I am fine with less water provinces (say, a 70-80% of the land provinces/land nations?), or with a 2nd water nation, whatever you guys prefer.

Seas can also be split to make the early game more challenging (so long as I do not get a single sea start surrounded by land, I am fine with that too).

I would suggest 8-12 provinces/player, with more the game might die prematurely.

...
Wesnoth is one of those games you keep going back to, pretty much like Dominions, did not even remember the avatar I had.