I posted this on Reddit, but this is how I feel after 5 hours and what I think the game really needs.

I've had a good time and will keep playing for Pirate Legend status, but there needs to be more incentives than just cosmetic items. In another thread someone put it as "Its a sandbox, but there has to be toys in the box" or something to that effect (u/SuspendMeOneMoreTime made that comment in the other thread). An accurate critique.

If they want the game to last, they need to add content more substantial than pets and ship cosmetics. Here are some ideas that could improve incentives.

• Add a personal hideout to decorate and personalize. No idea how to implement that well, but there must be a way.

• Re work the PVP mechanics. Its a bore at the moment with no risk and no reward. Give me something for sinking a ship, take a bit of gold from me if I get sunk.

• Add different types of quests for each alliance. That will help vary the gameplay.

• Add more in depth ship customization. Chairs, tables, paintings. Let me make my ship feel like home (This could replace the player hideout idea perhaps and would work better)

• Give pirate legends the option for a new ship model as opposed to just a skin.

• More public events (I believe they said this was coming though)

• More lootable things in the world

• A players bounty mechanic

• A ship builder. Build a ship out of pre generated parts.

• Quests from the NPCs running the shops. The only problem is this whole game boils down to fetch quests, so they need to find a fix for that. Maybe a "take x to x location"

• Its been mentioned time and time again, but fishing. Have a fishing alliance or include it in the merchant alliance.

• Unlockable shanties (Thats coming apparently)

• Have achievements grant you some gold as well

• Deadliest/Most profitable pirate leader boards at the outposts per region.

• Let us bury our own treasure that will increase in value over time.

• A portal above the Order of Souls NPC in the boarded up shack that leads to a town that would act as a social space for crew recruiting, duels, card/dice games. Basically Tortuga.

I could probably think of more stuff but I'll leave it there. Some of these are bad ideas, but I'd like to get talking about what more could be added in the future to sustain the want and need to play.