DPS and time to kill
Also said as TTK, Damage per second, Breakpoint
DPS is average damage over time. Time to kill is how long it really takes to bring something down. They differ because damage comes in lumps: it takes a whole extra shot to deal the last point of damage.
These two numbers set the pace of a shooter or an RPG. Time to kill decides how much a mistake costs and whether you can react. And players will find every breakpoint where a tiny change means one fewer shot.
Say it
“Time to kill is 0.3 s, and nobody has a moment to respond. Raise player health so the best gun takes about 0.6 s, and keep the shots-to-kill at four or five.”
Where you’ve seen it
World of Warcraft raiders run damage meters such as Details!, showing DPS for everyone in the group. Call of Duty players compare time to kill for every gun, and it is what they mean when they say a game feels fast.
Not to be confused with damage per hit
Damage per hit is one number on a weapon. It tells you little alone: a gun that hits for less but fires twice as fast has more DPS. Two guns can have the same DPS and different time to kill.