diff --git a/data/RTTR/campaigns/roman/MISS200.lua b/data/RTTR/campaigns/roman/MISS200.lua
index 7c5db32121..93b1c5c41d 100644
--- a/data/RTTR/campaigns/roman/MISS200.lua
+++ b/data/RTTR/campaigns/roman/MISS200.lua
@@ -221,6 +221,10 @@ rttr:RegisterTranslations(
     }
 })
 
+function getNumPlayers()
+    return 1
+end
+
 -- format mission texts
 -- BUG:     NewLine at the end is wrongly interpreted, adding 2x Space resolves this issue
 function MissionText(e)
@@ -252,13 +256,6 @@ function onSettingsReady()
     rttr:GetPlayer(0):SetNation(NAT_ROMANS)     -- nation
     rttr:GetPlayer(0):SetColor(0)               -- 0:blue, 1:red, 2:yellow, 
     rttr:GetPlayer(0):SetPortrait(0)
-
-    rttr:GetPlayer(1):Close()
-    rttr:GetPlayer(2):Close()
-    rttr:GetPlayer(3):Close()
-    rttr:GetPlayer(4):Close()
-    rttr:GetPlayer(5):Close()
-    rttr:GetPlayer(6):Close()
 end
 
 function getAllowedChanges()
diff --git a/data/RTTR/campaigns/roman/MISS206.lua b/data/RTTR/campaigns/roman/MISS206.lua
index 3e028ae0bb..06aa209119 100644
--- a/data/RTTR/campaigns/roman/MISS206.lua
+++ b/data/RTTR/campaigns/roman/MISS206.lua
@@ -208,8 +208,12 @@ function addPlayerBld(p, onLoad)
     rttr:GetPlayer(p):DisableBuilding(BLD_SHIPYARD, false)
     rttr:GetPlayer(p):DisableBuilding(BLD_HARBORBUILDING, false)
 
-    if(p == 2) then
-        if onLoad then return end
+    if onLoad then return end
+
+    if(p == 1) then
+        rttr:GetPlayer(p):PlaceHQ(112, 82)  -- !SET_HOUSE 24, 112, 82
+    elseif(p == 2) then
+        rttr:GetPlayer(p):PlaceHQ(40, 54)   -- !SET_HOUSE 24, 40, 54
         rttr:GetPlayer(p):AIConstructionOrder(43, 59, BLD_FORTRESS)
     end
 end
diff --git a/doc/lua/functions.md b/doc/lua/functions.md
index bbbb687917..c92d47a01c 100644
--- a/doc/lua/functions.md
+++ b/doc/lua/functions.md
@@ -347,6 +347,10 @@ Ignored if the current player is not controlled by AI.
 **GetHQPos()**  
 Return x,y of the players HQ
 
+**PlaceHQ(x, y)**  
+Places this player's headquarters at map location {x, y}.  
+Does nothing if the player already has a valid headquarters position (e.g. set by the map or using a previous PlaceHQ call).
+
 **Surrender(destroyBuildings)**  
 Let the player give up either keeping its buildings or destroying them.
 Can be called multiple times e.g. to destroy buildings later.
diff --git a/libs/s25main/GameLobby.cpp b/libs/s25main/GameLobby.cpp
index e1f3496b5b..11be3ae5dc 100644
--- a/libs/s25main/GameLobby.cpp
+++ b/libs/s25main/GameLobby.cpp
@@ -24,3 +24,8 @@ unsigned GameLobby::getNumPlayers() const
 {
     return players_.size();
 }
+
+void GameLobby::setNumPlayers(unsigned num)
+{
+    players_.resize(num);
+}
diff --git a/libs/s25main/GameLobby.h b/libs/s25main/GameLobby.h
index 171152d721..d97cf01e67 100644
--- a/libs/s25main/GameLobby.h
+++ b/libs/s25main/GameLobby.h
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ class GameLobby
     const JoinPlayerInfo& getPlayer(unsigned playerId) const;
     const std::vector<JoinPlayerInfo>& getPlayers() const { return players_; }
     unsigned getNumPlayers() const;
+    void setNumPlayers(unsigned num);
 
     GlobalGameSettings& getSettings() { return ggs_; }
     const GlobalGameSettings& getSettings() const { return ggs_; }
diff --git a/libs/s25main/desktops/dskGameLobby.cpp b/libs/s25main/desktops/dskGameLobby.cpp
index b47f6362c9..3a291955b4 100644
--- a/libs/s25main/desktops/dskGameLobby.cpp
+++ b/libs/s25main/desktops/dskGameLobby.cpp
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 #include "ingameWindows/iwMsgbox.h"
 #include "lua/LuaInterfaceSettings.h"
 #include "network/GameClient.h"
+#include "network/GameServer.h"
 #include "ogl/FontStyle.h"
 #include "gameData/GameConsts.h"
 #include "gameData/PortraitConsts.h"
@@ -162,6 +163,13 @@ dskGameLobby::dskGameLobby(ServerType serverType, std::shared_ptr<GameLobby> gam
             RTTR_Assert(gameLobby_->isHost());
             LOG.write(_("Lua was disabled by the script itself\n"));
             lua.reset();
+        } else
+        {
+            if(const auto num = lua->GetNumPlayersFromScript())
+            {
+                GAMESERVER.SetNumPlayers(num);
+                gameLobby_->setNumPlayers(num);
+            }
         }
         if(!lua && gameLobby_->isHost())
             lobbyController->RemoveLuaScript();
diff --git a/libs/s25main/lua/LuaInterfaceSettings.cpp b/libs/s25main/lua/LuaInterfaceSettings.cpp
index 8f29d5658f..5b24778a53 100644
--- a/libs/s25main/lua/LuaInterfaceSettings.cpp
+++ b/libs/s25main/lua/LuaInterfaceSettings.cpp
@@ -247,3 +247,13 @@ bool LuaInterfaceSettings::IsMapPreviewEnabled()
     }
     return true;
 }
+
+unsigned LuaInterfaceSettings::GetNumPlayersFromScript()
+{
+    kaguya::LuaRef func = lua["getNumPlayers"];
+    if(func.type() == LUA_TFUNCTION)
+    {
+        return func.call<unsigned>();
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
diff --git a/libs/s25main/lua/LuaInterfaceSettings.h b/libs/s25main/lua/LuaInterfaceSettings.h
index a577a3e1ed..931f50c91e 100644
--- a/libs/s25main/lua/LuaInterfaceSettings.h
+++ b/libs/s25main/lua/LuaInterfaceSettings.h
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ class LuaInterfaceSettings : public LuaInterfaceGameBase
     /// Get addons that are allowed to be changed
     std::vector<AddonId> GetAllowedAddons();
     bool IsMapPreviewEnabled();
+    unsigned GetNumPlayersFromScript();
 
 private:
     IGameLobbyController& lobbyServerController_;
diff --git a/libs/s25main/lua/LuaPlayer.cpp b/libs/s25main/lua/LuaPlayer.cpp
index 850678d7eb..7984ca2ee7 100644
--- a/libs/s25main/lua/LuaPlayer.cpp
+++ b/libs/s25main/lua/LuaPlayer.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include "ai/AIPlayer.h"
 #include "buildings/nobBaseWarehouse.h"
 #include "buildings/nobHQ.h"
+#include "factories/BuildingFactory.h"
 #include "helpers/EnumRange.h"
 #include "helpers/toString.h"
 #include "lua/LuaHelpers.h"
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ void LuaPlayer::Register(kaguya::State& state)
                                .addFunction("GetNumPeople", &LuaPlayer::GetNumPeople)
                                .addFunction("GetStatisticsValue", &LuaPlayer::GetStatisticsValue)
                                .addFunction("AIConstructionOrder", &LuaPlayer::AIConstructionOrder)
+                               .addFunction("PlaceHQ", &LuaPlayer::PlaceHQ)
                                .addFunction("ModifyHQ", &LuaPlayer::ModifyHQ)
                                .addFunction("GetHQPos", &LuaPlayer::GetHQPos)
                                .addFunction("IsDefeated", &LuaPlayer::IsDefeated)
@@ -259,6 +261,19 @@ bool LuaPlayer::AIConstructionOrder(unsigned x, unsigned y, lua::SafeEnum<Buildi
     return true;
 }
 
+void LuaPlayer::PlaceHQ(MapCoord x, MapCoord y)
+{
+    // Ignore if there is an HQ set in the map file.
+    if(player.GetHQPos().isValid())
+        return;
+
+    GameWorld& world = player.GetGameWorld();
+    const MapPoint mp{x, y};
+    constexpr auto checkExists = false;
+    world.DestroyNO(mp, checkExists);
+    BuildingFactory::CreateBuilding(world, BuildingType::Headquarters, mp, player.GetPlayerId(), player.nation);
+}
+
 void LuaPlayer::ModifyHQ(bool isTent)
 {
     player.SetHQIsTent(isTent);
diff --git a/libs/s25main/lua/LuaPlayer.h b/libs/s25main/lua/LuaPlayer.h
index 3335084a51..f15aa6bf78 100644
--- a/libs/s25main/lua/LuaPlayer.h
+++ b/libs/s25main/lua/LuaPlayer.h
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "gameTypes/BuildingType.h"
 #include "gameTypes/GoodTypes.h"
 #include "gameTypes/JobTypes.h"
+#include "gameTypes/MapCoordinates.h"
 #include "gameTypes/PactTypes.h"
 #include "gameTypes/StatisticTypes.h"
 #include <map>
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ class LuaPlayer : public LuaPlayerBase
     unsigned GetNumPeople(lua::SafeEnum<Job> job) const;
     unsigned GetStatisticsValue(lua::SafeEnum<StatisticType> stat) const;
     bool AIConstructionOrder(unsigned x, unsigned y, lua::SafeEnum<BuildingType> bld);
+    void PlaceHQ(MapCoord x, MapCoord y);
     void ModifyHQ(bool isTent);
     bool IsDefeated() const;
     void Surrender(bool destroyBlds);
diff --git a/libs/s25main/network/GameClient.cpp b/libs/s25main/network/GameClient.cpp
index b365405b44..45a82978d0 100644
--- a/libs/s25main/network/GameClient.cpp
+++ b/libs/s25main/network/GameClient.cpp
@@ -330,8 +330,10 @@ void GameClient::StartGame(const unsigned random_init)
             gameWorld.GetPlayer(i).MakeStartPacts();
 
         MapLoader loader(gameWorld);
-        if(!loader.Load(mapinfo.filepath)
-           || (!mapinfo.luaFilepath.empty() && !loader.LoadLuaScript(*game, *this, mapinfo.luaFilepath)))
+        if((!mapinfo.luaFilepath.empty() && !loader.LoadLuaScript(*game, *this, mapinfo.luaFilepath))
+           || !loader.Load(mapinfo.filepath)) // Do not reorder: load lua first, load map second.
+                                              // If the map is loaded first and it does not have a player HQ set, it
+                                              // will not load correctly, even though the HQ may be set using LUA.
         {
             OnError(ClientError::InvalidMap);
             return;
diff --git a/libs/s25main/network/GameServer.cpp b/libs/s25main/network/GameServer.cpp
index 11cce77d21..d60ab232a5 100644
--- a/libs/s25main/network/GameServer.cpp
+++ b/libs/s25main/network/GameServer.cpp
@@ -519,6 +519,14 @@ bool GameServer::assignPlayersOfRandomTeams(std::vector<JoinPlayerInfo>& playerI
     return playerWasAssigned;
 }
 
+void GameServer::SetNumPlayers(unsigned num)
+{
+    playerInfos.resize(num);
+}
+
+/**
+ *  startet das Spiel.
+ */
 bool GameServer::StartGame()
 {
     lanAnnouncer.Stop();
diff --git a/libs/s25main/network/GameServer.h b/libs/s25main/network/GameServer.h
index 59abae6137..5e27230de8 100644
--- a/libs/s25main/network/GameServer.h
+++ b/libs/s25main/network/GameServer.h
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ class GameServer :
     /// Assign players that do not have a fixed team, return true if any player was assigned.
     static bool assignPlayersOfRandomTeams(std::vector<JoinPlayerInfo>& playerInfos);
 
+    void SetNumPlayers(unsigned num);
+
 private:
     bool StartGame();
 
diff --git a/libs/s25main/world/MapLoader.cpp b/libs/s25main/world/MapLoader.cpp
index b3b60b0dcb..888d5102b3 100644
--- a/libs/s25main/world/MapLoader.cpp
+++ b/libs/s25main/world/MapLoader.cpp
@@ -409,8 +409,11 @@ bool MapLoader::PlaceHQs(GameWorldBase& world, std::vector<MapPoint> hqPositions
         // Does the HQ have a position?
         if(i >= hqPositions.size() || !hqPositions[i].isValid())
         {
-            LOG.write(_("Player %u does not have a valid start position!")) % i;
-            return false;
+            LOG.write(_("Player %u does not have a valid start position!\n")) % i;
+            if(world.HasLua()) // HQ can be placed in the script, so don't signal error
+                continue;
+            else
+                return false;
         }
 
         BuildingFactory::CreateBuilding(world, BuildingType::Headquarters, hqPositions[i], i,