Slitherine

First game ever, playing as Messalia, with the new DLC.

I've noticed that when I dock my fleet, and then hover over the settlement, the fleet is listed as part of the garrison; along with any garrisoned armies. Does this mean that my fleet's crewmen will help if the settlement is besieged by land (Total War style)? Or maybe it just prevents blockades from sea? Or none of the above? Any general insight on this, please?

No, fleets can't engage in land combat in this game, even though they historically did a good portion of their fighting through the crews engaging in missile and hand-to-hand boarding combat with equipment similar to land forces. Putting them in port just keeps them safe from attacks by enemy naval forces. The DLC did add a regional decision that allows a fleet to support adjacent friendly land forces by bombarding enemies in coastal regions, though.

Beware that if you lose a province in which your fleet is docked, you lose your fleet. It happened to me several times and can be a huge blow if you're not careful enough. I thought the fleet would simply go at sea if the region falls like in Paradox titles but that's not the case

Alcoolamus wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2020 8:25 am Beware that if you lose a province in which your fleet is docked, you lose your fleet. It happened to me several times and can be a huge blow if you're not careful enough. I thought the fleet would simply go at sea if the region falls like in Paradox titles but that's not the case

I've had this happen too. To my mind this is a design flaw and should not happen. The fleet should, at the very least, get kicked out to sea. It even happens in a peace deal which is just wrong (although I've not been in the same situation with Persia DLC so I don't know if this still happens there).