Count up how many provinces outside it’s capitol Caelum can reasonable expect to take without conflict (4), the fact that it’s capitol is only adjacent to two provinces and so resource hungry Caelum is short of resources, that it’s a long march for ground troops from the capitol to anywhere, and that Caelum actually has 3 neighbors, including Helheim who is just as close as Kailasa. I think it’s quite a bit harder than you suggest, even despite starting with 3 provinces. I would in fact suggest adding an extra resource site to it’s capitol.
Marverni is a close second, but central positions can also have strength if you find a strong alliance. Ulm I would rate as just as hard as Marverni, because it starts next to desperate for space Caelum, and it’s low MR troops are really vulnerable to False Fetters, and 4 neighbors isn’t much better than 5 neighbors.
Ermor would be up there too except that Ermor has all that farmland to pay for defense, while Marv and Ulm have nothing but forests. Pretty much everyone else has only 2 or 3 neighbors, which makes things lots easier.
I also think it’s a bit “off” that Van and Hel, with their glamour troops with free mirror images, ALSO start in two of the strongest strategic positions with a minimum of neighbors.
Vanheim has 3 neighbors and Sauromatia 2.5 neighbors, both with a corner and hence an easy rating. Ermor is middling easy because of it’s wealth, offset somewhat by it’s central position. Helheim is harder than Vanheim because it’s land is poorer and less plentiful, Vanheim can sail across the lake, and the ever present threat through Helgate. Also, Helheim has five neighbors – Vanheim, Ulm, Caelum, Kailasa, and perhaps Marverni. This is not exactly a minimum of neighbors.
Arcoscephale is hard because of problems with the amphibious Agarthans, offset somewhat by it’s sailling site. C’tis has 2.5 neighbors, but is kept from an easy rating by it’s low income swampland, and the threat of a seaborne invasion from Arcoscephale, and an eventual amphibious threat from Agartha. I believe it has some gold mines, which judging from how easily C’tis stomped Kailasa might be a bit much. Kailasa has 3 neighbors, and thus an average rating.
Oceania has an extremely strong position, since its only real competitor - Agartha - starts on the opposite side of the map, with the eastern sea to exploit, and has no reason to go looking for a fight. But nobody else can invade Oceania effectively without massing a preponderance of force. Which means Oceania can be pretty aggressive without worrying about defense the way the rest of us do.
Quite true, which is why Oceania is rated as easy. However, Oceania doesn’t have alot of water provinces, and in order to succeed must conquer and hold land provinces, which land nations will often ally to prevent. It’s easy to survive and harass from under the sea, but it’s hard to actually win.
