  We investigate the variational structure of discrete Laplace-type equations
that are motivated by discrete integrable quad-equations. In particular, we
explain why the reality conditions we consider should be all that are
reasonable, and we derive sufficient conditions (that are often necessary) on
the labeling of the edges under which the corresponding generalized discrete
action functional is convex. Convexity is an essential tool to discuss
existence and uniqueness of solutions to Dirichlet boundary value problems.
Furthermore, we study which combinatorial data allow convex action functionals
of discrete Laplace-type equations that are actually induced by discrete
integrable quad-equations, and we present how the equations and functionals
corresponding to (Q3) are related to circle patterns.
