General FAQ about the forum and Navigation within the "HOMM3 Online Tournaments" section.

Rules in effect from November 18, 2007 to November 30, 2010.

Rules in effect from December 1, 2010 to May 31, 2013.

Contents.
I. General organizational issues. + English
II. Rules for online games, common to all templates (SoD version).
II. Rules for online games on all templates and SoD version.
III. Map settings options, additions, and differences in rules for popular templates (SoD version).
III. Map settings options, additions, and differences in rules for popular templates (SoD version). - English
IV. Differences for the WT version.
V. Non-standard and controversial situations. Judging.
V. Non-standard and controversial situations. Judging. - translation
VI. Seasonal Ranking Tournament. + translation
Comments on section: I. General organizational issues.
Comments on section: II. Rules for online games, common to all templates (SoD version).
Screenshots illustrating the Rules: ГО and bugged passages on Jebus cross.
Screenshots illustrating the Rules: bugged passages on Panic and Balance.

I. General organizational issues.

1. Online games are played on any of the versions of HoMM3 (SoD 3.2, 4.0; WT, ...) by mutual agreement between players or according to the tournament regulations.

2. The use of additional programs that speed up the game process is allowed, including:
- Mod to improve the functionality of the interface - HoMM3 HD,
- Animation accelerator in battles - Cranim.
The player using these programs and files is responsible for any bugs that arise.
The use of any other additional programs and files that affect the gameplay without prior agreement with the opponent is prohibited.
Comment.

3. Games are played on random maps generated based on templates.
3.1. Template selection for a game is carried out according to the tournament regulations.
3.2. Template selection by elimination method: players take turns removing undesirable templates from the list declared in the tournament until only one remains, on which the game takes place. The tournament regulations specify who starts eliminating templates.
Example.

4. Selection of color and castle.
4.1. In tournaments, the choice of colors and castles is determined by the rules or by drawing lots.
4.2. Castle selection by elimination method: players take turns crossing out (removing) those they do not want to play as from the complete list, including 9 castles, until 3 castles remain. The player who started first chooses a castle from the three remaining, then the second player chooses a castle from the two remaining and announces the color he wants to play with.
Example.
4.3. On templates with computer opponents, castles for the computer are selected randomly (except for Mini-Nostalgia template section III.7 and Diamond template section III.8).

5.1. Players use ICQ for communication; by agreement: Skype, chats.
5.2. For online communication, players use programs (in order of priority): Hamachi, TeamViewer, GameRanger.

6. Players must make daily saves, keep them until the end of the tournament (i.e., until the results are summarized and the winner is awarded), and present them upon first request from the tournament organizer / judge / member of the AC.
If the saves are missing for any reason, the organizer / judge / AC will rely on the saves submitted by the opponent. Claims against the opponent and judges in this case will not be accepted.

7. The terms in these rules correspond to the Russian translation of the game Heroes of Might and Magic III (version 4.0), made by the company "Buka" (Platinum Series), the description in "The Physics of the World of Heroes" and conventional notations, commonly used when describing templates.
Specific concepts used in the game: names of castles, artifacts, objects, spells, etc. - are written with a capital letter in the rules.
7.1. Basic terminology and abbreviations.
By the word "castle" (with a lowercase letter) in these rules means any town / village on the game map.
By the words "defined passage between zones" on the generated game map means the space between obstacles forming zone boundaries, through which the hero can pass into an adjacent zone. In a real game situation, there may be several such passages, even if the template scheme indicates that the passage is unique.
Bugged passage - a passage between zones that should not exist according to the template scheme. It differs by weaker protection (or its absence), inconsistent with the template scheme. Often occurs during the generation of a mine, village, etc., at the border of two zones.
Increase - troops appearing at the beginning of a new week in the dwellings of cities (villages) of the player or in the cities (villages) of the human opponent and computer players captured on this day.
Treasure zone = treasure (English) = treasury (English)
GO - Main Guard - strong guard (value=45000) either between zones starting for players (2SM4d(3)), or between the starting zone and the main treasure zone (Jebus cross, Mini-Nostalgia).
Mage Guild - Mage Guild.
7.2. Detailed Glossary of terms.


Rules of HOMM3 online games
and seasonal ranking tournament.

I. General organization questions.
English translation will be made later.