Suggestions for land occupation in Dreadfleet Vortex Campaign?

[Insane Scientist]

Just started a new Dreadfleet campaign, after failing last one :(, help or suggestions would be appreciated. Campaign is very hard difficulty.

Last time I spent a little too long in Ulthuan farming levels sacking Caledor and Lothern and Elyrion declared war on me, I then started to invade and annex Land of Assassins(Followers of Nagash starting territory) but after a couple turns Elyrion sent 2 armies I had no problem defeating, then a few turns later Lothern is sending multiple full stack armes with elites and a Sword of Khaine Tyrion towards me while I still only have money for 2 armies of elite units max.

I'm having lots of fun in this campaign and really enjoy this faction so I've started again, I learned my lesson from last time and quickly killed Caledor, and I'm out of Ulthuan with no wars declared on me, looking for suggestions on where to occupy and expand land territory first so I can take my time to expand and build up territory in relative safety. I think west coast Araby into Southlands like before is fine as long as I don't have High Elves ordertide this time. I'm also thinking maybe Tor Elasor, or one of the other Vampire Coast LL starting locations since they already have corruption, any suggestions for good starting territory?

[The Warmongering Khan]

Vampire coast isn't really built around owning lots of land. Instead you should focus on making coves in wealthy cities.

[fmalfeas]

As dreadfleet, I largely don't bother with taking land until I'm filthy rich. Ship + Graveyard is generally enough for overall purposes. On the other hand, I tend to have a vamp captain running around putting 'I get 50% of what you get' on the richest ports in the world, and any weak ports that I don't think will be razed any time soon, I tend to attack and put a cove in for the flat cash income. To counteract the infamy gain and delay the 'final battle' attack until I'm ready, I set any province I do have (including graveyard) to sharing the booty so it drains some of the infamy gain, and make sure to research all four 2000 infamy captains with their own ships techs.

[Insane Scientist]

Originally posted by The Warmongering Khan:

Vampire coast isn't really built around owning lots of land. Instead you should focus on making coves in wealthy cities.

I did this last time and set up as many coves as cooldown and money allowed me in high income cities like Hag Graef and Lothern. I still set up coves too, I just find one settlement a bit boring and too slow for money income and levels.

[RCMidas]

That's why you go raiding, sacking, and pursuing sea treasures.

[fmalfeas]

There's only a few that I use a captain hero for. Naggarond, Hag Graef, Lothern, Marienburg, Altdorf...those are the biggies. Can never be sure if the big one in Tilea is going to get razed by Ikit or not, so I don't bother there.

But with 'attack it' method, you can set up a cove without the timer being involved if memory serves. And it looks just like you sacked it. Which you did, for less profit up front, and more cove goodness (badness?). If a faction really irks me with constant attacks, I'll set the coves I've dropped on them to spread corruption instead of making me money so that it wreaks havoc on them over time while I do other things. Hard to keep bothering me when you're constantly rebelling and taking attrition on your own land.

[Insane Scientist]

Originally posted by fmalfeas:

As dreadfleet, I largely don't bother with taking land until I'm filthy rich.

Alright, thanks, I might try an approach more like this next time.

[RCMidas]

No need to purposefully delay the final battle by draining Infamy, seeing as how you choose when to go fight it. It's not like the Vortex battle...I don't think.

[Insane Scientist]

Originally posted by RCMidas:

No need to purposefully delay the final battle by draining Infamy, seeing as how you choose when to go fight it. It's not like the Vortex battle...I don't think.

When you reach certain infamy breakpoints a Sea Shanty Admiral spawns that attacks Galleon's Graveyard, other than needing to be prepared for that there's no reason to delay.

[fmalfeas]

The last one of those is the one I purposely stall. Because the first time I played dreadfleet I was /so/ not prepared for that. So now I'm cautious about it.

[Insane Scientist]

Originally posted by fmalfeas:

The last one of those is the one I purposely stall. Because the first time I played dreadfleet I was /so/ not prepared for that. So now I'm cautious about it.

I haven't reached that far in a campaign yet, guess I know to be well prepared to be that for now, haha.

[fmalfeas]

Yeah. My caution about it borders on paranoia though. I've taken provinces /just/ to drain some infamy before. And gone on rampages where I always share plunder for the same purpose.

Gotta make sure the graveyard is so fortified and defended that the fight is effortless after all, right? ;)