Full Belly Laughs

I. Introduction

Super Auto Pets (SAP) is a digital auto battler developed by Team Wood Games (TWG). Full Belly Laughs (FBL) is the tournament organizer. Unless otherwise stated, all prizing is provided solely by FBL. The tournament rules, procedures, format, etc. are determined by FBL. SAP app, game mechanics, interactions, etc. are all governed and maintained by TWG.

II. Player Eligibility

How a player gains eligibility to participate.

A. Age and Region Restrictions

At the time of this writing, there are no age or region restrictions to play in FBL events; however, this is subject to change on a per event basis. Factors such as tournament organization platform, prize pool, and game servers may create age or region restrictions for an individual event.

B. Fair Play Exclusions

Any player deemed in violation of our fair play policies, even if they did not result in a ban or disqualification, may be barred from participating in an FBL tournament.

C. Previous Bans and Disqualifications

Previous bans and disqualifications from FBL events or any other organizer events can prevent a player from participating in an FBL tournament. Any active ban will automatically bar someone from participating. Expired bans and previous disqualifications may also prevent a player from participating based on the tournament organizer's digression.

III. Deck Construction and Submission

Legal decks will be determined on a per event basis, so please read the rules for any individual tournament carefully.

A. Tournament Formats

Unless otherwise specified by a tournament announcement, every match will use the following criteria for the lobby:

• Turn Duration in Seconds: 105
• Lives: 6
• Life Loss: Single with Recovery

The following is a list of the SAP tournament formats organized by FBL.

i. Static Pack

Players must play with one of the predetermined packs created by TWG, not including the weekly pack. Examples include Turtle Pack, Puppy Pack, and Star Pack. Note that TWG is releasing new static packs every so often, so be on the lookout for more options. Confer with the specific rules of an event to see which static packs are allowed.

ii. Custom Pack Forced

In this format, players are allowed to play design their own custom pack; however, both players will be playing with the same pack list in each game. This means whatever pack, static or custom, the player chooses their opponent will be playing with an identical list.

NOTE: the host player will need to add one more condition to the lobby settings: Packs = Same as Host.

Players will start the match flipping a coin to see who hosts first. After the first game, the loser of the previous game hosts.

B. Deck Submission

Unless otherwise stated, FBL SAP tournaments are open deck list without the need to submit a deck list. Players will either be choosing a static pack, or both players will be forced to play the same list; therefore, there is no need to submit unique deck lists.

IV. Tournament Format

At the time of this writing, FBL only runs Swiss system events that sometimes lead to a Single Elimination playoffs. When FBL decides to run another tournament format, it will be outlined in a new subsection.

A. Swiss System

The Swiss System is designed to provide a fair and balanced playing field for all participants, while also ensuring that players get to play against opponents of a similar skill level. Here's how the Swiss System works in detail:

At the start of the tournament, all participants are randomly paired against each other for the first round. Players play their match against their opponent, and the results will be recorded by the players (tournament staff may need to verify the results).

After the first round, players are paired based on their results. Players who won their first match are paired against other players who also won their first match, while players who lost their first match are paired against other players who also lost their first match. If there are an odd number of players, one player will receive a bye (a free win) for that round.

This process continues for several rounds, with players being paired based on their record in the tournament so far. Players who have a similar record will be paired against each other, with the goal of ensuring that each player faces a challenging opponent who is roughly at their skill level.

At the end of the Swiss System rounds, the players with the best records will advance to the playoffs. In some cases, a cut to a specific number of players will be made (e.g., Top 8). In other cases, all players with a certain record or better will advance to the playoffs or the next day of competition. Refer to a specific event's rules for details on how to qualify for the playoffs or additional days of competition.

Tiebreaker calculations and Standings will be subject to the tournament organization platform used for the event. Most sites and programs make Standings readily available for players. Tiebreakers typically include opponent's match win percentage, game win percentage, and head-to-head outcomes.

i. Exiting a Game or the Event

A player may concede a round/game/match while playing using the features provided within the SAP app. It is best to communicate to your opponent when you are conceding a round/game/match etc. Abandoning a game in progress can be deemed a concession by tournament officials, so please over communicate if there is an issue with your ability to play or the app.

A player may drop from the FBL Tournament at any point. To do so, follow the instructions relevant to the tournament organization platform used for the event. Note that once you drop from the event, and a staff member processed the drop, you are no longer in the tournament and cannot rejoin the event.

ii. Games Per Match

SAP tournaments organized by FBL will denote in the individual tournament rules the set size for Swiss matches. For quicker side events it will most likely be Best of 1 or Best of 3, whereas in a larger event it may be Best of 5 or Best of 7.

iii. Recommended Swiss Rounds

The number of rounds in a Swiss System event is based on the number of participants. This is so there typically won't be more than one person undefeated by the end of the Swiss rounds.

• 3 Rounds = 8 or less players
• 4 Rounds = 9-16 players
• 5 Rounds = 17-32 players
• 6 Rounds = 33-64 players
• 7 Rounds = 65-128 players
• 8 Rounds = 129-256 players
• 9 Rounds = 257-512 players
• 10 Rounds = 513-1024 players
• 11 Rounds = 1025-2048 players

Note that the above ranges are for a traditional Swiss System; therefore, Swiss+2 will be the same schedule increased by two. For clarity, here is the Swiss+2 ranges:

• 5 Rounds = 8 or less players
• 6 Rounds = 9-16 players
• 7 Rounds = 17-32 players
• 8 Rounds = 33-64 players
• 9 Rounds = 65-128 players
• 10 Rounds = 129-256 players
• 11 Rounds = 257-512 players
• 12 Rounds = 513-1024 players
• 13 Rounds = 1025-2048 players

B. Single Elimination Playoffs

After several rounds of Swiss (determined by the total number of participants), players with the best records advance to the playoff stage of the tournament.

In a tournament where the top 8 players advance to a single elimination playoff, the players with the 8 best records at the end of the Swiss rounds will qualify for the playoffs. These players will be seeded based on their records during the Swiss rounds, with the highest-ranked player playing against the lowest-ranked player, and so on.

Once the playoffs begin, the tournament shifts to a single elimination format. The winner advances o the next round and the loser being eliminated from the tournament. Playoffs are untimed; however, players are expected to play at a reasonable pace, otherwise they may face penalties.

i. Same Deck for Playoffs

Players are expected to continue using the same decks they used during the Swiss rounds. If a player changes their deck after the Swiss rounds, they will face penalties which might result in disqualification.

ii. Determining Final Placement

The winner of the playoffs will be declared the champion of the tournament.

There will not be any playoff matches to determine 3rd place (or any other specific seats). Official placement is based on when a player is eliminated plus their Swiss Standings. Example: In the semifinals the 2nd Seed and 5th Seed are eliminated, so the 2nd Seed player would be 3rd place and the 5th Seed would be 4th place.

iii. Higher Seed Advantage

The purpose of having a higher seed advantage for the single elimination playoffs is to help curb collusion or lame duck matches. Towards the end of the Swiss System, players who have done exceedingly well can arrive in a situation where they don't need to win. This can be a breeding ground for unsportsmanlike behavior, so to help prevent such activity, an advantage is provided to the higher seed in the playoffs.

In Custom Pack Forced tournaments, the higher seed chooses the pack first.

In Static Pack tournaments, the higher seed hosts the first lobby and may force packs for the first game.

V. Match Procedure

As of the time of this writing, SD has not provided a way for players to mulligan their opening hand; therefore, no mulligans will be allowed in FBL tournaments.

A. Lobby Creation

Coin toss between players will determine who creates the lobby. Note that both players are expected to join the match with their registered deck (the deck list submitted for the event). Failure to do so will result in penalties.

B. Time Limit

Single Elimination playoff rounds are untimed. Each Swiss System Round will be 15 minutes per game; for example, a Best of 3 Match will be 45 minutes whereas a Best of 5 match will be 75 minutes.

Players are expected to play at a reasonable place at all times, which includes the time it takes to join matches in a playoff set.

i. Overtime

When time is called, players will finish their current game. No additional games will be played. Players are expected to play at a reasonable pace, especially in overtime (since the rest of the event may be waiting on this an overtime match to conclude).

ii. Draws

A match may end in a tie. This occurs when the score of the a match is even (0-0, 1-1, 2-2, etc.). This can occur because the players run out of time and conclude an overtime match, or if the players agree to intentionally draw their match. Intentional draws are recorded 0-0.

iii. Tardiness

Each round has an official start time (declared by the Tournament Organizer or the Chief of Tournament Staff).

If a player does not make a comment in their official match thread online (or arrive at their in-person table) by a certain time, then they will receive a penalty.

• Warning After 5 Minutes
• Game Loss After 10 Minutes
• Match Loss and Dropped from the Event After 15 Minutes

In the event that both players do not arrive for a match, a random winner will be determined by the staff and both players will be dropped from the tournament.

C. Submitting Results

Players will use the built-in features of the tournament organization platform to submit their results. If available, the results submission form will ask for a visual confirmation of the match result. The winner is responsible for uploading a screenshot of the match conclusion page to confirm the outcome. Failure to do so can result in penalties for potentially both players, depending on the context of the dispute (example: both players claim they won).

Note that each player has the ability to confirm or proofread the submitted result; therefore, even though the winner uploads a screenshot, both players are responsible for cosigning the submitted result in the system (i.e. what was entered into the platform versus the screenshot).

VI. Fair Play Policy and Player Conduct

All players are expected to behave in a professional and respectful manner, and fair play polices will be enforced.

A. Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Unsportsmanlike conduct in an FBL SAP tournament is defined as any behavior that is not in line with the principles of fair play, respect, and sportsmanship.

The following is a comprehensive list of behaviors that would qualify as unsportsmanlike conduct:

1. Cheating or exploiting bugs or glitches in the game.
2. Using any software or tools to modify or hack the game.
3. Colluding with another player or intentionally drawing/winning/losing a game to manipulate the tournament standings.
4. Intentionally stalling or delaying the game.
5. Insulting or harassing opponents or tournament staff, including using any form of hate speech or discriminatory language.
6. Engaging in any form of physical or verbal aggression, including threats or acts of violence.
7. Intentionally damaging or tampering with tournament equipment.
8. Refusing to follow tournament rules or instructions from tournament staff.
9. Behaving in a way that is deemed unsportsmanlike by tournament staff, even if it is not specifically listed here.

i. Penalties for Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Any player found engaging in any of the above behaviors may be subject to penalties, including warnings, game losses, or disqualification from the tournament. Tournament staff reserves the right to determine what constitutes unsportsmanlike conduct and to take any necessary action to ensure the integrity of the tournament. If a player feels they have been wrongly accused of unsportsmanlike conduct, they may appeal the decision to tournament staff.

ii. In-Game Emotes and Messages

At this time, there are no in-game emotes or messages in the SAP app; however, communication outside of the app still counts towards unsportsmanlike conduct.

The best way to prove an opponent performed this infraction is to record the game or conversation. If you are unable to record, still notify tournament staff immediately if someone breaks the In-Game Emotes and Messages Policy. When possible, a tournament staff member may watch the accused player to see if they perform the infraction again.

B. Appeals Process

If you disagree with the decision made by tournament staff, you have the right to appeal. At this point, the appeal will go to the Tournament Organizer (TO) or the Chief of Tournament Staff (CoTS). A decision made by the TO or chief is final.

Note that actions taken outside of FBL events can also affect your eligibility. Trying to undermine the integrity of the event or the staff, as a result of a decision you disagree with, can result in penalties that extend beyond the scope of an individual event.

VII. Technical Issues

SAP is a digital game; therefore, technical issues could affect the outcome of a turn/round/game/match. Outside of TWG server or app issues, it's each individual player's responsibility to secure a reliable device and connection to participate in the event.

A. Disconnects

If a player disconnects, the opponent must not end the match early and wait for the app to determine if the disconnected player can rejoin. If the disconnected player is able to rejoin, they can pick up at the current game state. Note that the opponent can continue taking actions while a player is disconnected, and play will not be stopped or reversed.

B. Game Crashes

If the match crashes, and both players lose all progress, they must report the incident to tournament staff immediately. Both players must be prepared to recount what happened leading up to the crash, so tournament staff can document it. After these brief interviews, a new game may be created. Depending on the context of the situation, the staff may issue penalties (example: bug exploit crashed game).

If a match crashes for only one player, they must do their best to reconnect. This situation will be handled like a disconnect.

C. Restarting Swiss Rounds

Restarting Swiss rounds because of technical issues will be reserved for special cases only, and at the digression of the TO or CoTS.

VIII. Spectator Conduct

Spectators are an integral part of any tournament, and as such, their conduct can have a significant impact on the overall experience. Spectators are expected to abide by the same code of conduct as players, and any violations of this code will result in penalties.

A. Respectful Behavior

Spectators must be respectful of all players and other spectators. This includes refraining from any behavior that could be considered disruptive or distracting, such as shouting or heckling during matches. If a spectator is found to be engaging in this type of behavior, they will be given a verbal warning by the tournament staff. Further incidents may result in the spectator being asked to leave the tournament and/or venue.

For online events, the rules still apply. Users can shout and heckle through spam, emotes, and choice of words. Users in violation may be banned from various platforms so they can no longer negatively impact the event.

B. Non-Interference Spectators

Spectators not associated with the tournament staff must not interfere with the tournament in any way. This includes not tampering with any equipment or interrupting the flow of the tournament. If a spectator is found to be interfering with the tournament, they will be immediately removed from the premises. For online events, the user will lose their permissions to interact with the event.

C. Coaching

Spectators are not allowed to offer any advice or coaching to players during matches. This includes any type of communication, whether it be verbal or non-verbal. Note that this includes commenting in a chat associated with a broadcast.

i. Coaching Between Chat and Broadcasters

If competitors are permitted to broadcast their experience in the tournament, FBL encourages streamers to protect themselves from their own chat. Putting a delay on the stream is the best solution. Another solution/protection would be Emote Only Mode with careful consideration to certain emotes/emojis banned in chat. If a streamer's moderators are timing out or banning chatters for coaching when it happens, tournament staff will take this into consideration when issuing any penalties.

ii. Coaching Penalties

If a spectator is found to be coaching a player, the player will receive a game loss penalty. If the spectator is also a player in the event, they too will receive a game loss in their next match. If the spectator continues to coach the player, they will be asked to leave the tournament or have their online permissions revoked. Coaching penalties can escalate to as high as disqualification and bans.

Note that if a streamer makes an effort to curb or prevent coaching from affecting their broadcast and gameplay, the staff will likely lessen the penalties (always subject to the specific incident, circumstances, number of infractions, etc.).

D. Unauthorized Recordings

For in person events, spectators are not allowed to record or live-stream matches without the prior approval of the tournament staff. If a spectator is found to be recording or live-streaming matches without authorization, they will be asked to stop immediately. Failure to comply with this rule may result in the spectator being removed from the tournament.

This also applies to online events that are recorded ahead of the scheduled broadcast.

For live streamed events, most likely anyone can record or live stream the tournament; however, please refer to the specific announcement for the tournament to be sure you're in compliance.

IX. Prize Pool

Prizes for any event will be declared in the tournament details for that specific event. The primary payment method is PayPal; however, it depends on the event. Note that the player is responsible for any fees or taxation that results from receiving prize money in an FBL event.

For charity events with no monetary prizes awards to players, FBL will make the donations on behalf of the player(s).

X. Penalties

Any infraction by a player or a spectator will result in a penalty. The severity of the penalty depends on the specific infraction as well as the number of infractions a person receives over the course of the event.

A. Warning

When a tournament staff member makes an official warning for the player/spectator to be more careful. There is no impact on the game, match, or standings from a first warning.

If a player/spectator incurs more warnings, especially when the infraction is the same, the penalty can be escalated to a higher punishment.

Here are examples of infractions that will result in a warning:

• Minor communication violation (e.g. using inappropriate language in chat)
• Minor tardiness to a match
• Failure to present a valid deck list
• Failure to present a valid game account or in-game name
• For in-person events, use of any outside assistance or notes during a match

B. Turn Loss

The turn loss penalty means at the beginning of the next game, the player may not purchase any pets or food. The player may still spend gold to roll, and they may still freeze pets.

This penalty is only issues on Turn 1 of any game. When an infraction is incurred, the penalty will be issued in the next game (even if it carries over to another match).

If any player interferes with issuing a turn loss penalty (example: failure to comply or take appropriate actions), that player may receive an equal or harsher penalty.

Here are examples of infractions that will result in turn loss:

• Medium communication violation (e.g. bullying, bad manners emoting)
• Failure to play at a reasonable pace

C. Game Loss

The game loss penalty means the opponent of the player who received the infraction will receive a game win. This may decide a match. In the event that a game loss penalty is given out after a match is concluded and cannot be replayed, the game loss penalty may carry over to the next match.

Here are examples of infractions that will result in a game loss:

• Major communication violation (e.g. harassment, hate speech)
• Major tardiness penalty for a match
• Failure to follow the instructions of a tournament official
• Use of an illegal card or deck composition
• Use of a banned card or deck composition
• Use of a card or deck composition that was modified after the submission deadline
• Use of any external programs that modify the game client

D. Match Loss

The match loss penalty results in an immediate forfeit by the player who incurred the infraction. If for some reason the penalty is issued between rounds, the penalty will be carried out in the next match that would be played. Match loss penalties are typically, but not always, followed by additional actions, such as disqualification or bans.

Here are examples of infractions that will result in a match loss:

• Severe communication violation (e.g. threats of violence)
• Severe tardiness penalty for a match
• Cheating, including collusion with other players
• Failure to report a game result accurately
• Leaving a match without conceding
• Aggressive or violent behavior towards another player or tournament official
• Intentional stalling or slow play
• Unsportsmanlike conduct, including any behavior that is intended to disrupt the tournament or the experience of other players

E. Disqualification (DQ)

A player will be disqualified from an event based on the number or severity of their infractions. Note that a match loss can result in a disqualification, and repeated Warning or Turn/Game Loss offenses can also result in a DQ. This penalty means the player is dropped from the event, but may potentially participate in future events.

Here are examples of infractions that will result in an immediate DQ:

• Multiple offenses that result in game or match losses
• Use of any prohibited substances or drugs during the tournament
• Impersonation of another player or tournament official
• Any behavior that is illegal or criminal in nature

F. Ban

A ban occurs only when a player/spectator makes an egregious infraction, or repeatedly makes serious infractions. Classic examples include malicious behavior such as cheating or collusion.

i. Examples of Behavior That May Result in a Ban

Here are examples of infractions that will result in an immediate ban from the current and future events:

• Repeated disqualifications from tournaments
• Any behavior that significantly disrupts the tournament or causes harm to other players or tournament officials
• Any behavior that violates the terms of service or user agreement of the game or tournament platform
• Any behavior that compromises the competitive integrity of the event (i.e. cheating)

ii. List of Banned Players

Here is the current list of users/players banned from FBL events:

• Bard
• Its_Swindle
• 
  

XI. Conclusion

The purpose of this document is to set expectations. It also creates a guideline for penalties in the event that a player does not follow the rules (intentionally and unintentionally). Ultimately these rules exist so everyone can have a fair and fun time, as well as ensure that all tournament staff are on the same page for how to run an event.

This is a living document, and it may receive updates. A log of changes will appear below; therefore, you can refer to the log for details about what's new.