Saw this on a GingerShadow video thought it was cool. Itβs not my suggestion but I did put some edits.
You plant a flag and depending on your bounty the radius of your Territory would increase. The Territory would have an increased chance of merchants spawning and pirate mobs would spawn under your crew. The same would apply to marines except it depends on how high your rank is. Taking down opposing flags would increase your bounty or rank.
And their would be a morality system from killing subordinates. ABSOLUTE JUSTICE/FREEDOM would be the range of your morality.