Skip to main content

Learning the Language of StarCraft, Part 2

Last week, in part 1 of In the Vernacular, we highlighted popular terminology for several units and structures within the StarCraft universe. Today, we dive in a bit deeper and focus on common tactics, greetings, and slang new players may encounter as they battle opponents online and get more involved with the community.

Learning the Language of StarCraft, Part 2



Tactics

  • #/# (e.g. 1/1) - Refers to the number of armor/weapon upgrades a particular type of unit currently has.
  • #pool/gate/hatch/rax (e.g.  6pool, 6rax, 14hatch, 9pylon, 11gate) - A shorthand term for specific build orders that notes when a certain structure should be built based on the player's supply count. The number corresponds to how much supply has been consumed, while the word corresponds with what building should be created when that supply count has been reached. So, for example, to follow a 9pool build order, a player would build a Spawning Pool once their supply count reached 9/10. Similarly, to follow an 11rax, a player would build a Barracks once their supply count reached 11/19.
  • APM - Short for actions per minute.
  • Backdoor - A secondary entrance to a base which is typically blocked by destructible debris.
  • Base Trade/Base Race - A base trade occurs when two or more opponents send units to attack each other's bases at the same time. Occasionally, both bases are destroyed, but a skilled player can gain the upper hand by securing his or her base while destroying the opponent's.
  • BO - Short for build order.
  • Build - Short for build order.
  • Build order - The order in which a player builds certain structures and units. A build order is an early-game strategy designed to optimize a player's economy and timing.
  • Cheese - An easy-to-learn, but hard-to-master rush strategy that is generally more difficult to defend against than it is to execute.
  • Choke - Short for chokepoint.
  • Chokepoint - An area of a map that is typically narrower than nearby terrain. Common chokepoints include ramps and bridges.
  • Contain - To restrict an opponent’s ability to move across a map.
  • Dance/Dancing - Rapid movement aimed at dodging an opponent's attacks.
  • Drop - A specific type of attack that employs the use of air units like Medivacs, Warp Prisms, and Overlords to transport and then drop ground units into opponent-controlled territory (typically a base).
  • Econ - Short for economy. A player's economy is based on his or her total income (mineral and gas resources) and active mining units.
  • Expand - To create an expansion.
  • Expansion  - A base that a player creates in addition to his or her starting location, usually in an effort to support a larger or better economy.
  • Expo - Short for expansion.
  • Fast expand - A strategy that involves focusing on the creation of an early expansion (usually a natural expansion), rather than the production of offensive units, for the purpose of gaining an economic advantage.
  • FE - Short for fast expand.
  • FF - Short for focused fire or Force Field.
  • Focused Fire - A strategy that involves concentrating unit attacks at a specific target to optimize damage.
  • Harass/Harassment - A strategy that involves a series of typically short, quick attacks designed to damage an opponent's economy or unit production capabilities. Harassment, unlike other types of attacks, is not generally intended to eliminate an opponent's forces completely.
  • Macro - Short for macromanagement.
  • Macromanagement - A strategy that focuses on the "big picture" and typically refers to the simultaneous supervision of structure production; mineral, gas, and supply counts; and general unit position. 
  • Main - A player's starting location/base.
  • Micro - Short for micromanagement.
  • Micromanagement - A strategy that focuses on the skillful manipulation of individual or groups of units on the battlefield to both successfully attack and defend against opposing forces.
  • Nat/Natural - Short for natural expansion.
  • Natural expansion - Often the closest and most likely position for an expansion based on a given starting location.
  • Proxy - A unit-producing structure that is placed near or within an opponent's base in order to reduce unit travel time.
  • Pump - To produce units.
  • Push - An offensive attack.
  • Rush - An early-game attack that involves producing a large number of inexpensive units like Marines, Zealots, or Zerglings as quickly as possible and then "rushing" at an opponent's base, hoping to catch them off-guard.  As rushes can damage a player's long-term economy potential, they are typically considered an "all in" maneuver.
  • Scouting - The act of revealing remote areas of a map to gain information about an opponent. Scouting can be achieved by physically moving units across the map or by using unit and structure abilities to expose areas from long distances.
  • Starve - To wall-in or contain an opponent for a long enough period of time, preventing the player from expanding, eventually causing the opponent to run out of resources.
  • Tech/Teching - The process of researching technologies in order to build more advanced structures and units. While teching can cost time and resources, it allows a player to create specialized and often more formidable armies.
  • Turtling - A strategy that involves focusing all attention on building up a primary base with significant defenses, usually forgoing offensive pressure and expanding in the process.  This term is usually used with a somewhat negative connation, as "turtling" often increases the duration of games without increasing a player's chances of winning.
  • Ups - Short for upgrades.
  • Wall/Wall in - A method of using structures to block off all or the majority of a chokepoint to help defend against an opponent's ground attacks.

Multiplayer and Team Chat

  • BM - Short for bad mannered; to show poor sportsmanship after losing a match.
  • DD - Don't die!
  • GG - Good game!
  • GL HF - Good luck, have fun!
  • L2P - Learn to play.
  • QQ - An emoticon representing two eyes crying, commonly used to refer to general complaining.

 

  • B - Backoff, or backup!
  • D - Defend!
  • G2G - Good to go.
  • Go - Attack!


Don't see a term you frequently use? Let us know! Share some of your favorite StarCraft terminology with the community by leaving a comment. 

Popular posts from this blog

SC2Allin1 v11.2.11 Beta 8 + AI - Play Starcraft 2 Offline

This tool allows you to Play Starcraft 2 Offline Learn how to use this latest version of SC2Allin1 v11.2.11 Beta 8 + AI Let's go straight to the download links: Download StarCraft 2 Heart of the Swarm Beta Download SC2Allin1 v11.2.11 Beta 8 + AI Download Starcraft 2 Map Packs (optional) Download .NET Framework 4 (required for the program to work correctly). Step 1. Unpack the archive "SC2Allin1-Setup-v11.2.11.zip" to any folder and run "SC2ALLin1.exe". Disclaimer : It will be your decision to continue the installation if antivirus detects any "Tsar Trojan" alert. This is how SC2Allin1 would look like. Step 2. Click the "Maps" tab. There are 4 buttons to choose from. Add Maps from Folder - add maps from the selected folder. This is if you previously downloaded the Starcraft 2 Map Packs from the link above. Select Map - select a map and go to the game settings (Game tab) Map Sites - launches a browser and moves us to...

SC2ALLin1 v10.3.3 - Play Starcraft 2 Offline

Starcraft 2 skrimish is available on this new version of SC2ALLin1 v10.3.3 . This works with Starcraft 2 v1.0.1. Based on reloaded's crack and all menus are working fine Update : SC2Allin1 v11.2.11 download is now available! Info Retail crack has nothing to do with this tool! So don't confuse them! This Launcher Tool was primary made for Training and Demonstrate-Promote StarCraft II only, not replacing it in any part! SC2ALLin1 v10.3.3 Offline StarCraft 2 Retail Launcher SC2Allin1 Retail Compatible Version is now live with new Difficulty Per Player , Handicap , Unique replay history , Custom Advanced A.I , Advanced Team Options , Cheats and much more! Retail Maps Link Works 100% only with the Retail MapPack available also for download here. Download Retail MapPack - download one-by-one Feel free without modifying the maps and uploaded to any other mirrors (HF,MU,etc) and PM me the links. What is ALLin1 tool?? It is an automated legit launcher tool ...

Starcraft 2 Dominion Community

The Dominion fights for the perseverance of our way of life; the survival of our species. Citizens like you can bolster humanity's strength by enlisting in the unwavering forces of the Dominion war machine. Join our ranks by taking the entrance exam. Help our cause by contributing to our Propaganda campaign. Earn your place in history! By "liking" and "sharing" content on the site, taking the entrance exam, and submitting original propaganda posters in the art contest, you will help advance the progress bar below, unlocking exclusive StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty content!

Starcraft 2 Guest Mode and Offline Mode - Play Starcraft 2 Offline

When logging into StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, you may have noticed the “Play as Guest” button lurking at the bottom right of your screen. But what does this do? Is it the same as the “Offline” mode you’ve heard about? Can I play without even logging into Battle.net?

Sc2gears General StarCraft 2 Utility

Sc2gears is a general StarCraft 2 utility for everyone who is interested in the game (either a player or just a game analyzer). Its main features are replay management and analysis for both individual replays and mass replays (multi-replay statistics). It provides easy but powerful and efficient replay management and basic statistics for starters, and advanced statistics and time development charts useful even for professional players. It is also a great asset to tournament and league organizers in quick analysis of tournament results.

StarCraft 2 Single Player Crack - Starcraft 2 Crack

Here's a better way to play Starcraft 2 Single Player even without a BNET account. Using this crack you'll be able to load SC2Map/SC2Replay files without having a license. Follow the instructions carefully. Reminders : This crack assumes that you already downloaded and installed Starcarft2 Full Client which includes the Single Player Campaign. Visit SC2 Full Client download . Instructions : 1. Download Base15405retail_enGB_Crk.rar. THIS IS for the enGB version 2. Extract content to any folder 3. Go to StarCraft II\Versions\Base15405\ and rename SC2.exe to orig.SC2.exe 4. Copy SC2.exe into StarCraft II\Versions\Base15405 5. Enjoy! This crack unlocks the ability to load SC2Map/SC2Replay files without having a Battle.Net account (aka License). You'll have to extract the Campaign maps, so someone go and write a tutorial or a batch file to do this task! Tips : Here is a better way to LOAD your progress. (No need of save/loads) Simple, instead of st...

SC2ALLin1 v10.2.2 - Play Starcraft 2 Offline

Info Retail crack has nothing to do with this tool! so don't confuse them! SC2Allin1 Beta phase2 compatible version is now live with new Difficulty Per Player, Handicap, Unique replay history and much more! Update : SC2Allin1 v11.2.11 download is now available! Works 100% only with the new MapPack available also for download Here, and sc2 beta patched up to version 17-18. Read first the new Starcrack Allin1 Installation Guide . What is ALLin1 tool? It is an automated legit launcher tool that makes it possible for you to play the SC2 beta offline, without cd-keys etc, load skirmish battles, and watch replays. It doesn't mess with the original SC2 game and will allow you to play WAN (if you are in the beta), and also download updates normally! The launcher has a user friendly interface with no need to copy and paste files around. Simply install the SC2 beta and then the launcher and you are ready to play! Update : SC2Allin1 v11.2.11 download is now availabl...

SC2 General Upgrade Maths and Game Mechanics FAQ

Author : ACTIVILLAIN Here I will provide a breakdown of all the important maths focused on upgrades and combat. Say you keep asking yourself: "Should I upgrade weapons or armor first?" "Is it worth my 100 gas to get combat shields?" "Does it make a difference if I spend my money upgrading? or should I just get more units?" Take a look here, maybe you will find answers to those questions.

Best Seller Video Games

Due to public demands together with our dedications on serving you the best deals that the internet has to offer, we are providing you links to the best selling ON SALE Video Games. So what are you waiting for, get the best offer you can find here and grab a copy of your favorite games.

Starcraft 2 M3 Plugins for 3ds Max

Starcraft 2 Model (.M3) Plugins for 3ds Max is a Starcraft 2 Model plugins designed for 3ds Max 2010. Should work with 3ds Max 6 and above. The importer and exporter will now be bundled together along with Starcraft 2 object definitions for using custom objects (materials, maps, UI, etc) within 3ds Max. I've chosen to distribute them together so that the object file definitions are in sync with each script.