Highlander Season 16 Rules
All general ETF2L rules apply for this competition. In case of a conflict between a rule in this document and a general rule, the one in this document is to be followed.
1. Highlander Season 16
1.1 Division System
1.2 Playoffs
1.3 Map schedule
1.4 One mercenary allowed by default and up to 3 mercenaries if the opponent agrees
1.4.1 Perma-mercs are not allowed
1.5 Teams with 2 Default Losses will be expelled from the season
1.6 Teams are not allowed to use new players from week 5 onwards
1.7 Late matches are not allowed
1.8 Premiership only rules
1.8.1 SourceTV demos for premiership matches are mandatory
1.8.2 Premiership players must use their real nicknames
2.1.1 Gamemode: 9on9, classlimit 1
2.1.2 Rosters must have a minimum of 9 and a maximum of 20 players
2.1.3 Minimum of 8 players needed to play a match
2.2.1 Some set hats are not allowed. Other hats and miscs are allowed.
2.2.2 All item reskins are allowed.
1. Highlander Season 16
1.1 Division System
All teams will be split into different Tiers according to their skill level, past season results and stability. In the highest Tiers Premiership and High, teams will play everyone in a Round Robin format. In the remaining Tiers, every team will play 5 fixtures against similarly skilled opponents over 2 maps in a Swiss-Style System.
Three points will be awarded for each map won. No points are given for a loss. In case of a draw a decider round will be played, where 2 points will be given for a win and 1 point for a loss (see general rules 4.1.3 and 4.5.3). League points are awarded purely by winning maps, the number of captures has no effect on league points themselves. Captures only determine which team wins a map.
1.2 Playoffs
Maps will be chosen by the teams using the Map Elimination system [Explanation].
Teams tied for the #1-3 spots in Premiership or the playoff spots in their respective Tier will be split using the following methods.
- Head-to-Head record (If applicable)
- Sonneborn Berger Score
- Rounds scored
If the first method does not split the teams, the second method will be used. If the second method does not split the teams, the third method will be used.
1.3 Map Schedule
The list of maps played in the Season can be found on the Season Hub Page once announced.
1.4 One mercenary allowed by default and up to 3 mercenaries if the opponent agrees
One mercenary is allowed by default and up to 3 mercenaries are allowed if the opposing team agrees. In order for your mercenary to be allowed by default, he cannot be more experienced than the tier the match is being played in. Experience in other leagues is included. Opponents can allow exceptions. To use more than one mercenary, you will need specific approval from the opponent for each mercenary.
A player counts as “experienced” in the tier if, during the current season or in the prior three seasons, they played three or more officials in that tier. For example, for Season 16 experience, we will look at matches during season 16, as well as games in Season 13, 14, and 15. If a player is on a roster of a team in a higher tier than the match in question, he cannot be claimed as a default merc.
6v6 experience is considered equal to highlander experience, for Season 16 we will look at 6v6 seasons 27-30. Other leagues are included in experience. UGC HL Plat is considered to be high and as such players with plat experience are not allowed to default merc in mid, Gold and Silver are considered to be Mid. This applies to all regions of UGC. We do not count UGC 6v6 or 4v4 experience. As there is no way to check UGC player history, as such the three game threshold does not apply for UGC experience. For example, if a player was rostered on a UGC Platinum team in the last three seasons they will be counted as a player with high experience in ETF2L.
Use the match page to present mercenaries and ask for allowance. Even the default merc has to be presented, so that your opponents can make sure he is not too experienced. If you wish to contest the default allowance of a mercenary, please contact an admin (support page), so that he may decide whether or not the mercenary is too experienced.
All mercenaries have to be registered on ETF2L. Teams caught using an unregistered mercenary, or a mercenary without their opponent’s permission, will receive a warning and possibly a default loss.
1.4.1 Perma-mercs are not allowed
A player can only be used as a merc 3 times for one and the same team per season (regardless of the player being an approved or default-merc). If a player has been used as a merc 3 times for a team already they aren’t allowed to join the team in question. After the fourth match as a merc for the same team, the player is considered a perma-merc.
If a player is caught or reported perma-mercing, we will review the case and decisions made will be at the full discretion of the admin team and all circumstances will be taken into account. Note: in accordance with General Rule 2.3, only one team change per competition is tolerated.
1.5 Teams with 2 Default Losses will be expelled from the season
If a team receives a Default Loss twice, they will be expelled from the league for the running season.
1.6 Teams are not allowed to use new players from week 5 onwards
Teams may not add new players to their roster from week 5 onwards. If the opponent agrees, the players may be used as mercs.
1.7 Late matches are not allowed
Every match has to be played and submitted within its week’s deadline. If the results for Mid and Open matches are not submitted by Friday, 23:59, a minor warning will be applied. This warning will not be removed, even if the match has been played.
1.8 Premiership only rules
These rules under 1.8 are for premiership matches only and are in place to improve the professionalism and coverage of the top tier of ETF2L.
1.8.1 SourceTV demos for premiership matches are mandatory
For every match in the premiership division it is mandatory to upload SourceTV demos for all maps played. The responsibility to upload the demos is on the team that owns the server or, if the server is owned by neither team, on the team that arranged the server.
In case of a technical failure of the server, the demo does not have to be uploaded, if it can be proven.
Failure to upload the demo within 72 hours is punished with a minor warning for the responsible team. The warning can be removed, if the demo is provided until the deadline of the season’s catch up week. Repeated offenses will be punished with a minor warning each.
1.8.2 Premiership players must use their real nicknames
All players who play a match in the Premiership division must play with their ETF2L nickname. Team tags and sponsorship additions are allowed. The nickname should be easily recognizable at a glance. Each incorrect nickname will warrant a separate minor warning; a team can receive this punishment multiple times per game.
Premiership players are not allowed to change their ETF2L nickname while the relevant season is underway.
1.8.3 Default Dates in Premiership Playoffs and Tiebreakers
All teams must submit 3 available days for a playoff match at least 2 days before the start of the match week (i.e. before Friday 23:59). If the days submitted by both teams overlap, the default date is issued to one of the overlapping days based on admin discretion. If the days submitted by teams do not overlap, the default date is issued to the day not submitted by either team.
1.8.4 Penalties during Premiership Playoffs and Tiebreakers
Specific Minor and Major Warnings now result in a cut of any prize money in that specific competition. A Minor Warning results in 10% of any cash prize won being docked. A Major Warning results in 30% being docked. Please note admin discretion is applied to every single case related to penalties in the Premiership Playoffs. Only specific Minor and Major Warnings are applied to this rule, they include but are not limited to:
- Flaming (Minor and Major)
- No results after deadline
- Using an unapproved merc
- Using an unlisted player
- Violation of the Class Limits
- Nickname rule violation
- Fraud Attempt
- Using a banned player
- Cheating
- Scheduling Violation
- Missing, wrong, or incomplete status screenshot
As a special rule, forfeiting or not showing up to a match in the Premiership Playoffs is punishable by 50% of any cash prize being docked.
2. 9V9 HIGHLANDER RULES
2.1.1 Gamemode: 9on9, classlimit 1
The Highlander gamemode is played 9on9 with a general classlimit of 1. While classlimit 1 is not forced by the config, teams are expected to follow the classlimit at all times during the game. Teams may not have more than one of a class outside the spawn room. The only allowed case of swapping class is to forward spawn. Any other case can be punished depending on the circumstances.
2.1.2 Rosters must have a minimum of 9 and a maximum of 20 players
The roster must consist of a minimum of 9 players to be eligible to sign up to competitions. Teams must also adhere to a maximum of 20 players or will risk losing their right to a participation item.
2.1.3 Minimum of 8 players needed to play a match
If you are not able to field 9 players you can choose to play 8 vs 9. If you are not able to field 8 players, a default win will be given to the opposing team.
Weapons released during the season are banned until explicitly stated otherwise.
2.2.1 Hats and misc items allowed; Bombinomicon banned
Hats and misc items are allowed. Unique and unusual hats are also allowed. The Bombinomicon is banned. For a full list of banned hats/miscs, check the whitelist.tf link above.
If an opponent uses a banned hat during your match, you are to pause the match and ask for the player to remove it. If the opponent refuses to remove the hat, you have the right to stop the match and contact an admin with evidence to claim a default win
2.2.2 Weapon Reskins allowed
All weapon reskins (Lugermorph, Holy Mackerel, Original, Frying Pan, Iron Curtain, Golden Wrench, Big Kill, Enthusiast’s Timepiece, “Festive” stock weapons, …) are allowed.
2.2.3 Taunts
Only default weapon taunts and taunts with fixed durations are allowed. For details, check the whitelist.tf link above.
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