Guild Charter

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Guild Charter

Overview

The Sioux Falls Star Trek CCG Player's Guild was started as a way for Star Trek CCG players in Sioux Falls to get together and play each other in fair and open competition, learn tips and tricks of other players, and increase the strength of our own decks. We hold regular tournaments, award prizes, play variants, and hold regular Grudge Matches and seasonal parties.

Meeting time and place

We meet on Sundays at 1600 once a week at Gigabytes Computer Store at 3231 S Lake Sioux Falls SD 57105.

Fees

Membership Fees
Full Membership (1e,2e,ws): $10 per year

Tournament Fees

These fees must be paid prior to entering the tournament and are non-refundable.

Constructed Deck Tournament Participation: $10 per person (1e or 2e)

Sealed Deck Tournament: $30 per Person (includes deck)

Spectator : $2 per person

*The membership fees, tournament fees, and items offered for sale at the meetings go into a fund to pay for the website, tournaments, prizes, and bigger and better items offered for sale. The money stays within the guild for the benefit of the players.

Guild Member Tournament Fees

These fees pertain to members only, must be paid prior to entering the tournament and are non-refundable.

Constructed Deck Tournament Participation: $5

Sealed Deck Tournament: $25 per Person (includes deck)

Spectator : FREE

Game Types and Definitions

Regular Games

Regular Games are held 3 - 4 times per month. Players may play any deck they choose according to Decipher's rules. Winners of the previous game will typically play each other in the next game.

Grudge Matches

Grudge matches are held once a month. These matches are set up during the previous regular game or tournament by challenging another player to a match. Players may use any deck or race they desire so long as it conforms to the applicable house rules and Decipher's rules. A Grudge match is the only time in which a Civil War or a Cold War may be declared.

If a grudge is declared, and one of the players does not show up for the game, that player forfeits and incurs a loss and the other player scores a win.

Closed Tournaments

Closed Tournaments are Decipher-Sanctioned Tournaments that are open only to Guild and invited guests.

Open Tournaments

Open Tournaments are Decipher-Sanctioned tournaments open to the public.

Spectators

The games are open to spectators by invitation only.

Membership

Joining the Guild

Anyone may join the guild provided that they have been invited to do so by another player or by promotion.

Age Restrictions

Because we profile our members online, by law, no player under the age of 13 may join the Guild. No player under the age of 18 may join or play the Guild without a parent or guardian as a member in the Guild.

Players age 12 and under may play in open tournaments with the proper permission slips. Players age 13 and above may play in open tournaments without restriction.

Attendance

Attendance is not mandatory but highly recommended.

Leaving the Guild

There may come a time when a person may wish to leave the Guild. This can be done simply by notifying the Guild Leader.

Conflict Resolution

Not all players will get along with each other. We strongly recommend that personal issues be left at the door. The Guild Leader alone is responsible for player conflict resolution. All player disputes must be brought before the Guild Leader.

Extreme Sanction

An extreme sanction is the permanent removal of a Guild member due to serious problems within the Guild.

When a guild member directly attacks the guild or another guild member by means of threats, harassment, physical harm, theft, vandalism, or other means, the Guild Leader may call for an Extreme Sanction Vote. The Extreme Sanction should only be used in such cases that a clear violation of the Guild or one of its members has been committed. A 2/3 quorum is required and 100% of the attending guild must agree to remove the individual from the Guild.

Enacting Extreme Sanction

Should the vote pass, the Guild Leader enacts the Extreme Sanction. The individual will no longer have any Guild privileges, may not attend any tournaments or games that the Guild holds either as a player or as a spectator, and may not renew their membership in the Guild or branch of the Guild thereof. Their status will be listed as Inactive and their rank listed as "Dishonorable Discharge".

Guild Structure

Leader: A person holding a position of authority within the guild.

Guild Leader - Guild Leadership Position - Top Level

A Guild Leader is one who has the most playing experience, and/or one who can best fulfill the needs of a Players Guild.

The Guild Leader is primarily responsible for the well-being of the Guild membership itself and is responsible for addressing any player concerns and/or suggestions.

The Guild Leader is also responsible for organizing the games and tournaments, buying product for the Guild members to purchase, and organizing sponsorship.

The Guild Leader may appoint a Treasurer, Secretary, Guild Buyer and a Head Referee.

The Guild Leader may not revoke a player's earned position without cause and consent from 1 other Leader (i.e. Head Referee, Guild Secretary or Treasurer).

Appointed positions appointed by the Guild Leader may only be revoked by the Guild Leader.

Head Referee - Guild Leadership Position - Top Level

The head referee is appointed by the Guild leader to ensure that all of the guild members are up to date and conform to the latest rulings from Decipher and from the guild itself. The Head Referee is also responsible for ensuring that Guild Rules and rulings do not conflict with Decipher's rules. In such matters the Head Referee may rewrite or veto any proposed rule or rule change even if the rule or rule change is proposed by the Guild Leader. The Head Referee is also primarily responsible for training new members and for interpreting new rules. The Head Referee has equal authority with the Guild Leader when deciding or interpreting new rules. The Head Referee may act as Guild Leader when one is not available.

Treasurer - Guild Leadership Position - Second Level

By default, the Guild leader also assumes the role of treasurer. However, one may be either appointed to the position by the Guild Leader or elected by the membership to assume that roll. The treasurer is responsible for the Guild's accounts, collection of the fees, and money handling in general. The treasurer is also responsible for keeping track of inventory and purchasing product for the guild members to purchase.

Secretary - Guild Leadership Position - Second Level

By default, the Guild leader also assumes the role of secretary. This role may be appointed by the guild leader or deferred to vote. The secretary handles member information, keeps track of supplies, and manages the Guild card collection. The secretary is also in charge of arranging for promotion of the guild through flyers, mailings, or other forms of promotion. The Guild Secretary may also be assigned other responsibilities by the Guild leader that may not be specifically assigned in the Guild Charter. Those duties include, but are not limited to: Collection of Membership dues; collection of tournament monies; printing or designing member forms; assisting in website development; maintaining relations with other guilds; etc. The Guild Secretary reports directly to the Guild Leader.

Referee - Special Appointment

A Referee may be appointed by the Head Referee and is subject to the approval of the Guild Leader. This is a permanent position and may rule on any regular game or Tournament. They may only be overridden by the head referee.

Referee Pro Tem

Referee Pro Tem refers to a Referee in training or a temporary referee. In times of need, the Head Referee or Guild Leader may "draft" a player to referee a game. Players chosen for referee training will receive a certificate for Referee Pro Tem.

To advance to a full referee, the trainee must referee at least 8 regular games and 2 open tournaments to advance to full referee.

Member 10 Commandments
1. No Member shall publicly or privately attack or harass another member verbally, physically, socially, or economically.
2. No member shall publicly or privately attack or harass another member's family in any of the ways previously described.
3. Members shall conduct themselves in accordance to DGMA Code of Conduct.
4. Members will conduct themselves as ambassadors of the Guild outside the meetings.
5. Members will maintain good relations with other players outside the Guild.
6. Members will maintain good relations with local, national, and international card retailers.
7. Members should purchase cards from local establishments whenever possible.
8. Members will look upon their fellow members as colleagues and not as competitors.
9. No member shall publicly defame any venue or current card vendor whether or not that vendor sells the cards that the group purchases.
10. Members will treat the venue they are playing at as though they are guests in someone's home.
Player Bill of Rights
1. Any player may choose to attend or not to attend Guild meetings without fear of reprisal by other members.
2. Any player may call for a guild meeting or leadership meeting to address a concern.
3. Any player may call for a referee's decision without fear of reprisal by other members.
4. Any player may join the Guild provided that they meet the minimum age requirements.
5. Any player may leave the Guild without fear of reprisal by others.
6. Players have a right to use tobacco products in the designated areas.
7. Players have a right to use alcoholic products during Guild so long as it is done discreetly, legally, and with discretion.
8. Players have a right to express concerns about other players directly to the Guild Leader.
9. Players have a right to express venue concerns to the Guild Leadership.
10. Players have a right to ask for assistance without fear of reprisal by other members.

Elections

A Leader is a member that holds any leadership position in the Guild and is elected only

When challenged by another guild member
Resigns as leader

A vote is cast and the winner is selected by democratic majority.

When a current leader is challenged by another member, that member must announce his challenge to the membership. At that point the challenged member must be present and must acknowledge the challenge. The challenger then has 5 minutes to make his case and the challenged member has 5 minutes to rebuke afterwards.

A secret ballot vote is then cast and the winner is selected by democratic majority.

Rules and Definitions

House Rules

House Rules are rules that the Guild Leader instates to make game play fair and equitable for all players regardless of skill, monetary situation or affiliation. The Guild Leader may add, change, or repeal any rule so long as that ruling is not challenged. At the Guild Leader's option, rule changes may be referred to the guild for a vote. If the ruling is referred to the Guild, the Guild Leader must abide by the decision of the Guild.

Challenging a House Rule

If there is a dispute over a house rule, any member may challenge that ruling by making his case with the Guild Leader. If the Guild Leader agrees with the challenge, The Guild Leader may change the rule so long as the house rule does not conflict with any of Decipher's rules or give any player an unfair advantage over the others.

Should the Guild Leader disagree with the challenge and the proposed rule change does not conflict with Decipher's rules, each party is allowed to make their case for or against, and a vote is called. The Guild Leader may rewrite or append the proposed rule prior to the vote to ensure fair and equitable play for all players.

Voting

In order for a vote to be called, 2/3 of the Guild must be present for a quorum to be met. Absentee voting is allowed for quorum.

Recount

If any vote count is called into question by any member, that member may request a recount. The Guild Leader must appoint a second individual to re-count the vote.

Abstaining

Any player may abstain from any vote. Abstaining is counted as a null vote, but is counted to meet quorum requirements.

Deck Definitions

Primary decks

A primary deck is the deck that a player normally plays. Any test deck or variant scores will score under this deck on the website.

Secondary Decks

A Secondary deck is a deck that is not normally played, but is played often enough that it can be scored individually. Secondary decks can be used as a temporary or test decks to see if a player wants to switch.

Tertiary and Quaternary Decks

These decks are first edition only and may only be played at grudge matches unless permitted by the Guild Leader or Head Referee.

Card Sleeves (a.k.a. Deck Protectors, "card condoms")

All cards within a playing deck MUST be placed inside a protective sleeve. All styles of polyethylene and polypropylene sleeves are allowed. Damaged sleeves must be replaced.

Referee Guidelines

1. When a referee participates in any regular game, he may not rule on that game.
2. Any referee or player at any time may defer ruling to another referee outside the game.
3. A referee outside the game has authority over a referee in the current game.
4. Players who are not referees may not rule on any game.
5. Players outside the game who are not referees may not assist other players unless allowed by a referee.
6. A referee may not rule in contradiction to any current rule except when the Decipher rule is unclear or appears to be in contradiction with another card or rule. 7. Any referee may rule based solely on the DGMA Player's Code of Conduct. 8. When 2 referees participate in the same game, all disputes must be referred to a referee outside the game. If none is available, the referee whose turn it is not, may only rule based on printed rulings and DGMA code of conduct only. 9. A ruling may not be challenged during a game. To do so is a direct violation of the DGMA code of conduct and the referee may rule accordingly. 10. Any player may challenge a ruling outside the guild. They must be able to back up their challenge from official Decipher documents. 11. A referee may only rule from official Decipher sources. 12. Only the head referee may overrule a ruling during a regular game. No Referee may overrule another referee during a tournament.

Official Decipher Sources

These sources may be used to back up a ruling and are organized by heirarchy.

1. Decipher Current Rulings / DGMA COC
2. Rule Book / Glossary / Card
3. Official communiqués directly from Decipher.

These sources are not official sources.

Site or documents from Major Rakal's website.
Other Decipher Judges, Product Ambassadors, or players. (Just because they ruled on it during a tournament, doesn't back up a rule)
Other Guild Leaders or Referees.

Member Rankings

Rank	Meaning
Cadet	New Player having played < 5 games
Ensign	New player having played <10 games
Lieutenant	Established player with <20 games
Commander	Established player with < 30 games
First Officer	Experienced player with < 40 games
Captain	Experienced player with > 40 games and at least 1 tournament
Commodore	Experienced player with > 40 games, at least 1 tournament, and at least 1 award who has been a member for 1 year or more.
Admiral, General, Chancellor, Vedek, Colonel, Nagus, Vorta	Player holding any position in the guild (referee, secretary, treasurer).
Praetor, Emperor, President, Kai, Grand Nagus, Founder, Counterpart or Queen	Player holding leadership role in the Guild. (Guild Leader, Head Referee)