Everyone has this opinion or that. We can all agree that the current setup is meh at best. My two cents on the matter are both interesting and present the best way to implement those quests. I like that it currently fills all map slots, good deal that, let's keep that. But with a notable exception, two slots get filled with something more dangerous yet equally profitable.
Those slots will bare shipping schedules for two different NPC crewed ships. One that begins it's journey the moment the voyage passes it's vote and becomes active. The other to set sail two days later. The type of ship? Well there's a chance it's just a merchant galleon. Crewed by ten NPCs who guard a handful of commercial goods.
The Athena's Fortune faction will pay double their worth because they don't have a kind view of the Merchant Alliance. They'll eat the loss in gold now to crush that company in the long run by controlling their trade routes.
The other, a greater prize carried in the belly of a Man O' War. Chests that the Gold Hoarders would happily accept and magic items the likes that the Order of Souls would generously pay. Meaning if non Legend crews spot this ship they'll weigh carefully the risk and reward factor before setting off after it should they spot it along it's course.
The Man O' War will have two forward cannons, two rear and four along each side. It will travel slower but take considerable damage to sink. Boarding is an option but the crew compliment will be near that of a Fort Raid. If sunk the treasure will float up normally and if the captain and crew are defeated a treasure key will drop.
In both cases the ship will auto sabotage should the crew be killed off, unable to steer in any direction and no means to repair it. The treasure should be the goal, not claiming another ship.
They will sail their path entering from the edge of the map. Reaching one of their stops and holding until it's time for them to move on. Which means they can be intercepted in transit should another ship spot them. They can also be attacked while parked though they will defend themselves.
So Legends will have to plan carefully, do they try and hit the ship while it's moving as soon as they can. Trying to plot likely courses of travel based on the schedule. Or do they ambush at one of the stops. They ships will have no visual cues so you'll have to puzzle it out based on the schedule until you can get a visual and spot them.
So there's a chance it could just sail about and not get much, if any, notice from other players. The ships will not stop while in transit, even if being engaged. They will fire when they have a shot and will keep moving. Shots below the water line wont sink them, their hulls will have a set number of hitpoints that must be chipped away before it'll sink.
Best part of this is different kinds of merchant and raid ships can be added. The other maps will be randomly selected from the other trading companies and can be completed normally offering the usual payouts.
Any additional thoughts?
