Europe
ESL Major Series
Day of Defeat: Source
Season IV Rules - Last updated: 29/05/2009General
Definitions
Participant - A participant is any team, or player that is on ESL Major Series team account that is taking part in the ESL Major Series.
License Holder - A license holder is the legal entity (registered association, Ltd company, etc.) or the person to whom an ESL Major Series License is in control of.
Time - All times are given in Central European Time (CET), or Central European Summer Time (CEST) during summer time in Europe.
Season - The season lasts from the beginning of the first playweek of the Main Round until the end of the playoffs.
Playweek - A playweek is from 00:00 Monday to Midnight Sunday.
Tournament Administration
Tournament Directors
- Carsten 'Storch' Kramer
- Johan 'Junior' Godderis
- Antony 'TheRogue' Seedhouse
For the head admins of this ESL Major Series see #Head_Admins
Validity of the Rules
Should any of the rules in this rule book be void for any legal reasons in any specific country, the remainder of the rule book remains valid for that country.
Rule modifications
The ESL Major Series administration reserves the right to change or modify these rules, and in special cases make decisions not covered by these rules to preserve the spirit of fair competition and sportsmanship.
Non-disclosure of internal information
All texts written in either protest or support tickets or written by the ESL Major Series administration to members of the ESL Major Series cannot be published without the written permission of the ESL Major Series administration.
Code of conduct
All participants are asked to behave in an appropriate manner towards other competitors and to any member of the ESL Major Series administration. Exceptional cases of violation of this rule will be punished with all possible severity.
Additional agreements
The ESL Major Series administration is not responsible for additional agreements between players or teams and these agreements are only allowed if they do not violate any of the existing rules. The ESL Major Series administration advises against such agreements. The ESL Major Series administration will not enforce any additional agreements.
Contract conditions
The ESL Major Series administration will not interfere with and is not responsible for any legal issues between a player and his or her team.
Betting
It is not permitted to bet on matches of leagues, in which you are a participant. Violations of this rule are punished by one (1) Major Penalty for the team/the player. If a deliberate attempt to manipulate a match can be proven, the ESL can also bar the player(s) in question for a number of matches or have matches replayed. In extreme cases, the league administration reserves the right to remove a team/player from an ongoing season.
Protest
A protest can only be made using the protest form on the ESL page. Protests filed by email or IRC are not valid. At most, they can help explain the circumstances. Please see the protest procedure: http://www.esl.eu/eu/ems/faq/protest_rules/
If a participant wants to submit a protest concerning a specific match, the protest needs to be filed within 72 hours after the starting time of the match. Any protest made after the deadline will be discarded.
Continuously filing protests for the sole purpose of getting an advantage out of filing protests will be treated as violation of fair play.
Barrage for dropping out from the ESL Major Series
Any participant who drops out of the current ESL Major Series cannot return later. This applies to any kind of drop out, no matter whether it is by his or her own decision or due to a disqualification e.g. because of too many penalties. The ESL Major Series administration reserves the right to bar a participant for more than one season in extreme cases.
Penalties
Penalties are given for violations of the rules and fair play.
Any rule violation that does not directly interfere with the competition of the ESL Major Series and does not violate fair play will be punished with a minor penalty.
Any rule violation that directly affects the competition of the ESL Major Series or which is not in line with fair play will be punished with a major penalty, and a forfeit loss in relegation and playoffs.
A major penalty is worth 10 points, a minor penalty is worth 3 points. If a participant's major and minor penalties combined total 30 or more points, they will be removed from the ESL Major Series.
Penalties given within the ESL Major Series only apply for the ESL Major Series and not for the normal ESL leagues and ladders. The only exception to this are penalties given for cheating and severe violations of the code of conduct or fraud which will also be penalised in accordance with the normal ESL system.
Penalty points and barrages of the ESL do not apply to the ESL Major Series, except barrages for cheating.
Communication
Players forum
In team competitions, each team can appoint up to three (3) people who can represent their team in the players forum. In 1on1 competitions, only the players themselves and one orga from his or her team can have access to the players forum. If several players from an organization are in the same 1on1 competition then they must appoint a single orga for all.
The players forum is the only official communication platform between the players and the admin team.
All information within this forum is to be kept between the admin team and the participants of the players. Information or statements placed inside this forum by the admin team are not to be made public (news, public forums, etc.) and teams will be punished depending upon the kind of information and content they make available in the form of penalties or a direct disqualification from the competition.
One of the official means of communication on ESL is e-mail. ESL uses the e-mail addresses entered in the users’ profile to communicate with the users. All users are therefore asked to use a working e-mail address in their profile and to check the content of their mailbox daily if possible. ESL can not be held responsible for problems arising if e-mail does not arrive because the recipient did not keep his account up to date.
IRC
In addition to the players forum, to enable quick and easy communication there is usually a private IRC channel that we ask for all participants to join. If there is a channel, the details can be found in the players forum.
Game broadcasts
All broadcasting rights of ESL Major Series matches are owned by the Turtle Entertainment GmbH. This includes all forms of broadcasts, i.e. IRC Bots, shoutcast streams, video streams, HLTV, WaaaghTV, Replays, Demos or TV broadcasts. Turtle Entertainment GmbH can pass on the broadcasting rights for one or multiple matches to a third party or to the participants themselves. In this case the broadcast must be arranged with a head admin before the match. A participant cannot refuse to have their matches broadcast, nor can they choose in what way it will be broadcast.
ESL TV is a German television station that will be broadcasting, amongst other things, matches from the ESL Major Series.
Tournament direction
The ESL Major Series is organised by the Electronic Sports League (ESL). The Electronic Sports League is part of Turtle Entertainment GmbH.
Turtle Entertainment GmbH
Siegburger Str. 189
50679 Köln
Germany
http://www.turtle-entertainment.de
Team and Player accounts
Ownership of Team accounts
The ESL Major Series administration assigns ESL Major Series licenses to each contestant at the beginning of each season.
The license is assigned to a legal entity (registered association, Ltd company, etc.). If a team is not represented by a legal entity, then the ESL Major Series administration will assign the license to a person on the team. This is always the team manager or a person appointed by the team manager.
The license holder is responsible for all actions that concern the team. The ESL Major Series license holder is the entity which will receive the prize money after the season has ended. The license holder can name another person to receive the prize money at the end of the season.
Requirements
All ESL Major Series players must comply to the following:
- Have their full name entered and made public
- Have a suitable photo uploaded
- Have their necessary gameaccounts entered (see #Gameaccounts)
All ESL Major Series teams must comply to the following:
- Have a suitable team name
- Have a suitable team logo
- Have a team account that is not active in any other ESL leagues, ladders or cups
- Have no inactive/honorary members listed
Players or teams that do not comply to the above will be punished with 1 minor penalty each playweek.
Player country
A player's country (of residence) must be set to the country that they live in.
Team country
The first match a team plays in the ESL Major Series (either in a Qualifying Round or the Groupstage) determines the country a team based on a simple majority.
I.e. If 51% or more of players that played in a match live in a single country, the team's country is that country, otherwise the team's country is set to Europe for the season.
If in any future matches the team's country is no longer 51% or more from that country, then the team's country must be set to Europe for the rest of the season.
Roster
All players added to a team after 23:59 CET of the Sunday before the first playweek of the Groupstage begins are considered new players.
Up to three new players can be added to a team during the season.
A player is only allowed to change their team once per competition stage (groupstage, playoffs). Should a player change their team in a competition stage, they are not allowed to play against their old team or against teams that they played against with their former team for the remainder of that competition stage.
For each new player in a team a support ticket must be made for the player to be approved by the head admins for that ESL Major Series. Before being approved new players must meet all the requirements for playing.
A new player must requested at least 24 hours before playing in a match, and approved before the match.
Scheduling
Any agreement to reschedule a match must be made by both participants on the ESL website, either in a protest ticket or match comments, otherwise the official match time is that stated on the match page.
Groupstage
The deadline for rescheduling a match is midnight Sunday of the preceding play week. Rescheduling after this deadline will incur 1 minor penalty.
If a participant wishes to reschedule a match they should do so by opening a match protest. Upon requesting the reschedule the participant must suggest at least 3 new times on at least 3 separate dates up to the end of the next playday to play the match. Failure will incur 1 minor penalty.
Wildcard
In 16 contestant groupstages (and FIFA 09 Clanwar), participants have 1 wildcard.
In 24 contestant groupstage, participants have 2 wildcards.
A wildcard is used when a participant requests to reschedule a match within 24 hours of the scheduled match time. Usage of the wildcard will also incur 1 minor penalty.
When a participant has already used up their wildcard then they will receive a total of 3 minor penalties.
Playoffs
Playoffs matches cannot be wildcarded or rescheduled past the deadline date without a serious reason and the permission of the admin team. One player being unavailable is not a valid reason.
No show
If a participant is not ready, in full, for the match 15 minutes after the scheduled start time they are a no show.
Groupstage
If the participant still has a wildcard, one major penalty will be given and a wildcard will be removed. If they do not have any wildcards remaining they will receive 1 major penalty and 1 major penalty.
During the groupstage a no show does not result in a forfeit loss, all matches must be played.
Playoffs
A no show in a Playoff match will result in a forfeit loss.
Tournament Structure
Groupstage
The groupstage will consist of 2 groups with 6 teams. Each team will play each other team in their group once, playing one match per week.
If at the end of the groupstage stage two or more teams are tied in the rankings by points then first the match result between them will be considered followed by the score difference. Should this still result in a draw, tie break matches will be played if needed to decide which teams will move on to the next stage.
Relegation
The relegation will consist of the 2nd place and 3rd place teams from the groupstage put against each other in a round of knockout, the winners will go through to the playoffs.
The matches in the relegation will be A2 vs B3 and A3 vs B2.
Playoffs
The playoffs will be 4 team, double elimination.
Schedule
It is our goal to follow this schedule as best as possible.
Groupstage
- Sunday 8.11.2009 - Thursday 12.11.2009: Week 1
- Sunday 15.11.2009 - Thursday 19.11.2009: Week 2
- Sunday 22.11.2009 - Thursday 26.11.2009: Week 3
- Sunday 29.11.2009 - Thursday 3.12.2009: Week 4
- Sunday 6.12.2009 - Thursday 10.12.2009: Week 5
- Sunday 13.12.2009 - Thursday 17.12.2009: Catchup Week
- Teams who attend LANs can postpone the match into the next Week!
Relegation
- Sunday 10.1.2010 - Thursday 14.1.2010
Playoffs
- Sunday 17.1.2010 - Thursday 21.1.2010: Semifinals
- Sunday 24.1.2010 - Thursday 29.1.2010: Upperbraket Final & Lowerbraket Round 1
- Sunday 31.1.2010 - Thursday 4.2.2010: Consolation Final
- Sunday 7.2.2010 - Thursday 11.2.2010: Overall Final
Day of Defeat: Source Specific Rules
Head Admins
Default match time
By default all matches are scheduled for Sunday 21 CET of the playweek. Matches may be rescheduled, see #Scheduling for details.
Pre-match statements and line-ups
Between 7 days and 24 hours before a match is scheduled it is compulsory for both players or teams to post a pre-match statement and announce their line-up for the match (for team games). This should be done using the 'add report' link on the match page.
Players or teams that do not comply to the above will be punished with 1 minor penalty per match.
Gameaccounts
Players must enter their STEAMID DoD:S on their ESL profile before taking part in ESL Major Series matches.
Playing with a wrong or missing gameaccount at the time of a match will be punished with 1 minor penalty point.
Aequitas
Every player must use Aequitas for the entire duration of the match.
Aequitas Files
Each player must upload the Aequitas file (the ZIP created by Aequitas) without reminder, within 24 hours of the end of the match. The player and their team are responsible for the upload, meaning he or she has to check if the files are complete and working.
Missing, not working, incomplete or modified Aequitas files must be reported by the other team in a protest and will be punished with 1 major penalty for the team. A period of 48 hours will then be given to replace the files in question. Should the Aequitas files be replaced with the correct ones the penalty will then be reduced to 1 minor penalty. If the files of the winning team are still not complete after the period of 48 hours the match will be replayed.
Procedure for non-working Aequitas
If the website is offline then Aequitas will not work. This is the only situation where it is possible to play without Aequitas. It is responsibility of the player to ensure that Aequitas works for them and report it to the admin team as soon as possible.
Should Aequitas not work for a player, the player must take a screenshot of the error message and upload it befor he start the match. If you are not able to run Aequitas properly, you are not allowed to participate in an ESL EMS match. In case of problems without an errormessage you have to postpone the match (if necessary by filing a protest).
Match Media
Screenshots
The punishment for missing screenshots is no more than 1 minor penalty per match.
Score screenshot
Both teams are responsible for taking a screenshot showing the final score and uploading it to the match page.
rcon status
The team hosting the server is responsible for taking a rcon status screenshot showing all players in the match. If a player reconnects or a player is changed, a new screenshot should be taken.
Source TV
- A Source TV proxy must be used to broadcast a match as long and its delay has to be set to at least 90s
- The IP address of the proxy has to be announced before the match starts
- The proxy must record demos which have to be uploaded to the match like regular matchmedia
- The proxy should have at least 100 slots (without a password) for spectators to watch
Client settings
The following values have to be set in the player's config:
cl_bob 0.002
cl_bobcycle 0.8
cl_bobup 0.5
developer 0
r_drawdetailprops 1
m_yaw 0.022
m_pitch -/+0.022
mat_debugdepth 0
mat_debugdepthmode 0
mat_showlowresimage 0
mat_picmip 0, 1 or 2
net_graph 0 or 1
rope_rendersolid 1
snd_mixahead 0.1
snd_show 0
mat_filtertextures 1
cl_detaildist 1200 or higher
cl_detailfade 400 or higher
cl_updaterate 40 or higher
cl_cmdrate 40 or higher
Changing the crosshair of sniper weapons is not allowed.
Custom HUDs are allowed as long as they do not contain symbols which are forbidden by law.
Using a DirectX level less than 8.x is forbidden
All other variables in the configs can be changed as long as there is no game-deciding and unfair advantage, comparable with the effect of a cheat.
Additional rules: Changes of any setting in the scripts folder are strongly forbidden and usually considered as cheat of the highest category (12 PP).
Changing the ingame graphic or textures of the game in the driver, other tools to change to graphics configuration are forbidden!
If your opponent uses different values, you are allowed to file a protest. Only teams/players involved in a match can protest against wrong settings.
Illegal scripts and binds
Any binds or aliases which change the original Movement of the game, speed up progresses of the Game or change any cvars such as rates or fps in order to gain an advantage over their oponent are forbidden. Simple binds or aliases to change ingame nicks, maps or scripts which dont give the player an advantage while being ingame are still allowed.
Examples for forbidden Scripts are: Weaponswitchscripts (only +lastinv bound to a key and hud_fastswitch 1 is allowed), Sprinttoggles, Duckjumpbinds, etc.
Example for Illegal scripts and binds
- Turn Scripts(180° or similar)
- mlook Scripts
- Stop-Shotscripts
- Centerviewscripts
- No-Recoil Scripts
- Burstfirescripts
- Sniper-Scopescripts
- Stopsound-Scripts (it is forbidden to play emtpy or non-existent .mp3 files through any action)
- Scripts that change the netsettings in connection to game actions
- Aliases containing +attack(2) are forbidden
- No binding of +attack(2) on the mousewheel
Penalties (existence of scripts in config is sufficient): in general 2 minor penalty points + 3 months barrage, in exceptional cases (e.g. active use of No-Recoil) 1 Major Point to the team and 2 years barrage for teh player.
It does not matter in which config this scripts are. If scripts were reported via a conflict the team gets 2 minor penalty points for using Illegal scripts.
Graphics card drivers or other tools
All changes of models, crosshairs, HUD or other files are forbidden. Changes of the game graphic or textures with graphics card drivers or other tools of that kind are also forbidden. Programs allowing these changes are strictly forbidden, programs and config-settings allowing strong advantages are also strictly forbidden.
Changes to the game
Using custom files (e.g. models, textures, sounds) is strongly forbidden!
Exceptions:
- muted fullcapture sounds
- Custom HUDs (as long as they do not contain symbols which are forbidden by law)
Server settings
Server config
All settings of the server must be done according to the config (Download) provided by the ESL.
It contains the base settings like time- and classlimits and the scoring configuration.
If a game is played with wrong settings, an admin can force a rematch with correct settings.
DBlocker
If both teams agree to play on a server with DBlocker no punishments for wrong clientsettings will be given away. Before playing on a DBlocker Server, both teams have to agree to play on such a server in the matchcomments
Maps
Mappool Groupstage
- dod_anzio
- dod_argentan
- dod_catania_rc2
- dod_coire_rc3
- dod_harrington
- dod_lennon
- dod_salerno
- dod_santos_b3
- dod_solitude_match
- dod_thunder_b3
Mappool Relegation/Playoffs
- dod_anzio
- dod_argentan
- dod_catania_rc2
- dod_coire_rc3
- dod_harrington
- dod_lennon
- dod_salerno
Map choice (groupstage)
The map used for each playweek of the groupstage is fixed in advance by the ESL. The map to be played will be shown on the match page.
Map choice (relegation, playoffs)
Every team will eliminate one map of the mappool. The team which is placed on the left side of the matchsheet will start by eliminating one map after that their opponent will eliminate another map. The team on the right side will now choose their map out of the remaining maps as well does the other team. The remaining map will be the decider map.
The first map which has to be played is the map which was chosen by team on the right side of the matchsheet.
Match format
Groupstage
A groupstage match is played best of three maps on three adminmaps that are fixed by the ESL in advance for 15 min per round. The team first winning two maps is the winner of the match.
Playoffs and relegation
A groupstage match is played best of three maps which are decided as described above. Each map is played 15min per round.
Final
In the final match, the team coming from the Winnerbracket has to win one best-of-three to win the competition. The team coming from the lowerbracket has to win two best-of-threes.
In-game rules
Bug using
Using bugs is strictly forbidden. If bugs are used which are not explicitly mentioned in the rules, the admin can still decide to give out penalties.
Leaving server
Leaving the match before the match has been ended completely will be punished with 1 major penalty point and a default win will be given to the opposing team.
During the match
- To throw grenades under walls or sandbags is not allowed. Above walls and roofs is allowed.
- no pixelwalking
- The constant spamming of the crouchfunction ingame is forbidden. This also includes abusive spamming of the crouch function to achieve a lag while jumping or moving around a corner. Punishments will only be given away by abusive usage of the crouchbugs, this does not include pressing the duck-key e.g. twice or thrice.
In general: Using bugs which change the game principle (e.g. spawn bugs) is illegal.
Map specific bugs
- dod_anzio:
- Jumping into the beachhouse is forbidden
- It is forbidden to use clipping bugs to see enemys through walls
Missing bugs which give a team a strong advantage and are not listed here can also punished.
Crash procedures
If a player's computer crashes before the first kill has been made in the first round, the match will be restarted. If a player's computer crashes after the first kill has been made, the server will be paused at the end of the current round. Once the player has rejoined the server and the teams are notified of his or her return, the game will be resumed. It is the each player's responsibility to make sure their hardware/software/internet connection is fully functional before participating in a match. If they are in doubt, they should notify their team captain and appropriate actions should be taken.
Penalties
If a player or a team violates one or more of the league rules, they will be punished according to the degree of the infringement. This penalty catalogue contains a list of offences with which penalties may be awarded to players and teams.
The administration will decide whether an offence has affected the outcome of the match to an extent that it can not be counted and must be repeated.
The administration reserves the right to give penalties not covered by this catalogue or give different penalties than the ones listed here.
Behaviour
As in daily life, a certain degree of courtesy should be maintained between players and teams of the ESL Major Series. Violations of this rule will be punished depending on the severity and frequency.
Insults
All insults occurring in connection with the ESL Major Series will be punished. This primarily applies to insults during a match but also on the ESL website (forums, match comments, player guestbooks, support and protest tickets, etc.). Insults on IRC, IM programs, E-mail or other means of communication will be punished if they can be linked to the ESL Major Series and the evidence is clear.
Particularly severe abuse cases with extreme statements or the threat of physical violence can result in significantly heavier penalties including the exclusion of the player.
Depending on the nature and severity of the insult the penalty will be assigned to the player or to the team in team leagues. In team leagues players may also be barred from playing for one or more match weeks.
Spamming
The excessive posting of senseless, harassing or offensive messages is regarded as spamming.
Spamming on the website (forums, match comments, player guestbooks, support and protest tickets, etc.) will be punished depending on the nature and severity.
Unsportsmanlike Behaviour
For an orderly and pleasant game it is essential that all players have a sportive and fair attitude. Breaches of this rule will be punished with (1) to (3) minor penalties. The most important and most common offences are listed below. However, the administration may assign penalties for not explicitly listed types of unsportsmanlike behaviour (e.g. harassment).
In-game Spam
Up to three (3) minor penalties may be awarded for the abuse of the game's chat functions if it's used for excessive spamming, in order to distract the opponents or to disrupt the game. These functions are solely meant for communication with the opponent and the match admin.
Kicking Players from the game server
Four (4) minor penalties will be awarded for kicking players from the game server. It is prohibited to kick players of the opposing team from the server during a match. The match admin present on the game server decides whether the kick affected the outcome of the match. A rematch may be set in grave cases.
Deception
The attempt to deceive the administration or other players using false or fictitious information, statements or data is punishable as follows:
Fake Results
Four (4) minor penalties are awarded for entering a fake result, for example: if the opponent leaves the server prematurely or refuses to play the match. If anything is unclear, e.g. the players cannot agree on a solution, a protest always has to be filed.
Fake Match media
Match media includes all records, such as e.g. Demos, screenshots, or logs, that are produced in the context of a match. The counterfeiting of Match Media is prohibited and will be punished depending on the seriousness with one (1) to four (4) minor penalties.
Serious Circumstances
If counterfeit match media is submitted and there is a suspicion of cheating the punishment is increased to six (6) minor penalties.
Miscellaneous Deceptions
Other attempts to deceive an admin or another player, depending on the severity, will be punished at the discretion of the administrators with one (1) to four (4) minor penalties.
Use of ineligible players
The use of an ineligible player is punished with one (1) major penalty.
Ringer/Faker
One (1) major penalty point will be given if a player is found to be playing under the name of another player.
Cheating
Cheating in an ESL Major Series match will result in the participant being kicked. The player(s) will be punished with 12 regular penalty points and a 2 year barrage from the ESL.
