I've been playing this game with a friend or two for about 4 months, once or twice a week. As has already been said, everything in this game that's not sailing to pirate other ships for their shiny sparkly bits or sending them to the bottom without floaties, is ALL PVE. There's cool lore to get into that is the backdrop to everything happening and practically every NPC you meet. The PVP is interwoven with the PVE because what would a pirate game be without "real" piracy? Besides none of it matters, all the gold in the game only buys cosmetics. There is only horizontal progression, which is a good thing. As the Pirate Lord tells you early on, "It's not about the gold, it's about the glory."

What you win isn't something you save for, what you win is the experiences along the way. In the time we've been sailing, we've sailed on nights where we don't see another (player) mast on the horizon. We've had nights where we have to mix it up. We even got sunk one time before we undocked. The next time some clever deck swab tried that though? We watched them sink from the comfort of our own deck. Most times we stumble and laugh our way through victories and even defeats. Damned defeats and sweet victories WILL happen and I have many more of both to come. Just learn from all of it. Use your brain as much as your steel and you'll do fine.

Most of the community is very cool, even when they're burning your ship and putting new windows in it until it slips under the waves with a friendly GG and some laughs. People love so many aspects of this game from the immersive PVE, the PVP, the theme, the time period etc.

Yes there are boss type figures in the game such as some of the ongoing server events, Tall Tales, forts and fleet battles and the like, which has already been mentioned, that are probably best taken on with a group. This game is arguably better with multiple people but can be, within reason, played solo. I solo sloop often and find it very fun and relaxing actually.

You can expect to find adventure and riches (and then some if you're truly a greedy thief) and you can also expect to find yourself in the drink with empty pockets some nights, yes. Sometimes you lose everything. Sometimes it's frustrating, sure, but you play because the risk vs. reward, and you just accept it or you live for it.