RULES

Note: Rules relating to the technical capabilities of the game are due change after the planned Steam release of TF2 Classic in 2025.

General

• Games are played on servers installed with the official SM server plugin, config files and vscript pack. The right config file should be executed for the game mode to be played. Note that the current Highlander config can be used for 6v6 as well.
• For the TF2C-specific maps, the official TF2C versions are used. For the maps common with live TF2, the versions used in ETF2L applies.
• Players have to record demos in game, which can later be requested by the admins for reviewing.
• Before starting the match, both teams state their status as “ready” by typing on chat. The match should then be started by the server admin (mp_restartgame).
  This is possibly due change with the inclusion of all tournament mode features with the planned Steam release of TF2C in 2025.
• Currently no whitelist is applicable to any of the game modes. All items are allowed to be used.

Competitive Game Modes

For 6v6 class limits, the related ETF2L rule applies.

“Normal” Highlander game mode is played 9v9 at all times including VIP/R maps. A general class limit of 1 applies, with the Civilian class limit being 0 in non-VIP/R maps (tf2c_allow_special_classes 0). In VIP/R maps, teams exchange one of their standard class players for the Civilian class, which is automatically assigned as the “VIP” by the server plugin, and has the sole capability to capture the objective (tf2c_allow_special_classes 3).

The mode CompTF2C refers as “Highlander+” differs from the normal Highlander mainly by having an additional Civilian player for VIP/R maps, situationally making the game 10v9 or 10v10.

Warning 1: Because of the way TF2C is built, the only way to change class while being the VIP (Civilian) is to use the sm_unclass command, or by typing “!unclass” or “/unclass” in chat, making use of the related function of the official server plugin. These commands and messages can be bound to a keyboard or mouse button by the players using the bind command in their local cfg files.

Warning 2: Switching to the Civilian class while being dead, then switching to another class may bypass the respawn time. This is strictly forbidden.

Warning 3: Because of the way TF2C is built, all players of a team can capture the objective if there is no VIP present (in the BLU team in VIP maps; or both teams in VIPR). Abusing this mechanic to gain capture time with standard classes in VIP/R modes is strictly forbidden.

Highlander+

• Non-VIP/R maps are effectively played 9v9; standard (non-Civilian) class limit 1; Civilian class limit 0.
  The Civilian class limit on non-VIP/R maps may be put in effect by the official server plugin. See the other rules for details.
• VIP/R maps are played 10v9 and 10v10 with the inclusion of the Civilian class; a general class limit of 1 applies; exception being RED team’s Civilian class limit 0 on VIP maps.
  The BLU Civilian on VIP maps, and both Civilians on VIPR maps are assigned as the VIP by the official server plugin.
  The above-mentioned class limit exception is put in effect by the official server plugin.
  RED Civilian player on a VIP map is the designated non-playing Civilian (dNPC) through that (defence) round.
• In a match including both VIP/R and non-VIP/R maps, the Civilian player is allowed to remain in the server in their team throughout non-VIP/R maps as well (tf2c_allow_special_classes 3 for all maps in Highlander+ mode).
  The official server plugin makes the Civilian player dNPC in non-VIP/R maps.
• designated non-playing Civilian (dNPC): dNPC is either the player who picks the Civilian class as RED on VIP maps; or the players picking Civilian in either team on non-VIP/R maps.
  dNPC is made to act as a dead player by the official server plugin, only spectating their team.
  dNPC must remain the same through the (defence) round on VIP maps, and throughout the whole map on non-VIP/R maps. Therefore, the other players actively playing with standard classes remain the same, and can switch classes with each other, however, dNPC cannot “join” the game, with the exception of a player change (see the related Match Rule).

Match Rules

• Only for class changing purposes, the class limit of may be exceeded temporarily, with the condition of never having more than the allowed number of players of the same class outside the respawn room, and not abusing it from inside the respawn room.
• Teams are allowed to change a player during a map, only once.
  However, it is forbidden to use the player change to bypass respawn times.
  Teams are allowed to change as many players as they would like between maps.
  For Highlander+: The player joining in can be the designated non-playing Civilian who has been previously spectating their team (see the related Highlander+ rule).
• For pauses (pause and unpause), the related ETF2L rule applies.

In-game Modes

TF2C-specific game mode rules are written below. For the game modes common with live TF2, related ETF2L rules apply.

Note that currently mp_windifference does not work in TF2C. The win condition for TD and VIPR game modes are to be made mp_windifference after the planned Steam release of TF2C in 2025, instead of the currently defined mp_winlimit.

TD (Territorial Domination)

• TD is played 9v9. Civilian class is not allowed (tf2c_allow_special_classes 0 if not playing Highlander+).
• Game is played in 2 halves of up to 15 minutes each (mp_timelimit 15).
• Win limit is 5 rounds (mp_winlimit 5) for each half.
• Maps have specific respawn rules for round starts, enabled with the official server vscript logic.
  In td_caper, RED starts rounds in point A, and BLU starts rounds in point B. Therefore, C is always the uncapped point at round start.
  In td_sunnyside, RED starts rounds in point A, and BLU starts rounds in point C. Therefore, B is always the uncapped point at round start.
• At the end of the first half, the teams switch colors (mp_switchteams).
• If the score is tied at the end of the second half, Golden Cap rounds are played (using the same TD cfg).
  Teams switch colors, as if half-time, before each Golden Cap round.
  Whichever team captures the uncapped point at round start, is declared the winner of that Golden Cap round.
  The team that wins 2 Golden Cap rounds in a row is declared the winner of the map.

DOM (Domination)

• Domination is played 9v9. Civilian class is not allowed (tf2c_allow_special_classes 0 if not playing Highlander+).
• There is no time limit (mp_timelimit 0).
• Win limit is 3 rounds (mp_winlimit 3).

Note: By default TF2C settings, domination game mode has the Total Domination (“comeback”) mechanic. In case the losing team captures all 3 control points at once, they gain a boost that increases their score rapidly until it reaches to 98% of the winning team’s.

VIPR (VIP Race)

• The Civilian class is essential to play VIPR (tf2c_allow_special_classes 3). The player who picks the Civilian class is automatically assigned as the VIP, by the official server plugin. Refer to Warnings 1 to 3 on this page for the related restrictions.
• Map time is 30 minutes (mp_timelimit 30).
• Win limit is 5 rounds (mp_winlimit 5).
• If the score is tied at the end of the map time, Golden Cap is played.
  Golden Cap round has a win limit of 1, and a time limit of 15 minutes (mp_winlimit 1 and mp_timelimit 15).
  If the first Golden Cap round results in a stalemate, another Golden Cap round is played where the first team to capture their first point wins.

VIP

• The Civilian class is essential to the BLU team to play VIP (tf2c_allow_special_classes 3). The player who picks the Civilian class is automatically assigned as the VIP, by the official server plugin. Refer to Warnings 1 to 3 on this page for the related restrictions.
• Game is played as A&D Stopwatch, using the “ABBA(AB)” best-of-3 format.
  Teams (“A” and “B”) take turns to be the attacker (BLU) and the defender (RED), with the goal of capturing more points or capturing the same number of points within less time, in a round (“AB”).
  The same is repeated (“BA(AB)”) until a team wins 2 rounds.
• If the Civilian class is selected in RED team, the selecting player is made to act as a dead player by the official server plugin, only spectating their team; effectively making the class limit for RED Civilian 0.
• In Highlander+, the RED Civilian is dNPC. See the related Highlander+ rule.

Note that stopwatch is made possible with the official server plugin. The tournament mode stopwatch feature will possibly be enabled with the planned Steam release of TF2C in 2025.

Fair Play

Competitive TF2C, and TF2C, has a close-knit and dedicated community of highly creative people sharing the passion for the game.
Respect and empathy are constants of the community. Everyone is received with open arms and is believed to be adding value. While doing so, we kindly ask you to refrain from any act of harassment, racism, toxicity or derivatives both in-game and in the official Discord server; and remind you that failing to do so is punishable.