A small pet peeve.
Get rid of Ryazan in either case.
Never liked that it hampered the Russian AI when it came to steam rolling the Khanates.
Before the 1.8 patch, Russia would always stagnate in their little corner and not do much. Whatever 1.8 did, Russia became aggressive and a powerhouse. I've only seen Russia collaspe once.
Russia usually wipes all the khanates out and then expands into Siberia and puts down trade posts and colonies there.
In the IGC, I've seen Russia succeed once in pushing past the Khanates and this is with the Golden Horde still surviving till in the 1700's. What I would normally see, is Russia fail to smash there way through the Golden Horde, then for many years sit and do nothing. As well Russia would then get into wars against Poland. Because Russia hasn't grown in size, fighting Poland became disasterous.
Ah well, its a small pet peeve that I have with the IGC. Nowhere as big as having Sweden annexed by Denmark.
Still I do like seeing the Russian bear come out of slumber and steamroll everything in its path.
Yours
Erad