The goal is to have fun and sail the high seas. Once I get bored of that I play something else until a new patch or the itch comes back
I make goals for myself. Be it raid for a week this area. Or construct this type of ship build with this rare wood.
I hope they bring story line type missions. For example the Admiratly wants pirate activity around region x stopped. More flavour than this. And at the same time the rats and say the French have a piracy and privateering mission. Over say the next 10 days. Counted is the amount of AI ships and the amount of player kills or caps. And a war score is determined.
Reason for doing these missions is a certain bonus or status symbol. Ie name a ship.
Just my high level thoughts.
Magoo.