On
CampFire
Vision
On
October 15th, 2001 the CampFire Spaders
Team Ladder was created
The
vision of the creators and those that followed was: the existence of a friendly
team ladder where sportsmanship was a top priority; a ladder where obnoxious,
hurtful or dirty comments in the lobby would be dealt with instead of ignored;
and a ladder where proven cheaters could be permanently banned.
We
wanted a family atmosphere where a parent could allow a child to read the lobby
without fear, where unfounded accusations were a thing of the past, and where
everyone could be considered a friend.
We
wanted it to be easy to get a game. We wanted no bidding and no
challenging...just sit and play the game we love without regard to rank. Rank
mongering would be frowned upon. Repeated troublemakers would be removed. Any
actions not conducive to our intended atmosphere would be penalized.
I
referred to it earlier as a "vision". It really wasn't as grand as
that word infers. It was and is simply a desire for common sense morality
exhibited in a team ladder environment.
By
joining us around the CampFire, you have chosen FREELY to uphold the ideals that
make this Ladder unique: Keep it clean, keep it fun, keep it fair and keep it
friendly.
That's
what the CampFire Team Ladder is all about.
CAMPFIRE
LEAGUE RULES
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
This
is a Team Ladder based at Safe Harbor Games. Games are to be played in the league
room
named "CampFire Spaders."
These
are the minimum standards set for the ladder. Team Captains may, at their
option, require more stringent rules for their teams. If a player violates a
"team" rule set by their Captain, it will be the Captain's
responsibility to handle it. CF admin will NOT penalize for violations of a team
rule unless it is also a violation of CampFire rules.
--------------------------------------------------------------
SPORTSMANSHIP
Definition
of Sportsmanship: Respect for Opponents and Gracious Behavior in Winning and
Losing.
Definition
of Insinuation: To introduce in a clever way. Too imply. An insinuation "IS
A CLEVER WAY" to accuse someone of cheating without actually saying the
word "cheat"
Winning
and losing GRACIOUSLY is what this ladder is all about. Bad Attitudes have no
place here. If you can't say something nice - don't say anything.
If
UNsportsmanlike conduct (the reverse of the above definition) is displayed with
proof at a table, in a game comment, in the lobby, in the forum or via any
messaging system penalties may be imposed. This is subject to and may include
insinuations of cheating and its definition as set forth.
(See
the Penalty Guidelines for how these penalties will be imposed)
LOBBY CONDUCT
CampFire’s lobby is a place for friendly, fun and
respectful banter.
The lobby is not a place for the discussion of sex,
for sexual innuendos, or for expressing your political or religious beliefs.
Nor is it a place for copying and pasting inappropriate language, URL's (other
than CampFire/Safe Harbor related) or comments sent to you through GP messenger.
If you are sent a message, and it is inappropriate to you, turn in the
complete chat (involving the discussion) as a complaint. Copying and
pasting SH messages in the lobby is not allowed, nor is typing a fake message in
lobby.
Cussing: It is impossible to encompass the
entire spectrum of words used in “cussing”. Many of our members have
children and grandchildren who may be watching and reading. Our members
should be comfortable in the knowledge that they themselves, their children and
grandchildren can read the lobby and not find
offensive language being used.
Suffice
it to say if you were told at one time in your life (be it your mom, dad,
grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, teacher or some other adult,) not to use
that “word,” then out of respect for your fellow campers, please refrain
from using it in the lobby.
Violating
the standards as set forth above, MAY result in penalties if filed on by a
member of CampFire and WILL result in penalties if the violations continue after
being asked by Admin to stop.
Using
the “F” word (and all its derivatives,) will result in an immediate gag or
boot from the room (if an Administrator is present) along with the penalty of a
three
(3) day
box. Extreme hard-core language can result in an immediate ban.
If you are
publicly fighting in this Ladder, you may be permanently banned.
Remember,
it takes two (or more) to fight. A fight is considered public if it is held in
the Lobby or the Message Forum.
Unacceptable Lobby and Forum conduct includes cussing and sexual innuendoes.
Complaints on questionable lobby chat may be filed by any CF Ladder member. At least 20 lines of the offensive chat should be copied and mailed to campfirespaders@comcast.net with “lobby conduct” in the subject line. Forty-eight (48) hours is given to those filed against to respond to the complaint.
BLOCKING
No
CampFire member should block another CampFire member or visitor in our room.
Please use the Ignore option instead of blocking.
If you have previously blocked anyone while in another room, please lift
the block while you both are in the CampFire Spaders room.
FORUM POLICY
Posting in the Message
Forum is a privilege reserved for members of a team in CampFire Spaders. It
is intended as a place for announcements, congratulatory statements, questions
and constructive criticism.
Posts by
individuals not on a team, with the exception of those new members LOOKING for a
team in the post, may be pulled.
Posts by
individuals not on our Ladder may also be pulled.
Posts
that bash individuals or teams by name will be pulled including those
that do not specifically name names but do offer so much information that the
individual or team in question is readily identifiable. If this happens, it is
possible to lose your privilege of posting in the forum.
CHEATING
PROVEN CHEATERS
WILL BE PERMANENTLY BANNED from the Ladder. There will be NO second chances. An
accusation without proof is NOT acceptable. Lagging
does not mean cheating. Proof
means: a cheating private message that has been captured in a screen shot; cards
or instructions typed into the table chat or elsewhere; or similar proof.
If
you have proof someone is cheating, do NOT leave the table. Stop the game in
progress and request an Administrator to come to the table. Whether one is
available or not, take a screen shot of the table, of any private message, make
a copy of the entire table chat, and
immediately (as in right away) send to campfirespaders@comcast.net with
“cheating” in the subject line.
If an
Administrator tells you to continue a game, you must continue the game or report
it as a loss. The only time you are not required to finish a game is if an
Administrator cancels the game or if an Administrator is not available AND it is
PROVEN cheating. The rule of thumb is to get an Administrator to make that
decision.
Automated
card-counting programs are illegal in the CampFire Spaders Ladder.
If a card
counter is captured in a screen shot as open, it will result in a permanent ban.
Players who are
PROVEN CHEATERS from other leagues will not be allowed to join CampFire Spaders.
Current CampFire members who are caught cheating in another league, and
subsequently banned from that league as a PROVEN CHEATER may also be banned from
CampFire for cheating, provided that other leagues provide complete
documentation of the proof used to prove the cheating, and that CampFire
Administration finds that the proof meets our standards of proof.
CampFire will
also provide other leagues with the proof we used to ban a member for cheating.
Other leagues will act on our proof as they see fit, which may or may not
include banning that player from their league.
TABLE
TALK
Table
talk about the cards in the current hand, whether or not it affects the outcome
of the hand, is not permitted. Discussing the cards after the last card
of a hand is fine, but NEVER during the play of the current hand.
Example:
Before the hand is over,
you cannot tell your partner to "bag the other team, set them, give them
one more, double nil, or nil." Cover
me partner (cmp), The Rest Are Mine (TRAM) and “I am nil” are also table
talk. All
of those examples and more are considered table talk. NONE is acceptable.
PROPER
PROCEDURE FOR CALLING TABLE TALK
1. All
instances of perceived table talk MUST be mentioned and a forfeit requested in
the table chat at the time of occurrence.
2. The accused
team may forfeit at that time with no further penalty.
3. If the
accused team refuses to forfeit, the incident may be filed through your team
Captain to the Admin along with a copy of the completed game's table chat as
proof.
4. If
filed correctly and the Admin determine that table talk took place, a forfeit
will be awarded (if necessary) as well as a team and possible individual
penalty.
5. If the
accusing team refuses to accept a forfeit, the incident may not be filed.
HOW TO GET A GAME
(We have three (3) types of games that we play in CampFire: Reg with DN; Reg NDN; and ALT variations with DN or NDN. Only one (1) game format can be advertised at one time.)
I.
ADVERTISE FOR A GAME
We
have four (4) different games that can be advertised at the same time:
1.
Regular with No Double Nil –
Would be advertised as: CF @ 4 NDN
2. Regular with Double Nil –
Would be advertised as: CF @ 4 DN or
CF @ 4 All bids
3.
ALT game (whatever game is) CF @ 4 ALT – CF @ 4 Crawl.
Zero
Bid is an Alt game format and should be advertised as such. (Reg NDN
with zero bid, Reg All Bids with zero bid, Alt with zero bid)
4.
1
vs 1 (two players with a bot for a partner) should be advertised as
(1 vs 1 Reg NDN, Reg All Bids, or Alt.)
Do
NOT sit at another table while someone is advertising for a game, and say
"Table A then Z." When the same type of game is being
advertised, BE COURTEOUS and wait for that game to fill before sitting.
Do
not sit and advertise for a game until you and your partner are seated and ready
to play.
Do
not sit for an advertised game unless your partner/camper is in the
room and ready to play.
II. JOIN
SOMEONE ALREADY ADVERTISING FOR A GAME.
You may not:
1. Request a
team by name or rank in any manner.
2. Include your
rank in your advertisement.
3. Bid,
challenge or blind challenge in any manner.
4.
Request a game as a kibber at a table.
5. Start a game
with a substitute.
6. Request a
game through SH messenger.
Back-to-back
games: are allowed with the same or different players; and are always optional
and should be stated, politely, at the table or in the lobby as the reason for
refusing a game. (Note: Refusing a second game should be a rare occurrence.)
There is no
limit on how many times a day you may play a particular team.
When two (2)
partners sit across from each other they are ready to play even if no
advertisement has been made in the lobby. If teammates are just sitting to chat,
they should sit next to each other instead of across.
ALTERNATE
GAMES RULES
Default
is
eight
(8) hands
Only
one (1) alternate game may be advertised at a time. Please wait for one
alternate game to be filled before advertising for another one. See
Rules on "How to Get a Game" for further details.
MIS-BID
POLICY
If
there is a misbid/misplay in the first hand, a reseat should be
offered. Many alt games will be new to most members, and a reseat on a
first hand misbid/misplay is in keeping with the CampFire Spirit.
However, it is still the responsibility of ALL players to understand the
format before the start of play.
REPORTING A LOSS
When
the game is over, BOTH losing partners involved in the game are to communicate who
is reporting the match.
At
least one member of the losing team must stay at the table until the report is
finished, and it has been typed in game chat that game is posted/reported.
This
allows the reporting person to know through the table chat who ALL the players
were, and there should be no misreports made. If you get the one-minute wait
message, the easiest thing to do is keep an eye on your computer clock and click
“submit” on each new minute.
Misreports
and double reports can be corrected by sending the game chat to campfirespaders@comcast.net.
If the nick of any person playing in the game is not found on the team roster,
it is a "no game." You cannot at the end of the game ask for it to be
posted to the Camper Player.
Unless
the site is down you MUST report before you start your next game.
If
the reporting page is out of service, all games will continue to be played on an
open table as usual. Please keep a written list of games played so later on,
when the reporting page resumes working properly, you may report losses in the
order of play.
After Case
comes back up, please give opponents twenty-four (24) hours to get the game
posted. If not posted in twenty-four (24) hours, send game chat to your Captain
to handle.
UNREPORTED MATCH
If the winning
team notices the match does not show, write down the names of the team and
players. Continue with your games. If said game is still not posted when you
have finished playing for the day, send an e-mail with ALL information to your
team Captain. Your Captain can then contact the other team's Captain, and they
can work it out from there.
If the team
Captain has tried to settle an unreported match complaint, and the match is
still not reported after twenty-four (24) hours, an unreported match complaint
should be sent to campfirespaders@comcast.net
with "unreported match" as the subject.
See Captain Guidelines- Procedure for Filing a Complaint on the main
page at www.campfirespaders.com
.
Upon receipt of
an unreported match complaint, Administration will ask for action from the
reporting team's Captain. Said Captain has twenty-four (24) hours from the date
and time of Administration's notice to verify and post the match. If the match
is still unreported after the allotted time, Administration will post the match
and a TEAM WARNING will be issued.
(See
Penalty Guidelines for imposed
penalties on unreported matches)
KIBITZING /STANDING
Kibitzing is
permitted during all CF Ladder games, but please remember that a kibber is a
guest at the table. Please
keep the chatter to a minimum so as not to aggravate the two teams playing. If
requested, please refrain from chatting.
Only
the person you are kibitzing may ask you to stand, and if they do, the request
must be honored by either standing or by kibitzing someone else who does not
mind.
If the person
kibitzing at your game is being rude, obnoxious, lewd, vulgar, offensive or
unsportsmanlike in any manner, any one of the four players in the game may
request him/her to be quiet, and that request should be honored immediately.
In
order to remove the offending Kibitzer from the table, it must be agreed
upon by all four players playing the game.
If
the request is not honored and no Admin is available, you need to copy complete
game chat and give to your Captain to handle.
BE RIGHT BACKS
Try to time
your BRB before the end of a hand and request the last card be held (HLC). Then
you can go change a diaper, go to the bathroom, get a sandwich, or get a drink.
Understandably, that is NOT always possible, as emergencies do occur, but if
possible, please be considerate of others and wait until the end of the hand.
BOOTS & MASS BOOTS
When
a player is booted from the table, those players remaining, must wait a minimum
of five (5) minutes. If the booted player has NOT returned, the partner (of the
booted player) may choose to get a sub or to continue with a bot. If a sub from
their team is not available, anyone may
be called upon to complete the game. This would include Campers who are
registered in CampFire, but not yet on a team and any CampFire guest.
Safe Harbor may
sometimes work in mysterious ways. If your partner or opponent is lagging, we
ask that you type the word "test" to determine if you are the one
causing the lag.
No game may be
started with a substitute. When a boot occurs and a substitute is used, the
original four (4) players are always credited with the win or loss.
When a game is
started with a Camper and the camper's partner boots and does not return within
the five (5) minute boot time, the camper should continue the
game with a bot or a sub until a winner
is determined. If the losing team is the team with the camper (and since campers
cannot report a loss,) the opponents MUST copy ALL game chat (from beginning of
game until end) and submit it to the booted player's Captain for reporting. The
loss goes to the original player who booted, and
the camper. (Make sure the camper’s name is notated in the Match
Comment section of the loss report.)
Note:
The "Unreported Match Rule" applies in this case. See the
"Unreported Match Rule" for further details
In 1 vs. 1 (two players
with a bot for a partner), if a player is booted and the remaining player
doesn’t want to wait more than five minutes for the booted player to return,
it’s a “No Game.”
MASS
BOOTS: When a mass boot or a room crash
occurs (all players booted from room), the game is ruled a “No Game.”
(No Team is obligated to report a loss)
MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS
We only allow a set number of accounts from one location. If this number is exceeded, your accounts will be investigated and possibly removed. We have an automated security system to keep track of this information, and all new account information is logged. It is illegal for one person to have multiple accounts or be on multiple teams. Only one nick name allowed per account. (Only you are allowed to play under your ladder nickname, not anyone else.)
SAME
HOUSEHOLD
Members of the
same household are not allowed to play with OR against each other. The
exception is once a month when we hold the Battle Of the Sexes Tournament all
day. Same household players are allowed to play with or against each other
only at this time.
If you are a
member of a same household (same workplace) situation, you MUST notify us before
playing, at campfirespaders@comcast.net. This also includes if spouse is at work, out of town, etc. You must submit
ladder nicknames and team names of all involved.
Failure
to do so will result in penalties being issued. The program does not allow
reports to or from people in the same household.
RANK HOUNDING
Every #1 team
will be rung to the bottom of the ladder once they have held the position for
twenty-four (24) consecutive hours.
Let's keep the
top ranks active and fair. If you are a top ranked team, give all teams a shot,
not only those ranked immediately below or above you.
FILING A COMPLAINT
See Captain and Player Guidelines- Procedure for Filing a Complaint on the main page at www.campfirespaders.com
Aside from
proven instances of cheating, questionable lobby chats, and misreported matches,
all official complaints must be submitted by your Team Captain.
All evidence should be sent to your Team Captain to resolve the matter. Team Captains are encouraged to resolve the situation between themselves BEFORE an official complaint is filed. If the Captains cannot come up with an agreement, the next step is for the Captains to copy the meeting chat between the two Captains and send it to the Admin. A complaint only becomes official once it is mailed by a Team Captain to this address: Campfirespaders@comcast.net
The procedure for filing a complaint can be found in the Captain Guidelines on the main page at www.Campfirespaders.com
You
have two weeks (14 days) from when the game or incident occurred to file a
complaint. See Procedure for filing a complaint.
If
your Team Captain is unavailable, and your problem needs immediate attention,
you may seek out an Administrator for guidance
All
complaints are given 48 hours for the Captains to handle and will be handled by
Administrators if NOT withdrawn by the filing Captain.
MISREPORTS/DOUBLE
REPORTS
Definition
of a misreport/double report: When the wrong player or team receives the
loss/win or when the correct players or teams receive the wrong number of
losses/wins because of a double report.
All
misreports will be fixed if the correct procedure for filing the misreport is
followed.
Please
follow the following procedure when filing a misreport claim:
1. By e-mail ONLY, send the full game chat within twenty-four (24)
hours of a misreport.
Send to campfirespaders@comcast.net
with “misreport”
in the subject line.
2.
Team Name Filing
3. Team Name who misreported
4. All four players involved in the game
A. Player 1 nick
B. Player 2 nick
C. Player 3 nick
D. Player 4 nick
5. Player who received the loss/win in error
6. Player who should have received the loss/win
7. Player who stated he/she would report the match.
Note:
ANY player involved in the game may file a misreport. Penalties will be
imposed on repeat offenders.
Note: Administrators will NOT fix misreports and/or double reports
if called to a table, but will be glad to help if you are unsure of what you
need to do to file a misreport. Misreports
will only be fixed via e-mail and only if the above requirements are met.
Note: If
a game is posted early, the game does not have to be finished. This will
not be fixed as it is not a misreport.
Procedure
for filing a Double Report: By e-mail ONLY, send a screen shot and/or the
date and time of the “double report” with the names of the teams and players within twenty-four (24) hours to campfirespaders@comcast.net
with “double report”
in the subject line.
NICK
NAMES/TEAM NAME
Your
Ladder name must match your Safe Harbor name; this includes spaces, underscores
and other keyboard characters. If it doesn't, the match is invalid and a "No
Game."
The ONLY
exception is CAPS or non- caps. You should e-mail Admin to have CAPS and non-caps
adjusted to your ladder name.
The nickname
you choose cannot be objectionable to the Administration. Names similar to those
already existing on the CampFire Spaders Ladder are not allowed and you WILL be
asked to change it. Several teams have "identifiers" that they require
within the nickname. Please check with your Captain.
CAMPERS
Teams wishing
to use a Camper may increase their roster size to forty-one (41) to accommodate
that Camper Player. A Camper does not have to be a member of CampFire Spaders
for a game, but must be a member in order to be a Camper for a tournament. You
can register at www.campfirespaders.com
and click on “Free
Sign Up.”
If playing with a
Camper, please say so in game chat when you state your team name.
Failure to do so will result in a "no game."
Please make sure the Campers’ names are notated in the Match
Comment section of the loss report so they may get credit for their game.
EXCEPTION Rule
There are
exceptions to EVERY rule. Without exceptions, there would be a need for MORE
rules. In other words, if it is not written here or in the penalty guidelines,
it does NOT mean it is allowed. It does NOT mean you won't be
penalized/boxed/rung/banned just because it isn't written.
CAMPFIRE
PENALTY GUIDELINES: http://www.campfirespaders.com/penaltyguide.html