longfall

Longfall is a term used in various contexts, most notably in gaming and physics, to describe the act or experience of falling from a great height. In video games, particularly those with open worlds or platforming elements, a longfall refers to the extended period a player character is airborne during a descent. This can be a gameplay mechanic, requiring players to manage their fall, perhaps by using special abilities or equipment to survive the impact. Some games even incorporate "longfall boots" or similar items that negate fall damage, allowing players to freely descend from any height. The term emphasizes the duration and potential danger of the fall rather than just the act of falling itself.

In a more literal, physics-related sense, a longfall describes a situation where an object or person falls a significant distance. The physics involved are governed by gravity, air resistance, and the object's terminal velocity. The longer the fall, the closer the object will approach its terminal velocity, the maximum speed it can reach due to the balance between gravity and air drag. While the concept of a "longfall" is straightforward, the practical implications can be severe, as surviving such a fall is generally impossible without external aid or specific environmental conditions, such as extremely dense air or a series of decelerating surfaces. The term serves to highlight the extreme nature of the descent.