11 replies to this topic

[Langley]

"Wars where you're allowed to use Homemade Ammo" is called NIC Style, which doesn't even make sense if you already know what NIC stands for. "Wars where you're only allowed to use stock darts or knockoffs of stock darts" is called SAMBO which barely makes sense as an acronym but is also coincidentally the name of a martial art and a racist caricature. 

 

I want to use tags and categories in the new forum software to differentiate nerf wars and modifications into these two categories, but I'm not going to use these names because they are confusing and dumb.  I see this as an opportunity to switch to names that make some sense and can be understood by people who are new to the hobby. Here are some options:

 

(Modified) Stock Class and DIY Class - gets the point across, captures the difference between the two, concise.

 

Stock Ammo Only (SAO) and Homemade Ammo Allowed (HAA) - Abbreviations that make a little more sense, are shorter, and I can set up the site to put a tool tip on SAO and HAA that displays the full name like this: SAO HAA

 

Superstock and Hardcore Nerf - I think these names are still pretty silly but they're a step up, and I've heard HvZ people describe 'NIC Style' as 'Hardcore Nerf' before so it must be at least a little intuitive. 

 

In the next week or so I'm going to pick one of these options and start setting up portals for the two categories.  I'm willing to take suggestions for better names if anyone has any. 

[Tekkun harashima]

I think it's not SAO because it would steal sword art online'a acronym

[sublimedom777]

I think it's not SAO because it would steal sword art online'a acronym

Good, that'd keep both Nerf Plebs and Anime Plebs away from the wars I attend... (/sarcasm)


I suppose of the given options I prefer the Superstock/Hardcore differentiation. I think the ammo-type abbreviations are a little less good, as they're another acronym to remember/parse.

[The2ndBluesBro]

Not a good idea. One of those things like communism for example. Good idea in theory but in practice, not so much. Most of the community has already agreed on these acronyms and understands them. I personally will continue to use NIC as the acronym as I am sure many others will as well. I don't really use the tags feature anyway. However, I applaud your efforts to help the newer generation of people entering the hobby.

[DX-Robert]

As far as I've seen around the hobby, the term "Superstock" is near-universally understood for identifying events with stock ammo, modified blasters.  "SAMBO" has been almost completely phased out in favor of Superstock.  IMO, the tags "Stock" and "Superstock" are ideal.

The real problem lies with "NIC-Style".  That needs to be rebranded, however, its replacement must be universally understood.  "Hardcore" can mean so many different things to different people.  200 FPS?  250 FPS?  300 FPS?  400 FPS?  HPA?  Singled Titans?  Homemade air blasters?  Slugs?  Domes?  Slingshot domes?  Milsim?  Abandoned buildings?  Woods?  Overnight?

"NIC-style" usually describes a type of Nerf limited to roughly 250-300 FPS, with hoppered 4Bs as the upper power limit, with slugs or 3/0 fishing weight domes or sillydomes, played mainly on grassy fields, light woods, elementary school grounds, or indoors at airsoft facilities.  While these parameters may vary, the overall feel of the style does not.  The name of the term may not describe it correctly, but what it describes is widely understood.

I feel that "Hardcore" is too generic to successfully identify this type of Nerf.  "DIY" is decent, but you don't *need* a homemade or homemade ammo in order to enjoy an event.  With the proliferation of 3rd party China dart types, stock ammo keeps getting better and better.  I see them eventually replacing slugs (Snipped USCs can already replace #6 slugs, but you need a strong air blaster in order to hop them reliably, and they perform poorly in wind like #6s).

I don't like the idea of introducing more acronyms due to the huge amount we already have.  I honestly have no idea what NIC-Style could be replaced with that would be widely understood and agreeable.

[shandsgator8]

DX has a good point regarding creating exact definitions and the fact that some terms are already well entrenched and for the most part, are already pretty descriptive. For those reasons, I'm a fan of using just 2 general categories:

 

1. Superstock (includes fully stock blasters and blasters withe "moderate" upgrades like spring upgrades, AR removals, rewiring and motor replacements).

 

2. NIC (everything else)

 

Yes, there will be overlap and confusion, but I think these two terms cover the majority of blasters used at Nerf wars.  Most people already know that a Retaliator with a pump grip and higher force spring will qualify as superstock. Most people also know that a hoppered BBUMB, 4B, or + Bow falls under NIC. Any grey or squishy areas can be handled by the war host.

Edited by shandsgator8, 03 December 2015 - 03:39 PM.

[Langley]

It seems pretty clear to me that the defining difference between what people call 'NIC Style' and what people call 'superstock' is that 'NIC Style' events allow homemade ammo.  The kind of mods or homemade designs people want is determined by what ammo they're using.  There are other differences, and sure you can get away with superstock blasters at wars even if homemade ammo is allowed, and there are weird outliers and gray areas. But at the end of the day, if you go to events that don't allow homemade ammo, then you're not interested in hoppers or snaps or brass barrels or UMBs.  And if you only go to events that do allow homemade ammo, you're probably more interested in those things than FVJs or flywheel blasters.  I just don't see any reason to get into FPS or split hairs over the other details.  I know homemade darts isn't exactly what NIC style is but it informs almost every aspect of what it is. 

 

There's not going to be a perfect answer to what you could call NIC Style that everyone will agree on and which will immediately be understood, but pretty much anything would be an improvement at this point.  The fact that the options I've outlined don't immediately transmit a complete picture of NIC style into your brain like Neo learning Kung Fu is not enough of a reason for me not to use one of them. 

[jwasko]

As others have said, Superstock is widely accepted and should be used.

 

I like Ultra-Modified/Homemade (UMH for short) as a substitute for "NIC" since it describes of the blasters.

 

 

PS: Dom, I'm sorry I like Sword Art Online. Does that mean I'm out?

[Snoop Doggy doge]

I agree with superstock, and  think homemade or DIY wars would work. HAA is fine, and SAO can be OSA (only stock ammo)

[Zorns Lemma]

I propose we rebrand "NIC Style" to "SPN [Superior Pātriciae Nerf] Style"

Edited by Zorns Lemma, 08 December 2015 - 03:52 PM.

[DblDrgn]

"NIC" does not make sense; "Nerf Internet Community" does not efficiently explain anything at all about homemade blasters or homemade ammo to someone who is uninformed about such blasters.

 

Instead, I think that a simple term like "Homemades" or "Homemade Blasters / Homemade Ammo" would be much more effective in conveying to people what those blasters & ammo are all about.  Just choose a word or couple of words that simply describe the blasters & ammo instead of a vague reference to "underground nerf enthusiasts that communicate on the internet and only nerf in this one niche style".

 

"Super Stock nerf" makes sense and is widely recognized and understood within the community, however I believe that "hobby-grade nerf" or "modified nerf blasters" may be a slightly better choice of words because it is easier to immediately understand for those outside of the nerf hobby.   I just don't see the point in making it confusing— just make the terms describe exactly what the blasters and ammo styles are all about, in objective reality, rather than arbitrarily making some obscure reference or confusing acronym. 

[Langley]

Since posting this I've already seen someone else use 'DIY Class' in the wild, so I'm going to go with that and Superstock.