GameArena DoD:Source Season V

1.0 Game Stucture

1.1Team Size
1.2Starting Time
1.3Objective
1.4Challenging
1.5Scoring
1.6Entering Results
1.7Disputes
1.8Forfeits
1.9Spawn Time
1.10Friendly Fire
1.11Class Limits
1.12Plugins
1.13Maps
1.14Demo Recording

2.0 Team Members

2.1'Slutting'
2.2Adding Players during the Season
2.3Finals Additions Clause
2.4Subsitutions
2.5Conduct

3.0 Cheats/Exploits

3.1Cheats
3.2Cheat Protection
3.3Boosting
3.4Map Exploitation
3.5Spawn Camping

4.0 Match Configuration
5.0 Administration

5.1Referees
5.2GameOps
5.3Shoutcasting
5.4SourceTV

6.0 Ladder Configuration

6.1Ladder Timeline
6.2Finals Format
6.3Finals Ruleset

7.0 Amendments
8.0 Terms and Conditions

The DoD:Source Ladder is also bound by the General Rules of GameArena Ladders, if you are new it is advised you read this also.

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1.0 Game Structure

1.1 Team Size

The team size for all competitive ladder matches is 6 vs 6. Teams with less than five (5) members in the server after 10mins of the server being online, will be automatically forfeited. If, during the process of the match your team drops to less than five players, you have the opportunity to get them to reconnect the server. After seven (7) minutes, if they have not returned, the opposing team's captain has the choice of calling the match a forfeit, or can decide to continue the game at their discretion. This decision is binding and cannot be changed at a latter point in the game or after. Team name, logo, website and the names of players must comply with the GameArena terms and conditions and GameArena Code of Conduct. If it is deemed that your clan name is inappropriate your team will be removed from the ladder. Inappropriate nicknames must be changed once notified of their inappropriate nature.

1.2 Starting Time

All matches must commence 15minutes after the server was booked. If a team (ie. 5 or 6) are not in the server by 10minutes of the server starting time, they have automatically forfeited the match. GameArena recommends that the team captain take a screenshot of the scoreboard with the timeleft on-screen. There will be no exceptions to this rule. To start the ladder match, a captain of either team must login to rcon, by bringing down the (`) console and typing in the following:

rcon_password [password]
rcon mp_clan_readyrestart 1

Then both team captains must signal that they are ready by typing ready in chat - once this occurs, the game will countdown to being live - there will be NO restarts. The second half must begin within a timely fashion, if a team is found to be deliberately delaying the progression of the match they will be penalised accordingly.

In the event that there cannot be a consensus as to which team will go which side first, the defending team must join the allies first. However this is only as a means of control in the event that agreement cannot be reached.

If your server has not come up or has crashed irrecoverably because of a GameCreate issue, your match will be recorded as a draw. The Ladder does not facilitate for rematches.

1.3 Objective

The objective of the game is to take as many flags as your team can, and hold it for the longest possible time. If your team captures all the flags on the map, you have capped out and will receive bonus points. There are two (2) halves in each match that last for 20minutes each. After one half is finished the map will change back to the map that was booked, and the teams will swap sides. At the end of both halves, the team with the greater aggregate points from each halve will declared the winner of the match.

1.4 Challenging

The challenge height is 50% of your current ranking, or 8 rungs on the ladder, whichever is greater. When making a challenge, you must select three (3) different maps, and three (3) different times and days at which to play this match.

1.5 Scoring

All maps will have a tickertime of 30seconds for rewarding those teams that have captured the progressive flags. Any capouts are a points modifier of 50pts, meaning that if you capout three (3) times that will add 150pts to your tickerscore which is the points in the brackets. For example a score of 2(+40) will be 2x50+40 = 140pts. The team with the highest aggregate points for both halves wins the match. If after both halves the score ends in a draw, record the result as such-no team will be marked as vulnerable or protected in this case.

1.6 Entering Results

After your match has been completed, team captains are required to enter the scores of the match and/or mark a team as forfeiting. This has to be done by both of the competing teams, failure to enter results will mean that you have automatically forfeited the match. The window for entering results opens as soon as the match is scheduled to go up, and will stay open for a window of 4hrs, meaning that 4hrs from the commencement of the match, you will be able to enter in your scores. All matches will then be processed by GameArena at 4am, this is where rankings will be changed, and if needed protection/vulnerability status applied.

1.7 Disputes

A dispute will occur automatically when both teams have entered differing results into the GameArena ladder at the end of their match. This will then be handled by a GameArena DoD:Source GameOp, and your team will be notified by email when the dispute has been resolved. To make this process easy for everyone involved we recommend that team captains always take a screenshot of the scoreboard at the end of each half, and also a screenshot of the console status, this can be done by typing 'status' in the console.

The only other time a team should dispute a match is when they suspect that either an opposing player is cheating* or if there has been an offence committed by the opposing team that is against the rules of the DoD:Source ladder or the GameArena Code of Conduct/Terms and Conditions. Any request of information and/or demo recordings (including octinium/Novacap or in-game demo) must be sumbmitted to the relevant DoD:Source Gameop within a period of 48 hours. Failure to do so will result in a forfeit being automattically applied to the offending team in a dispute. Any frivolous disputes may result in the offending team being penalised rankings on the competition ladder.

*If you are disputing a match on the grounds of suspected cheating, DO NOT enter the name of the person you suspect of cheating in the text box of the dispute. You must simply type that you wish a GameOp to contact you in regards to a violation.

1.8 Forfeits

Forfeits will be awarded, but not limited to areas of:
# Cheating;
# Not entering Results;
# Abusive behaviour or misconduct on the Ladder server;
# Slutting/Smurfing;
# Exploiting; and,
# Entering into frivilous disputes.

In other cases the recording of a forfeit will remain within the boundaries of a GameArena GameOp's discretion. In which case the team captains will be notified by email as to the outcome. In all forfeits, the team is penalised a set amount of positions on the Ladder, in most cases 5% of the total ladder rungs.

When a team does not respond to a challenge, they will also be forfeited after 48hours of not responding. Successive lack of responses will result in further forfeits and eventual removal from the ladder altogether.

1.9 Spawn Timer

The spawn time that will be used in all GameArena DoD:Source Ladder matches will be the default, 10seconds.

1.10 Friendly Fire

Friendly fire will always be turned on in a GameArena DoD:Source Ladder match. However there will be no penalty for it (ie. you will not be kicked from the server). Under no circumstances is any player to remove friendly fire from Ladder matches, if it is found that you have done so your team will be penalised by forfeit.

1.11 Class Limits

The following listings are the class limits that will be utilised in the DoD:Source Ladder:
- 3x Rifle Class
- 2x Support Class
- 1x Assault Class
- 1x Sniper Class
- 1x MachineGun Class
- 1x Rocket Class

1.12 Plugins

There are two active plugins active for the GameArena DoD:Source Ladder which have been inlcuded to enhance competitive play. The first being a pistol script that allows all classes the ability to use a sidearm and the second being a fade to black script that renders a dead player's screen black. Both of these plugins are server side and therefore require no action from the player to be active.

1.13 Maps

The maps that are to be selected for competitive play are:
- dod_anzio
- dod_harrington*
- dod_solitude_match*
- dod_argentan
- dod_thunder_b3*
- dod_lennon*
- dod_donner
- dod_rails_b2*
- dod_sherman2_rc1*
- dod_santos_b3*
- dod_palermo

*All Custom maps can be downloaded from the GameArena File Library as a map-pack before the commencement of the ladder season. Note that the custom versions of default map versions have been selected because they have features that make the map a more competitive and thus allow teams to make that selection whether they wish to have a custom or default version of a similar map. The current Season VI Map Pack can be downloaded HERE

1.14 Demo Recording

All GameArena DoD:Source Ladder matches require all participants playing to record an ingame demo. This can be done via pressing the console key, and typing 'record [demonamehere]'. You will need to stop your demo at the conclusion of each half (type stop in console), and record another for the second half. All demos must be kept on your computer for 2 weeks before they can be removed. Teams that are in the top 10 on the ladder must record an octinium OR novacap instead of a ingame demo. The same duration applies for keeping them on your computer in addition to the penalty if they are not.

GameArena GameOps can request demos of particular players/teams at any time, and up to and including two weeks previous to the initial request. If your demo is requested, you have 48hrs from the initial request to produce the demo (regardless of whether your team has won or lost); failure to record demos or submit them upon request of a GameOp will result in automatic disqualification. Failure to produce two demos from seperate players in a match results in 10 positions being penalised from your team, and failure to produce three or more results in your team being placed into last position on the ladder.

If, at any point during the ladder season SourceTV is available for every match, players will not need to record ingame demos, however it will still be complusory for ALL TOP 10 TEAMS to still record octinium or novacap demos.

2.0 Team Members

2.1 'Slutting
Only players listed on your current roster with registered steamids on GameArena may play in the match. Using players not registered properly (ie. Without a steamid set, steamid set incorrectly or not registered on the clan roster at all), will result in your team being forfeited. We may also consider removing your clan from the ladder altogether for continual offences.

If players from other teams on the ladder playing under other players' steam accounts (which can be traced by IP address) are found to have logged into another players account to **** for their team or a player is competing in more than one team, they will be permanently banned for the duration of the season, and the team will be penalised accordingly to the GameOp's discretion. Team members must use their Registered GameArena nickname as it appears on their GameArena profile (Under Nickname) in the event of a dispute it makes it easier to identify registered players. THIS IS COMPULSORY.

Team memberships can change on a regular basis, and whilst we will not restrict adding players to a team, GameArena reserves the right to remove clans that we believe have been flooded or have been taken over. Bear in mind that while your team is in a challenge, you will be unable to add players to your roster due to anti-slutting measures.

2.2 Adding Players During the Season
Members that have been added to your clan for less than a week are NOT permitted to play in any formal GameArena Ladder Matches due to 'slutting' measures, if you are found to have played in these circumstances, your team will be automatically forfeited. This means that when a challenge is submitted with the permitted players via email from GameArena some players may be listed as eligible but in fact are not because of this rule. If you are unsure of whether a player is permitted to play contact a DoD:Source GameOp. The only exception to this rule is if you are a newly formed clan (i.e. the clan formed in less than a week and has been added for less than a week). Players are only permitted to be a member of one team; that is players are restricted to joining more than one team at any one time. If you are found to be playing for more than one team, both teams will be penalised positions of the ladder and the player permanently banned for the duration of the season.

2.3 Final Additions Clause
Players that have been added less than 2 weeks before the conclusion of the formal season are NOT permitted to play in the GameArena Finals, regardless of any prior playing experience with that clan.

2.4 Substitutions
All players must be listed in each clan's membership list and adhere to all rules as stated in clauses 2.1 and 2.2. Substitutions can be made at half time or in the event of a player dropout; the team can replace that player. Each team is permitted 2 substitutions (including dropouts, if they are not the same player) in one match. Any more than 2 and your clan will be penalized and forfeit the match.

2.5 Conduct
While playing on the DoD:Source Ladder all players are bound by the GameArena terms and conditions and GameArena Code of Conduct, failure to adhere to these rules will result in possible team penalisation on the Ladder. While we wish for the competition to remain a fun event, we remind players that any type of slander, abuse (racial, sexual, etc) will be treated harshly and we recommend that only captains communicate in mm1 (messagemode1) to the other team, and all other players restrict their communication to team say only.

3.0 Cheats & Exploits
On the GameArena DoD:Source ladder, cheats as well as exploits are considered as forfeit material, and may possibly result in expulsion from the ladder. Exploiting is, but is limited to; map exploiting, editing forbidden commands, models, sprites etc.

3.1 Cheats
Cheats of any form are forbidden on any GameArena Lader match. It is the captain's/founder's responsibility to ensure that all of their members comply with this rule. The finding of one member caught cheating will result in your team being dropped to the bottom of the ladder. Second and continual findings will result in your team being removed from the ladder and refused re-entry. Previously convicted players that are temporarily or permanently banned are NOT permitted to join a team under any circumstances. If your team is found to have a previously convicted cheat on your team your team will be penalised positions on the ladder and possibily removed to last place depending on the severity of the infraction, and the player's new steamid permanently banned from GameArena indefinately.

3.2 Cheat Protection
GameArena reserves the right to install any of the latest Anti-Cheat protection measures on their servers. These include, but are not limited to:
- VAC
- Octinium
- NovaCap
- SourceTV
- Cheating-Death
- HLGuard

3.3 Boosting
Boosting of any form is not tolerated on the GameArena DoD:Source Ladder. If your team/members have been found boosting in a ladder match, you will face disqualification. Further infractions will result in a loss of positions on the ladder, extensive and continual infractions may result in expulsion from the ladder.

3.4 Map Exploitation
Map exploiting of any form is not permitted on the GameArena DoD:Source Ladder. Map exploits are physical deformities in the map design, which allow a player(s) to access an area of the map that were not intended to be used by the map creater. These may include, but are not limited to, capping flags or protecting them through walls or floors, jumping on props like boxes, windows, light fixtures etc. (static or physics) to access roofs or other props, falling into the maps, jumping on skyboxes etc. GameOps will not give out information as to how to do them or where these exploits may be, purely for the reason that we do not want to distribute means of exploiting. If you are unsure of a particular place on a map please contact a DoD:Source Gameop and we will provide you with the answer of whether it is legal or not.

Any team found exploiting maps will be be automatically forfeited once the act has been established in the dispute resolution system.

3.5 Spawn Camping
Spawn Camping of any form is NOT permitted in the GameArena DoD:Source Ladder. Spawn Camping is defined in GameArena as:

"To enter into an enemy's spawn for whatever reason either by boosting or map exploiting OR to kill the opposing team in their spawn without the ability to react."

This means that any attacking of players whilst they have spawned or are in spawn is NOT permitted, this includes throwing nades into their spawn. The only exception is that if players are exiting spawn (i.e. coming off spawn ramps, camping their own spawn exit ect.), attacking is permissible.

4.0 Match Configuration
The following cvars will be used in DoD:Source Ladder servers:

Any modification of any of these server variables will result in automatic disqualification of the offending team.

Server Variables:
sv_voiceenable 1
sv_secure 1
sv_accelerate 10
sv_airaccelerate 10
sv_bounce 0
sv_consistency 1
sv_footsteps 1
sv_maxspeed 320
sv_mincmdrate 20
sv_maxcmdrate 66
sv_client_cmdrate_difference 20
sv_client_predict 1
sv_client_interpolate 1
sv_client_interp 0.1
sv_minupdaterate 20
sv_maxupdaterate 66
sv_minrate 8000
sv_maxrate 25000
sv_wateraccelerate 10
sv_waterfriction 1
sv_minupdaterate 20
sv_maxupdaterate 60
sv_cheats 0
sv_pausable 0 - This may be changed to 1 in extreme circumstances in only the Finals Series by an appointed Ref or GameOp.
sv_gravity 800
sv_maxspeed 320
sv_timeout 45
sv_alltalk 0
sv_pure 2

Multiplayer Variables:
mp_allowspectators 1
mp_flashlight 1
mp_friendlyfire 1
mp_tkpenalty -1
mp_autokick 0
mp_chattime 10
mp_clan_ready_signal "ready"
mp_clan_readyrestart 1
mp_footsteps 1
mp_limitteams 6
mp_allowrandomclass 0
mp_combinemglimits 1
mp_limit_allies_assault 1
mp_limit_allies_mg 1
mp_limit_allies_rifleman 3
mp_limit_allies_rocket 1
mp_limit_allies_sniper 1
mp_limit_allies_support 2
mp_limit_axis_assault 1
mp_limit_axis_mg 1
mp_limit_axis_rifleman 3
mp_limit_axis_rocket 1
mp_limit_axis_sniper 1
mp_limit_axis_support 1
mp_tickpointinterval 30
mp_timelimit 20
mp_winlimit 0

Bonus Round Variables:
dod_bonusround 0
dod_enableroundwaittime 1

5.0 Administration

5.1 Referee's
Whilst we encourage teams to play by themselves at any point during the ladder season, we offer the service of requesting the presence of a GameArena Referee. The role of a ref is to simply administer the game (ie. to run the commands to start the game) and then to simply watch the entirety of the game. GameArena reminds its users that when referees are requested, we cannot guarantee every match will be accompanied by a ref. Requested referee's are not able to play for any of the competing teams involved in the ladder match. If there is a referee that is umpiring a match between teams and is affiliated with one of them (a team member), GameArena GameOps have the jurisdiction to overrule their presence in the game.

There is only allowed to be one referee present for a ladder match, unless the game is during the finals series or under the consent of a GameArena GameOp. The extent of referee's power in during the match is the ability to kick players that are either breaking the rules of GameArena (GameArena terms and conditions and GameArena Code of Conduct). Abuse of any referee's powers should be brought a GameArena GameOp's attention immediately.

5.2 GameOps
GameArena GameOps have the authority to join any DoD:Source ladder server between two competing teams, this may only be used as a means of policing matches for cheats/exploits, or it may just simply be to umpire a match. Typically all matches played in the finals series will be umpired by a GameArena GameOp.

5.3 Shoutcasting
Shoutcasts or any other medium that is approved by GameArena staff may be used to broadcast any Ladder match. By participating in this ladder you and your clan agrees to your match(es) being broadcast to the gaming community, and also its digital distribution. All shoutcasts are on a time delay, and as such, no strats can be used to any advantage or disadvantage. The only circumstance where shoutcasts will not occur is when a team expresses their unwillingness to have a shoutcast on their match, this must be submitted to a GameArena DoD:Source GameOp, and in written form stating the reasons as to why they wish to not participate. Any interviews with members from a clan for the purpose of shoutcasting are purely voluntary.

5.4 SourceTv
When SourceTV is in a state that is up to satisfaction with GameArena, SourceTV may be used to allow members of the community to join and view any Ladder match. My participating in this ladder you and your clan agrees to your match(es) being broadcasted by such means. SourceTV may also be used a form of evidence on grounds of cheating or exploit speculation

6.0 Ladder Configuration

6.1 Ladder Timeline
This ladder will run for a total of 10 weeks, at the end of the ten weeks, the ladder will be declared closed, and the top six teams in the ladder will then go on to the playoffs. Once the winner is decided, they will be declared Season Champion. In all subsequent ladders the Season Champions will be recognised in their info pages. As soon as is possible after a break the ladder will commence for another season. Ladder Champions will be rewarded with a GameArena hosted DoD:Source server which they can use for practice matches as well as for a public server to the community.

6.2 Finals Format
Approximately 1-2 weeks after the closure of the 10 week ladder competition, the top 8 clans will enter a playoff competition for the crown of season champions. The finals format will run over a period of 3 weeks, with a match rate of 1 game a week. The format is as follows:

Round 1: Map: TBA
Game 1. 1st vs. 4th
Game 2. 2nd vs. 3rd
Game 3. 5th vs. 8th
Game 4. 6th vs. 7th

Round 2: Map: TBA
Game 5. Loser Game 1 vs. Winner Game 3
Game 6. Loser Game 2 vs. Winner Game 4
Game 7. Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 - Winner 7th Place, Loser 8th place
Winner Game 1 & Winner Game 2 Bye

Round 3: Map: TBA
Game 8. Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 2
Game 9. Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 1
Game 10. Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6 - Winner 5th place, Loser 6th place

Round 4: Map: TBA
Game 11. Loser Game 8 vs. Loser Game 9 - Winner 3rd place, Loser 4th place Optional*
Grand Final . Best of 3: Each team to select a map, if required, Gameop's to select the deciding map
Game 12. Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9 - Winner 1st place, Loser 2nd place

Game times are decided on by the clan captains and then organized by the Gameops. It is first in best dressed, so if there are overlaps, the clan to book after the first booking will have to wait until after the match on that night, or choose another day. Days and times that cannot be agreed on by the clan captains will then be organized by DoD:Source Gameops. Failure to turn up to scheduled matches within 15mins of the planned time will result in the clan in question to be forfeited.

6.3 Finals Ruleset
Before the Finals commence a DoD:Source Gameop will send each team captain the finals ruleset, which are a small amount of rules that apply only to the finals, these rules are to be used in conjunction with these rules during the finals period.

7.0 Amendments
GameArena Admins/GameOps reserve the right to alter rules in the event of an exploit or change in gameplay (including maps) during the process of the ladder season. All clan Captains will be notified via email of any changes and any amendments will be published publicly on the GameArena DoD:Source forums. If there are any issues that you wish to bring to light in regards to the rules of the ladder please contact a DoD:Source GameOp. Please bear in mind that due to the extent of the problem there may be no notice given to any changes made to the rules, however we endeavour to give at least 24hrs notice before any rule changes.

8.0 Terms & Conditions
By playing in the GameArena Ladder system, you agree to comply with all GameArena terms and conditions, in addition to the GameArena Code of Conduct.