With information emerging about the new alliance system in game, one big question comes to mind:
Does this allow (or pave the way towards) you to form multi ship groups of friends before you load in to a game?
Suggestion: At the ship/crew selection screen before loading into the game world, add a new option for "form alliance group" Where you get to invite up to 8 (maybe more?) friends and then select which ships they are assigned to. This option would still allow for the use of matchmaking to fill slots (if desired by the group), or could be set to private/invite only.
Alternatively; A more simplistic solution: the ability once you've selected a ship and formed a crew to "join friends session/form alliance" next to the "set sail" option. This would enable you to join the server of someone on your friends list who already has a ship in game with your ship and crew, automatically forming an alliance. This button could only appear if someone on your friends list is currently in a session.
The only limitation i have with SoT is the inability to have more than four friends play together on the same server. Hopefully the alliance system is heading in that direction, if not already capable of what i'm proposing.
Thanks for all your hard work Rare peoples! SoT continues to be an amazing experience, see you on the seas! AArrrrr