Rules Compendium

[BioLogIn]

This edition contains re-organized and updated rules of Spellweavers League, originally written by Master Slartucker.

Table of Contents:

1. Preamble
2. Common League Rules
3. Clan Rules
4. Four Clans

[BioLogIn]

PREAMBLE

The League of Spell Weavers is an open community of Warlocks players who organize matches against each other, on a monthly basis, in this forum. The League provides some of the competitive fun of a tournament, but emphasizes "fun" more and "competitive" much less. You can play as casually as you like.

How the League Works
At the beggining of every month, the "Weaver" (the league organizer) randomly pairs all league members five times. You then fight one "league battle" with each other player you're paired with. A league battle is just like a regular battle, with one exception: every month there is a special league monthly rule that must be followed throughout the league battle. (For example: "You may not cast Finger of Death" or "Goblins may not be targetted with Magic Missile" or "You may not open P/D.")

If you don't have time for all the battles, that's okay -- battles you don't start or don't finish are ignored.

At the end of the month, results are tallied. Every month, you will earn +10 points for a win and -10 for a loss. Some months, there may be also be a scoring rule that allows you to earn points another way, such as "+4 for casting Delay Effect" or "+2 for each monster you kill."

The player who did the best is named the High Champion. If you join a clan (see the "Clan Rules" thread) you will also contribute towards your clan's score. The clan that does the best is given a chance to shape the league rule for the next month.

How To Join
Just post your warlock's name in the "Registration" thread. We welcome all warlocks in the League of Spell Weavers!
Please note that joining the League and joining a Clan are two independent actions. One may undertake any (or both) of them.

[BioLogIn]

COMMON LEAGUE RULES

League Battles
League battles can begin as soon as pairings are posted on the 1st of the month. The deadline for score reporting is when the Weaver tallies initial scores, which is the 26th of the month. This is also called the Hour of Mist (see below).

League battles can use whatever settings both players agree on for a 2 player battle. In case players have different preferences for an individual setting, they default as follows: Fast, Very Friendly, Maladroit, ParaFC, NOT ParaFDF.

If you accidentally break the league rule, you should surrender immediately. Similarly, if you play much slower than your opponent and don't finish a game in time, you should consider surrendering.

Whenever you finish a battle, you need to post the results in the appropriate thread -- it's too hard to keep track of otherwise. You are responsible for posting results; if you do not, we cannot guarantee you will get credit for them!

If it is nearly the end of the month and your battle has been proceeding at a reasonable speed but just hasn't ended yet, you can report it in the results thread as "UNFINISHED" and claim any points you may have earned from the special rule. This is optional, however. And of course, if one player is at a huge disadvantage, the truly honorable thing is for them to surrender.

The Honor System
The League relies on the honor system. Players are expected to behave honorably and respectfully, i.e., not to cheat, stall, or manipulate the system. Having other people play for you (or asking them what you should do) is also considered cheating.

In the unlikely event that somebody does those things, or plays one move a week and won't surrender, etc., the "Unraveller", an impartial warlock who is not playing in the league, can be called in to intervene. However, this is a last resort.

"Coaching" vs. Cheating
In league battles, warlocks are expected to represent themselves only. It's not fair to get help from your fellow clan members -- your opponent is not matched up with them, she's matched up with you.

"Coaching" would mean either discussing spellflow patterns in general, or discussing past battles (or earlier parts of ongoing battles). That's completely OK and even encouraged.

Guidelines for making League Rules

1) Above all, league rules should be fun and interesting.

2) League rules need to be simple enough that a newer player will be able to follow them without too much trouble.

3) League rules must treat all players equally. They cannot have different effects based on clan membership or anything external to the game.

4) League rules cannot require undue effort, such as requiring players to have telepathy and/or communicate before entering moves. This means that if you want to implement a new spell, it can't have ANY effect the turn it is cast, including bouncing with mindspells and the like (since resolving that correctly requires said telepathy), but it can do whatever you want the turn after it is cast. Obviously, it can only affect things that are under the players' control; you can't make a new spell that deals direct damage, for example.

(This restriction is likely to become obsolete, but for now, we're keeping things simple.)

5) League rules cannot affect the number of players in a battle or require battles to be Friendly or Ladder. The other settings (maladroit, parafc, parafdf) are fair game.

If a rule does not meet these guidelines the Weaver or Unraveller will ask for a replacement rule. In the event that no appropriate rule is submitted by the beginning of the month, the Weaver or Unraveller will create a very simple rule themselves.

[BioLogIn]

CLAN RULES

The League is composed of four clans -- groups of warlocks who work together to try and harness the power of the Black Orb. Each clan has its own history, its own leaders, its own style, and its own goals. Each month, one clan accrues more honour in the battles of the league and is given influence over the Orb for the following month.

Additionally, each clan has its own, private subforum which only its members can enter.

Clans are a completely optional, but recommended part of the League. You can participate fully in the league without joining a clan. You can also join a clan even if you don't play in the league.
If you want to join a clan, contact this Clan Elder to begin the process of joining (getting approval, fighting duels, etc.). Should you pass the trials, you'll become a Clan member after the Hour of Mist.
Please note that you cannot join two or more Clans.

SCORING
Two warlocks help to organize the league. The first is called the Weaver; he is the main secretary responsible for computing scores, organizing threads, and so on. In order to make the league more sustainable, the Weaver is allowed to participate just like anybody else. Because of this, another warlock -- somebody who is not participating in the league -- is named the Unraveller. The Unraveller is the final judge and arbiter of any dispute that may arise.

Current Weaver: BioLogIn
Current Unraveller: Slartucker

Each month, the Weaver tallies several tables of scores. Based on those scores, several titles are handed out. These positions last for one month only, and then the titles are doled out anew.

1. Individual Scores
High Champion -- to the warlock with the highest individual score; ties resolved by differentials

2. Intra-Clan Individual Scores (for each clan)
Champion -- to the warlock with the highest individual score; each clan has its own rule for resolving ties
Daimon -- a title with spiritual significance, each clan has its own rule for bestowing the title of Daimon
Elder -- each clan has its own rule for bestowing the title of Elder, but typically this is the clan's founder and does not change on a monthly basis

Clans may have other internal positions as well, but only these three are publicized by the Weaver. Occasionally, league events may be open to titled warlocks -- for example, a round robin Daimon tourney for clan honor (and additional league points).

3. Clan Scores
These scores are determined by summing the scores of every clan member. The clan with the highest score is named the High Clan and given influence over the next month's league rule by the Weaver. Each clan has its own rules for which clan members participate in the process of choosing a rule; some base it on certain of the above clan titles.

4. Versus Scores
The Versus Scores are different from the other three scoreboards in one very important way: they do NOT reset at the end of every month. Instead, new scores are added to the old ones.

Versus Scores consist of the sum of all games played between the members of two different clans. Thus, each clan will have three different Versus Scores.

Versus Scores have no specific month-to-month consequence, but many longer-term implications for the role-playing piece of the league. Note that because pairings are assigned 100% randomly, without regard to clan membership, the number of battles influencing a particular Versus Score might vary widely from month to month. This is intentional, as it adds an element of uncontrollable pacing and punctuated equilibrium to the RP.

MONTHLY TIMELINE
1st -- Weaver posts pairings and league rule. Battles may begin.
26th -- Weaver tallies reported battles and posts initial results. (Hour of Mist)
28th -- Deadline for reporting any clan changes (new daimons, results of any required votes, new or departing members, etc) to Weaver and Unraveller. Weaver posts final results and Unraveller updates clans.
Last day of the month -- Deadline for the High Clan to send its league rule to the Weaver.

[BioLogIn]

FOUR CLANS

The Guild of the Black Art concerns itself with the expansion of knowledge and the education of new warlocks. The Guild will accept any warlock as an apprentice. Its democratic charter tends to encourage the increase of both strategic understanding, and bureaucracy. A clan for warlocks who are thoughtful and patient. The other clans deride the Guild as weak and uncompetitive.
Clan Elder: Freesoul

The Isle is a group of warlocks who care about only one thing: winning. And wielding power. And beating other warlocks to a pulp. Okay, that's three things, but you get the idea. The Isle favors the survival of the fittest, and rewards the fittest greatly. It is a clan for warlocks who are competitive and confident. The other clans dismiss the Isle as a cruel and rash place.
Clan Elder: Xade

The Order of Paramancers displays a religious devotion to paralysis, and seeks to share the joy of paralysis with the rest of the hell-plane. The rest of the hell-plane doesn't always see it as a joy, though, and the Paramancers -- at once ruthless and jolly in their choice of tactics -- are generally regarded as an odd bunch.
Clan Elder: Succat

Finally, in the shadow of the Black Orb, the Black Rose has bloomed again. This oldest of Warlocks covens has been reincarnated under a new banner. The new group is proud of its heritage and strives to uphold the same ideals of honor, integrity, and respectability. Black Rose consists mostly of veteran players who have been around for years. Some say that the rose has withered and that beneath its surface lies a seedy den of thieves, assassins, and elitists.
Clan Elder: Dubber

A quick, side-by-side comparison of the four clans:

CLAN	GUILD OF THE BLACK ART	THE ISLE	ORDER OF PARAMANCERS	BLACK ROSE
Main Concerns	Knowledge & Teaching	Power & Winning	Paralysis & Proselytizing	Honor & Prestige
Color	Black & Gold	Red	St. Patrick's Blue	Blood Purple
Meeting Place	The Dark Mute	The Isle	Frozen Finger Fortress	Heart of the Rose
Founding Elder	Freesoul	Xade	Succat	Dubber
Other Titles	Yes, lots	Defender (Chosen by vote)	—	—
Daimon chosen by	Old Daimon picks	Champion picks	Member who cast Paralysis the most	Most recent Black Rose Tourney winner
Ties broken by	Differential	Coin Flip	Seniority	Seniority
League Rule chosen by	Champion	Champion	Vote	Vote
Initiation Requirements	Apprentice (none) or full member (1600 Elo + challenge)	Ask (need approval) or demand (must win 3/4 of gauntlet)	Approval by Elder (use Para!)	Vote (need 2/3 majority)
Oath Required?	No	No	No	Yes
Sigil Required?	Yes	No	Yes	Yes