Use the baseline structure of the Ember Court to revamp Fishing and Archaeology:
- One-time unlock NPCs via questing (not too simple, not too complex), not the repetitive RSVPs from EC.
- Give them different interests and strengths.
- Set up your comp for a (weekly) scenario, unique. Maybe have more mondane ones for repetition.
- 30+ minutes long, different events occuring maybe based on your roster, playing out and benefitting each NPC differently.
- Maybe unlock Quests for each NPC and new scenarios in the process, progression tree etc.
- Weave in fitting rewards and settings while also progressing yours and the NPCs “skill”. Avoid the “you need more skill points” situation by clear unlocks of new stuff, not checking if a gating value has been met.
For Fishing:
Charter a boat and maybe (besides the big fishing trip) run into pirates/monsters of the high seas or do some sweet water fishing at river banks/coastal lines all across Azeroth etc. More than just the usual dropping of the bait and waiting for the signal. Throwing out nets, taking care of equipment, exploring the areas for better spots etc. Pandaren and Tuskarr NPCs could serve as more prominent figures (not exclusive) for the setting.
For Archaeology:
Instead of dropping the survey equipment explore the area of the scenario, find clues (visual as well as text, maybe decifer given the right NPC) and over time step by step find/recover whatever artifact/Information. Maybe have confrontations/run into other factions but avoid turning it into a conflict. This is not about grave robbing, more about preserving and curating. The Explorers League as well as different NPCs from different Xpacs would fit (i.e. the Highmountain Tauren apprentice from the Legion weekly).
When it comes to scenarios specifically this could be an opportunity to make better use of the island expedition locations. Of course you’d remove the azerite grind from this version and tune down the mob density/spawn waves to a point where it is fitting the scenario.