RotC: Rules and Settings

[Huehuecoyotl22]

Rules and Settings

Administrators:
@Huehuecoyotl22 (Huehuecoyotl22#3717 on Discord)
@NovaAoE (NOVA#9058).


1. Time frame:

2022-01-10: Announcement, registration open, map pack released.
2022-01-28, 21:00 GMT: Registration closes
01-31 – 02-06: Ro64, Best of 3
02-07 – 02-13: Ro32, Best of 5
GSL Group stage, 4 groups of 4
02-14 – 02-20: Group stage R1, Best of 5
02-21 – 02-27: Group stage R2 (Winners’ matches and elimination matches), Best of 5
02-28 – 03-06: Group stage R3 (Decider matches), Best of 5
03-07 – 03-15: Ro8, Best of 5
2022-03-19: Semifinals, Best of 7 (tentatively 14 and 18 GMT, but depends on when semifinal 1 finishes)
2022-03-20: Final, Best of 7 (15 GMT)

1.1. Round of 8 Matchups:

C1​	vs.​	B2
B1​	vs.​	A2
A1​	vs.​	D2
D1​	vs.​	C2

2. Brackets:

The link to the brackets will appear here after the seeding.


3. Match Settings

3.1 Maps:
Best of 3: Each team picks 1 home map first. Then each team bans 5 maps. The remaining 1 map will be played in game one.
G1: Not banned map
G2: HM of G1 loser
G3: HM of G1 winner
Best of 5: Each team picks 1 home map first. Then each team bans 2 maps. Then each team picks 1 map. Then each team bans 2 maps. The remaining 1 map will be played in game one.
G1: Not banned map
G2: HM of G1 loser
G3: HM of G1 winner
G4: HM of team behind in score
G5: HM of the other team
Best of 7:
Each team picks 2 home maps first. Then each team bans 2 maps. Then each team picks 1 map. Then each team bans 1 maps. The remaining 1 map will be played in game one.
G1: Not banned map
G2: HM of G1 loser
G3: HM of G1 winner
G4: HM of team behind in score
G5: HM of the other team
G6: HM of team behind in score
G7: HM of the other team

3.2 Civilisations:
Each team bans 3 civilisations per match globally.
Following that, the civilisations will be free hidden pick without repetition within one match.

Draft presets:
https://aoe2cm.net/preset/GqTbT - Bo3 Map Draft
https://aoe2cm.net/preset/ATtea - Bo5 Map Draft
https://aoe2cm.net/preset/LJOoN - Bo7 Map Draft
https://aoe2cm.net/preset/Gsyyf - Civ Bans
The higher seed is team A.

4. Maps:

The Map pack (Mod name “Return of the Clans Map Pack”) contains 13 standard and custom maps with the “RotC” prefix:
* Arena [standard DE version]

Spoiler

* Atoll [by TheMadCADer]

Spoiler

* Bedouins [by Papaya, modified by teutonic tanks]

Spoiler

* Black Forest [based on standard DE version, with fairer pond distribution by TheMadCADer], played explored

Spoiler

* Chaos Pit [by TheMadCADer]

Spoiler

* Colosseum [by swissboyy and Chrazini]

Spoiler

* Crescent [by TheMadCADer]

Spoiler

* Crop Circles [by TheMadCADer; similar to Oasis, but with no water and some passages through the forest]

Spoiler

* Enemy Archipelago [based on EW Duo version]

Spoiler

* Fortress [based on standard version], played as Regicide

Spoiler

* Heartland [by TheMadCADer]

Spoiler

* Huacachina [by TheMadCADer, based on WDC version]

Spoiler

* Nomad [based on WWC version]

Spoiler

5. Prize Pool:

The current prize pool of $5000 is completely funded by @enmipho. If you want to further contribute to it, please message @enmipho or @Huehuecoyotl22.
Prize money distribution
- 1st place: $1500
- 2nd place: $1000
- 3rd+4th: 2x $500
- 5th-8th: 4x $250
- 9th-12th (group stage 3rd): 4x $125


6. Tournament Rules:
Seeding:
• The 3 highest-rated players of your team signed up will be used for seeding.
• Seeding will be based on
◦ Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition ratings
▪ 50 % current RM 1v1 rating at the end on 2022-01-29 21:00 GMT.
▪ 50 % highest reached RM 1v1 rating on 2022-01-29 21:00 GMT.
A team beating a higher-seeded team prior to the round of 16 will obtain the seed of the team they beat.

6.1. General Rules:
• Game & Patch: All games must be played on Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, using the current version.
• Respect & Sportsmanship: All participants, streamers and administrators must respect each other. Bad behaviour, insults or racism will not be tolerated. Great sportsmanship is expected from all players.
• Smurfing: Players must use their primary account - smurfing and account sharing is prohibited. Players must use the nickname they signed up with.
• Game Modifications: Players are allowed to use any graphical mods that are available in the official mod workshop.
• Cheating: Cheating or hacking is not allowed under any circumstances. Players found using any kind of cheat or hack will be disqualified. Communicating with people during a game, other than your currently playing allies, currently playing opponents or tournament administrators is strictly forbidden. Receiving any information from third parties will lead to disqualification.
• Cooperation: All participants must cooperate with a proper attitude and assist in any situation or incident they are involved in to ensure that the event runs smoothly.
• Communication: During the tournament and registration period, players must regularly check AoEZone.net and Discord for private messages and new information in the corresponding sub-forums. Players may also be reached on other platforms such as Steam or Discord, if deemed necessary.
• Recorded games: Recorded games from both players/teams and draft links have to be sent to @Huehuecoyotl22 (Huehuecoyotl22#3717 on Discord) or @NovaAoE (NOVA#9058).
• Maps: Maps may be updated during the event if deemed necessary.
• Penalties: In case of a rule being broken by a team or player, the incident will be reviewed internally amongst the tournament administrators, and a sufficient penalty will be determined.

6.2. Game Rules:
• Game Restarts: Players/Teams have 1 restart per set available.
• Admin Restarts: In the case of a bugged map, the player or team whose resources are bugged may request a free restart.
A restart must be requested no later than 4 in-game minutes. It is the players own responsibility to determine if their map is bugged; however, players are allowed to pause the game and ask the tournament administrator for help determining the situation.
After a restart chosen by a player (not admin restart), civilisations must remain the same.
In case of an admin restart, the civilisation also must remain the same.
• A bugged map is defined when: 1. Less than 50% of the sides on a player-specific gold are accessible. Extra golds that don’t belong to a particular player are excluded. 2. Less than 50% of the sides on a player-specific stone are accessible. Extra stones that don’t belong to a particular player are excluded. 3. Less than 50% of the sides on a player-specific forage bushes are accessible. Extra forage bushes that don’t belong to a particular player are excluded. 4. Any herdable or wild animal that belong to a player is trapped or in any way inaccessible. 5. Any player-controlled units are trapped or in any way inaccessible.
• On Black Forest: An inaccessible pond allows for an admin restart too.

6.2a. Slinging:
• 1. In Feudal Age sling is forbidden. 2. In Castle Age you may sling another player who is still in Dark Age or Feudal Age. 3. In Imperial Age there are no restrictions.
6.2b. Trading:
• It is not allowed to intentionally place markets in both ends of a trade route in order to increase the trade income by trading with adjacent markets or skip the first trip.
6.2c. Regarding Nomad start maps:
• You are not allowed to attack an enemy villager within the first 3 minutes of game time, unless that villager is constructing a building (house, wall, barracks, dock etc.) in close range of your own building(s).
6.2d. Animal Laming:
Stealing or killing a boar (or equivalent (elephant, rhinoceros, javelina)) of another player is forbidden. If there are extra boars around the map or in the center of the map, meaning that those are not clearly connected to one player, this does not apply to them. All other forms of animal stealing and killing are permitted.

6.3. Lobby Settings:
• Both teams are equally responsible for making sure the lobby settings are correct.
• Wrong settings will result in a game being restarted completely.
• Pre-Lobby:
◦ The lobby must be hosted publicly.
◦ Please set a spectator delay of minimum 1 minute, maximum 6 minutes. Please be aware that a higher delay might influence admin (restart) decisions, as watching admins will have the same delay.
◦ “Hidden Civilisations” must be enabled, unless the specific bracket sign-up topic states otherwise.
◦ The host of the game must be considerate and choose a game server that is as fair as possible for both teams.
• In-Game Lobby:
◦ The in-game lobby settings must be set to the settings shown below. Take a moment and make sure that all settings are correct before every game.
▪ Data mod: Definitive set
▪ Game mod: Random map (only for Fortress: choose Regicide)
▪ Map style: Custom
▪ Location: [map name]
▪ Map size: According to game mode (3v3 =normal)
▪ AI Difficulty : Standard
▪ Population : 200
▪ Game Speed : Normal
▪ Reveal Map : Standard (only for Black Forest: choose Explored)
▪ Starting Age : Standard
▪ Victory Condition : Conquest
▪ Team Together : [X] Yes. Exception: RotC Nomad: [ ] No.
▪ Shared Exploration: [X] Yes - ONLY for Black Forest
▪ All Techs : [ ] No
▪ Allow Cheats : [ ] No
▪ Lock Teams : [X] Yes
▪ Lock Speed : [X] Yes
▪ Record Game : [X] Yes
▪ Multi Building Queue : [MQ]
▪ Team position [X] Yes. Exception: RotC Nomad: [ ] No.
One team as player 1, 3 and 5, the other team as player 2, 4 and 6.


6.4. Recorded Games:
• All games during the entire event must be recorded.
• In case of a game crash or de-synchronisation, the game must be saved and restored.
• The recorded games must be adequately labelled to indicate the correct game number.
• Potential restarts must be included.
• The uploaded games may include fake or duplicate games to prevent spoilers.

6.5. Scheduling:
• Players must use the scheduling sub-forum to communicate and confirm times with their opponents. They are allowed to schedule outside of the topics, however, the confirmed time must be posted there or sent to an admin.
• Players must provide all available times as early, and schedule as efficiently, as possible throughout the entire event.
• If a player/team fails to show up to an arranged and confirmed game within 30 minutes, it will result in an automatic loss; unless both teams agree to reschedule within the given time frame of the specific round.

6.6. Streaming:
• Streaming is completely open.

• POV streaming is allowed. A spectator delay and stream delay is recommended to prevent cheating.​

 

[Huehuecoyotl22]

Added that Black Forest should be started with shared exploration.
So be aware that 2 maps have additional/different settings:

• Fortress as Regicide
• Black Forest with explored map and shared exploration

 

[Huehuecoyotl22]

Added map images @NovaAoE created. Note that the purple forage bushes are because of his graphical mod, not because of the map scripts.

 

[Huehuecoyotl22]

Crescent, Atoll and Fortress have been updated.

Thank you for all of the map feedback so far. Keep it coming so we can give you the best experience in 2 weeks.

 

[Huehuecoyotl22]

The map pack mod has been updated again with changes to Crescent, Crop Circles, Fortress, and Heartland.

 

[Huehuecoyotl22]

Two further updates in the map pack:

• Crop Circles: Now you can find different mysterious patterns in the farmland (center forest) instead of fully random paths.
• Fortress: The decision was made to have boars spawn 16-22 tiles away from players (starting tcs) like in previous big TG tournaments, like ECL, NC, etc. This means that a boar can spawn either inside or outside of the walls by a few tiles.

 

[Huehuecoyotl22]

2 updates:

• Predators were removed on Crescent
• Addition to 6.2, Admin Restarts: In case of a trapped pond, an admin restart can be called.

 

[Huehuecoyotl22]

If you are having problems because of today's patch, you are allowed to use the previous patch in the Ro64.

I will share the code you need in the RotC Discord server's #team-captains channel; team captains are then responsible for sharing it with their team, but not in public.
If you are not on the server and need the code, you can message me here or on Discord.
The same goes for casters.

When you post your draft and game IDs, please also write whether you used the previous or current patch.

 

[Huehuecoyotl22]

Fortress and Black Forest have been updated.

Fortress should now no longer or much more rarely fail to generate a house or castle.
Feedback is still welcome.

 

[Huehuecoyotl22]

RotC_Nomad will receive some updates tomorrow. Please continue to give feedback.

Further, starting from the first round of the group stage, Nomad has to be played not only without "team positions" enabled, but also without "teams together" enabled.