Okay so first off I just want to mention that ive been Pirate Legend for quite a long time now and have explored/done just about everything there is to offer. I just wanna give a little insight as to how its been going on what improvements/changes or additions that can be made to make the end-game more enjoyable and fulfilling.
Reputation Grinds/Companies
Now with this I honestly think that there is a lot to grind when it comes to reputations among other things and I think thats great, however once you reach Pirate Legend or have been there for a while especially there isn't much more than Athenas Fortune to grind out. I would really like to see more from the current Companies we have i.e Merchant Alliance, Order of Souls, Gold Hoarders. I feel like once you get those capped out there is no point for them anymore, I would personally think raising the level cap of them by even 5 Levels lets say would really add a lot more of a grind fact thats enjoyable and that won't feel like there is less content to work toward. At the end of those grind I would recommend adding certain cosmetics that can be unlocked for doing so that signifies the completion and the hard work of reaching that level, now I already know there is a reward for level 50 anyway but they get out shunned by other cosmetics or everyone already has them. Alternatively I thought that adding more prolonged voyages for each company would be more immersive and feel like you're actually working for something instead of just getting a quick bang for your buck, obviously having the reward be adequate for doing so.
New Company Idea
A thought has been surfacing my mind lately has the addition of a new faction, it would kinda be like Athenas Fortune however with its own twist and spin on things. Basically the voyages would have you be going around the who map itself doing certain things to work toward progression in the rank itself. I think that working alongside the pirates in Athenas Fortune would have you going around doing certain activities for them, i.e Killing Elite Bosses around the map, Hunting for Rare Chests, and having to complete certain puzzles to unlock pieces for them so they can try to regain what they once were. At then end of doing so and after earning enough reputation, whether that be max level or not, you would unlock an Ethereal Ghostly form, just like they are. You can unlock different colors of the form by completely a variety of even more difficult achievements/accommodations for them. All of that may seem jumbled a bit, but the introduction of a new and impactful company to grind for with very interesting rewards for the time put in would allow for players to have more of an idea of what to do at end-game.
New Area
Now i'm sure that something has got to be in the wood-workings for this but I just like to give a thought on it as well. If the Sea of Thieves is an alternate universe per-say, you could add a whole new area if you really chose to do so, might be taxing to create hence why i'm not super optimistic about it as anyone would but the thought is just something that could be new and existing to new/veteran players alike. Now adding just onto the Map and world we already have, I would recommend adding a new area based on the afterlife/undead. I think that something like that would fit perfectly into this game based on its lore and other creative content. You could honestly just have something simple with the new area by having the undead/skeletons become harder to kill and way stronger, to adding a completely new and inventive PvE aspect to it. Obviously making the loot and the troubles become more worthy to be gotten for, kinda like the Devil's Roar. I feel that adding some more reason to explore islands too among the fact that companies tell you to go there would allow for players to feel more immersed and would give them more of an incentive to adventure. Overall I think that adding a new area to the current map we have would just peak players adventurous instincts to want to explore, and cause people to want to do more within the game itself.
Skeletal Crews AI
I know there is some Pirates on the Sea who don't really have people to play with and I know for sure there is some people out there that can't rely on random people to do work or be friendly with them, or maybe they just a more laid back approach to things. Now I know that might sound confusing but here me out, if the have the ability to program Skeletal AI to do literally just about everything in the game currently, I would really like to see them add a AI Crew that you could have with you. I know that's a long shot but I could see it happen, they stay back and attend to the ship i.e repairs, pale water, use cannons if enemy ships are nearby, and will attack enemy players if they aboard your ship. An idea to make it balanced would be to add a certain toggle so you can have the AI crew react to certain things in the world, whether it be passive, or aggressive to anything. Like I said I know this whole idea is a long-shot as I've stated but it's something interesting that I feel like would work if done correctly.
Now after reading all of that I would like to hear your thoughts on it, and if a Rare Developer(s) has any opinions on any of this as well. A lot of stuff that I mentioned is just things I've noticed throughout my time of sailing the seas and from what others have told me, take all of that with a grain of salt but definitely think about it and let me know what you think!
-Vindictive nK
