Clearly ports as a game concept are required as a way of mustering ships, but my question is what their value for being a territory in themselves is, as opposed to simply allowing the player to muster into the adjacent sea territory.
As I understand it, any territory that has port, can muster ships either in to the port, or into the adjacent sea territory.
However, if the ships are in the port:
- They can't support, raid, or consolidate.
- The port can't be attacked, only the land territory can be.
- The can't help defend if the land territory is being used.
It seems that the only reason ports exist as a territory at all, is for the scenario where the adjacent sea territory is already occupied by another player. The port territory then allows a place for the port owner to muster into, and then on the following turn drive that other player out of the sea territory.
Am I right in understanding that this is the sole useful purpose for ports? Why else would you elect to put ships in ports?