Match Preperation
The preceeding pages have covered a wealth of information concerning setup, and the economy of the league. Now though we have come to the central portion of the game, actual Solaris Matches, how to participate, and what is expected of you and your characters.
Solaris Match Schedule
NBT-Solaris runs a total of 10 matches each night, 7 nights a week. All battle times are EST. Both the automation Match Signup Sheet and the Solaris Events calendar display the matches scheduled for the following 2 weeks. Specific information will be given concerning time, match type, current participants, and any additional restrictions that may be in place for that match.
The current NBT-Solaris Match Schedule for each night is as follows. Weekends may eventually see an extended schedule implemented if enough support is shown.
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Match Signup Procedures
Each pilot in NBT-Solaris may participate in 3 matches per week. If the pilot is currently running multiple characters, that 3 match limitation still applies, and does not increase. On the flip side, each character must participate in an average of 1 match per week over the course of a season. Characters that do not meet this minimum will be retired.
On your Match Signup Sheet, you will see a list of the upcoming matches for the next 2 weeks, along with all relevant data on each. If you are looking for something in specific, you may use the search function to narrow down the list. Examples of data that can be viewed or searched for are:
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Each match as specific rules governing it. From ‘Mech Class restrictions, to Stock games, to Bonus Awards to time of day / day of week. Rules may be used in combination as well (Max Heavy, Stock, Rank Restricted(4)). The following are some clarifications.
- Day of Week - Solaris Matches occur 7 days a week, every week
- Time of Day - 20:00, 20:45, 21:30, 22:15, 23:00
- Class Restructions - Maximum ‘Mech weight allowed in drop. This is rated weight of the ‘Mech (Flea = 20 tons)
- Max Light - All ‘Mechs 35 tons and below are permitted.
- Max Medium - All ‘Mechs 55 tons and below are permitted.
- Max Heavy - All ‘Mechs 75 tons and below are permitted.
- Max Assault - Maximum of 100 ton ‘Mech. All ‘Mech allowed in this type match.
- Light Match - Only ‘Mechs 35 tons and below permitted.
- Medium Match - Only ‘Mechs from 40 to 55 tons permitted.
- Heavy Match - Only ‘Mechs from 60 to 75 tons permitted.
- Assault Match - Only ‘Mechs 80 tons and above permitted.
- Stock Match - Stock ‘Mechs only, no custom configs. Server enforced.
- Circus Maximum Match - Race match using CM maps.
- Champion Match - Part of End of Season Championship. Invitation only.
- Team Battle Match - Available to Stables only. See Team Battle rules below.
- Rank Restricted - Only characters of +/- 2 Ranks may enter match.
- Bonus Awards - Vary per match, and are rare (only a couple a week).
Match Signup Limits
- 3 matches may be played in per week, per pilot
- 5 matches may be observed per week, per pilot
- Matches are available for signup to 2 weeks in advance.
- 6 hours before drop time, match signups are closed.
- You may cancel participation in a match up to 24 hours before drop time without penalty.
- Only a single character per stable may sign up for a match (reduces the temptation of teaming).
Signup Procedure
Once you have selected a match to signup for, click the “Signup For Match” button. This will continue the signup process. You will be informed of how much it will cost to register for this match, what ‘Mechs are available and what special rules are in place (if any). Signup Fees vary depending on your current Solaris Rank. You may use any ‘Mech in your inventory (or your Stable’s inventory) as long as it meets the restrictions for the match (Assaults cannot take part in a Light Match).
- Battle Signup - 6,000-25,000 c-bills x Solaris Rank
Damaged ‘Mechs may not be used to signup for an upcoming match. Therefore if your ‘Mech is damaged in a battle and you do not have the funds to repair it, or your ‘Mech is destroyed in a match, the automation will cancel any pending matches that you have that ‘Mech involved in.
In order for a valid Solaris Match to occur, at least 6 pilots must be signed up for the scheduled match. Matches that do not meet this minimum will not be setup or reported to the league automation for awards and standings purposes.
Team Battle Matches - Stables are also able to fight together in the various Team Battle games available to the league. When a Team Battle game is available in the schedule, the Stable Founder may sign up your Stable for the match. Make sure that you have enough pilots to meet the requirements of the battle as Team Battle matches may require from 2-5 characters to fight.
Upon signing up for a TB Match, the Stable Founder will be required to submit which stable members and ‘Mechs are participating in the match. Normal Battle Signup Fees apply to each member. Teams are assigned first-come, first-serve.
All normal award and forfiet rules apply for Team Battle matches, multiplied by the number of pilots involved, and split between the members of the stable.
Match Observers
Each match has positions for 3 Observers to signup. They may join the server, and drop as a Camera Ship only. They may observe the match, jumping from ‘Mech to ‘Mech. This position comes with some responsibility in that they are the overwatch of the match. Before GO is called by the server, they keep watch to make sure everybody is shutdown. They watch to see if anyone is pulling a run and hide maneuver. Finally, they have the responsibility of writing and providing to the league a role-play ‘Announcer’ account of the match.
Observing matches entails no fees or charges. Any pilot found abusing this privelage in any way will have their Observer ability disabled, and they will be unable to signup as an Observer for the remainder of the season.
Failure to Appear - MIAs
Signing up for a Solaris Match is a commitment to both NBT and to your fellow pilots involved in the upcoming match. To "encourage" pilots to remember to show up for their matches, NBT has a 'MIA' rule. For each match that a pilot misses he/she will be given one "MIA". If a pilot reaches 3 MIAs, that pilot will be unable to signup for any further matches in the current season. This ban will apply to all characters run by the pilot, regardless of rank or current standings. Fees and expenses will continue to be deducted for the remainder of the season.
The restriction is lifted the following season, and the pilot (and his characters) may continue participation in NBT-Solaris at that time.
Stable Substitutions
In the case that you are unable to participate in a scheduled match for emergency reasons, you will be able to allow a member of your stable to participate in the drop in your place. This substitution counts towards that pilots total matches for the week, so a pilot that has already had 3 matches that week may not be substituted. The following are the Substitution Rules:
- Original Character’s selected ‘Mech will be used in drop
- Solaris Rank of substitute character will be applied to RAM
- Substitute will receive 75% of all winnings. Remaining 25% goes to original signed character
- Damage to ‘Mech is the responsibility of the ‘Mech Owner (per normal Stable rules)
- No MIAs are assigned to any pilots
Championship Matches
Championship Matches are invitation only. They are scheduled during Week 13 of each Solaris Season. 4 Championship matches are scheduled during this week, along with a single Grand Championship match. Each match will involve the 12 highest ranked players of varying skills. All expenses are paid for the invited characters, including signup and repair fees for their ‘Mechs. ‘Mechs may still be destroyed or pilots killed/wounded in these matches, therefore eliminating them from the match. These matches do not count towards your pilots weekly match limit.
Champion Match settings will be randomly determined in advance, and may include a wide variety of Battle settings and restrictions. Any owned ‘Mech may be used (may not borrow from Stable). A pilot may only participate in a single Champion Match. Duplicates are removed by elimination. First would be picked the top 12 Survivors. Second would be picked the top 12 'Mech Killers, dropping anybody that is in the Survivor group, and taking from the next highest ranked ‘Mech Killers. Third would be the top 12 Destroyers, dropping anybody that is in the previous 2 groups, taking from the next highest ranked Destroyers. Finally, the 12 highest ranked Cash Cows will be selected, dropping any from the previous groups. This will end up with a group of 48 different characters/pilots to fight in the Champion Matches.
Ties - It is possible that there will be ties in either determining Champion Match invitations, or in the results of each Champion Match. In those cases, the secondary results will be used to determine the actual highest ranked character. These are determined in the following order - Survival, ‘Mech Killer, Destroyer, Cash Cow. There should be next to 0% chance that 2 characters could be equal in all 4 catagories.
- Champion Match Alpha - Survivors - The top 12 ranked Survivors will be play each other in a series of 3 drops. Each pilot will be ranked on Survival (order of destruction). After the 3 drops, the top 3 Survivors will proceed to the Grand Championship.
- Champion Match Bravo - ‘Mech Killers - The top 12 ‘Mech Killers will play each other in a series of 3 drops. Each will be ranked on the number of ‘Mechs Killed. After the 3 drops, the top 3 ‘Mech Killers will proceed to the Grand Championship.
- Champion Match Charlie - Destroyers - The top 12 Destroyers (Damage Given) will play each other in a series of 3 drops. Each will be ranked on the amount of damage dished out. After the 3 drops, the top 3 Destroyers will proceed to the Grand Championship.
- Champion Match Delta - Cash Cows - The top 12 ranked Cash Cows (highest cash awards for matches) will be play each other in a series of 3 drops. Each pilot will be ranked on potential cash won in CMD. After the 3 drops, the top 3 Cash Cows will proceed to the Grand Championship.
Season Grand Championship
The 3 winners from each of the 4 Champion Matches will meet in a final match for the title of Grand Champion. The Survivor of this match will be crowned as a Grand Champion, with all awards and benefits thereof.
