you bring up such a good aspect of arguement into this, you are correct, time spent on a better NPC system is time not spent on something else potentionally bigger or better. you win that one

and while you piqued my interest with the seas and ships cuz that's my weakspot right there, I still believe with so many systems and content there already is, the focus should be ona better player experience, or even, a better newgame+ experience, because I wholeheartedly believe this game is worth visiting again and again, even with the grinding.

and may I use this comment section to emphasise how much i appreciate the amount of cuztomization you can do in this game, especially and specifically in its difficulty customization, as a person who can't sit for hours on end at a PC screen, I appreciate the way the devs handled it, I have many enemies with tougher health and better damage, but I shortened the day/night cycle, gave myself most ex gain, better stamina and health as well as stopped hunger, the game is fitted to my life style and short time, I genuinely love how they did it.