Major LAN Qualifier - Rules
Equipment Rules
1. Players must provide their own mouse, keyboard, mouse pad, and earbuds. Players must provide their own headset for use on the Warm-Up Stations.
2. Players and Coaches must use the PC, Monitor, Tournament Station Headset, and Network Equipment provided by MLG. If a Player finds that an issue has occurred with any of this equipment, they should Pause the Game and notify a Tournament Official immediately by entering the “.problem” command. If the Tournament Official is able to confirm that an issue has occurred, they will determine whether the Game should be restarted, the Game win should be awarded to a Team, or the conditions under which the Game should be resumed. Players are responsible for ensuring proper function of the audio equipment prior to the start of all Games.
3. All Player equipment is subject to approval. MLG reserves the right to deny the use of anything suspected of providing an unfair competitive advantage.
4. Players must submit all mouse and keyboard driver requirements to speterson@mlg.tv by 5 PM EST on Wednesday, February 24th.
5. Mice and keyboards must utilize standard USB interfaces. Players may not use PS2 interface equipment.
6. Players competing in a Tournament Match must wear their earbuds in their ears for the duration of all Games. Players and Coaches competing in a Tournament Match must wear the MLG-provided headset over their ears for the duration of all Games.
7. Players may not use 3rd party applications or programs.
8. Players may not use a USB Flash Drive or other storage device.
9. Players may not alter game files or modify drivers.
10. Players may not change the video settings in Windows.
11. During a Game, Players may not have applications, browsers, or streams open other than the CS: GO client and any necessary drivers.
12. Players who break an Equipment Rule #5-11 will be given a Warning. After the first Warning, each subsequent Warning that a Team receives will result in a Forfeit of the Game.
13. Staff will attempt to help Players with technical issues related to their mouse, keyboard, or earbuds, but will not allow such issues to delay the Tournament.
General Rules
1. Any sign of cheating may result in a Forfeit of the Game and/or disqualification from the Tournament. Some examples of cheating are manipulation of configurations, models, skins, weapons, graphics, settings, or sounds in order to gain an unfair advantage. Cheating also includes, but is not limited to, using a Map exploit in order to gain an unfair advantage.
2. Players/Teams that are disqualified prior to the start of a Game will not be allowed to play in the Game. Players/Teams that are disqualified during a Game must disconnect from the Game. Players/Teams that are disqualified won’t receive any benefits (Prize, etc.) for their ranking in the Tournament. Such Players/Teams may also be subject to a Ban from a future Tournament(s).
3. All Player and Coach apparel must be approved by MLG. MLG reserves the right to require the removal of unapproved apparel as well as the right to disqualify a Player/Team for wearing unapproved apparel.
4. Teams must have at least four Players present in order to start a Game. A Team will Forfeit Game 1 if they don’t have at least four Players present by 5 minutes after a Match’s scheduled start time (Grace Period). If a Team forfeited Game 1, they will Forfeit a Best of 3 Games Match if they don’t have at least four Players present by 15 minutes after the Match’s scheduled start time. Teams that played a previous Game(s) in a Match will Forfeit a Game 2, 3 if they don’t have at least four Players present by 10 minutes after the conclusion of the previous Game (Grace Period). Teams with four Players present will be forced to start a Game at the end of a Grace Period. Players are permitted to join Games that are in progress, but Players are not permitted to add a Character to a Game for a Player who is absent. Bots are not permitted in any Game. If Teams that are scheduled to play each other both Forfeit a Game or Match, a Coin Toss will determine the Game/Match win. If a Match can’t begin at its scheduled start time, the Grace Period will begin at the conclusion of the Station’s preceding Match.
5. If their Match has not been completed, Players may ask their Referee for permission to leave their Station. Referees may set a time limit by the end of which the Player must return to their Station or they may deny the Player’s request. Teams may Forfeit a Game(s), or be forced to play a Game(s) shorthanded, if a Player(s) hasn’t returned by the end of their Referee’s set time limit. Teams may Forfeit a Game(s), or be forced to play a Game(s) shorthanded, if a Player(s) leaves their Station without their Referee’s permission, or is otherwise unable to play.
6. In order to dispute Game results, Players/Teams must notify their Referee that they would like to Protest the Game before a new Game has begun. In order to dispute Match results, Players/Teams must notify their Referee that they would like to Protest the Match before the Match results have been submitted.
7. Teams may request that they be allowed to concede victory of a Game. Teams may request that their opponent not receive a Forfeit penalty or a penalty associated with receiving a Technical Foul.
8. Requests made pertaining to General Rules #6-7 will be decided upon by the Tournament Director.
9. Language used in Team communication will be governed by the Major LAN Qualifier - Conduct Rules.
10. In-Game Player Names must include appropriate language only.
11. Coaches who leave the Tournament Area will not be allowed to return to the Tournament Area until a Game is between Rounds and they have the permission of a Tournament Official.
Gameplay Rules
1. Each Game will consist of two 15-Round halves. A Game will end if a Team reaches 16 Round wins in the 2nd Half. If the score of a Game is ever tied at 15 Rounds, Overtime will be played. Overtime consists of two 3-Round halves. Players will start each Overtime half with $10,000. A Game will end if a Team reaches 4 Round wins in the same Overtime. If the score of Overtime is tied after 6 Rounds, another Overtime will be played.
2. For all Matches, the first Team listed in the Schedule must occupy the Red side of the Tournament Station (right side from the audience perspective) and the second Team listed in the Schedule must occupy the Blue side of the Tournament Station.
3. Players will have 15 minutes before the start of a Match and 10 minutes between each Game of a Match to setup and ensure their mouse, keyboard, earbuds, and headset are working properly. Fifteen-minute time limits will begin after the conclusion of the preceding Match. Ten-minute time limits will begin at the conclusion of the preceding Game.
4. Teams will be given 5 minutes to strategize after the Game 1 Map has been identified.
5. All Games must be created and started by the Head Referee.
6. Referees will request a Player or Coach on both Teams to speak for their entire Team with verbal confirmation that their Team is ready for the Game to start, before starting the Game. No Game will be started until this confirmation is given by a Player or Coach on both Teams. After confirmation has been received, the Head Referee will Ready all 10 Players and start the Game.
7. No warm-up or practice Games are permitted once the Match’s first Game has begun.
8. Players may not use the Alias Jump Throw Bind. Players are allowed to use the Macro Jump Throw.
9. Clipping is not permitted. A Player will be considered to be Clipping if they boost their Character through a solid object or manipulate their Character in order to see over, under, and/or through a solid object.
10. Pixelwalking is not permitted. A Player will be considered to be Pixelwalking if they manipulate their Character into sitting or standing on invisible Map edges.
11. The bomb may not be planted in a location where it can’t be defused, in a location where it is not touching a solid object, or in a location where it isn’t making the normal “beeping” noise.
12. Players may not use objects to cover a bomb in such a way that it can’t be defused.
13. Players may not defuse a bomb through a solid object.
14. Players and Coaches may not look at an opposing Player’s Monitor or projected screen during a Game.
15. Players and Coaches may not intentionally manipulate a teammate’s mouse or keyboard during a Game.
16. Breaking a Gameplay Rule #8-15 may result in a Forfeit of the Game.
17. Teams may use a Tactical Pause, by entering the “.timeout” or “.pause” command, once per Game at which time they will be given up to a 5-minute Timeout. Players who un-pause a Game without a Tournament Official’s permission may Forfeit the Game.
18. If a Player or Staff member loses their connection to the Server during the first minute of the Game, no kills have been registered, and the Bomb hasn’t been planted, the Game must be restarted from the beginning.
19. If a Player disconnects from a Round/Game that will not be restarted, they will be allowed to rejoin the Game, but their Character will be considered dead in the Round during which they disconnected. If all Players on a Team are disconnected from a Game at the same time, and the Game will not be restarted, the Team will Forfeit the Round.
20. If a Staff member disconnects from a Game that will not be restarted, but all Players remain in the Game, the Round must be completed.