specifically with taverns in mind, some new pirate npcs would help liven up the outposts. they could be a useful tool for world building and lore exposition through their dialogue options, some could even have dialogue that subtly explains niche tips and tricks that the maiden voyage doesn't teach you, assuming new players would try and talk to all the npcs they meet.
they could be positioned in different areas every update. drinking at the tables and bar, or playing instruments in the tavern, bartering with the shop npcs, this would probably require additions to the tavern sound track with clanking drinks and quiet mumbles every once in a while.
there would be a different set of npcs for each outpost, and every few updates they could be swapped around and scrambled between the outposts because of course they're all constantly voyaging on the seas, some are set crews and would travel together.
on the world building aspect, i think it would help liven up the outposts and add some immersion. some dialogue options could have them tell cool (and very short) stories about their adventures on the seas or rumours about other npcs moving in and out of the taverns, every update when they're moved the devs could set up silly scenarios like: on golden sands outpost this month all non shop npcs are on the beach watching belt-buckle bill balance his lantern on the tip of his shovel. allowing players to stumble upon these cool interactions every time the game is updated and they visit an outpost
