While there is a topic on, "Ship Combat," I wanted to turn attention to the needs of the crew.
Now, I understand the crew needs stuff: food, water etc. But here is the issue: they are too needy.
I pop in, get my crew what they need (which damn near ran me broke). So, I sail a little ways and what happens? A huge list of all the items the crew just used and now they are angry. I am on my way to do a quest and get more cash and all they are doing along the way is complaining. Its flashbacks to Fallout 4's settlement buildings- "We need this and that." Is this babysitting part 2?
Daily wages? Check I can deal with it.
But the rest of the stuff seems a bit too much so soon.
So my suggestion would be as follows:
Allow the player to purchase individual items for the crew ( as is now) but also allow the player to purchase items in bulk. Want a barrel of water? Check. Want a crate of rice? Check. Need a crate full of medical supplies? Check. Each barrel/crate holds 50 supplies. And since its in bulk, its cheaper then buying one at a time.
Instead of accumulating food and water consumption everyday, allow it to be weekly or even monthly. I just don't need a report everyday that my ship mates ate some hardtack and drank some rum. Furthermore, allowing a weekly or monthly tally would give the player time to acquire gold to purchase the supplies needed.
Why not toss in side-quests the player's companions can take part in off-screen. Such as, getting a quest opportunity to have one of your companions go raid a certain ship that is docked for goods etc .
Between trying to pay for my groups needs and my ships needs, I was scrambling to get funds. Its too much dumped on the player at once.
I am all for giving the player to more reasons to spend gold, but it should be done with some form of moderation.
As of now, I feel like that parent constantly on a road trip yelling at the kids too, "Shut the heck up."