Hello! From what I know current theoretical timing starts when you press "begin" on the campaign screer and ends when you close the final congratulations dialog.

I opt for changing the start to the first input AFTER starting the level (most likely skipping the first dialog box). Here are the reasons why:

-In practice most of the runs start their timer at the dialog box anyway (At least in RoE campaigns) -In runs which require a lot of reseting early to get good enough luck (Especially D&D [followers] , LLtQ [good hero in tavern] and LLtK [getting Galthran] runs) going to main menu just to start the campaign again instead of hitting restart is so pointless, boring and time-wasting. SoW and SftF runs also require quick rerolls, but less frequently (Bad followers luck). Seeds of Discontent rerolls most of the time at around 1 minute.

• It would not require further re-timing.

What's your opinion on the matter?

Some asked a similar question a while back in the HoMM I forum. https://www.speedrun.com/hommi/thread/og1fy

Timing isn't strict here as other games; runs haven't been close enough where a standard starting position is required, let alone re-timing. I recall some runs have (re)started at where you suggest; current 1st place for Dungeons and Devils does this. There haven't been complaints about bad starts otherwise; it's mainly an honor system at this point.

As for my opinion, an individual scenario can start after its first text box, or at the selection screen if there is none. For campaigns, however, runs should start at least at selecting the campaign's portrait. Inputs are required to select the starting bonus and to skip the story cutscene, so the timer should start before that.

Don't think of resetting as a waste of time; other games go through precise strategies for the most optimal RNG, ex. Pokémon. If the best run starts before the main menu or from a restart on the first scenario, then so be it.