Thread: Reffing Grey Areas..

Reffing Grey Areas
By John "Thumper" Edens - 11.05.2008

First - scenario paintball is a game - a game defined by rules, roles and objectives - and bound by sportsmanship. By the nature of paintball, our particular game is also bound by integrity. No player should ever play this game with the mindset of "it's ok if I dont get caught".

That said, rules are subject to interpretation. Refs are provided to enforce the rules and provide some amount of judgement. The gamesmaster is provided to make the hard calls - and set the standard for enforcement of his rules. But he did write the rules - and if they are soft in a particular area, he should expect some players take full advantage the soft areas.

Lets work examples - one at a time.

DEAD MANS WALK-ish

Blue Player walks with his gun unbagged, unplugged, down and says he is looking for his pod. Once in position, he barrel tags a red player and shoots two more.

Reffing Solution

* This is not deadmans walk.
* Red players are eliminated for not knowing the rules.

Blue Player walks with his gun unbagged, unplugged, down and says he is OUT. Once in position, he barrel tags a red player and shoots two more.

Reffing Solution

* This is deadman's walk - and then some.
* Once you say you are OUT, you are OUT - no exception.
* Once your friends say you are OUT and you don't deny the claim, you are OUT.
* Red players are NOT eliminated.
* Call the blue player eliminated.
* Record blue player's name and number and report the number and situation to the head ref for the player playing on after calling himself out.
* Tell the blue player to plug it and walk off the field.

UNMARKED PLAYERS

Player walks around without tape and without spy role card.
Rules require 6" of visible tape showing at all times unless player has Spy role card.
Player walks around shooting players.
Reffing Solution: look for players at all times to ensure proper team markings.

If a ref catches a player w/o proper team markings he should:

* Quietly ask the player if he has a spy role card - and if so, to show it. If he doesn't:
* Record the players name and number and report the number and situation to the head ref.
* Tell the player to plug it and walk off the field (or to base) and to get properly marked.
* Keep and eye out for repeat offenders.

Player walks around with tape tucked into vents in mask
Rules require 6" of visible tape showing at all times unless player has Spy role card.
Reffing Solution: look for players at all times to ensure proper team markings.

If a ref catches a player w/o proper team markings he should:

* Call the player neutral,
* Warn the player,
* Fix his face tape if fixable.
* Keep and eye out for repeat offenders.
* If the tape is not fixable, tell the player to plug it and walk off the field (or to base) and to get properly marked.

(a similar stunt exist where players are required to have tape on front of mack, but only put it on the back. Another stunt is where armband tape is used, and then a sleeve is used to periodically cover the arm band tape)

Blue player walks around shooting blue players
Rules require 6" of visible tape showing at all times unless player has Spy role card.
Reffing Solution: look for players at all times to ensure proper team markings.

If a ref catches a player w/o proper team markings he should:

* Quietly ask the player if he has a spy role card - and if so, to show it. If he doesn't:
* Record the players name and number and report the number and situation to the head ref.
* Tell the player to plug it and walk off the field (or to base) and to get properly marked.
* Keep and eye out for repeat offenders.

ROLE CARDS

LAWS rocket operator shoots tank
In this exampe, the rules provided for all 3 LAWS operators and for all LAWS operators to have LAWS role card on hand. Reffing Solution: look for laws operators and unobtrusively look for LAWS player role cards.

If a ref catches LAWS operator w/o a visible LAWS player role card showing he should:

* Quietly ask the player if he has a LAWS player role card - and if so, to show it. If he doesn't:
* Record the players name and number and report the number and situation to the head ref.
* Tell the player to plug it and remove his LAWs from the field and to locate the appropriate card prior to bringing the LAWS on the field.
* Keep and eye out for repeat offenders.

DEMO operator blows building or base w/ Satchel Charge
In this exampe, the rules provided for 3 DEMO Players per side and for all DEMO players must have both DEMO role player card and demo card in satchel.

Reffing Solution: look for Satchel Charges on field. Periodically and unobtrusively check players role cards and demo cards to ensure the demo operator knows what he is doing.

If a ref catches DEMO operator w/o a visible DEMO player role card showing he should:

* Quietly ask the player if he has a DEMO player role card - and if so, to show it. If he doesn't:
* Record the players name and number and report the number and situation to the head ref.
* Tell the player to plug it and remove his Satchel Charge from the field and to locate the appropriate card prior to bringing the Satchel Charge on the field.
* Keep and eye out for repeat offenders.

TRICKY STUNTS

Player intends to blow base using tricky stunt - with all rules followed.

In this example, all rules appear to be followed - but something seems bent.

Reffing Solution :

* Let the player execute his stunt without ref interference,
* If base is blown (or general killed) for points, the ref should meet in person w/ games master to review the player's stunt and games master should award or not award appropriate points.
* If the points are reversed, the dead general should be informed of the reversal.
* If the player's stunt was too far into the black, he should be called to the games master's booth for review of where the line was crossed according to the games master's standards. Since this is strictly game play, this is a matter for the games master and the player - not the head ref, field owner or junior refs.

Player intends to sneak through enemy lines using tricky stunt - with all rules followed.

In this example, all rules appear to be followed - but something seems bent.

Reffing Solution :

* Let the player execute his stunt without ref interference.
* Once the player's actions result in points being awarded - the ref on the scene should check in person w/ the games master about the stunt the player used and the points that resulted. The games master should then award or disallow the points.
* If the players's stunt was too far into the black, he should be called to the games master's booth for review of where the line was crossed according to the games master's standards. Since this is strictly game play, this is a matter for the games master and the spy - not the head ref, field owner or junior refs.

RULES ARE RULES
Producer / Games master note : If the spies and players are exploiting a particular hole in your rules and it repeatedly creates problems for the reffing staff, you may wish to clarify the rules for future games. Try and stick with the rules you have written for the game in progress (unless safety is compromised).

I think you're on the money here, Thump. As long as rules are followed, let the Games Master decide the points. Refs are just there to make sure the safety and game rules are followed. I would even go so far as to say it is the refs job to err on the side of allowing a game rule to be bent pretty far as long as no safety rules are violated. (Safety rules are NEVER bent) It might even be a subject for discussion in the ref briefing to let the Producer/Games Master give guidelines on how gray ops should be handled and how far rules can be bent.

It might be useful for this thing to categorize rules as "Safety" and "Game" rules for purposes of enforcement.

One small critique. You might start off with a definition of what you mean by "Gray Area".

What about a LAWS card attached to a Launcher ?

Still disagree with removing a ref from a reffs assigned area.

Originally Posted by SCBrian

Still disagree with removing a ref from a reffs assigned area.

^ good point sir. I like the idea of a highly mobile head ref that can be johnny on the spot for tricky situations AND who can fill in for a zone ref that needs to take a break, go off duty, or talk something over in person with the producer - then there would be no lapse in zone coverage. Alternatively, the producer (if available) could go to the zone in question and speak in person w/ the zone ref so that there would be no lapse in zone coverage.

Hopefully efforts like this one and the certification program to follow will help educate scenario refs to appreciate the finer points of reffing scenario games.

For many players the creative exploration of the gaps and vagaries in the GAME RULES is a big part of playing a scenario game. Some producers write loose game rules to encourage this - and it is the refs job know when to make a call, and when to pull the producer / games master into a call.