The discussion in the Ladder thread has shown that there is some interest in an Org-hosted TWS2 League. This thread is to discuss the precise rules of this league and explain how it would operate.
First, let me explain how this would work. Our Ladder utility is automated, just like the Tournament utility. You can see a tiny example of what an in-progress Ladder would look like here. In function, this TWS2 League would work like football (soccer) leagues, where there are multiple tiers of teams and at the end of each season teams are promoted to a higher tier or relegated to a lower tier depending on their performance during the season. Each tier of the League will be represented by a single Ladder in our utility. It would work in the following manner:
- The League will consist of multiple ladders (number yet to be decided). All new players will enter the League at the bottom-most ladder. The League will have 'seasons', during which play is open and players may challenge other players in the same tier to matches. When the season ends, the rankings become final. Top ranked players in lower tiers will move up to the next higher tier, and bottom ranked players in higher tiers will move down to the next lower tier. Following a short period for rest, a new season will start with reset stats.
- New players can join at any time, though the season start and end dates will not change to accommodate them. No new player will be permitted to join the League until they agree to abide by all the League rules.
- While a season is in session, players can challenge any other player in the same tier to a match. The utility has a built-in system for arranging match times/dates, but coordination can be done with other methods as well. After a match is completed, the result will be automatically submitted if both players confirm it within the utility (unlike in the tournament, where only the loser had to submit the result). Players can contest reported results, which would be referred to a Gamemaster for arbitration. Scores can also be submitted manually by the Gamemasters.
- Rankings change during the season as games are completed, and will be based on the ELO rating, which gives points for victories and subtracts them for defeats, with the number of points varying depending on the ranks of the players. Defeating a player ranked higher than you will gain you more points than defeating a player ranked lower than you, and losing to a player ranked lower than you will lose you more points than losing to a player ranked higher than you.
Ok, now on to the specifics about the precise rules that would be in place. Here is a draft of a rule set I've been working on during the Tosa Cup. It's split into two parts. The first part, Universal Org Competition Rules, are designed to apply to ALL competitions hosted on the Org, which would include this League. The second part, Draft League Rules, are specific rules for this particular league and would not apply to other competitions on the Org. I've poached some of this from CWC (with Tomisama's blessing), as many of you appear to hold that rule set in high regard. In particular, the rules about Drops and the attacker/defender rules listed in the Matches section are designed to eliminate problems encountered multiple times in the tournament.
Please provide input on any changes/additions/deletions you think would be good. None of this is finalized, all suggestions are welcome. It is very important that we get a good rule system in place so that this league operates cleanly and efficiently.
Universal Org Competition Rules:
- All players must add their Steam ID to their Org forum profile and join the Org Steam Group prior to registration. No player will be permitted to play in any Org competition if they have not done this. Players must also Friend all Gamemasters who are involved in any competition they are participating in, and accept all Friend requests they receive from other competitors.
- Gamemaster - All competitions must have at least one Gamemaster to supervise the competition and resolve disputes. If there is only one Gamemaster in a competition, the Gamemaster cannot play in the competition. If there are multiple Gamemasters in the competition, they can play, but they have no powers to enforce rules or resolve disputes in their own matches. If a player believes a Gamemaster is behaving improperly, the issue will be referred to the Org Staff.
- Drops - The first two drops by one player or team will result in the battle being replayed. A third drop by the same player or team will result in an automatic loss for the dropper, and win for the other player or team. Extended Considerations:
- Obvious Advantage: If a player drops while the other player or team has an obvious advantage (as indicated by the battle bar) then the player or team with the winning advantage can either choose to replay the Battle, or claim the win. Screenshots or replay must be submitted in order to claim the win if the dropping player does not agree.
- Slight Advantage: If one player or team has only a slight advantage, the Battle is to be replayed with same factions, armies, and conditions. If this is the second try at completing the same Battle, and one player or team has dropped with a slight disadvantage in both attempts, the player or team with the slight advantage can then either choose to refight the Battle, or claim the win (as above).
- Red-Line Camping - Positioning a unit to take advantage of the red-line to support its flank or rear is against the rules.
The criteria for a charge of red-line camping must include these three things:
- The positioning of a body of forces to use the red-line as a tactical advantage.
- The proximity of that body of forces to the red-line, inhibiting out-maneuvering on that flank or to its rear.
- Maintaining that position for a period of over three minutes, without showing signs of any attempt to break the appearance of camping; that would demonstrate that this was truly of temporary intention.
- Inactivity - The lack of effort to arrange and complete Battles before any assigned deadline will result in a forfeit of the Match. The competition's Gamemaster(s) will evaluate effort according to the available evidence of attempts to arrange the battle, including posts anywhere on the Org, PMs, logs of Steam chat conversations, etc. A technical victory will be awarded to the team which made a greater effort, or both teams could be forfeit, if neither is considered to have done enough. An extension will only be awarded if both teams show good efforts to arrange the battle, and it is likely to be fought in the near future.
- Bugs and Exploits - It is forbidden to use known bugs or exploits in the game, regardless of whether the bug/exploit was explicitly forbidden in the Rules. Intentional use of a bug or exploit is considered dishonorable behavior, and could result in forfeit of the match, expulsion from the contest, or any other punishment the Gamemaster feels is warranted. The discovery of new bugs or exploits must be publicly communicated to the Gamemaster(s). Known exploits include, but are not limited to, the following:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Draft League Rules:
- Seasons - Each season of the League will last for one month. At the end of each season, the top and bottom ranked players (number to be determined based on the number of competitors) in each tier will be promoted and relegated to the proper corresponding tier. At the end of each season, there will be a one week break before the next season begins.
- Completing Matches Promptly - All League players commit themselves to playing their scheduled matches before the end of the season, and will strive to complete them much earlier than that to account for scheduling difficulties with later opponents. Players that do not demonstrate sufficient commitment to completing their scheduled matches will be penalized, with possible penalties including loss of individual matches, loss of all matches in an entire season, and permanent expulsion from the League.
- Conduct - All players will be expected to abide by the TW Code of Honor standards, regardless of whether they have personally signed the CoH.
- Challenges - All matches will be arranged through challenges by the players. Players may use one of two kinds of challenges (instructions on how to do this through the utility will be provided before play begins):
- Open Challenges - Players may declare that they are available to fight a battle at a certain date and time against anyone who wishes to play. Any player in the same tier may accept the challenge and will be required to show up to fight the battle at the specified date and time.
- Direct Challenges - Players may challenge a specific person in the same tier. The other player cannot refuse to fight the battle, though negotiations on scheduling are permitted.
Regardless of the challenge method utilized, two specific players cannot fight each other more often than once every two weeks.- Matches - All matches will be played as a best of three battles. All battles will have a designated attacker and defender, with one player defending in battles 1 and 3, and the other player defending in battle 2.
- Map - All battles in each match will be fought on the same map, with the choice of map up to the players. If no agreement can be made regarding the map, the map will be Rice Fields.
- Determination of Attacker/Defender - If the players have fought each other before, the player who was the attacker in battles 1 and 3 during the last encounter will be the defender in battles 1 and 3. If the players have not fought each other before and the match comes from a direct challenge, the challenger is the attacker in battles 1 and 3. If the players have not fought each other before and the match comes from an open challenge, the challenger is the defender in battles 1 and 3.
- Roles of Attacker/Defender - The attacker/defender rules only exist to break stalemate situations, they are not intended to force defenders to sit still if they wish to attack. Camping is highly discouraged and ideally both players will engage each other aggressively. However, if a stalemate occurs, the designated attacker in each match will be the player who is responsible for moving forward and breaking the deadlock.
- Reporting Scores - After each match, both players will report the match score in the League utility. The score will be reported as 2-0 or 2-1, depending on how many matches were played before one player won two games. If a technical victory is awarded due to inactivity, the score will be reported as 1-0. If a match is forfeited by both players due to inactivity, the score will be reported as 0-0.
- Replays - All players will save replays of all matches and will post links to the replays in the comments section of the League utility for that specific match. Players can also give the replays to the Gamemasters, who can post the replays for them. Replays will be posted promptly and without complaint.
- Deviation From Rules - Any of the rules listed below this rule may be changed by the players as long as both parties agree to the change prior to the match. Players are strongly encouraged to document any agreement by both sides to any rule changes via a forum post or screenshot of a chat log prior to the start of the match. If there is any dispute between the players in which the changed rules are instrumental, and the Gamemaster concludes there is insufficient evidence of the alleged rule change agreement, the battle will be discarded and re-fought with standard rules.
- Battle Funds - 14k
- Unit Size - Medium
- Unit Restriction - No artillery (Mangonels, Fire Rockets, Cannons). No DLC units.
- Season/Weather - Spring/Dry
- Time Limit - None
- Key Buildings - None
- Battle Type - Classic Mode
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