ORIGINAL: Murat
Option 1 in this example is a zero sum result (risk/reward balanced) and is what I think is the best option because it is already done.
I reject out of hand for reasons that have already been stated. Also "becuase it's done" is not valid, since it's been done wrong. Period.
Option 2 is a -2pp/even result depending on who wins and is the 2d best in my mind because of the exploitation involved with option 4 and this is higher risk -v- reward.
Is that how it works in EiH? Weird. This is even worse than Option 1. It's just silly. However based on AresMars quote from the actual EiH rulebook, I am pretty sure this ISN'T how it works, even in EiH. Edit: Oh I see I am wrong... that is really how it works in EiH. That's simply ...
Option 3 is a +2pp/-2pp result depending on who wins and is acceptable especially over 4 since the risk and reward is balanced
This would be "OK", but still isn't how the game actually works. IMHO this would be the least damaging compromise, if compromise is even required tbh.
Option 4 is a +9pp! result which is a lot on a 40 point row. This is substantial reward compared to risk. I recall an errata eliminating this but I cannot find it. EiH had a good solution, EIANW's is better.
Option 4 is how the rules work. That's how the game was deisgned. That's how we've always played it becuase the game is balanced for this type of interaction.
There are plenty of PP "sinks" in the game that counterbalance PP gains. The games political balance is already compromised by more expensive DoWs, and a myriad of other small changes which individually seem fine but honestly add up dramatically.
PPs are part of the game, to state all battles should be worth 0 is moronic
As is your statement that they should be 0-sum. Your desire that battles should be 0-sum is completely arbitrary, and has no relation to the actual political balance of the game. I guess you are of the opinion that napoleon's bonuses/penalties should also be removed, since they make battles no longer 0-sum, right?
As for your statement about abusing the rule to "generate PP" that's absurd. Completely absurd. In all my years I have never seen such a thing. Hey here's an idea, how about Russia and Turkey DoW, and then not actually fight, taking turns capturing and recapturing the border fortresses to "generate PP" Aiyyeee the game is broken! It sounds to me that this is the mentality with which you approach the game.
