Find a duke and count who are willing to compromise with their subordinates during land selection so that most if not all parties gain land that at least partially suits their desires. Needless to say the sooner you can manage this the better. If you tell me your rough plans I might be able to recommend you to some duchies/counties.

Yes a lot of what we doing now as the developers call it are a dance of dynasties. Settlement selection will show our resources options, and land selection will show how our territories will look like. Having the dukes and counts work together will help with picking the settlements. If you contact me on discord at Erik Fenrirson #5432 I'll be more than happy to show you what we have and further explain our land selection process

Thanks, I know I want to mainly be involved in economics. I was hoping to build a port town on a key river or ocean port so I have a lot of traffic coming through my town (more chances at people immigrating in or having skilled people for hire nearby).

Although, given that I don't know exactly how the economic mechanics of the game will work (can you even have a port city that allows you to build docks and stuff?) I'm not even quite sure as to what I want to focus on. Need some more dev journals.

There will definitely be ports or at least trade hubs along water ways. Ocean travel will not be viable for some time, however river and coastal travel by boat or barge will definitely be needed.

As far as the map goes, as I understand, it won't be generated until right before exposition and it is possible that each server will have it's own unique map.

Worry less about kingdoms and more about the duchy and county you would like to work with. Likely, you will work with only people in your county, so make sure you like what is going on there. Of course, you can't hate the Duke and King either.

None of us have maps yet, nor land selection. What can be done now is building those early relationships.

As someone who is focused on making a trading hub as well I feel your pain. As a Count I want to recruit people but the truth is that there's not a lot you can actually promise in that area with the information they've released. When it comes to choosing some place to call home I would look at the quality of the people you're dealing with first and foremost. Do your research on the forums or hop into various kingdom discords and lurk for a while to get a sense of which of the nobility thinks like you do. Or even just wait until land selection knowing who you are likely to pick and see if they get the land choice you're after.

If your primary interest is in making a successful port city, the duchy of the High Seas in Vornair's primary interests encompass pretty much all things naval, whether it be trade/combat/exploration. As our duke will start with two duchies and since its where the kingdom's fleet will be based, chances are we will have plenty of coastline. We have already determined our preferences and I know at least four of the counts who have designated their primary preference for coastline.

If this interests you, here is a link to the duchy discord and we'd be more than happy to talk with you, whether it be answering questions or just friendly discourse.

Well, I did find a county that fit my interests and am now pledged. Thank you for all the invitations I've received from this thread.