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Mercenaries Cup Tournament Rules

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Table of Contents

 

1. League Format

1A. Fixtures

1B. Ranking

1C. Key Dates

 

2. Teams

2A. Joining

2B. Roster

2C. Captain

2D. New Player Additions

2E. Player Transfers

2F. Transfer Widows

2G. Roster Lock

2H. Disbanding

 

3. Scheduling

3A. Round Schedule

3B. Acceptable Match Times

3C. Negotiating Match Times

3D. Rescheduling

3E. Forfeits

3F. Technical Forfeits

3G. Map Selection

 

4. Matches

4A. Pre-Match Responsibilities

4B. Minimum Number of Eligible Players

4C. Mercenaries (Regarding Teams)

4CA. Mercenaries (Regarding Mercenary)

4D. Demo Recording

4E. Spectators

4F. Sportsmanship

4G. Class Restrictions

4H. Critical Hits, Damage Spread and Weapon Unlocks

4I. Maps

4IA. Time Based Maps

4IB. Mirrored Maps

4IC. KOTH Maps

4ID. Draws and Golden Cap

4J. Pausing in Game

4K. Post-Match Responsibilities

4L. In-Game Penalties

4M. Disputing a Match

 

5. Servers

5A. Server Configuration

5B. Acceptable Servers

5C. Foreign Teams

 

6. Cheating, Exploits and Bans

6A. Exploits

6B. Third Party Software

6C. Malicious Server Administration

6D. Steam Account Sharing

6E. AsiaFortress Forum Bans

 

(i) Summary of Changes

 

The Mercenaries Cup ruleset contains changes that teams are required to be familiar with.

 

If clarification is required on any section, contact your Mercenaries Cup Division Administrator. Ignorance of the rules will not be taken into consideration if a breach has occurred.

 

Key Changes:

Servers must be running the Mercenaries Cup configs and whitelist to be considered eligible to host matches.

P-REC Demo recorder tool must be installed by every player and POV demos must be recorded for every match played for its entirety.

 

Key admins still have the power to veto any rule should the need arise.

 

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1. League Format

 

1A. Fixtures

 

Regular season match fixtures will be posted prior to the start of each week. Fixtures are set at weekly intervals to be played between Monday and Sunday. Match organisation/discussion threads will be posted on the monday of the match week.

 

Playoffs and finals fixtures and rules will be posted at the conclusion of the regular season.

 

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1B. Ranking

 

The format of the tournament is double elimination. Matches are a best of 3 maps.

 

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1C. Key Dates

 

Click here for the latest Mercenaries Cup Tournament key dates. These dates are subject to change by the League Administrators.

 

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2. Teams

 

2A. Joining

 

 

Teams have to apply pre-tournament to enter the tournament. A minimum of six eligible players (refer to section 2B) are required for the application to be considered. Application does not guarantee entry into the tournament.

 

The registration fee for Mercenaries Cup is 4 Refined per team that will be added into the prize pool. Payment is to be made to this trade offer link. Please indicate your team name and pay the 4 refined in full amounts (4 total refined, not 12 reclaimed).

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2B. Roster

 

To be eligible to participate in Mercenaries Cup:

 

Player must be listed on the teams roster thread.

Players must use a name similar to their AsiaFortress account name or must match their alias, which can be entered via their roster.

Players must not be under any exclusion penalties (such as cheating or disbanding).

A team can only have a maximum of 12 players, with a minimum of 6.

 

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2C. Captain

 

At least one player from each team must be nominated to act as a captain to represent the team in organising matches and liaising with Mercenaries Cup Administrators.

 

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2D. New Player Additions

 

Players who are not competing in Mercenaries Cup will not be allowed to join a team.

 

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2E. Player Transfers

 

Players are not allowed to switch teams.

 

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2F. Transfer Windows

 

This tournament will have no transfer windows.

 

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2G. Roster Lock

 

Rosters will be locked on the date registration ends. Rosters will be locked for the entire duration of the season. Whilst the roster lock is in effect, no player additions or transfers are allowed.

 

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2H. Disbanding

 

Teams who disband during the tournament will be denied entry to the next AsiaFortress Competition.

 

The captain of a disbanded team will not be permitted to lead another team in an AsiaFortress league. Where responsibility for an imminent disband is the sole fault of the captain, a simple majority of registered team members may elect to nominate a new captain, or remove the captain entirely, at any point of the season. The team at large will then remain unpenalised.

 

To avoid penalty, captains and/or team members should approach their League Administrators at the first sign of trouble to work through a solution.

 

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3. Scheduling

 

3A. Round Schedule

 

Mercenaries Cup schedules fixtures every week, and all match fixtures will be posted pre-season.

 

Match discussion threads will be posted in the match discussion forum approximately 1 week before the upcoming round, for teams to negotiate a suitable day and time for their match.

 

The weekly round fixtures must then be played between the specified Sunday and Thursday of the fixtures schedule.

 

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3B. Acceptable Match Times

 

Generally acceptable match start times for Mercenaries Cup matches are as follows:

 

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) +8:

8:00PM to 11:00PM

 

These times are only general guidelines and teams are given all flexibility in finding mutually beneficial arrangements. However, where two teams are unable to agree on a time, an Administrator will set a match date and time using the above guideline.

 

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3C. Negotiating Match Times

 

Once the match schedule for the round has been posted, teams can begin negotiating with each other to arrange a time and date for their match. It is important to note that only the Clan Leader's can organise the match (as indicated on their team roster). Non Clan Leaders who put forward proposed Times and Days, joking or serious, will be punished.

 

There are two ways this can be done:

 

Teams can make contact with each other through the AsiaFortress League Captains Steam Community Group or over other mediums such as Steam Chat if that is more convenient to organise matches, but the arranged date and time must be posted in the match discussion thread.

 

The home team is to initially propose (in the match discussion thread) three acceptable (see rule 3A/3B) time and dates for the match and also mention if they are able to organise an acceptable server (see rule 5B) for them. The higher ranked team must then reply and either accept one of the proposed dates or, if none are acceptable, propose three new dates and if they are able to organise a server for them.

 

Repeat if needed until an agreement on the date and time is reached.

 

If it is proving difficult to get in contact with the other team or they are not making a reasonable effort to organise the match with you, please bring it to the attention of your division's Administrator immediately.

 

Once teams have agreed to a date and time, the consent of both teams is required to organise a new date and time.

 

All match details must be finalised in the match thread by the deadline specified to the round commencing. This includes the map selections (see 3G below). Failure to do so without valid reason will see both teams penalised 1 match point.

 

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3D. Rescheduling

 

If for whatever reason a match cannot be played within the time frame outlined in rule 3A/3B, and both teams consent to a round extension, they are required to contact their division's assigned Administrator as soon as possible for approval.

 

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3E. Forfeits

 

A maximum of one forfeit is permitted in the Mercenaries Cup, on the second forfeit a team is considered inactive and removed from the league. Exclusion penalties will then apply for future AsiaFortress participation.

 

It is the team's responsibility to contact your division's Administrator as soon as possible if there is a change in circumstances that will affect your team's ability to field a team each round.

 

When a forfeit is recorded the team they were scheduled to play will be awarded a default win unless both teams forfeited.

 

In the event that both teams forfeit, your division’s Administrator may allow a rescheduling or no points will be awarded to either teams.

 

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3F. Technical Forfeits

 

A technical forfeit will be awarded in the following circumstances:

Technical problems (e.g. Steam connectivity issues) prevent the match being played at the arranged time and the match cannot be rescheduled to a later date within the acceptable time frame outlined in rule 3A/3B.

Server/Network problems render the server unplayable and an alternative server cannot be found nor match rescheduled to a later date within the acceptable time frame outlined in rule 3A/3B.

A new update is released which alters gameplay of a map significantly during the round which it is scheduled.

In the case of a technical forfeit being awarded, teams may opt to reschedule the match, or split the points (awarding three points to each team). Technical forfeits, unlike regular forfeits explained in rule

3E, do not count against a team.

 

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3G. Map Selection

 

In each match thread, the home and away team will be specified as well as the map pool for that round. Maps are fixed for each round. Click here to view the map list for the latest Mercenaries Cup Tournament.

 

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4. Matches

 

4A. Pre-match Responsibilities

 

The home team with the responsibility of organising the server should set up the server for the match with the required settings outlined in rule section 5.

 

Once the server is ready, contact the other team via the prior agreed method during the match time negotiation and give them the appropriate server details which include the server IP and the server password.

 

Both teams should be in the server and ready to start the match no later than 30 minutes after the agreed match start time. If none of the team members of a given team has arrived after 30 minutes, the team with the most complete attendance will be awarded 1 match point.

 

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4B. Minimum Number of Eligible Players

 

Teams must have a minimum of four rostered (i.e. does not include any mercenaries) players ready to start or continue a match.

 

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4C. Mercenaries (Regarding Teams)

 

Only two mercenaries are permitted during a non grand-final match. No mercenaries are permitted during the grand-finals.

 

A mercenary can be used without the permission of the other team if they are a member of a team in the tournament.

 

The following guidelines apply:

 

It is clearly and honestly communicated to the other team who the mercenary is and why they are being used.

A mercenary cannot be used in place of an available eligible player.

The mercenary must be named when reporting or confirming results in the match thread.

 

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4D. Match Records

 

It is the home team's responsibility to arrange for a recording STV to be present for their server. If one cannot be arranged or the STV does not record, one player from the home team MUST be able to provide a POV demo (we recommend using P-REC). Demos must be uploaded and published no later than 1 week after the match date. Screen-shots of in-game scoreboard must be taken and posted in the match threads.

 

Any team not submitting POV demo within 1 week of the match will be penalised 1 Match point. (Teams new to AFC may receive 1 warning before penalties will arise)

 

Failure to do any of the above may result in penalties.

 

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4E. Spectators

 

Under no circumstances are spectators allowed in a game with the exception of ShoutCasters and League Administrators (unless they are members of either team). A team with more than 6 players in a server will be disqualified.

 

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4G. Class Restrictions

 

The following class restrictions apply in Mercenaries Cup:

 

1 Medic

1 Demoman

1 Heavy

1 Engineer

1 Spy

2 Scouts

2 Snipers

2 Soldiers

2 Pyros

 

These must be enforced using the 'tf_tournament_classlimit_X' commands. The full listing of these can be found in rule 5A.

 

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4H. Critical Hits, Damage Spread and Weapon Unlocks

 

Critical Hits: Off

Damage Spread: Off

For a complete list for what unlocks are allowed click here.

 

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4I. Map Pool

 

Click here to view the current map pool for Mercenaries Cup.

 

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4IA. Time Based Maps

 

AsiaFortress Leagues use the scoring format of ABBA(AB) to ease calculation of results.

 

A reminder of what ABBA (AB) is: With stopwatch ON. The home team will attack first, the away team will then respond to the home team's attack. Once completed the winning team will receive ONE (1) point. The teams will then switch sides and the away team will set the stopwatch time first, following by the home teams response. The winner of this will receive one point.

 

Draws are not permitted. What this means is that if the map result is 1-1 after ABBA, an additional AB round will be played to determine a map winner.

 

The score is to be reported as how many rounds you win. eg: 2-1, or 2-0.

 

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4IB. Mirrored Maps

 

First to win difference of five or 30 minutes.

 

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4IC. KOTH Maps

 

Best of 7 Rounds / First to 4 round wins. No time limit.

 

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4ID. Draws and Golden Caps

 

Map draws in Mercenaries Cup are not allowed.

Matches are played out over 3 maps with individual map wins being the focus.

Should a tie occur, a Golden Cap will be played. A Golden Cap is played as an additional round with infinite time, and the winner of the round will be awarded the map.

 

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4J. Pausing in Game

 

Pausing during a match will be allowed where players clearly exhibit (technological) performance issues. As a guideline, the pause should not last longer than five minutes before teams attempt to find a replacement. Both teams must give the notice to un-pause.

 

Excessive use of this function or use for inappropriate matters will be heavily punished. Reporting such inappropriate use should be done as a dispute to a match upon which the League Administrators will make a ruling.

 

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4K. Post-Match Responsibilities

 

Both teams must reply to the match discussion thread with the results of both maps within three hours of the match ending. Screenshots of each map must be attached to the thread.

 

Teams must clearly state who the winner of each map was and by what margins

 

Example:

cp_granary: 4-1 to execute crew

cp_badlands: 3-3 draw

 

If a team has used a mercenary, they must post the mercenaries name in the same post which reports the outcome of the match.

 

If only one team submits results, then they will be accepted without verification, so make sure you either confirm the posted results or challenge them if they are incorrect.

 

In the case of neither team submitting results, a forfeit will be recorded against both teams.

 

 

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4L. In-Game Penalties

 

The following guidelines apply:

First minor team offence: warning

Second team offence: 1 point penalty

Repeated or major team offences: technical forfeit (loss of all points won that round)

Gross misconduct or cheating: Removal from current and potentially future AFC competitions

Teams with offending players under probation, see rule 6E, will not be afforded a first-offence warning.

 

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4M. Disputing a Match

 

To lodge a dispute or report of misconduct, please contact your division's assigned League Administrator. The decision of the League Administrator is final.

 

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5. Servers

 

5A. Server Configuration

 

Instructions on how to download and install Mercenaries Cup configs can be found here.

 

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5B. Acceptable Servers

 

To be regarded as acceptable, servers must:

Be physically located in Asia, unless the match is between two New Zealand or two Australian based teams.

Have the Mercenaries Cup configs and whitelist installed and be running on sv_pure 2.

Admins reserve the right to choose which server a match will be played on.

 

If teams cannot agree on a server, an official AsiaFortress server must be arranged by contacting an Administrator.

 

If you require a SourceTV relay, please try to provide us as much notice as possible.

 

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6. Cheating, Exploits and Bans

 

6A. Exploits

 

Exploiting game or map bugs or flaws for an unfair advantage, whether they are listed in the rules or not is prohibited.

 

The following is an incomplete list of known unfixed exploits please to be following:

 

Exploiting flaws in map design to enter areas that put you underneath or above the map.

Causing damage through the Control Point A floor on cp_armpit.

Building Sentry Guns, Dispensers or Teleporters in indestructable areas.

Shooting through gates or walls during the setup phase.

Using any map entities to reach areas that cannot be mirrored by the other team in the same situation

Using scripts, macros or key combinations that allow you to bypass movement restrictions (e.g. the "Super Saiyan Jin II" exploit).

Any other script which is deemed disruptive to hitboxes or gameplay.

Medics changing hat/items/weapons in spawn to back spawn and preserve uber percent.

 

If you are unsure if something is considered an exploit, please contact a League Administrator and request a ruling be made on it.

 

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6B. Third Party Software

 

The use of any third-party add-ons, hooks, programs or wrappers that interact with or alter the Team Fortress 2 client, its appearance or behaviour for the purposes of gaining an unfair advantage are banned.

VPN Services such as WTFAST are exempt from this rule.

 

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6C. Malicious Server Administration

 

The use of any server commands, variables or plugins for the purposes of gaining an unfair advantage or to interfere with an Mercenaries Cup match is prohibited. Once the match is underway, the server administrator must let the match run its course and not make any changes without the consent of both teams.

 

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6D. Steam Account Sharing

 

A Steam account may only be used by its owner in any Mercenaries Cup match. Sharing your login details with a third party for use in an Mercenaries Cup match is strictly prohibited and if found out will result in lengthy bans for all involved parties.

 

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6E. AsiaFortress Forum Bans

 

Members who are banned on the AsiaFortress website are also banned from leading clans in Mercenaries Cup. Players banned from the AsiaFortress website may also be subject to competition bans, and are considered under probation; see Rule 4L. Please contact your division's administrator for further clarification.

 

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