up with a counter for anything that might harm, embarrass or otherwise make their character look in any way less than perfect, invincible and omnipotent/omniscient. Look for multiple Lores at 5, Mastery of four or more Spheres, scads of out-of-Tribe/Breed Gifts, or several Disciplines at Rank 7 or 8--inevitably including Thaumaturgy.

Now, of course, we come to the real problem: all of the above, save the "Special" category, are also totally viable online character concepts. Not every Angst Queen, Combat God or even Very Powerful Character is a de facto Twink. Even "Special" characters might not be Twinky in a TT game.

The difference is in attitude. The Twink will never, ever, allow themselves to be derailed. Drama Twinks won't give up the spotlight. Combat Twinks are immune to failure in combat. The Uber Twink will never say, "There's nothing more I can do."