1 - General info

1. These rules are specific to the NSL Balance Test Cup of the ENSL on NS2.
2. General rules apply, just as for any contest of the ENSL
3. The first part of the cup (group play) is scheduled to start on Saturday the 15th of June 2013, and end at the 16th of June 2013. The second part of the cup (playoffs) is scheduled to start on Saturday the 22nd of June 2013, and end at the 23rd of June 2013.
4. Teams have been split into groups based on seedings, to make the most even groups possible.

2 - Structure

2.a - Group Stage (15th and 16th of June)

1. The first part of the cup will be hold as Round Robin format with groups seeded by region and the admins.
2. Each team of each group will play against every team of its group.
3. The maps will get choosen by the Teams. Each side can choose one map.
4. Winning one game (marine or alien) will earn your team one point. You can earn up to 4 points in a match.
5. Any intercontinental matches will be played with one map on home server and one map on away server, the same map is played on both servers. The server also need to have a good location for the other region. So for example with EU vs US. US plays marines, server must be located in US east to give a good location for the other region.
6. At the end of the group play the top two teams of each group will advance into the playoffs. Placements are decided by the scores each team gathered from the group games.
7. In case of a tie on points between top teams in a group, it needs to be decided who has upper placement by following order: a) results in direct comparison b) Best of 3 Tie Breaker Match
8. Note that the admins can punish your team by reducing your number of points if rules were to be violated by your team or your team members.

2.b - Final Phases: Double Elimination Playoffs (22nd and 23rd of June)

1. The playoffs will be played as "Best of 5" on saturday 22nd of June at 19.00 CET. The winners of both matches winners will advance to the Finals on sunday 23rd of June. The losers of the semifinals will play a 3rd decider bronze match. The 3rd decider match will be held as a "Best of 7", format as described in 2.c.3.
2. The winning teams in the Round of 8 goes on to the semifinals.
3. A coinflip between the two teams will occur to determine a coinflip winner. The coinflip winner can either choose which side they play on first (marine/alien) or the first map to be played (summit,tram,veil). After each game the sides will switch. A map has always to be played two times in a row and must change after every two games. The team deciding which map will be played next switches after every map, so that if Team A decided the first map, Team B decides the second map, Team A the third map and so on. A map that has been played gets removed out of the available map pool until all maps have been played and more games have to be played. The next map must always differ from the last map played.
4. Any intercontinental matches will be played with one map on home server and one map on away server, the same map is played on both servers. The server also need to have a good location for the other region. So for example with EU vs US. US plays marines, server must be located in US east to give a good location for the other region.

2.c - Final Phases 2: Finals and 3rd place decider matches (23rd of June)

1. The match will be played as "Best of 7" format. A coinflip between the two teams will occur to determine a coinflip winner. The coinflip winner can either choose which side they play on first (marine/alien) or the first map to be played (summit,tram,veil). After each game the sides will switch. A map has always to be played two times in a row and must change after every two games. The team deciding which map will be played next switches after every map, so that if Team A decided the first map, Team B decides the second map, Team A the third map and so on. A map that has been played gets removed out of the available map pool until all maps have been played and more games have to be played. The next map must always differ from the last map played.

2.d - Matches

1. Once you know your opponents, contact them as soon as possible to set up the match.
2. The matches have set times but they can be changed with the opponents if they doesn't suit your timezone. Since we have teams from all over the world, someone must play at odd times. You also need to agree on servers. If you don't have one, NSL can help you out with servers from all over the world, we recommend playing on NSL servers.
3. For communication use the comment function on the specific match page. You can find the links on the news post.

3. Maps

1. The following maps are the maps to be played in the cup: ns2_nsl_summit(ModID: 735cebc), ns2_nsl_tram(ModID: 7741098), ns2_nsl_veil(ModID: 78ac3ed), ns2_nsl_descent(ModID: 7d527cc), ns2_jambi(ModID: 7b986f5).

4. Servers

1. Teams have to agree on a correct server for their matches.
2. Don't forget that the servers must have the ENSL-enforced modifications else the match may be discarded.
3. If possible, try to use the ENSL Official Servers instead of a clan's server.
4. Server location is set for a 'home/away' format with one map on each server to compliment cross-continental play. But the home server must also be acceptable for the team from the other continent. You switch server every two rounds in cross-continental games.
5. Server interpolation may NEVER be changed. This can result in a forfeit loss on the server owners.
6. Balance Test Mod (ModID: 7c59c34) MUST be installed on the server.
7. No close spawns + Spectator lights mod (ModID: 73ca53d) must be installed on the server.
   This mod prevents teams from spawning at adjacent tech points with only one resource node in between the bases. And re-enables all lights, holograms etc. removed from the nsl maps for spectators.
8. Server consistency checking have to look like this:
   {
   
   "check": [ "game_setup.xml", "*.lua", "*.screenfx", "*.surface_shader", "*.fxh", "*.render_setup", "*.shader_template", "*.fsb", "*.dds", "*.model", "*.material", "*.level", "*.cinematic", "*.fx" ]
   
   "ignore": [ "crosshairs.dds", "crosshairs-hit.dds", "exosuit_HUD1.dds", "exosuit_HUD4.dds", "descent_wall_02_a.material", "descent_floor_01_a.material", "Blur.fx", "marine_minimap_blip.dds", "minimap_blip.dds", "descent_wallmods_02.dds", "descent_wallmods_02_spec.dds", "descent_wallmods_05_spec.dds", "descent_wallmods_05.dds","descent_wallmods_01_spec.dds", "descent_wallmods_01.dds", "descent_wallmods_01_illum.dds", "descent_wallmods_03_illum.dds", "descent_wallmods_03.dds", "descent_wallmods_03_spec.dds" ]
   
   }
9. PROTIP: How to set your server up.

5. Substitutes

1. A team may use up to two substitutes for a given match (as many rounds as necessary)
2. Substitutes must be registered on the ENSL website.
3. Subs are allowed only if the other team agrees on the players substituting.
4. ENSL would like to remind teams that it is more fun and challenging to beat a 6-man team than a 5 or a 4-man team.

6. During the match

1. Don't forget to be on time! You may receive a forfeit loss if your players are too late and the other team has its players.
2. Players must use the same nickname ingame as on the ENSL website. Using your team's tag is also mandatory.
3. NO DEMOS needed for the cup.
   

7. Punishments

1. Major exploits : Match loss, depending on the case.
2. Racism, excessive swearing, insults : after warnings, if the player does not change his behaviour, a 1-week ban will be enforced. Repeated offenses will call for longer bans.
3. Cheating : 1-year ban

8. Prohibited known exploits

1. Placing buildings where it should not be possible (like walls for marine buildings).
2. Placing gorge tunnels in vents.
3. Macros or scripts, for example to fire pistol faster.
4. All other bugs and exploits are allowed to use, but are to report to refrees or casters.

9. Prohibited client modifications

1. Any modification giving an unfair advantage. ex : model-changing, colour-changing, etc...
2. Custom crosshairs and transparent maps/map colour changes are ALLOWED.

 All the above rules may change during the cup at League Admin's discretion.