@maciver01 I've said this before and I'll say it again. It does not matter what other people do in this game. It does not matter how fast they do something compared to me. I soloed the fort of the damned a couple days after release and I felt that was a pretty cool accomplishment. Since then I've heard of other people doing the same but in no way does that take away from my experience or my sense of accomplishment. I was legend within a couple months of release and I was athena 10 shortly before the cursed sails dropped. People that played back then know it was more difficult to do both of those things compared to now. I put in my work and earned my titles, and no one can take away the glory I felt by doing those things. I don't care that treasure is easier to find. I don't care that reputation can be purchased. I do care that cargo runs replaced animal runs in athena voyages but that's for another reason.
If someone earns athena 10 during this upcoming event, then congratulations to them. I was legend and athena 10 over a year ago when times were harder but those people were not. They may not have even been to the sea of thieves yet. Them finally becoming legend or even athena 10 doesn't effect me whatsoever. In fact as far back as the hungering deep, I've periodically given away treasure to people because it's more valuable to a person that can earn rep from it. If I'm part of an alliance that does the fort of the damned, I tell them I'll take a reapers chest and let them keep literally everything else.
My friend and I had the athena chest stolen from us last night and it hardly bothered us at all since we are both a10. I have 6.5 million gold and he's up over 12 million so one athena chest gone is like losing a single drop of water that was about to drop into a swimming pool. We saved the rest of the treasure so more power to the guys that made off with what was to them the single most valuable item in that vault. To us however, it didn't really matter. They could have allied and they would have benefited much more but I can't be angry at a pirate for being a pirate.
I earned my "Legend of the Sea of Thieves" title by sinking 500 skeleton ships. I did that mainly solo with the fleet battle and before a time when sloops randomly roamed the seas. The end of that journey didn't even have emergent ships that would spawn to attack me. Part of that journey I would get shot off my ship by eye of reach wielding skeletons with knockback. I lost a lot of ships that way. Part of the journey included ships dropping my anchor when they hit it with a cannonball. Again, a difficult situation that doesn't exist anymore. I put in a lot of time and work to earn my title and now it can be agreed that it's easier to earn, but that doesn't take away the glory I feel for doing it the way I did.
Don't worry about how others earn their glory. No one can take away the glory you felt when you made legend or A10 or any other awesome accomplishment you decided to go after. You have your history, you have your story, and just because things have gotten easier, doesn't make your past voyages any less special to you.
If someone actually goes from athena 1 to athena 10 during this event, that would be an awesome tale to share, and I'm sure a great experience for the crew that did it. Imagine they grind out for about eight hours one day accumulating tons of treasure, numerous athena chests, various other kinds of treasure, and multiple moments where they could sink to the depths and end up empty handed. Imagine the excitment and tension they would feel. I felt those high stress moments a lot when the game was young and I kind of miss that intensity and adrenaline rush. I would salute them for their efforts and accomplishments but would be somewhat envious of their voyage. I'm sure it would be one they would always remember and the glory they feel from it would be theirs. Not more or less than the glory I feel for my same accomplishment, but unique to them and their journey. Just like the last time we had double rewards, it doesn't benefit me at all, but I'm still excited for the community and the stories it will produce.