Outbound Survival Mode Tips

What actually changes

• Hunger and Water drain × 1.8.
• Temperature drops 4°C earlier every night.
• Storms appear from Day 8; they short-circuit Solar panels.
• Permadeath on crew (if you recruit any).
• Blueprints drop at half rate.

Your first 10 decisions

1. Pick Forest Valley. Never pick Frostline or Caldera on Survival.
2. Build the Water Tank before the Solar Panel — dehydration kills faster than darkness.
3. Save every 30 real-time minutes. Yes, really.
4. Never leave the van without a Thermal Tea in inventory.
5. Build Comfort Bed by Day 3 — fatigue stacks faster.
6. Keep two Medkits at all times. Wildlife bites scale in Survival.
7. Rush Fabricator for the Water Recycler by Day 6.
8. Avoid Crystal Fields until you have Phase Plate armor.
9. Fish for Pearls — they unlock NPC trades faster than mining.
10. Store a full Biofuel tank before ever driving over 500m.