| Faction | Reward | Lock-out |
|---|---|---|
| Brass Compass (lawful) | Heavy Cannon, Plate Cuirass | Loses pirate haven access |
| Black Tide (pirate) | Boarding Saber, Smuggler safe-houses | Hostile in Brass Bay |
| Saltforge Guild (neutral) | Steel ingots, faster smithing | No naval bonuses |
The verdict
For solo PvE: Brass Compass — best ship rewards. For co-op mischief: Black Tide — boarding bonus and the only safe-house teleport. Saltforge is the ‘crafter’ pick but you give up too much naval potential.