REFINE TCG

REFINE is a PTCG team that asserts anyone can have success in the game with dedication. It’s not a question of if - but when. Every person is capable of being a top PTCG player, as long as they truly commit to long-term, efficient practice/testing etc. We welcome you to participate in our tournament series focused on this principle, with particular focus on providing additional opportunities for tournaments with start & end times friendly to those players in the Eastern US time zone.

Tournament Guidelines

• Format: Tournament is current Standard format, with set legality based on date available on PTCGL (not the typical 2 weeks after launch for IRL play). This includes early promotional release cards (ex. Steven’s & Marnie’s decks).


• Swiss Rounds: Best of 1 with a time limit of 30 minutes with a Check In timer of 5 mins. Timers must be turned on when playing.


• Check Ins: Each player is responsible for their own Check In prior to each match - no Check In = Match Loss.


• Good Vibes Only: While the goal of these tournaments is to provide a more structured competitive space than random laddering on Live, they are still just online tournaments with lower stakes than most in-person play. As such, be a good person and fellow player. Users that break the rules, use exploits, harass other players / Judges/ organizers, exhibit unsportsmanlike conduct, or otherwise cause a negative play experience for others will be subject to penalties and potential bans from future REFINE events.


• Judges: Please only leverage the Judge request button in the Limitless game chat to contact a Judge. Any attempts to contact a Judge through other means, including Discord, will be ignored. If a Judge call is made, timely responses are expected to keep the flow of the tournament going, and if player responses are not made within a reasonable timeframe the Judge call will be closed and the outcome determined based on the information available to the Judge up to that point.


• Technical Issues: This includes game freezing, internet issues, device crashing, bugs or any issues that occur with the client, will have a resolution decided by the Judge based on various factors, including but not limited to, game state and amount of turns played. We all know that PTCGL can be buggy sometimes, and sometimes that will unfortunately result in a game loss through no fault of your own.


• Deck Mismatch: If you accidentally select the wrong deck compared to your submitted decklist, you must immediately notify your opponent and restart the match after the correct selection is made. If you suspect your opponent has intentionally selected a wrong / different deck, collect screenshot evidence and contact a Judge for resolution. Intentional deck switching is grounds for a loss.


• Verification of Game Results: You are strongly encouraged, but not required, to screenshot your end of game victory screen for each match. Unless indicated otherwise based on chat details, Judges will award the win to the player with the victory screenshot.


• Ties: If the timer runs out and the game has not concluded, the result will be a Tie. If there is a discrepancy over round end vs. game state, then screenshot the game result and request a Judge. The Judge will make a determination based on the screenshot if the game was completed before time ran out.


• Slow Play: Intentional Slow Play is grounds for a game loss, and repeated confirmed violations of this rule will result in a ban from future events. If you suspect your opponent of Slow Play, contact a Judge as soon as possible to provide evidence. A Judge will request that you either share your screen to show the Slow Play in action or provide a screenshot. Active watching of the Slow Play in action will carry more weight than a screenshot showing a time discrepancy, and all Slow Play decisions are the final purview of the Judge.


• Streaming: Players are allowed to stream their games, but please make use of some form of delay to prevent or minimize the chance of stream sniping. Streaming cannot be leveraged to gain an advantage in your game, and doing so is grounds for penalties to include a game loss up to a tournament ban for repeated violations. Advantages could include insights into current game gained from chat, insights from stream sniping, as well as any other potential unfair advantage. If you suspect your opponent of receiving an unfair advantage from streaming, collect screenshots, and request a Judge for assistance.


• Catch ‘Em All: Ultimately, it is up to the discretion of the Judges and tournament organizers to determine whether a player is causing a detrimental impact to the overall enjoyment and playability of their matches and the tournament as a whole. As such, causing a negative impact through means not already covered in the written guidelines can and will still be met with penalties up to and including bans from future events.

Tournament Structure

• Swiss Rounds - Best of 1, No Top Cut (for now)
  • 4-8 players = 3 Swiss Rounds
  • 9-12 players = 4 Swiss Rounds
  • 13-32 players = 5 Swiss Rounds
  • 33-64 players = 6 Swiss Rounds
  • 65-128 players = 7 Swiss Rounds