Now before you downvote me to oblivion I am not talking about a progression system to make you or your ship stronger, instead I am talking about a progression system to help guide new players and potentially add more content post PL, similar to the progression system already in the game but more refined let me elaborate.
Old players had the joy of being introduced to content one step at a time and enjoy the slower grind to PL, but new players are in a whole different story where they are thrown into an amazing but incredibly confusing world with such an overwhelming amount of content that will push them to PL before they even learn the ropes of the game then are basically told they have reached the end game (the title pirate legend implies end game content and the player finished the core of the game, which veterans know PL is definitely not the end, but new players don't know better).
So here is my proposal similar to how players get better voyages as they level up and eventually unlock a whole new faction with new voyages (athena), I propose Rare elaborate on this system further to provide new players with a guide and old players new post PL content. I propose a system where as players reach certain reputation goals Larrina will call to the player and give them a task to complete rewarding gold or potentially pieces of a new cosmetic set.
Here is an example:
Players would first be instructed to meet all the trading companies and do one voyage for each, learning the ropes (currently in the game)- get a hat as a reward
Larrina would then tell the players to buy the emissary flag for 1 of 3 three companies, understanding leveling - get a jacket
Players would then get x amount of gold with emissary ledger flag raise, teaches players about emmissary flag -get shirt
Players would then get emissary flag for all 3 main factions - get boots
Players will then be instructed to meet the reapers bones faction where the reaper will instruct them to get X amount of gold telling them about sea forts - get sword
Reaper will then instruct the player to finish 1 world event explaining the types to the player through a dialogue, teach players about world events - reward flintlock
Reaper says he will call on players later and they are not ready to progress with him implying players should return to Larrina where she will instruct players to reach PL through what they learned so far - reward boots
(Up to here this will help guide new players to PL and let them feel like they are progressing and learning about what the game has to offer)
Post PL progression (this will help players learn more about the end game and potentially add more for veteran players to do):
Larrinna instructs players to talk to the pirate lord where he instructs players to finish a LOTV also explaining the lore up to this point
Players then are instructed to complete a FoF
Players are instructed to then reach level 10 in Athena
The player is then called back to Reapers and instructed that they must be level 50 with them to progress (if not already)
The reaper then instructs the player obtain all the flames of fate and clear and FOTD to teach them about the process
Players would then unlock potentially a new faction entirely by hitting level 10 in Athenas and 50 in reapers with new voyage types for post PL players
From there the system would keep going adding more progression with potentially new factions and voyages unlocking along the way, the idea is still rough around the edges, but I definitely think some sort of progression system would be a lot of fun for new and veteran players to feel like their story is still going. Now to be clear though I think locking some factions and voyages behind rep is great (such as Athena or potentially newer factions) I also think most of the world should just be accessible for players to explore with plently of content never pointed out to players for them just to discover while sailing such as hunters call or shrines and treasuries. In addition most of the progression would be very open allowing players to be free to choose how they progress and at what rate they progress, or if they choose to entirely ignore the progression system and just level and discover as they go!
In short I think a very open progression system with cosmetic rewards along the path paired with new post PL factions would be an amazing system to better introduce the game to newer players while also adding something for older players to enjoy!
