diff --git a/client/CHeroWindow.cpp b/client/CHeroWindow.cpp
index da89e38ee..2d110a8da 100644
--- a/client/CHeroWindow.cpp
+++ b/client/CHeroWindow.cpp
@@ -386,23 +386,7 @@ void CHeroWindow::setHero(const CGHeroInstance *Hero)
 void CHeroWindow::quit()
 {
 	LOCPLINT->popInt(this);
-
-	SDL_FreeSurface(curBack);
-	curBack = NULL;
-	curHero = NULL;
-
-	for(size_t g=0; g<artWorn.size(); ++g)
-	{
-		delete artWorn[g];
-		artWorn[g] = NULL;
-	}
-	for(size_t g=0; g<backpack.size(); ++g)
-	{
-		delete backpack[g];
-		backpack[g] = NULL;
-	}
-	backpack.clear();
-	activeArtPlace = NULL;
+	dispose();
 }
 
 void CHeroWindow::activate()
@@ -687,6 +671,26 @@ void CHeroWindow::redrawCurBack()
 	CSDL_Ext::printAt(manastr.str(), 212, 247, GEOR16, zwykly, curBack);
 }
 
+void CHeroWindow::dispose()
+{
+	SDL_FreeSurface(curBack);
+	curBack = NULL;
+	curHero = NULL;
+
+	for(size_t g=0; g<artWorn.size(); ++g)
+	{
+		delete artWorn[g];
+		artWorn[g] = NULL;
+	}
+	for(size_t g=0; g<backpack.size(); ++g)
+	{
+		delete backpack[g];
+		backpack[g] = NULL;
+	}
+	backpack.clear();
+	activeArtPlace = NULL;
+}
+
 CArtPlace::CArtPlace(const CArtifact* Art): active(false), clicked(false), ourArt(Art)/*,
 	spellBook(false), warMachine1(false), warMachine2(false), warMachine3(false),
 	warMachine4(false),misc1(false), misc2(false), misc3(false), misc4(false),
diff --git a/client/CHeroWindow.h b/client/CHeroWindow.h
index fada3ac8b..927297a15 100644
--- a/client/CHeroWindow.h
+++ b/client/CHeroWindow.h
@@ -130,7 +130,8 @@ public:
 	void deactivate(); //activates hero window;
 	virtual void show(SDL_Surface * to); //shows hero window
 	void redrawCurBack(); //redraws curBAck from scratch
-	void quit(); //stops displaying hero window
+	void dispose(); //free resources not needed after closing windows and reset state
+	void quit(); //stops displaying hero window and disposes
 	void dismissCurrent(); //dissmissed currently displayed hero (curHero)
 	void questlog(); //show quest log in hero window
 	void scrollBackpack(int dir); //dir==-1 => to left; dir==-2 => to right
diff --git a/client/CPreGame.cpp b/client/CPreGame.cpp
index 6363480b3..5b161b316 100644
--- a/client/CPreGame.cpp
+++ b/client/CPreGame.cpp
@@ -775,7 +775,9 @@ void Options::init()
 }
 void Options::show()
 {
-	if (showed)return;
+	if (showed)
+		return;
+
 	PreGameTab::show();
 	MapSel & ms = CPG->ourScenSel->mapsel;
 	blitAt(bg,3,6);
@@ -791,71 +793,80 @@ void Options::show()
 	CPG->interested.clear();
 	CSDL_Ext::printAtMiddle("Advanced Options",225,35,GEORXX);
 	CSDL_Ext::printAtMiddle(CGI->generaltexth->allTexts[521],224,544,GEOR13); // Player Turn Duration
-	int playersSoFar=0;
+
+	int playersSoFar = 0;
+
 	for (size_t i=0; i < PLAYER_LIMIT; ++i)
 	{
-		if (!(ms.selMaps[ms.selected]->players[i].canComputerPlay || ms.selMaps[ms.selected]->players[i].canComputerPlay))
+		PlayerInfo &curInfo = ms.selMaps[ms.selected]->players[i]; //map information for current player
+
+		if(!(curInfo.canComputerPlay || curInfo.canComputerPlay)) //no one can play - player not present on the map (empty entry)
 			continue;
-		for (size_t hi=0; hi<ms.selMaps[ms.selected]->players[i].heroesNames.size(); hi++) {
-			usedHeroes.insert(ms.selMaps[ms.selected]->players[i].heroesNames[hi].heroID);
-                }
+
+		for(size_t hi=0; hi<curInfo.heroesNames.size(); hi++)
+			usedHeroes.insert(curInfo.heroesNames[hi].heroID);
+
 		blitAt(bgs[i],57,128+playersSoFar*50);
-		poptions.push_back(new PlayerOptions(playersSoFar,i));
-		poptions[poptions.size()-1]->nr=playersSoFar;
-		poptions[poptions.size()-1]->color=(Ecolor)i;
 
-		if(CPG->ret.playerInfos[playersSoFar].hero == -1)
+		PlayerOptions *options = new PlayerOptions(playersSoFar,i); //new options entry for current player
+		options->nr = playersSoFar;
+		options->color = (Ecolor)i;
+		poptions.push_back(options);
+
+		assert(CPG->ret.playerInfos.size() > playersSoFar);
+		PlayerSettings &curSettings = CPG->ret.playerInfos[playersSoFar]; //settings entry for current players
+
+		if(curSettings.hero == -1)
 		{
-			poptions[poptions.size()-1]->Hleft.show();
-			poptions[poptions.size()-1]->Hright.show();
-			CPG->btns.push_back(&poptions[poptions.size()-1]->Hleft);
-			CPG->btns.push_back(&poptions[poptions.size()-1]->Hright);
+			options->Hleft.show();
+			options->Hright.show();
+			CPG->btns.push_back(&options->Hleft);
+			CPG->btns.push_back(&options->Hright);
 		}
 
-		if(getNextCastle(CPG->ret.playerInfos[playersSoFar].castle,&ms.selMaps[ms.selected]->players[i]) != CPG->ret.playerInfos[playersSoFar].castle)
+		if(getNextCastle(curSettings.castle,&curInfo) != curSettings.castle)
 		{
-			poptions[poptions.size()-1]->Cleft.show();
-			poptions[poptions.size()-1]->Cright.show();
-			CPG->btns.push_back(&poptions[poptions.size()-1]->Cleft);
-			CPG->btns.push_back(&poptions[poptions.size()-1]->Cright);
+			options->Cleft.show();
+			options->Cright.show();
+			CPG->btns.push_back(&options->Cleft);
+			CPG->btns.push_back(&options->Cright);
 		}
 
-		poptions[poptions.size()-1]->Bleft.show();
-		poptions[poptions.size()-1]->Bright.show();
-		CPG->btns.push_back(&poptions[poptions.size()-1]->Bleft);
-		CPG->btns.push_back(&poptions[poptions.size()-1]->Bright);
+		options->Bleft.show();
+		options->Bright.show();
+		CPG->btns.push_back(&options->Bleft);
+		CPG->btns.push_back(&options->Bright);
 
-
-		CSDL_Ext::printAtMiddle(CPG->ret.playerInfos[playersSoFar].name,111,137+playersSoFar*50,GEOR13,zwykly);
-		if (ms.selMaps[ms.selected]->players[i].canHumanPlay)
+		CSDL_Ext::printAtMiddle(curSettings.name,111,137+playersSoFar*50,GEOR13,zwykly);
+		if (curInfo.canHumanPlay)
 		{
-			poptions[poptions.size()-1]->flag.show();
-			CPG->btns.push_back(&poptions[poptions.size()-1]->flag);
-			if (ms.selMaps[ms.selected]->players[i].canComputerPlay) {
+			options->flag.show();
+			CPG->btns.push_back(&options->flag);
+			if(curInfo.canComputerPlay) 
 				CSDL_Ext::printAtMiddleWB("Human or CPU",86,163+playersSoFar*50,GEORM,7,zwykly);
-                        }
-			else {
+			else 
 				CSDL_Ext::printAtMiddleWB("Human",86,163+playersSoFar*50,GEORM,6,zwykly);
-                        }
-
 		}
-		else {
+		else 
+		{
 			CSDL_Ext::printAtMiddleWB("CPU",86,163+playersSoFar*50,GEORM,6,zwykly);
-                }
+		}
 		playersSoFar++;
 	}
+
 	CSDL_Ext::printAtMiddleWB(CGI->generaltexth->allTexts[516],221,63,GEOR13,55,zwykly);
 	CSDL_Ext::printAtMiddleWB(CGI->generaltexth->getTitle(CGI->generaltexth->zelp[256].second),109,109,GEOR13,14);
 	CSDL_Ext::printAtMiddleWB(CGI->generaltexth->getTitle(CGI->generaltexth->zelp[259].second),201,109,GEOR13,10);
 	CSDL_Ext::printAtMiddleWB(CGI->generaltexth->getTitle(CGI->generaltexth->zelp[260].second),275,109,GEOR13,10);
 	CSDL_Ext::printAtMiddleWB(CGI->generaltexth->getTitle(CGI->generaltexth->zelp[261].second),354,109,GEOR13,10);
 	turnLength->activate();
-	for (size_t i=0; i < poptions.size(); ++i) {
+
+	for (size_t i=0; i < poptions.size(); ++i) 
 		showIcon(-2,i,false);
-        }
+
 	for(int i=0;i<12;i++)
 		turnLength->moveDown();
-	//SDL_Flip(screen);
+
 	CSDL_Ext::update(screen);
 }
 void Options::hide()
diff --git a/client/GUIClasses.cpp b/client/GUIClasses.cpp
index dba936d0a..16e838efd 100644
--- a/client/GUIClasses.cpp
+++ b/client/GUIClasses.cpp
@@ -2874,8 +2874,9 @@ void CTavernWindow::show(SDL_Surface * to)
 	{
 		HeroPortrait *sel = selected ? &h2 : &h1;
 
-		if (selected != oldSelected) {
-			// Selected hero just changed. Update RECRUIT button hover text.
+		if (selected != oldSelected  &&  !recruit->blocked) 
+		{
+			// Selected hero just changed. Update RECRUIT button hover text if recruitment is allowed.
 			oldSelected = selected;
 
 			recruit->hoverTexts[0] = CGI->generaltexth->tavernInfo[3]; //Recruit %s the %s
@@ -3225,6 +3226,11 @@ CRClickPopupInt::CRClickPopupInt( IShowActivable *our, bool deleteInt )
 
 CRClickPopupInt::~CRClickPopupInt()
 {
+	//workaround for hero window issue - if it's our interface, call dispose to properly reset it's state 
+	//TODO? it might be better to rewrite hero window so it will bee newed/deleted on opening / closing (not effort-worthy now, but on some day...?)
+	if(inner == LOCPLINT->adventureInt->heroWindow)
+		LOCPLINT->adventureInt->heroWindow->dispose();
+
 	if(delInner)
 		delete inner;
 }
diff --git a/hch/CSndHandler.cpp b/hch/CSndHandler.cpp
index 7ac91b004..60910e7e6 100644
--- a/hch/CSndHandler.cpp
+++ b/hch/CSndHandler.cpp
@@ -27,8 +27,11 @@ CSndHandler::~CSndHandler()
 // them. */
 CSndHandler::CSndHandler(std::string fname)
 {
-	mfile = new boost::iostreams::mapped_file_source(fname);
-	if (!mfile->is_open())
+	try //c-tor of mapped_file_source throws exception on failure
+	{
+		mfile = new boost::iostreams::mapped_file_source(fname);
+	} HANDLE_EXCEPTION
+	if (!mfile->is_open()) //just in case
 	{
 		tlog1 << "Cannot open " << fname << std::endl;
 		throw std::string("Cannot open ")+fname;