VASLeague 2017 is an individual ASL tourney, now at its 11th edition, played mainly via internet with the following rules:
1. General Rules
1.1 The Swiss System is used for pairings and classification.
1.12 There are 5 rounds of 2 months of duration each, beginning on 1st January 2015; round two begins on 1st March, round 3 begins on 1st May and so on…
1.2 If any league has less than 17 players there are only four rounds. The fourth and last round, in this case, is a four-months round, starting on 1 July and ending on the 31 October.
1.21 Three points are awarded for a victory and one point for a draw.
1.3 Tiebreaker: If two or more players finish the league with the same number of points, the following rules will be applied for determination of final ranking:
1.3 a) Result of the game played by the players with the same number of points (NA if there are > 2 players with the same number of points);
1.3 b) Best opponents met not counting the worst and the best ( known as : Winged Buholz tiebreaker);
1.3 c) Number of the round of the first game lost (the later the better);
1.3 d) A random drawing will be made.
2. No PbeM
2.1 The matches will be played on the VASL server live or face-to-face by default.
2.12 a PBeM game is allowed only if both players agree. IMPORTANT NOTE: Please don’t subscribe if you already know you cannot guarantee in the two months limit (60 days) enough time to play even a small or medium sized ASL scenario live on VASL !
2.13 Delayed Notes
2.131 Players are suggested to extensively use the “delayed” notes VASL tool to record HIPs, Fortifications, Covered Arcs, Spotters, CE status, Pre-Registered hexes, and so on.
2.14 Web Dice
2.140 The use of the *Random.org* or the *Chatterplus* extension dicebot is mandatory. It can be downloaded from the Game Squad Forum (but I'll send the file to every player requesting it) and added in the VASL extension folder like any ordinary extension. The old default dicebot coming with VASL can be used only if both players agree. Please note that the Random.org dicebot and *Chatterplus* extension are implemented in any recent VASL version and they are today the normal standard.
2.141 The use of real dice – instead of a dicebot – rolled in front of a web cam is allowed. Note that is perfectly possible for one player to use real dice and for the other to use a dicebot.
2.2 Scenarios and sides are freely chosen by the players, balances included. Any scenario may be chosen. It is strongly recommended to choose scenarios according to the time and the experience both players have. If no agreement is reached the TD will contact both players and choose the scenario drawing the sides.
2.22 Players are not allowed to play twice the same scenario during the tournament, even switching sides.
2.23 If a scenario will not be finished by the 2 months period and the players are unable to decide an outcome (a winning or a draw), the TD will determine the final result helped by two judges (see below). If the number of turns played is less than half the total scenario turns (FRU) the game is lost for both players.
2.3 Players are kindly requested to find an agreement on the result of the game and ask for the judge decision only if any agreement is impossible.
2.4 The player who is mainly responsible for the missed game or for a delay that makes impossible to end the scenario in time should admit his fault giving the win to the opponent.
2.5 If the players are unable to agree on who is the (main) responsible, both loses the game unless the TD has a clear evidence that a player is the main responsible.
2.6 Please note that no investigation is possible on the reasons of the delay even if asked or requested to the TD.
2.7 The deadline is not flexible. No game is allowed beyond the deadline scheduled for the round. This applies also in the last round.
3. TD and Judges
3.1 The TD is Enrico Catanzaro (ecz on the Gamesquad forum).
3.2 There is a “Judge Crew” of volunteers of proved VASL/ASL experience that will decide the scenarios not ended by the deadline. The Crew is formed by notable and experienced players not involved in the same League of the game under adjudication.
3.3 Judges should be able to give their vote in no more than 36 hours seeing the last VASL screenshot position of the game.
3.31 Players are allowed to send the Judges a brief comment to explain their plans for the endgame.
3.32 The TD will chose the two Judges among the Judge Crew trying to rotate the Judges to not overwhelm of work anyone.
3.33 If a game has been judged in opposite ways by the two Judges, then the TD will decide.
4. Subscription and format
4.1 For next season, 32 players have conquered or maintained the right to play in the TOP VASLeague ; they will participate in the TOP VASLeague 2017 and will play for the final prize. All other players are placed in the non-TOP (Regional) Leagues and in the Second Line League (see below).
4.21 The TD will try to form the non TOP Leagues according the preferences of the players and their respective Time Zones to make easy the live play.
4.22 All players not cancelled in 2017 (i.e. in play after the last round of past season) are automatically signed for 2018; there is no need of a formal subscription.
4.223 Players relegated from the TOP VASLeague should indicate their respective Time Zones.
4.224 In 2017 there are three "non -TOP" leagues: European/Oceanian League (European + Australian/Oceanian Players) -US/Can East League (East Coast players) -US/Can West League (Central and West Coast players) and the "Second Line League"
4.3 The registration starts November 1st and closes on December 30th, 2016. On December 31st, 2016 there will be a draw for the first round and from January 1st, 2017 the matches may start.
4.4 With the registration all players accept these rules and give automatically to the TD the permission to send and share their email addresses to all other VASLeaguers for tournament purpose. If you want keep private your address please create an “ad hoc” email for the tournament.
5. Promotion and relegation for 2017
5.1 In 2017 the TOP VASLeague has 32 players. This is the number of players scheduled also for 2018 season. At the end of the 2017 season the last six players of the TOP VASLeague table will be relegated to the other non-TOP leagues and equally divided among them in the most logical way according Time Zones of : European/Oceanian League, East League and West Central League. Conversely the best six players of the said leagues (two from each one) will be promoted in the TOP VASLeague.
5.11 Starting from the past season (2016) European/Oceanian League and East League have 16 players each and thus four rounds only. The West Central League, given the apparent shortage of VASL players in this region, has 12 players only.
5.112 More promotions are allowed if there are more than six players leaving the TOP VASLeague (for example for cancellation). The extra promotions are shared equally among the other leagues. Extra-promoted players are selected using rule 1.3.
5.12 No promotion is mandatory. Any player could decide to stay in his current league rather than be promoted to the TOP VASLeague giving automatically the player below him in the table his right. In fact non -TOP leagues are “Regional/Local” and gather players with a close Time Zone (Ex: Australian/ Oceanian Players are added in the European League), while the TOP VASLeague gathers the better players from all the world no matter their Time Zone.
5.3 New players, as well as those cancelled due to (multiple) forfeits, begins or restart, from the new Second Line League.
5.4 Second Line League.
To have less forfeit and an higher percentage of game played, all non-TOP leagues have, as said above, only 16 players. So all new players signing in 2017, all players cancelled in 2016 and returning in 2017 or classified in the last two spots in any non -TOP League, will join the Second Line League. This League could have any number of players and gathers players from all the Time Zones. At the end of the season the best two players picked from the three time zones matching the non-TOP Leagues, will gain the promotion to the respective non-TOP League. More promotions are possible if there are more than two players relegated and/or cancelled in a superior League or, for whatever reason, there are more empty spots to fill.
The Scheme for VASLeague in 2017 and following years:
TOP VASLeague (32 players, coming from all TZs); the winner is the TOP VASL player of the year! Six players at the bottom of the table and/or cancelled are relegated to:
-> European/Oceanian League ( 16 players from Europe & Oceania TZs) the best two players are promoted to the TOP VASLeague; two players at the bottom and/or those cancelled are relegated to the Second Line League
or
-> East League (16 players from Canada and US East TZ) the best two players are promoted to the TOP VASLeague; two players at the bottom and/or those cancelled are relegated to the Second Line League
or
-> West -Central League ( 12 players from Canada and US Central and West TZ) the best two players are promoted to the TOP VASLeague; the two players at the bottom and/or those cancelled are relegated to the Second Line League.
at a level below there is the new:
Second Line League (it gathers any number of players from any TZ: all new players, all cancelled players that subscribe again, all players relegated from European, East, or West-Central League). The best two players picked from any TZ are promoted to one League above. More promotions are possible to fill a gap in any of the three above Leagues if two promotions per TZ are not enough to fill the ranks.
6. Abandoning
6.1 We aim to have a VASLeague full of *dedicated players*. Thus no player can win any League or simply be promoted to an higher level if has even a single forfeit in any of the rounds.
6.2 If a player forfeits two matches he is immediately cancelled from that league and relegated at the bottom of his League. That player will restart from the Second Line League if he will register again.
6.2.1 A forfeited game is a game not played at all. An interrupted game or a game not finished in time as well an early resign after the game has just started is treated simply as a lost game.
6.3. The last active player of a table, if odd for a previous cancellation, gains an automatic “Bye” against a “dummy” player. Nobody in a tourney can gain more than one “Bye”.
6.4 Past experience shows that people forfeiting their very first round usually forfeits another round thus becoming cancelled from the tournament. For this reason, a player who forfeits his FIRST round is immediately cancelled (no reason to wait a second forfeit that happens 95% of the time). Exception: A single forfeit in any round in the Second Line League ALWAYS causes immediate cancellation.
6.5 We hope that in a couple of years all the best/more motivated and constant players of the world will occupy the Top VASLeague or the other non TOP leagues, while the new Second Line League works as a filter for those that aim to gain access to the higher level, but must first pass a difficult stage beating VASL players of any kind, skill level, and VASL-attitude/experience, so showing a (eventually renewed) constant interest toward this side of the hobby.
7. Prizes
7.1 For 2017 the First Prize for winning the Top VASLeague is a box of ” Hakkaa Päälle ". The First Prize for each non-TOP League is a copy of the latest Journal. Everyone may add new prizes for specific spots or achievements in the various leagues.
7.2 Registration is free of charge.
Please write to VASLeague@gmail.com for questions and clarifications.
Have fun!
The VASLeague TD, December 2016
1. General Rules
1.1 The Swiss System is used for pairings and classification.
1.12 There are 5 rounds of 2 months of duration each, beginning on 1st January 2015; round two begins on 1st March, round 3 begins on 1st May and so on…
1.2 If any league has less than 17 players there are only four rounds. The fourth and last round, in this case, is a four-months round, starting on 1 July and ending on the 31 October.
1.21 Three points are awarded for a victory and one point for a draw.
1.3 Tiebreaker: If two or more players finish the league with the same number of points, the following rules will be applied for determination of final ranking:
1.3 a) Result of the game played by the players with the same number of points (NA if there are > 2 players with the same number of points);
1.3 b) Best opponents met not counting the worst and the best ( known as : Winged Buholz tiebreaker);
1.3 c) Number of the round of the first game lost (the later the better);
1.3 d) A random drawing will be made.
2. No PbeM
2.1 The matches will be played on the VASL server live or face-to-face by default.
2.12 a PBeM game is allowed only if both players agree. IMPORTANT NOTE: Please don’t subscribe if you already know you cannot guarantee in the two months limit (60 days) enough time to play even a small or medium sized ASL scenario live on VASL !
2.13 Delayed Notes
2.131 Players are suggested to extensively use the “delayed” notes VASL tool to record HIPs, Fortifications, Covered Arcs, Spotters, CE status, Pre-Registered hexes, and so on.
2.14 Web Dice
2.140 The use of the *Random.org* or the *Chatterplus* extension dicebot is mandatory. It can be downloaded from the Game Squad Forum (but I'll send the file to every player requesting it) and added in the VASL extension folder like any ordinary extension. The old default dicebot coming with VASL can be used only if both players agree. Please note that the Random.org dicebot and *Chatterplus* extension are implemented in any recent VASL version and they are today the normal standard.
2.141 The use of real dice – instead of a dicebot – rolled in front of a web cam is allowed. Note that is perfectly possible for one player to use real dice and for the other to use a dicebot.
2.2 Scenarios and sides are freely chosen by the players, balances included. Any scenario may be chosen. It is strongly recommended to choose scenarios according to the time and the experience both players have. If no agreement is reached the TD will contact both players and choose the scenario drawing the sides.
2.22 Players are not allowed to play twice the same scenario during the tournament, even switching sides.
2.23 If a scenario will not be finished by the 2 months period and the players are unable to decide an outcome (a winning or a draw), the TD will determine the final result helped by two judges (see below). If the number of turns played is less than half the total scenario turns (FRU) the game is lost for both players.
2.3 Players are kindly requested to find an agreement on the result of the game and ask for the judge decision only if any agreement is impossible.
2.4 The player who is mainly responsible for the missed game or for a delay that makes impossible to end the scenario in time should admit his fault giving the win to the opponent.
2.5 If the players are unable to agree on who is the (main) responsible, both loses the game unless the TD has a clear evidence that a player is the main responsible.
2.6 Please note that no investigation is possible on the reasons of the delay even if asked or requested to the TD.
2.7 The deadline is not flexible. No game is allowed beyond the deadline scheduled for the round. This applies also in the last round.
3. TD and Judges
3.1 The TD is Enrico Catanzaro (ecz on the Gamesquad forum).
3.2 There is a “Judge Crew” of volunteers of proved VASL/ASL experience that will decide the scenarios not ended by the deadline. The Crew is formed by notable and experienced players not involved in the same League of the game under adjudication.
3.3 Judges should be able to give their vote in no more than 36 hours seeing the last VASL screenshot position of the game.
3.31 Players are allowed to send the Judges a brief comment to explain their plans for the endgame.
3.32 The TD will chose the two Judges among the Judge Crew trying to rotate the Judges to not overwhelm of work anyone.
3.33 If a game has been judged in opposite ways by the two Judges, then the TD will decide.
4. Subscription and format
4.1 For next season, 32 players have conquered or maintained the right to play in the TOP VASLeague ; they will participate in the TOP VASLeague 2017 and will play for the final prize. All other players are placed in the non-TOP (Regional) Leagues and in the Second Line League (see below).
4.21 The TD will try to form the non TOP Leagues according the preferences of the players and their respective Time Zones to make easy the live play.
4.22 All players not cancelled in 2017 (i.e. in play after the last round of past season) are automatically signed for 2018; there is no need of a formal subscription.
4.223 Players relegated from the TOP VASLeague should indicate their respective Time Zones.
4.224 In 2017 there are three "non -TOP" leagues: European/Oceanian League (European + Australian/Oceanian Players) -US/Can East League (East Coast players) -US/Can West League (Central and West Coast players) and the "Second Line League"
4.3 The registration starts November 1st and closes on December 30th, 2016. On December 31st, 2016 there will be a draw for the first round and from January 1st, 2017 the matches may start.
4.4 With the registration all players accept these rules and give automatically to the TD the permission to send and share their email addresses to all other VASLeaguers for tournament purpose. If you want keep private your address please create an “ad hoc” email for the tournament.
5. Promotion and relegation for 2017
5.1 In 2017 the TOP VASLeague has 32 players. This is the number of players scheduled also for 2018 season. At the end of the 2017 season the last six players of the TOP VASLeague table will be relegated to the other non-TOP leagues and equally divided among them in the most logical way according Time Zones of : European/Oceanian League, East League and West Central League. Conversely the best six players of the said leagues (two from each one) will be promoted in the TOP VASLeague.
5.11 Starting from the past season (2016) European/Oceanian League and East League have 16 players each and thus four rounds only. The West Central League, given the apparent shortage of VASL players in this region, has 12 players only.
5.112 More promotions are allowed if there are more than six players leaving the TOP VASLeague (for example for cancellation). The extra promotions are shared equally among the other leagues. Extra-promoted players are selected using rule 1.3.
5.12 No promotion is mandatory. Any player could decide to stay in his current league rather than be promoted to the TOP VASLeague giving automatically the player below him in the table his right. In fact non -TOP leagues are “Regional/Local” and gather players with a close Time Zone (Ex: Australian/ Oceanian Players are added in the European League), while the TOP VASLeague gathers the better players from all the world no matter their Time Zone.
5.3 New players, as well as those cancelled due to (multiple) forfeits, begins or restart, from the new Second Line League.
5.4 Second Line League.
To have less forfeit and an higher percentage of game played, all non-TOP leagues have, as said above, only 16 players. So all new players signing in 2017, all players cancelled in 2016 and returning in 2017 or classified in the last two spots in any non -TOP League, will join the Second Line League. This League could have any number of players and gathers players from all the Time Zones. At the end of the season the best two players picked from the three time zones matching the non-TOP Leagues, will gain the promotion to the respective non-TOP League. More promotions are possible if there are more than two players relegated and/or cancelled in a superior League or, for whatever reason, there are more empty spots to fill.
The Scheme for VASLeague in 2017 and following years:
TOP VASLeague (32 players, coming from all TZs); the winner is the TOP VASL player of the year! Six players at the bottom of the table and/or cancelled are relegated to:
-> European/Oceanian League ( 16 players from Europe & Oceania TZs) the best two players are promoted to the TOP VASLeague; two players at the bottom and/or those cancelled are relegated to the Second Line League
or
-> East League (16 players from Canada and US East TZ) the best two players are promoted to the TOP VASLeague; two players at the bottom and/or those cancelled are relegated to the Second Line League
or
-> West -Central League ( 12 players from Canada and US Central and West TZ) the best two players are promoted to the TOP VASLeague; the two players at the bottom and/or those cancelled are relegated to the Second Line League.
at a level below there is the new:
Second Line League (it gathers any number of players from any TZ: all new players, all cancelled players that subscribe again, all players relegated from European, East, or West-Central League). The best two players picked from any TZ are promoted to one League above. More promotions are possible to fill a gap in any of the three above Leagues if two promotions per TZ are not enough to fill the ranks.
6. Abandoning
6.1 We aim to have a VASLeague full of *dedicated players*. Thus no player can win any League or simply be promoted to an higher level if has even a single forfeit in any of the rounds.
6.2 If a player forfeits two matches he is immediately cancelled from that league and relegated at the bottom of his League. That player will restart from the Second Line League if he will register again.
6.2.1 A forfeited game is a game not played at all. An interrupted game or a game not finished in time as well an early resign after the game has just started is treated simply as a lost game.
6.3. The last active player of a table, if odd for a previous cancellation, gains an automatic “Bye” against a “dummy” player. Nobody in a tourney can gain more than one “Bye”.
6.4 Past experience shows that people forfeiting their very first round usually forfeits another round thus becoming cancelled from the tournament. For this reason, a player who forfeits his FIRST round is immediately cancelled (no reason to wait a second forfeit that happens 95% of the time). Exception: A single forfeit in any round in the Second Line League ALWAYS causes immediate cancellation.
6.5 We hope that in a couple of years all the best/more motivated and constant players of the world will occupy the Top VASLeague or the other non TOP leagues, while the new Second Line League works as a filter for those that aim to gain access to the higher level, but must first pass a difficult stage beating VASL players of any kind, skill level, and VASL-attitude/experience, so showing a (eventually renewed) constant interest toward this side of the hobby.
7. Prizes
7.1 For 2017 the First Prize for winning the Top VASLeague is a box of ” Hakkaa Päälle ". The First Prize for each non-TOP League is a copy of the latest Journal. Everyone may add new prizes for specific spots or achievements in the various leagues.
7.2 Registration is free of charge.
Please write to VASLeague@gmail.com for questions and clarifications.
Have fun!
The VASLeague TD, December 2016
Last edited:
) . So probably I should delay the start of the tournament, and I do not want VASLeague has a delayed start.
