Posts from DISCUSSIONS on “Rules for online games in HoMM3 and formulas for calculating player rating.” Auto-translated

I don't understand what prevents you from sending the save file to the judge, and let them decide whether it's a block or not. If the judge decides it's not a block, then try whatever you want...

Could you please tell me what protection is currently in place against disconnections due to rage quitting? Specifically, if one player disconnects and pulls out the network cable, how is the opponent protected? The game doesn't allow saving immediately after a disconnection. Maybe I'm just not understanding something or I don't remember correctly? It's been a while since I last played.

I want to raise the topic of delays in the game when a turn is not accepted.

Circumstances: in the last two games, opponents stalled on accepting the turn every round for various reasons: one was drinking, and the other was playing a parallel game. In both cases, out of 6 hours of "gameplay" — at least 2 hours were spent waiting for the opponent to accept the turn.
I understand that the opponents have "circumstances," but I don't understand why another player should suffer because of it. I think everyone has been in a waiting mode — not necessarily in the game — waiting for someone to show up late for a meeting or, for example, a train. Indeed, during that time you can occupy yourself with something, but you still realize that you are simply killing time, and almost everyone wants to reduce that waiting time. Why do some players allow themselves to drag out games? And not just once for 15 minutes, but almost every damn turn out of 14, simply not accepting the turn for 15-20 minutes? Because the rules allow it and it is not forbidden in any way.

Personally, I consider this to be, at the very least, disrespectful to the opponent (and if bluntly, it's just a dick move). Can't play properly? Reschedule the game. Think you're a hotshot playing two games at once? — Why should I suffer because of it? Personally, this mode gave me a headache and gave me nightmares. And instead, I could have just rested and relaxed (on a day off, no less).

Suggestion: In the HD mod, alongside the chess timer checkboxes, there is another checkbox: "Start timer after accepting the turn."
Description: "Start the game timer countdown only after closing the window that informs the player that the turn has been passed to them."
By default, this option is enabled. If disabled, the timer for the other player starts immediately after one player finishes their turn, regardless of whether they have accepted the turn or not.

I propose for tournament games, at the request of one of the players, to disable this option.
Perhaps in this case, the timer per turn should be increased by 10-15 seconds. That is, if it was 24:00+08:30+01:30 for Jebus Cross, then change it to 24:00+08:45+01:30
https://sites.google.com/site/heroes3hd/rus/description/hd_plus

I agree.

From me (and not just me): it would be great to introduce a timer for actions in battles against an opponent. People who spend 10+ minutes setting up their tactics and then spend another 10+ minutes deciding whether to cast a mass spell or a mass shield are incredibly annoying. Moreover, this completely kills the excitement of the final battles, and therefore the entire game.

And how about reading 300 messages from the chat? Seeing hints and realizing you calculated something wrong. Banning about 30 people out of spite because you can't count, and then spending another 10 minutes reading the chat? Do you really want to remove this excitement from the game? P.S. I forgot to add the tedious calculation on a damage calculator every turn. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against this option. As someone who has tried the seventh version, I'm more in favor of a checkbox for time per turn in battle. But those who agree to it are already playing without spending 10 minutes deciding whether to cast mass skin or skip a turn.

But those who agree to it are already playing without spending 10 minutes deciding whether to cast mass skin or skip their turn.

In my opinion, if you create a decent chess timer for each turn in battle (e.g., 5+2) and include it in the tournament regulations, it would be perfectly fine – if an opponent refuses, you point to the regulations, and that's it.
The main thing is not to start this timer when the opponent has stepped away, and you unexpectedly attack them in the middle of their turn. It makes sense to create an acceptance window (something like accepting a turn during a normal turn transfer).

Regarding delays in the game, each case needs to be considered individually, as they don't happen often, and simply disabling a checkbox won't solve the problem, because you can save and exit the game.

From my perspective (and not just mine): it would be great to introduce a timer for actions in battles against an opponent. People who spend 10+ minutes setting up their tactics and then spend another 10+ minutes deciding whether to cast a mass spell or a mass shield are incredibly annoying. Moreover, this completely kills the excitement of the final battles, and consequently, the entire game.

I agree with Kostya; even simple final battles can last for an hour or two because there are no regulations, and streaming and tips from other players don't help speed up the game. As for consistently taking too long to make a move (with a delay of 10-15 minutes per turn), it is definitely necessary to report such cases to the AC (Arbitration Committee)!

Regarding the systematic failure to take turns on time (with a delay of 10-15 minutes per turn), it is essential to report such instances to the Tournament Committee if they occur!

Most often, such complaints were directed at the player KobRa_RR :smile32:

I also suggest punishing players who consistently fail to confirm game reports – issuing yellow cards and banning them from tournaments for 6-12 months.

Ban digging for the Grail. Very fair when it's under the opponent's castle, or then just make it 2 Grails, the second on my respawn.

Most often, such complaints were directed at the player KobRa_RR :smile32:

I've now changed my routine and don't play at night anymore! :D

Regarding delays in the game, it's best to discuss this individually with your opponent, as it doesn't happen often, and simply disabling the option won't solve the problem, because you can save and exit.

Saving is a great option. If the game progress is the same, I'd rather choose the option of spending 4 hours on the game later, when the opponent isn't lagging, than 6 hours now. If the opponent isn't ready to play with an automatic timer start, it's perfectly normal to reschedule, even to reach the Sudden Death stage, but the opponent will at least have to play Sudden Death without delays.
In the current situation, there's no guarantee that the opponent will stop messing around.
Separately regarding Sudden Death - recently, I've seen the addition of "Mandatory game time of N hours" - technically, you can press "accept turn" with a one-hour delay right from the start, and everything will be according to the "letter" of the rules. But this is because

And regarding the systematic failure to take a turn on time (with a delay of 10-15 minutes each turn), you must report this to the administration if such cases occur!

this problem isn't regulated anywhere. The rules don't make it clear whether it's bad or normal. In one case, I received the following response from my opponent:
"dude - I suggest we play without complaints
just for fun."
In other words, the person simply doesn't understand that they are causing inconvenience to the other player, and in this mode, the opponent won't have any fun. It might be a result of alcohol, but I carefully studied all the rules - nowhere is anything like this described as something forbidden, and everything that isn't forbidden is allowed.
Furthermore, how do you suggest proving the fact of such behavior? Stream all games? This isn't always an option, and not for everyone. Based on save times? - this only provides an upper estimate and doesn't guarantee the accuracy of the waiting time assessment.

And, in general, don't you think that "it's easier to prevent a fire than to put it out"? In other words, prohibit or limit such things at the software level. After all, a limit on the number of daily dungeons has been introduced at the software level, and there's no need to gather the administration for each case. Again, a chess timer has been introduced to somehow limit the game time. By the way, have you ever heard of one of the chess players saying during a tournament game, "Listen, I need to go to the toilet, can you stop the clock after your move?" But this is exactly what is implemented in Heroes. But in the HD mod, a solution to this problem has already been implemented.

Therefore:
- the problem hasn't been raised for a long time (at least in the last couple of years), and the current settings were initially introduced temporarily to draw some conclusions based on game experience. Perhaps the current setting within the above option is outdated?
- A solution has been proposed that is ALREADY implemented in the software. No additional effort or changes are needed, as in the case of introducing a timer for a battle with an opponent. Everything is already in the HD mod, and in case of changing the rules, all players can apply them instantly.
- It doesn't require the intervention of judges, except for a one-time approval of the rules.

In essence, I'm raising three questions:
1) At the level of judges, is it normal behavior when a person, for various reasons, doesn't take a turn and thus delays the game, or not?
2) If this is not normal behavior, then I believe that it needs to be addressed. Is the solution I proposed suitable? Each solution has its pros and cons. I described the pros a couple of paragraphs above. I'm not able to see the cons due to a biased attitude towards the problem. Perhaps I don't understand something, and the cons found outweigh all the pros.
3) If this is not normal behavior, it needs to be addressed, and the solution I proposed is acceptable. What needs to be done to implement this solution in the rules?

Essentially, I raise three questions:
1) Is it normal behavior at the judge level when a person does not make a move for various reasons and thereby delays the game, or is it not?

Without an agreement with the opponent, such delays will be equated to unsportsmanlike conduct, with all the consequences: first, a warning, and then up to a yellow card and disqualification. If you don't make a move every day for 10 minutes, that adds up to more than an hour in a week. We need to respect other people's time. Those who have such problems should write, and we will take measures.

We will not introduce a timer start without making a move (as was done before in SOD), because this causes more harm than good.

Added after 3 minutes

Tell me - what protection against disconnection due to losing is there now? That is, if one player loses and pulls out the network cable. How is the opponent protected from this? The game doesn't allow saving immediately after disconnecting. Maybe I just didn't understand / don't remember something? It's been a while since I played.

One person already disconnected. Now there is an opportunity to fight against such personalities.

Without prior agreement with the opponent, such delays will be considered unsportsmanlike conduct, with all the consequences: first a warning, and then up to a yellow card and disqualification. If you don't take your turn for 10 minutes every day, it adds up to more than an hour in a week. We need to respect other people's time. If anyone has such problems, please let us know, and we will take action.

Okay, in that case, what can serve as proof that a turn was not taken? You wouldn't rely on mere statements, would you? Or can you extract additional information from the save files?