Compact season test — captain playbook
This page is for volunteer captains and helpers taking part in a staging run-through of a full season on a compressed timetable. It describes what we are doing and what you need to do — not technical setup.
Why we run this
We want to exercise the real season flow — registration, match weeks, results, and progression — with real people before changes go to the main site. A compact test uses shorter match weeks so we can move through several rounds in days instead of months.
Who can take part
- You have a Steam account and can sign in to the staging site when we send the link.
- You have Discord connected on your profile and you are in the league Discord server (we will tell you which server for this test).
- You are happy to act as Captain for a test team, or you are helping as crew on a captain’s roster.
If we do not have enough captains for every team slot, league staff may run extra teams so the season still fills out. Your coordinator will tell you if that applies.
What you need before we start
- Sign in on staging with Steam and complete Discord linking if asked.
- Create a team (or join one if your coordinator assigns you to a crew). Pick a clear test name if you like.
- Roster: the league needs a minimum number of core players on the roster before a team can be approved for the season. Our staff will top up test rosters with seed accounts where needed so nobody is blocked — you still invite real players as normal when you can.
- Wait for the go-ahead, then register your team for the named test season when registration opens.
Your coordinator will share the season name, dates, and any house rules for this run.
Rough schedule (typical compact test)
Exact dates are announced each run. In general:
| Phase | What happens |
|---|---|
| Before day one | Teams created, rosters checked, Discord ready. |
| Registration | Captains register for the test season. |
| Phase 1 | Swiss-style rounds on short match weeks; play and submit results as instructed. |
| Transition | Staff may confirm division splits — you will be told when Phase 2 is live. |
| Phase 2 | Round-robin within your division; same result flow. |
| Playoffs / end | If we run them for this test, we will say how far we go. |
Match weeks are short on purpose — please check the site and Discord regularly so we do not stall the test.
What captains do during the test
- Play your scheduled matches (or follow the coordinator if we simulate a forfeit scenario).
- Submit results through the site when your match is done, using the method we specify (e.g. match ID if required).
- Respond in Discord if moderators or staff ping you about disputes or deadlines.
- Report problems to the coordinator (broken flow, confusing copy, missing match) — that is the point of the test.
Why we sometimes aim for seven teams
When we have seven teams in a division, the pairing logic can produce byes (a team has no opponent that round). That helps us verify the site handles odd team counts. If we only have four or five captains, we may still run a smaller division or add staff teams — the coordinator will confirm the target for your run.
Staging and privacy
- Treat staging as non-public: do not stream or announce it as an official league event unless staff say otherwise.
- Do not use production passwords or share real payment details on staging.
Who to contact
Use the Discord channel or DM your coordinator gave you for this test. If something is urgent (site down, cannot submit a result), say so clearly and include your team name and what you were trying to do.
Thank you for helping us ship a smoother season for everyone.