> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://alphalabs.gitbook.io/documents/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://alphalabs.gitbook.io/documents/round-formats.md). # Round Formats G.E.M Protocol is inherently modular. In addition to the Regular Rounds (where voting, auctioning, and lucky draws determine each NFT’s journey) Alpha Labs introduces a spectrum of alternative round formats. Each one is designed to serve a specific purpose, audience, or strategic twist, while maintaining the core values of fairness, participation, and gamification. Below are the specialized round types used during the minting process:

**Purpose:** Reward early supporters and maximize inclusivity\ **How It Works:** Voting is free, and there is no auction. One of the voters for the winning artwork is selected via a lucky draw to receive the NFT.\ **Key Feature:** Zero-cost entry, 100% random outcome among voters\ **Why It Matters:** Encourages wide participation and onboarding by removing economic barriers while maintaining excitement. ***

**Purpose:** Transparently allocate NFTs to the founding team\ **How It Works:** These occur at fixed intervals (e.g., every E rounds). Voting is free. There is no auction, and no user distribution. The winner artwork is directly assigned to the Alpha Labs founders' wallet.\ **Key Feature:** Reserved distribution through structured public process\ **Why It Matters:** Avoids hidden mints and opaque founder allocations. Fully disclosed and embedded within the protocol. ***

**Purpose:** Offer lower-cost participation opportunities\ **How It Works:** Voting works as in regular rounds, but the fee is significantly reduced (e.g., G% cheaper than regular rounds). Auction and draw rules remain the same.\ **Key Feature:** Economically accessible, especially for early users or smaller wallets\ **Why It Matters:** Reduces entry friction, promotes more diverse voter participation, and creates high-activity periods. ***

**Purpose:** Add unpredictability and reduce bias\ **How It Works:** Voters cannot see the artwork. They are shown placeholders or blurred previews and must choose blindly. Voting and auction phases proceed normally.\ **Key Feature:** Fully anonymous visual selection\ **Why It Matters:** Forces collectors to rely on instinct or randomness, creating an entirely new type of gameplay. ***

**Purpose:** Increase rewards and engagement\ **How It Works:** The winner of this round automatically becomes the winner of the next round as well. The second NFT is not voted or auctioned.\ **Key Feature:** One win equals two NFTs\ **Why It Matters:** Surprises participants with amplified returns, encouraging deeper commitment to every round. ***

**Purpose:** Reward early voters and test speed-based strategy\ **How It Works:** Each round only accepts a fixed number of votes (e.g., K). Once the cap is hit, the round proceeds immediately. Auction and lucky draw continue as usual.\ **Key Feature:** Time-sensitive, capped-entry voting\ **Why It Matters:** Encourages faster decisions, benefits the most attentive or active participants. ***

**Purpose:** Compensate previously unlucky participants\ **How It Works:** Voting is free and there's no auction. The only eligible people to vote are the ones who have lost all lucky draws since last Losers round. The NFT goes to a lucky draw winner from a pool of previous unlucky draw losers.\ **Key Feature:** Recovery mechanism for past participants\ **Why It Matters:** Adds long-term fairness and hope for those who’ve participated repeatedly without winning. ***

**Purpose:** Recognize and empower pre-launch contributors\ **How It Works:** First 1,000 rounds are exclusive to wallets whitelisted via our Telegram Mini-App. Only contributors can vote. If a lucky draw happens, it's completely risk-free: voters are refunded either way.\ **Key Feature:** Exclusive, zero-loss rounds\ **Why It Matters:** Grants early influence and ownership to those who helped shape the protocol. ***

**Purpose:** Pure randomness, maximum inclusivity\ **How It Works:** One round in each tier is selected as a Lucky Draw Round. Voting is free and no auction occurs. The NFT is given randomly to a participant from any previous contributor round.\ **Key Feature:** Fully randomized NFT allocation\ **Why It Matters:** Highlights the protocol's commitment to chance, fairness, and rewarding loyalty. ***

**Purpose:** Reward and empower specific partnered communities\ **How It Works:** These rounds function just like Regular Rounds but participation is restricted to wallet holders from a specific partner community. Eligibility is determined through pre-approved wallet lists.\ **Key Feature:** Gated participation for collaborative ecosystems\ **Why It Matters:** Enables strategic collaboration with aligned projects, DAOs, or communities while giving their members exclusive access to select NFTs. It’s a win-win for both ecosystems, expanding reach, rewarding loyalty, and reinforcing network effects.