Lefeinian Ladder
2024 Ladder League: Season 3
Rules & Guidance
The Lefeinian Ladder (LL) League is our recurring async event. It gives players a chance to compete among themselves in a low stakes competition. Players can partake in as many, or as few races as they like, playing only a few races as needed to qualify for placement and to move into championships.
Format
The season will consist of a 6 week ladder series. Races will consist of:
- Schedule async races, two per week
- Optional challenger races, available to players to gamble points, and position, against competitors
- A Mid-Season Title Match
- Grand Finals for each of the ladder rungs
These will all feed into the ladder format, which is taking over from free-for-all nature of the previous seasons.
Ladder Format
Players are broken up into four rungs: Opal, Gold, Silver, and Copper, with four players in each of the three higher rungs (and all the rest filling out Copper). Opal is the top rung and these four (whoever they end up being at the time of the championship) will compete for the title of Lefeinian Ladder Leader. Placement in rungs carries over from the end of last season, with anyone new going into the bottom group, Copper.
- See the Lefeinian Ladder Score Sheet for current player positions
Async Races
The main set of races are scheduled two to a week for six weeks. There will be six available flagsets, provided by the planning committee, and these will be run one per day, with the six cycling the first half of the season, and then again the second half. These will be scored based on time, with the 1st place finisher getting 30 points, and everyone else after them getting a fraction of that score based on how far they were from first, to a minimum of 5 points. DNFs, however, are worth 0 points.
Async races will be open for two (2) days (48 hours), with a one to two day break in between races.
Players may play in any async race they choose. They do not need to be registered to play in an LL race. However, only the scores for registered players will be counted. To register you must sign yourself up for the league before the race begins. Any race run before a player registers in the league will not be counted.
- Note: to maintain your position in the season, you need to race. Ladder positions are rearranged mid-season, and at the end of the season, and anyone with 0 points will move down.
Challenges
Once a week, players challenge each other, either in their same rung or one rung higher (so Copper players can challenge other Copper players, or Silver players, but they cannot directly challenge Gold players). Higher rung players must accept challenges from lower rung players, but they are required to only race one challenge race a week. If they are challenged by multiple people, they can choose who they race that week and they don't have to accept all of them. With that said, challenges between rungs (i.e. Gold-to-Opal, Silver-to-Gold, or Copper-to-Silver) will take priority over same rung (Opal-to-Opal) matches.
Player may take the points they've earned by completing the async races and stake them in the challenge. Both players (the challenger and the challengee) must agree to how many points are being staked as the prize (with the caveat that no one can wager more than what they have, and both players have to stake the same amount), and both will put theirs on the line (for a combined double-pot of points). Whoever wins gains all the points, applied to their total. The winner will also gain the higher rung (if they aren't already in it) and the loser will get the lower rung (again, if they aren't already in it).
- Note: Zero point challenges are allowed, but when someone could get multiple challenges in a week, they may decide to go with the challenge that will net them the most points, or that has the most interesting flags, or whatever else comes to mind. Making your challenge interesting (via points, flags, etc.) could help you get your race.
Flags played are chosen by the challenger, but their opponent may get multiple challenges and can choose who they want to play. The player that is challenged can negotiate on what is being played, and can make suggestions that both players have to agree to. Once they are both happy and ready, the challenge can go ahead.
- Note, technically the flags played in a challenge don't even need to be the main LL flags. Just so long as both players agree to them, that's all that matters.
Challenges may be held at any time. They can either be run async (with players completing their races within a four-hour window), as a Racebot pickup race, or as a live broadcast.
Once a challenge has been issued, the player being challenged has 24 hours to respond. Other challenges that come during that time can be considered, but a challenge race has to be scheduled by the time the deadline ends (it doesn't need to be scheduled within that time, just that it has to be accepted by the end of the 24 hours period). Someone that gets multiple challenges has to accept one, but they can then race another challenge that same week if they so choose (and can arrange a time to run it). Only one accepted and run challenge is required per week.
- Note: To avoid challenge spam, once a player has challenged once in a week, other challenges they issue that week don't have to be accepted. They can be, but it is not required.
Mid-Season Title Match, and Position Reset
At the end of three weeks, anyone with a zero (or negative) point total will move down a rung. If this leaves a spot open in a higher rung, after all players have moved around, the player with the highest point total in each rung will move up to fill gaps in the rung above, with as many players moving around as need be to set the rungs back to their standard, filled amount.
Additionally, the champion must face off against the highest point player (whoever they may be, even if its from a different, much lower rung) for a Lefeinian Mid-Season Title Match. Points may be wagered, and positions in the ladder are on the line during this race.
If the Midway Championship leads to a new leader, they may tweak each flagset before they are run again for the back half of the season.
Finals
At the end of the season, player position is once again rearranged, with anyone at zero (or negative) points moving down a rung. At this point, the ladder rungs are final and championships can be held.
Each rung may hold their own championship to determine Copper, Silver, and Gold leaders. This is for bragging rights only, and the leader will get a fancy title.
The Opal tier must have a championship, with all four players in the rung playing (plus the overall points leader, if they aren't in Opal, for up to five total players), and the first across the finish line becomes the new Lefeinian Ladder Leader.
Schedule
The LL will take place over six weeks. The async races will start:
- Monday, May 6
- Thursday, May 9
- Monday, May 13
- Thursday, May 16
- Monday, May 20
- Thursday, May 23
- Midway Challenge TBD
- Thursday, May 30
- Monday, June 3
- Thursday, June 6
- Monday, June 10
- Thursday, June 13
- Monday, June 17
- Grand Finals TBD
Yes, these dates overlap with holidays and other events. Races are async and are not planned to be broadcast. The races will be started at 10:00 AM each day and players will have two days (48 hours) to complete the race (i.e., a races started Monday at 10:00 AM will close Wednesday 10:00 AM, with a one-day break before the Thursday race to begin). This allows players plenty of time to run their races, even with other events (and holidays) occurring. Everyone participating should be able to find races they can play in without scheduling conflicts.
Dates for the Midway Championship and the Grand Finals will be determined once the participating players are known.
Pick-Up Races:
Instead of pick-up races for lowering your score (like last season), this season will see only pick-up challenge races (see Challenge Races above). Pick-up races for standard points will not be offered.
Scoring
Scoring will be based around the top player's run time, with lower scores being better. The top time of the race will get 30 pints. All other players after them will receive a fraction (whole number) of that score based on how far they were from first, to a minimum of 5 points. DNFs, however, are worth 0 points.
Flagsets
Flag will be randomly chosen before each game, with all six flagsets being run twice during the league:
- Flagset 1: Capitalism-hoooooo!
- Deep within the labyrinthine corridors of the castle's dungeon dwell the forgotten guardians of ancient treasures. These creatures, once protectors of their hoards, now find themselves bereft as merchants from above ransack their domain. Anguish grips their hearts as each empty chest mocks their loss. Yet amidst the despair, whispers of defiance spread. The bravest and strongest among them, weary of their treasures being pilfered, hatch a daring plan. They retreat to the deepest vault, concealing themselves within a treasure chest, poised to reclaim what is rightfully theirs. Time passes, and footsteps echo through the dim corridors once more. Adventurers, lured by tales of wealth, stumble upon the chest. With eager hands, they pry it open, only to be met with a fearsome roar as the guardians emerge, reclaiming their stolen riches with righteous fury. Thus, in the depths of darkness, the guardians of the forgotten vaults rise, vowing to defend their treasures against all who dare to covet them.
- NOverworld, elite gear for sale, prices up a bit, randomized treasures with Melmond wealth, Warmech + Friends hiding in a box.
- Blurse Spoilers is allowed to reveal the Key Item blursings.
- Deep within the labyrinthine corridors of the castle's dungeon dwell the forgotten guardians of ancient treasures. These creatures, once protectors of their hoards, now find themselves bereft as merchants from above ransack their domain. Anguish grips their hearts as each empty chest mocks their loss. Yet amidst the despair, whispers of defiance spread. The bravest and strongest among them, weary of their treasures being pilfered, hatch a daring plan. They retreat to the deepest vault, concealing themselves within a treasure chest, poised to reclaim what is rightfully theirs. Time passes, and footsteps echo through the dim corridors once more. Adventurers, lured by tales of wealth, stumble upon the chest. With eager hands, they pry it open, only to be met with a fearsome roar as the guardians emerge, reclaiming their stolen riches with righteous fury. Thus, in the depths of darkness, the guardians of the forgotten vaults rise, vowing to defend their treasures against all who dare to covet them.
- Flagset 2: Groundhog Day
- A group of adventurers finds themselves trapped in an endless, repetitive loop. Every encounter unfolds exactly as before, no matter how they strategize or alter their approach. Frustration and despair grip the adventurers as they grapple with the notion that they may be forever ensnared in this unyielding cycle, forced to confront CHAOS to break free of the chaos.
- Orb EXP, no loose, no map edits, 1 forced melee / 1 forced mage, reduced luck, SetRNG
- A group of adventurers finds themselves trapped in an endless, repetitive loop. Every encounter unfolds exactly as before, no matter how they strategize or alter their approach. Frustration and despair grip the adventurers as they grapple with the notion that they may be forever ensnared in this unyielding cycle, forced to confront CHAOS to break free of the chaos.
- Flagset 3: Pest Control
- Adventurers soar high on their airship, safe from the monstrous horde that relentlessly pursues them from the ground. The sky offers respite, but their quest demands ground exploration, where peril awaits.
- Shard hunt, Lost Woods map, free airship/canoe, entrance shuffle (including towns), random treasures, max overworld encounters, Enemizer.
- Adventurers soar high on their airship, safe from the monstrous horde that relentlessly pursues them from the ground. The sky offers respite, but their quest demands ground exploration, where peril awaits.
- Flagset 4: Trippin' Through the Multiverse
- Our stalwart adventurers awaken to find their memories blank, yet their hands clutch relics essential to their quest. The artifacts hint at past explorations, but their origin remains a mystery. With no recollection of where they've been, they must unravel their forgotten journeys to unlock the path ahead.
- No loose, hint givers, started 4ced with promo classes, 1 melee / 1 mage / 2 any (no nones), recruit unpromoted classes tied to key NPCs, start with Key Items from class blursing, starting level 10
- Our stalwart adventurers awaken to find their memories blank, yet their hands clutch relics essential to their quest. The artifacts hint at past explorations, but their origin remains a mystery. With no recollection of where they've been, they must unravel their forgotten journeys to unlock the path ahead.
- Flagset 5: Resource Mismanagement
- Equipped with a cache of precious healing potions and essential tools, the Light Warriors embark on their quest only to discover a world devoid of item shops, save for one selling a vital quest item. Careful management of their provisions will be what determines whether they succeed or fail.
- Shard hunt, no loose, e/f shuffle (excluding towns), free canoe, all item shops removed (but one will still exist and sell the vendor item), 12%-24% unrunnable, 1 forced melee / 1 free choice, tavern recruits, start with 99 FCURE/PHNIX/BLAST/SMOKE
- Equipped with a cache of precious healing potions and essential tools, the Light Warriors embark on their quest only to discover a world devoid of item shops, save for one selling a vital quest item. Careful management of their provisions will be what determines whether they succeed or fail.
- Flagset 6: I Heard You Liked Fun
- Putting the "fun" in "Fundead", a pair of cunning Liches and their phantoms are but one of the trials that our adventurers must overcome in their quest to break the time loop. Will it be fun, or will they fail and become part of the Fundead horde?
- Fundead! 2 orb specific, no loose, several map edits, only Early King, swap stair location, free canoe, randomized treasures with rare treasures guarded/marked, legendary item shop selling exclusive new consumables, buffed/shuffled astos, spellcrafter w/ mixed spellbooks, random gear in shops.
- Putting the "fun" in "Fundead", a pair of cunning Liches and their phantoms are but one of the trials that our adventurers must overcome in their quest to break the time loop. Will it be fun, or will they fail and become part of the Fundead horde?
Game Rules
- Please make sure you have read the General Rules and Guidance for Tournaments and Leagues before participating in these races.
All main ladder games will be run async. When a race begins, a post will be made in the #ll-chat channel. Players will find the seed link in the post. As scores are submitted a leaderboard will be populated in that post. Two days (48 hours) will be allotted from the time of posting, and players may complete the seed at any point during that time period. Once the two days (48 hours) are up, the race is closed and any scores submitted after that point will not count (they will be DNF, scoring 0).
Players should submit scores via the Lefeinian League Async Score Submission Form.
Runner Allowances:
You may use a console or approved emulator to play your seeds. Timers, trackers, and map trackers are allowed. Auto-fire on controllers is not allowed. Auto-tracking is not allowed.
Challenge matches, the midway match, and all finals will be run using Racetime.gg. You will need a RT.gg account to participate in finals. The winner of finals will be determined from the RT.gg timer. In the case of a tie for 1st (two players coming within three seconds of each other) a retime will be done based on the runners race vods. If the race is still within 1 second after that, the race is considered a tie and the top two will run again at a time of their choosing.
League Staff
Darkmoon, Ael, and Chanigan are the league staff. Any questions and comments can be sent to them.