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. Ladder Names Ladder name and VU Games chat names must match exactly. Even though the system supports the use of alt key characters, do not use them for chat or ladder names. Designated Play Area All ladder matches must be played in the "New Competitive Room". The ONLY exception is if the room is not available. Under no circumstances may VU Games ladder matches be played on another game server such as Zone or Yahoo. Legal Game Top 20: Use ladder room defaults as follows: Game to 100, queen breaks hearts, no hearts on 1st trick. A 50 point game can be played for anyone not in top 20, as long as it's advertised as such. Official Start of Game A game of hearts is considered started once the two of clubs has been played. No challenge will take precedence over the seated players at that time. Tie Breakers If two or three players are tied for first place at the end of a game, a tie breaker must be played immediately and the game is not considered over until the tiebreaker is finished. If a player loses connection or leaves before the tie breaker is completed, it is treated the same as leaving before the game is over and only a 5 minute wait is required. You default if you don't or can't play the tiebreaker. To play the tie breaker, only the tied players should reseat at the table, with bots filling any empty seats, and play a short game to 25 points (bot scores included, low human wins). If there is still a tie between any two of the humans upon a seat reaching 25 points, all continue playing until that first time that a hand ends with one human player as the winner. Disconnected Players 3 or 4 players: In the event of a disconnection, for the first two times that a player loses connection during a game, the remaining players must hold the seat for at least 5 minutes to give the booted player a chance to return before replacing with a bot. Then, if the booted player does not return, they must continue playing the game with the bot. Games may not be aborted and MUST continue with the bot playing for the departed player. If any other player quits before completing the game with the bot, he/she must report losses in accordance with the quitting rule. The only exception to this is when a player loses connection during the first hand. Then, only if ALL players remaining at the table unanimously agree, it is permitted to reseat and restart the game with another player. If this is done, the booted player is not obligated to report a loss since he/she is no longer a participant in the game. A player who lost connection gets the win if the bot that finishes in his/her seat wins and had played less than all of the last two full hands. (When a player was booted right after the 2 of clubs is led, the bot did not play "all" of that hand.) It is a loss if the bot played for all of the last two hands or longer, with the second place player getting credit for the win in this event. Once continuing with the computer the booted player has 3 hands to return to table before losing his seat permanently. If all players agree, booted player may return after 3 complete hands. However players are under no obligation to do so. Booted player owes report to winner only. 1x1: Remaining player should wait a minimum of 10 minutes for opponent to return. After 10 minutes the remaining player may choose to leave the game. Failure to wait at least 10 minutes, terminates the remaining player's right to claim win from booted player. If clearly losing, the booted player owes a report to remaining player. Substitutes for booted players are not permitted under any circumstances. Server Crash In the event that the entire server goes down, and no one can return, the game is considered null, and rematch scheduled at a later time. Top 20 Challenges 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 A challenge is only valid if done according to the following guidelines: All challenges must be made in lobby when challenger and high rank are free. No challenges may be made at table while game is in progress. No challenges via PM or other messaging services. Use of the invite option is not a valid challenge. Invite may only be used after a lobby challenge has been accepted in the lobby. The challenger must have auto-decline turned off when challenging to facilitate high rank setting up the game. If the challenger does not turn off auto-decline after three requests by the high rank, the high rank may take the next highest challenger available. Top Ten The top 10 positioned players must play all top twenty challenges in the rank order of challenges made by players (if present and challenging). 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. Play in rank order as much as possible, but do not hold up playing because person directly below you is not in the room. It is unrealistic to expect to play people in the exact order of rank. Even if you agree to play a specific player next, if a higher rank comes into room, is available to play, and challenges you, you must accept that challenge. It is recommended that when ready to play that you ask for ranks in the lobby and take highest available rank. Camping for up games is not allowed. If you are challenged and are free you should accept the challenge. The only exceptions are as follows: If you are there to play a challenge match arranged via email for a specific time, you will announce the scheduled time of match. If the opponent does not arrive within 10 minutes of that scheduled time, you must accept challenges. If the player directly above or below you is playing, but is almost finished with game, you may wait for them to finish and play. Almost through is defined as any player being within 13 points of reaching 100. NOTE: This rule only applies to a rank threatening matches. Example: Number 5 can use the rule to wait for #4 or #6. He can not use it to wait for #3. Table Settings The high ranked player chooses a table once a challenge is accepted. Once everyone has been seated tables options should be set to by invitation. Watchers must be permitted in games involving Top 20. However high rank may opt to mute watchers. If a ladder op requests to speak at the table, mute must be turned off. Number One Versus 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. Priority If you are a Case's Ladder Player ranked in the Top 10 your first priority is to accept your challenges from Case's Ladder Players before other "league or ladder" games are played. You cannot tell any Case's Ladder Player that they have to wait until you play other "league or ladder" games. Case's Ladder games have priority over any other "ladder or league" games. If Case's Ladder games are not your priority you should ask for a rank reduction and make other "ladder or league" games your priority. Challenges Prior to a Tournament (Added 12/12/02) If you are challenged to a ladder match within 25 minutes prior to a tournament you should accept the challenge made to you, unless you have already registered in the tourney.
Away From Keyboard (Added 08/13/07)
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Copyright Policy
Copyright 1996 - 2024 Case's Ladder / Thulium Software, LLC. All Rights Reserved.