The rules of LTD @ENT states no flaw against denying a draw. I see this as a problem. Most games will be decided once one are less players on one side than the other.
So what is the solution? I suggest ENT should implement a rule for omitting a draw when the teams have become uneven at such an early stage in the game, a defeat is imminent for the endangered team.
The rule itself sounds fair and appealing, but it is not applicable in all situations and needs further definition in order to avoid abuse.
By "early stage" i refer to level 1-3. Let's go through each of these levels and pretend there's a leaver on one side:
Pre-level 1 (before the levels start):
- If you're down to x versus 4 before level 1 starts, no effect has been made on one side to the other. Omitting a draw in this situation should be bannable.
Level 1 and until level 2 starts:
- If neither of the sides sent creeps to interfere with the opposing team and a player still decides to leave, omitting a draw should be bannable.
- If one side sent creeps and caused a leak from the leaving player, whose leak was then caught by his fellow players, omitting a draw should be bannable.
- If the send from opposing team causes a leak which could not be prevented by any players (creeps reach the king) and a player of the deferred team then decides to leave, omitting a draw should not be bannable.
Level 2 and until level 3 starts:
- If a player leaves with no send from opposing side being made for this level, omitting a draw should be bannable.
- If the opposing team sends for level 2 which causes a leak that makes the leaving player leak but the leak is caught by his fellow players, omitting a draw should be bannable.
- If the send from opposing team causes a leak which could not be prevented by any players (creeps reach the king) and a player of the deferred team then decides to leave, omitting a draw should not be bannable.
Level 3:
- If no send has been made from the opposing team and a player still decides to leave, omitting a draw should be bannable.
- If the send from opposing team leads to a leak from the leaving player which is then caught by his fellow players, omitting a draw should be bannable.
- If the send from opposing team causes a leak which could not be prevented by any players (creeps reach the king) and a player of the deferred team then decides to leave, omitting a draw should not be bannable.
The rule is built up on the idea of causality; if the leaving player decides to leave because of team 2's overwhelming send, the leaving player obviously fears a loss could be imminent. In these situations where team 2's send is so good it could lead to a victory at the present level or cause team 1 to spend alot of heals (being 4v4 untill all players have leaked), it would be unfair to withdraw the victory from team 2. On the other hand; if there is no causality between the leaving player and the entirety (i.e. a leaks can be caught; one can always make a comeback) of the game, a draw should be made.
If you managed to implement the rule against abusing Altar Glitch for 3.5, and all players - both common and uncommon - now follow this new rule due to simple server announcements, then you could also manage to implement the easy rule of encouraging a draw. Players outside the community would not be aware of the specific details of the draw rule, and therefore it would be in simple "if one are x versus 4 before level 4 starts, omitting a draw is bannable". This simple interpretation of the rule will lead to many players leaving when they leak (/"fearing a loss is imminent"), so the remains of the team then can call for a draw and by that avoid losing any ELO. If we want to counter such bad sportmanship, one must also intensify the punishment for leaving. In this way players rather gain an incentive to stay until the game is finished.
I want to end this post with an invitation to fair play. Myself, i will always check the circumstances of the game and consider if i should draw or not if the teams are uneven. This goes for any level of the game. The idea is that if i draw for my opponents when they face an uneven game being x versus 4, they will draw for me in similar situations in the future. This is what a community is all about; knowing eachother, knowing the depth of the game and be able to rely on eachother's goodwill. If i help you now, i'll expect you to help me tomorrow. If you help me now, i will help you tomorrow. Let the sportmanship be like this. Fair play for the win.
If you have any questions, suggestions or comments regarding the draw rule, then please reply here.
