Auto-Start Rules
How a Contest decides when to actually begin depends on three optional settings the host can configure:
Minimum participants — won't start until N players have joined.
Maximum participants — caps the player count.
Scheduled start date — a specific date/time to begin.
The combination of these decides the start behavior. Here are the three patterns.
Pattern 1: Minimum + duration set (no max)
The Contest starts the moment the minimum participant count is reached.
The configured duration begins from that moment.
If the minimum isn't reached by the scheduled start date (if set), the Contest is cancelled and entry fees refunded.
Example:
Min participants: 4
Duration: 7 days
Scheduled start: in 3 days
Three players join immediately. On day 2, a fourth joins → the Contest starts and runs for 7 days from that moment.
Use this when you want the Contest to launch as soon as there's enough interest, without waiting for a fixed date.
Pattern 2: Maximum participants set
The Contest starts under either condition, whichever comes first:
The maximum participant count is reached (the Contest is "full").
The scheduled start date arrives.
Example:
Max participants: 8
Scheduled start: tomorrow at 8pm
If all 8 spots fill by 5pm today, the Contest starts immediately. If by 8pm tomorrow only 5 players have joined, the Contest still starts (assuming any minimum is met).
Use this for Contests where you want a capped, predictable group — like an 8-person tournament.
Pattern 3: Neither min nor max set
The Contest starts at its scheduled start date, with whoever has joined.
Example:
Scheduled start: Saturday at noon
Whoever has joined by Saturday at noon is locked in. The Contest starts and runs for its configured duration.
If no one (or only the host) has joined by the scheduled start, the Contest is auto-cancelled and any entry fees refunded.
Quick reference
✅
❌
✅
When min is reached, before scheduled start. Cancelled if min not reached by scheduled start.
❌
✅
✅
When max is reached, OR at scheduled start — whichever first.
✅
✅
✅
When max is reached (it's "full"), OR at scheduled start if min is met.
❌
❌
✅
At scheduled start, with whoever's joined.
Race-style goals are different
For Bounty Contests using Hunter modes (Achievement Hunter, Platinum Hunter, Completion Hunter), the Contest can end the moment someone hits the target — or stay open until the end date if the host wants multiple winners. The auto-start rules still control when the Contest starts; the Objective Mode controls when it ends.
For Battle Contests (Points modes, and Collector modes when they launch), the Contest runs for its configured duration and ranks players at the end.
See Objective Modes for the full breakdown.
What players see
Before the Contest starts, the Contest page shows the start condition ("Starts when 4 players have joined" or "Starts Saturday 12pm").
The moment it starts, all joined players get a notification: "Your Contest has started." This is your cue to sync your gaming platform and start playing.
If cancelled, all joined players get a notification and an automatic refund.
Can the host change these after publishing?
The host can edit minimum, maximum, and scheduled start before the Contest starts — useful for tuning if the Contest isn't attracting enough joiners. Once the Contest has started, these are locked.
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