I deleted my previous post because it wasn’t clear enough, especially about the action wheel. I’d like to restate the idea in a simpler and more understandable way.
The core idea is not automation, and not controlling ship stations remotely. The action wheel is only meant to give simple priority orders to an AI companion, nothing more.
For example, the wheel could contain very straightforward commands like:
“Left side”, “Left cannon”, “Right cannon”, “Repairs”, “Defend the ship”, or “Follow me”.
These are not precise instructions. They just tell the companion what to focus on. The AI decides how to act within its limits, and it can make mistakes. The player still has full responsibility for positioning, timing, and decision-making.
This companion would be an intermediate-level crew partner, designed mainly to help solo players deal with overload, but without ever replacing an experienced human player. It should never be optimal, never perfect, and never faster or smarter than a real crewmate. Its role is assistance, not efficiency.
I also think this system should scale with crew size. The fewer human players you have on the ship, the more help the companion can provide. As more players join the crew, the AI becomes more limited or even unnecessary. This keeps balance intact and avoids replacing teamwork.
Another important aspect is the emotional side. Many players would genuinely enjoy having a companion that follows them on islands, helps during fights or exploration, and feels like a presence rather than a tool. Being able to customize it (appearance, behavior tendencies, maybe even personality tone) would create attachment, similar to having a trusted partner rather than an NPC.
There’s also a strong opportunity on the economy side. Right now, large amounts of gold mostly lead to cosmetics, which can feel limited and unmotivating over time. Investing a significant amount of gold (for example hundreds of thousands) to unlock or maintain a companion would feel like a real achievement. Ongoing upkeep costs would give gold a continuous purpose and make wealth meaningful again.
This wouldn’t be a solo-only feature. It could be available to everyone, simply scaling based on crew size. Optional, fair, and never mandatory.
I believe this kind of system fits the spirit of Sea of Thieves: accessibility without lowering mastery, freedom without automation, and long-term engagement without breaking PvP balance.
