StarCraft/Terminology

The following is a list of common abbreviations and terms which are used by the StarCraft communities, and is intended to assist new players who are unsure of what a particular term means.

Terran

 * CC : Command Center
 * Scan : Scanning an area with the Comsat
 * Sweep: After using the Comsat add-on
 * rines: Marines
 * bats: Firebats
 * Valks: Valkyries
 * SV: Science Vessel
 * Nuker: Ghost
 * BC: Battlecruiser
 * tanks: Siege Tanks
 * gol: goliath
 * M&Ms or MnMs: Marines and Marauders/Marines and Medics

Protoss

 * DA : Dark Archon
 * DT : Dark Templar
 * goon : Dragoons
 * HT : High Templar
 * obs : Observer (Also can refer to a spectator in the game)
 * zlot : Zealots
 * zealors: Zealots
 * Speedlots [Also known as Chargelots]: Zealots with Leg Enhancement upgrade (increases speed)
 * High Temps: High Templars
 * Antithesis Temps: Dark Templars

Zerg

 * crackling : Zerglings with both movement and attack speed upgrades. Describes the zerglings as 'on crack'
 * speedling: Similar to Speedlots (see above), but with Zerglings.
 * zling, ling : Zerglings
 * hydras: Hydralisks
 * Ovie: Overlord
 * Muta: Mutalisk
 * Guard: Guardian
 * Ultra: Ultralisk
 * Swarm: Dark Swarm

Miscellaneous Terminology

 * APM: actions per minute, a synthetic score measuring player's speed and ability to control troops.
 * Cheese tactic: a tactic that is frowned upon because the use of it gains one easy victories. Cheese tactics are employed most often by newbies, and are most effective against other newbies. Most such tactics weaken the user in such a way as to allow an experienced player to easily counter it and go on to defeat them. An example of such a tactic is the photon cannon rush. It is most effective against newbies because most newbies fail to scout and miss the opportunity to begin to counter it. The user has few resources to spare for home base defence, and if the photon cannons are not destroyed as soon as they are found, can be run past with quick units to attack the user's undefended main base.
 * Choke: Short for choke-point. A narrow area that is easily defended, usually referring to a necessary path required to gain access to a players base.
 * Cliff: an piece of map accessible only from air, near a main or expansion base, good for a tank drop.
 * Drop: troops delivered by a Dropship/Shuttle/Overlord, typically inside enemy base.
 * Eco: economy - resources income.
 * Expo: Expansion base, a second base player creates, typically to support better economy
 * Macro: macromanagement, one of the key skills to success in StarCraft, this involves the ability to control units and buildings across the map, such that units are constantly being pumped (see 'pump', below) even while attacking the opponent. Unless a one has a great proficiency with the mouse, hotkeys, keyboard shortcuts and location recall are used to obtain the best results. Also involves the ability to expand so as to produce enough resources to continue the unit pump.
 * Micro: micromanagement, another of the key skills to success in StarCraft. This involves of rigid control of units such that they are used as efficiently as possible. Examples include: concentrating fire on one unit at a time, rotating your units so as to place the least damaged on the front lines and effectively managing your spellcasters.
 * Nnatural : "Natural expansion" site on some popular multiplayer maps like "Lost Temple" or "Hunters": a location near player starting place with another patch of minerals, gas, and a narrow exit.
 * Obs : A spectator in a game (also can refer to the Protoss Observer unit)
 * Ramp: A choke that leads from a low ground area to a higher ground area. Usually referring to the entrance to a players base.
 * Pump: to produce units.
 * Rush: a strategy most often employed by newbies, involving the production of military units and using them to attack the opponent as quickly as possible. Usually involves the sacrifice of economy, likely resulting in defeat for the rusher if the rush fails.
 * Tech: the polar opposite of a rush, this strategy has the player initially play defensively, reserving a minimal defence and devoting most resources to constructing buildings so as to race up the tech tree to produce more advanced units.
 * Trigger: A map editor term that represents a series of conditional statements that when found to be true, sets off a specified event. Triggers are only in custom and campaign maps; unless you know them well, you won't have prior knowledge as to why certain events happen.

Common Chat Terminology

 * chobo : Korean origin, used to describe unskilled players. e.g. That player is chobo
 * gg : Good Game. It is considered good etiquette to say this after every game. The loser player says this first, and the winner responds the same.
 * gosu : Korean origin: "high hand", used to describe skilled players. e.g. That player is gosu
 * GL : Good luck.
 * HF : Have Fun.
 * DD : Don't Die, usually GL HF and DD are said by the host before a game starts