Rules for online games in Heroes III and the seasonal Ranked Tournament.

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 organization questions. + I. General organization questions.
II. Online game rules common to all templates (SoD version).
II. Rules for online games on all templates and SoD version.
III. Map setting options, additions, and rule differences for popular templates (SoD version).
III. Map settings and rules differences for popular templates (SoD version).
IV. Differences for the WT version.
V. Non-standard and disputed situations. Judging.
V. Non-standard and argument situations. Judging.
VI. Seasonal Ranking tournament. + translation
Comments on section: I. General organization questions.
Comments on section: II. Online game rules common to all templates (SoD version).
Illustrative screenshots for the Rules: ГО and bugged passages on Jebus cross.
Illustrative screenshots for the Rules: bugged passages on Panic and Balance.

I. General organization questions.

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

2. The use of additional programs that speed up the game process is permitted, specifically:
- Interface functionality improvement mod - HoMM3 HD,
- Battle animation accelerator - Cranim.
The player using these programs and files is responsible for any bugs that arise from their use.
The use of any other additional programs or files affecting the Gameplay without agreement with the opponent is prohibited.
Comment.

3. Games are played on random maps generated according to templates.
3.1. The template selection for the game is carried out according to tournament regulations.
3.2. Template selection by elimination method: players take turns removing undesirable templates from the list of those declared in the tournament until only one last template remains, which is then used for the game. Tournament regulations specify which player starts the same own-elimination process.
Example.

4. Selection of color and castles.
4.1. In tournaments, the selection of colors and castles is determined by rules or a draw.
4.2. Castle selection by elimination method: players take turns crossing out (removing) those they do not want to play with from the full list of 9 castles until 3 castles remain. The player who started the elimination first chooses a castle for themselves from the remaining three, then the second player chooses a castle from the remaining two and announces the color they wish to play.
Example.
4.3. Selection by bidding method.
When creating a game, the host generates a random pair of cities. After this, players take turns naming an amount they are willing to pay their opponent for the right to choose a city first. The minimum bid increment is 100 coins. A similar bidding procedure is used for color selection. The total sum (for city and color) is transferred by one player to the other before the start.
If a pair of identical cities is generated, the same own-bidding occurs for the right to choose the starting hero first. This is followed by bidding for color.
Each player has the right to re-generate the pair of cities once at their discretion, paying 500 coins to the opponent for this. In doing so, the player who paid 500 gold may prohibit the generation of one of the cities.
4.4. On templates with computer players, castles for the computer are selected randomly (except for Mini-Nostalgia templates in section III.7 and Diamond in section III.8).

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

6. Players are required to make daily saves, keep them until the end of the tournament (i.e., until results are finalized and the winner is awarded), and present them upon first request by the tournament director/judge/member of the AC.
If saves are missing for any reason, the director/judge/AC will rely on the saves presented by the opponent. Claims against the opponent and judges are not accepted in such cases.

When using HD-mod, players must enable the following options:
HD+
Save before each battle.
Save all days (for tournaments)
As well as the HW_rules plugin. HW_rules settings are at the discretion of the tournament organizer.

7. Terms in these rules correspond to the Russian translation of Heroes of Might and Magic III (version 4.0) made by Company "Buka" (Platinum series), the description in "Physics of the same Heroes World", and conventional symbols 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.
The word "castle" (lowercase) in these rules refers to any city/village on the game map.
The words "a certain passage between zones" on a generated game map refer to a gap between obstacles forming zone boundaries through which a hero can enter 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 is characterized by weaker guards (or their absence), inconsistent with the template scheme. This often occurs when a mine, village, etc., is generated on the border of two zones.
Growth — troops appearing at the start of a new week in the Dwellings of the player's cities (villages) or in cities (villages) captured that day from human opponents and computer players.
Treasure zone = treasure = treasury — the best-filled zone on the template.
ГО — Main Guard — strong guards (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.
ОХ — Simultaneous turn. (available when playing via HD-mod lobby)
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.
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