snowblindfrogWe expect Platinum teams to set an example of fairness and good sportsmanship and not to force an outcome through being a rules lawyer. MF9K was in the wrong for unpausing the match (after 7 minutes) when they did not initiate the pause in the first place. Is there a specifically written rule for this? No, and there shouldn't have to be. Engaging in a dialogue with the other team, ascertaining how much longer they needed to recover their players and being flexible with them to ensure a fair match is played is a show of good sportsmanship and I shouldn't have to tell that to anyone..let alone Platinum players. The 5 minute pause rule is a guideline and not one that we have ever enforced (to the minute) in any division...let alone in a Plat match with a direct monetary outcome. All rules (including this one) are subject to Head Admin interpretation and each match dispute is reviewed on a case by case basis.
What should have happened is that both teams got an admin innovated as this issue was occurring live. Had I been engaged I would have spoke with GC to find out how long they needed to get 9 back and would have allowed them to pause for up to 15 minutes. I don't believe that is remotely unreasonable to allow in the interest of fair play. Had they not been able to recover their 9 players then I would have allowed them to postpone the round that this occurred in to make it up the next night. Would I have done this in a regular season match in Iron? Probably not. But this is the playoffs. Do you think ESEA would allow a win at LAN over a technicality like pausing for a few too many minutes?
Initially I stated that MF9K's attack time of 8:59 was still in place and GC would get the chance to redo. But after talking wth Stabby, I agreed to his request to allow a full round redo. The clock time should be set by the players who are there at the time the round is played. So I agreed to allow MF9K to replay their attack round with the chance to set a better time.
I think we have been more than reasonable in our handling of this situation.
So what would you have done if a couple players were getting potentially temporarily ddosed? What if someone happened to lag? What if it wasn't as cut and dry as 3 people crashing outright? What if the team was losing and wanted a round overturned and decided to pull their modems? How would you know? That's why rules are in place and until you get a lan where you can have on site control and enforcement, the documented rules should be followed. If they aren't good enough to just enforce to the letter, revise them. Law gets amended all the time. I dont really care who wins this but what's the point of having rules if they don't matter?