Alliance Mechanics....

Nay from me, Alliances are a tool, nothing more. Rare has tried to follow the philosophy of Tools not Rules, all this does is make people less likely to betray. Betrayal is quite fun, you should try it sometime. Maybe don't believe every boat will follow the arbitrary rules you set and expect them to follow. If you fell for a double-cross, that's on you. Rather than run to the forums and try to make Rare set up game mechanics to prevent it from happening to you again, take your own steps and adapt a method to not fall prey to the same strategy again.

Here is a few freebies for tips
-Don't let non-crew members on your ship.
-Keep a look-out for potential keggings if near a supplies of them.
-If the loot appears expect the traitors to execute their plan. (Fort Door opening, Captain wave, Final Skeleton ship sunk, etc...)

@the-lake-bubba

The dev team always tells us "tools not rules" and as @Nabberwar says, Alliances are a tool... They're another layer of interaction for the shared world. Another double edged sword that allows us to interact with others as we choose. It should not be partial to cooperative or deceptive behavior, it just just be "Here's something you can do, use it however you please" A "hands-off" game design is crucial to how Sea of Thieves works. The less rules the better.

The game should never imply or suggest a certain type of interaction for other players. Alliances are not there to encourage us to be more friendly to people. They're there to add that additional layer of closer-knit cooperation/betrayal. Penalties or cool downs for betrayal would be an example of the game suggesting or implying how we should act in an alliance situation, so not really fitting I don't think.

Honestly I don't personally feel that there's a trend in how alliances play out. I've been in alliances before where everyone kept their word and shared the rewards, when they were done they simply logged out and the alliance disbanded. The only alliances I've been in that were ever betrayed was because my crew end up betraying them!

Ooooh I like the curse option!

Then you can see players who are double crossers from a mile off and know not to go anywhere near them. Have played some games and right before going to bed crossed paths with people who have tried to avoid us all night that were freaking lovely people.

@sweltering-nick we have started having special cannons at the ready to disarm people. reddit had a post recently about players swimming over to you with TNT to sink you though when your doing stuff and Ive had this happen. Cannons cant really save you then sadly

@the-lake-bubba or you create and live by a code that ensures your own safety.

Betrayals happen if the opportunity is provided to the other crew and it is more lucrative for them to do it. Forts are a horrible place to create alliances to begin with.

1. Always communication is key to an alliance.
2. Barrels near your ship are a declaration of battle and should be met with a bullet.
3. Cannon fire should be returned in kind
4. Your ship your rules,which for me means if you want to board you need permission and an escort else I kill you.
5. Protect your own ship, never stand broadside of the other ship. If possible have your facing broadside to their front or back or on the other side of the island.
6. Watch your ship.
7. Trust your crew and your gut feeling.

An alliance is not an extension of your crew. They can never be fully trusted as their goals might not align with yours or at a certain point it might shift. Be willing to forgive a pirate death, but your ship is sacred.

I barely ever get betrayed, as I make it more attractive to play nice and am very good at discouraging offensive plays.

Never trust a pirate!