defending coastline

[PvK]

In many games, just keeping up some decent PD and a small supporting force has tended to keep my coastal provinces relatively safe from AI attacks from the sea. When they do break through, a local army can go push them back.

But ya, if you don't want to get raided from the sea in the early game, don't set up a game with Impossible/Aggressive undersea nations on a small map...

[magemaster]

Like PvK said, load up on PD. Then continue to expand on land until you build a fortress away from the coast. Build up "land armies" there and take out land provinces. Then you need to capture the coastal provinces. Leave them ALONE until you have a fortress inland. The AI will view you as a bigger threat then independents and attack you. After capturing the provinces' load up on PD and recruit a commander. On the next turn tell him to build a fortress. This will slow down enemy armies-AI keep all units on seige and won't explore farther onto land. This way, while their seiging you, you can build up other armies in other fortresses and shove them back into the ocean. Meanwhile you need to reasearch construction and forge underwater items. To do this you need either a good water or air mage otherwise you have to empower them.

[Gandalf Parker]

If you have an earth mage then casting gnome lore (or manually going there and searching) can be a good thing. If you are lucky you might get a free fortress. I try to always check prime locations before I build there.

[magemaster]

Good Point, I've never gotten a free fortress though, but this forum seems to be going dead.

[Nick_K]

The most common free fortresses seem to be the underwater nature ones. I don't think I've seen Firbolg Fortress as much in Dom3 as in Dom2... but that could just be bad luck

[Xietor]

I play the cradle map, and i use dominion to kill off sea nations early. another option is to build a fort and hope that you get another nation to attack it as well. as they siege the fort that will make the other 2 nations go to war.

[magemaster]

Xietor,
Your Idea is based on luck. I wouldn't trust it. Maybe if another nation was nearby, but in the early game its unlikely.