I wanted to share my opinion and experience regarding these forts, but I also want to open this up for others to make suggestions and have a conversation. Please keep this constructive because I truly believe a change is needed here.

I don't do forts. I largely solo sloop, but even when I'm with friends, we don't bother. I think it's pretty obvious why most don't do it: it's a potential giant waste of time. Don't get me wrong, I love PvP, and love the chaos when 3 ships get spicy over a fort. Honestly I tend to excel in those situations. This is not about shying away from a fight.

If we are the first ones to the fort, and we clear wave after wave of skeletons, other crews can go on their merry way, looting, stocking up, or doing some other productive task while they wait for the giant skull in the sky to disappear. Then they pounce. We've all done this, and continue to, because it's more efficient to let someone else do the tedious work. This sets an opposite precedent than Rare is intending. Those that take the risk (of time spent) have no higher reward potential than those that didn't. In fact, it's lower. I have to spend time clearing waves, then fighting off PvP offenders, then clear the loot. "Unfair" isn't the right word, but it's not great.

The issue isn't loot amounts, loot type, or enemy/boss types. The issue is time, and this hasn't ever been addressed. I think a great solution would be to offer tiered rewards for skeleton forts. Split the fort into 3 minibosses and one big boss at the end. After the each "third", you'd get maybe 20% of the total loot, and then the final 40% with the big-ticket items after the main boss. Obviously the numbers can be adjusted, but you get the point. Hell, two tiers would be better than what we have now. There could even be some indicator on the skull cloud to show the progress of the fort. If I've put in 25 minutes to clear a fort, and am on the final boss, I would love to be able to walk away from it with SOMETHING if 2 more ships are suddenly approaching. They have the option of chasing you, or going for the remainder of the loot - which is how things work for pretty much all the rest of the game. Cut and run or stay and fight. That choice is not given to a crew doing a fort.

I've been playing a lot lately and rarely see people doing forts. I understand there will always be those of you who do not want things to change from how they are, but if you aren't willing to admit that this very prominent feature of the game isn't nearly as engaging as it could or should be, your head is in the sand. A change needs to happen here. It doesn't need to be mine, but I think it would be nice to see what you all think could improve this. Hopefully Rare is open to something different.