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[Delete game data:]

Two quick suggestions:

Delete game data:
Since the game data is hidden in a .something folder (windows) it would be nice to have a "delete all game data" button, maybe hidden in the options screen, for clean installs of the new version.

Random start:
Going and creating the perfect world, then the picking a site and mulling over your three start players is cool, but sometimes just getting in and taking on the challenge of a map you might not have picked for yourself is cool fun way to play. I'm not sure I want to randomize the storyteller, but that might be good too. I'm thinking one click form the start menu and you are playing kind of thing.

Bonus third idea, since I'm here:
Maybe also be a random challenge mode. Keep these 20 survivors alive for five years without any recruitment. Establish a viable colony with regular trade and children. Keep the hordes at bay. That kind of thing.

Dirt as a free floor tile. Would recover some of the materials of the existing floor. No materials cost.

Gravel. Would be cheap. Use any stone chunks. Reduce walking speed (for defense). Reduce growing (for wind turbines.) Would not be cleanable.

I had a thought that when a Pod crashes is should drop more technology orientated stuff and less brick. Because space. So that set off a brainstorming on pods and the idea of bots. Bots being one of the things that would be fun to find when a pod crashes. Basically right now when a pod crashes my first reaction is meh. So this idea might spice it up a bit, make it an event like it's supposed to be.

• Pod wreckage should not contain any bricks or raw elements. Who brings slate to a spaceship, much less puts it in an escape pod.
• Maybe have different pod types? A cargo pod has crashed (OK, back to slate), a crew lander has crashed. etc.
• Create a new type of colonist called a "bot". Bot's overview settings are not controllable by the player. Bot's only ever have one or two types of work they perform. Hauling and cleaning being the most common. Bots never perform creative work. See also
• Bots can sometimes be bought from a trader.
• Bots sometimes show up in a pod crash.
• Create some new art that looks like a crashed pod. maybe 4x2 tile that can be broken up into scrap chunks.
• Crashed pods should leave a burnt spot where they landed and occasionally start brush fires.

I figure you only get to play for first time once, so I'd better share my observations while they are fresh. I got the game yesterday and have been playing all weekend.

Trade system. With the trade dialog I'd ditch the "drag to sell" bit. It's not at all clear to a noob, I got the coms console built and opened my first trade and then got stuck. Turns out I had nothing to sell because I hadn't figured out the zone and beacon yet. At the least bracket the amount slider with some arrows so we know what to drag. Having plus or minus buttons like the "add bill" function does would be best. +5 +25 etc. And a sell/buy all button.  The Orbital Trade Beacon and Zones are a unique idea and add a lot to the game. But they are a bit confusing. I eventually figured it out when I found the wiki, but it could be clearer in game.

My first and only ship launch went well up until the end. I spent three hours watching movies and waiting for the right trader to come by with an AI core. Then got my first crashed ship part - went from being ready to launch all six of my little colony to having two dead. Then I spent 20 minutes looking at the "ships log" and thinking "I know I'm ready to launch, but HOW do I launch". Lost two more colonist because I took them out of the pods to try something and it all went to hell. Frustrating to loose to RNG and bad UI instead of anything else. Finally found the launch button and good riddance to that place.

I'm loving the game as a colony builder, the simcityish aspects of the game. Me against the world. I love building out bigger and more successfully colony. But I am not at all interested in the RTS aspects. I'm playing on the builder mode with Phoebe Basebuilder and I already find the event's far to combative. Looking at the screenshots of the bunkers some players build and I can only imagine what the "regular" game is like. Most of them have these "kill boxes" that just make me wonder if others don't want that aspect to just go away too. I want a "leave me alone to build stuff" mode. I don't mind some combat, but it seems to get progressively more aggressive as we go.