[Ideas] Technology tree, progression and suits

[Christophlette]

Hello there.

I may have a few suggestions concerning the tech tree and the progression in the game.

I have found myself often lost in the game and lacking objectives to reach. I have overcome those problems and I'm enjoying the game a lot. But I admit that a little more hand holding would have been great. Hand holding I said ? Maybe more of a direction. I know some of you will disagree with that but let a chance to this idea as it is a bit huge.

Now coming to the point : 

Technology is a thing in the game that I found lacking something. In fact I know what it lacks : tiers. At the moment there is only two tiers :

1. The first needs dirt and is concerning 6 researches.
2. The second needs water and is for all the reste of the tech tree

I was disappointed when the game didn't ask for anything more than water to continue the technology ascension.

Here's my idea :

Why not make use of the ruins and hide special ones in the world, divided by biome. Giving the player a challenge to overcome.

• Ice Biome : Ruins that contains a special plant that can only be grown in CO2 atmosphere in temperatures between -40C -> 10C.
• Toxic biome ; Ruins that contains a special plant that can only be grown in chlorine atmosphere in temperatures between  30C -> 60C
• Slime biome : Ruins that contains a speical plant that can only be grown in PO2 atmosphere in temperatures between 20C -> 50C
• Oil biome : Ruins that contains a special plant that can only be grown in Natural Gas atmosphere in temperatures between 70C -> 100C

That would give us 4 plants. 4 plants that will split the game in tiers and give objectives.

Which tiers will you say ?

I have ideas too :

Technology is now straight forward. Here are the tiers I propose :

• Tier 1 : basic researches needing dirt as it is already the case
• Tier 2 : basic researches needing water. Stopping at basic pumping and ventilation notions
• Tier 3 : Researches needing water and ice biome special plant. Giving potential to create heat, protect against cold with clothes.
• Tier 4 ; Researches needing water and toxic biome special plant. Giving potential to create cold, protect agasint heat with clothes. And "Oxygen Atmo Suits".
• Tier 5 : Researches needing water and slime biome special plant. Giving potential to handle slime, germs and refined metal. And "Germs Atmo Suits".
• Tier 6 : Researches needing water and oil biome special plant. Giving the potential to create plastic and all others researches. And "Temperature Atmo Suits"

So this gives us 6 tiers. Slicing the game in increasingly difficult situation and elements handling. You can notice that you have to handle special biome plants to be given the means to tame the said biome. So you have to explore slime (full of slimelung, or no slimelung if you don't mine slime) before being given the germs free suits. It will give tense moments where you have to think of a plan of action to avoid risks and be able to truly "survive".

Those suits would be cumulative :

• Oxygen Atmo Suit : Needing toxic special plant and metal ore. Allowing the dupe to only breathe in unbreathable atmosphere if filled with oxygen and electricity.
• Germs Atmo Suit : Needing slime special plant, refiened metal and an oxygen atmo suit. Allowing the dupe to breathe everywhere and to not have germs after he takes his suit off.
• Temperature Atmo Suit : Needing oil special plant, plastic and a germ atmo suit. Allowing the dupe to breathe everywhere, to not have germs and to withstand high and low temperature. (function is the same as actual suit)

What do you think about this idea ? Any way to improve it ? Is it good or bad ? All feedback appreciated.

Thanks for your time reading !

[Christophlette]

I'm bumping up my own subject I'm sorry. 

I find it very weird I didn't get any answer or reaction. Is it because everyone like the way the game is done right now? Do you not like the idea or will it be too restrictive to you? 

[ImpalerWrG]

It's a bit long and over detailed to get much discussion started I think, but I'll give it a try.

I think their is a plan for some kind of third tier of research and a longer tech tree.  Their are also plans for 'plot coupons' in various ruins/rooms across the map that the player needs to explore.  I like the idea of some kind of physical artifact being found that then needs to be studied (like tenured scientist geyser researching).  But I don't feel a special plant derived product needs to be 'fuel' for research the way water/dirt are used.

I do think Petroleum would be a good input for a third tier research building or in general actually making the input material specific to the thing being researched, dirt for agriculture research, water for plumbing, reeds for clothing.

Suits that are less then full exo-suits is also a good idea, we have seen several concepts that look to partially or full shield germs, supply oxygen or protect from temperature seperatly.  All which and be earlier in the tech tree and use lower tier materials from the Exo-suit (I think plastic in the exosuit recipe would be reasonable if you have other earlier suits that an fill the gap).  In addition some mobility enhancing ideas have been thrown around like a swimming suit or a jetpack which could be fun.