Survival of the Fittest

Last updated Monday, April 30, 2007

1.0 Registration
Registration for Survival of the Fittest 9 (SOTF 9) will open on Monday, May 7th at 7 PM EST.

At 7 PM EST we will release the PayPal address to send the registration fee to.

The following will be required to register:

• PB ID and in game GUID for every player on your team
• Email address for every player on your team

The registration fee for SOTF 9 is $206 per team. NO REFUNDS ARE ISSUED. The $206 must be paid via PayPal or credit card.

1.1 Roster Changes
Rosters will be opened until the day of round 1. Before this date all changes are allowed to your team roster, including adding/removal of players and changing of PB ID/in game GUID. At 12:00am EST on Sunday May 12th SOTF 9 rosters will be locked throughout the entire tournament. You will not be able to make ANY changes after this time.

1.2 Prize Distribution
The prize money will be distributed as follows:

This money will be paid via PayPal to the team captain no later than 3 days after the finals match (6/06/07).

2.0 Team / Player Information
Players and team captains are responsible for ensuring that all of their members know, understand, and follow all rules. Ignorance of the rules is not an excuse for a violation.

2.1 Team Captain
The team captain is responsible for all team actions. Any infraction of the rules will not only be the responsibility of the player, but of the team captain as well. If a player on a team is found in violation of any rule, the team captain will be issued a warning along with the player in violation of the rules.

2.2 Player / Team Suspensions
In the event that a player or team is found in violation of any of the rules suspensions will be issued depending on the severity of the infraction. Multiple violations will result in removal from the event.

3.0 Player Rules
Players and team captains are responsible for ensuring that all of their members know, understand, and follow all rules. Ignorance of the rules is not an excuse for a violation.

3.1 Game Environment

3.1.1 Widescreen Aspect
Widescreen aspect is to only be used by players with widescreen monitors. Any player found using widescreen settings while playing on a regular monitor will be penalized if caught using it in a match.

3.1.2 Models / Skins
All players MUST use default models. If a player is found using ANY NON-STANDARD models during event matches, it will be considered a violation of the rules and will result in a loss, immediate player removal, and possible team removal. This includes grenade, weapon, and bomb skins as well.

3.1.3 Sprites
All players MUST use default sprites. If a player is found using ANY NON-STANDARD sprite during event matches, it will be considered a violation of the rules and will result in a loss, and immediate player removal, and possible team removal. This includes all smoke, players, weapons, and crosshairs sprites.

3.1.4 Configuration Files
Players are allowed to edit their mp_config file in their player directory. Players are not allowed to have any other configuration files inside this directory. Any other configuration files found will be considered a violation of the rules and will result in a loss, and immediate player termination, and possible team termination.

3.1.5 Outside Applications
The use of outside applications and programs to influence or manipulate the game environment is strictly prohibited. Any such situations will be regarded as a cheating violation and will result in a loss, and immediate player termination, and possible team termination.

3.2 First Person Demos
All players including captains are required to record first person demos of all event matches. All players are required to upload their demos after the match. Any player who hasn't uploaded their demo (to a website provided by SOTF) 2 hours after the match will be suspended and the match will possibly be overturned.

3.3 NHA AC Client
All players including captains are required to run NHA for all event matches. All players are required to upload their NHA files after the match. Any player who hasn't uploaded their NHA file (to a website provided by SOTF) 2 hours after the match will be suspended and the match will possibly be overturned.

3.4 GUID
All individuals competing must play on the correct PB ID and in game GUID.
Any player caught using a PB ID or in game GUID that is different then the one listed on the SOTF website could be suspended and the team may forfeit their match.

3.5 Sportsmanship
All players will be required to uphold and observe a universal level of sportsmanship. Any unsportsmanlike action may be disputed. Rulings on sportsmanship disputes will result in a reversal of three (3) rounds for the disputing team. A second violation of this rule the same match or a different match will result in another reversal of three (3) rounds and the suspension of that player from the event. Unsportsmanlike conduct may also be considered grounds for a win to be overturned. The severity of the violation is under the full discretion of the administrators. Any accusations of unsportsmanlike conduct may be submitted as a dispute and will be investigated by an administrator.

4.0 Tournament Information

4.1 Scheduling
Match days are on Wednesdays and Sundays. Reschedules are NOT allowed. If a match is not played, the home team will receive a forfeit loss.

Team leaders are required to give match times to an SOTF administrator at least 24 hours before a match. You may only schedule your match in an open timeslot. You can find the administrators in #SOTF. If both teams cannot agree on an open timeslot then an administrator will set the time.

Timeslots are displayed publicly on the SOTF website.

5.0 Game Play

5.1 Players
All matches are to be played with five (5) players per team. If a team does not have the required five (5) players at match start time, the team shall forfeit the match. No team will be allowed to play with less than the required minimum number of players unless the match has already started and a player has dropped. If a team can not field a five (5) player team for two (2) matches, whether consecutive or not, they will then be removed from the event.

5.2 Match Sides
The HOME team has the option to pick what team they want to be for the first half of play.

5.3 Game Time
Players should ensure that they are in the dedicated server on time and ready to begin. Teams have fifteen (15) minutes after the agreed upon (or default) time to join the server. After fifteen (15) minutes have passed, both teams must have five (5) players each in the server. A team failing to comply will be given FORFEIT LOSS. Forcing a team to wait for players is disrespectful and unsportsmanlike.

A SOTF referee will notify team members on IRC to join a specific match channel dedicated to the two teams playing against each other. This channel will contain the server information in the topic.

5.4 NHA Requirements
All players must start and run the NHA client side application prior to joining the game server. Once the player has started the NHA client he/she must enter in a name/alias and the name of the opponent. After this information is filled out he/she must press Start.

5.5 The Match
A Match consists of two twelve (12) round halves with each round lasting 1 minute 45 seconds (1:45) in duration. Teams may leave a match once one team wins thirteen (13) rounds. At that time the match is considered complete.

All players are required to upload their demo and NHA file to a website provided by SOTF within 2 hours after the match is complete.

5.6 First Person Demos
All players including captains are required to record first person demos of all event matches. All players are required to upload their demos after the match. Any player who hasn't uploaded their demo 2 hours after the match will be suspended and the match will possibly be overturned.

5.7 Match / Half Going LIVE
All matches/halves should be constituted as going LIVE after the following occurs:

• Players have NHA running
• Players have started to record Point of View (POV) demos
• All players and referees have readied up

5.8 Half-Time
After finishing the first half of the game, teams are allowed an optional five (5) minute break.

5.9 Ties / Overtime
In the instance of a tie score when the official twenty four (24) rounds of regulation are played to completion overtime rounds must be played. Overtime consists of two (2) three (3) round halves. If the score is still tied after the first overtime, then the overtime process will be repeated until one (1) team is deemed the winner. No SOTF match may end in a tie.

5.10 Match / Half Restarting
Once a half is deemed LIVE, referees will NOT restart the match unless a player drops from the server within the first minute of play.

5.11 Match Pausing (DEAD ROUND)
Match pausing, or calling of a dead round, will be determined by a referee if:

• A player on one of the respective teams experiences network issues
• If the server experiences extreme network issues
• A player lags out

The team who experiences a lag out may request a dead round BEFORE the round has begun/players have left their spawn areas.

5.12 Player Substitutions
Player substitutions are allowed at anytime during the match. A player is only allowed to join the dedicated server AFTER the player whom he/she is substituting for has left the server. Failure to do so and allowing a reasonable advantage may result in a loss of rounds.

5.13 Message Modes
In game chat, while frowned upon, is not illegal so long as it is done in a positive nature. All Message Mode 1 (mm1) chat must be kept to a minimum and may not include any profane or derogatory comments. Message Mode violations fall under unsportsmanlike conduct and may be disputed, resulting in a reversal of three (3) rounds. Likewise players found in violation of this rule are subject to suspension for a time period no greater than three (3) weeks. All suspensions fall under the discretion of the administrators.

6.0 Game Violations

6.1 Clipping and Boosting
Clipping is when a player can manipulate him/herself so that he or she can see over (or through) particular walls. The administrators have full discretion to determine if clipping was involved. Violations will result in a reversal of (3) rounds and player suspension (suspension length is up to the discretion of the administrators). If multiple infractions of this rule occur during the same match, the team found in violation will lose the match.

The ability to boost another player was not intended by the game developer, thus the unique situations where this is possible have been deemed illegal in SOTF. Also, boosting a player onto higher ground via grenade explosion ("nade jumping") or shooting a player at the apex of his/her jump is prohibited.

6.2 Scripting
Configging is a player executing a script or bound multi-command to gain an advantage. All instances are illegal. This also includes configs that change commands/rates. These commands range from set nade binds to gain the longest throw to scripting a superior firing rate of semi-automatic weapons. This also includes multi-command binds such as bind MOUSE2 "toggleads; +breathe". All these instances are ILLEGAL and will result in player suspension.

6.3 Bomb Planting/Defusing
Bombs cannot be planted or defused through materials (i.e. planks on railyard). This includes planting bombs inside barrels, sandbags and anything else that can be planted in. Planting anywhere described or elsewhere where the bomb is not visible or diffusible is illegal. If the bomb cannot be seen after the plant is completed, it is illegal.

It is also illegal to silent plant a bomb. Silent bomb planting is defined as any instance where a bomb has been planted, but the timer cannot be heard. All silent bomb plants are considered a violation of the rules, whether intentional or not. Administrators are under full discretion to determine if a bomb was planted silently. Violations will result in a reversal of (3) rounds and player suspension (suspension length is up to the discretion of the administrators). If multiple infractions of this rule occur during the same match, the team found in violation will lose the match.

6.4 Nade Boosting
Nade boosting occurs when a player uses the explosion of a nade to gain access to a place otherwise unreachable. All nade boosting is illegal.

6.5 Vertical Glitch
In this video, the player on the ground had godmode on and the action was done repeatedly. That repeated player action causing the player to be able to shoot and not be visible at all. We consider it an exploit and it is illegal. Any player found to be using this glitch will face suspension as well as forfeit of all rounds won while utilizing this glitch.

6.6 Map Exploits

6.6.1 Carentan
It is illegal to get inside of sandbags.

Stairs in Arches have an invisible wall on the railing.
Standing, crouching, or running on the stairs in Arches is illegal.
Standing or leaning on the platform in Arches is legal.

6.6.2 Railyard
Diffusing a top plant from underneath is illegal.
Screenshot 1
Screenshot 2

Diffusing a bottom plant from above is illegal.
Screenshot 1
Screenshot 2

Playing in this spot (2) is illegal.

6.6.3 Dawnville
Shooting through either side of these windows is illegal.

6.6.4 Toujane
Looking through this spot is illegal.

6.7 Cheating
Cheating in any form is considered a violation of the rules and will result in immediate player and/or team removal. Cheating / Hacking is considered any manipulation of server configurations, client configurations, models, skins, weapons, sounds, or anything that alters the predetermined settings listed within the rules. This includes aimbots, wall hacks, speed hacks, ESP hacks, or any third party program not deemed legal by SOTF. Administrators have the final word on what is deemed a cheat or hack.

6.8 Player Ringing
Using any non team member to play in any match is a violation of the rules. If a team is caught with a RINGER it will result in the following course of action: The player account that was determined to have been used to ring with WILL BE BANNED, a team warning will be issued, and the match will be overturned if the team that won the match was guilty of this rule infraction.

6.9 Rule Violations
Teams who violate any rules may be subject to disciplinary action. This includes the specific penalties listed below:

• Player Suspension
• Player Removal
• Team Removal

6.10 Grounds for Removal
SOTF reserves the right to suspend or remove players and teams. The following is a list of ways that can cause a player/team to be suspended or expelled from SOTF competition but is not limited to just these categories.

Team:

• Failure to play a match
• Violation of any outlined rules
• Using a ringer in a match

Player:

• Repeated groundless disputes
• Dissent toward administrators or referees
• Rude conduct during a match whether towards the opponent or general statements
• Failure to record a demo during a match
• Failure to run NHA during a match
• Failure to upload demo and NHA file to the provided SOTF website within 2 hours after a match
• Using exploits in a match (known or unknown)
• Ringing
• Cheating of any nature

7.0 Disputes
Disputes are a serious issue and to ensure that all SOTF events are run in a just and fair manner, all disputes are taken seriously and are completed within a quick and timely fashion.

7.1 Dispute Process
Only the team captain has the right to dispute any player(s) or team that they feel is in violation of the rules. All disputes must be filed within eight (8) hours of the completion of the match. If the dispute is filed after the eight (8) hour period, the dispute will be disregarded. A ruling will be made within twenty-four (24) hours after the dispute is filed. At that time, an email with the details of the ruling will be sent to all parties involved in the dispute.

All disputes are filed by emailing the SOTF administrators by using the form on our website.

7.2 Dispute Submission Detail
If you suspect a player of cheating, be prepared to list exactly where you think this occurred in the match. Please supply as much detail in the comment section of the dispute form as to provide the administrators with the most accurate information possible. Disputes not filed with detailed information will be disregarded. It is your responsibility to put time and effort into your descriptions.

8.0 Exploitation of SOTF Rules
If a team attempts to manipulate or exploit a SOTF rule in any way other than for its intended use, SOTF administrators reserve the right to make a final ruling on the rule in question for the given match and/or dispute.

9.0 Rule Changes
SOTF reserves the right to modify the rules as needed. This includes changes due to software updates or releases, and all other changes deemed necessary by SOTF LTD. All the rules are subject to interpretation.