What the heck is "SCHPAA!"?
Schpaa! is an example of Onomatopoiea (a word used to represent a sound). It originated for me as a sound my fellow game geeks and I would use when playing pen-and-paper role playing games back in college. Schpaa! was a special sound used only when a player rolled a critical hit that totally obliterated the nasty critter, alien, or evil dude we were fighting.
For example:
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GM: OK, your leg is trapped under the fallen column. The evil wizard laughs (Bwahahaha!) and begins casting a powerful spell to utterly destroy you in the most painful way imaginable. You feel a burning sensation and notice the hair on your arms and head is beginning to singe and smoke. What do you do?
Player: Do I still have my sword?
GM: Yes, but you're flat on your face, your leg is trapped, and the wizard is about 15 feet away.
Player: I raise up on one arm and call out to my magic sword: "Elzor, take your revenge!"* Then I hurl the sword at the wizard with my last ounce of strength! (Rolls die)
(*Elzor's previous owner was slain by this same wizard, naturally...)
GM: A 20! And the wizard's saving throw is...a 2! OK, you throw the sword and collapse in pain as your leather armor heats up and your exposed skin starts to burn. The wizards voice rises to a crescendo as he comes to the end of his spell orbs of fire form in each of his hands. Your sword arcs end over end and the wizard's eyes widen as he sees it coming at him and he stumbles on the last word of his spell. Elzor strikes right in the center of the wizard's forehead and sinks halfway to the hilt. The wizard spell ends on a choked gurgling scream and his flame-cloaked hands--which had been about to hurl fiery death at you--grab convulsively at either side of his head. SCHPAA! The wizards head and upper torso explode into flaming giblets and the rest of his body crumples slowly to the ground. Elzor flies through the air and sticks into the floor nearby, glowing with bright silver light.
Player: Cool!
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That's an example of SCHPAA! To me, it represents dramaitic critical moments in events both real and in games. If I was a cook instead of a gamer I might say: "BAM!" Although, come to think of it, that works, too!
