Some suggestions for the developers:
1- Safe Harbor: I understand the option for Safer Seas is there, but I feel the High Seas should also have some safe space as well. Particularly at the main outposts. It is very frustrating to be doing a Tall Tale or in the middle of a conversation with a NPC to have your ship attacked and sunk. The main outpost areas should be a safe place. The "pirate code" is posted in the tavern for crying out loud. You should have a reasonable expectation to be able to talk or sell your items without harassment by others in these outposts. I am not saying it is not allowed--- but it should be heavily frowned upon to attack other pirates at an outpost. You should wait for them to leave the island or attack them on any other island. Outposts should have a warning. If you attack others while there do like a BOUNTY system or something where you gain a Wanted status. Other games like GTA, if you break the rules have a system in place for you to start to be hunted. Make the Royal Navy appear and target those who attack pirates while in a harbor. So you should be able to still attack others if you want, but the punishment should be severe and the Royal Navy will hunt them down. If you do not want every outpost, make it a rotating one and mark it on the map, or make Port Merrick "safe". I personally feel it should be all the main outpost locations with this.
2- Flags/Lanterns- these really have no purpose other than decorative. Like most things, but they should have more gameplay use. They could be tied in with the first item I mentioned. If you attack someone you need to be flying specific flags, or if you attack those with others, you gain a WANTED level of some kind. Pirates were known to fly a nation's flag to get up close and then reveal the pirate flag before attacking. It would be cool to bring that in to the game in some way. Reward those pirates for attacking under the right flags or something. For lanterns, I am not sure- maybe turn them on and you can attract dolphins to jump and swim near your ship while traveling and they can aid with shark battles or lead you to shipwrecks or something.
