Confirmed: 9 Sanctuaries at launch.

[acosmo]

Originally Posted by Vancha

As if there were hypothetically only one continent in the game, or three footholds on one continent and two continents with none?

yes, three footholds on one continent and two continents with none.

[Vancha]

Originally Posted by acosmo

yes, three footholds on one continent and two continents with none.

That would play very strangely, and you'd end up with empires getting pushed into their foothold.

[acosmo]

Originally Posted by Vancha

That would play very strangely, and you'd end up with empires getting pushed into their foothold.

elaborate? empires already get pushed into their foothold in the planned version. in a 3foothold on only one of three cont setup, two conts are freely contested and have NO footholds.

[Vancha]

Originally Posted by acosmo

elaborate? empires already get pushed into their foothold in the planned version.

Yes, and then they have another 2 at which to spawn at...They have other locations they can choose to expand from. With just one foothold in the entire game, they're stuck there for as long as the other two empires keep them there. Yes, they'd push out eventually, but it could become incredibly unenjoyable, especially if the empire stuck in their foothold start logging off in frustration.

Originally Posted by acosmo

in a 3foothold on only one of three cont setup, two conts are freely contested and have NO footholds.

The vast majority of combat will take place on the continent with the footholds, then. Any time an empire gets pushed off one of the other two continents, they'll draw the battle back to the home continent.