The totally unfair and biassed Referee guided guild ball League.

The totally unfair and biassed Referee guided guild ball league.

Actual rules:

Here is how it works:
1) The referee starts the game dead centre in the middle of the field.
2) The referee is a 30mm base player that can not take possession of the ball, ever!! Whenever the ball path moves over the base of the referee it is scattered from his base using the standard scatter template unless a player closer to the kicking player in the ballpath snaps the ball OR unless the kick was succesfull or a goal kick to begin with. (this is also true whenever the referee is suffering from the KD condition!)
3) The referee has 12 HP - 8/10 MOV - 3 TAC - 0/0 KICK - 3 DEF - 0 ARM - 1/2 INF - 1" melee and a playbook of only one row:

4) The referee has no activation. Any play or trait affecting the referee making reference to "activation" - be it 'beginning', 'during' or 'at the end of' - takes place in the maintenance fase. Instead, of activating the referee; at the beginning of the activation of each player the referee moves 2" Directly towards that player - if this movement would take the referee inside melee range of any other player, and not the active player, place the referee directly on the opposite side (outside the melee range of said player) of that player instead . Once the referee is placed this way and is no longer engaged solely by any other player(s) other than the active one the referee movement ends. (If the Referee is still within melee range of any other player than the activating player repeat this process, unless the active player is also engaging the referee) The referee does not activate any markers (traps, harvest tokens, nest markers, ...). when moving this way. When placing the referee over a marker/base/terrain piece use the rule of least disturbance. - (Entering AOE's does affect The Referee)
5) The referee does not count towards crowding out or Ganging Up, nor does he give parting blows (unless a player with a vengeance token placed there by the referee is still on him leaves the melee zone of the referee with an advance)
6) The referee has character traits as follows:

* All seeing eye - 4" Aura :
Whenever a player (other than the referee himself) within the aura is target of an attack or character play the targeted player may spend either 1 INF or 2 MP to force the opposing player to reroll the result. (no rerolling a reroll) This Aura is not active whenever the referee is suffering from the KD condition.

* Super Magical Brew :
Every time this model moves, remove all conditions from this model. This model also recovers [2] HP during the maintenance phase.

* Only Human:
Whenever the referee is suffering a condition place a vengeance marker on the player that is the source of the condition (directly or inderectly). The opposing player can remove that marker and get the normal result (4 net hits) if netiher player is within the 'All Seeing eye' aura. Whenever a player with a vengeance marker comes into melee range with the referee, the referee immediatly makes an out of sequence attack on said player for free and removes a vengeance token. If the referee is the one moving these attacks are resolved before moving the referee his entire 2" (thus prior to placing the referee 'over' a model) - Vengeance markers placed by the referee STACK up to two tokens! A counter-attack CAN BE MADE (but beware of a Fault!!)

*Fault!:
Whenever a player targets the referee (with a play or attack), or an AOE hits the referee the activation of said player ends immediatly after said play/attack and if the ball is a free ball or the ball is in possession of the team of the player in fault; the ball marker is placed in possesion of the closest player from the opposing team closest to the [free ball]/[ballcarrier]

* Penalty!:
Whenever the referee suffers the taken out condition and the guild causing it is in possesion of the ball: The player in possesion of the ball is sent off the pitch untill next turn, unsnapping the ball. Then any player of the opposing team places a non-mascot model in base contact with the ball. That model may make a kick action if able (normal costs apply).
Whenever the referee suffers the taken out condition and the guild causing it is not in possession of the ball: The player causing the taken out condition is sent of the pitch untill next turn, then the player in possesion of the ball or the player from the opposing guild closest to a free ball gets to make a free kick action (as if they have possesion of the ball).
Scoring a goal through a penalty is only worth 2 VP. Return the referee into play in the middle of the pitch after said kick is resolved if any was made.

* I can't see, GET!:
All push results on the Referee's playbook are mandatory and are directly away from the ball. If this would cause a player to move over the Referee's base, the referee switches places with that player instead.

BRIBES!!

This worked fine, shortly after the implementation of these rules. But now corruption has found it's way into the referee guild. So much so that if no extra fee is offered to the referee this shows in his way of using his whistle...

Both sides, prior to the kick-off offer the referee an enveloppe. What he finds within the enveloppe has his effects on the game! An amount of Duvels that is to be placed on the tab of the team is offered, if any at all...

Some teams like to play it 'clean' and don't try to bribe the referee. Whenever this is the case on both sides during a match the 'All seeing eye' gains 2" in Aura! A Clean game is always the case if no enveloppe was offered, or nothing was in it, or if the end result of the offered enveloppes was equal after modifiers were added.

In most cases, however, there is at least some Duvels offered and up to three as a maximum bid. The referee returns the enveloppes to the players and keeps the content of the one that looked most apealing for him. For each Duvel in difference there is an extra effect in play. If the content of both enveloppes was equal the referee lets the players know he can't decide and checks if they want to add 1 more to apease him. If not or both players indulge, the game continues as a 'clean' match. (but both enveloppes are emptied!)

Here's how bribes work when there is a difference:
The referee's guild has two factions: The Good Guys and the Corrupt Critters. Nobody knows what faction their referee will belong to when offering bribes. Upon receiving enveloppes with a different ammount of bribes here is what happens:
The TO (me, the receiver of all Duvels in the end) rolls a D6. On a result of 1-3 the Corrupt Critters asign a referee to the match, on a result of 4-6 the Good Guys get to blow their whistle. The content of the enveloppes (an email or private message will do) is checked. The Corrupt Critters will take the highest amount offered, whilst he Good Guys will take the lowest amount offered. The guild that sees some effects in play from the referee is seen as the bribing guild. The difference in amount is the number of results the bribing guild gets to use (and the amount of Duvels the TO will put on your tab).

The difference in number has up to three of the following results:

1) Take this!

The bribing guild can activate the Referee as if it was one of his players during X amount of rounds. Where X was the difference in bribes (Duvel). When choosing to do so the referee MUST be allocated 2 INF during the allocate INF step (the 1 INF generated by the referee is added to the pool only during a round in wich the referee will be activated.) When activated in this way the referee loses all his character traits and does not get to move his 2" (since he can't move towards himself) - REMINDER: the referee can not take possession of the ball and is therefore not a legal target for a pass action (so no MP from passing to the ref) During this activation the referee is concidered as a friendly guild member of the bribing guild.
*special result!

2) GOAL!!

Once during the game the bribing guild can opt to reroll a missed shot on goal adding a bonus referee die to the dice pool.

3) Here you go!!

Instead of using the standard scatter template whenever a ballpath goes over the referee, use the kick-scater template pointing the middle line towards any of the bribing guild's players.

4) Blind eye!!

The Aura: All Seeing Eye is reduced to 2" whenever a player from the bribing guild is activated.

5) What was that?!

Whenever a player from the bribing guild activates, the referee moves directly away from that player instead of directly towards!

6) I can take it, not a problem!!

Whenever a vengeance token would be given to a player from the bribing guild the first time during the game, no vengeance token is given instead. (once per game, not once per player per game!!)

7) What are you doing??

Once during the game the bribing guild can place the referee in base to base with an opposing player, if that player then attacks or targets a player of the bribing guild, the referee also suffers the results - thus triggering at least 'Fault'. This placement is only resolved BEFORE dice are rolled but AFTER an attack or character play is announced.

8) Game on!

After suffering the taken out condition, the referee does not come back on the pitch untill the next round.

9) Replacements are fine...

Once per game, after the bribing guild has a player with the taken out condition, instead of bringing that player back with the icy spongue rule another player that is able to play for that guild may be brought onto the pitch.

10) Time out!

Once per game the bribing guild may call a time out. During this time out any INF left on players may be re-allocated to any players that still need to activate. (this includes the referee if he was allocated 2 INF AND Take this was activated - BUT the referee AGAIN must be allocated 2 INF if he has yet to activate!)

11) Depressing play

Once per game the bribing guild may spend all his MP (at least 1) to gain an amount of MP equal to the opponents MP. Then the MP of the opponent is halved rounded down.

12) This game is a sell-out!

The bribing guild wins the game when reaching 11VP instead of 12VP

13) Penalty kicks!

After 3 turns the game ends and one player of each team, still on the pitch gets to kick a penalty goal. A penalty goal is kicked from the max kick distance and with a player as Keeper in front of the goal affecting the game as normal. Scoring a goal through a penalty is only worth 2 VP. If any guild has reached at least 12VP, then the guild with the highest VP wins the game, if not 2 other players get to make a penalty kick. (repeat untill there is a winner or untill all players that were still on the pitch at the end of round 3 made a penalty kick - the player with the highest VP wins.)

14) NO GOAL!!

Once per game the bribing guild can force an opponent to reroll a succesfull shot on goal if it was not a screamer.

15) Unfair play!!

The referee gains: Unfair play!! - 6" aura - players not in the aura get a +1 on playbook damage results when attacking players with the KD condition.

16) Fair Play!!

The referee gains: Fair Play!! - 6" aura - players suffering the KD condition within the aura take -1 from playbook damage results when attacked.

17) Having a bad day...

Whenever a player of the bribing guild activates the referee moves when the activation of said player ends instead of at the beginning of it.

18) Second wind

The bribing guild gets to move the referee X amount of times during the game as if he had second wind on him.
* special result

19) Superior Strategy

The bribing guild gets to add the superior strategy to his captains Character Plays. (Superior Strategy: Cost 4 - range 4" - once per turn: Target friendly guild model gains an additional activation and is allocated [1] influence.) If said captain already has said character play the cost is reduced to 3

20) Charmed (male/female/animal)

The referee has a fondness of one of the named types. At the beginning of the game the bribing guild chooses one. All models of the chosen type within the All Seeing Eye Aura get +1 ARM

During the tournament each guild can only pick each of the above results once untill all results have been picked by that guild. A result is considered picked once it has been allocated for use during a game! All unused results at the end of the game are wasted and rendered useless. The *special result types can be picked up to 2 times in the same bribe attempt. But are concidered picked even if only picked once.

- - - -

Rules of the Tournament:

1) Who can apply?

All are welcome to apply for this tournament. The TO has the right to reject applications.

2) What does playing in the league cost me?

Application for this tournament is free of charge - whatever you put into it by means of Duvel-Bribes is at the applicants own expense. Duvel Prices are subject to change and will depend on the price-list determined by the venue WEC (World's End Comics) where most Duvels will be consumed.

3) How do I apply?

To apply a (personal) message to the TO will do. You will be notified of acceptance or rejectoin ASAP. If you don't hear back from the TO within a weeks notice, you might want to check what went wrong. The message needs to contain:
* what guild(s) you will be playing. Plural! You do not have to stick to the one guild you own (allthough you can if you so wish) You will have to nominate one guild as your main guild. When not playing your main guild, you have to check with your current opponent if he is willing to face the guild you want to play. If not, you will have to play your main guild.
* your e-mail adress
* full name, handle on the forums/fb
* phone number (your phone number will be kept private by the TO and will be used to let you know if you are the bribing player (or not) - you will receive a textmessage from the TO informing you of his number prior to the start of the League
* if you so wish you can add furhter details (shoe-, bra-, shirt-sizes, personal home adress, preferred style of music, indecent proposals, ... ) all additional information given, appart from your chosen guilds and your name/handle will be kept secret - so help me God, bribes notwithstanding.

4) How does the schedule look like during this League?

There will be no set match fixtures, after every match an updated roster will be available for your consultation. This roster will list all players accepted into the tournament and sorted by a ranking system (TBD). You will also be able toconsult the avarage VP scored per match, number of matches, VP total, goals made, take outs made, goals against, take outs against (all per player). It is encouraged that every player plays at least one time against all other players on the list, regardless of position. It is encouraged to play against an opponent that has about the same number of matches played as yourself. It is greatly encouraged to bribe the TO (see rules elsewhere + a PDF document listing the rules will be sent to your e-mail adress after you have been accepted into the League)
* as soon as you and your opponent agree on a time and place, confirm the fixture by letting the TO know. He will put it up on a calender.

5) How does this unfair and biassed referee thing work? How do I get the ref on my side?

Prior to every match you will send the TO a PRIVATE message with the amount of Duvel the TO can put on your tab in the WEC IF your bribe is accepted. The amount of Duvels offered can be anywhere between 0 and 3. You will only be charged the difference in Duvel - not the amount of Duvel you use for bribing!!
Per Duvel offered you need to list one result you would like to add to the referee for the duration of your game (see list of 20 results).
Also note that if you did offer a bribe to begin with if you would like to add a Duvel to your offer in case of a draw between you and your opponents bribes. Note that in case of a draw in the end result you will play a 'clean' game BUT you will still be paying the TO one Duvel each unless both of you opted to not offer any bribe at all. If no offer for bribing was offered, the TO will treat it as having received a 0 DUVEL bribe. When offering 0 Duvel in your initial bribe you CANNOT add one to avoid a draw. (so if both guilds refrain from offering any bribe, non shal be charged) Make sure to number your offered Duvels (1-3) and list the results in the same manner (on a 1 Duvel difference only the first result will be allocated to you, on a 2 Duvel difference the top 2 results will be allocated to you, in the unlikely event that the difference is 3 Duvels all your choices will be allocated!) Once a result is allocated to you (regardless if you used it or not) you cannot pick that result again untill all 20 results have been allocated to your guild at least once! (What are the odds of that happening?)

6) Required information after every game played!

at the conclusion of every match BOTH players should send the TO the results including AT LEAST the amount of goals and take-outs scored by both players (conflicting results will be rejected by the TO - consecutive conflicting results might lead up to exclusion of the tournament or at least a negative effect on your ranking) Venting about the referee rules used during your game is optional, but might prove helpfull for future events.

7) New players: (and new players only)

Players new to guild ball can still join in on this tournament and play without the referee special rule. All you have to do is pay the TO one Duvel and you're set for the entire League! (other offers will be taken under consideration) Your opponents will be informded that the game is to be played without the referee special rule set.

8) code of conduct

We are all adults here, so please act that way... If you face an opponent that would rather play without the referee special rule for whatever reason, come to an agreement prior to setting a date for your game and simply let the TO know you'll have a normal game of guild ball. Do keep in mind I set this tournament up for easy access to free drinks, so you'd better buy me a Duvel! You can also have a gentlemens agreement with your opponent to not send any bribes at all and play with the 'clean' version of the referee special rule. (thus including the most clean version of the referee special rule) Play however you like, the TO will accept your game, we are all here to have fun after all, and the TO likes to have Duvel to help add to that fun!

9) Duration of the tournament:

The tournament will run for an entire year. Players are welcome to join in at any point or leave at any other. After a year has passed a refresh will be made and the rules will be subject to change, based on play experience and player feedback. If so needed an errata to the rules will be made prior to the end of the tournament.
The ranking of the players will be transferred to the start of next years league.

10) Location of the games played:

As the TO will charge the Duvels in the WEC it is encouraged to play your games there (Ketelvest 51, Gent) If this venue is not familiar with who you are, thus rendering the TO unable to drink on your tab, you might be subject of exclusion out of the tournament unless other arrangements were made with the TO. /jk
You and your opponent can decide to play elsewhere, even on the moon! The TO really doesn't care as long as he gets his Duvel. If you and your opponent can not agree on a suitable place but have an agreement on when you could play. It is ruled that the person not showing up in the WEC at the set time forfaits his game and will suffer a 0-12 loss. Enalbing his opponent to drink Duvels with the TO (God I hope I'm there for every game...)

11) Price support:

Since this is a free tournament the only price support given (up till now) will be out of the pockets of the TO.

This will be to the player that offered the most bribes (this includes the +1 offers in case of draws) IF that player also got charged with at least one Duvel on the TO's behalf during the tournament. (I can't help but fear there will be no Duvels at all for me... ) The prize in itself is TBD.

Another prize will go to the person that got charged the most Duvels during the tournament on the TO's behalf. This prize is also TBD. (And since we're not always charging the player that offers most with the good guys on the whistle, I hope this will be a different person)

So if you win the League at the end of the year, I hope you're proud of yourself, pride is all you'll get! (up till now)
If the chairman of the gamers guild decides to support this tournament, the best player (the highest avarage VP scored per match) - the moral victor (the highest VP's or most games won or the runner up if this is the same person as the winner) and a consolation prize to the worst player (least avarage VP scored per match) and biggest loser (most games lost OR least VP OR runner up if the same person as the last person) Might get something, depending on what that prize support is.

That's it boys and girls!

Rules are subject to change!

A date will be set and the league will be launched soon enough!
(This will probably be a facebook group)

Hope you all enjoyed this idea (and I'll repeat myself, feel free to copy and paste some Ideas) even if you're not part of my local gaming community!

That's all folks!

Bob Out!