STA Team Fortress Classic League

Revised 05/25/08
NOTE: This rule set is for our Friday 6vs6 League only.
( Click here for the Gold 8vs8 Rules.)

Friday 6vs6 League
Our STA Friday 6vs6 League is designed to attract players from the large pub server community, many will be new to clanning and competitive online gaming. Wehope that the experienced players, clans and leaders take the time to assist newcomers. Our goal is to keep our TFC community popular and fun. All players joining this league should understand that the goal on friday nights is to have fun, and to play clean good sportsmanly competition in a friendly environment.
STA-TFC rules are designed to to promote fair play, good sportsmanship and enjoyable contests for all Clans. Each Clan's Captains and Players should be familiar with the rules listed below and these rules should be used as a guideline for League participation. STA-TFC encourages friendly cooperation between Clans and between Players in all League events. If the rules do not cover a specific situation, or if you cannot resolve a disagreement on your own, or if you find a rule to be unclear in it's meaning, please contact a STA-TFC Admin.

Contacting STA-TFC Admins
Contact STA Admin Fornaught for any Friday 6v6 assistance.
The preferred method for contact is in IRC. All STA-TFC Admins can be found in the irc.gamesurge.net channel #sta-tfc. Please be patient when posting questions to that channel, as Admins cannot be present at all hours. Private Messages are welcomed, your fastest result will be to pm Fornaught directly, and leave a full detailed question or request in that pm. Alternately, Email info is on the Staff Contact page and STA has provided a Public Forum and a Clan Captains Forum for STA-TFC.

League Format
STA's Friday Night 2fort is a 6vs6 league. Our league is currently setup as one division which plays for a weekly Title. Our Division conducts a Title Match to determine a weekly Division Title holder. Clans qualify to challenge the Title Holder when they have a 2 win streak. Scheduled matches are normally between clans from within each division and will generally follow the clan ranking list.

Clan Captains
Clan Captains or their representative(s) should be present in #sta-tfc on match nights, to facilitate contact between Clans and with Admins. This IRC channel also provides a public record for discussion and agreements between Clans.
Each Clan is allowed access to our Clan Captains Forum for two Captains. Captains are encouraged to participate in League issues via that Forum.

II. Match Scheduling

Clans are scheduled to play on Friday nights at 9:30PM EST.

Scheduling Format
1) Each Division's Title Match will be between the current Title holder and the teh highest ranked clan with a 2 Win Streak. Title match may not occur every week.
2) All other matches will be based primarily on your Rank within your Division. Your Clan's Win Streak may also be used to determine parings between clans of similar rank.
3) In all regular matches we will attempt to prevent clans from being scheduled against the same opponents the clan has played in recent week's.

Rescheduling
Rescheduling is not allowed in Friday 6vs6, clans join STA-TFC so that they may play on a set day and time each week.

III. Servers and Settings

III. Servers and Settings

Server Requirements
1.) All servers must be using the version of the map that is on the STA Files page.

2.) Servers must have logging turned on. Server logs must be made available on request, within 24 hours of the match, to STA-TFC admins and opposing clans.

3.) Use of the STA server configuration (sta2fort.cfg) file is mandatory which is also found on our Files page. Any settings NOT covered in the config should be set to the Half-Life server defaults. If any of the settings are not correct, the opposing clan should refuse to play the round on that server.

4.) Server plugins such as Adminmod/Amxmodx are not specifically forbidden, however all other server rules apply. Server plugins can not interfere with the match in any way. Plugins such as Adminmod/Amxmodx should not kick/ban anyone or restrict usage of anything that is legal for play in STA.

5.) HLTV is required for all Match Servers (see Section VIII below)
6.) Use of our STA TFC League AntiCheat plugin is encoraged, but not required.

IV. Match Conduct (Prematch, During, and Postmatch)

Server Choice per Round
Each clan will have the choice of server, alternating by round. The Home Team (Listed first on the Schedule) decides which server is used in the first round, the Opposing Team decides the second round server. If there is Overtime(OT), the Home Team chooses the server for the first overtime round. If there is a second OT, the Opposing Team gets to choose server, and so on.

Team Color per Round
Since the Home Team chooses the server in the first round they must defer the first round team color choice to the Opposing Team. Thereafter, it is mandatory that teams switch team colors after each round, including overtime.

Punctuality and Forfeits
Matches should start no later than 15 mins after the official start time. The match server should be setup and all players should join prior to that time. Each clan must have a minimum of 5 players ready prior to the 15 minute mark after start time. Captains, please be considerate and allow teams extra time if necessary.

If a clan can not properly setup the server, can not produce enough players, or refuses to join the server within 15 minutes of the official match time, they can be forced to forfeit if their opponent chooses that option. The goal is to play matches, so don't be so quick to call a forfeit. Give the opponent a chance.

If there are any extenuating circumstances (steam crashing, some can't join a particular server, etc) then both team leaders are to join #sta-tfc and discuss the matter in public, whether or not an admin is present. The public record will stand in case of a dispute or unsettled differences.

Rounds
After the first round is completed, clans should leave the server for a midround break. The break should be a minimum of 5 minutes to a maximum of 15 minutes, the subsequent Round should begin at or prior to 15 minutes.

Match Gameplay
Our players are expected to use good sense in their gameplay choices, and to understand that Friday 6vs6 is formed to provide fun competition. That means you , new player and experienced player alike, should consider the fun factor for both teams. Because STA-TFC understands that this League in particular may have players unfamiliar with teh large set of gameplay rules our other divisions use, we will try to keep game play rules minimal here. This should not be read by experienced players as an invition for abuse.
Based on current Gameplay, we have instituted this Gameplay Rule:

1. No Spawn Camping Players are prohibitied from setting up extended defense positions at the opponents Spawn Exits. An occasional grenade or deathmatch encounter is unavoidable, and allowed. But a player positioning himself to repeatedly take advantage of opponenst exiting there spawn, is not allowed.

Agreements Between Clans
Agreements between clan leaders can override stated STA rules, if the agreements are made in #sta-tfc among the opposing clan leaders for public record. For example, you can aggree to play your match on a different map, or perhaps play 4vs4 or 8vs8.

All clan agreements should be made in #sta-tfc. These agreements may not be changed after being made except with the consent of the contacts of both clan leaders in #sta-tfc.

Submitting Scores
After the match is done, the Winning Clan will go to the STA Operations page to fill out the match form. All results must be reported by Saturday Night. If a leader who can report the scores is not available for your team, then someone from the clan must let the STA admins know in #sta-tfc. As a last resort, simply paste the score in the #sta-tfc channel. Once again, a public transaction in #sta-tfc will prove to be the cover for any extenuating circumstances. Failure to report scores on time may subject the match to deletion.

V. Ties & Overtime

Ties
There can be no ties in STA matches, Overtime round(s) will be conducted until a match winner can be declared. The definition of a tie is when the sum of both team's score in round 1 and round 2 are equal.

Official Score
The score in the server log files will be the score used to determine if the round is a tie.

Regular OT is Sudden Death Overtime
If the match is tied after two rounds of regular play, the match will continue as a 30 minute overtime round of the default team size for the map. This is sudden death overtime where the first flag capture wins the match and ends the round.

If it is still tied after this 30 minute period, the match continues for another 15 minute round of 4 on 4. If this round also ends with a tie, then there will be another 15 minute round of 3 on 3. The match will continue (indefinitely) as such, alternating 15 minute rounds until a victor is determined.

Lateness of OT Rounds
If at such time a match is too late to continue, a clan can ask an STA admin to intercede. Alternatives may be a short form OT, or declaring a Draw.

VI. Player Rules

Player Agreement
By joining an STA roster, a player agrees not to use a cheat in any of the following: Any unlocked public servers, any pickups, scrimmages, or competitive environments (such as 2v2, 3v3, tryouts, practice, official matches, etc). Players that cheat in these situations are subject to action from STA, up to and including a League Ban. Cheating in Matches will result in a Full Ban from STA.

Exploits
Exploiting a map's configuration, build, or flaws is not allowed. (example: nail grenades into a thin texture)
Unrecognised engine exploits are not allowed.
Exploited use of any regular command, netcode command, or cvar is prohibited. (timerefresh would be an example)
Speed exploits are also prohibited with the noted exceptions of bunnyhopping (170% cap), sharking and ramp sliding.
Scripted chop-hopping is not allowed. Note that manually pressing "duck" when you land is not illegal.

Client Settings and/or Scripts
1) The use of cl_lw or cl_lc with any value other than 1 is prohibited from STA.
2) Fullupdate, axis locks/-mlook/pitchup&down, forcecenterview and any console command are all prohibited in regards to being used as an anti-conc exploit.
3) Pitchup and pitchdown settings are to be capped at 108. (Pipedown scripts are allowed)
4) Use of the command "_special" is not allowed.
5) Use of any console command or script that gives an overwhelming unfair advantage is prohibited, at the discretion of STA-TFC

Match Related Conduct
Any exceptionally offensive conduct affecting match play is prohibited in STA (including but not limited to: malicious Internet attacks, match intrusions, abuse of rcon/admin_mod/etc., remote match server and HLTV interference, and server crashing). STA has the final say over the definition and scope of such conduct, as well as any applicable penalty.

VIII. Cheat Prevention and Detection - HLTV Proxy and Demo

HLTV is required for each round of STA-TFC 9vs9 matches. The HLTV demo is an essential tool in resolving disputes. The HLTV proxy must record a demo of the entire round and that demo must be released to the opposing clan and admins within 24 hours of a request. At least one spectator per team must be allowed, unless the HLTV proxy is hosted from a players connection. An HLTV with spectators must have a slot for the opposing team, and the HLTV broadcast delay must be set to 90 seconds (see stahltv.cfg below).

The stahltv.cfg: STA-TFC has created an official configuration file for use with HLTV proxies, which can be downloaded from the Files page. Clan leaders should confirm HLTV settings on away servers, a "status" command will show the HLTV IP, Spectator numbers, and delay settings.

X. Clan Member Rules (Rosters)

Clan Rosters
Only your Clan Members are allowed to play in matches for your Clan. Each clan must keep an official Roster of Clan Members on the STA-TFC website. Clan Rosters are managed by Clan Captains on our "Operations" page. Rosters will be locked on Mondays and Fridays.

If you have a new clan member you have neglected to add to your STA Roster, you may ask your opponent for permission to use that player.

XIV. Rule Updates

It is your responsibility to periodically check for updates on this page. These rules may be updated or changed to reflect the consensus of the STA on rulings that may occur in the future.

XV. Match Disputes

Filing a Match Dispute
STA encourages Clans to work together to create fun matches for all and to resolve conflicts on their own. If you must file a dispute with STA-TFC, follow the guidelines below.

The first step when filing a dispute is to contact your division admin in the STA-TFC IRC channel, #sta-tfc on irc.gamesurge.net. Try to do this as soon after the match as possible (within 24 hours), even if it is prior to assembling your dispute evidence. After this initial contact with admins a written dispute should be submitted.

Clan leaders should gather any evidence (HLTV demos, raw server logs, personal demo, irc chat, etc) that will be needed by admins. Your dispute should include any information that will give a complete and fair picture of the disputed match. You will need the following information; the round(s) you are disputing, what player(s) you are disputing, what rule violation(s) are alleged, and the match timestamps for any relevant events. Also include links to the HLTV demo and server logs for all rounds.

Once all information is gathered, submit your written dispute. You can do this in either of two ways. You can use the "Report Dispute" link on the Operations page, provided that the final match result has yet to be accepted and posted on the STA website. You can also submit the written dispute via email to your division admin. (Check the Staff Contacts page for e-mail addresses). Please try to submit the written dispute during the first 24-48 hours following a match. There is no time limit for cheat related disputes, but admins may decline to accept lesser disputes that are more than 72 hours old.

STA admins will do their best to resolve disputes prior to the next scheduled match day. Once your Dispute details are received, your Dispute will be handled by the appropriate admins. Currently we have STA-TFC Division/Dispute admins and the STA-TFC Anti-Cheat Team ready to resolve problems asap.

During the dispute process we ask that you refrain from public discussion of the dispute details, or at least to keep them to a minimum. We welcome discussions, suggestions and criticisms about the dispute process on the Captains forum. If the dispute involves a clan with a STA admin as a member or leader, that Admin will be instructed to remain completely clear of the dispute process.

XVI. STA Cheat Ban Policy

The STA League has an overall cheat ban policy which covers all game divisions. It is found on our Forums.

XVII. Sportsmanship

Last, but certainly not least, a word on sportsmanship. STA not only appreciates, but also rewards good sportsmanship in the game and beyond.

A courteous, honest, and respectful attitude displayed towards the league, towards opposing clans, and while dealing with the league staff will go a long way in helping you achieve an enjoyable league experience.

Last Rule Update: 02/27/08