I don't bear the virtue of having gained Legend Status, mind you but...
I agree with the OP almost entirely. Perhaps there are some points that I would alter the view of, but the essence is the same.
For starters I feel that ALL of the game takes too long. I feel real sympathy for the most recent batch of Legends. It's very difficult to play the game in any "pure" measure and experience any appreciable gains. It's not as bad before Legend... but it's bad even in the 40's... Being able to retain any given voyage with perhaps the exception of merchants which are "timed" anyhow makes absolute sense to me.
I can only express my own experiences in the 40's regarding loot value. But, frankly, I don't think that it's appropriate even for pre-legend. Though I am aware they recently altered the loot for the top end to reduce the commonality of castaways... were I to attenuate the loot gains it'd be simple. I'd tier the chests by rank starting at 10, same with skulls, perhaps even with varied animal types (though merchants needs to be retooled from the foundation imo). Expecting lower ranked players to get the lower end chests and leave the higher chests for the top ranked. I'd further redo the values associated with any given rank to extend the ranking speed to match the alteration loot gained. Then I'd increase the variety of "special chests" from 2 (3 if you count Athena stuff) to perhaps 15 different ones and provide a high degree of rarity to them and allow those to be the cool 'rare' finds. All with the intention of allowing each tier to provide a chance for 'rare' chests... while keeping the world chests randomly discovered varied, and altering the amount needed for each ranking to reflect the higher quality chests gained. This can allow for the perception of open world randomness while keeping players from 'wasting effort' on lower tier chests. It could also affect PvP by keeping players interested in PvP versus highly decorated ships or higher tier customization ships and allow undecorated ships to retain the anonymity - So if your flaunting your colors... you might get attacked more often.. but if your subtle and under decorated you might get left alone, and if your higher tier you can disguise yourself but you lose out on the presumably more interesting customization (Not that tier seems to reflect customization much - due to varied tastes).
What shouldn't happen is 11 chests each being low tier... it just makes the grind feel even more valueless.
Regarding Athena quest treasure, I'm not legend yet, but - I can't disagree Legend should be outrageously more valuable, it should be entirely dissimilar in form and value from anything else in the game. It most certainly should not be more of the same grind in any form.
I can't speak for the skeleton spawns on Athena quests.. but even post 45... it's obnoxious. Wholly agree that there should be some other factor at play regarding difficulty. Maybe hungering Deep or other new AI threats will help reduce this silliness.
I cannot remark on the soloability of Athena quests. I don't believe they should be entirely that simple and I do feel that the majority of top tier play should be driven towards groups. But there should be a limit. Even 40-50 OoS is a pain in the ascot! I'd wager everything sans Kraken can be done solo (and even Kraken is likely debatable lol) but can be done and can be done are two different things. Guess it depends on how slow you want your progress and how much of a pain it is to position a firing squad of gold skeletons that might spawn in a cave towards your cannons. It shouldn't be easy... But it shouldn't grind to a halt solo either.
I agree with the 4 point.
handing out Quests should remain an option... NO NOT because I am pre 50... but because I feel that it adds value to the reputation of being a legend, the notion that they can share some access to the world of Athena Blessings. I feel the ability is abused in it's way.. but I feel that it was always a design vision that a Legend could deign to grace others with their presence and the p***s would rejoice. It creates community in its way, by connecting players together through friends of friends, it spreads the name of any given legend, it generates eagerness to meet and work with these legends etc.
It's not perfect, but I see no issue here. IMO It's no different than reaching top level in any given MMO and "helping out the little guy". Since there is no vertical progression skill may be questionable.. but there isn't much more that a legend can offer beyond greater riches.. .which is what they SHOULD be doing.
Should they be able to leave, is a valid question, one worthy of debate. But... I'm fine with it thus far. And no, I have never accepted a legends offer of joining them on an Athenas quest nor allowed myself to enter the Legendary Hollow. So it's not a universal gain.
I guess my point here is that it doesn't devalue being a legend.. it in fact increase it, players what what legends have to offer... Which says alot considering legends have nothing to share except one quest type. And hopefully actual play experience.
Regarding the Athena Quest Level reward... that's the problem with customization as a carrot.. tastes vary. The best I can hope is that logically more will be offered soon. This may help..
But even I laugh to this day at the ! Pony Pirate skins....
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