Posts from HoMM3 Online Game Rules - Version 1 (XI.2007-XI.2010) and rating calculation formulas

This topic is outdated, closed, and no longer edited.
The current version of the rules can be found in the Important topics section
Heroes 3 Tournament - Tournaments for Heroes 3 - ONLINE.

Version 1.????
In effect until November 30, 2010.

1. General Provisions
1.1. Online duels are conducted in any version of HoMM3. You can find an opponent here, where anyone wishing to play leaves their application in a free form, but must specify the game version and ICQ. To facilitate the search for opponents, we recommend also specifying the main nuances of the mandatory conditions you agree to play under. For example:
invisible, Platinum or WoG, turn time 6 minutes, random L+U, template 2SM4d(3), ICQ XXX-XXX-XXX. Waiting two hours.

1.2. In order for games to be entered into the rating table, reports must be written in the corresponding topic. For convenience in maintaining the rating table and statistics, reports should be written according to the following scheme:
Date of game. Winner (color, castle, starting hero, main hero) def Loser (color, castle, starting hero, main hero), template (if fixes, then map name), game time.
vbn (red, Dungeon, Shakti, Shakti) def invisible (blue, Inferno, Pyrrh, Marius) 2SM4d(3) 136.
The template name can be seen during the game in "scenario information".
Writing such a report is mandatory if these players want these games to be counted in the rating. If desired, matches can be described in more detail. A game will only be credited after the aforementioned report is written and the loser provides mandatory confirmation.
Additional conditions on report confirmation >>

1.3. These rules imply games on random maps, but games on fixes will also be considered in the rating if a report is written and subsequently confirmed by the opponent.
Any changes to the rules are permitted by mutual consent of the players, except for point 6. That is, it is possible to play by mutually agreed rules or without rules at all (again, point 6 applies under any circumstances). If agreement on a change (addition) to any point of the rules is not reached through negotiations, players are guided by these rules. BUT: we recommend discussing all this in advance via ICQ, because in case of disputed points, the judge when issuing a verdict will be guided by the following: these rules, provided ICQ logs and (in cases not provided for by these rules) their own personal discretion.
The rating will be reset every season, and therefore there will be a "season winner" based on the table in each season.

2. Map Setting Options
humans – 2; computers – 0; teams – 0; map size L+U; templates – by agreement, but I recommend 2sm4d(3), – for this you need to download the file attached at the end of this post and unpack it into the "Data" folder; no water; strong monsters; difficulty 160%; turn time limit – 6 minutes.

3. Choice of Color and Castles
Participants choose castles by the method of elimination, meaning players take turns crossing out castles they do not want to play until only 3 castles remain. The player who started crossing first chooses a castle for themselves from the remaining three, the second player – from the remaining two and the color they wish to play.
Example:
invisible - Conflux
vbn - Necropolis
invisible - Fortress
vbn - Stronghold
invisible - Rampart
vbn - Castle
invisible chooses from the remaining Inferno, Dungeon and Tower – Inferno, and vbn – Dungeon and red color.

4. Restarts
Each player has the right to take a restart twice: on the first day of the game and within three days, meaning starting a new game with map regeneration.
Mandatory restarts:
– if the starting hero is above level 1;
– if a player has more than one castle at the start;
– if no fort is built in the starting castle;
– restart upon meeting by day 116 inclusive, meaning if players enter direct contact with each other using any of their heroes within the first six game days (simply put, any battle occurs between them), then one of them has the right to demand a restart. If both players agree to continue, that is their right.

5. Prohibitions and Restrictions
5.1. Forbidden heroes: Sir Mulyich. If this hero reaches level 3, he must be dismissed on the same day.

5.2.1. All magic specialists of level 4, as well as Tant (Raise Dead) may use their profile spells against an opponent in the following cases:
a) if the corresponding level of the Mage Guild (ГМ) is built in any of the controlled castles. If these castles do not have the required ГМ level, it is necessary to fully build ГМ of all levels in any two castles that you own. Or capture an opponent's castle with the required ГМ already built (it does not matter how long the captured castle remains under control). Visiting this castle with a hero is not mandatory;
b) find and visit "Sanctuary of Magical Thoughts" with the Raise Dead spell using any hero;
c) If any of your heroes are given the corresponding spell in Pandora's box, a pyramid, after visiting a scholar, or in a magic book (even if this hero does not have sufficient wisdom skill to learn this spell).
Against neutral monsters, as well as against the computer (if one is present on the map), level 4 magic specialists and Tant may use their profile spells without the above restrictions.

5.2.2. It is permitted to transfer level 4 spells and Raise Dead from specialists to other heroes, but trained heroes can only use them after fulfilling sub-points a, b, c of point 5.2.1. That is, transferred spells cannot be used against neutral monsters, the computer, or an opponent without meeting the above conditions.

5.3. Izra and Vidomina are forbidden from upgrading the "Sorcery" skill to "Expert" level. Otherwise, this hero must be dismissed within four days of obtaining expert sorcery (example: on day 124 Vidomina upgraded "sorcery" to "expert", therefore, at the latest, she must be dismissed on day 127).

5.4. If Sir Mulyich above level 3 was released from prison, or a necromancy specialist (Izra, Vidomina) with expert "sorcery" skill, then these heroes must be dismissed within four days of release from prison. During these four days, these heroes are allowed to conduct battles.
If Sir Mulyich above level 3 is bought in the tavern, as well as Izra or Vidomina with expert sorcery, they must be dismissed within 4 days of purchase.
In case Sir Mulyich above level 3, as well as Izra or Vidomina with expert sorcery appear in the tavern after escaping, buying them is forbidden.

5.5. So-called "red-rush" is forbidden, meaning a player playing red does not have the right to attack on the first day of the week with growth purchased on that day:

a) the blue's castle (even if the castle is unguarded).
b) blue's heroes or guarded mines, if the presence of growth may affect the outcome of the battle or losses in the battle for either player.
Additional information >>

5.6. Hit-and-run is forbidden: an attacking hero does not have the right to retreat in the first round of battle if they used combat magic or any other that somehow dealt any damage to the opponent. This prohibition does not apply to a defending hero.

5.7. Joining any monsters is forbidden. Any troops can be obtained in Pandora and from seers. Diplomacy is permitted, but only for reducing the buyout cost. If monsters want to join — refuse and either kill them or let them run away. That is, killing is not mandatory.

5.8. Using level 4 and 5 magic spell scrolls is forbidden without building the corresponding level of the Mage Guild (ГМ) in any of your castles. If there is no corresponding ГМ level in the starting castle, you must proceed according to sub-points a, c of point 5.2.

5.9. Any hero may use the "Dimension Door" spell no more than 1 time per day.

5.10. "Angel Wings" are permitted for use without any restrictions, provided this does not contradict point 5.13.

5.11. Visiting cartographers and "Hill Fort" is forbidden.

5.12. Penetrating neighboring territories without breaking the guard standing in the passage (i.e. if it has been moved) is forbidden. If two or three guards are scattered along the road – any one of your choice must be broken.
In the absence of a passage guard, including a moved one, you are allowed to move freely from respawn to respawn.

5.13. It is forbidden to take pandoras, scrolls, artifacts, or visit various objects from under a moved guard without killing the guard. You cannot visit objects, take pandoras, scrolls, or artifacts using "fly", "dimension door" spells, or via angel wings without breaking the corresponding guard. Chests, campfires and resources may be taken both with the aforementioned spells and wings, as well as from under a moved guard.

5.14. Assembling the composite artifact "Cloak of the Undead King" is forbidden. All other composite artifacts are permitted to be assembled.

5.15. The Grail can be dug up after 5 weeks of play.

5.16. In the Conflux castle, upgrading level 1, 6, and 7 monsters is forbidden. When playing as Conflux, the starting hero is chosen randomly during map generation.

5.17. In the Necropolis castle, building a necromancy amplifier is forbidden.

5.18. It is permitted to buy and use any monsters in "mercenary camps".

6. Fair Play
The most important point: players must play fairly and respect each other.
- Using cheat codes and all kinds of "bugs" during a match is forbidden.
- No one has the right to open saves of an unfinished match except for the judge/tournament leader or a member of the AC, and only in case of a disputed situation in the match. If at the moment a disputed situation arises requiring the opening of saves, there is no connection with the judge/leader/AC, the match must be interrupted and saved by both participants until contact with the judges is established.
- Opening the map on which the game is being played in the editor before the end of the match is forbidden.
A match is considered finished when one player has completely destroyed the second or one of them surrenders, which must be confirmed via ICQ. Only after this is it permitted to open saves and look at the map in the editor.
Players who agreed to the game are responsible for all actions that occurred on players' computers during the match and/or related to an unfinished game.
(amendments to the wording of rule 6 were adopted by decision of the AC on April 5, 2010))

7. Miscellaneous
If a "stalemate" situation occurs in battle, the attacking player must retreat. For example: during the battle, the attacker is left with 100 dwarves, and the defending hero has 1 fly. And 100 dwarves cannot catch the fly. In this case, the attacker with 100 dwarves must retreat (or buy them off). If someone is wearing "shackles of war", it is necessary to load the last save, repeat all moves exactly as they were made before this battle, and dismiss the troops that were killed during this battle. Then the player(s) who had the shackles on must remove them, the attacker must attack and flee/buy off.
If a disconnect occurs during the game, the player whose turn it was finishes their move and saves the game. Then they load from this save and continue. Or they load the autosave of the player who was inactive at that moment. If connection is lost during a battle, then after loading all battle moves are repeated as closely as possible to those before the disconnect.

If any disputed questions arise, please discuss them in the specially designated topic.
For all questions, contact via ICQ 252-OЗ9-З9З or by e-mail.
In drafting these rules, material taken from http://www.heroesportal.net was partially used. We express gratitude for the assistance of the management of the aforementioned resource, as well as for help in drafting the rules to invisible, vbn, ewgeniy1985, Decontaminator, KostyaN, and all those who participated in their discussion.
Respectfully, leaders of rating online games, SS-D and vbn.

Point calculation formulas for HeroesWorld rating online games (implemented version) author SS-D[/SIZE]

Formula for calculating points in case of victory.
1. Calculation formula if the opponent's rating(place) is higher



2. Calculation formula if the opponent's rating(place) is lower



In case of defeat, the following number of rating points are deducted: L = S/2, where:
S - points for victory;
Pигр - player's rating(yours) according to the table;
Pсоп - opponent's rating according to the table;
N1 - number of victories over this opponent;
N2 - number of losses to this opponent.

Comments and explanations for the formulas:

10+ we start from 10 points, then everything is multiplied by 5, resulting in 50 points for victory for the first game; multiplied by 5 also to get rid of tenths (to a greater extent) in other terms;
-2*log(Pигр-Pсоп) - bonus (negative): if you play against a player with a lower rating, fewer points will be credited for victory; the lower the opponent, the larger this expression will be;
+2*log(Pсоп-Pигр) - bonus if you play against a player with a higher rating; accordingly, the higher the opponent in the table, the more points the winner earns;
-(N1-1)/3 - the more victories you have over an opponent (this one), the fewer points will be added for subsequent victory, "-1" so that the first victory is not counted;
+N2/3 - the more losses, the more points for victory;
/ (N1) 8th root - to increase the trend of decreasing points for each subsequent victory.

Starting with the Fall 2008 season, players who place high in online Tournaments will receive additional points added to their rating, in addition to the points earned from games, according to the following table (only tournaments that ended during the season will be included): This table is not intended to be universally applicable and will only be used when calculating the rating for the specified season; we’ll see what happens afterward and may make some changes. Many thanks to scorp for suggesting this table format and providing his reasoning.

History of Changes and Additions to the Rules.

03/10/09.
1) Clause 1.3 is supplemented with the following:
If an agreement on changing (supplementing) any clause of the Rules cannot be reached through negotiations, the players shall be guided by these Rules.
2) Clause 2 regarding map settings options:
the time limit per turn has been changed from 4 minutes to 6 minutes.

03/12/09.
Clause 1.2 is supplemented with an explanation of the principles of confirming battle reports:
I. After a battle report is published on the forum, the winner is advised to send the opponent a link to this report via ICQ for confirmation (it is desirable to save these logs).
II. If a player, for some reason, cannot confirm the battle report in the corresponding thread, he must contact the seasonal games administrator and confirm the report by any other means (private message, ICQ, etc.).
III. If a player has outstanding debts in the form of unconfirmed battle reports for games he has lost, all his subsequent battle reports will not be counted until the debts are settled.
IV. If a player has not confirmed 1 battle report, and at the same time, at least a formal reason for non-confirmation is indicated (investigation of unfair play), then battle reports of this player's victories will continue to be counted.

08/25/09.
Clause 5.5

The so-called "red rush" is prohibited, i.e., a player playing with the red color is not allowed to attack the blue player on the first day of the week with reinforcements purchased on that day. However, troops that come with a hero purchased on that day can be used.

is replaced with

5.5. The so-called "red rush" is prohibited, i.e., a player playing with the red color is not allowed to attack on the first day of the week with reinforcements purchased on that day:

a) on the blue player's Castle (even if the Castle is not guarded).
b) on the blue player's heroes or guarded mines, if the presence of reinforcements can affect the outcome of the battle or losses in the battle for either player.

* Troops that come with purchased heroes, as well as troops from ambushes, pandoras, summoning portals, etc., can be used without restrictions (including upgrading them).
* The concept of a red rush applies only to Castles, heroes, and mines.
* The concept of a red rush does not apply if both heroes end up on opposite sides of a portal or underground gate during the attack (i.e., on different sides of the portal).