# What is "leveling" in this context? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 11, 2016, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-leveling-in-this-context/762463 "2016-08-11T17:00:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-leveling-in-this-context/762463/1 "2016-08-11T17:00:21Z")
I’m putting it here because the source is a web comic and my attempts at Googling turned up a lot of references to D&D, but I don’t actually know. (link itself safe, but it links to a lot of stuff that isnt): [noparse][Quantum Vibe by Scott Bieser, published by Big Head Press](http://quantumvibe.com/strip?page=1406%5B/noparse%5D) Obviously Diana is getting back at Drusilla who had smacked her around previously, but I don’t quite get the reference. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-leveling-in-this-context/762463/2 "2016-08-11T17:06:14Z")
I’m not familiar with the strip, or the exact context, but if it’s intended to be an oblique reference to D&D or other RPGs, then it sounds like Diana is going to beat up (or kill) Drusilla, which will earn her experience points, which will let her “level” (i.e., achieve a higher experience level). ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-leveling-in-this-context/762463/3 "2016-08-11T18:05:50Z")
I recall a few uses of the term for multiplayer video games like _Call of Duty_ (with which I’m not otherwise versant), in which the players gain levels by “killing” others, hence a collaborative cheating method in which two players take turns letting themselves be killed by the other. The particular application in this comic looks kinda kinkily intriguing, though. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-leveling-in-this-context/762463/4 "2016-08-11T18:12:46Z")
Yup. Characters in (some editions of) D&D or other roleplaying games gain levels (to increase their skills and abilities and potential) by fighting and having ‘encounters’ with other in-game entities (they don’t have to be enemies). In some, you have to WIN the encounter to gain experience and level, but some of the older systems only required that you take damage of some sort of get the experience points. It’s an old way of doing things for D&D, but some modern video games are like this - Skyrim in particular is notorious about it. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-leveling-in-this-context/762463/5 "2016-08-11T19:11:46Z")
I’ve never seen this strip, but I’m guessing Drusilla did something in the past to assume dominance over Diana. Diana seems to be the one calling the shots now, so she’s bringing Drusilla down to her level. It’s a way to avoid acknowledging one’s betters or having to lurk in the shadow of someone else’s accomplishments, according to [Kierkegaard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leveling_(philosophy)). ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-leveling-in-this-context/762463/6 "2016-08-11T19:19:20Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > I’ve never seen this strip, but I’m guessing Drusilla did something in the past to assume dominance over Diana. Diana seems to be the one calling the shots now, so she’s bringing Drusilla down to her level. It’s a way to avoid acknowledging one’s betters or having to lurk in the shadow of someone else’s accomplishments, according to [Kierkegaard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leveling_(philosophy)). See, I was wondering if it could be “leveling” in the philosophical sense. [And yes Drusilla’s more than earned some payback.](http://www.quantumvibe.com/strip?page=1385) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-leveling-in-this-context/762463/7 "2016-08-11T23:02:30Z")
The D&D sense really doesn’t seem to fit, here. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-leveling-in-this-context/762463/8 "2016-08-12T02:54:50Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > The D&D sense really doesn’t seem to fit, here. But she’s pulling on those gloves… to me, that looks like she’s planning on leveling up by inflicting damage on another character. She intends to do the most damage with the least effort and least risk. Leveling isn’t game play, it’s just boosting your stat’s up, (Often by killing huge volumes of low-level replicating monsters). In this case, the victim is bound, she’s using extra-damage gloves, and she’s going to beat the sh- out of her, not out of malice, just for kicks and lol’s. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-leveling-in-this-context/762463/9 "2016-08-12T11:28:23Z")
Even in the most violent misinterpretations of the D&D experience rules, she’d get exactly as much XP from just shooting her. And by the actual rules, she’s already gotten the XP by the time that she has her manacled in front of her. There is no interpretation of the rules by which it makes sense to put on a sadistic spiked glove for purposes of gaining XP. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-leveling-in-this-context/762463/10 "2016-08-12T12:11:13Z")
Maybe she wants to level up her “sadistic spiked glove” weapon skill? ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-leveling-in-this-context/762463/11 "2016-08-12T13:18:06Z")
I know that in home repairs, you can level surfaces. It might involve planes and sanding. That glove does have a coarse raised surface on it, but what could be sanded flat with it on a human being I couldn’t tell you. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-leveling-in-this-context/762463/12 "2016-08-14T10:45:57Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Even in the most violent misinterpretations of the D&D experience rules, she’d get exactly as much XP from just shooting her. And by the actual rules, she’s already gotten the XP by the time that she has her manacled in front of her. There is no interpretation of the rules by which it makes sense to put on a sadistic spiked glove for purposes of gaining XP. I was thinking more [Path of Exile](http://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Facebreaker). Scott Beiser is listed as a “former computer game animator”. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-leveling-in-this-context/762463/13 "2016-08-14T11:29:06Z")
Are we missing the point with all the references to D&D and other game play? Its Lumpy [the OP] who says ‘leveling’ turns up lots of D+D references when he was googling, but the strip itself seems set in a non-gamer universe. See how normal and attractive the people look? Drusilla nearly killed Diana [panel 2], who was owed restitution, although not clear for nearly being killed or for whatever took place earlier in the story [hinted in Panel 1]. Drusilla seems to have used the archaic [?made up by the artist?] ‘leveling’ as a a means of getting punished instead of having to pay the money [Panel 3], but it appears Diana can escalate that way beyond what Drusilla may have been expecting. [punitive violence continues off-frame]. Lumpy - if you like this strip you should become a Patreon sponsor. Its a good and worthy thing to do, and costs bugger-all. And then you OWN him, and can ask him yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-leveling-in-this-context/762463/14 "2016-08-14T14:32:40Z")
> [@Banksiaman](#): > > Lumpy - if you like this strip you should become a Patreon sponsor. Its a good and worthy thing to do, and costs bugger-all. And then you OWN him, and can ask him yourself. Hmm- I just might. I’ve only been steadily employed now for six months after a multi-year spell of un/underemployment, and I’m still getting reaccustomed to actually being able to buy things. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2016, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-leveling-in-this-context/762463/15 "2016-08-14T14:41:08Z")
> [@Banksiaman](#): > > Drusilla nearly killed Diana [panel 2], who was owed restitution, although not clear for nearly being killed or for whatever took place earlier in the story [hinted in Panel 1]. The relevant pages: [noparse][Quantum Vibe by Scott Bieser, published by Big Head Press](http://www.quantumvibe.com/strip?page=1385) [Quantum Vibe by Scott Bieser, published by Big Head Press](http://www.quantumvibe.com/strip?page=1386) [Quantum Vibe by Scott Bieser, published by Big Head Press](http://www.quantumvibe.com/strip?page=1387%5B/noparse%5D) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-leveling-in-this-context/762463/16 "2016-08-15T04:07:26Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > I know that in home repairs, you can level surfaces. It might involve planes and sanding. > > That glove does have a coarse raised surface on it, but what could be sanded flat with it on a human being I couldn’t tell you. If you’re lonely, you can self-level. That is, use a self-leveling compound. ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-leveling-in-this-context/762463/17 "2016-08-15T16:09:47Z")
The webcomic is set in a sort of anarcho-capitalist libertarian whatever fantasy world in which everyone is lethally armed, there is essentially no State, security and ‘criminal’ investigation is performed by private contractors, legal disputes are settled by arbitration, etc. Murderers aren’t put in jail, their wealth and future earnings are seized and/or they are exiled to become someone else’s problem. That sort of thing. I strongly doubt that there is any video-game or RPG-based ‘gain a level’ reference going on here. It’s probably more of a sociopolitical reference to some theory of justice in a non-State framework. Like [‘restorative justice’](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restorative_justice). From context I imagine that it’s something like lex talionis, or authorized retribution where the punishment resembles the offense in kind and degree. So, tie me to a chair and beat me up, and I’m permitted to tie you to a chair and beat you up in return, thus bringing the perpetrator to the same level as the (initial) victim. I’m not permitted to do so by the State, which doesn’t exist, but by some sort of contract that you agreed to abide by in order to live in this particular community. Like an HOA agreement.