i do not understand line/polygon stippling at all. do i really need to know it or can i just skip it?

I've never used it.

Stipple patterns are for drawing repeated textures on polygons, its good for making Apple ][ style graphics, which is great if thats you want.
I think it produces a really nice effect.

I could be wrong, but I'll wager that it necessitates a fallback to software rasterizing.

Line stippling is still used in CAD like programs. For games, no real call for it unless you want something like a stippled area selection box like that in Photoshop. Even then I've seen programs use solid lines or semi-transparent lines for better effect.

I can imagine some special effects using line stippling, like some random stippled rays coming out of a bright light source, but that's about it I suppose. Does DirectX have stippling?

I've used it a couple of times, but really, no need to bother.

TomorrowPlusX Wrote:I could be wrong, but I'll wager that it necessitates a fallback to software rasterizing.

It might, depending on the hardware and what else is enabled. But probably not.

ok cool i'll just skip it then. thanks!

I really wouldn't skip it,
The redbook explains how to use polygon stippling to achieve translucency; this is particularly useful when you don't have blending hardware available.

If you ever played sega saturn games you would know how great this can look.

All renderers on OS X support blending, though...

its just another tool in your toolbox as a developer.. maybe just learn what it does and move on- and some day if you all of a sudden need that certain effect, you'll have this as an option to work into the equation. You just might not need it now so much.