Game Rules

The main goals of the rules and the administration are to maintain a comfortable environment in the lobby and a fair competitive mode, decisions on incidents are made with this goal in mind.

Please note that the rules are written in a way that is easy to read and understand. Rules may not have all the details, and sometimes situations arise that are not described in the rules. In such cases, the administration will make decisions based on common sense and similar cases of violations. If the rules seem unclear to you, we will consider clarifying it, but we want to avoid overloading the text with examples and sub-clauses.

The following measures may be applied against violations, in ascending order:

1. Warning

2. Text censorship

3. Read-Only mode (prohibits writing messages in general and personal chats, except for personal messages to administrators and the current game chat)

4. Gray mark (adds the "Rule breaker" or "Leaver" status to the profile description and makes rating games unavailable)

5. Zeroing the rating

6. Black mark (adds the "Cheater" status to the profile description and makes rating games unavailable)

7. Ban in the lobby

Removing points earned for the game in the event of rating manipulation, cheating, etc. is not considered a measure against violations, but rather a restoration of the rating balance.

As a rule, warnings are issued or text censorship is performed for the first violation. In case of repeated violations, stricter measures are taken.

In cases where, after a warning, a player points out that the wording in the rules is vague, this warning is counted as the first and is limited to a warning and/or censorship; the need to improve the wording of the rule is considered.

If, when warning, a player openly disregards (ignores/condemns) the rules or creates a conflict situation, measures usually applied in case of a repeated violation may be applied.

If, during the analysis of an incident, a player crosses the boundaries of the culture of communication (in relation to other participants in the incident or to a member of the administration), the read-only mode may be applied or temporary suspension from the lobby may be possible.

Crossing the boundaries of the culture of communication is considered to be a transition to personalities, rudeness, dismissive attitude, manifestation of aggression, multiple (and already satisfied) demands to justify the rule or a reference to it in the warning and multiple repetition of arguments in favor of one's rightness. If you understand that everything is heading in this direction, the best option would be to end the dialogue and write an email about the incident where you fully state your position, supporting it with screenshots.

The administration does not interfere with communication in private messages, except in cases where the user cannot avoid negative interaction by adding a person to the blacklist. Each case is considered individually.

Nevertheless, we ask you to refrain from personal attacks, aggression, excessive rudeness and inappropriate behavior, including towards members of the administration.

Not allowed (in general chats, game names and nicknames):

1. Using obscene language, including veiled swearing and expressions carrying a similar semantic load, as well as insults, provocations of users, discrimination on any grounds, threats or incitement to any form of conflict. Avoid statements that can be perceived as degrading.

2. Touching on acute social and repulsive topics, topics of religion, politics, dissemination of personal information, information about violence and aggression, illegal actions and propaganda, calls for anything.

3. Posting meaningless messages, including flooding and spam, as well as excessive use of capital letters (CAPS LOCK) and repetition of messages with the same meaning.

4. Announcement of sweepstakes, betting games.

5. Posting advertisements for services, as well as posting links to materials not related to the heroes or the HotA community. Posting links to materials containing malicious, offensive, provocative, indecent, shocking content, as well as materials with a political or propaganda focus is not allowed.

In case of violation, at the discretion of the administration, a warning, enabling read-only mode, or a ban from the lobby - temporarily or indefinitely may be applied.

Not allowed:

1. Leaving games without admitting defeat:

   • Except in cases of aggression, pressure or inappropriate behavior by the opponent.

   • ! If you left the game as a result of a connection loss or other unforeseen circumstances, you must offer to finish the game. The decision to award you a tech loss or continue the game is made by the opponent. !

2. Refusing to continue a saved game.

3. Going AFK:

   • without the opponent's consent: for more than 10 minutes.

   • with the opponent's consent: for more than 10 minutes, being late for 10 minutes or more from the appointed time.

Measures against violations:

• You are awarded a technical loss and your rating is deducted in favor of your opponent.

• First series of violations:

  • After three violations, you get a gray mark with the leaver status. The duration of the gray mark for 3+N violations in a row = 15 days + (N*15 days).

• Subsequent violations:

  • After three violations, you get a gray mark with the status leaver. The duration of the gray mark for 3+N violations in a row = 30 days + (N*15 days).

• Multiple violations: will lead to a zero rating and an everlasting gray mark.

In case of fair play for six months, your previous violations will not be counted.

By default, all games are considered games without saving, unless otherwise specified in the game title or chat (at the beginning of the game), or unless an agreement is reached during the game.

Thus, a player demanding a save in a game without saving when the opponent does not agree must write GG. In case of violation, an abandoned game is considered a violation from point 1.

In case of playing with save, we recommend discuss the frequency of saving before the start of the game. In the absence of a preliminary agreement, the default minimum duration of a game session is 3 hours. If the players do not come to an agreement and one of the participants insists on more frequent saves, this will be considered abuse on the part of the demanding player. In the event of such abuse, the measures from point 1 will be applied.

• Ghosting: using hidden information (about the opponent's resources/general game state, etc.) obtained from third parties

In case of unintentional receipt of information, but its subsequent use:

• • • • A warning is issued and points are deducted for the match (if the opponent requests it), a gray mark on a repeat

In case of intentional receipt of information and its subsequent use:

• • • • A warning and points are deducted for the match, a black mark on a repeat

A black mark/restriction of access to the lobby is issued for the following violations:

• • Using any software that provides access to information hidden in the game or affects the gameplay.

  • Any attempt to open a saved file of an unfinished game (including through password guessing or using a known password of the opponent)

  • Streamsniping: using information obtained through the opponent's stream

Not allowed:

1. Deliberately admitting defeat (GG) of one player in favor of another without the fact of a played game.

   • In case of violation: zeroing, gray mark.

   • In case of receiving more than the stipulated amount of rating for 1 game (game at x2, x3, etc.):

     1. (First violation) Warning and bringing the rating to x1 points.

     2. (Repeated violation) Gray mark for a week (Rule Breaker), zeroing the rating.

2. Boosting: playing on someone else's account in order to increase the rating.

   • In case of violation: considered individually.

3. Other rating manipulations and account transfers are considered individually.

Not allowed to violate the Online gaming rules of HotA:

• In case of violation: Gray mark Rule Breaker for 7 days.

• In case of repeated violations of the same rule: Gray mark Rule Breaker for 15 days.

The administration does not support betting games, is not responsible for any betting games and does not compensate for any financial losses!

Games with permitted pre-match agreements are not regulated by the administration in matters of violating these agreements. Pre-match agreements contrary to the rules are possible according to the following points:

1. Streamsniping/ghosting

2. HotA online game rules (except for the fair play rules)

Not taken into account according to the following points:

1. Getting more than the stipulated number of points for 1 game (playing for rating x2, x3, etc.)

2. Cheats, maphack

3. Rating game with conditions like "whoever stumbled upon the fairies first writes the GG"

*The list can be supplemented.

1. The section "preliminary agreements between players" applies to tournament games with some adjustments, see below.

2. From the rules of fair play, tournament organizers can independently resolve issues related to:

   • Endless battles

   • Desynchronization

   • Simultaneous moves

   • Technical restarts

3. By default, the organizers independently resolve violations of the rules of the online game HotA.

4. If in a tournament game for rating a participant is awarded a tech loss in accordance with the decision of the tournament organizer, we ask the organizers to contact the administration members in case of the player's refusal to transfer the rating.

5. For leaving games without admitting defeat in tournament games, gray marks and zeroing out of the rating are not awarded, but for cheats, map hacks, etc - black marks and/or a ban in the lobby are issued, regardless of the conditions of the tournament.