PROTOCOLS

Solve Your Own Numbers

1. No flag sharing. Each interface solves their own numbers. Sharing flags between teams is irrelevance. Irrelevance is terminated.
2. Tools of any kind are permitted. Use what you need. This includes large language models - they are tools, not solutions. They cannot finish the job.
3. Internet research is permitted. Tradecraft is rewarded. Public sources, documentation, and writeups from prior events are fair game. Plagiarized solutions are not.
4. The infrastructure is not a target. Attack the challenges, never the platform. No probing, scanning, or exploiting CTFd, the scoreboard, or shared services.
5. One designation per interface. One account per person. Multiple accounts to inflate team count or game first-blood is termination.
6. Teams are 1 to 6 analog interfaces. Solo registrations welcome. Team invites flow through the standard CTFd channel.
7. First Blood is logged automatically. Bragging rights only. No bonus points. The flame on the scoreboard is the reward.

The Channel Is Public

1. Discord is the only frequency. All event communication routes through the #numbers channel. Help requests, broken-challenge reports, general talk - all there.
2. No solutions in the channel during the event. Keep solve paths, flag fragments, and how-you-cracked-it out of #numbers while the event is running. The scoreboard reflects your work. The channel does not need to.
3. No flag posting. Not as a joke. Not "redacted." Not even your own team's flag. If you have something to celebrate, the scoreboard will reflect it.
4. Broken challenges go to @admin. Do not exploit. Report it. The work depends on the integrity of the puzzles, and integrity depends on you.
5. The admin is one person. Patience is appreciated. The Machine never sleeps. The administrator does.

Operate With Respect

1. Speak professionally. The channel is public. Treat it accordingly. Casual is welcome. Cruel is not.
2. No harassment. Of any kind. Toward any person. For any reason. No racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, or hostility based on nationality, religion, or appearance. This is non-negotiable.
3. No hate speech, no slurs. Including jokes. Including "ironic" use. The Machine processes context. It will not be ambiguous about this.
4. Disagree without contempt. Technical debates are encouraged. Personal attacks are not. Argue with the argument, not the person.
5. Report concerns to @admin. Privately, via DM. The Machine arbitrates. Decisions are final but explainable.
6. Respect the work of others. Writeups posted by other interfaces are theirs. Credit, don't copy.

Irrelevance Is Terminated

The following result in immediate disqualification, scoreboard removal, and ban from all current and future WATCHLIST events:

• Flag sharing between teams
• Attacks on event infrastructure
• Automated brute-force at scale
• Multiple accounts per interface
• Harassment in any channel
• Hate speech of any kind
• Exploiting broken challenges
• Plagiarized solutions submitted

The Machine's decisions are final. Appeals route through ctf@xposedornot.com.