The WPE's are right now lackluster... You cant take them as a new player and by the time you can take them on their reward vs risk is not worth it. They have minimal gold, no resources, hardly any drops. The big ones are tough to kill.
Either scale them in difficulty based on distance from Freeport or on size of the island or something but right now it simply isn't worth confronting them.
Here is an idea, Have them hoard unsecured treasure maps...Ones you can dig up without the damned summoning and they offer 700-1100 gold. I can make that diving shipwrecks or hunting whales...Killing pirate gangs and taking over an island? 2 houses 48 gold and some fish jerky IF i'm lucky. It's fun yes but it is NOT practical for single player.
