Something that has bothered me has been an implication made by some I've come across while doing missions; That major change would only happen if Reapers won. This is a concept that I've encountered several times while the adventure was going.
There seemed to be a recurring idea that if Golden Sand's won, then everything would just remain the 'status quo'. Something which was (understandably!) vehemently fought against by those who were doing the Servant's side. To a commendable degree. It even had me almost wanting to sail for the Servant of the Flame too, because the dreams of what could happen on the horizon for the game were fascinating and engaging.
But here is why I inevitably didn't: Because those changes don't HAVE to happen JUST by Reapers taking over Golden Sands.
When it boils down to it, we were not guaranteed any particular change if Reapers won. The only change we were guaranteed to have, was for an Island in the middle of Shores of Plenty to be 'abandoned' and shroud covered with 'fortify the fog'. Anything else was just speculation. Who is to say that changes that would end up occurring wouldn't have happened elsewhere on the seas, while Golden Sands remained shroud covered.
Changes could happen if Golden Sands was restored too.
Golden Sands winning does not mean a 'return to the status quo'.
The only thing it affects is the shape and texture of changes, not if changes will happen at all.
Yes, the changes if Reapers won could have been exciting. But the changes to the game with Golden Sands returning could be exiting too! There is no reason why it couldn't be. Conflict isn't just going to stop after all, and Flameheart is not going to just give up. And on the plus side, physical changes can occur on the seas while there is still an outpost and not a fog covered island in the middle of Shores of Plenty. Things people were speculating and hoping for (an additional reaper fort, some other major event and physical change to an island) could still happen with Golden Sands restored. Golden Sands doesn't have to come back the way it was either. We don't know how it might develop.
It's been said that if Dagger Tooth Outpost was targeted, very few would have been fighting for it (I certainly wouldn't have). But not just for it having one of the most annoyingly long docks to deal with when turning in supplies. Dagger Tooth is in the Wilds, a dark and cloudy region that fits with additionally shrouded islands. Similar to what happened to Golden Sands. Part of me regrets that Shipwreck Bay is no longer shrouded, it just seemed to fit for the ambiance of the broken down vessels and crew deaths that may have occurred there.
Shores of Plenty and Ancient Isles are lighter regions where several try to do most of their sailing in because of the Caribbean ambiance and being less dreary then the Wilds (vaguely recall a post on the forums some time ago complaining that too many parts of the game were being made 'dark and dreary'. It was easy at the time to argue that this wasn't the case, with Ancient Isles and Shore of Plenty being half the map. But if those were chipped away at with more shrouded and cloud covered areas, I would start to agree). Having a fog covered abandoned island plopped in the middle of Shores of Plenty was less then appealing and added to the desire of wanting to restore it. Particularly when one can have a scenic and convenient outpost back, AND still have game and lore change.
Golden Sands being restored doesn't mean changes to the game are not going to happen.
There is no saying if it will return in the same way or in the same shape. A LOT of wood and supplies were given to that outpost. It also doesn't mean further paths to the seas of the dead may not be able to exist. There are already several rifts across the seas as it is with the Pirate's Life tall tales. A Reaper's outpost (something also mentioned) could still happen. It may not be on Golden Sands, but that doesn't mean that an outpost dedicated to Reapers couldn't occur. They already teased a possibility of a Reaper's Hideout expansion as it is during Christmas, and more could likely come. Even on other islands.
Changes to the game, physical ones that will affect islands, can and likely will still happen. The locations and way it occurs may simply be different. Change happening at all wasn't dependent on a certain side winning.
