[zegc-ben]

My experience is that the central position is very difficult so a land nation may loose to the AI. One important parameter is initial expansion, in this game there wasn't any indy provinces left in the center by turn 5 or 6, so even with defensive AI the central player will have a really hard time acheaving a reasonnable expansion. And then there is the risk of being crushed by non defensive AI. A water nation can at least be reasonnably assured of a minimal expansion. On the other hand having a strong recruitable army is the most important thing for the first turns which tends toward land nation.

Ermor may be the best compromise as the AI will starve to death in ermor's dominion and they can survive with only few provinces much better than any other nation (plus a madly powerfull awaken god is exactly what they need).