Presumably, a moderate garrison (say, 5,000CS -- not too much to ask of a capital) could prevent any realistic chance at a sea-borne decapitation strike, as the casualties taken upon landing as well as during the ensuing battle would be enough to cripple the invaders, unless they were extremely powerful, in which case their dominance is assured either way.
Also, decapitation strikes, even sea-borne ones (such as in the case of Golden Farrow) have always been a possibility. I don't think that the changes to sea travel have made them much more viable than they were. And takeovers aren't necessary, looting can achieve the same effect (probably faster, too).
It is possible for a realm to recover from a decapitation strike, mind you. Despite what I've termed it, it does not actually kill off a realm, it merely deprives it of it's capital, which can be relocated at a price. So, it is more like a grievous wound than a decapitation.
Presumably, a moderate garrison (say, 5,000CS -- not too much to ask of a capital) could prevent any realistic chance at a sea-borne decapitation strike, as the casualties taken upon landing as well as during the ensuing battle would be enough to cripple the invaders, unless they were extremely powerful, in which case their dominance is assured either way.
Also, decapitation strikes, even sea-borne ones (such as in the case of Golden Farrow) have always been a possibility. I don't think that the changes to sea travel have made them much more viable than they were. And takeovers aren't necessary, looting can achieve the same effect (probably faster, too).
It is possible for a realm to recover from a decapitation strike, mind you. Despite what I've termed it, it does not actually kill off a realm, it merely deprives it of it's capital, which can be relocated at a price. So, it is more like a grievous wound than a decapitation.
This. Obviously landing in a capital of a realm you are at war with would be stupid. Nothing to prevent the landing right next to it, however.
And even if the damage is great to the invaders, even a slightly larger realm could be killed by this, as long as the invader was preparing for a while and the defender was caught unaware or occupied elsewhere, because the invader will recruit as much as he can and chose the time, whereas the defender will be denied the ability to recruit in response, and their TLs will be scattered all over.
And a capital can only be relocated as many times as a realm has cities. Most realms don't have many cities, and the capital is usually the only centrally-located city. Take away that city, and the realm is forced to chose a border city, causing massive control and taxation issues due to capital move and distance from the new capital. If the realm manages to survive, it will have been severely crippled and made much easier to destroy afterwards. Many realms only have one city, though, and would stand no chance at all.
