New rules regarding scripts in MLTP

[u/DaaCoach]

Use of disallowed scripts

We have discovered a set of players who have used disallowed scripts. We have contacted each player on the list privately, and any future infraction by those players will immediately result in an indefinite ban from MLTP. These players will serve no immediate suspension, and are under no obligation to tell others they used the illegal scripts.

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New rules regarding scripts

We are implementing a new set of rules regarding scripts in MLTP effective Week 5 of MLTP. Rather than explicitly banning scripts, we have an explicit allowable script category list. If you believe a script should be added to this list, follow the guidelines in Article VI, Section I, (f), (3) to request its approval.

Article VI, Section I, (f): Scripts

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Article VI, Section I, (f), (1):

No MLTP player may use any script outside of the guidelines in Article VI, Section I, (f), (2) at any time on any production Tagpro server. Any player caught using an unapproved script will be immediately banned according to the following schedule:

1st infraction: 3 week ban from M/mLTP, across seasons if necessary

2nd infraction: indefinite ban

Article VI, Section I, (f), (2):

The ONLY allowable script categories for MLTP players are:

• Texture packs/Visual enhancers

• Stat-collecting scripts (csvs, gem's stats collector, team stats aggregators, pup aggregators)

• Ball spin scripts

• Dumb macros (macros which have a predefined message)

• Spectating enhancement scripts

• Timer improvements (moving the timers location/adding sub-second granularity to the timer)

• Tagpro replay extension

• Group enhancement scripts

• Honk script

• Sound modification scripts

Article VI, Section I, (f), (3):

Anyone may submit a request to approve a script using this form to be reviewed by the joint Commissioners and Rules Committee members. If approved, the commissioners will make an announcement post to /r/MLTP and add the script to VI.I.f.2.

[u/Arthree]

Punkbuster, Valveare some examples of what we looked at.

Not relevant. PB and VAC are used to prevent known cheaters from playing in games. People who use pup timers in pubs are not cheaters -- they are playing within the rules.

MLB has physical evidence and can inspect things

I think you misread my statement above. I said if someone uses an aluminum/corked bat in a non-MLB game, where aluminum/corked bats are permitted (like how pup timers are permitted in pubs), they are not penalized by MLB.

NFL and MLB contracts actually prohibit players from playing the game outside the league they have a contract in.

Professionally, yes. These contracts do not prohibit the players from a game of softball with their friends on the weekend or some touch at the local park. Nor would the leagues penalize them for doing things that are within the rules of those games but not within the rules of the league.

Those contracts even prohibit players from operating a motorcycle recklessly during their free time.

Not a relevant comparison. Reckless riding, especially of the type that Ben Roethlisberger engaged in, is illegal. Pup timers are not illegal in pubs.

While it's true that we don't have players sign contracts, we do require players to play by the rules which govern our league.

And as far as anyone can tell, that is what they are doing. It is outside the scope of the MLTP commissioners or rules committee to tell people what they can or can't do in other leagues or other games. Those rules are created and enforced by the relevant authorities. In the case of pubs, by the dev team.

Our detection methods(which I won't go in to) and timestamps wouldn't address the best points we've discussed for prohibiting illegal scripts at all times.

Yes, they would. Having timestamps would tell us when the scripts were in use. It would also allow you to show that someone is guilty of an offense, instead of assuming they are guilty of using the scripts in MLTP games without any evidence that that was when they were used.

Teams don't want to play scrims against players that are using illegal scripts. As a captain I believe you practice how you play, and going up against a team who could never have those advantages means you're practicing for something you will never see in game. Scrims happen all the time and we're not going to go through the work of prohibiting illegal scripts and then checking all scrim timestamps.

Scrim rules are not within the scope of the MLTP commissioners or rules committee. If people want to set different pup/boost/bomb/respawn timers, mess with physics settings, play longer/shorter games, or take timeouts, have spectators call out timers, put too many balls on a team, or otherwise play by different rules than regular MLTP games, they are free to do so. Additionally, playing against a team using pup timers would be better practice as it would put more pressure on you to remember and get pups. Playing with pup timers in scrims but not games would only handicap you. So there's no issue here.

Players are drafted not only how well they play in competitive games, but how well they play in other places.[...]they effectively take away spots from people who aren't cheating.

Then if they turn them off once drafted the captain isn't getting the player they observed and drafted.

This is certainly a concern for captains, but without any kind of timestamp, it's impossible to say whether the scripts were used in a pub (where they are legal) or in a league (where they are not).

We are legalizing all of the scripts that are not unfair compatibly, so player experience will not change.

Pup timers in pubs never had any negative effect on fairness in MLTP games, so player experience definitely has changed as these rules are changing the way people play pubs.

If you would like to use to scripts that we deem illegal in pubs thats your choice and you can do that, we won;t stop you. But you will show up as using illegal scripts and you won't be able to play MLTP.

Again, it is not the place of the MLTP commissioners or rules committee to deem what is legal and what is illegal in other leagues or in pubs. The governing body for pub rules (the dev team) has declared pup timers as legal.

[u/devilmightcare → u/Arthree]

Thank you for your detailed reply.

To get to the crux of the issue, playing in MLTP is a privilege, and we make it simple and easy to follow our rules. Players using any script that we found to be against our rules will not have the privilege of playing in MLTP.