Ahoy everyone! We all know that Pirate Legends are in a big need of some new content that is tailored and designed specifically for Pirates of Legendary status... This is the only area of the game that has not received any meaningful additions since launch, and I've said for a long time that this is long overdue. Hopefully Rare will get around to adding things like the Captaincy update for Pirate Legends, promised very long ago, Pirate Legend exclusive Tall Tales, cosmetics, and more...
In the meantime, here is an idea I've had for a Legendary Captain progression system - something that can only be initiated once the player has become a Pirate Legend.
What does this Legendary Captain Progression bring to the table?
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This is a two dimensional progression system (similar to Red Dead Redemption 2's honor system)
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We were always told that we would build our Legend and become our own "Jack Sparrow" once we became Pirate Legends... Well this would allow an in game system to do just that - The player can earn titles and customizations (for Pirate Legends exclusively) that reflect the Pirate we've chosen to be.
How does it work?
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You will earn reputation toward either the left or right based on whether you choose to attack other players or befriend/ally with them
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Stealing treasure and sinking ships will skew your reputation toward "Legendary Captain of Thieves" (technical work would need to be done to better detect when loot is stolen as opposed to peacefully traded)
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Honorable acts such as cooperatively taking on PvE threats with other crews, honoring alliances, and sinking ships who have stolen loot on board would skew reputation toward "Legendary Captain of Allies" (there would not necessarily be a way to know if a ship has been attacking and stealing from others apart from organic awareness of what you're seeing on the seas - ships who are sporting the Legendary Captain of Thieves cosmetics would be good targets)
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Specific commendations and challenges around theft or cooperation are available to earn - expanding the Captaincy system with additional titles to earn as you build your Pirate archetype
What are the rewards?
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Along the way, you will earn titles, special ship customizations (like captain's quarters decorations), and ship titles which you can use to give a name to your ship.
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Each side of the spectrum would have a full Pirate Legend exclusive cosmetic set to earn, (clothes, weapons, equipment, ship pieces) which is completed gradually as you progress further in your chosen path. The "Legendary Hero" set would be earned as the player progresses toward "Legendary Captain of Allies" and the "Legendary Thief" set would be earned as the player progresses toward "Legendary Captain of Thieves"
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Players who reach the max reputation of either end of the spectrum will earn the respective title - "Legendary Captain of Thieves" or "Legendary Captain of Allies". As well as unique ship titles to represent their ship and crew as the archetype they have become.
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Once you reach max repute on either side, a range of of other commendations become available to further define your legend - As a "Legendary Captain of Thieves" are you a Pirate who swoops in undetected and slips away with treasure from other ships, or are you a brutal cutthroat who destroys everything in your path to steal the loot? You will be able to earn titles to define yourself as such once you've maxed out!
Important to note
You can speak with the Pirate Lord and ask him to start noticing or stop noticing your deeds on the Sea of Thieves - allowing players to deactivate this progression system will ensure that this feature will remain within the spirit of Sea of Thieves, and not pressure the player into limiting their playstyle to maintain a certain repute - but this can only be turned on and off by speaking with the Pirate Lord in the hideout.
As a long time dedicated player of Sea of Thieves, I do not intend to make suggestions for features that would betray the design of the unpredictable shared world that Rare have built - feel free to discuss any design flaws that might go against the philosophies of the game or talk about things you would add!
