This glossary explains the words and abbreviations Soldier of Fortune II players use, from game types like INF and ELIM to technical terms like pk3, CVAR, rcon and master server, and the slang you’ll hear in chat. Terms link to the guides that explain them in full.
The game and its versions
- SoF2
- Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix, the 2002 shooter by Raven Software. “SoF2MP” usually means its multiplayer. See the history of SoF2.
- Gold / Gold Edition
- The later release of SoF2 that includes version 1.03, the version most servers run and GOG sells.
- 1.00 and 1.03
- The two multiplayer versions in use. They can’t play on each other’s servers. See versions explained.
- Multi-protocol / cross play
- A server running both versions on two ports so all players can join the same game.
- GHOUL 2
- Raven’s character model system, known for its location-based damage.
Game types
- DM
- Deathmatch: everyone for themselves.
- TDM
- Team Deathmatch: red against blue, every kill counts.
- CTF
- Capture the Flag: bring the enemy’s flag to your base.
- ELIM
- Elimination: rounds with no respawning, last team standing wins.
- INF
- Infiltration: rounds where one team carries a briefcase to an extraction point.
- DEM
- Demolition: rounds where attackers try to blow up a target.
- H&S, H&Z
- Hide & Seek and Humans & Zombies, modes from 1fx. Mod.
All of them are explained in SoF2 game types.
Technical terms
- Console
- The command line opened with ~. See console commands.
- CVAR
- Console variable: a setting such as
cg_fovorrate. Every SoF2 CVAR is in the CVAR database. - Config / cfg
- A text file of settings and binds the game runs, such as
autoexec.cfgorserver.cfg. - Bind
- A command put on a key.
- pk3
- The file format for SoF2 maps and add-ons: a renamed zip that the game reads directly. See installing maps.
- bsp
- The compiled map file inside a pk3. A “missing bsp” error means you don’t have the map.
- base
- The game’s main data folder, where maps go.
- Mod
- A modification that changes the game’s rules, such as RoCmod, OSP or 1fx. Mod. See which mod.
- fs_game
- The setting that tells the game which mod folder to load.
- Master server
- The central list of public servers that fills the in-game browser. See empty server list.
- Heartbeat
- The message a server sends the master server to stay listed.
- 1fx. patch
- The community client patch that restores the server list and fixes crashes. See 1fx.
- Dedicated server
- A server that only hosts games, with nobody playing on that copy of the game. See hosting on Windows.
- rcon
- Remote console: running server commands with a password. See admin commands.
- Map cycle / rotation
- The list of maps a server plays in turn. See map rotation.
- Ping
- The time in milliseconds for data to reach the server and come back. Lower is better.
- Lagometer
- An on-screen graph of lag and lost data, turned on with
cg_lagometer 1.
Playing terms and slang
- Clan / tag
- A team of players, and the shared marker in their names. See clans and clan wars.
- CW / war
- A clan war: a match between two clans that counts.
- Scrim
- A practice match between clans.
- Pub
- A public server anyone can join.
- Spawn kill / spawn camping
- Killing players as they appear. Most servers punish it.
- TK
- Team kill: killing a teammate.
- Spec
- Spectator, or to watch instead of playing.
- Loadout / outfitting
- The weapons you choose before spawning. See weapons.
- Nade
- A grenade.
- Flash
- The M84 flashbang grenade.
- Rush
- An all-out attack by the whole team at once.
- gg
- “Good game”, said at the end of a match.
- MVP
- Most valuable player: on SOF2MP.com, the player with the best points per minute in a period.
Frequently asked questions
What does INF mean in SoF2?
Infiltration, a round-based objective game type.
What is a pk3 file?
A renamed zip archive that SoF2 reads directly. Maps and many add-ons come as pk3 files and go in the base folder.
What is a CVAR?
A console variable: one of the game’s settings, changed from the console or a config file.