Mettlestate

Event Rules


General rules

1. Global Rules

1.1. General

The league administration has the right to decide outside or even against the rulebook in special cases to guarantee fair play.

1.2. Code of Conduct

Every participant has to behave with respect towards the representatives of Mettlestate, press, viewers, partners, and other players. The participants are requested to represent esports, Mettlestate, and their Sponsors honourably. This applies to behaviour in-game and in chats, messengers, comments, and other media. We expect players to conduct themselves according to the following values:

  • Compassion: treat others as you would be treated.
  • Integrity: Be honest, be committed, play fair.
  • Respect: Show respect to all other humans, including teammates, competitors, and event staff.
  • Courage: Be courageous in competition and in standing up for what is right.

Participants must not engage in harassment or hate speech in any form. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Hate speech, offensive behaviour, or verbal abuse related to sex, gender identity, and expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disability, physical appearance, body size, age, or religion.
  • Stalking or intimidation (physically or online).
  • Spamming, raiding, hijacking, or inciting disruption of streams or social media.
  • Posting or threatening to post other people’s personally identifying information (“doxing”).
  • Unwelcome sexual attention. This includes unwelcome sexualized comments, jokes, and sexual advances.
  • Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behaviour. Please refer to the AnyKey Keystone Code to learn more about good sporting behaviour. Refer to the ESIC Code of Conduct for detailed conduct rules and penalties

Violation of this Code may include disqualification or banning from future Mettlestate events.

1.2.1. Insults and offensive behaviour

All insults that happen during a Mettlestate match, or on Mettlestate platforms, may be punished. This includes but is not limited to in-game chat of the corresponding game, guestbooks, forums, Match- or News-Comments, Mettlestate messages, Match-Chat, game ID's. Insults that happen on external messengers are not taken into account.

Severe incidents including, but not limited to the following points, may be punished in other ways:

  • Extremist statements
  • Threat of violence
  • Sexual harassment
  • Stalking
  • Severe insults
  • Pornographic linking

The right to appeal is only with the injured.

1.2.2. Spamming

The excessive posting of futile, annoying, or offensive contributions within Mettlestate is considered spamming. Spamming on the website (forums, player comments, support- and protest pages, etc) is penalized as follows:

  • Written warning for the first offense
  • 1-week ban for the second spamming incident.
  • 2-week ban for the third spamming incident.
  • 3-week ban for the fourth and any further spamming incidents.

The decisive factor, therefore, is the number of active penalties for spamming.

1.2.3. Public behaviour

All participants shall abstain, at all times, from poor, undesirable, or negative behaviour towards anybody involved with the tournament in any way.

All participants shall abstain, at all times, from any action or inaction that brings anybody involved with the tournament in any way into public disrepute, contempt, scandal, or ridicule or reduces the public relations or commercial value of any involved party. This includes derogatory comments aimed at Mettlestate, its partners, or products in interviews, statements, and/or social media channels.

1.3. Matches, competitions, meetings

In all competitions, there should be a fair playing field for all players. Every encounter, whether a ladder match or other competition, must be played according to the rules until it is complete and the result on the Mettlestate page entered, or at events the result sheet is completed. Any encounter that did not take place, should be deleted. Matches will be opened only by admins to delete exceptions. Matches that did not take place will be considered fake matches and will be punished. It is not allowed for participants to bet on matches in their competition. Betting against yourself (in team leagues: against your team) will get you (in team leagues: your team) disqualified and the betting player(s) banned.

Players and teams that are already qualified for or participating in an event (e.g. Pro Series or any offline event) or the later stages of a tournament (e.g. Open/Challenger Series) are not allowed to participate in any of its ongoing or upcoming qualifiers. In the case of a player or team breaching this rule, they will be disqualified from the current qualifier and may face further punishment, up to and including disqualification from the event.

1.4. Game/client

In general, all programs which are not part of the original game, including custom data and modifications, are not allowed in any Mettlestate game. All external voice programs are allowed (e.g. Discord, Teamspeak, Ventrilo, etc.). Scripts and changes to the game's configuration are allowed unless they are partly or completely forbidden by the league-specific rules. Programs that provide an advantage during gameplay (e.g. drivers that allow the removing of walls) are forbidden. Any programs that change the game itself are forbidden.

1.5. Game Coverage

Mettlestate reserves exclusive right to the coverage of Mettlestate matches. This includes all forms of transmission, including IRC Bots, Shoutcast-streams, HLTV, and Mettlestate Twitch Broadcasts. Mettlestate can assign the coverage rights of a match or several matches to a third party or the actual players themselves. In this case, terms and conditions would have to be arranged with the Mettlestate management before the match.

In general, Mettlestate will contact any player or team if they wish to broadcast one of their matches. If no contact is made, individual players are allowed to arrange their broadcasts. Should the game take place on a server that Mettlestate administrators have no direct access to, it must be made sure that enough slots are available for the according to clients.

1.6. Internal Texts

All texts written in either protest or support tickets or written by the administrators to members of a certain league or tournament, cannot be published without the permission of Mettlestate.

1.7. Language

The official language of this national section is English. All players should be able to communicate in English and to do so.

2. Fraud/deception

2.1. Deception

The attempt to deceive admins or other players with wrong or fake statements, information, or data will not be tolerated.

2.2. Other unauthorized offenses

Including but not limited to the abusing of bugs on the website. These penalties are at the discretion of the responsible admin and are penalized according to severity.

2.3. Cheating

All forms of cheating in Mettlestate matches are forbidden and will be penalized by Mettlestate. Players found cheating outside Mettlestate may be barred from Mettlestate competitions, depending on the evidence available. Note, we do not accept publicly submitted demo or screenshot evidence in these cases. Should it become known to Mettlestate administrators that any form of cheating was used to the advantage of a player or a team during a Mettlestate match, Mettlestate reserves the right to punish them to the full extent of the rules available. By breaking any rule, a player risks being barred or completely excluded from a specific league or all leagues. This also includes their team.

The use of programs (or "hacks") or other methods to circumvent, modify or in any way manipulate Mettlestate Anticheat is forbidden. Any use of such programs or methods will be punished as cheating. Even testing of such programs or methods in a match not happening within the Mettlestate will be punished.

2.3.1. Distribution of cheats

Contributing to the distribution of cheats in any way is not allowed on Mettlestate. This includes but is not limited to referring to the name, website, or logo of cheats anywhere on Mettlestate, such as player profiles, team profiles, forums, comments, guest book entries, etc.

Violating this rule will be punished from a warning up to exclusion from Mettlestate competitions.

2.3.2. Cheating Sanctions

Disqualification from the tournament results voided, forfeiture of prize money, ban between 2 years and lifetime depending on age and level of player and nature/size of tournament and how the player cheated. Cheating at a professional level (i.e. where qualification for a professional event is at stake) should normally result in a 5-year ban, but, in aggravating circumstances, can result in a lifetime ban.

2.3.3. Rehabilitation

Nevertheless, first offenders willing to intensively deal with their situation can get a second chance. This will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis with Mettlestate management.

2.4. Match-Fixing/betting fraud

Engaging in any action that improperly influences the outcome of a game or match by any means.

2.4.1. Match-Fixing Sanctions

Results voided, 5-year ban unless significant mitigating factors or, in the presence of aggravating circumstances, a longer ban, forfeiture of prize money, and monetary fine (if discovered before the end of a tournament, disqualification).

2.5. Doping

Any kind of doping is forbidden.

2.5.1. Prescribed medication

If players have an active prescription for a substance on the WADA list, they must send proof to the tournament administration before the first day of the tournament (deadline in local time). They may still be subject to a doping test, but a positive result for the prescribed substance will be disregarded.

2.5.2. Doping Sanctions

Mild cases of doping will be punished with a warning for the participant. Severe cases (i.e. use of drugs containing performance-enhancing substances, like Adderall) will be punished as follows: Results voided, ban of between 1 and 2 years, forfeiture of prize money (if discovered before the end of a tournament, disqualification).

2.6. Competition manipulation and bribery

Bribing or attempting to bribe a referee or organizer, or trying to manipulate the competition.

2.6.1. Competition manipulation and bribery Sanctions

Results voided, ban of between 1 and 2 years, forfeiture of prize money, and monetary fine (if discovered before the end of a tournament, disqualification)

2.7. Second and subsequent offenses

For second and subsequent offenses, participants should expect far harsher sanctions and in all likelihood a lifetime ban from esports.

3. Accounts

3.1. Player

A Mettlestate Account can only be created if the user is at least six years old. When registering, each player must provide an up-to-date and correct email address, and it is the player’s responsibility to keep this up to date. To play in a ladder, a method of contact must be available and visible to all users in your player profile.

3.1.1. Multi-Accounts

Each player in Mettlestate must only have one account! If a player cannot access his account and then creates a new one, then he/she must open a support ticket explaining in detail the reason for not being able to access the account.

3.1.2. Nicknames, Team Names, and URL Aliases

We reserve the right to edit Nicknames and/or URL aliases if they fail to comply with the following requirements.

Nicknames/aliases are forbidden if they:

  • are protected by third-party rights and the user has no written permission
  • resemble or if they are identical to a brand or trademark, no matter whether it has been registered or not
  • resemble or if they are identical to a real person other than themselves
  • use names of Mettlestate Gaming products
  • resemble or if they are identical to the names of Mettlestate employees
  • are nonsense

In addition to the above, any nicknames/team names/aliases that are purely commercial (e.g. product names), defamatory, pejorative, offensive, vulgar, obscene, anti-Semitic, inciting hatred, or offending against good manners are forbidden. Using alternative spelling, gibberish, or wrong spelling to avoid the requirements mentioned above is illegal. We reserve the right to extend, change, exchange or delete these rules if necessary.

3.1.3. Country

A player's country must be set to their country of residence. Deliberately faking the country of residence is punishable.

If a player's country of residence is changed to avoid any country restrictions or if the player is trying to fake or abuse, they will be punished with 2 penalty points. If the player does so and plays in a team match, the team will get 3 penalty points and the match is deleted.

3.1.4. Account sharing

Each Mettlestate account is strictly personal and cannot be shared with other Mettlestate users and/or other players that do not have a Mettlestate account. Failure to comply with this rule will result in a ban of up to 6 months. 

The original registrant must always be the final user of the account, which cannot be lent or transferred in any case. This will be considered as account sharing or multi-account and pursued according to Mettlestate rules.

3.2. Teams

A team's name does not have to be unique, but Mettlestate reserves the right to refuse clans with the same or similar names as a well-known clan (e.g. If you named your team “Dimitri’s Boys" or “Dimitris Bois” etc, that would not be allowed).

Names that are restricted by law will not be accepted and will be deleted if found. Also, names that go against all forms of etiquette and good manners will not be accepted.

The logo must represent the team and have some reference to the team's name or the team's short handle. Copyrighted logos or logos which go against etiquette and good manners will not be accepted.

3.2.1. Changing team names

A team can change its name at any time. This also applies when a team is restructured.

Changing a team's name to fool other teams is forbidden. Extremely long names or consistent changing of team names is prohibited and can be punished.

3.2.2. Players in the team

A player may only play for one team in a tournament or league. Participants in a Mettlestate Pro Series may not also play in the Mettlestate Open Series underneath it.

3.2.3. Sponsors/partnerships

Mettlestate administration reserves the right to prohibit or remove teams with sponsors or partners that are solely or widely known for pornographic, drug use, or other adults/mature themes and products from partaking in Mettlestate events at any time.

3.2.4. MULTIPLE TEAM OWNERSHIP

No Team is permitted to be completely or partially owned or controlled by a person or entity that owns or controls another esports team or organisation participating in a Mettlestate tournament.

4. Participation in prize tournaments

Unless otherwise explicitly permitted, it is not allowed for employees of Mettlestate, its subsidiaries or partners, volunteer or contractor staff or employees that are in some way connected to a respective tournament including sponsors, publishers, or game developers, to participate in prize-winning tournaments, qualification for prize-winning tournaments or pro qualifiers.

Prize-winning means any tournaments with physical (e.g. hardware) or money prizes. Tournaments with only virtual Mettlestate awards, such as Mettlestate Mettalions or awards, are exempt.

In case you win prize money, depending on the payment method you choose, there might be fees. Mettlestate will cover the fees on the sender's end and the recipient will cover the fees on the recipient's end.

If in doubt, please contact support.

5. Prizes

Prizes cannot be exchanged for an alternate prize, cash, other items, vouchers or goods.  Where the prize is provided by a third party, Mettlestate will not be responsible for defects, incorrect prizes, or incorrect information.

  • Users are only eligible for VIP benefits if the user subscribed to the VIP model  prior to the start of the event in which they participated.
  • Please be aware of the processing period when withdrawing funds from your Mettlestate wallet. If you withdraw your funds before Wednesday, they will be processed on Wednesday and paid on Sunday evening. If you withdraw your funds after Wednesday, they will be processed the following week.
  • Prize money will only be paid to the players that have been confirmed during check-in for the competition that they have won: please make sure you select the correct players. If you have any disputes please log a ticket on our Discord server.
  • Prize money will be transferred into the winner’s Mettlestate wallet within seven working days which can be accessed from the winner’s profile on the Mettlestate website.  Money can be withdrawn from the Mettlestate wallet at any point.
  • In the event of a team event, funds can only be sent to individual players by teams and organisations.
  • The payout will reflect in the user’s account within seven working days.
  • In the event of a casual team or an organisation winning a team-based competition, only players from that team/organisation who participated in said competition will be eligible to receive the winnings. Teams/organisations will be responsible for the distribution of the prize money, Mettlestate takes no responsibility for the distribution of prize money.
  • Only users with an active VIP subscription will be eligible for the double prize pool payout. In the case of a team winning a team-based competition, only team members with an active VIP subscription will get double their share of the prize pool. This will be paid directly to the player and not the owner of the casual team or the organisation. 
  • VIP double prize pool payouts are ONLY valid for Mettlestate daily cups, Mettlestate Super cups, Mettlestate Ultra cups, and Mettlestate Leagues.

5.1. PRIZE MONEY DISTRIBUTION

Prize money will be payable to the team, organisation, or player by way of the party’s or parties’ Mettlestate wallet. Mettlestate will not make payment directly to any player under any circumstances. It will be the sole responsibility of the team to pay players, managers, or associated personnel. All teams, players, managers, and associated personnel indemnify and hold harmless Mettlestate from any claims instituted by any player, manager, or associated personnel of any team who institutes any legal action against Mettlestate as a result of non-payment.

5.2. WITHHOLDING OF PRIZE MONEY

If any dispute arises before payment of the prize money to any or all of the teams, Mettlestate reserves the right to withhold payment of prize money to any participants until such dispute is resolved.

11. Copyright

The participating teams acknowledge that any Copyright and Intellectual Property Rights used, created or embodied in connection with the Tournament will remain the exclusive property of Mettlestate and/or its sponsors. All Mettlestate graphics, logos, designs, page headers, icons, scripts and names are registered trademarks, trademarks or trade dress of Mettlestate, may not be used, including as part of trademarks and/or as part of domain names, in connection with any material produced as a result of this tournament or in any manner that is likely to confuse and may not be copied, imitated, or used, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of Mettlestate. The participating teams warrant that the material produced and broadcasting respect of the Tournament does not infringe upon, or violate, any intellectual Property Rights or Copyrights of any third party. Ownership of all Copyright and Intellectual Property Rights in any material produced by Mettlestate in respect of the Tournament shall vest solely and exclusively in Mettlestate.

12. General

The participating teams warrant that they are allowed to participate in the Tournament with any restriction, and duly accept all Terms & Conditions contained on the Mettlestate website. Furthermore, the teams warrant that Mettlestate, sponsors and partners will not be infringing on the rights of any party when broadcasting the teams during the tournament. By accepting the invitation or qualifying to participate in the tournament, teams and players agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Mettlestate, its directors, employees, agents, sponsors and partners, from and against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses (including but not limited to legal fees) arising from: (i) the team's breach of any of the terms contained herein; (ii) the team's breach of any third-party rights, including without limitation any copyright, intellectual property, or privacy right; (iii) your breach of any laws and regulation in creating, posting and/or subsequently amending your submissions; or (iii) any claim that any one of the team's submissions caused damage to a third party. This indemnity shall have no limit in time. If any court of competent authority decides that any of the provisions of these rules are invalid, unlawful or unenforceable to any extent, the Rule will, to that extent only, be severed from the remaining rules, which will continue to be valid. Mettlestate, its directors, members, partners, employees, agents, consultants, suppliers, contractors and sponsors assume no liability whatsoever for any direct or indirect loss or damage arising from a participants participation in this Tournament or for any loss or damage, howsoever arising.

13. Contact

Teams and players can contact the tournament administration via email. info@mettlestate.com