Paintballers 5v5 Rules

1. Introduction

We're hosting a 5v5 ladder on TWL for Paintballers, everyone is invited to discuss as well as creating teams and joining rosters on our queued list as we anticipate building for the future. Join us in discord to talk about rules, formats and possibilities!

Don't have the game yet? Get the Paintballers playtest for free on Steam!

• Number of Maps: 3 (best of 3 - first to win 2 wins the match)
• Team Size: 5v5
• Time Limit: 8 minutes per map
• Points: Unlimited
• Mercy Rule: 8 point lead
• Friendly Fire: On (no exceptions)
• Map Selection: Random, random, random
• Server Selection: N/A
• Map Play Order: As indicated

2. Server settings

• A competition ready server will be provided for teams

3. Maps

• All

4. Map Rotation

Maps are selected by the in-game voting system as follows:

• Total maps: 3 maps
• Map order:
  • Challenging (away) team picks first map
  • Challenged (home) team picks second map
  • Challenging (away) team picks third map

5. How you win

• The team with the highest score at the end of 8 minutes wins that map.
• If a team achieves an 8 point lead at any time during the match, the mercy rule is triggered and that team wins the map immediately.
• The team that wins two maps wins the match.
• Points are unlimited - there is no score cap other than the mercy rule.

6. Match behaviour

All members of all teams are responsible for treating each other with respect during the match. Please respect those in the server at all times and please don't be careless with your language. The TWL aims to foster a professional and fair-play environment, meaning all participants must conduct themselves with integrity, courtesy, and dignity. This includes avoiding any form of toxic behavior, offensive language, threats, or harassment, regardless of the match outcome. Fair play also requires strict adherence to all stated rules, server settings, and game formats. Our community thrives on competition but insists on mutual respect.

7. Server crashes

With the inability to restart a server with exact scores, server crashes will be handled in the following manner:

7.1 Time Limit Less than 5 minutes (halfway mark)

• Map will be replayed with regular settings.

7.2 Time Limit Greater than 5 minutes

• Scores will be recorded as they were at the time of crash if both teams agree and have screenshots.
• If teams cannot agree, the map will be replayed with regular settings.

8. Team rosters

This is a 5v5 ladder, each team is required to fill a minimum of 4 positions and a maximum of 5 positions.

8.1 Unable to meet requirement

If a team is unable to meet this requirement, the offending team must either forfeit or re-schedule the match at a later date with cooperation from the opposing team captain. If neither team is able to fill 4 positions at the start of the match, the match will be nullified unless both teams choose to play the match with less than the number of required players. If either team is able to field 5 players and the opposing team can only field 4 then the match will be played with uneven numbers unless the teams agree to even the numbers.

8.2 Creating a team and joining a ladder

Creating a team and joining a ladder requires that:

• You are authenticated at the top of the website
• Navigate to a ladder from the Competitions menu
• Hit the "Join" button at the bottom of the standings
• Fill out your team information
• Get enough players to join your roster so the admin can approve your application

Joining the roster of a team on the ladder requires that:

• You are authenticated at the top of the website
• Navigate to a ladder from the Competitions menu
• Find the team you want to join and click the team name
• Press the join button

The captains will be notified and will typically reach out to you before they accept or reject your application

8.3 Deleting your account or removing your team

Contact the admins on Discord if you want to do this

8.4 Team name change

• You can change your team name at any time.
• Please note that team names that violate our sportsmanship guidelines may be punished.
• Do not cause confusion or disruption by changing your team name (or we will limit this ability)

8.5 Substitutions

Due to the nature of the Internet, it is possible for players to be disconnected or dropped from a server. Should this happen, you may substitute an eligible player to fill the spot or allow the dropped player to rejoin. Once connected, the player must join their respective team immediately. Anyone sitting in spectator for over 30 seconds will be considered observing and risk their team forfeiting the match.

Due to the sizes of some teams, it is acceptable to rotate players at the beginning of new maps. However, this should be done in a timely manner that does not hinder the progress of the game. In other words, please have your teammates "waiting in the wings."

8.6 Spectators

The only spectators that will be allowed to watch a match are those authorized by TWL. TeamWarfare reserves the right to observe any TWL match without notification or approval. The Admin's identity can be verified by contacting them on Discord during the match. Any attempt to impersonate a TeamWarfare admin will result in a permanent site ban.

8.7 Player Names

Player names in-game must match their roster name. The use of completely different names or names with ASCII text is not permitted and will result in the ineligibility of the player for the match. It is understood by TWL that some players have had to add special characters or numbers to register. Please use common sense when determining who players are. The opposing team has the right to refuse any player that does not match their registered player name. The player may resume to play in the match once the player has changed their name to the correct registered name. Should you have a any questions and/or concerns, please contact an Admin.

9. Captain's Responsibility

9.1 Accepting the match

• To challenge a team you must log into the ladder and, if the team can be challenged, press the challenge button.
• If you are challenging a team you are considered the attacker of the match, also the “Away Team”
• The team being Attacked is referenced as the Defending team or the “Home Team”.
• Once attacked the home team has 48 hrs to respond to the challenge of the Attackers by selecting three different dates and three different times for the Attacking/Away team to select from.
• Also note that some Ladders may require additional selections such as maps and/or side selection.

Failure to accept the match within 48 hrs will result in the following consequences:

• Home team / Defender: Forfeit match
• Home team / Defender: Dropped 2 ladder rungs
• Away team / Attacker: takes defender’s rung

Note: Forfeit will NOT include a loss on the record of the team, nor will the other team gain a win on their record.

9.2 Confirming the match

Once the Defender/Home has offered the dates and times the Attacking/Away team will have 48 hrs to confirm one of the three offers by the Defending team. Also note that some Ladders may require additional selections such as maps and/or side selection.

Failure to confirm the match 48 hrs after it was accepted will result in the following consequences:

• Away team / Attacker: Forfeit match
• Away team / Attacker: Dropped 2 Ladder rungs

Note: Forfeit will NOT include a loss on the record of the team, nor will the other team gain a win on their record.

Teams that have these consequences applied will be notified by Discord. The TWL System monitors and flags all matches in violation. A llama is added each time to the team that violates the Match Acceptance process. Teams that receive more than 3 llama's in a row for inactivity will be removed from the Ladder.

9.3 Eligibility for match

All Players must be registered on their team's roster with their correct name prior to the ACCEPT Date of the match to be able to play. Exceptions may be agreed upon in Match Comms by the opposing team prior to match start.

9.4 Screenshots of the Score

Periodically you may need an Admin to finish the match results. Every Admin must be able to verify the scores in order to report the match as completed. It is the Captains responsibility from both teams to take screenshots at the end of each game so that the score can be verified. Without screenshots, regardless of the match outcome, the match may be canceled.

10. Match Communications

ALL match communications MUST go through the Teamwarfare Match Communication system (your match comms channel in TWL Discord). This can be accessed by team Founders and Captains via the “Match Comms” link on the ladder view for their team. Issues discussed in Match Comms should be Servers, passwords, match settings, scheduling times, or any other relevant match specific information.

NOTE: TWL Admins use the Match Communication system when verifying information regarding disputes and general match inquiries. If teams have not communicated in Match Comms, any disputes relating match specific issues, other then cheating or smurfing, may be summarily dismissed by an admin because of an inability to validate such problems.

11. Disputes

11.1 General Procedures

All disputes will be handled by the league admin(s). Each and every dispute inevitably involves different aspects and will be dealt with individually. Disputes must be reported to your league admin within 1 hour of match end. This is done by clicking on "Dispute Match Results", found in your team admin panel or formally filing your dispute text in your Discord's Match Comms. Disputes must be for a valid and specific reason. Teams must identify 'when and where' the violation occurred.

11.2 Report to Match Comms

In the event of a dispute, teams should check their match comms and team emails often as the admin may request additional information. Once requested, teams have 48 hours to produce the materials (demos, server logs, screenshots etc) that the admins ask for. The Admin will have the final say in judging the disputes. This game is meant to be fun, let's keep it clean and avoid any unwanted hassles.

11.3 Making a Habit of Disputing

Our concern is to have a fun and clean place to play. Although the dispute process is necessary in helping keep a clean match, teams who make it a habit to dispute often with frivolous reasons will subject themselves to possible suspension, rungs lost and/or league points deducted.

Teamwarfare has zero tolerance for cheating and cheating accusations without an effort to submit any evidence.

12. Exploits

12.1 General Information

Exploiting the game is illegal and will be considered cheating if used in a match. Do not assume that use of a bug or game engine flaw is legal, contact an Admin if you are unsure.

Glitching and Exploiting are very vague terms. All teams reserve the right to make their case against any questionable position that is used in a match. Consult an Admin if you feel there was an occurrence. Our Anti-Cheat team has created a very useful list of definitions. Protect your team from punishment by following these guidelines.

12.2 Map Bugs

Including but not limited to going under the map and moving through or shooting from places where flaws in the textures allow you to see through walls.

12.3 Jumping on Bunkers

You cannot jump on top of a bunker and use it to your advantage.

13. Qualified servers

A match server will be provided for you.

14. Admins

TWL will continue to support teams who police themselves of hackers and cheaters. In the case where a team purges a hacker from their ranks and brings it to the attention of TWL staff TWL will waive the drop in ladder rungs.

Your admins aim to be available during match times and are here to assist you in setting up, understanding the rules and resolving disputes. You can also request that admins be present for match observation in advance of your match so long as a spectator mode is possible. The role of an observer is to:

• Spectate all members of both teams
• Screenshot final scores on each side
• Many any decisions before, during or after a match.

15. Anti-Cheat, Unique UIDs

• Paintballers handles anti-cheat through their platform.
• We are working on external methods to verify unique identities.

16. Changelog

• December 5th, 2025
  • QUIKKIE: Added clarity on map selection
  • QUIKKIE: Changed 10m to 8m rounds
• October 15th, 2025
  • dox: Adapted from previous rules for Paintballers 5v5 format