DISCUSSIONS on “Rules for online games in HoMM3 and formulas for calculating player rating.”

What's new in the updated Rules.

1. I've changed the structure and added new sections.
- Added a Table of Contents at the beginning with links to the sections for quick access to the topic of interest.
- Removed examples, comments, and permitted actions (many ask questions about what is allowed) from sections I, II, and III and moved them to the end of the Rules - Comments.
- I still added section IV. Differences in the Rules for online games for the WT version (we play on this version in tournaments), but I simply copied these rules from the WT website. Since I don't understand the intricacies of WT very well, I ask the experts to read it and correct any inaccuracies; perhaps additions are needed.
- Completely rewrote the season regulations. Following a recent discussion about unfinished games, I included the following:

1.6. Players are advised to agree in advance on how long they can play without interruption, and if there is not enough time and it is necessary to postpone the game, agree on the deadlines for finishing the game.
One month is given to finish the game. If the game is not finished within this time, the players have the right to apply to the tournament judge, providing saves of the postponed game and ICQ logs. Each such case is considered individually. The judge acts at his discretion: either a technical victory is awarded (if one of the players ignores offers to finish the game), or a decision is made based on the saves (if both players have problems), or the game is canceled, or another decision is made depending on the circumstances. Players who systematically fail to finish postponed games may be subject to sanctions, up to and including exclusion from the tournament and being added to the Blacklist.

- In the comments on section I, I added an expanded glossary of terms. Here, too, the forum's help is desirable, especially from beginners. Write which terms you do not understand, and I will include them in the glossary.
- At the very end, I added several interesting screenshots explaining situations in the games. This section also needs to be expanded; send links to screenshots, and I will add them.

2. We recently discussed the rule regarding scrolls of levels 4 and 5 on the forum and in the AC (Administration Council). The rule is too complex, raises many questions, but in practice, the additional conditions for using scrolls rarely work. Therefore, at the suggestion of the AC, I introduced a simplification of this rule for one season:

2.11. Magic Scrolls of levels 4 and 5 can only be used after the player has built a Guild of Mages of the corresponding level in any of their Castles or after the player has gained control of a Castle with an already built Guild of Mages of the corresponding level.
That is, the player can either build a Guild of Mages of the required level himself or capture an opponent's or computer's Castle with an already built Guild of Mages. Before this, it is not possible to use the Scrolls against an opponent, against neutrals, or against the computer.
It is not necessary for the hero to visit the Castle with the Guild of Mages. It does not matter whether the Castle with the built Guild of Mages will be controlled later.

We will play like this in the fall; at the end of the season, I will conduct a survey. If the players like it, we will leave it that way; if not, we will return to the old wording.

Section V. Non-standard and controversial situations. Judging will be discussed with the judges in the AC, and after some time, I will revise it.

When we find inaccuracies and errors, I will make a translation into English.