diff --git a/src/common/gamecode/creport.c b/src/common/gamecode/creport.c
index 4293139bb..90bf9d815 100644
--- a/src/common/gamecode/creport.c
+++ b/src/common/gamecode/creport.c
@@ -1202,9 +1202,11 @@ cr_output_region(FILE * F, report_context * ctx, seen_region * sr)
       fprintf(F, "%d;Pferde\n", rhorses(r));
 
       if (sr->mode>=see_unit) {
-        faction * owner = region_get_owner(r);
-        if (owner) {
-          fprintf(F, "%d;owner\n", owner->no);
+        if (rule_region_owners()) {
+          faction * owner = region_get_owner(r);
+          if (owner) {
+            fprintf(F, "%d;owner\n", owner->no);
+          }
         }
         fprintf(F, "%d;Silber\n", rmoney(r));
         if (skill_enabled[SK_ENTERTAINMENT]) {
diff --git a/src/common/gamecode/economy.c b/src/common/gamecode/economy.c
index 06fa057f2..290ffd9d6 100644
--- a/src/common/gamecode/economy.c
+++ b/src/common/gamecode/economy.c
@@ -634,21 +634,26 @@ recruit(unit * u, struct order * ord, request ** recruitorders)
   addlist(recruitorders, o);
 }
 
+static void apply_owner_change(region * r, faction * f)
+{
+  int morale = region_get_morale(r);
+  region_set_owner(r, f, turn);
+  if (morale>0) {
+    morale = MAX(0, morale-MORALE_TRANSFER);
+    region_set_morale(r, morale, turn);
+  }
+}
+
 static void
 give_control(unit * u, unit * u2)
 {
-  if (u->building && u->faction!=u2->faction) {
+  if (u->building && u->faction!=u2->faction && rule_region_owners()) {
     region * r = u->region;
     faction * f = region_get_owner(r);
     if (f==u->faction) {
       building * b = largestbuilding(r, &cmp_current_owner, false);
       if (b==u->building) {
-        int morale = region_get_morale(r);
-        region_set_owner(r, u2->faction, turn);
-        if (morale>0) {
-          morale = MAX(0, morale-MORALE_TRANSFER);
-          region_set_morale(r, morale, turn);
-        }
+        apply_owner_change(r, u2->faction);
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/common/gamecode/laws.c b/src/common/gamecode/laws.c
index f91686774..6389ae726 100644
--- a/src/common/gamecode/laws.c
+++ b/src/common/gamecode/laws.c
@@ -209,7 +209,6 @@ get_food(region *r)
   plane * pl = rplane(r);
   unit *u;
   int peasantfood = rpeasants(r)*10;
-  faction * owner = region_get_owner(r);
   static int food_rules = -1;
 
   if (food_rules<0) {
@@ -249,6 +248,7 @@ get_food(region *r)
     }
 
     if (food_rules&1) {
+      faction * owner = region_get_owner(r);
       /* if the region is owned, and the owner is nice, then we'll get 
        * food from the peasants - should not be used with WORK */
       if (owner!=NULL && (get_alliance(owner, u->faction) & HELP_MONEY)) {
@@ -1492,6 +1492,17 @@ prefix_cmd(unit * u, struct order * ord)
   return 0;
 }
 
+
+static cmp_building_cb
+get_cmp_region_owner()
+{
+  if (rule_region_owners()) {
+    return &cmp_current_owner;
+  } else {
+    return &cmp_wage;
+  }
+}
+
 static int
 display_cmd(unit * u, struct order * ord)
 {
@@ -1556,7 +1567,7 @@ display_cmd(unit * u, struct order * ord)
       cmistake(u, ord, 148, MSG_EVENT);
       break;
     }
-    if (b != largestbuilding(r, rule_region_owners()?&cmp_current_owner:&cmp_wage, false)) {
+    if (b != largestbuilding(r, get_cmp_region_owner(), false)) {
       cmistake(u, ord, 147, MSG_EVENT);
       break;
     }
@@ -1801,7 +1812,7 @@ name_cmd(unit * u, struct order * ord)
       break;
     }
     
-    if (b != largestbuilding(r, rule_region_owners()?&cmp_current_owner:&cmp_wage, false)) {
+    if (b != largestbuilding(r, get_cmp_region_owner(), false)) {
       cmistake(u, ord, 147, MSG_EVENT);
       break;
     }
@@ -3068,7 +3079,7 @@ age_building(building * b)
           effect = 100;
           /* the mage reactivates the circle */
           c = create_curse(mage, &rt->attribs, ct_astralblock,
-            (float)sk, sk/2, effect, 0);
+            (float)MAX(1, sk), MAX(1, sk/2), effect, 0);
           ADDMSG(&r->msgs, msg_message("astralshield_activate", 
             "region unit", r, mage));
         }
@@ -3195,7 +3206,9 @@ ageing(void)
       if (b==*bp) bp = &b->next;
     }
 
-    update_owners(r);
+    if (rule_region_owners()) {
+      update_owners(r);
+    }
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/common/gamecode/report.c b/src/common/gamecode/report.c
index ca77279fc..51332eed5 100644
--- a/src/common/gamecode/report.c
+++ b/src/common/gamecode/report.c
@@ -1003,7 +1003,7 @@ describe(FILE * F, const seen_region * sr, faction * f)
     }
   }
 
-  {
+  if (rule_region_owners()) {
     const faction * owner = region_get_owner(r);
     if (owner!=NULL) {
       bytes = snprintf(bufp, size, " Die Region ist im Besitz von %s.",
diff --git a/src/common/kernel/eressea.c b/src/common/kernel/eressea.c
index 3843dda0d..a52b4f263 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/eressea.c
+++ b/src/common/kernel/eressea.c
@@ -1699,7 +1699,7 @@ cstring(const char *s)
 }
 
 building *
-largestbuilding(const region * r, int (*cmp_gt)(const struct building *, const struct building *), boolean imaginary)
+largestbuilding(const region * r, cmp_building_cb cmp_gt, boolean imaginary)
 {
   building *b, *best = NULL;
 
diff --git a/src/common/kernel/eressea.h b/src/common/kernel/eressea.h
index ae0a8421a..b5fa7fa66 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/eressea.h
+++ b/src/common/kernel/eressea.h
@@ -244,7 +244,8 @@ extern char *cstring_i(char *s);
 extern const char *unitname(const struct unit * u);
 extern char * write_unitname(const struct unit * u, char * buffer, size_t size);
 
-struct building *largestbuilding(const struct region * r, int (*eval_gt)(const struct building *,const struct building *), boolean imaginary);
+typedef int (*cmp_building_cb)(const struct building * b, const struct building * a);
+struct building *largestbuilding(const struct region * r, cmp_building_cb, boolean imaginary);
 int cmp_wage(const struct building * b, const struct building * bother);
 int cmp_taxes(const struct building * b, const struct building * bother);
 int cmp_current_owner(const struct building * b, const struct building * bother);
diff --git a/src/common/kernel/move.c b/src/common/kernel/move.c
index aa96a4250..b07f434c2 100644
--- a/src/common/kernel/move.c
+++ b/src/common/kernel/move.c
@@ -901,6 +901,8 @@ is_guardian_r(const unit * guard)
 {
   if (guard->number == 0) return false;
   if (besieged(guard)) return false;
+
+  /* if region_owners exist then they may be guardians: */
   if (guard->building && rule_region_owners() && fval(guard, UFL_OWNER)) {
     faction * owner = region_get_owner(guard->region);
     if (owner==guard->faction) {
@@ -910,6 +912,7 @@ is_guardian_r(const unit * guard)
       }
     }
   }
+
   if ((guard->flags&UFL_GUARD)==0) return false;
   if (!armedmen(guard, true) && !fval(guard->race, RCF_UNARMEDGUARD)) return false;
   return true;
diff --git a/src/common/modules/score.c b/src/common/modules/score.c
index d513b77b3..ad48f3a22 100644
--- a/src/common/modules/score.c
+++ b/src/common/modules/score.c
@@ -78,9 +78,11 @@ score(void)
     unit * u;
     building * b;
     ship * s;
-    
-    fc = region_get_owner(r);
-    if (fc) fc->score += 10;
+
+    if (rule_region_owners()) {
+      fc = region_get_owner(r);
+      if (fc) fc->score += 10;
+    }
 
     for (b = r->buildings; b; b = b->next) {
       u = buildingowner(r, b);