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Okay, it's more or less clear, although the phrase "races by agreement" in the rules is strange; what if you can't come to an agreement? :smile06: Why not do it like in Heroes of Might and Magic III, first negotiate for colors, and then choose races from two lists? It doesn't take much time, but it balances the positions well. I have a few questions about the game. Is it allowed to use: 1. Joining neutral creatures 2. Red rush (the first player attacks with an increase on the first day of the week) 3. Super boosts +5 of such-and-such creatures 4. Super artifacts, which, according to the manual, can appear randomly. 5. As I understand it, a runaway hero can be bought back, but on that day, he cannot move at all, right?

Game rules:
Prohibitions:
1. It is forbidden for a redeemed hero (after escaping or being ransomed) to attack an opponent during the ransom turn (whether it's a human or a computer player). It is allowed to move with such a hero.
2. It is forbidden to recruit units, either through diplomacy or without it. If a request is made to accept neutral units into the army, it must be refused, and a battle must ensue.
3. When entering a Demon Cave, a battle is mandatory.
4. It is forbidden to recruit elementals.
5. It is forbidden to visit abandoned ships, graveyards, and sphinxes.
6. It is forbidden to use the Dimension Door and Town Portal spells.
7. It is forbidden to dig up an ultimate artifact without revealing the entire puzzle map.
If any obelisk is inaccessible, it can be ignored.
8. It is forbidden to visit pyramids.
9. It is forbidden to pick up the Sphere of Magic Nullification and Anduran in their assembled form (individual parts can be picked up and used to assemble Anduran). If these artifacts end up with a hero by chance (i.e., when visiting a skeleton, taking a chest in the sea, etc.), that hero cannot use Town Portal and is not allowed to engage in battles. Within 2 days after the day the artifact was picked up, the hero with the artifact (not necessarily the hero who picked it up; the artifact can be transferred to another hero) must be dismissed. In the event of a forced battle – an attack on a hero with Anduran or the Sphere – the hero with these artifacts must retreat without inflicting damage on the opponent (when an opponent attacks, the hero must immediately notify them of the presence of prohibited artifacts).
10. It is forbidden to use super-growth weeks (i.e., troops increased in this way cannot be redeemed).

Battle rules:
If a player attacks an opponent and cannot win or lose (for example, one has an Iron Golem, and the other has a Sprite), the attacker must retreat.
Host rushing is prohibited – the host attacking the second player on the first day of the week with the redeemed creatures of that week.

2 Horn
Thank you for the valuable feedback regarding super artifacts and super growth weeks.
The corresponding changes have been made to the rules.

If we can't agree on the factions, each player can choose the faction they want (if the map doesn't have fixed factions). We will mark the in-game positions (i.e., color). On a significant number of proposed maps, the in-game positions are already defined as I mentioned above. On 3-way maps, Teleporters, and Spellcasters, we can negotiate.

If the players haven't reached an agreement, I suggest choosing factions by eliminating options from two lists; it's best to decide on colors through negotiation! I also want to emphasize that any agreement should reasonably be based on the idea that it's acceptable to play a more advantageous color with a weaker faction, and vice versa with a stronger faction.

Here are the maps, slightly edited with changes that were correctly identified (level 2 monsters at the start), plus some other balance adjustments for "interest" and to speed up the game!

Take a look! I'll explain everything in more detail and answer any questions you have!

If we can’t agree on the races, everyone will choose the race they want (if the races aren’t fixed on the map).

Warlocks, warlocks – they’re not bad, they’re just old! :smile44:

And we’ll mark the game positions (that is, the color). On a significant number of proposed maps, the game positions are already defined as I wrote above. On 3-way maps, Teleports, and Spellcasters, we can mark them.

And how do we mark them? I don’t quite understand. Again, maps with two positions won’t be playable because the person who doesn’t get lucky with the draw will cross them out so as not to play a bad color. Why reinvent the wheel? There’s a system that has been tested in dozens of tournaments for Heroes 3, and it works just as well for Heroes 2. Then we don’t need to ban host-rushing, and we don’t need to balance the maps so carefully (perfect balance is impossible anyway). I can describe the algorithm in more detail (but only tomorrow, I have a lot of work right now).

Warlocks, warlocks – they’re not that bad, they’re just old! :smile44:
And how do you counter them? I don’t really see how. Also, maps with two starting positions won’t work because the one who gets unlucky with the draw will eliminate them to avoid playing a bad color. Why reinvent the wheel? There’s a system that has been tested in dozens of Heroes 3 tournaments, and it works just as well for Heroes 2. And then you don’t have to ban rush strategies, and you don’t have to balance the maps so carefully (you can’t achieve perfect balance anyway). I can explain the algorithm in more detail (but only tomorrow, I have a lot of work right now).

That’s exactly what I was trying to explain to Qwerty yesterday in a hurry! I also sent him the algorithm with a direct link to the rules of one of the club’s Heroes 3 tournaments...

If the opponents cannot agree on the choice of factions (on those maps where the choice of factions is possible), a faction draft is performed. The faction draft is carried out as follows: The player listed second in the pair starts the draft. Factions are eliminated from two lists: their own and their opponent's. The draft algorithm is: 1 faction - 2 factions - 2 factions - 2 factions - 2 factions - 1 faction.

The first player listed in the pair chooses who will start creating the maps and who will host. The second player listed in the pair chooses who will start selecting the factions and colors. The order of selection is: map - color - faction - host. The complete rules, including all amendments (including the recommended difficulty level - ship (hard)), will be published tomorrow.

Regulations for the "Star Tournament" for the second online installment of the game.

1. The tournament will be held on version "Heroes of Might and Magic 2: Price of Loyalty" 2.1, in either English or Russian.
2. The tournament will be held in a round-robin format: each player plays against every other player.
3. Tournament dates: April 30 – May 4.
4. Judging committee: Dust, Qwerty, Nagan-4.
5. Order and sequence of games:
Starting numbers: 1-Dust; 2-Oxygen; 3-GreatGenius; 4-Horn; 5-DR28; 6-Qwerty.
(1-6 2-5 3-4; 6-4 5-3 2-1; 2-6 3-1 4-5; 6-5 1-4 2-3; 3-6 4-2 5-1).
Round 1. April 30, 15:00.
Dust - Qwerty. Oxygen-DR28. GreatGenius-Horn.
Round 2. April 30, after the first round, with the remainder played on May 1, 10:00.
Qwerty-Horn. DR28-GreatGenius. Oxygen-Dust.
Round 3. May 1, after the second round.
Oxygen-Qwerty. GreatGenius-Dust. Horn-DR28.
Round 4. May 1, if time remains, with the remainder played on May 2, 10:00.
Qwerty-DR28. Dust-Horn. Oxygen-GreatGenius.
Round 5. May 2, after the fourth round, with the remainder played on May 3, 10:00.
GreatGenius-Qwerty. Horn-Oxygen. DR28-Dust.

Comments. Matches of participants who leave after May 2 may, by mutual agreement, be postponed to May 3-4. Players are also asked to play the fifth-round match DR28-Dust on May 1, if possible.

6. Maps, positions, and races in the game.
The player listed first in the pair chooses who will select the maps and who will host. The player listed second in the pair chooses who will select the races and colors.
Order of selection: map - color - race - host.

6.1. Maps and recommended starting positions:
Tekeportes (Version - Dust Edition). Suggested starting positions: green against yellow. Other starting positions are possible by mutual agreement.
Beltway (Version - Dust Edition). Starting positions: red against yellow. Other starting positions are possible by mutual agreement.
3waycross (Version Dust Edition). Starting positions are determined by agreement.
Hot Spot - starting positions green against blue.
The Other Side - starting positions green against blue.
North and South - green against yellow.
Slugfest. Not recommended for play.
Spellcasters (Version Dust Edition). Starting positions are determined by agreement.
During the game (starting from the map selection stage), players can use the editor without making changes to the map.
6.2. Map selection.
Players take turns eliminating one map from the list. The player listed first in the pair determines who will start the map selection process.
Example:
First round.
Dust: I'll eliminate Slugfest! Qwerty: I'll eliminate Tekeportes. Dust: I'll eliminate Hot Spot! Qwerty: I'll eliminate Spellcasters. Dust: I'll eliminate The Other Side. Qwerty: I'll eliminate North-South. Dust: I'll eliminate Beltway, we'll play 3waycross!
Thus, the player who starts the selection chooses the map.
6.3. Color selection.
Mutual agreement on color selection is encouraged.
If an agreement cannot be reached, the player listed second in the pair determines who will start the selection process. In this case, the colors are determined from the list of recommended colors for the game (that is, you cannot force your opponent onto an island in North-South using the selection process, because these colors are not on the list of recommended colors).
By mutual agreement, players can ignore the recommended colors and choose any other colors.
6.4. Selection of game races (on those maps where race selection is possible).
Mutual agreement on the selection of game races is encouraged. This is usually the case.
However, if an agreement cannot be reached, the selection process begins.
The player listed second in the pair determines who will start the selection process.
Races are eliminated from two lists: your own and your opponent's. The selection algorithm: 1 race - 2 races - 2 races - 2 races - 2 races - 1 race.
6.5. Host.
The player listed first in the pair determines who will host.
7. Game ethics.
In the event of a violation of game ethics (being late for rounds, insults directed at tournament participants or judges, giving hints, interfering with the game of other tournament participants (including through sound), etc.), the judges have the right to impose penalties ranging from depriving the player of the right to choose the host and other "perks" from section 6 of the rules to awarding a technical defeat and even exclusion from the tournament.
8. Game.
8.1. The recommended difficulty level is "hard".
By mutual agreement, opponents can choose any other difficulty level.
8.2. Prohibitions:
8.2.1. It is forbidden for a redeemed hero (after escaping or being ransomed) to attack the opponent during the redemption turn (whether it is a human or a computer). It is allowed to move such a hero.
8.2.2. It is forbidden to join units, either through diplomacy or otherwise. If a request to join the neutral army is received, it must be refused, and a battle must ensue.
8.2.3. When entering the Demon Cave, a battle is mandatory.
8.2.4. It is forbidden to recruit spirits.
8.2.5. It is forbidden to visit abandoned ships, cemeteries, pyramids, and sphinxes.
8.2.6. It is forbidden to use the Dimension Door and Town Portal spells.
8.2.7. It is forbidden to dig up the ultimate artifact without opening the entire puzzle map.
If any obelisk is inaccessible, it can be ignored.
8.2.8. It is forbidden to pick up the Sphere of Magic Inhibition and the Amulet of Undoing in assembled form (individual parts can be picked up and assembled into the Amulet of Undoing). If these artifacts end up with a hero by chance (i.e., when visiting a skeleton, taking a chest in the sea, etc.), that hero cannot use Town Portal and is not allowed to engage in battles. Within 2 days after the day the artifact is picked up, the hero with the artifact (not necessarily the hero who picked up the artifact, i.e., it can be passed to another of your heroes) must be dismissed. In the event of a forced battle (an attack on a hero with the Amulet of Undoing or the Sphere of Magic Inhibition), the hero with these artifacts must retreat, without inflicting damage on the opponent (when attacked by the opponent, the player must immediately notify him of the presence of prohibited artifacts).
8.2.9. It is forbidden to use weeks of super-growth (i.e., troops increased in this way cannot be redeemed).
8.2.10. Host-rush is prohibited - an attack by the host on the second player on the first day of the week with the redeemed creatures of that week.
8.3. Battle rules:
If a player attacks an opponent and cannot win or lose (for example, one has an iron golem, the other has a butterfly sprite), the attacking player must retreat.
By mutual agreement, players can play by any rules.
9. Disputed situations in the game.
If a disputed situation arises in the game, the player must immediately save the game under the name 02 and only then call the Judge.
10. Designations of the number of troops in the game version used:
1-4 small; 5-9 few; 10-19 pack; 20-49 many; 50-99 horde; 100-249 crowd; 250-499 swarm; 500-999 thousands; 1000+ legion.

Eric, I've created the tournament bracket, and it's attached. The format should be clear, and we'll highlight the host. The bracket and the rules (also attached) need to be printed and displayed in the tournament hall or placed on the judges' table. Players should have easy access to the rules and the troop strength chart. Eric, I suggest we call this tournament the "Stars Tournament" everywhere. Because that's essentially what it is... Before the tournament starts, we need to: 1. Install the second game on at least 6 computers. Please let me know which version will be installed; the ideal version is Platinum. 2. Test the connection. 3. Put Dust's maps into the MAPS folder. 4. Check if these maps work in both single-player and multiplayer modes. 5. Check if these maps can be opened in the editor simultaneously with the game. WARNING! For some maps, you might need to open the editor twice: the first time, it might display an error. Eric, now about the round protocol. I don't have a definitive answer; I'd like to know your opinion. In principle, the round protocol (with the skirmish protocol enabled, of course) is a good thing. The skirmish protocol itself is quite interesting. So, think about it. The skirmish results are entered into the main table; there are corresponding fields for that. Autosave. I'm attaching it to this post. But! I haven't tested it. The instructions are quite detailed. I can try to test it (I'm not sure if I'll succeed). If you have the opportunity, please test it too. If the autosave doesn't work, we'll try to come up with something else. Game recording or streaming. Obviously, that would be great. But I'm completely clueless about this; I'm just a spectator:)))

Eric, I suggest we call this tournament the "Stars Tournament" everywhere. Because that's really what it is...

No problem.

Before the tournament starts, we need to make sure:
1. Heroes of Might and Magic II is installed on at least 6 computers. Be sure to let me know which version will be installed; the ideal version is Platinum.

Yes, I will. I have the Platinum version. But just in case, bring the disc with you.

2. Test the connection.
3. Put the maps uploaded by Dust into the MAPS folder.
4. Check if these maps work both in single-player mode and over the network.

Yes, it's a shame Toli isn't in town; otherwise, we could play with him.

5. Check if you can open these maps in the editor at the same time as the game. ATTENTION! On some maps, you may have to open the editor twice: the first time, it will display an error.

OK.

Autosave.
I'm attaching it to the post. But! I haven't tested it. The instructions are quite detailed. I can try (I don't know if I'll succeed) to test it. If you have the opportunity, try testing it too. If the autosave doesn't work, we'll try to come up with something else.

In the worst case, I know some experts; we'll try to figure it out.

Recording games or live streams.
Obviously, that would be great. But I'm completely clueless about this; I'm just a viewer.

I'm out on this one; I've never done it. My only hope is that one of the Heroes of Might and Magic III players who arrived earlier will help. And I would gladly watch the recordings; it would be a great memory of such a tournament.

It just so happens that all the Heroes of Might and Magic II players arrive last among the guests.

Yes, I will. I have platinum. But just in case, bring a disk with you.

I hope the version is at least in English? I don't remember half of the artwork from the pictures anyway, so what's the point of them. And if the names are wrong too...

And how do they choose colors from 3 or 4 possible options? It's not specified in the rules.
We didn't have any color selection process; it was done like this: the first player writes down 2 colors on a piece of paper - the main one and a backup. After that, the second player (in our case, the one with the advantage in choosing) simply says which position they will play. If that position matches the first player's choice, the first player will play on the backup.
Another unconsidered "bonus," although not the most important, but it's better to clarify it - the AI races. IMO, let the first player choose them, but they must all be different and different from the players' races.

I hope it's at least the English version? I already don't remember half the artwork, so what's the point of having it. And if the names are wrong too...

Man, I also find it much more enjoyable to play the English version!

Here's a great, reliable version, and by the way, it was made by one of the tournament participants - GG: http://www.heroesleague.ru/show/1160/Heroes2.exe

And how do you choose colors from 3 or 4 possible options? It's not specified in the rules.
We didn't have any color selection process; it was done like this: the first player writes down 2 colors on a piece of paper - the main one and a backup. After that, the second player (in our case, the one with the advantage in choosing) simply says which position they will play. If this position matches the first player's choice, they will play on the backup.
Another overlooked "bonus," although not the most important, but it's better to clarify it - the AI factions. IMO, let the first player choose them, but they must all be different and different from the players' factions.

I also don't understand how we're going to choose colors; the maps only have 2-3 colors - it's just random, IMO.

If the opponents don't agree, the AI factions are chosen randomly, I think.

I hope there’s at least an English version? I already don’t remember half of the artwork, so what’s the point of having it. And if the names are wrong too...

Nope, I only have the Platinum version in Russian.

We didn’t have any specific rules, we did it like this: the first player writes down 2 colors on a piece of paper – the main one and the backup one. After that, the second player (in our case, the one with the advantage in choosing) simply says which position he will play. If this position matches the first player’s choice, then the first player will play on the backup position.

Guys, there are 6 players. The maps are fixed. Fortunately, there won’t be such a clash as in Tuesday-SoD. In the worst case, we’ll agree on it as we go.
P.S. The longest of the proposed maps is Teleports; I finished on turn 135, the yellow player broke through to the green player with an advantage in troops and GG. I’m sure we’ll play it quickly. Everyone will be available by 3:00 PM on April 30, and we’ll decide then.

Another unconsidered “bonus,” although not the most important one, but it’s better to discuss it – the AI races. IMO, let the first player choose them, but they must all be different and different from the players’ races.

If there are two AI players, each player can choose one AI. If the number is odd, the first player chooses one more race. IMO, it’s not crucial.

Here’s a great, proven version, and by the way, it was created by one of the tournament participants – GG:

Lexa, bring the version; I don’t think it will take long to set up.

I suggest setting random races for the computer opponents. Procedure for choosing colors for the Spellcasters map: The second player in the pair says: "I don't want to negotiate about colors; I want to choose." I will choose first. He starts choosing: he eliminates one color. The opponent (the first player in the pair) eliminates another color. Two colors remain. The player who started choosing selects a color for himself. Procedure for choosing on the Hotspot map: The second player in the pair says: "I don't want to negotiate; I want to choose." The first player in the pair replies: "Of course, but section 6.1 of the regulations specifies two game positions: green versus blue." Then, the second player in the pair says: "Oh, you're a stickler for the rules; Qwerty wrote all these restrictions," and chooses a color for himself. Procedure for choosing for a 3-way cross map: The second player in the pair says: "I don't want to negotiate; I want to choose." And let the opponent start choosing. Then, the opponent eliminates one race, leaving two. The second player in the pair chooses a race for himself from these two. Choosing on Beltway: The second player in the pair says: "I don't want to negotiate; I want to choose." The first player in the pair says: "Well, if that's how it is, according to section 6.1 of the regulations, I have the right to insist on choosing from two colors: red and yellow." The second player says: "No, everything is balanced there; let's choose from three, otherwise, I won't play." The first player: "Let's call the judge." The judge arrives. The second player: "Everything is balanced on the teleports, but the opponent doesn't want to choose from three races." The judge: "If you don't like it, you should have eliminated Beltway during the map choosing phase. Play with the two suggested races." A choosing phase with two races takes place. Slugfest: If both players choose this map, they know it well and will choose their game positions themselves. Otherwise, this map should be eliminated at the first opportunity. Teleports: Dust will explain the choosing procedure for Teleports, as I am not very familiar with this map. According to the game version: If Platinum is not offered, those offering it must post a list of troop strength designations. It should be printed and readily available to the players. 2 Nagan-4 I have an idea: instead of a round protocol, create 30 cards for the players, on which they will record the procedure for all choices, the game duration, and the game result. On the other side, they can even write a brief report. If the idea works, you provide 8 simple pencils and print and cut the cards; I will provide the Game Report form.