When Time Has Been Called

I was inspired to write this particular article by a thread on a site about what happens when time is called. It seemed that people were all over the place about what is and is not acceptable when the time limit is reached for the round, and I thought it might be useful to cover that topic as it directly relates to my previous article about calling a judge (you will see why in a bit.)

Before I get started, I will let everyone know that we are talking about swiss round matches and timed, single-elimination games in the early elim rounds. This is not about the Palmer Rule or any other strictly defined win/loss timing mechanism.

First, when time is called, that is the end of the game; it is over. Floor Rule 4.3.2 Time Limit and Match Length state that once time is called play must stop. This part is also important later when we talk about deciding on a winner. The rules of any given tournament will give a specific amount of time that the game can take, usually 40 or 45 minutes, and once that time has been reached the game is over and play must cease.

Since there is a time limit to these games if you feel your opponent is stalling call a judge (I told you we would get back here.) I will give everyone a minute to go to the tournament floor rules on l5r.com and read section 3.13 Game Delay Due to Player.

Done?

Good. I hope you read it carefully as it allows for two important things. The first thing being that any player has the right to call a judge and watch for stalling on the part of their opponent. If you do not call a judge and you feel you were being slow played, it is your fault. You have no one to blame for the game going to time except yourself. Do not be afraid to call a judge. The second thing that the rule covers is if a player has been away from the table for any length of time for any reason during a match and it goes to time, the opponent automatically receives the win. This rule also includes tardiness. If you are late or must get up form the table for any reason, keep this rule in mind and watch for stalling on the part of your opponent.

Now that we have reached the time limit, the next step is to determine if either player wins. Notice I said if. It is not a requirement to have a winner. As mentioned in Rule 4.3.2, either player may concede to their opponent. Should this not happen, then both players may agree upon some random method of deciding the winner of the game (die roll is the most common, but it could also be a coin flip, etc). Look at the key word used in the actual floor rules: may. It is not required, but an option. If either player wishes to neither concede nor randomize, then it is well within their right. Keep in mind that there is only a 5 minute reporting period once time is called; if this 5 minute period expires, the result is a double loss. Please keep match determination as brief as possible to avoid the possibility of the double loss; it hurts the strength of schedule of both players and the tie breakers of everyone that those two players played.

Those are the only set in stone rules. I will cover some common etiquette, but please do not confuse etiquette and sportsmanship with following the rules. There is nothing wrong with adhering to the rules as written, but keep in mind that by choosing to not practice good taste and common sense in games where time has been called, you risk alienating yourself from the player base and possibly getting a negative reputation. While that may not bother some, remember that people with bad reputations tend to be given fewer breaks by their opponents; especially when it comes to whether or not your opponent is willing to concede once time has been called.

The first of the points of end of round etiquette that I will cover is what to do with the 5 minute reporting period. The first step is to not show your cards to your opponent unless they ask. ‘Why,’ you may ask? Well, ultimately the rules say the game is over and you immediately stop playing. Showing cards to your opponent is, in some measure, a continuation of the game, even if just in theory. While this may be ok, it does actually violate the floor rules and, given a strict enough judge, could result in a warning or a game loss if your opponent presses the issue. Ask your opponent if it is ok to talk through the remainder of the game quickly and show each other cards to try to decide if a concession should be made. Do not get upset if they say no. If they ask, do not be afraid to say no if you do not want to talk through it. Ultimately the game ended at time and no one was stalling.

The second is to be realistic. Are you at -19 honor with a dishonored shugenja on the board while your opponent has a Kaukatsu in play that you can’t stop? Please concede. In every game there are decisions that you take extra time on because they are important, but could have caused the game to go to time instead of ending in a resolution. My rule of thumb is to concede if I would lose if that extra time had played out. We want calls of potential stalling to be because someone might actually be stalling, not because someone is worried that they have the game and their opponent may not concede when time is called. There is an important distinction.

The next point I want to make on this issue is to reinforce the fact that the time limit of a tournament round is a rule in the same way that all of the rulebook rules are rules. If you create a deck or have trouble playing in a way that finishes within the time limit, do not be surprised if no one concedes to you. No one cares if you would have won had the game played out for another hour, or even another 15 minutes. The tournament rules state either 40 or 45 minutes (depending on the tournament) and you need to play within that time limit as if the time limit was set by the rulebook.

If you feel like your opponent is taking too long to make each play, please call a judge. Again, I can’t stress this enough. If you don’t call a judge, intentionally slow players will never be caught for cheating, and unintentionally slow players will never feel like they have to improve their pace of play to participate in tournaments. It takes an effort by everyone to make sure a tournament is not only fun, but fair. It is not just the job of the tournament organizer and judges as they cannot be everywhere at once. It is the job of the players to notify a judge when something is taking place, that way the issue can be identified and handled correctly when it happens. No one can take action after an incident has occurred, nor should that be expected. If you don’t complain about slow play from the beginning of the round, you have no recourse at the end if you go to time and your opponent doesn’t concede.

Finally, I want to talk a little bit about sportsmanship. Sure it is nice, but we all need to remember that we are playing in a tournament with hundreds of dollars worth of prizes on the line. Sure they are just dumb pieces of cardboard and decorative swords and artwork, but they are still worth something. Also there are story prizes associated with some tournaments that people put a higher premium on than even the physical prizes. Do not be upset if someone decides that the game was not sufficiently resolved in the time limit and wants a roll or won’t concede. That is their choice. Also, do not automatically assume they are an asshole or that they were intentionally slow playing just because they appeared to be in a weaker position. Remember, we don’t play these games out to their conclusion if they go to time, so you don’t know that you would have played perfectly and won the game.

On the flip side, be courteous and sportsmanlike. If you have lost the game, within reason, concede. Don’t be an ass about not conceding. While it is your right to not concede or to ask for a die roll, you do not have the right to be rude about it.

I hope that this article was useful in helping everyone understand what happens when a round goes to time and what the proper procedures are. I also hope that everyone was able to take something positive away form the non-rules related items, as those are the items that shape and define the L5R community.