diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index aaf07e2a1..7cfd54e3e 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ CHECK_SYMBOL_EXISTS (sleep "unistd.h" HAVE_SLEEP)
 CHECK_SYMBOL_EXISTS (usleep "unistd.h" HAVE_USLEEP)
 CHECK_SYMBOL_EXISTS (access "unistd.h" HAVE_ACCESS)
 ENDIF(HAVE_UNISTD_H)
+CHECK_SYMBOL_EXISTS (strlcpy "string.h" HAVE_STRLCPY)
+CHECK_SYMBOL_EXISTS (strlcat "string.h" HAVE_STRLCAT)
+CHECK_SYMBOL_EXISTS (slprintf "string.h" HAVE_SLPRINTF)
 CHECK_SYMBOL_EXISTS (strcasecmp "string.h" HAVE_STRCASECMP)
 CHECK_SYMBOL_EXISTS (strncasecmp "string.h" HAVE_STRNCASECMP)
 CHECK_SYMBOL_EXISTS (_strlwr "string.h" HAVE__STRLWR)
diff --git a/autoconf.h.in b/autoconf.h.in
index 5144d9ecc..1c151b6f9 100644
--- a/autoconf.h.in
+++ b/autoconf.h.in
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@
 #cmakedefine HAVE_MEMICMP 1
 #cmakedefine HAVE__STRLWR 1
 #cmakedefine HAVE_STRLWR 1
+#cmakedefine HAVE_STRLCPY 1
+#cmakedefine HAVE_STRLCAT 1
+#cmakedefine HAVE_SLPRINTF 1
 #cmakedefine HAVE_SYS_STAT_MKDIR 1
 #cmakedefine HAVE_DIRECT_MKDIR 1
 #cmakedefine HAVE_DIRECT__MKDIR 1
diff --git a/conf/e2/config.xml b/conf/e2/config.xml
index 170621b48..980671bcf 100644
--- a/conf/e2/config.xml
+++ b/conf/e2/config.xml
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@
     <param name="hunger.long" value="1"/>
     <param name="init_spells" value="0"/>
     <param name="rules.reserve.twophase" value="1"/>
+    <param name="rules.give.max_men" value="10000"/>
     <param name="rules.check_overload" value="0"/>
     <param name="rules.limit.faction" value="2500"/>
     <param name="rules.maxskills.magic" value="5"/>
diff --git a/res/core/common/items.xml b/res/core/common/items.xml
index 9508653e7..c8910e695 100644
--- a/res/core/common/items.xml
+++ b/res/core/common/items.xml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 <resources>
 
   <resource name="money">
-    <item weight="0"/>
+    <item weight="1"/>
   </resource>
 
   <resource name="ao_healing" appearance="amulet">
diff --git a/s/build b/s/build
index 40ab81283..068a669a1 100755
--- a/s/build
+++ b/s/build
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/sh
-ROOT=$(pwd)
+ROOT=`pwd`
 while [ ! -d $ROOT/.git ]; do
-  ROOT=$(dirname $ROOT)
+  ROOT=`dirname $ROOT`
 done
 
 [ -z $BUILD ] && BUILD=Debug
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ MACHINE=`uname -m`
 [ -z "$CC" ] && [ ! -z `which cc` ] && CC="cc"
 BIN_DIR="build-$MACHINE-$CC-$BUILD"
 
-[ -z "$JOBS" ] && JOBS=$(nproc)
+[ -z "$JOBS" ] && [ "" != "which nproc" ] && JOBS=`nproc`
 DISTCC=`which distcc`
 if [ ! -z "$DISTCC" ] ; then
 JOBS=`distcc -j`
diff --git a/scripts/config.lua b/scripts/config.lua
index 1251c1e1c..8b61bcad2 100644
--- a/scripts/config.lua
+++ b/scripts/config.lua
@@ -4,5 +4,5 @@ if config.install then
 end
 package.path = package.path .. ';' .. path .. '/?.lua;' .. path .. '/?/init.lua'
 require 'eressea'
-require 'eressea.xmlconf'
-return require('eressea.rules')
+require 'eressea.xmlconf' -- read xml data
+
diff --git a/scripts/eressea/wedding.lua b/scripts/eressea/wedding.lua
index f5575428b..da0c60eb1 100644
--- a/scripts/eressea/wedding.lua
+++ b/scripts/eressea/wedding.lua
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ function wedding.update()
     if peacegate and hellgate then
         wedding_exchange(peacegate, hellgate)
     else
-        eressea.log.error("hellgate or peacegate not found!", hellgate, peacegate)
+        eressea.log.error("hellgate or peacegate not found!")
     end
 end
 
diff --git a/scripts/run-tests-e2.lua b/scripts/run-tests-e2.lua
index aff15eb06..9f08b0f54 100644
--- a/scripts/run-tests-e2.lua
+++ b/scripts/run-tests-e2.lua
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ path = 'scripts'
 if config.install then
     path = config.install .. '/' .. path
     package.path = package.path .. ';' .. config.install .. '/lunit/?.lua'
-    --needed to find lunit if not run form eressea root. Needs right [lua] install setting in eressea.ini (point to eressea root from the start folder)
+    --needed to find lunit if not run from eressea root. Needs right [lua] install setting in eressea.ini (point to eressea root from the start folder)
 end
 package.path = package.path .. ';' .. path .. '/?.lua;' .. path .. '/?/init.lua'
 
diff --git a/scripts/tests/e3/rules.lua b/scripts/tests/e3/rules.lua
index ca6206419..62bbd8758 100644
--- a/scripts/tests/e3/rules.lua
+++ b/scripts/tests/e3/rules.lua
@@ -712,7 +712,7 @@ function test_golem_use_four_iron()
     assert_equal(4, u1:get_item("towershield"))
 end
 
-function skip_test_silver_weight_stops_movement()
+function test_silver_weight_stops_movement()
     local r1 = region.create(1, 1, "plain")
     local r2 = region.create(2, 1, "plain")
     region.create(3, 1, "plain")
@@ -729,7 +729,7 @@ function skip_test_silver_weight_stops_movement()
     assert_equal(r2, u1.region)
 end
 
-function skip_test_silver_weight_stops_ship()
+function test_silver_weight_stops_ship()
     local r1 = region.create(1, 1, "ocean")
     local r2 = region.create(2, 1, "ocean")
     region.create(3, 1, "ocean")
@@ -771,15 +771,6 @@ function test_building_owner_can_enter_ship()
     assert_equal(null, u1.building, "owner of the building can not go into a ship")
 end
 
-function test_weightless_silver()
-    local r1 = region.create(1, 2, "plain")    
-    local f1 = faction.create("noreply@eressea.de", "human", "de")
-    local u1 = unit.create(f1, r1, 1)
-    assert_equal(1000, u1.weight)
-    u1:add_item("money", 540)
-    assert_equal(1000, u1.weight)
-end
-
 function test_only_building_owner_can_set_not_paid()
   local r = region.create(0, 0, "plain")
   local f = faction.create("noreply@eressea.de", "human", "de")
diff --git a/scripts/tests/faction.lua b/scripts/tests/faction.lua
index a6265cde9..f0cd9335c 100644
--- a/scripts/tests/faction.lua
+++ b/scripts/tests/faction.lua
@@ -5,7 +5,15 @@ module ('tests.eressea.faction', package.seeall, lunit.testcase)
 local f
 
 function setup()
+    conf = [[{
+        "races": {
+        "human" : {}
+        }
+    }]]
+    eressea.config.reset()
+    assert(eressea.config.parse(conf)==0)
     f = faction.create("faction@eressea.de", "human", "de")
+    assert(f~=nil)
 end
 
 function test_faction_flags()
diff --git a/src/bind_faction.c b/src/bind_faction.c
index df89f9d5a..cfe57ebb4 100644
--- a/src/bind_faction.c
+++ b/src/bind_faction.c
@@ -344,14 +344,14 @@ static int tolua_faction_create(lua_State * L)
     const char *email = tolua_tostring(L, 1, 0);
     const char *racename = tolua_tostring(L, 2, 0);
     const char *lang = tolua_tostring(L, 3, 0);
-    struct locale *loc = get_locale(lang);
+    struct locale *loc = lang ? get_locale(lang) : default_locale;
     faction *f = NULL;
-    const struct race *frace = rc_find(racename);
+    const struct race *frace = rc_find(racename ? racename : "human");
     if (frace != NULL) {
         f = addfaction(email, NULL, frace, loc, 0);
     }
     if (!f) {
-        log_error("faction.create(%s, %s, %s)\n", email, racename, lang);
+        log_error("faction.create(%s, %s, %s)\n", email, frace->_name, locale_name(loc));
     }
     tolua_pushusertype(L, f, TOLUA_CAST "faction");
     return 1;
diff --git a/src/give.c b/src/give.c
index 7b9d2a3fb..d875dc34a 100644
--- a/src/give.c
+++ b/src/give.c
@@ -48,10 +48,13 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 
 /* Wieviel Fremde eine Partei pro Woche aufnehmen kangiven */
-#define MAXNEWBIES								5
 #define RESERVE_DONATIONS       /* shall we reserve objects given to us by other factions? */
 #define RESERVE_GIVE            /* reserve anything that's given from one unit to another? */
 
+static int max_transfers(void) {
+    return get_param_int(global.parameters, "rules.give.max_men", 5);
+}
+
 static int GiveRestriction(void)
 {
     static int value = -1;
@@ -300,7 +303,7 @@ message * give_men(int n, unit * u, unit * u2, struct order *ord)
             error = 96;
         }
         else if (u->faction != u2->faction) {
-            if (u2->faction->newbies + n > MAXNEWBIES) {
+            if (u2->faction->newbies + n > max_transfers()) {
                 error = 129;
             }
             else if (u_race(u) != u2->faction->race) {
@@ -473,7 +476,7 @@ void give_unit(unit * u, unit * u2, order * ord)
         cmistake(u, ord, 105, MSG_COMMERCE);
         return;
     }
-    if (u2->faction->newbies + n > MAXNEWBIES) {
+    if (u2->faction->newbies + n > max_transfers()) {
         cmistake(u, ord, 129, MSG_COMMERCE);
         return;
     }
diff --git a/src/give.test.c b/src/give.test.c
index 5437dfa5b..f1b13011d 100644
--- a/src/give.test.c
+++ b/src/give.test.c
@@ -72,6 +72,36 @@ static void test_give_men(CuTest * tc) {
     test_cleanup();
 }
 
+static void test_give_men_limit(CuTest * tc) {
+    struct give env;
+    message *msg;
+    test_cleanup();
+    env.f2 = test_create_faction(0);
+    env.f1 = test_create_faction(0);
+    setup_give(&env);
+    set_param(&global.parameters, "rules.give.max_men", "1");
+
+    /* below the limit, give men, increase newbies counter */
+    usetcontact(env.dst, env.src);
+    msg = give_men(1, env.src, env.dst, NULL);
+    CuAssertStrEquals(tc, "give_person", (const char *)msg->parameters[0].v);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 2, env.dst->number);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 0, env.src->number);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 1, env.f2->newbies);
+    msg_release(msg);
+
+    /* beyond the limit, do nothing */
+    usetcontact(env.src, env.dst);
+    msg = give_men(2, env.dst, env.src, NULL);
+    CuAssertStrEquals(tc, "error129", (const char *)msg->parameters[3].v);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 2, env.dst->number);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 0, env.src->number);
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 0, env.f1->newbies);
+    msg_release(msg);
+
+    test_cleanup();
+}
+
 static void test_give_men_in_ocean(CuTest * tc) {
     struct give env;
     message * msg;
@@ -247,6 +277,7 @@ CuSuite *get_give_suite(void)
     CuSuite *suite = CuSuiteNew();
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_give);
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_give_men);
+    SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_give_men_limit);
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_give_men_in_ocean);
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_give_men_none);
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_give_men_too_many);
diff --git a/src/kernel/config.h b/src/kernel/config.h
index a10186e6d..caffedb9e 100644
--- a/src/kernel/config.h
+++ b/src/kernel/config.h
@@ -81,7 +81,6 @@ extern "C" {
 #define ORDERSIZE           (DISPLAYSIZE*2) /* max. length of an order */
 #define NAMESIZE            128 /* max. Länge eines Namens, incl trailing 0 */
 #define IDSIZE              16  /* max. Länge einer no (als String), incl trailing 0 */
-#define KEYWORDSIZE         16  /* max. Länge eines Keyword, incl trailing 0 */
 #define OBJECTIDSIZE        (NAMESIZE+5+IDSIZE) /* max. Länge der Strings, die
      * von struct unitname, etc. zurückgegeben werden. ohne die 0 */
 
diff --git a/src/kernel/region.c b/src/kernel/region.c
index 7f5d65ef6..807fb3d76 100644
--- a/src/kernel/region.c
+++ b/src/kernel/region.c
@@ -611,8 +611,8 @@ int rpeasants(const region * r)
 
 void rsetpeasants(region * r, int value)
 {
-    ((r)->land ? ((r)->land->peasants =
-        (value)) : (assert((value) >= 0), (value)), 0);
+    if (r->land) r->land->peasants = value;
+    else assert(value>=0);
 }
 
 int rmoney(const region * r)
@@ -634,8 +634,8 @@ int rhorses(const region * r)
 
 void rsetmoney(region * r, int value)
 {
-    ((r)->land ? ((r)->land->money =
-        (value)) : (assert((value) >= 0), (value)), 0);
+    if (r->land) r->land->money = value;
+    else assert(value >= 0);
 }
 
 void r_setdemand(region * r, const luxury_type * ltype, int value)
diff --git a/src/keyword.c b/src/keyword.c
index fde981bb9..1ffdc4c3c 100644
--- a/src/keyword.c
+++ b/src/keyword.c
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 
 const char * keyword(keyword_t kwd)
 {
-    static char result[KEYWORDSIZE]; // FIXME: static return value
+    static char result[32]; // FIXME: static return value
     if (!result[0]) {
         strcpy(result, "keyword::");
     }
diff --git a/src/spells.c b/src/spells.c
index 82aca3720..0826c7edf 100644
--- a/src/spells.c
+++ b/src/spells.c
@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ static int sp_summon_familiar(castorder * co)
         cmistake(mage, co->order, 199, MSG_MAGIC);
         return 0;
     }
-    rc = select_familiar(mage->faction->race, mage->faction->magiegebiet);
+    rc = select_familiar(mage->_race, mage->faction->magiegebiet);
     if (rc == NULL) {
         log_error("could not find suitable familiar for %s.\n", mage->faction->race->_name);
         return 0;