Okay, some things have been happening lately that's got alot of people confused so I'm attaching this FAQ as well as a new ruling on Forfeits and updates to existing rules. I actually wrote something like this before but it got deleted when my account went under last year and I just never got around to it. Until now:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: If my opponent forfeits, do I STILL have to finish my battle for the point to count?
A: Yes. What makes you think Rule 1 becomes invalid as you fulfill Rule 2? Post your battle, or do not get the point. It's that simple.
Q: But what is the point? It's clear that I've already won...
A: RHG isn't just about winning. It is also for your benefit, as an animator. And the benefit of the community, as they see you grow as an animator. Yes, it sucks that your opponent has nothing, but this isn't just about your opponent. You are animating for everyone's sake. And for yourself to get better, you'll need that extra mile to practice and get cnc's and actually get better. So before you go ahead and make a cheap ending, think about how you're actually going to grow from all this.
Q: But the deadline has long passed. Doesn't that make my fight just 'incomplete' instead?
A: No. The "deadline" is a mutually agreed time period between you and your opponent (just you if he forfeits). There is no universal RHG rule that dictates when you should ever stop animating. If you cannot deliver a complete anim at all, or have just given up on it, then it is not considered as any kind of win. Ever.
Q: I want to extend the deadline for my battle. Is that okay?
A: Sure, as long as your opponent agrees as well. Remember, this is a 2-Man job.
Q: Is there a limit as to how long we can battle each other?
A: No. Battling is a shared activity between only you and your opponent. It is a compromise and a contract that only both of you adhere to. Even if it lasts as long as a year, if both of you are cool with that then there's no problem. HOWEVER, it would do some courtesy if you include how long you've challenged each other when you actually make your Battle threads, just so people take the time limit into consideration when voting for your anim.
Q: I've long since given up on battling, and this incomplete anim is staring me in the face. I want to finish it though...
A: Then finish it. Not for the sake of that lousy point, but for you and the benefit of the community around you. Release it as a normal animation instead. Give it a 'story' and see where it goes. Do anything but give up. If you really wanna keep working on it, no one is stopping you. Do not be limited by the fact that it's just a battle and nothing more. Who knows, if it's good enough it might even end up in the portal. At least, aim for that.
Q: Then where do I post the "battle" if it is no longer an RHG battle?
A: The anims section of course! That's where non-"Battle" stuff goes, doesn't it? It's actually an advantage seeing as you'll be getting cnc in the context that it is an anim in general, and not justabattle.
Q: Okay we've finished our battles. How long should the poll be?
A: A week. Nothing more. Nothing less. This is a recently updated rule that has been overlooked for sometime. Too little and you might call a premature victory/loss. Too much, and it'll just eventually be about "who will win. let's rally" instead of which animation is actually better (it's happened before). A week is a good summation of both animator's skill levels and gives enough time to CNC and react.
Q: I am changing my RHG. Do the points carry over?
A: No. The points don't carry over because the points aren't for the RHG. They're FOR YOU. It would be stupid to assume that your opponent is suddenly battling another person just because you changed characters. In RHG pages, you must take note of what previous RHG you used and how many points they have. That gives you a Pt. History people can gauge.
In fact, it would be better if you also link the battles all your RHGs have done, just so they can see how far you've progressed.
And now for the new ruling on forfeits:
Forfeiting Bonus
Ever got the sinking feeling that you're just animating for naught because your opponent forfeits? Doesn't it suck having to do all that hard work when your opponent just bails on you or worse, gives you the silent treatment and disappears from the forums? Well say no more because from now on we have a new ruling on forfeits, and that is all forfeited battles are now eligible to acquire an extra 0.5 to their win point. It doesn't seem like much but consider the following scenario:
Normal Rule
Battle 1 - You vs Sync (who forfeits); you win and get 1 point
Battle 2 - You vs Thrash (who also forfeits); you get 1 point as well
Your win/loss record is now 2/0
Forfeit Rule
Battle 1 - You vs Sync (who forfeits); you get 1.5 points
Battle 2 - You vs Thrash (who also forfeits); you get 1.5 points as well
Your win/loss record is now 3/0
So you can see the implications of this new rule. For every other battle you do that forfeits, you stand to gain an extra win. Just call it a bonus for all the hard work you've done and not straying from the temptation of giving up on your opponent. But how will all this work? Well, every 1-2 months, depending on the number of battles, there will be a Battle Poll starring all the animations that have forfeits in them and depending on the size, either the Top 1, 2 or 3 most awesome battles will get this 0.5 bonus. Refer to the chart below for appropriate sizes:
Number of Forfeited Matches - Number of Bonuses Available
2-3 - 1 Bonus Available
4-5 - 2 Bonuses Available
6 and higher - 3 Bonuses Available
I hope that answers some lingering doubts when making battles and forfeiting them. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. As such, I am temporarily unlocking this thread to allow for some more personal Q&As.
Ask away, don't be shy.
