I've played with almost a full crew from the get-go, and I have to say. With my first kid on the way, this is one of the first games I can imagine playing with my son. In picturing those fun possibilities, I let my mind wander, and so I'm compiling those thoughts into a list of things I'd like to see in "Sea of Thieves". I'll try to cite existing infrastructure in the game and why I think these ideas could be supported.
Legendary Parrot Unlocked once you hit a certain milestone, parrots symbolize a true master of the seas. Equipping a parrot replaces your default "chat" emotes with emotes spoken by your parrot. Your parrot sits on your shoulder, out of sight, but different color options and cosmetics make him your own.
I say, whenever you purchase a hat, a smaller "parrot sized" hat should automatically be unlocked.
The fun comes in when you need to "use" your parrot. You could send your parrot off to circle over the general area of where a chest "could" be. The benefit is creating a "beacon" in the sky for your teammates to rally to. The issue, however, is that "if" you pick up a chest while your parrot is airborn, it will fly back and land on your chest, obstructing your view. And if enemies pop out? It starts freaking out...and could make walking back to the ship feel like you are drunk.
(The "RAREST" Parrots could be versions of old Rare characters, and one that allows you to pre-record sayings that play back when you emote.)
Equippable Skulls I'd love for the skulls to have more utility. What would be cool are skulls you could earn from the vendor that have special abilities. Indicated by the glow/jewels in their eyes, these skulls would have a cooldown.
Skulls could: Allow you to change the direction of the wind in a general area. Quickly respawn a teammate from the dead. Win over a skeleton of that type to flight alongside of you. (It would also be cool to have a skeleton armor set, making you look like an undead version of your character).
The one with the biggest cooldown would be to summon a special "skull fort". For crews, this gives them an opportunity to hone their fighting skills awaiting a "real" fort to pop up, and for solo players this is a good way to get the attention of the server.
I also like the idea of a skull that could cast a mirage of a ship or island that you can set in the water for a certain amount of time. On a sloop and need to get away? Create a fake shipwreck or Galleon and place it in the water.
*I'd also love the ability to purchase a voodoo doll. Like voting someone into the brig, you can pull out the doll and use "emotes" to do certain things to your fellow crew mates.
Capture the Flag One fun way to engage during a ship battle would be to make the flag at the very top of the crows nest an item that you can steal and turn in. BUT. This flag ONLY becomes active if actively engaged in a sea battle. This makes it a fun way to "steal" something, causing players to try to aim just right to sail over the opposing ship to grab the flag.
Pocket watches should allow you to "hypnotize" enemies, NPCS and crewmates.
**Allow one of the empty barrels on the ship to be used for Grog. If you can manage to fill it, you can turn it into the bartender. This could also expand into making planlife something to gather, to allow you to turn in "Strange Brews" and different grogs. Why just get drunk? Give me a grog that changes my voice while in game chat!
The Shipyard A persistent island that serves as a quick drop location. While you do get less for turning in anything here, what I would love is to actually see my ship being built. Instead of me wasting coin on cosmetics, let me see my progress on my ship. You can pick the ship you want to work towards, and turn in gold until you've achieved it. The NPC who works at the Shipyard? "Jolly Roger".
Paintings A cool way to customize your ship. Allow players to take a screenshot and load it into the frame hung on your ship. Take a cool screenshot you want to show everyone? Turn your ship into an art gallery!
I would also love to "bury" treasure for other players to find. These could be marked with the classic X's. The more money you leave in a chest for someone to find, the more rep you get. Players turning in these chests could fill a fourth wheel in you menu, allowing you to place this XP into the merchant of your choice, helping you get the nudge of XP if you fall short.
*A Dabloon that gives you a special emote that rolls it in between your knuckles. Maybe it has your pirates face on it?"
**Let us take full banana crates and load them into cannons, causing them to back fire like Beverly Hills Cop".
Targeting would also be a helpful feature that you could toggle. A lock on feature would make sword fights on the masts of fighting ships much easier.
Enemy - The White Whale A ghostly apparition out for revenge. Moves and acts much like a shark, but, this is also a ghost we are dealing with. Its big attack is to come at you, blowhole a blowin, swimming under your ship only to EXPLODE out of the surface. Get ready to hit the anchor if you see him coming! One weapon well equiped to take on this giant sea beast?
Tridents
Sirens Did you hear that? That beautiful singing? Could it be? A beautiful damsel, singing out on a rock in the open water? Save her and return her to port for a reward. She may even sing along with your music! BUT. Be wary. These could be Sirens ready to attack you to try get at your treasure.
