[RPG] the origin of the word “Soak” for avoiding damage

history-of-gamingterminology

If anything ever boggled my mind in role playing, then it is the term "soak", as in "soaking damage". Soaking brings pictures of wet clothes to mind, as making stuff wet is what the word is in fact used for. And it just has that annoying itchy sound to it. So, in short, here are my questions:

  • When was the term "Soaking damage" coined?
  • Why was it in fact called "soaking"?

I hope my question makes sense…

Best Answer

That's interesting, as being a non-native English speaker I always assumed it was one of the accepted meanings. So as every time I realize one of these things, let's check the Wiktionary entry for soak:

Verb

soak (third-person singular simple present soaks, present participle soaking, simple past and past participle soaked)

  1. (transitive) To allow (especially a liquid) to be absorbed; to take in, receive. (usually + up)

    I soaked up all the knowledge I could at university.

So yes, even though it is not the most often used meaning, "to soak" can be used for "to absorb", and not only for liquids. So "soaking damage" for "receiving damage and absorbing it" is not a pure invention, it is accepted - though unusual - English language.

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