Something of a simple suggestion, but could the option be implemented for a caravan to stop and, say, 'Explore' the current tile without creating a new colony?
Similar to how encounter maps are generated when you are attacked, you could generate temporary maps containing minerals, animals, and other resources. This would allow you to set up small groups to go off and perhaps mine mineral-rich zones or go on long hunting trips during the winter. It could also make raid-less nomadic play much more viable without having to plonk down a settlement every so often. To make it distinct from a colony, perhaps building options could be vastly restricted - no walls or workbenches, but perhaps a bedroll or some kind of tent or yurt for sleeping inside. It'd also be useful to have the option to butcher an animal without a table, perhaps without leaving skin since you're not cutting it at the table.
Basically I was just surprised that when travelling, the only option to get more food was to found an entire new colony, then basically just make a bunch more food and re-abandon that colony to keep moving.
Similar to how encounter maps are generated when you are attacked, you could generate temporary maps containing minerals, animals, and other resources. This would allow you to set up small groups to go off and perhaps mine mineral-rich zones or go on long hunting trips during the winter. It could also make raid-less nomadic play much more viable without having to plonk down a settlement every so often. To make it distinct from a colony, perhaps building options could be vastly restricted - no walls or workbenches, but perhaps a bedroll or some kind of tent or yurt for sleeping inside. It'd also be useful to have the option to butcher an animal without a table, perhaps without leaving skin since you're not cutting it at the table.
Basically I was just surprised that when travelling, the only option to get more food was to found an entire new colony, then basically just make a bunch more food and re-abandon that colony to keep moving.