Don't you think the game lacks goals ? As much for the attackers as for the defenders, capture all ports seems long and boring without strategic tools of domination and alliance. What will small nations do when they have no more craft port ? They will watch the end of the match between the remaining 2 or 3 nations ? Many prefer to stop the game.
I think we could learn from other strategy games to improve the strategic side.
Some suggestions :
- To impose objectives by nations, for example to defeat 4 or 5 enemy nations, with a reset of all ports when the objective is reached. Passing the victorious nation to posterity, exclusive grade for veterans, decorations, etc...
- To allow the capture of national capitals, concluding the fate of a nation in a final epic battle named Capital Battle. Find a new battle mechanic that makes it particularly difficult, for example: no circle, no time, to completely defeat the fleet, 4 big forts of defense, or a BR more restrictive for the attackers 15K vs 20K, etc...
-The defeated nation becoming a protectorate nation (forced alliance) of the winning nation. Allowing the winner to have one less enemy, and allowing the defeated nation to continue to craft good ships in their capital and under their original banner. Today they only have the choice to change the nation or to craft rotten ships without bonuses. Having an impregnable capital has no interest for big nations now, without bonuses.
-If a capital is dominated, it can also be delivered by another nation, reversing the strategic balances between the nations.