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Etiquette and Cheating
The purpose of this page is to eliminate confusion as to proper
etiquette and the general rules in force during a Puffing Billy
Tournament. It is our hope that this guide should increase the
enjoyment of all train gamers playing in a Puffing Billy Tournament.
Expect to see printed versions of these guidelines available at
PBTs taking place around the country.
Etiquette
We expect courteous behavior and good sportsmanship from all train
gamers at all times! If PBT participants display any behavior
not in keeping with this expectation, disciplinary action may
be taken against them. Disciplinary actions may include disqualification
from the game, the game category, the Puffing Billy Tournament,
and, in particularly egregious cases, future TGA sanctioned events.
The following rules are part of our player's etiquette and infractions
may be penalized as above:
- Players are expected to be continuously present during the play
of any event in which they are scheduled except during predetermined
or agreed upon breaks. Players are responsible for timely arrival
at scheduled events. No player may play in more than one game
at the same time.
- A player may not intentionally engineer a bankruptcy in order
to end a game in which the player is doing poorly or for other
inappropriate reasons. A player who wins a game while engineering
the bankruptcy will not be penalized.
- A player may not quit a game before it has finished (except for
reasons such as illness or other emergencies), especially with
the intention of playing in another event. If this should happen,
then the offending player will be disqualified from both the categories
of the game he/she quitted and the one he/she entered after quitting
the first game (where applicable).
- No kibitzing except where expressly allowed by the game. Players
may communicate with each other but only over the board where
all present can hear. It is unethical to make agreements before
the game and players may be penalized if this behavior is discovered
by a Puffing Billy Conductor. Under no circumstances may any player
play another player's position nor may he/she delay play while
trying to convince another player to take specific actions. Secret
agreements are not allowed. Gentlemen's agreements are never binding.
- At no time may insults or physical violence be offered to any
participant of the convention. Such behavior will bring immediate
expulsion to the offending player and may cause him/her to be
reported to the local police.
Other Rules
Cheating and other forms of circumventing both the rules of individual
games and the rules of the Puffing Billy Tournament will not be
tolerated. If players are found to be doing any of the above,
then disciplinary action will be taken against them.
- All players are to obey all rules involved in the play of the
game.
- Absent a Conductor's mandate no moves may be reversed after the
next player has started taking his or her turn.
- ALWAYS PLAY TO WIN THE GAME. A player should not take any action
for the sole intention of reducing another player's Puffing Billy
score. An example: Player A knows that Player B is going to win
the game of Empire Builder which they are both participating in.
Player A also knows that the win will advance Player B ahead of
him in the Puffing Billy standings. Player A suddenly starts running
on Player C's rail line in order to reduce his own money total
and to throw the game to Player C, thus, reducing Player B's Puffing
Billy score. This is cheating and is not allowed under the Puffing
Billy rules. This type of behavior will be penalized as severely
as any other type of cheating. If there are any doubts about this
sort of play, our maxim is "Always play to win the game!" Any
other type of play is suspect.
- Each player has a responsibility to ensure the rules of the game
and of the tournament are followed. Each player is responsible
for reporting irregularities as soon as they are discovered. Players
must protest illegal actions as described in the game rules or
as above promptly to a Puffing Billy conductor. A player may not
later protest illegal actions taken by another player unless those
actions were not discovered until the present turn. PBCs can do
nothing about illegal actions after a game has finished so report
infractions promptly!
- All rulings of the Puffing Billy Conductors shall be followed.
If a player disagrees with a judge's ruling, he/she may ask for
a second opinion. The first Conductor then will select another
PBC with whom to consult. The two can consult with anyone else
they deem appropriate and make a joint ruling, but their ruling
is final. Disciplinary action may be taken at the Conductor's
discretion against anyone arguing with a final ruling, particularly
if the arguing participant disrupts and wastes the valuable time
of other participants.
* Our thanks to Dean Washburn, Jay Tummelson, and Wayne Williams
for their contribution to the rules outlined here and in the TGA's
Gamer's Guide to Puffing Billy Tournaments. |
