Here's an idea I had that I wanted to present to the community:
What if the different trading companies offered something besides regular voyages? My thoughts are that each of the trading companies could offer a "Shipment Contract" at certain times, with a cool-down period afterwards. Crews and alliances who purchase a shipment contract would have to vote to accept said contract. At which point they would have to transport a valuable shipment to another outpost and deliver the loot to one of the three companies. In exchange for delivering the shipment, the crew would receive a sizable reward in gold and experience for the corresponding faction. (More experience than they would for a normal voyage, but not an entire level like with Bilge Rat commendations.)
To make things a bit more challenging, when a "Shipment Contract" is accepted by a crew their ship is marked on the map, letting everyone else know where they are. You could ally with the ship and provide escort and receive bonus experience and loot for your effort. Or you could attack and sink the ship and take the shipment for yourself and/or your alliance. In this scenario, you shouldn't get as much of a reward for attacking the shipment as you would if it were your own shipment (like with the merchant alliance) but it should still be enticing.
Another option to consider would be if the factions on rival outposts offered Letters of Marque to intercept shipments. If a shipment is active, crews could purchase letters of Marque to intercept the shipment and receive a ton of loot and experience for each shipment successfully intercepted.
Either way, a shipment should not be a single chest picked up once. Rather it should be several items to be picked up and delivered within the cool-down period. For example: The Gold Hoarders on Golden Sands have a Contract for 15 chests to be delivered to Ancient Spire Outpost. Each shipment consists of 5 chests, meaning you and/or your alliance will have to make the run a total of 3 times to deliver the entire shipment. The more you deliver the more reward you get. If you deliver or intercept the entire shipment of 15 Chests you get the most experience and loot.
In this scenario I also think that experience and loot should be shared equally among allied crews, since it would be a great way for everyone to work together.
I think this could add a whole new dynamic to the game--especially with the alliance system in play! How fun would it be to have a fleet of allied treasure galleons squaring off against an alliance of privateers? Plus, having a way to earn extra experience would really help to stave off the grind of reaching Pirate Legend.
