4 Conduct Infractions§
Conduct infractions are infractions of the player's conduct in relation to both the game and tournament rules and cover the general behavior expected of a player. Conduct infractions cover both intentional and unintentional behavior.
4.1 Unsporting Conduct§
Warning / Disqualification
The player, by their own action, displays negative, offensive, or disruptive behavior that affects the safety or enjoyment of others, and/or negatively affects the integrity or organization of the event.
Unsporting Conduct is subjective and relative to the context of the event and expectations set out by the Tournament Organizer; it is not the same as a lack of sporting conduct. Ultimately, the Head Judge determines what constitutes Unsporting Conduct during an event.
Philosophy
Participants of the tournament expect a safe and enjoyable environment, and that the integrity and operation of the tournament are upheld to a high standard. By acting in a way that infringes on that expectation, the player has infringed on the mission statement of Flesh and Blood. For physical abuse or threatening behavior, see [4.3].
4.1.1 Unsporting Conduct - Minor§
Warning
The player acts in a way that negatively impacts one or more people, or disrupts the organization of the tournament, but does not require investigation or further penalties to correct their behavior.
Examples:
- A player uses mild-moderate offensive language.
- A player intentionally kicks over a chair.
- A player does not pick up litter they have created.
- A player shoves other players while moving through a crowd.
- A player demands the Head Judge before being given a ruling from the Judge that first arrived at the table.
- A player demands that their opponent be given a Warning before a Judge can resolve the issue.
- A player ignores the instructions of a tournament official.
Procedure and Penalty
Deescalate the situation to ensure that the infringing behavior stops and the safety of other participants is ensured. Issue the player a Warning and educate them on their actions.
Upgrade: For repeated infractions, even for different reasons, an upgrade to IP2 then a Game Loss is recommended.
4.1.2 Unsporting Conduct - Major§
Disqualification
The player acts in a way that negatively impacts one or more people by making them feel harassed, scared, belittled, unsafe, or commits acts that disrupt the organization of the tournament.
Examples:
- A player makes a racial remark towards another person.
- A player harasses another person on social media during the event.
- A player takes photos of another person with malicious intent.
- A player wipes a card on their backside or crotch before playing it.
- A player makes another person feel unwelcome at an event because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
- A player continuously ignores or refuses to follow the instructions of a tournament official.
Procedure and Penalty
First and foremost, deescalate the situation to ensure that the infringing behavior stops and the safety of other participants is ensured. This typically involves ending the current match the player is involved in, separating them from other players by taking them to another area, and educating them on why their behavior is inexcusable and why they are being Disqualified.
4.2 Cheating§
Disqualification
The player, by their own intentional action or inaction, to their or a teammate's benefit, lies to a tournament official, breaks rules of the game or tournament, or intentionally ignores an infraction.
Specifically, the player must be intentionally trying to gain an advantage from their actions and they must be aware that their actions are prohibited. Both of these conditions must be met for the infraction to be considered Cheating. If either of these conditions is not met, then their actions are not considered cheating and the infraction would fall under a different category.
Examples:
- A player lies to a Judge during an investigation, hoping to gain an advantage by the judges ruling.
- A player purposely swaps cards between the arsenal and their hand to gain an advantageous game state.
- A player swaps out cards in their limited card pool with cards they had brought with them to gain an advantageous deck.
- A player notices their opponent makes a rule-breaking mistake and intentionally stays silent to gain an advantage.
Procedure and Penalty
Issue the player a Disqualification.
Philosophy
Cheating is one of the most serious infractions a player can commit as it can completely compromise the integrity of the tournament.
4.3 Aggressive Behavior§
Disqualification
The player, by their own verbal or physical actions, makes others around them feel threatened.
Examples:
- A player threatens physical abuse to another player during a match.
- A player violently throws their own or another person's belongings.
- A player yells at and tries to intimidate a Judge when they are not happy with a ruling outcome.
- A player destroys or attempts to damage tournament materials, such as table or chairs.
- A player swears aggressively at their opponent during or after a match.
- A player tells their opponent that they're planning to ambush them after the event.
Procedure and Penalty
In all cases, the safety of every person is paramount. Deescalate the situation, disqualify the player, and have them leave the venue by the Tournament Organizer.
Philosophy
Aggressive behavior is distinct from Unsporting Conduct in that it involves physical harm or the threat of physical harm that compromises the safety of the tournament. There is no tolerance for physical abuse or intimidation at any kind of event.
4.4 Improperly Determining a Winner§
Game Loss
The player, by their own action, uses or offers to use a method other than playing the game to its conclusion to determine the winning player. This includes manipulating an opponent into conceding a match based on the outcome of such a method.
Examples:
- A player convinces the opponent they can determine the winner based on a coin flip after time is called in the round and the opponent reluctantly agrees.
- Both players agree that the one with the highest life total at the end of the match is the winner of the game in order to avoid a draw.
- A player remarks on how terrible a draw is and that they should just declare a winner because losing is better than a draw anyway (losses are not better than draws for an individual).
Procedure and Penalty
Issue the player a Game Loss. If both players commit the infraction, issue a double Game Loss. If the time in the round has expired or the match has concluded with an official result, issue the player(s) a Game Loss for their next round instead.
Philosophy
If the player offers or accepts an incentive to determine the outcome of a match, it is considered Bribery.[6.4] If the player knows that Improperly Determining a Winner is an infraction, it is considered Cheating.[6.2]
4.5 Bribery§
Disqualification
The player, by their own action, offers or accepts an incentive to concede or otherwise change the outcome of a game or match.
Examples:
- A player offers their opponent cash to concede.
- A player offers their opponent a split of their eventual prizes to concede.
- A player offers to concede at a later date for a concession now.
- A player offers to concede if they get a cut of the cash prize.
- A group of players negotiates who should concede to get players in certain positions in the tournament standings.
Procedure and Penalty
Issue the player a Disqualification.
Downgrade: If the player commits this infraction out of ignorance, downgrade to a Game Loss.
Philosophy
Bribery in the game of Flesh and Blood is strictly prohibited as it disrupts the integrity of the tournament. Players are free to discuss and negotiate prize splits and the handling of prizes after the tournament has concluded, as long as does not influence the match result.
4.6 Betting§
Disqualification
The player, by their own action, places or offers bets on an aspect of the tournament outcome, match outcome, or any part of a tournament or match.
Bets do not need to be of monetary value to be considered betting.
Examples:
- Two or more spectators bet \$10 that a specific player will win the current match.
Procedure and Penalty
Issue the player a Disqualification.
Downgrade: If the player commits this infraction out of ignorance, downgrade to a Game Loss.
Philosophy
Betting in the game of Flesh and Blood is strictly prohibited as it disrupts the integrity of the tournament.
4.7 Theft§
Disqualification
The player, by their own action, steals tournament materials or steals another person's belongings.
Examples:
- A player secretly drops cards from the opponent's deck on the floor and hides them with the intent of theft.
- A player steals tablecloths or table numbers off a table.
- A player is given prizes, then says to tournament officials that they did not receive prizes with the intent of trying to get more.
Procedure and Penalty
Issue the player a Disqualification.
Downgrade: In cases where there is miscommunication or ignorance involved and the player returns the item, the Head Judge may downgrade to a Warning.
Philosophy
Players are responsible for their own possessions, but players enter a tournament with the expectation that the material they bring will be safe within reason. Theft of a person's belongings or tournament materials compromises the expectation of safety of the tournament and is strictly prohibited. Judges are encouraged to aid in the investigation of stolen materials.
4.8 Stalling§
Disqualification
The player, by their own action, intentionally slows down the pace of the game to take advantage of a round time limit.
Examples:
- A player has a weapon that cost
to activate and 1 card in hand with pitch value
- A player is ahead in the game and starts to play significantly slower as it gets closer to the end of the round, making it very hard for the opponent to have a chance of winning.
- A player who repetitively checks either player's graveyard in a single turn without progressing the game with the intention of running down the clock.
Procedure and Penalty
Issue the player a Disqualification. Educate the player that taking advantage of time limits is strictly prohibited and disqualify them from the tournament.
Philosophy
Stalling is differentiated from Slow Play by the intent of the player. Stalling assumes the player is intentionally playing slow to gain a tournament advantage. If it's deemed the player is not intentionally playing slow, see [5.7]
4.9 Improper Concession§
Game Loss
A player, by their own action, asks for a concession or concedes a match after time is called (after taking an action).
Suggesting or pressuring an opponent to concede or to end the game/match, in any form, is considered to be asking for a concession.
Examples:
- A player who is worried about the game becoming a draw due to time asks the opponent to concede so at least one of them wins.
- After the game is a draw due to time, a player reveals the cards in their hand and tells the opponent that they would have won with another turn, in order to coerce them into conceding.
- A player tells the opponent "Come on, man, don't defend my attack here and let's finish the game" in an effort to get the opponent to end the game by losing.
Procedure and Penalty
Issue the player a Game Loss. If the time in the round has expired or the match has concluded with an official result, issue the player a Game Loss for the next round instead.
Downgrade: If the player commits this infraction out of ignorance, downgrade to a Warning.
Upgrade: For repeat infractions of asking a player to concede, upgrade to a Disqualification.
Philosophy
Players have the right to play the game of Flesh and Blood without being pressured to concede in consideration of their opponent. Asking for a concession, or pressuring a player to concede or end the game, leads to a poor play experience. Players may concede of their own volition up to when time in the round expires, but may not concede after they have taken an action thereafter. Conceding based on the outcome of a method other than playing the game is considered Improperly Determining a Winner ([4.4]). Offering or accepting an incentive to concede is considered Bribery ([6.4]).
4.10 Rules Sharking§
Warning
A player, by their own actions, prevents an opponent from interacting with the game when they can legally do so or leads their opponent to commit an infraction.
Methodical or pedantic play is not considered Rules Sharking unless the intention is discerned to be malicious. The Head Judge determines what constitutes Rules Sharking during their event.
Examples:
- A player tells their opponent to "Hurry up and finish your turn.", then when the opponent declares the end of their turn the player immediately calls a judge for an opponent's missed trigger.
- A player immediately declares blocking cards, after an opponent plays an attack, then the player tells the opponent they've missed their attack trigger and calls a judge.
- The player immediately says "No blocks, no reactions" after an opponent plays an attack, then prevents the opponent from playing an attack reaction by saying "It's too late, we're already in the damage step."
- The player says "Aren't you forgetting something?" and gestures to their opponent's pitch zone during the middle of the turn, then when the opponent puts their pitched cards on the bottom of the deck the player says "You can't put those cards away yet" and calls a judge.
Procedure and Penalty
Issue the player a Warning.
Downgrade: If the accusation of Rules Sharking is purely speculative, downgrade to a Caution and educate the player on the expectation of play.
Upgrade: If the player has shown a pattern of behavior to maliciously and intentionally lead their opponent(s) to miss windows of opportunity or to break the rules, upgrade to a Game Loss.
Philosophy
Players are expected to communicate their actions clearly and to give each other a reasonable opportunity to follow the game rules. When a player intentionally influences the opponent to miss an opportunity to interact with the game, or to commit an infraction, they may gain an advantage as a result of the game state, or the procedures and penalties recommended for that infraction.
When a judge rules for a player to receive the penalty for Rules Sharking, they should inform the player that if they do not play in a less suspicious manner they may be receiving an upgrade. When upgrading, they should have clear evidence of the Rules Sharking infraction on hand, through interviewing the involved players and/or spectators.
When making a ruling involving Rules Sharking, if it is a case where the player attempts to pass priority for both players and the opponent makes an automated response to this attempt, thereby missing a trigger, the window and/or trigger are considered to not be missed.
4.11 Fraud§
Disqualification
The player, by their own action, intentionally misrepresents their identity, participation, or results in a tournament, or allows another player to claim their identity for a tournament.
If the Tournament Organizer allows a player to be substituted into a tournament for another player, it is not considered fraud.
Examples:
- A player is already playing in a tournament but is registered for another tournament at the same time. They allow a friend to participate under their name instead.
- A player is late to a tournament, so another player pretends to be them to prevent a tardiness penalty in the first round.
- A player is not registered for a tournament, but tries to play in the tournament by taking the place of a player who has not shown up.
Procedure and Penalty
Issue the player a Disqualification. Educate the player about the proper procedures for the tournament and that misrepresenting themselves or another person in a tournament is unacceptable.
Philosophy
Players are expected to only represent themselves throughout the tournament. By claiming the identity of another player, tournament integrity can be damaged.