REM Rule Re-Balancing

[neeman]

The Russian Emergency Measures (REM) rule does not seem to work as intended. Instead of providing Russia a robust defense of the Motherland, the REM rule can make the Tsar agnostic or even supportive of a British fleet in St. P or an Ottoman fleet in Sev. The Tsar might reason that the UK or Ottoman fleet cannot proceed further inland, so the loss does not make him vulnerable to further attack; and the loss is otherwise without material impact to his unit count because of the REM rule. Indeed, the loss could even be coordinated, perhaps to solidify the UK or the Ottomans as an ally and freely fund one of their units, which may after all be used to fight Germany or Austria as common enemies. In essence, the REM rule seems to currently provide a perverse incentive for Russia to bargain its homeland rather than defend it.

This could be fixed fairly simply by adding a time limit on the REM rule. If one of Russia's home builds gets taken, the REM rule should take effect as it currently does, but if Russia does not regain the home build within a set time period (1 or 1.5 years?), the REM rule should lapse. Russia would then lose the unit as it ordinarily would without the REM rule. The time limit would define the REM rule's additional unit as a use-it-or-lose-it opportunity for Russia focused on homeland defense.

[norlight]

Can you provide a few examples of games where that happened?
I suppose that Russia giving up StP or Sev voluntarily is gearing up for a loss in the long run...

[NoPunIn10Did]

Even if this sacrificed-homeland strategy was in effect, Russia does not currently dominate the pack in 1900 to a degree that it requires weakening of its special ability. Last time I checked, it’s in the lower-middle performance-wise.

Baron has also stated that he wishes to make no further non-aesthetic changes to the variant, so it’s unlikely to be altered in such a manner.

[ColonelApricot]

The purpose of the REM rule was to provide Russia with additional defensive capability.

Re the OP if Russia chooses to deploy defensive units from Turkey (in Sev) or England (in StP) at no cost then why is that not a defensive capability? It saves Russia having to devote its own units for defense while the owner of such units loses the use of them for the purpose of attacking Russia (or any other purpose if they remain in Russian territory). If they sail away again then Russia can re-occupy them when it suits forcing the owner to lose supply. Meanwhile Russia is compensated with a temporary build center in Siberia if required.

Nothing perverse about it. Except that some players fail to take best advantage of it which may be why Russia's stats are not better.

..CA