Resource Collection: Expanded

  1. Farming:

    • Plant Selection: Players choose specific plants based on nutritional needs and crafting requirements.
    • Growth Monitoring: Regular check-ups and care of the crops. Interaction with water, light, and nutrient systems.
    • Pest & Disease Control: Managing potential threats to crops and employing preventive measures.

  2. Mining:

    • Asteroid Mining with Drones:

      • Manual Operation: Players can pilot drone craft, choosing where to mine on the asteroid, and managing drone energy and storage capacity.
      • Automated Drones: Set drones on automated mining routes. Players would need to manage drone maintenance, upgrade paths, and analyze collected data for best results.
      • Asteroid Analysis: Before mining, players may need to analyze asteroids for valuable resources. This can involve scanning technologies and decision-making about which asteroids to prioritize.

    • Planetary Mining (for future development):

      • This will extend the existing mining mechanics but will introduce planetary conditions like gravity, atmospheric challenges, and potentially alien flora/fauna interactions.

  3. Scavenging:

    • Onboard Scavenging:

      • Resource Management: Over time, resources and tools may become unused or obsolete. Players can decide to repurpose these items, recycle them, or trade them.
      • Decommissioned Sections: As the ship evolves or suffers damages, some sections might be abandoned. These can become scavenging hotspots.

    • Alien Craft Expeditions:

      • Reconnaissance: Players need to initially scout the alien craft, determining potential threats and valuable zones.
      • Expedition Teams: Players can form teams to venture into alien craft, introducing co-op gameplay elements.
      • Reverse Engineering: Once alien technology is brought back, players need to invest time in understanding and adapting the tech for their use.
      • Hazards: Alien crafts might have traps, automated defenses, or remnants of its original crew. This introduces combat or avoidance gameplay elements.

    • Scientific Analysis:

      • Lab Work: After scavenging, players may need to analyze materials in onboard labs, introducing mini-games or tasks related to material identification and usage discovery.
      • Research Trees: Alien materials might unlock new research avenues, allowing for unique upgrades and tools.