History Main / PvPBalanced

An effect of CompetitiveBalance, this phenomenon arises in a game with what might be called "multiple axes of conflict" - primarily, a game which contains both PlayerVersusEnvironment and PlayerVersusPlayer content, though other conflicts (such as balancing solo player versus player AND group player versus player) can fall into the similar traps.

* The 4th edition of ''Dungeons and Dragons'' is (surprisingly, given how hard they failed in previous editions) [=PvP=] and [=PvE=] balanced. Both Fighters and Wizards are (mostly) [[LinearWarriorsQuadraticWizards linear]] now, due to having more similar mechanics.

** One of the major reasons for the current state is the nerfing of out-of-combat non-blasting spells, the one use only limitation on many class/weapon/racial/miscellaneous powers, the nerfing of static class features and the inability to multi-class in the 3.5 sense of the term.

A close relative of CompetitiveBalance, this phenomenon arises in a game with what might be called "multiple axes of conflict" - primarily, a game which contains both PlayerVersusEnvironment and PlayerVersusPlayer content, though other conflicts (such as balancing solo player versus player AND group player versus player) can fall into the similar traps.

Related to CompetitiveBalance. See AnAdventurerIsYou, TheGreatPlayerVersusPlayerDebate, and FakeBalance. Compare LensmanArmsRace. Beware InternetBackdraft. Usually an issue for characters who are newly PromotedToPlayable.

The net result of this is that if PvP and PvE exist in the same game, oftentimes it is very difficult or outright impossible for the game designer to balance both simultaneously - the powers which are useful in PvE may be broken or utterly useless in PvP, depending on how they work. Some types of characters may lack offensive or defensive capabilities vital to dueling situations, while others may be far too good at it. Duels might degenerate into the first person who hits, wins. Some otherwise marginal or outright bad abilities may become absolute must-haves.

Similar to CompetitiveBalance. See AnAdventurerIsYou, TheGreatPlayerVersusPlayerDebate, and FakeBalance. Compare LensmanArmsRace. Beware InternetBackdraft. Usually an issue for characters who are newly PromotedToPlayable.

If you're building an [[MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame MMORPG]] or TabletopGames, you have to build a fun and balanced game while keeping it diverse. So, some "jobs" or [[ClassAndLevelSystem classes]] will inevitably be better at some things than others, while having unique powers and weaknesses; hence, [[SquishyWizard Wizards will be squishy]] and Warriors will have trouble outside of combat. So it's not unnatural or surprising when in Player Versus Player combat between support or non-combat oriented classes against pure combat classes, the more combat-oriented classes will win. This is balanced by the InverseLawOfUtilityAndLethality; the support classes will usually be indispensable in the functioning of the wider game world or for difficult quests.

But we the players are fickle beings, and [[{{Munchkin}} want to be able to burnify anything that moves]]. So while it's great to be on the wizard end of the LinearWarriorsQuadraticWizards stick, warriors will cry foul. So will the Bards, Clerics, Cooks, Dancers, and so on down to Zookeepers. Add in "The Customer is Always Right", and developers are forced to make MartialArtsAndCrafts classes where even cooks have a combat potential on par with [[IncrediblyLamePun seasoned]] soldiers.

The "Hard Place" in this dilemma isn't just the arbitrary empowering of some classes, but when classes end up {{Nerf}}ed (to varying degrees) so that the game remains [[FakeBalance balanced]]. Basically, reversing LinearWarriorsQuadraticWizards so that wizards never get to be Quadratic so that the Linear fighter players don't complain. It brings everyone up or down to the [[LowestCommonDenominator same level of mediocrity]].

Basically, the phenomenon of non-combat (or heck, '''ALL''') classes to have immense fighting power, regardless of in-game logic. So a game which is PVPBalanced will essentially be built in such a way that a player, regardless of class, has an equal chance to kill a player in a different class of the same level.

That said, being [=PvP=] Balanced is [[TropesAreNotBad not in itself a bad thing]], especially if all the games' classes are already combat oriented to one extent or another, and the game ''itself'' is premised largely on [=PvP=] conflict. It's when taken to extremes that it gets ridiculous, much like PoliticalCorrectnessGoneMad. Expecting a SpoonyBard to singlehandedly slay a career soldier? Ridiculous. Expecting a [[MagnificentBastard Magnificent Bard]] to use their wiles to set the city guard against said career soldier by liquoring him up and goading him into feeling up the mayor's wife? Priceless.

For [=MMORPGs=], the balance issue is even worse. In [=MMORPGs=], the problem isn't whether it is realistic for a Bard to be able to go 1v1 against a Fighter. In an MMO, combat is about 99% of what a character does, so all classes are effective in some way in combat. The problem ultimately is [[TheGreatPlayerVersusPlayerDebate PvP vs. PvE]].

An MMO game that is balanced for [=PvE=] (Player [[EverythingTryingToKillYou vs. Environment]] -- that is, groups of players fighting AI-controlled [[AliensAndMonsters monsters]]) almost certainly isn't balanced for [=PvP=]. In [=PvE=], you have groups of 4-8 characters, with [[AnAdventurerIsYou each character fulfilling a specific role]] in the battle. Some characters [[TheMedic heal]], others [[BarrierWarrior protect]], others [[MightyGlacier take damage]], others [[GlassCannon deal damage]].

So exactly what is expected to happen when a damage-dealer goes [=PvP=] against a damage-healer? Can the damage dealer kill the healer fast enough? Or what happens when a class designed to do ranged damage has to fight one that is designed to do melee damage? It seems unlikely that the ranged attacker is going to be [[ArtificialStupidity like AI monsters]] and simply stand there to be attacked. Some [=PvE=] classes have the ability to stun or even temporarily [[MindControl gain control]] of AI monsters; do these abilities work on other player characters?

And if you have a game that is balanced for [=PvP=], then you have a game where either individually or in small groups, player characters are able to effectively fight one another. [=PvP=]-balanced classes don't have certain abilities, like being able to control what happens when multiple enemies show up (stunning, gaining control, etc). There are a lot of abilities that are designed specifically for [=PvE=] play. So either one has to come up with a form of [=PvE=] play that mimics [=PvP=], or they have to essentially have multiple sets of class abilities -- some that are useful for [=PvE=] and some that are [=PvP=] abilities. Which leads to other balancing questions, like whether a player can focus on [=PvP=] abilities and thus be better than more [=PvE=] focused characters, etc.

** One of the major reasons for the current state is the nerfing of out-of-combat non-blasting spells, the one use only limitation on many class/weapon/racial/miscellaneous powers, the nerfing of static class features and the inability to multi-class in the 3.5 sense of the term. While Munchkins might appear to be the only ones opposed to this, many players who don't MinMax still feel like WizardsOfTheCoast is railroading the entire playerbase to the complete opposite of 3.5's unbalanced but customisable mechanics to 4th edition's balanced but genericized system in the name of milking profits from new players who would likely be turned off the chaotic mess of prior editions.

* ''AnarchyOnline'' consistently has problems in this area, since while [=PvP=] was intended to be a major part of the game, [=PvE=] was also a big part, and considering the vast level differences between any two given characters (at launch, 200 levels were implemented, and as of this writing, about 320) as well as the vast differences between the theory and practice of how various professions engage in [=PvP=], as well as the very open-ended skill system where anyone can in theory equip anything, just not as well as a profession that the item/weapon falls under, and you wind up with a [=PvP=] system where it's not only hard to figure out what, if any, balance exists (some professions were purely dog meat in [=PvP=] until recently, Meta-Physicists being bottom of the heap here), but also figuring out where your profession stands after the massive game changes implemented by the devs. (Fixers used to be top of the heap in [=PvP=], now they're middle of the road at best.)

** Another way ''GuildWars'' has [[PlayerVersusEnvironment PvE]]-[=PvP=] Balance was with gear. One of the problems in a few games was "Tiered Gear Sets", so while that person who has had the character since 2006 may have all the cool looking sets and that nice looking weapon, a [=PvP=] character with generic equipment skins could hold their own against that character because they are virtually the same outside of aesthetics; since that [=PvP=] character may have all the same inscriptions and runes, and everything else. Some games may not actually have this kind of gear segregation, meaning a [[PlayerVersusEnvironment PvE]] character would get gear that's better for [=PvP=], or [[PlayerVersusEnvironment PvE]] is the only way to get gear that can be used for [=PvP=]. (Some games in recent years would specifically make [=PvP=]/[[PlayerVersusEnvironment PvE]]-only gear and not just specs, this was one of the ways Blizzard and Vivendi helped remove the [[PlayerVersusEnvironment PvE]]-characters-performing-better-at-[=PvP=]-than-people-in-[=PvP=]-gear situation of "Vanilla WoW")

* ''PerfectWorld International'' has an interesting way of working with and around the inherent problems of [=PvP=] vs. [[PlayerVersusEnvironment PvE]]. First, they have two kinds of servers: 4 servers that are [[PlayerVersusEnvironment PvE]] intensive and 2 that are [=PvP=]. In each, the way one goes about committing [=PvP=] acts is different. On the [=PvP=] servers, once a character reaches level 30 they are open for the slaughter, but can in turn attack anyone they wish. This adds an element of chaos and paranoia that some people grow to love and others tend to shy away from. On the [[PlayerVersusEnvironment PvE]] servers, one has to activate [=PvP=] mode, and it shows on their name, so everyone recognizes when someone is in "killing mode." This makes people who enjoy the madness caused by [=PvP=] to think of [[PlayerVersusEnvironment PvE]] players as "Carebears." Additionally, there is a large difference in damage inflicted on mobs and player characters. In fact, the amount of damage done to player characters is only 1/4 of the damage done to monsters. This keeps Nukers from raining fiery doom down and one shotting everyone with area of effect spells. It also keeps every other character type from one-shotting every other character type. However, in recent months a wide spread problem has occurred with the Petmaster class. A certain pet that must be bought with real money (or ridiculous amounts of in game coins)can learn a certain damage over time attack. The problem is that the attack does [[PlayerVersusEnvironment PvE]] damage in [=PvP=]. And the monster that uses is so strong that one can get "bled" for 4-9 thousand damage a second. (The toughest class in the game usually doesn't have more than 12 thousand hit points. And that's near level 90.)

* ''EVEOnline'''s developer, CCP, is notorious for wielding the Nerfhammer quite liberally. About 6 months ago they boosted the Falcon an ewar ship, recently they just nerfed it for Balance. Granted it was needed but not to the extent they did it.
** CCP in general takes a conservative approach, releasing new ships in a pre-nerfed state to avoid wild fluctuations in strategies. When they conclude that certain ships are too rarely used, they'll carefully bring them up to par with the rest. Ships which went through this process include Black Ops Battleships, Stealth Bombers, the Falcon's cousin Rook and the Caldari & Minmatar Dreadnaughts.

** One of the major reasons for the current state is the nerfing of out-of-combat non-blasting spells, the one use only limitation on many class/weapon/racial/miscellaneous powers, the nerfing of static class features and the inability to multi-class in the 3.5 sense of the term. While Munchkins might appear to be the only ones opposed to this, many players who don't MinMax still feel like [=NotAWikiWord=]WotC is railroading the entire playerbase to the complete opposite of 3.5's unbalanced but customisable mechanics to 4th edition's balanced but genericized system in the name of milking profits from new players who would likely be turned off the chaotic mess of prior editions.

** One of the major reasons for the current state is the nerfing of out-of-combat non-blasting spells, the one use only limitation on many class/weapon/racial/miscellaneous powers, the nerfing of static class features and the inability to multi-class in the 3.5 sense of the term. While Munchkins might appear to be the only ones opposed to this, many players who don't MinMax still feel like WotC is railroading the entire playerbase to the complete opposite of 3.5's unbalanced but customisable mechanics to 4th edition's balanced but genericized system in the name of milking profits from new players who would likely be turned off the chaotic mess of prior editions.

*** Isn't that what happened with original Warcraft? When the human and orc sides had identical units?

Similar to CompetitiveBalance. See AnAdventurerIsYou, TheGreatPlayerVersusPlayerDebate, and FakeBalance. Compare LensmanArmsRace. Beware InternetBackdraft. Usually an issue for characters who are newly PromotedToUnlockable.

* ''ShinMegamiTenseiIMAGINE'' wasn't created with PvP in mind, and was only implemented later due to the player-base asking for it. [[FanDumb Most of these people now complain how unbalanced it is]]. Later on, a patch that tried to remove some features from being used in PvP to make it more balanced ended up [[EpicFail breaking half the game, and having half the devs fired]]. Granted, in a game where players hit OverNineThousand damage while having around 400 HP, PvP was doomed to fail. Sure, everyone has increased HP in PvP, but it doesn't help much to have 3000 HP when it's possible to hit ''30 thousand damage in one hit''. It's basically a matter of who hits who first.

* The ''{{Starcraft}}'' series continually wrestles with this issue due to the prominence of competitive play. The original game and its expansion pack are widely considered to be as balanced as they are purely by accident and each race is only on even ground with the others by virtue of having its own GameBreaker strategies. With the sequel Blizzard has decided on a method of constant refinement based on the feedback of dedicated and high profile players but certain issues like the Terrans' raw versatility, the supremacy of Protoss micromanagement and the Zerg tendency for runaway economy are persistent thorns in their side.

** ''CityOfHeroes'' has tried the same thing in its [[UnpleasableFanbase endless struggle for [=PVP=] balance]], though [[RuinedFOREVER the fanbase doesn't seem to want to give feedback]].

-->-- '''[[PaperRockScissors Scissors]]'''

-->-- '''[[{{PaperRock}}Scissors]]'''

-->-- '''[[{{PaperRock}}Scissors'''

->'''Fighter:''' ''I can kill a guy in one turn.''
->'''Rogue:''' ''I can kill a guy in half a turn.''
->'''Wizard:''' ''I can kill a guy before my turn.''
->'''Cleric:''' ''I can get three idiots to kill guys for me.''
-->-- '''Found on the internet'''

-->-- '''Scissors'''

* ''WorldOfWarcraft'' unsurprisingly has problems with this as well, for the simple reason that there are at least four different setups that need to be considered when balancing classes: Solo/small group [=PvE=], raid [=PvE=], Arenas (small group PlayerVersusPlayer), and Battlegrounds (big scale PlayerVersusPlayer). For starters, [=PvE=] and [=PvP=] have vastly different priorities and rules (mezzing skills are less effective in [=PvP=], for instance), and some abilities work better in small groups than in big ones. So if something is overpowered in a duel but mediocre in a battleground, it's hard to change it so that it becomes more balanced in the former without it becoming useless in the latter. Moreover, the player base itself is [[BrokenBase strongly divided]] between the four groups identified above, with each group clamoring for its own vision of balance, often at the expense of the others.

** Another way ''GuildWars'' has [[PlayerVersusEnvironment PvE]]-[=PvP=] Balance was with gear. One of the problems in a few games was "Tiered Gear Sets", so while that person who has had the character since 2006 may have all the cool looking sets and that nice looking weapon, a [=PvP=] character with generic equipment skins could hold their own against that character because they are virtually the same outside of aesthetics; since that [=PvP=] character may have all the same inscriptions and runes, and everything else. Some games may not actually have this kind of gear segregation, meaning a [[PlayerVersusEnvironment PvE]] character would get gear that's better for [=PvP=], or [[PlayerVersusEnvironment PvE]] is the only way to get gear that can be used for [=PvP=]. (Some games in recent years would specifically make [=PvP=]/[[PlayerVersusEnvironment PvE]]-only gear and not just specs, this was one of the ways Blizzard and Vivendi helped remove the PvE-characters-performing-better-at-[=PvP=]-than-people-in-[=PvP=]-gear situation of "Vanilla WoW")

* ''PerfectWorld International'' has an interesting way of working with and around the inherent problems of [=PvP=] vs. [[PlayerVersusEnvironment PvE]]. First, they have two kinds of servers: 4 servers that are PvE intensive and 2 that are [=PvP=]. In each, the way one goes about committing [=PvP=] acts is different. On the [=PvP=] servers, once a character reaches level 30 they are open for the slaughter, but can in turn attack anyone they wish. This adds an element of chaos and paranoia that some people grow to love and others tend to shy away from. On the [[PlayerVersusEnvironment PvE]] servers, one has to activate [=PvP=] mode, and it shows on their name, so everyone recognizes when someone is in "killing mode." This makes people who enjoy the madness caused by [=PvP=] to think of PvE players as "Carebears." Additionally, there is a large difference in damage inflicted on mobs and player characters. In fact, the amount of damage done to player characters is only 1/4 of the damage done to monsters. This keeps Nukers from raining fiery doom down and one shotting everyone with area of effect spells. It also keeps every other character type from one-shotting every other character type. However, in recent months a wide spread problem has occurred with the Petmaster class. A certain pet that must be bought with real money (or ridiculous amounts of in game coins)can learn a certain damage over time attack. The problem is that the attack does [[PlayerVersusEnvironment PvE]] damage in [=PvP=]. And the monster that uses is so strong that one can get "bled" for 4-9 thousand damage a second. (The toughest class in the game usually doesn't have more than 12 thousand hit points. And that's near level 90.)

*** This has been further rectified by different stat focus between [=PvP=] and PvE to help differentiate the gear. As [=PvP=] gear has high health and defense values, along with set bonuses that reduce [=PvP=] ability cooldowns and further reduce stun durations, [=PvE=]-geared [=PvPers=] all become glass cannons with high damage and no way to mitigate it.

** ''GuildWars'' actually did not originally do this - when the game was new, you simply had default abilities if you started a [=PvP=]-only character, and unlocking abilities was ''much'' easier when running through the PvE campaign. Thankfully, they remedied this relatively quickly (As in, before they added four more professions) with the addition of Balthazar faction and putting in some pre-made character builds in, so it was much easier to do it. And even then, while there was still a PvE and [=PvP=] segregation in regards to builds and abilities, they didn't specifically nerf or buff abilities for quite awhile, which unfortunately lead many people to scream how often they nerfed their favourite build(s) when it was a nerf made for PvE/[=PvP=] and they did the opposite. Now while it is still highly possible to play PvE and unlock some stuff like inscriptions, abilities, runes, and the like for [=PvP=] characters (and heroes), it's just ''as'' possible to do the same through [=PvP=]. However, they don't (as of this update) have the [=PvP=]-premade characters anymore; so arguably it can still be easy to unlock abilities for [=PvP=] through PvE, you just have to ''know'' what they are. (Guild Wars has ''loads'' of abilities)
** Another way ''GuildWars'' has PvE-[=PvP=] Balance was with gear. One of the problems in a few games was "Tiered Gear Sets", so while that person who has had the character since 2006 may have all the cool looking sets and that nice looking weapon, a [=PvP=] character with generic equipment skins could hold their own against that character because they are virtually the same outside of aesthetics; since that [=PvP=] character may have all the same inscriptions and runes, and everything else. Some games may not actually have this kind of gear segregation, meaning a PvE character would get gear that's better for [=PvP=], or PvE is the only way to get gear that can be used for [=PvP=]. (Some games in recent years would specifically make [=PvP=]/PvE-only gear and not just specs, this was one of the ways Blizzard and Vivendi helped remove the PvE-characters-performing-better-at-[=PvP=]-than-people-in-[=PvP=]-gear situation of "Vanilla WoW")

* ''AirRivals'' is a primarily [=PvP=] game. So much so that some job classes are much more [=PvP=] friendly than PvE friendly, and vice versa. The Healer of the game constantly find themselves in center point of any conflicts, but levels the slowest due to their quirk (amongst others, the innate disability of having a really low offensive power). The literal Tank of the game, similarly, needs to find specific maps that has a lot of ground for them to land and unleash mayhem. Same case with the Nuker bombers, who needs decent ground enemies (or large, slow, flying ones) to cash in exp. The only one least affected by these is the equivalent to the Fighter class, which, unfortunately, is the ''least'' [=PvP=] balanced of all four and dies very, very often ([[GuideDangIt unless you tune it to a specific build]]).
* ''PerfectWorld International'' has an interesting way of working with and around the inherent problems of [=PvP=] vs. PvE. First, they have two kinds of servers: 4 servers that are PvE intensive and 2 that are [=PvP=]. In each, the way one goes about committing [=PvP=] acts is different. On the [=PvP=] servers, once a character reaches level 30 they are open for the slaughter, but can in turn attack anyone they wish. This adds an element of chaos and paranoia that some people grow to love and others tend to shy away from. On the PvE servers, one has to activate [=PvP=] mode, and it shows on their name, so everyone recognizes when someone is in "killing mode." This makes people who enjoy the madness caused by [=PvP=] to think of PvE players as "Carebears." Additionally, there is a large difference in damage inflicted on mobs and player characters. In fact, the amount of damage done to player characters is only 1/4 of the damage done to monsters. This keeps Nukers from raining fiery doom down and one shotting everyone with area of effect spells. It also keeps every other character type from one-shotting every other character type. However, in recent months a wide spread problem has occured with the Petmaster class. A certain pet that must be bought with real money (or riduculous amounts of in game coins)can learn a certain damage over time attack. The problem is that the attack does PvE damage in [=PvP=]. And the monster that uses is so strong that one can get "bled" for 4-9 thousand damage a second. (The toughest class in the game usually doesn't have more than 12 thousand hit points. And that's near level 90.)

** That said, [=PvP=] is a very small part of ''FinalFantasyXI'', which many players do not ever take part in, with almost all of the game's focus on PvE.

* ''Atlantica Online'' has issues in this department as well. Because of its unique system of hiring up to 8 comrades of wildly different classes, in any combination a player wants, there are a huge variety of possible tactics and builds; it's almost impossible to fully balance them. Like WoW, there are multiple "basic" setups: Hunting PvE, Raiding PvE, Free League [=PvP=], and King's Judgement [=PvP=].
** For Hunting PvE (typical questing/grinding), using lower level gear is fine if it has higher grades on it (+1 through +10). A typical setup uses 3 tanks, 3 damage dealers, and 3 support units.
** Raid PvE tends to be more compact than Hunting PvE, and therefore cuts some of each type of mercenary. Most people tend to use either multiple healers or NO healers, and more melee power combining tank with DPS. Again, lower level armor is fine with high grade.

* ''FinalFantasyXI'' relegates [=PvP=] to the "sports" of Ballista and Brenner (which are vaguely similar to Basketball, and Capture the Flag, if killing opposing players were required to score), and is generally agreed to be ''ludicrously'' unbalanced, favoring the two fighter-mages, then pure mages, then damage-dealers, then tanks, and lastly the pet jobs. A sufficiently-prepared Red Mage or Blue Mage (the aforementioned fighter-mages) can ''easily'' lay waste to 4 or 5 melee attackers at once, and Red Mages/Blue Mages on opposing sides tend to employ the FoeTossingCharge to get at one another, each being the other's only real threat.

* The [[WorldOfDarkness Old World of Darkness]] had problems with this, as several supernaturals had long-standing grudges that went back millennia. In one case, this was [[FurAgainstFang vampires versus werewolves]]... where one werewolf could likely wipe the floor with a handful of average vampires. And then there were the [[HolyBurnsEvil Tremere vampires]] versus the [[KillItWithFire Forces-happy Order of Hermes mages]]. Needless to say, when the New World of Darkness rolled around, supernaturals were retooled so that a) they stayed in their own relatively different worlds, and b) if their paths ''did'' cross, each type would either have a one-on-one fighting chance or the ability to escape relatively unharmed.
** However, straight combat almost never happens in the WorldOfDarkness; let's just put that out there. Vampires will kill you in your sleep, Werewolves kill everyone in the general area- not just the playersx, and Mages tend to be too busy fighting against the general forces of the Abyss to bother kicking anyone else's ass. If you do kill a vampire, you're playing into another vampire's plans, and he'll have you shot by someone else as soon as he doesn't need you anymore.

* ''{{Exalted}}'' plays this remarkably straight. Most of every single namesake superhero is basically expected to be a competent combatant Plus competent something. In a world where AggressiveNegotiations are almost the default method of discussing matters (with actual diplomacy ensuing in the event of some kind of stand-off in the initial effort at fast and pragmatic solution) this is naturally to be expected.

[[caption-width-right:329:[[FlippingTheBird The Bird]] still could use a {{Nerf}}, though.]]

[[caption-width-right:329:[[FlippingTheBird The Bird]] is banned from tournament play.]]

->'''Cleric:''' ''I can kill a guy in half a turn.''

->'''Bard:''' ''I can get three idiots to kill guys for me.''

[[caption-width-right:329:[[FlippingTheBird The Bird]] is banned from tournament play.]]]]

->'''Fighter:''' I can kill a guy in one turn.
->'''Cleric:''' I can kill a guy in half a turn.
->'''Wizard:''' I can kill a guy before my turn.
->'''Bard:''' I can get three idiots to kill guys for me.
-->-- Found on the internet

[[quoteright:329:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rockpaperscissors_12]]71.jpg]]

[[caption-width-right:329:[[FlippingTheBird The Bird]] is banned for tournament play.]]