Post by Rip__Steele on Sept 7, 2004 22:34:58 GMT -5
The Ranking System
TA Battle Dome Ladder has one of the simplest ranking systems ever used for competitive play. We call it a "Ladder" because each player has a unique rank or "rung" that represents their standing among other players. The highest ranked player holds the #1 position. Someone ranked #2 is ranked below the #1 player. So, the goal is to "climb" the Ladder all the way to the top.
When you first join you are placed in the "Unranked" category of the Ladder.
You become "Ranked" after winning your first Ladder match. (Unranked users can play each other and the winner becomes ranked and is placed at the bottom of the ladder.)
When you defeat a higher ranked player you move up half the distance between their rank and your own.
Your rank on the Ladder does not go down if you lose a match unless your opponent is ranked DIRECTLY below you.
When other players beat people above you and jump over you in rank you will slide down.
Some special rules exist for players ranked in the Top Sixteen. These rules will be covered in a later section.
E-mail Address
Your E-mail address must be kept current on the site, as it is the only way we have of contacting you.
If your E-mail address is found to be invalid your account will be penalized or removed.
Inactivity
If you haven't played a match in 30 days you will be automatically dropped down in ranks for inactivity in order to keep the Ladder as dynamic as possible and give everyone a chance to move up.
Removal for inactivity can occur. No exceptions are made to this rule. Our players want an active ladder full of opponents who can be easily found.
Multiple Users
It is illegal for one person to have multiple accounts. Only one account is allowed per person, PERIOD.
It is illegal for more than one person to use or share the same account. You are more than welcome to each participate in the Ladder, but you will have to create separate accounts for each individual playing.
Challenges
Chat
The best way to find matches is to announce in chat that you are looking for a TABD Ladder match. You will see other's doing the same. This lets everyone know you are interested in Ladder play.
When you are in a chat room trying to find a match you should be courteous and respectful to other people in the room. Repeatedly asking for a Ladder game tends to annoy people very quickly. This could make them not want to play you, and make it harder for YOU to move up the Ladder.
E-Mail:
Email challenges should be reserved for users in the top 10 of the Ladder, and only used then if you have trouble setting up a match via the normal methods.
If you are found to be issuing challenges via Email excessively and without first attempting to get a match via the traditional methods you will be penalized.
You can play as many different people as you'd like on any given day.
Verify Information:
We recommend that you make sure potential opponents belong to the Ladder before starting your match. This way if you have a problem you will have all of the information you need to resolve it quickly. You can do this very easily by checking the list of ladder users.
Priority:
If you have multiple people challenging you at once you should play the person with the highest rank.
First Come, First Served:
The priority rule for accepting challenges only applies when you have multiple challenges at the same time. If you are challenged by someone you should not go to chat and actively seek someone higher in rank to challenge you, rather you need to accept the first challenger.
Specific Ranks:
It is illegal to refuse matches based on Ladder rank. You may request a specific rank or range when advertising for a challenge, but you may not refuse a valid challenge simply because the challenger is not the rank you are wanting to play.
Playing a Match
Once you have found an opponent and you are ready to start your match, there are some rules about the match to keep in mind.
Regular challenges/Formal Challenge
Regular challenges are issued in live chat when you run into someone you want to play a Ladder match against.
The Formal Challenge System is in place so that if you are having a hard time finding someone you want to challenge you can do so through the website with our forums. You should always try to get your match through the normal methods first before resorting to issuing a formal challenge.
All players must appear on the player list before playing any kind of ladder match.
Settings:
There are no illegal settings for Ladder matches as long as BOTH players agree to them before the match begins. If someone starts the game with incorrect settings you should point it out and immediately return to chat. This will allow you to make sure you both understand what the other player wants. You can then restart the match.
We have set default settings for some games. If your game has default settings they will be listed in the next section. If any of these rules conflict with overall Ladder rules, the game specific rules apply.
Failure to Finish Match:
Once you start a match you are responsible for completing it. If you have to leave before the game is finished for any reason it is considered a loss and you need to promptly report it.
Although it does not happen often it is possible that you or your opponent may be disconnected from the game or the Internet entirely before your match is finished. If one player was clearly losing at the time of disconnect then that person should be a good sport and report the loss. If there was no clear winner at that point in the match and it is not a game that allows you to continue then a rematch would be suggested.
The person who left the match is only required to report losses to his/her opponents if they left voluntarily or were already clearly going to lose at the time they lost connection. If both players can NOT agree on a restart or if an opponent doesn't think that they were losing the match and does not want to report the loss, than a player may send in a recording of the game. If you have a recording you may send it in and our staff will judge the recording. The decision made by the staff will be FINAL!
Sportsmanship:
If we receive complaints about the behavior of a user, steps will be taken to deal with the problem.
TA Battle Dome Ladder has one of the simplest ranking systems ever used for competitive play. We call it a "Ladder" because each player has a unique rank or "rung" that represents their standing among other players. The highest ranked player holds the #1 position. Someone ranked #2 is ranked below the #1 player. So, the goal is to "climb" the Ladder all the way to the top.
When you first join you are placed in the "Unranked" category of the Ladder.
You become "Ranked" after winning your first Ladder match. (Unranked users can play each other and the winner becomes ranked and is placed at the bottom of the ladder.)
When you defeat a higher ranked player you move up half the distance between their rank and your own.
Your rank on the Ladder does not go down if you lose a match unless your opponent is ranked DIRECTLY below you.
When other players beat people above you and jump over you in rank you will slide down.
Some special rules exist for players ranked in the Top Sixteen. These rules will be covered in a later section.
E-mail Address
Your E-mail address must be kept current on the site, as it is the only way we have of contacting you.
If your E-mail address is found to be invalid your account will be penalized or removed.
Inactivity
If you haven't played a match in 30 days you will be automatically dropped down in ranks for inactivity in order to keep the Ladder as dynamic as possible and give everyone a chance to move up.
Removal for inactivity can occur. No exceptions are made to this rule. Our players want an active ladder full of opponents who can be easily found.
Multiple Users
It is illegal for one person to have multiple accounts. Only one account is allowed per person, PERIOD.
It is illegal for more than one person to use or share the same account. You are more than welcome to each participate in the Ladder, but you will have to create separate accounts for each individual playing.
Challenges
Chat
The best way to find matches is to announce in chat that you are looking for a TABD Ladder match. You will see other's doing the same. This lets everyone know you are interested in Ladder play.
When you are in a chat room trying to find a match you should be courteous and respectful to other people in the room. Repeatedly asking for a Ladder game tends to annoy people very quickly. This could make them not want to play you, and make it harder for YOU to move up the Ladder.
E-Mail:
Email challenges should be reserved for users in the top 10 of the Ladder, and only used then if you have trouble setting up a match via the normal methods.
If you are found to be issuing challenges via Email excessively and without first attempting to get a match via the traditional methods you will be penalized.
You can play as many different people as you'd like on any given day.
Verify Information:
We recommend that you make sure potential opponents belong to the Ladder before starting your match. This way if you have a problem you will have all of the information you need to resolve it quickly. You can do this very easily by checking the list of ladder users.
Priority:
If you have multiple people challenging you at once you should play the person with the highest rank.
First Come, First Served:
The priority rule for accepting challenges only applies when you have multiple challenges at the same time. If you are challenged by someone you should not go to chat and actively seek someone higher in rank to challenge you, rather you need to accept the first challenger.
Specific Ranks:
It is illegal to refuse matches based on Ladder rank. You may request a specific rank or range when advertising for a challenge, but you may not refuse a valid challenge simply because the challenger is not the rank you are wanting to play.
Playing a Match
Once you have found an opponent and you are ready to start your match, there are some rules about the match to keep in mind.
Regular challenges/Formal Challenge
Regular challenges are issued in live chat when you run into someone you want to play a Ladder match against.
The Formal Challenge System is in place so that if you are having a hard time finding someone you want to challenge you can do so through the website with our forums. You should always try to get your match through the normal methods first before resorting to issuing a formal challenge.
All players must appear on the player list before playing any kind of ladder match.
Settings:
There are no illegal settings for Ladder matches as long as BOTH players agree to them before the match begins. If someone starts the game with incorrect settings you should point it out and immediately return to chat. This will allow you to make sure you both understand what the other player wants. You can then restart the match.
We have set default settings for some games. If your game has default settings they will be listed in the next section. If any of these rules conflict with overall Ladder rules, the game specific rules apply.
Failure to Finish Match:
Once you start a match you are responsible for completing it. If you have to leave before the game is finished for any reason it is considered a loss and you need to promptly report it.
Although it does not happen often it is possible that you or your opponent may be disconnected from the game or the Internet entirely before your match is finished. If one player was clearly losing at the time of disconnect then that person should be a good sport and report the loss. If there was no clear winner at that point in the match and it is not a game that allows you to continue then a rematch would be suggested.
The person who left the match is only required to report losses to his/her opponents if they left voluntarily or were already clearly going to lose at the time they lost connection. If both players can NOT agree on a restart or if an opponent doesn't think that they were losing the match and does not want to report the loss, than a player may send in a recording of the game. If you have a recording you may send it in and our staff will judge the recording. The decision made by the staff will be FINAL!
Sportsmanship:
If we receive complaints about the behavior of a user, steps will be taken to deal with the problem.