Format:

• Players will be seeded according to their ranked elo. Secondary elements such as performance in esports events may be taken into account.
• Based on total sign ups, players may need to initiatally compete in a double elimination Bo1 group stage. The final stage will be a single elimination Bo3 bracket.
  • If time permits, the grand finals can be switched to a Bo5.
• All matches must be observable and have at least a 1-minute in-game delay.
• Maps are drafted first, then Civs.
• Map restarts:
  • Each player has 1 restart for crashes before the 10-minute mark.
  • Each player has 1 restart per series for map generation before the 2-minute mark.
    • Bad map generation means a clearly broken (i.e. bugged) map. For example, entirely missing resources near your first town center.
    • If you call a restart for bad map generation, please contact the admin team and provide a screenshot for documentation.
  • If any crashes happen after 10 minutes, the replay will be reviewed with the following potential outcomes:
    • If both players crash: A restart is made.
    • If the Advantaged player crashed: The player is entitled to a restart.
    • If the disadvantaged player crashed: The player is given a loss.
    • If the state of advantage is unclear: The map is deemed a draw and a new map & civilizations draft is made.

Maps:

• Map Pool: See below
• First in order is the Higher seeded player.
• For Bo1, each player takes turns banning maps until one remains. That map will be played. You can simply ban in chat.
• For Bo3, each player first bans a map then picks a "home map", then takes turns banning the remaining maps until one remains. That map will be the starting map.
• For Bo5, each player bans a map the remaining maps are played.

Civilizations:

• Bans are player specific, not global
• Bo1:
• Draft Link B-PP-S
• Players each ban a civ.
• Players draft 2 civs each.
• They each snipe 1 from the other.
• The remaining civs are played.
• Bo3:
• Draft Link BB-PB-PB-P
• Players ban 2 civs each.
• Players draft a civ each.
• Players ban a civ each.
• Players each pick then ban again.
• Players do a final pick each.
• For each map do a blind pick from the pool you drafted.
• Players cannot pick a civilization they had already used within the series again.
• Bo5:
• Draft Link BB-PB-PB-PPPP
• Players ban 2 civs each.
• Players draft a civ each.
• Players ban a civ each.
• Players each pick then ban again.
• Players alternate picks 4 times.
• For each map do a blind pick from the pool you drafted.
• Players cannot pick a civilization they had already used within the series again.

Added Rules:

• Using Stone Walls in Age 2 (Feudal Age) is disallowed.
• Using any type of third party software is disallowed.
• Any other form of glitch/bug exploration is disallowed.