Glossary

Terms used in Hardcore Factions. Much of this vocabulary is shared with the wider Minecraft PvP scene, and some of it varies between networks. Where a term means different things on different servers, that is noted.

Corrections and additions welcome. If a term is used differently on the server you played, add both meanings rather than replacing one with the other.

Core format

Term	Meaning
HCF	Hardcore Factions. The format itself.
Deathban	The ban applied when you die, lasting anywhere from minutes to hours. The rule that defines the format.
Map	A season. Runs from SOTW to EOTW, typically several weeks, then wipes.
SOTW	Start of the World. The moment PvP switches on and the map properly begins.
EOTW	End of the World. Claims disable and the map collapses into a free-for-all before reset.
DTR	Deaths Till Raidable. A faction's buffer; each member death lowers it, and at negative the base can be raided.
Raidable	A faction whose DTR has gone negative, meaning anyone can enter and loot its base.
Regen	DTR regenerating over time out of combat. Freezes while the faction is combat tagged.

Factions and land

Term	Meaning
Claim	Land bought by a faction. Enemies cannot build or break inside it.
`/f home`	The command warping you to your faction's set spawn point. Blocked while combat tagged.
Roster	The list of players in a faction for a given map.
Cycle roster	Reserve players who rotate in as slots open.
LFF	Looking For Faction. Posted by players without a roster, usually before SOTW.
Stash	A hidden supply cache, often outside the main base.
Stash faction	A second faction used to hold gear or members. Banned under most no-ally rulesets.
Alt	A second account. Using one to dodge a deathban is banned everywhere.
Base tour	A video walkthrough of a faction's base, usually posted after EOTW.
Trap	A base design built to kill or hold raiders rather than keep them out.

Classes

Term	Meaning
Diamond	Full diamond. The frontline; best armour, no abilities.
Bard	Full gold. Buffs allies and debuffs enemies using energy.
Archer	Full leather. Tags enemies at range for bonus damage.
Rogue	Full chainmail. Speed and burst damage.
Miner	Full iron. Night vision and haste underground.
Energy	The bard's resource. Regenerates passively, spent on effects.
Hold / drop	A bard applying an effect to everyone in radius. "Strength hold", "wither drop".
Tanking	A bard holding a capture zone alone under sustained attack, using resistance and regeneration to survive until the timer completes.
Archer tag	The debuff an archer applies with a bow hit, increasing damage taken.
Warmup	The delay after equipping a set before the class activates.

Events

Term	Meaning
KOTH	King of the Hill. Hold a zone for a continuous timer against everyone.
Citadel	A fortified KOTH with pearling disabled inside. The map-deciding event.
Palace	A large capture event, run on some networks in place of or alongside Citadel.
Conquest	Multiple simultaneous capture points scored over time.
Cap	To capture an event. "Capped Citadel."
End portal	Control of access to the End and its loot.

Combat

Term	Meaning
Combat tag	The timer after being hit. Blocks `/f home` and entry to spawn. Usually 30–60 seconds.
Pearl	An ender pearl, used to teleport. The main escape tool, and disabled inside Citadel.
Pearl cooldown	The delay between pearl throws, typically around 16 seconds.
Gapple	God apple. Enchanted golden apple giving heavy absorption and resistance.
Pot	A potion, or the act of throwing one. "Potting" is healing mid-fight.
Debuff	A harmful potion thrown at an enemy, most often splash poison.
Comboing	Chaining hits so the target cannot escape knockback.
Blockhitting	Blocking with a sword while attacking to reduce incoming damage.
Kiting	Retreating while attacking, keeping distance from a stronger opponent.
Rod	A fishing rod, used to pull opponents out of position.

Tactics and etiquette

Term	Meaning
Cleaning up	Attacking a faction straight after it has finished another fight. Heavily disputed.
Focus	Everyone attacking the same target at once.
Rush	Committing the whole team to a push rather than trading hits.
Corner-camping	Sitting at a spawn exit killing people as they leave.
Kit sniping	Killing players immediately after they collect a kit from spawn, before they can gear properly.
Stream sniping	Using someone's live stream to track their position.
Ally	Cooperation between factions. Banned or capped on most competitive rulesets.
Tiers	Informal ranking of factions from T1 down. See Faction tiers.

Gear and economy

Term	Meaning
Prot	Protection enchantment. Caps vary by network and are a major difference between them.
Sharp	Sharpness enchantment.
Spawner	A mob spawner, farmed for materials. Bases usually have at least one.
Autobrewer	An automated brewing setup. Necessary for large factions given potion consumption.
Refill	Restocking gear and potions between fights.

Community and slang

Term	Meaning
Potpvp	Potion PvP. The wider competitive scene HCF sits inside.
Network	A server running multiple game modes, e.g. Kohi or HCTeams.
Blacklist	A permanent, network-wide ban, usually unappealable.
POV	Point of view. A video recorded from one player's screen.
VOD	Video on demand. A recorded stream or match, the standard source for verifying claims.
Montage	An edited highlight video.
Texture pack	A visual mod. Many players released their own; short-sword packs were common in HCF.
Toggle sprint	A mod that keeps sprint on. Allowed on some networks, banned on others.
GG	Good game. Said after fights, sincerely or not.