Useful abbreviations to show off to others to make them think you’re extremely pro at this game. Nobody will call you a noob any more!
On a serious note, they are quite useful. Because less typing means time saved. Whether it be for your lobby or ingame
Common game mode and flavours
RM - Random Map (the match type)
DM - Death Match
RC - Random Civilization
WW - Wonder War
Cho - Choson War
Sea - Sea War
NS - No Siege*
Archer - Archer War*
FFA - Free For All
*Archer War is sometimes referred to NS.
Buildings or units
TC - Town Centre
Vil - Villager
Leg - Legion
Hop - Hoplite
Phal - Phalanx
Cent - Centurion
Bal - Ballista
Hele - Helepolis
Cat - Catapult
Axe - Axeman
Bow - Bowman
IB - Improved Bowman
CB - Composite Bowman
CA - Chariot Archer
HA - Horse Archer
HHA - Heavy Horse Archer
EA - Elephant Archer
WE - War Elephant
AE - Armoured Elephant
Char - Chariot
SC - Scythe Chariot
Cav - Cavalry
HCav - Heavy Cavalry
Phract - Cataphract
Tri - Trireme
Jug - Juggernaught
FS - Fishing Ship / Fire Ship (ambiguous)
Trans - (Heavy) Transport ship