MLCTF XXI
1. League Rules            
1.1 League Format            
The Twenty-First Edition of Major League Capture The Flag, hereafter referred to as MLCTF XXI, will be a season format and feature a single-elimination playoff round. There will be 8 teams with two (2) divisions. The season portion of MLCTF XXI will see each team play one (1) match with every other team in their division for a total of three (3) matches for the regular season. At the conclusion of these three regular season matches, one round of inter-division play will commence in which the evenly seeded teams will play each other for playoff seeding.

Matches will be on Sunday and Thursday. The regular season will last 2 weeks. Playoffs will then last a little over a week.
1.2 League Point Format            
Each match consists of two maps and a tiebreaker, if necessary. Teams will be awarded one (1) point for each map win, zero (0) points for each map loss and minus one (-1) point for each map forfeit.

For playoff seeding, in the event of a tie the team who has the least map forfeits will have the higher seed. If both teams had an equal number of map forfeits, the team who recorded the least amount of map losses will have the higher seed. Should both teams have an equal number of map losses, the team that won the head-to-head matchup will have the higher seed. If the teams have yet to play each other, the team with the higher efficiency [ PF / (PF + PA) ] will have the higher seed.

Upon completion of the three (3) match regular season, one round of inter-league play shall commence in which:

Div1 #1 plays Div2 #1 (Game #1)
Div1 #2 plays Div2 #2 (Game #2)
Div1 #3 plays Div2 #3 (Game #3)
Div1 #4 plays Div2 #4 (Wild-Card)

The winner of Game #1 will receive a first round playoff BYE. The winner of the Wild-Card Game will receive the 7th seed in the playoffs while the losing team will be eliminated.

#1 Seed: Winner Game #1
#2 Seed: Loser Game #1
#3 Seed: Winner Game #2
#4 Seed: Loser Game #2
#5 Seed: Winner Game #3
#6 Seed: Loser Game #3
#7 Seed: Winner Wild-Card
1.3 Playoff Format            
The playoffs will feature a single elimination bracket between the seven (7) top teams. The number one seed shall receive a BYE in the Quarter-Finals. The Quarter-Final and Semi-Final matches will feature a best-of-three format and the finals will feature a best-of-five format. The seven (7) teams will play as follows:

(1) 1st Place vs.
BYE

(2) 2nd Place vs.
(7) 7th Place

(3) 3rd Place vs.
(6) 6th Place

(4) 4th Place vs.
(5) 5th Place
2. Match Rules            
Each round of the regular season will consist of 2 maps and a tiebreaker, if necessary, selected from the approved maplist. During each of the regular season matches, each team will pick one (1) map and the opposing team will have color choice. Each team is allowed to choose a map from the approve maplist ONCE during the regular season and during inter-league play. Upon reaching playoffs, a team may select any map from the approved maplist ONCE until they reach the Finals.

Should a tiebreaker map be needed, the teams shall take turns eliminating maps from the list of unplayed maps until one map remains. The team with the most total captures on the previous two maps will decide whether they want to eliminate a map second or have server/color choice for the tiebreaker. If both teams have the exact same number of captures, then the team with the most total points on the previous two maps will decide whether they want to eliminate a map second or have server/color choice for the tiebreaker. If both teams have the exact same number of points, then the team with most total frags on the previous two maps will decide whether they want to eliminate a map second or have server/color choice for the tiebreaker. Points and/or frags that cannot be verified due to disconnects will not be counted. If both teams have the exact same number of frags, then the match admin will flip a coin to see who will decide whether they want to eliminate a map second or have server/color choice for the tiebreaker.

Team captains must give their server and map choices to the admin prior to match time. Once the match admin has announced each team's map selection, neither team may change their map choice. If both teams pick the same map, the admin will allow both teams to resubmit their map selection. If both teams decide not to change their map selection, that map will be played twice. However, if both teams change their map pick but end up picking the same map, the map that was selected by both teams initially will be the first map played and the map that was selected by both teams the second time will be the second map played for the match. The team listed first on the site will have their map pick played first on the second team's server choice.

The quarter-final and semi-final rounds of the playoffs will be a best of three (3) maps with each team choosing one (1) map from the entire maplist. A team may not choose the same map in both the quarter-final and semi-final matches. Regular season tiebreaker rules apply.

The final round of the playoffs will be a best of five (5) maps with each team choosing two (2) maps from the entire maplist. The higher seeded team's map selections will be played first and then third on the lower seeded team's server. Regular season tiebreaker rules apply.
2.2 Map List            
CTF-AreaN23-LE103
CTF-Azcanize-MLUT
CTF-Bleak-CE100
CTF-BollWerK105
CTF-Cynosure][LE105
CTF-Gauntlet
CTF-Glacier][-CE105
CTF-LavaGiant
CTF-McSwartzly][
CTF-NovemberCE105
CTF-Orbital-LE102
CTF-Ranel-JoltEdition
CTF-Revenge-LE102
CTF-Terra-LE102
CTF-Vaultcity-LE102
2.3 Color Choice            
During all matches, the team that has NOT chosen the map will choose color. During the playoffs, the choice of color for the tiebreaker map is granted to the lower seeded team.
2.4 Match Scheduling            
All matches are prescheduled by the MLCTF staff and times will be posted on the MLCTF website. If teams wish to reschedule their match, both captains must agree and inform an admin within 24 hours of the scheduled match start, otherwise the original date and time will be used. Teams are allowed ONE reschedule up to the day before the next round begins. If a team cannot field an adequate lineup (5 legal players) at match time, they will be subject to a forfeit loss. The specific rules for a forfeit loss are enumerated under sections 2.4a through 2.4f.

Captains are required to submit their server/map pick by ten (10) minutes till their schedule match time. Failure to submit information before this deadline will allow the other team to get into their server choice (even if it is not the server for the first map) and start their timer, assuming they have met this deadline. If neither team has their information at the deadline, rule 2.4a goes into effect.
2.4a Forfeit Loss - Double Forfeit            
If neither team can field a team of five (5) players fifteen (15) minutes after the designated start match time or arrival of an admin, whichever is later, both teams receive a forfeit loss for both maps, neither team receiving any points.
2.4b Forfeit Loss - 15 Minutes            
If Team B cannot field a team of five (5) members fifteen (15) minutes after Team A has provided five (5) clicked members in the correct server, provided that it is after the designated match start time or arrival of an admin, whichever is later, Team B forfeits their map pick and Team A receives points for the win. The timer will start the countdown and continue counting only when all five (5) members are clicked and if one member reconnects during that countdown, the timer is paused until that member clicks again.
2.4c Forfeit Loss - 25 Minutes            
If Team B cannot field a team of five (5) members twenty-five (25) minutes after Team A has provided five (5) clicked members in the correct server, provided that it is after the designated match start time or arrival of an admin, whichever is later, Team B forfeits Team A's map pick and Team A receives points for the win. The timer will start the countdown and continue counting only when all five (5) members are clicked and if one member happens to reconnect during that countdown, the timer is paused until that member clicks again.
2.4d Forfeit Loss - Between Maps            
If neither team can field a team of five (5) players within ten (10) minutes of the completion of a map, provided an admin is present, both teams receive a forfeit loss for the next map, neither team receiving any points.
2.4e Forfeit Loss - Between Maps            
If, between maps, Team B cannot field a team of five (5) members ten (10) minutes after Team A has fielded five (5) members, provided an admin is present and all five (5) members of Team A are clicked, Team B forfeits the map and Team A is awarded points for a map win.
2.4f Forfeit Loss - Excessive admin abuse            
Including, but not limited to, Excessive pm's, teamspeak interactions and the like will not be tolerated. Admins are busy at match time and dont have time for explaining rules/arguing. Come prepared. Do not misplace your anger on the admins. Admins are chosen for their integrity and will be treated as such during match time under penalty of forfeit/removal from the league. All cases Will be reported and decision rendered. Check yourself before you wreck yourself. (and your team) Pug is pug, Dont bring it to matches. Play your match and it will be reviewed.
2.5 Connections            
MLCTF XXI is an open ping event, and as such, nearly all connections are accepted and legal. However, a person cannot be on a LAN (local-area network) with the server. Also, any attempt to lag oneself, another player, or a server is strictly forbidden. Any players found to be in violation of this rule will be suspended from league play until further notice.
2.6 Server Crash            
In the event that the game server crashes during a match, the match will restart with the amount of time that was remaining when the server crashed. If the score was tied prior to the crash then any overtime played in the restart will be official. If the match was not tied any captures made prior to the crash will be added to the score once the clock reaches 0:00. If overtime is required at that point, teams will restart the map again with the first team capturing winning the map.
2.7a Servers            
:: The Downward Spiral (q nn) - Chicago ::
http://69.28.221.101:105:7777?password=pug

:: Bleach Factory (q bleach) - Chicago ::
http://68.232.176.55::7777?password=pug

:: The Nation of Domination (q solo) - Chicago ::
http://69.28.220.106:7777?password=pug

:: The Saloon (q saloon) - Texas ::
http://68.232.163.221:7777?password=pug

:: The Nation of Domination - Texas ::
http://72.5.250.178:7777?password=pug
2.8 Server Settings            
TBA
2.9 Demos            
Every player is required to demo every map. If you disconnect in the middle of a map and rejoin, it is your own responsibility to restart the demo. Each team may request 3 demo's per regular season from other players. Admin staff will follow up with the accused players and get them uploaded so that the accusers may investigate said demo's. All demos must be requested BEFORE the next map starts, not after the match is complete. You have 1 hour after the final map to request demo's from that particular map.

Punishment for not supplying a demo will be as follows for the REGULAR SEASON.

1st Offense: 1 map suspension, you will miss the first map of the very next match.
2nd Offense: Team forfeits the map in question
3rd Offense: Team forfeits the map in question
4th Offense: Player is removed from the league.

If a demo is requested in the playoffs and not supplied the map will ALWAYS be forfeited.
3. Team Rules            
3.1 Captain Responsibilities            
Captains will be selected from a list of applicants by the admininstrators. Captains will be required to:

a) Name their team.
b) Draft a competitive team.
c) Assign a co-captain. A co-captain must be assigned prior to the first match of the season (Round 2 for season XXI) otherwise a forfeit will be the punishment for every upcoming match until a co-captain is set.
d) Make team decisions, such as lineup, map, color and server choices.
e) Take SmartCTF screenshots of their matches and provide them to the admins.
f) Collect evidence and provide it to the MLUT admins when accusing another team of breaking the rules.
g) Idle in #mlut channel when on IRC in order to receive messages from admins.

In the absence of the official captain, the co-captain will act as the captain. In the absence of both the captain and the co-captain, the available player with the highest salary will act as captain.
3.2 Captain Replacement            
Should a team be unhappy with their team captain, they may hold a team vote of non-confidence to remove him. If five (5) or more players on a team agree to the removal of a captain, the captain will be removed from the league and possibly banned. The player with the highest salary on the team will then become captain, or he may promote another player to the role of captain. Should a captain not take his or her duties seriously, he may be removed from his position as captain by the league and may face suspension. This is a game but take your team serious.
3.3 Team Creation            
Each team will consist of ten (10) players. They will be acquired through a draft process on IRC using our draftbot. The draft order will begin with the captain with the lowest rank/salary. Draft order TBA.
3.4 Player Salaries            
All MLCTF XXI players will be listed with a corresponding salary based on their compiled skill ranking as decided upon by the admin staff.
3.5 Trading            
Trading is allowed using the Free Agent Pool in MLCTF XXI. Once a team is mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, their roster will be locked and they will be unable to trade for the remainder of the season. This is to prevent team dumping once a team is out of playoff contention. Captains are encouraged to protect their players and not take any trade offers lightly. Try to consider the integrity of the person offering the trade, whether the trade is fair and balanced to the rest of the teams in the league, and most of all, whether the trade actually helps your team's chances of winning the MLCTF XXI Championship. Admins reserve the right to amend any trades deemed inappropriate.
3.6 Player Holdout            
Players will not be allowed to holdout on their teams. Players unhappy with their teams are encouraged to privately seek a trade or request to be dropped through their captain. If a player still wishes to publicly holdout from his team, selfishly screwing them over without compensation, the admins are more than happy to remove him from the league.
3.7 Player Inactivity            
If a player misses two (2) consecutive matches, a team may contact an admin with an inactivity request. The player will be removed from the league and will not be placed back into the free agent pool, and possibly removed from the league. Captains are encouraged to exercise this option only as a last resort to resolving the issues with the player or through free agent or inter-team trading. All actions will be handled based on available evidence and league querries.
4. Game Rules            
4.1a Cheats            
All hacks, bots, radars, cheats and non-GUI (advanced preferences) controlled tweaks are illegal. This includes, but is not limited to, any kind of automated aiming bot, a trigger-bot, any form of radar, server-crashing bugs / tools, packet loss and latency inducing devices, external timers, HUD timers (besides the one PURE provides), and anything in that same vein or spirit, or any cheats/hacks/tweaks that causes a player to be kicked from the server (no ambient sounds/light boxes/no shadows/etc.). Please use your brain as this is a zero tolerance policy. Any violations will be reviewed and may result in a PERMANENT EXPULSION for the offending player from all MLUT related events and a forfeit loss of the match in question for the offending team. These rules are not finite and can be changed or modified at anytime to address any situation. Those caught by our cheat protection will be subject to punishment. The only allowable tweak is shortened death messages. Every other tweak is illegal for MLCTF. Lets be honest, in this day, if you cant run ut99, you should`nt be in a Pro League.

In addition, players can be convicted of the above (with admin vote) without being caught by server cheat protection. Admins reserve the right to take into account all evidence regarding said player, including, but not limited to: demos, screenshots and server logs.
4.1b Skins            
Players may not use any skins other than those included in a default installation of Unreal Tournament, and may not alter the appearance of any of these skins by any means.
4.1c Spectators            
Should any players be caught spectating a match without the consent of an administrator, And not immedeatly leave if asked, they risk a possible suspension/forfeit from league play. (You are allowed to spectate pugs, not matches) Should they be a member of a team in play, the offending team will receive a forfeit loss for the map in question. Further actions will be reviewed.
4.1d Frog Jumps            
Frog Jumps and/or Bunny Hops are illegal in MLCTF play. If a player executes a Frog Jump in a match, accidentally or otherwise, the player must immediately drop the flag and allow the other team to return it. If demo, admin or eyewitness UTV evidence show that the player or team that Frog Jumped captured or continued to attempt to capture a flag after the violation, the map will result in a forfeit loss for that team. In the event that something is missed it will be put under review.
4.2 Server Admin            
If a player logs into a server as administrator prior to a match, the player must logout when complete, and reconnect to the server. At no time may a player login as administrator during the match. Doing so will result in a forfeit loss for the map in question for the offending team, and a possible suspension for the offending player.
4.3 Connection Fraud            
All connection fraud is illegal, including but not limited to, faking your ping or disturbing another connection through any means. Any violations will result in a forfeit loss of the map in question for the offending team. The offending player will be suspended from play for the current season with the possibility of being reported for G-line. (Done)
4.4 Aliasing            
A player may not use multiple identities over the course of the season. The name a player uses must be identical to that tracked by the admins and the alias they signed up as. If at any time a player refuses to use the name they signed up with when asked by an admin to change it during a match, they will be denied permission to play. Repeated offences will result in a player being suspended from play for the rest of the season.

If a team wishes to alter their names as part of their tag or team 'theme', they may contact an admin to discuss a solution that is fun but still clearly shows who every player on the team is.
4.5 Ringing            
Using a ringer (a player not on your eligible roster, who is generally posing as an eligible player) is a serious offence. Using a ringer will result in the offending player, as well as any captains or co-captains present, being banned indefinitely. In addition, the team will forfeit the maps in question and be disqualified from play for the remainder of the season.
4.6 Piston Portal Camping            
Piston portal camping is illegal. This includes sitting on either side of a portal with a charged piston and/or anything in the spirit of portal camping, such as but not limited to, repeatedly running through a portal with a charged piston. Any violations will result in a forfeit loss on the map in question for the offending team.
4.7 Game Bugs            
Exploiting game bugs is illegal, such as, but not limited to, the armor bug, or any bugs which may allow you to translocate and retain the flag or teleport the flag across large distances. (Warp) Any violations will result in a forfeit loss of the map in question for the offending team.
4.8 Map Bugs            
Exploiting map bugs is illegal, such as but not limited to, dropping flags into areas they are not supposed to. Through walls and/or doors and the Terra flag drop. Drops through visible openings such as but not limited to, those on McSwarztly and Orbital are legal, with the exception of the Terra flag drop. Any violations will result in a forfeit loss of the map in question for the offending team.
4.9 Taunts            
Excessive use of text taunts is illegal. Using taunts bound to movement keys, firing keys, weapon switch keys, or any other frequently used bind in the game, is illegal. Issues will be handled on a case by case basis. If a player continues to spam taunt binds after one (1) admin warning, his team will forfeit the map and he will be denied permission to play for the rest of the match. If required, further actions will be discussed with said teams captain.
5. Administration            
5.1 Administrative Powers            
All MLCTF admins have the power to make any changes to information on the MLUT website. (please have patience for changes) Should a captain or player notice any mistakes, he or she may contact an admin. Should a captain, player or other admin feel that an admin is abusing their power, he or she may file a grievance with another MLCTF admin and a vote will be conducted regarding the topic.
5.2 Conflict Resolution            
Any and all problems (including those not governed in the rules) will be resolved by an admin vote. All admins have one (1) vote and can choose not to vote if they so please. In the hopes of keeping things moving, all open votes have a twenty-four (24) hour window in which admins can place their vote. There may, however, be exceptions to this twenty-four (24) hour window, should the vote be for something that does not require immediate resolution. In the event of a tie, the head admin will cast the deciding vote.
5.3 Availability             
In the event that there is only one (1) available admin for any MLCTF function. Said admin has the authority to resolve all conflicts within the scope of the rules. These actions will be reported to the admin staff. If deemed unethical or not to be handled within the scope of the rules will be put to an admin vote and a ruling will soon follow.
5.4 Asterisk (*)            
The MLCTF XXI admins reserve the right to alter any rule in any way at any time as they see fit if there is a passing majority admin vote. This is to protect the integrity of the tournament in case of a loophole or something being overlooked.
Moderated By: MLCTF XXI Admins

MLCTF XXI Features