Quack in Time
Winter Duck Derby 2026
Rules and Guidance
The time has come to once again unleash our webbed friends from their wading pond. Our new player tournament is ramping up and you, yes you could be part of this year's event. If you're new to FFR, and want to see how you would do against other players at your skill level, then now is the time to rustle your tail feathers and show the world how you quack!
Before registering for the event, please make sure to read the General Rules and Guidance for Tournaments and Leagues.
About the Derby
Following on the heels of the Duck Bootcamp, this tournament will be a series of three weekly races followed by a grand championship. Participants are divided into two groups based on availability and these two groups will race each week. At the end of those three weeks the top two players from each group will move on to the championship, with the winner of that fourth and final race being crowned the new Duckling Supreme.
Tournament Structure:
Any “duckling” (a newer player that has not placed at least in the Top 8 in a major tournament, and who has not won a major or minor event) may participate. After the signups for the tournament have closed the entrants will be divided equally into two groups (Team Marty and Team Biff) based on their availability (sign up now to register your availability). Every effort will be made to include the most participants possible. Team Marty and Team Biff will race on two separate days using the same flagset but different seeds. There will be three (3) weekly races to determine who goes to the finals.
The top 2 players from each group after the 3 weeks of races will proceed to a single 1v1v1v1 match. If a tie in groups occurs, leading to more than a top two players according to score, the top three (or four, or however many) players will advance. This keeps players focused solely on their own performance and not worrying about factors outside their own control. Just race as well as you can to try to advance.
Note: a tie among the top finishers in the finals will result in a run-off between those top races to determine the winner. All other ties in finals will not affect the final outcome and will not be re-run.
Important Dates:
- Duckling Bootcamp: January 4, 2026 through February 14, 2026
- Tournament Registration Deadline: February 7, 2026
- Week 1 Races: Week of February 22, 2026 - TBD (Group A) and TBD (Group B)
- Week 2 Races: Week of March 1, 2026 - TBD (Group A) and TBD (Group B)
- Week 3 Races: Week of March 8, 2026 - TBD (Group A) and TBD (Group B)
- Duckling Derby Finals: Week of March 15, 2026
Tournament Points:
This year the Duck Derby will rely on the FFR patented Bin System. For those new and unfamiliar, bin scoring works as a way to flatten scores and keep points competitive. Players will get sorted into bins, which will in turn assign points, based on their (and others') placement within a race:
- The first player to finish the race will automatically be placed into Bin 1. All other players have a certain time limit (1 minute -- 0:01:00 ) to finish in order to be placed into bin 1 as well.
- Bin 1 gets 10 points.
- Once that threshold has passed, the next player to finish will automatically be put into Bin 2. All subsequent players will now have double the first bin's time (e.g., if Bin 1 is 1 minute, Bin 2 is 2 minutes) to be placed into bin 2.
- Bin 2 gets 8 points.
- Once that threshold has passed, the next player to finish will automatically be put into Bin 3, with a time threshold of 4x the first bin (e.g. if Bin 1 is 1 minute, Bin 3 is 4 minutes).
- Bin 3 gets 7 points.
- Once that threshold has passed, the next player to finish will automatically be put into Bin 4, with a time threshold of 8x the first bin (e.g. if Bin 1 is 1 minute, Bin 4 is 8 minutes).
- Bin 4 gets 6 points.
- Once that threshold has passed, the next player to finish will automatically be put into Bin 5, with a time threshold of 16x the first bin (e.g. if Bin 1 is 1 minute, Bin 5 is 16 minutes).
- Bin 5 gets 5 points.
- Once that threshold has passed, all other players that complete the race will be placed into Bin 6.
- Bin 6 gets 4 points.
- A result of DNF will resort in 2 points for that race.
- A DQ or DNR will result in 0 points for that race.
Note that the bins will only be used for the three main weeks of the Derby. Finals will be scored by first across the post times. No other points or metrics will be used to determine finals placement.
Tournament Flags:
- Week 1: TBA
- Week 2: TBA
- Week 3: TBA
- Finals: TBA
Tournament Flagsets will also be pinned in the Duck Derby discussion channel in the FFR discord.
Prizes:
The top 2 finishers from each group will receive a themed profile picture. The winner of the event will also receive a bonus art prize as well as the title of Duckling Supreme. All art prizes are courtesy of DarkmoonEX.
Requirements for Participants:
Some players have asked what they will and will not be allowed to use in the tournament. Of the concerns raised so far:
- Reset buttons (hard and soft reset) may be mapped to controllers.
- Players may use their fun graphical hacks for their game. That is, of course, with the caveat that the ROM must pass the “Tournament Safe” flag, so players will really only be able to edit their light warrior sprites. And, of course, character names, and hero sprites, must conform to the above standards listed (so no swear words for character names, and no offensive sprites of any kind, etc.).
- Autotracking for both key items and the map is allowed.
- You cannot use the turbo button or bind it to any buttons on a controller.
Tournament Staff:
If you have any questions, feel free to shoot them at the derby bosses: DMStewart and/or raxraxraxraxrax.
¶ Previous Duckling Events
- 2025 Spring Duck Derby: The Quacksel Run in 12 Parsecs
- 2024 Fall Duck Rally: Dirt Track Waddle GP
- 2024 Spring Duck Derby: Astos Falls GP
- 2023 Spring Duck Derby: Gaia Mountain Underpass GP
- 2022 Summer Duck Derby: Highwind GP
- 2022 Winter Duck Derby: 2000 Time Loop Grand Prix
- 2021 Summer Duck Derby: Cardia Isles Grand Prix
- 2021 Spring Duck Derby: Racing Towards Ryukahn
- 2020 Summer Duck Derby
- 2020 Winter Duckling Derby