diff --git a/src/common/gamecode/laws.c b/src/common/gamecode/laws.c
index b73dc2fba..f91686774 100644
--- a/src/common/gamecode/laws.c
+++ b/src/common/gamecode/laws.c
@@ -1556,7 +1556,7 @@ display_cmd(unit * u, struct order * ord)
       cmistake(u, ord, 148, MSG_EVENT);
       break;
     }
-    if (b != largestbuilding(r, &cmp_current_owner, false)) {
+    if (b != largestbuilding(r, rule_region_owners()?&cmp_current_owner:&cmp_wage, false)) {
       cmistake(u, ord, 147, MSG_EVENT);
       break;
     }
@@ -1800,7 +1800,8 @@ name_cmd(unit * u, struct order * ord)
       cmistake(u, ord, 148, MSG_EVENT);
       break;
     }
-    if (b != largestbuilding(r, &cmp_current_owner, false)) {
+    
+    if (b != largestbuilding(r, rule_region_owners()?&cmp_current_owner:&cmp_wage, false)) {
       cmistake(u, ord, 147, MSG_EVENT);
       break;
     }
diff --git a/src/common/kernel/eressea.c b/src/common/kernel/eressea.c
index 308868523..3843dda0d 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/eressea.c
+++ b/src/common/kernel/eressea.c
@@ -2677,6 +2677,8 @@ int
 cmp_current_owner(const building * b, const building * a)
 {
   faction * f = region_get_owner(b->region);
+
+  assert(rule_region_owners());
   if (f && b->type->taxes) {
     unit * u = buildingowner(b->region, b);
     if (!u || u->faction!=f) return -1;
@@ -2696,10 +2698,21 @@ cmp_current_owner(const building * b, const building * a)
   return -1;
 }
 
+int rule_region_owners(void)
+{
+  static int rule_owners = -1;
+  if (rule_owners<0) {
+    rule_owners = get_param_int(global.parameters, "rules.region_owners", 0);
+  }
+  return rule_owners;
+}
+
 int rule_auto_taxation(void)
 {
   static int rule_taxation = -1;
-  rule_taxation = get_param_int(global.parameters, "rules.economy.taxation", TAX_ORDER);
+  if (rule_taxation<0) {
+    rule_taxation = get_param_int(global.parameters, "rules.economy.taxation", TAX_ORDER);
+  }
   return rule_taxation;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/common/kernel/eressea.h b/src/common/kernel/eressea.h
index 381ad5c75..ae0a8421a 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/eressea.h
+++ b/src/common/kernel/eressea.h
@@ -252,6 +252,7 @@ int cmp_current_owner(const struct building * b, const struct building * bother)
 #define TAX_ORDER 0x00
 #define TAX_OWNER 0x01
 int rule_auto_taxation(void);
+int rule_region_owners(void);
 
 extern int count_all(const struct faction * f);
 extern int count_migrants (const struct faction * f);
diff --git a/src/common/kernel/move.c b/src/common/kernel/move.c
index 4dbdaf297..aa96a4250 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/move.c
+++ b/src/common/kernel/move.c
@@ -901,7 +901,7 @@ is_guardian_r(const unit * guard)
 {
   if (guard->number == 0) return false;
   if (besieged(guard)) return false;
-  if (guard->building && fval(guard, UFL_OWNER)) {
+  if (guard->building && rule_region_owners() && fval(guard, UFL_OWNER)) {
     faction * owner = region_get_owner(guard->region);
     if (owner==guard->faction) {
       building * bowner = largestbuilding(guard->region, &cmp_taxes, false);
diff --git a/src/common/kernel/region.c b/src/common/kernel/region.c
index 20c5f57df..0930ff788 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/region.c
+++ b/src/common/kernel/region.c
@@ -1447,6 +1447,7 @@ r_addmessage(struct region * r, const struct faction * viewer, struct message *
 struct faction *
 region_get_owner(const struct region * r)
 {
+  assert(rule_region_owners());
   if (r->land && r->land->ownership) {
     return r->land->ownership->owner;
   }
@@ -1456,6 +1457,7 @@ region_get_owner(const struct region * r)
 void
 region_set_owner(struct region * r, struct faction * owner, int turn)
 {
+  assert(rule_region_owners());
   if (r->land) {
     if (!r->land->ownership) {
       r->land->ownership = malloc(sizeof(region_owner));
@@ -1478,6 +1480,7 @@ region_set_owner(struct region * r, struct faction * owner, int turn)
 faction * update_owners(region * r)
 {
   faction * f = NULL;
+  assert(rule_region_owners());
   if (r->land) {
     building * bowner = largestbuilding(r, &cmp_current_owner, false);
     building * blargest = largestbuilding(r, &cmp_taxes, false);
diff --git a/src/res/e3a.xml b/src/res/e3a.xml
index 5de89aaaa..1b577cb30 100644
--- a/src/res/e3a.xml
+++ b/src/res/e3a.xml
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@
     <param name="rules.items.loot_divisor" value="2"/> <!-- damage skims off 1/2 of goods transfers -->
     <param name="rules.items.give_divisor" value="2"/> <!-- corruption skims off 1/2 of goods transfers -->
     <param name="rules.move.owner_leave" value="1"/> <!-- owner must leave before moving -->
+    <param name="rules.region_owners" value="1">
     <param name="rules.cavalry.skill" value="2"/>
     <param name="rules.cavalry.mode" value="1"/>
     <param name="rules.magic.multipotion" value="1"/>