Within the NADL, there are classes, and ranks within those classes. Rank is officially determined at the end of each season (save for the Chroma/Spectrum Class), and one's rank determines whether they move on to the next class.

Rank is determined by a Diver's EPA or Expedition Point Average which is calculated with this equation; (points gained - point deductions)/Number of Expeditions

The number of expeditions is set at the beginning of a season, meaning that missing an expedition will negatively impact ones EPA. 

*Expeditions are the name of matches in Chasm Diving

There are 5 Classes within the NADL:

Qualifying Class 

Only the top 84 Divers get to move on to Second Class

Second Class

Top Fourteen move up to First Class

First Class 

Top Seven move up to Chroma Class

Chroma Class/Spectrum Class 

Top Seven (before Spectrum Class) remain Chroma Class until The Ceremony of the Sky*. 

Spectrum Class competes with Chroma Class as normal, in fourteen-man competitions until the Spectrum Tournament*, which is only Spectrum Class and is a 7-man battle.

You can be demoted down a class if your EPA at the end of a season does not meet the requirement.

*these will be explained within the story

EXPEDITION RULES

The game of Chasm Diving operates on a single idea;

Fourteen divers are sent into a Chasm, and have to compete to gain points and/or be the last one standing.

When the game begins, the divers are placed an equal distance away from each other, and are released at the same time. The divers will then have a set amount of time (varying depending on the amount of layers/division of Diving), to rack up points by destroying monsters and defeating each other. In divisions past Qualifying Class, a new layer will open. New layers increase the frequency and type of enemies able to spawn. Summoners spawn beginning on the 3rd layer, and Leviathans spawn on the 4th and 5th layers. When a new layer is opened, divers are given a short amount of time to reach the layer. If they don't they are disqualified, as well as if they return to a previous layer. Enemies will still spawn from the above layers, though in decreased frequency. 

The times and layers go as follows;

Qualifying Class (1 Layer)- 45 min

*qualifying class expeditions are not televised, though expeditions can still be attended*

Second Class (2 Layers)- 1:30 hr

First Class (3 Layers)- 2 hr

Chroma Class/Spectrum Class* (4 Layers)- 2:30 hr

Spectrum Tournament* (5 Layers)- 3 hr

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POINTS

As for earning points, different robotic monsters grant different point amounts. For Striders and Wraiths, only the final blows count toward points, but on-site judges and external monitoring determines assist points and the like for Summoners and Leviathans. Different depths provide different amounts of these.

Striders- 5 pts

The most common robot in the chasms, this is a basketball sized insect design that has sharp appendages and focuses mainly on swarming.

Wraiths- 10 pts

Wraiths are slightly less common than Striders, but still common enough. Humanoid in shape and standing at about 5 feet, the Wraiths have wings and carry staffs or laser swords.

Summoners- 40 pts (Asst=10-15 pts)

Summoners stand at 10-11 feet tall, and have four arms. From those arms, they can fire beams of hard light. Four accompany each Leviathan, and they provide shielding for it.

Leviathan- 150 pts (Asst=50-85 pts)

Leviathans are giant, dragon like robots with four wings. They can breath fire and are known to use strategy with its Summoners. Cannot be harmed until all of its Summoners are defeated.

Other Divers- (100 pts + Half of opponent's points) 

If it is deemed that unnecessary force is used to defeat a Diver, the aggressor will be ejected from the game and any points gained will not go towards their EPA, but the deductions will remain.

POINT DEDUCTIONS

Certain actions will cause point deductions, though they aren't officially applied until the end of the season (or just before the Spectrum Tournament for Chroma/Spectrum Class Divers, during the Ceremony of the Sky). These actions are usually judged/monitored and are as follows:

Excessive Destruction- (Monitor Determined pts)

Hits Taken- 2 x {number of hits taken}

Staggered- 5 x {number of times staggered}

Downed- 10 x {number of times downed}

Defeated- .5 x {Self point total}

GAME END CONDITION

The game ends either when only one Diver is left standing, or when time is up.