Rules and Policies
Copyright 1996 - 2024 Case's Ladder, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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The Ranking System
If any of these rules, here under "Game Specific Rules", appear to be in conflict with anything stated elsewhere in other sections of the rules, then the rule in this section takes precedence. Low Man Hearts Low Man is the official game for this ladder. Low man hearts is also known as classic hearts with one winner, and all others losers. 2nd place is no better then 3rd or 4th place. Since there is only one winner who receives reports from the remaining players, it is to everyone’s advantage to work together to set up low scorer when not low. Cutthroat (every man to themselves) play is not acceptable, and generally does not work if you’re not low. For some help tips and strategy for low man style of play check out the following link: Low Man Tips & Hints. Registered Player All players in a Case reported match must be registered on Case's Hearts (EA) Ladder. There are no exceptions to this rule. Ladder Names: Ladder name and EA chat names must match exactly. Players may not change their name while ranked in the Top 10. Other players changing their names on the ladder must make sure the name is available for EA login before making the change at Case. Head Ops will not make name changes to bypass the change once every seven days rule. Penalty Box Players in the "Penalty Box" are not eligible to play in Ladder matches. There are no exceptions to this rule. Designated Play Area All ladder challenges must be played in Member Events Room One. Failure to do so may result in a penalty. Default Game
4 player
3 player Game Settings Hearts is a game with many variations. Allowing players the chance to alter the table settings adds to the fun of the game. The Host of the table may choose to alter the "default" game settings as long as ALL players agree. The table Host should display the non-default changes on the table description. Partners Games are allowed as long as all players agree. Once all players are seated the settings may not be changed. It is your responsibility to check the settings before sitting at a table. Challengers have the right to refuse any rules changes without losing the right to challenge. If all players cannot agree on changes, then the default settings, above must be used. Table Settings Tables should be set to WATCH TABLE only. Under no circumstances should ladder matches be played with all hands showing. If you are found playing with all hands showing you may be penalized. Players are to be able to "View Points Taken". To set for watch table only, uncheck all boxes but the TABLE box. This will insure no cheating over ICQ, or other private messaging service. Tables must be open to watchers, and watchers must be allowed to chat. These settings can not be changed once the game starts. You may mute an individual if he/she is disturbing play. Challenge Choice The player who was challenged shall get to choose the type of game, whether 3 or 4 way. Official Start of Game: A game of hearts is considered started once all players are seated. No challenge will take precedence over the seated players at that time. Valid Game Valid Case Hearts Ladder games must be 50 points or greater. Reaching the predetermined score must finish the game. Booted Player Under no circumstances will the player who left the table due to technical difficulties report a loss to all three players. The single report will be in effect and the winner of the game will receive the report. (In case of a tie, two reports will be given.) A player who has left a game for any reason will have 10 minutes to return to the game. After 10 minutes a substitute will be found to fill in for the booted player. If the booted player returns before the substitute has played two hands, he may have his seat back. After two hands he loses his right to sit again. Reporting When the Substitute Wins A player who lost connection gets the win if the substitute that finishes in his/her seat has played less than the last two hands. For the purpose of determining the number hands played by the sub the hand that the sub joins on counts as one hand.) If the substitute played three to four of the last hands then the second place player gets credit for the win. The booted player owes the winner a report. It is the responsibility of the winner to email the booted player informing him of the result. If the substitute plays five or more hands, he gets the win. The remaining players at the table report to the substitute. The booted player does not report. If the substitute does not win he is not required to report, unless all match participants agree otherwise before the game is continued. Winning and Losing a Match All losers (persons with the highest scores at the end of the match) are required to report a loss to the one player who at the end of the match has the lowest score. In the event of a tie for first place the persons sharing the winning position do not report to anyone, and the remaining player(s) each report a loss to each of the winners. Reporting Order Reporting should be done upon completion of the match, starting with the lowest rank and ending with the highest rank. Example: Number eighteen (18) reports first. Number five (5) reports last. This order is mandatory in any game involving a member of the Top 20, regardless of the rank of the winner. In games that do not include a Top 20 player reporting in order must be done if requested by the winner. The winner should make the request as soon as it’s clear he/she has won. Reporting Order in a Tie Game In a 3 player game, the loser should report the high rank first, then the low rank. In a 4-player game the two tied players will have to work with the two losers to determine the most favorable order. There could possibly be different variables to consider based on the ranks of those involved. Requests for rank adjustments will only be honored for games that impact Top 10 rank. Warnings or penalties will be issued regardless of whether or not any rank adjustments were made. First Come First Served The priority rule for accepting challenges only applies when you have multiple challenges prior to the start of your next game. 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. Twice Per Day You can report a player twice per day. You can only play the same player more than twice during the same day IF you have NOT already exchanged two reports during that day with that player. Before each game can be started, you must be able to report all the players in the game. Absolutely no "Play today, Report tomorrow" games are permitted. If two players ask for a seat, the seat will be given to the player who has played the least amount of players in the game. In case of a tie, the seat goes to the highest ranked player Top 10 may play and report same players twice a day, but all rules governing Top 10 play still apply. Top Twenty Challenges Game Top twenty challenges must take priority over any other challenges issued to top twenty players. If you have multiple top twenty challenges at the same time, games must be given to the highest rank first. Valid Challenges: All challenges must be made in the lobby while both the challenger and the high rank are free. Challenges may not be made by One to One, PM, or whispered messages or other messaging services. Players may not come to a table while a game is in progress and ask for the next game. Reserving a seat for a certain player is NOT a valid challenge. A valid challenge is a game asked for in open chat - (I.E. Game please Player 1?). Top 10 The top 10 positioned players must play all top twenty challenges in the rank order of challenges made by players (if present and challenging). Should they be absent from the ladder for three (3) consecutive days, the players rank will automatically be dropped 5 rungs to make room for the players that are playing. When two (2) Top 10s are in a game together each player should have the right to choose one of the other two (2) players. In the event that the game is a three (3) player game, the challenger chooses the third player. Top 10 Play (amended 7/14/02) Top 10 players are prohibited from playing the same Top 10 players two games in a row. Exception: In the event that a three player table can not be filled the Top 10 may play each other two games in a row. This exception may not be used to fill a four player table if there are three players available that can play each other. Top Ten Rank Defense(added 7/1/02) Players ranked in the Top Ten are required to directly defend their rank at least every 3 days Number One vs. Number Two Top 1-2 challenges must be played at the earliest possible time. This match is no different from any other in that it should be issued in chat and played on the spot. If you wish to setup a time to play in the future that is fine, but rank threatening matches to either player cannot be avoided or postponed based on the time scheduled to play this match. After completion of the 1-2 challenge, if either #1 or #2 wins, both players must play all top ten players available prior to another challenge being issued. Formal Challenges The formal challenge system is to only be used if other attempts at trying to get a game with a particular player have failed. It should not be used just because one can’t get a game the first time they challenge publicly. Players abusing the formal challenge system may be penalized. Challenges using Case’s formal challenge system take priority over lobby challenges as long as the two players involved are available to play at the time. Neither player may decline a lobby challenge because they’re waiting for the other player in the formal to be available. Formal challenges must be completed within three (3) days of being issued. The formal challenge system does not recognize that the challenge has been played until there is a report between challenger and challenged. However if neither player won the challenger may not demand another game from the challenged for the remainder of that day. Once a day during the three (3) day challenge period the formal challenge may take priority over other challenges. If a failed challenge is posted against the players due to neither winning a notation will be added to the players’ records indicating that the challenge was played. Abusive Players (added 12-26-02) If during the course of a match a player is being extremely abusive, the other players may choose to quit the match without posting a loss as long as they submit a complaint via the support link regarding the incident, and make screenshots documenting the abusive behavior. Screenshots should be forwarded to the op handling the complaint.
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Copyright Policy
Copyright 1996 - 2024 Case's Ladder / Thulium Software, LLC. All Rights Reserved.