Editing Rules and punishments (section)

=== Allying ===
<div style="border:1px solid #b8ccd9; background:#f9fbfc; padding:12px 16px; border-radius:6px;">
'''Allying is prohibited unless the server explicitly permits it.''' This is the single most enforced rule in competitive HCF, because unrestricted allying destroys the format — a map where the three largest factions cooperate has no contest left in it.

Servers implement this in one of several ways:

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:92%;"
|- style="background:#3a6b8c; color:#ffffff;"
! Model !! Description
|-
| '''No allying''' || Any cooperation between factions is punishable. Common on competitive maps.
|-
| '''Capped allying''' || A faction may ally a fixed number of others, declared in-game and visible to everyone.
|-
| '''Ally-per-roster''' || Total combined roster across allied factions is capped, preventing large stacks.
|-
| '''Event-only''' || Cooperation permitted during [[KOTH]] or [[Citadel]] but not for raids or defence.
|}

Prohibited under a no-ally ruleset:

* Fighting alongside another faction against a third
* Sharing a base, [[Claiming|claim]] or supply stash
* Coordinated raids planned between factions
* Deliberately not fighting a faction you encounter, by arrangement
* Feeding gear, [[Potions|potions]] or information to another faction
* Using a second faction as a gear or member reserve ("stash faction")

Enforcement usually rests on staff reviewing logs, screenshots or VODs. Because intent is hard to prove, most networks judge on observable behaviour rather than stated agreements.
</div>