Overview
Understand the lingo
A-Z common acronyms
Referring a lot to a guide made by Cysion [link]
#
[link]
1-Chat taunt for ‘yes’
11-Chat taunt for ‘lol’
2-Chat taunt for ‘no’
1600-Base ELO for HD
A
AoAK-African Kingdoms expansion
AoC-Age of Conquerors
AoE-Age of Empires
AoFE-Forgotten Empires expansion
Arb-Arbalest
Axe/TA-Throwing Axeman
Aztecs-Az/Azt/Tex/Tec
B
BBC-Bombard Cannon
BBT-Bombard Tower
BF-Black Forest
BR-Blind Random
Boar-Wild Boar, varies depending on expansion (Elephant AoAK, Rhino RotR)
Boom-Strategy involving increasing economy rather than military
Britons-Brits/Bri
Byzantines-Byz/Tines
C
CA-Cavalry Archer
CBA-Castle Blood Auto (player made game mode)
CS-Custom Scenario
Castle Drop-Building a castle close to the enemy base
Cata-Cataphract
Cav-Cavalier
Celts-Cel
Champs-Champions
Chinese-♥♥♥♥♥♥/Chi
Chuck-Chu-Ko-Nu
Civ-Civilization
Conq-Conquistador
CTR-Capture the Relic
Crush-Castle Age Rush
D
del-Delete
DA-Double Arabia
DM-Death Match
Drush-Dark Age Rush
E
E-Elite version of a unit (Econq)
EW-Eagle Warrior
Ele-War Elephant
ELO-Game ranking system. HD default is 1600.
Eco-Economy
F
FFA-Free For All
FI-Fast Imp
FR-Full Random
FU-Fully Upgraded or ♥♥♥♥ You, depending on the context
Flank-In team games, the players closest to the enemy
Flush-Feudal Age Rush
Franks-Fra
Fwd-Forward base, making buildings close to the enemy
G
GA-Green Arabia
Grush-Galley rush
H
HC-Hand Cannoneer
HCA-Heavy Cavalry Archer
HD-High Definition, refers to the Steam version
HP-Hit Points
Halb-Halberdier
Huns-Hun
Husk/Husky-Huskarl
I
Imp-Imperial
J
Jag-Jaguar Warrior
Jan/Janny-Janissary
Japanese-♥♥♥/♥♥♥♥
K
Kits/Knts/Kts-Knights
Koreans-Kor
Koth-King of the Hill
L
LC/LCav-Light Cavalry
LN-Land Nomad
LOS-Line of Sight
Lbow-Longbowman
M
M/Mkt-Market
MAA/M@A-Man at Arms
Mam-Mameluke
Mang-Mangonel
Mangu-Mangudai
Mayans-May/Maya
Medi-Mediterranean
Meso-Meso-American civs, aka Mayans, Aztecs and Incas
Michi-Map that separates teams by a thick forest.
Migra-Migration
Mongols-Mon/Gols
Mush-Monk Rush
P
Pala-Paladin
Persians-Per/Pers
Pike-Pikeman
Plums-Plumed Archers
Pocket-In team games, the player position between allies, furthest from the enemy
R
RF-Regicide Fortress
RM-Random Map
Range-Archery Range
Rax-Barracks
Regi-Regicide
RotR-Rise of the Rajas expansion
S
SO-Siege Onager
Sam-Samurai
Saracens-Sar/Sara
Sc-Scout Cavalry
Scrush-Scout Rush
Skirm-Skirmisher
Sling-Tributing resources to allies to help them advance faster
Smurf-A player pretending to be someone else, typically as a low-skilled player.
Sneak vil-Sending villager/s forward to build a base behind the enemy and attack
Spanish-Sp/Spa/Span
T
TC-Town Center
TI-Team Islands
TK-Teutonic Knight
Teutons-Tuts/Teut
Trash-Military units which don’t cost gold
Treb-Trebuchet
Turks-Tur
U
UR-Ultra Random
UU-Unique Unit
V
Vikings-Vik
Voobly-Platform for playing AoC
W
WW-War Wagon
Woad-Woad Raider
X
Xbow-Crossbow
x (something)-Flare (something)
Z
Zerk-Berserk
zone-MSN Gaming Zone, the former official matchmaking service for Age of Empires
Civilization specific terminology
Age of Empires (AoE) is about warring civilizations, so naturally there are names for each civilization to take into account.
CIVILIZATION NAMES
Aztecs-Az/Azt
Berbers-Berb
Britons-Brits
Burmese-Burm
Byzantines-Byz
Celts-Cel
Chinese-Chi
Ethiopians-Ethi
Franks
Goths
Huns
Incas-Inc
Indians-Indi
Italians-Ital
Japanese-♥♥♥
Khmer
Koreans-Kor
Magyars-Magy
Malay
Malians-Mali
Mayans
Mongols
Persians
Portuguese-Port
Saracens-Sara
Slavs
Spanish-Span
Teutons-Teut
Turks
Vietnamese-Viet
Vikings-Vik
Each civilization has a unique unit (UU), one of the ways each civilization differs from each other. [link]
Aztecs Jaguar Warrior – Jag
Berbers Camel Archer
Berbers Genitour – Geni
Britons Longbowman – LB
Burmese Arambai
Byzantines Cataphract – Cata
Celts Woad Raider – Woad
Chinese Chu Ko Nu – CKN
Ethiopians Shotel Warrior
Franks Throwing Axeman – TA
Goths Huskarl – Husk
Huns Tarkan
Incas Kamayuk
Incas Slinger
Indians Elephant Archer
Indians Imperial Camel
Italians Genoese Crossbowman
Italians Condottiero – Condo
Japanese Samurai – Sam
Khmer Ballista Elephant
Koreans War Wagon – WW
Koreans Turtle Ship
Magyars Magyar Huszar
Malay Karambit Warrior
Malians Gbeto
Mayans Plumed Archer – Plums
Mongols Mangudai – Mang
Persians War Elephant
Portuguese Organ Gun
Portuguese Caravel
Saracens Mameluke
Slavs Boyar
Spanish Conquistador – Conqs
Spanish Missionary
Teutons Teutonic Knight – TK
Turks Janissary – Jans
Vietnamese Rattan Archer
Vietnamese Imperial Skirmisher – Imp Skirm
Vikings Berserk – zerk
Vikings Longboat
Each unique unit has an Elite upgrade which makes it stronger, appending the word Elite before its name or the letter E before its acronym
Meta/ strategy related terminology
Over the years, strategies to do things more efficiently have evolved and get their own special terminology.
Build orders (BO)
BO are the blueprints for executing a particular strategy which detail the order in which you assign villagers to resources and build buildings. Strategies are usually just called by their goal, but they have an underlying BO beneath it. BO vary from source to source, so you’ll have to look them up online/ watch replays at aoczone.net.
STRATEGIES
Drush
Dark Age Rush. Involves attacking in the Dark Age with Militia (the only military unit available in this age)
Flush
Feudal Age Rush. Involves attacking with Feudal Age units such as Scouts, Archers or Man at arms (m@a). A scout flush is known as a Scrush. A tower rush is known as a Trush.
Crush
Castle Age Rush. Less common, but involves Castle Age units such as Crossbows (Xbows), Knights (KTs), Monks or siege (rams/ mangonels). A monk rush is known as a Mush. A knight rush is known as a Krush.
Grush
Galley rush. A water map strategy where you build Docks and begin making Galleys in the Feudal Age.
FC
Fast Castle. Involves advancing to the Castle Age quickly with enough resources to either do a rush or a boom.
FI
Fast Imp. Involves advancing quickly to the Imperial Age, typically to gain access to Trebuchets/ BBC.
Boom
Involves making lots of TCs (Town Centers) to increase villager production or Docks to increase Fishing Ship production. Extra TCs can only be made in the Castle Age, hence FC boom is a common term.