Introducing the Hydra Submarine | Subnautica: Call of the Void - Deep Dive 

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For the sinking/destruction: - It slowly starts to flood from bottom to top, and then explodes, so a combination from old cyclops and new cyclops

i think the tech tree is a great idea because it gives a good excuse for the player to go around and interact more with the environment

I like the idea of the organic upgrades. Changing your ship into a giant semi-living fish ship is a very cool idea. Maybe get some bioluminece to intimidate predators, or octopus-like camouflage. Krill filters to produce ration bars, etc.

instead of the skill tree disabling going down other paths, instead have it use a points based system, where if you went down multiple paths you could get only a tiny bit of each. also let the escape pod instead be your bed, where you can ofcourse sleep. but also escape if you need edit: i like how the hydra is just the sea truck but better

Please make a custom docking compartment for the sub so that we can dock it in the base

"call of the void" is a very nice name because it's an actual phenomenon, a feeling. basically your intrusive thoughts telling you to do dangerous, usually suicidal things and that's exactly what journeying through the void is: suicidal.

I actually really like the skill tree concept for the upgrades! It's a really great twist on the pre-established system and, like you said, it would add a lot of replayability to the mod. Either way you choose, best of luck to you in the development of this massive undertaking. (I do think it would be really cool if the hydra flooded, and just sunk forever until you couldn't see it anymore)

mf did an entire elevator system instead of just having ladders now THAT is dedication

Usually, I don't comment on videos but the whole skill tree idea for the Hydra really inspired me. The best thing any skill tree needs are capstones to the paths you can take. Once your near the end, you should feel like you are in a vessel that has survived through thick and thin. Here are my ideas. They will be pretty powerful, but you can only pick one and these upgrades would come right before the end. Every path has two capstones because every path you described has two real different major points. Tech capstone 1 - Alterran Engineering. You can equip a second unique compartment, but this second compartment only functions at 50% efficency (IE half size for the fish tank) Dont ask how it fits, it does because reasons (look, these are dumb ideas) Tech capstone 2- Precursor Knowledge. The Warp Drive now becomes highly efficient. Biological capstone 1- Livin Large. The Hydra now creates oxygen inside itself at zero cost. Biological capstone 2- Leviathan Paintjob. The Hydra can now be painted like one of the Leviathans living in the void, causing that specific breed of leviathans to leave you alone completely. The paint job can be changed whenever the Hydra is docked (to prevent players abusing the crap out of nondetection) Crystalline capstone 1- Strength of Crystal. The Hydra is now completely coated in crystal, giving it a huge health pool and more damage reduction. Crystalline capstone 2- Power of the Crystals. When using Crystals and crystals only to generate power, you now generate much more. Ultimately, these ideas are merely my way of suggesting that every path have something at the end that completely alters the Hydra in a major way. Something powerful but costly, locked behind the toughest of materials and what not.

Man i just started playing subnautica again and you are working on making it even better. We apprentice your efforts . You have our love and support.

For the upgrades, I think both Subnautica's modules and the skill tree could work. The module slots would cover the basics like depth, engine efficiency, hull reinforcement and storage (assuming the Hydra has pre-built lockers like the Cyclops) while the skill trees allow you to specialise the Hydra how you see fit. This could also allow for you to upgrade the Hydra without going down a specific path. For example, you could have a more powerful and/or energy efficient Perimeter Defense System down the Tech route, but could also use the basic one by crafting it as a module.

WE GETTING OUT OF DA VOID WIT DIS ONE🔥🔥🔥💯🗣️🥶🥶

The submarine is great, even if it's only a concept! But I have a suggestion about the backroom section: the aquarium seems to be the least helpful, comparing to the other modifications. Instead I would recommend to redesign it for the living compartment by making it a "sim-painting", "sim-window", or something like that. You know, to make it more comfortable during a sleeping time, while the backroom will be occupied by more functional upgrades.

for me, the 3th option for the destruction is the most interesting not only would u get those panic last moments to make a run for the escape-pod before it all blows up, similar to how it happens with the cyclops (you could even get a tense music, like in the original game, to make those few moments very memorable) but the process of finding the permanently-added wreckage to the map, with ur stuff in it (so u can recover some of it, and not lose all of it forever) is like the coolest part it serves as not only a very cool and novel piece of modular story-telling that will be individual for each player, but it will forever be there as a reminder of ur mistakes, and to hopefully serve as a way to teach player to not make them again

I'd love to have a skill tree that could tie in with a dry dock or something. Exploring anomalies and such would unlock possibilities for the skill tree and would increase the amount of skills you could have. You can unlock every skill in the tree but installing them can only be done in the dry dock (or in some sort of home base type of thing) and you can uninstall skills to get the resources back. I'm a bit wary of having permanent skills where if you pick the wrong skills you're permanently locked out of some other skills you'd really like to have tried. A way to reset skills without resetting the game would be pretty essential.

i'd love to see something different than the regular upgrade modules we've always had, i really want to see the skill tree in this mod, but i wanna see the mod get released even more

I really like the skill tree Idea, Having multiple upgrades that all affect the performance and abilities of the sub sounds really fun. But maybe instead of locking off the other trees when you chose one, you could make it so that certain options are exclusive instead. For example, let's say each path has an upgrade for the propulsion, the tech path reduces noise but boosts speed, the organic path increases energy efficiency and generates clean water while moving, and the crystal path is slow but repels smaller threats and generates a small amount of power while stationary. You've only got the one propeller, so you can only equip one at a time, but you can switch them whenever you want, it just takes some time to swap the parts, say 30-40 seconds. During this part swap the sub can't move. So you'd have to find somewhere safe, and trying to swap during an encounter would probably get you eaten. Each upgrade could also alter the subs skin in that area, so the normal engine part of the sub could get either a fancier Alterra design, a fleshy or boney look for the Organic, or a crystalline look. which would certainly be a better look than just turning the sub into a giant block of crystal. by the end you'd have a sub that could look totally unique, and people could tell what upgrades you have from a screen shot.

this is SO COOL and unbelievably creative! I can't believe this was all made by one person

It would probably be impossible but it would be so cool if the hydra started being crushed by the depths, getting smaller while flooding and when it breaks it collapses in on itself like a can or how submarines also break when they are too deep

I would make the living quarters a more custom mesh affair so as to optimize the space allotted in the small area. A built in bed in the back of the area would allow for other decorations such as desks, chairs, monitors, planters and the like to be placed.

This is amazing! I do have some ideas for the livings area though, you could make the bed smaller (like the seatruck fold up bed) to allow for more building space, maybe add shelves and allow for more decoration options. I hope the living area can be really cozy, like the only space in the depths of the void that’s friendly.

I love how much thought you're putting into this one aspect of your expansion. I also really like the idea of a skills tree. If nothing else it adds an increased amount of customisation which I am always in favour of.

yes 100x yes for the skill tree, as long as it looks like the iconic pda style

For the escape pod, it should transport you to an identical receiving module that the player has to build. To me at least, that makes more sense from a lore perspective than it simply transporting you to this one particular location in the ocean that happens to be safe. And it gives the player the choice of where their end point will be. Also, I love your ideas about the drone module with a 360 display and the “transparent” walls module. The latter reminds me of what we see in a lot of cars today. Maybe you should have cameras around the outside of a hull as an added detail for this module. From a user experience perspective, this transparency idea makes more sense to me in a large, lumbering vessel like the original Cyclops. For a fast and agile sub, the pilot probably doesn’t have to worry as much about the sub’s positioning and clearance. It feels to me that this would be used in largely the same way as the cameras on the Cyclops are, but instead of flipping from one camera view to the next, you’re running between the captain’s chair and the module at the back of the ship. Don’t get me wrong, it would still be cool and useful. I just think it doesn’t make the most sense when you’re quickly moving through the water. Stopping and getting out of the captain’s chair to go check your surroundings breaks that feeling of being in a highly capable ship.

From a balancing perspective, the skill tree should lock you out of other branches, forcing players to think more strategically about what they choose, I do like the idea of the three paths, and generally think this is a good idea that has the potential to be really well made. Edit: how the heck did everyone here come up with so many good Ideas on other ways this could work? You guys are seriously geniuses

DUDE! I love the skill tree idea for the sub, it also would be cool to add something like that for the player, like inventory upgrades, or even upgrades like hunger and thirst capacity, getting in better shape so you can swim faster, etc.

I love everything about this. The skill tree idea is so neat, and would add such a refreshing & fun new way to play the game! The upgrades you've come up with so far are really good, and there's so much potential for even more equally awesome upgrades. I sincerely hope to see this mod become reality, because it's amazing!!

The hydra is an insanely brilliant idea! Plus the fact it can rotate on its axis is just a chefs kiss to show the passion in this mod! However I noticed that you can upgrade the depth module for the hydra and it gives me a feeling that Aci is planning for something to be near the bottom of the void as a final place you can go for the storyline just saying. Now something I would enjoy is allowing you to unlock the full skill tree, however it requires you to get more and more materials as you go before you can unlock it completely, it would also allow for you to be able to put parts of the skill tree behind the doors of those precursor locations, adding a difficulty curve as you go and even further encouraging you to try and go in.

I like everything of the sub its a great idea by adding a tech tree you can for example make more Hydra subs and use the different types of technology

i really like the skill tree idea. it adds a level of progression that i feel the exploration lacks, due to the relatively small amount of stuff to explore (could be wrong, just going off of what we know currently) something like a skill tree would add to it and make exploring more thrilling and personal as well as it would just make you more attached to your hydra as it takes a lot of time and (i would assume) recourses to get far into the tree for the destruction part id go with the name of hydra and have it break into 4 parts, the driving part, the storage compartment, the living quarters, and the module slot could all be spread across different clusters if you were near one or floating in the void near where it broke so you could have a chance to retrieve your stuff that was in there while staying as a challenge in the void and being different from the cyclops

This whole thing is a great idea! I personally love the trait tree for the Hydra, it adds an element of customizability, and Subnautica needs some more complex systems. The organic path especially makes me excited, it sounds like it could be so cool! Maybe it could do things like repair itself over time using plankton, or even better if you manage to kill something it gives you health. Maybe you could even have a distress call that brings smaller creatures like stalkers crabsnakes ect to help you fight/get away. Great work Aci!

I looove the idea of the vehicle slowly flood, completely stoping working and quickly sinking deeper and deeper until getting crushing by pressure or… by something else… Well yeah, it would be a good idea to make the fear of not having an escape pod !

Gotta love some Alterra tech. Good video. Also loved the HYDRA ad at the beginning

I do like the skill tree idea. It makes the mod more interesting and gives us reason to replay.

I absolutely *love* this concept! It's a small detail, but i'm excited to see what you come up with for a "wakeup alarm" (discussed at 6:20), as this seems like the best opportunity to create tension / memorable moments in the mod. In addition to various lights and sirens, perhaps the ship's AI could also give basic information about the threat when the player takes the helm (eg: "unknown leviathan-class threat starboard, action recommended" or something). Maybe a custom soundtrack could kick in when the situation becomes particularly dire (in the same role "abandon ship" had in the base game) Additionally, this would work particularly well should multiple types of leviathans / behaviours be added (eg: one focused on aggression, another on stalking / confusing the player's systems, etc) All in all, I can't wait to panic when I step on a leviathan's toes

Bio/nuklear reactor is also an idea for the strong upgrade

All of the module ideas are absolutely awesome. That 360° drone control room is brilliant

this is a wildly ambitious thing. I love it. I shared it with my sister so you got yourself at least... 2 views from me lol

So about the skill paths, It really is up to you. There is something to be said about making your mod too separated from the original mechanics but a lot of mod developers just want to make something as crazy as they possibly can. It would take a lot more development to make the tech tree than just making standard modules and this could easily add another month to the mod's release. Personally I think you should start with standard modules and then add tech trees where you want in later patches.

Showing people a warning message saying there's nothing more in that direction is the best way to make them go as far as they can in that direction.

PLEASE make this! This project has me so excited and I would 100% play it if released

Literally just the advert style begining got me excited, and an escape pod that jettisons you back to the surface is an awesome idea :D Edit: Also, the skilltree idea is such an amazing idea! It would add a great feeling of progression and adventure, I have extreme thallasophobia and this is all tempting me to go into the void with this mod. And I also love all the special module ideas, and a camera style room for it sounds perfect

I beg you we definitly want this. Even the void and all it is so cool ! I find the skill tree a great idea because the submarine will be completely different with another hydra. You definitly got a great idea dont let that slide !

Really love this! The elevators are a smart idea. Personally not a big fan of having to choose between different upgrades and not being able to get all the possible functionality in one vehicle, but I understand a lot of people like it. So the skill tree and upgrade slot are an interesting idea! Maybe a colour customisation as well? Really hope we get this mod one day! It looks absolutely incredible

I love the idea of the anomalies. It might recreate that feeling you get when you explore the wrecks in the main game, like you have to leave the ship and do as much as you can as fast as you can. Maybe on certain floating islands or floating wrecks, you could find fragments which unlock new upgrades in the skill tree. And possibly with the leviathans, they could guard extra-valuable islands or wrecks. One might guard an upgrade which significantly reduces the energy spent, another might give you a shield or perimeter defense system. Anyways, there are my thoughts.

Skill tree yes. It could solve problems you would have for being very deep for a long time. Buttt its difficult and takes time. I would say let us do all the paths, but give them different requirements

this is starting to seem really cool, i like the idea of a skill tree, makes the hydra unique

For the skill tree, you can lower the options and add more categories for diversity if you guys have to. But, one very, very very very important thing while developing that feature, just please don't forget to add presets.

this project sounds amazing, i hope you get more recognition for you project.

the only issue with the skill trees is that im sure i’d chose wrong and regret my path. maybe make it possible to change??

This is AMAZING. That intro was top notch! You are creating major hype with these videos!

love the skill tree 10/10 idea

I think the Escape Pod would be cool, but unnessesary. I think a claw to attach a prawn or a semoth, like the one at the Seetruck could be more usefull. Maybe you could also think of adding an resoure collecting system, maybe like arms at the outside of the sub that have to be controlled manually, so you dont have to exit the sub on your own. Maybe this could also be a mechanic that you have to sty inside the sub, to collect something outside. I like the skilltree idea, but as you ssaid in the video it sounds a bit complicated.

I’m just hoping that you revamp the escape pod to just quickly bring you only back to the surface. (And maybe to the edge of the void)

I love the skill tree and the adaptivity of the Hydra, really looking forward to seaing this come out 😊

I really like the skill tree idea, but being locked out of things seems a hit too restricting to me...

I like the idea of being able to extend the ship but only by one and it would be way on the end of the tech path, being able to have two back slots would be super freeing while the back slots still being ultra valuable.

why this guy does more than riot company and activision? bruh gg wp nice developer

I'd like the skill tree to also be contained in a BIG upgrade module that allows you to swap out skillsets for different missions. First one's free with the sub, any more are somewhat pricey to make. Also maybe have the destruction just break individual rooms, which can cause varying effects based on which room it was and how much it was damaged. For example, a slightly damaged room could consume more oxygen, a moderately damaged room could flood, and a majorly damaged or destroyed room could go haywire and mess things up. Minor to moderate damage can be fixed in situ, but you'll need to go back to base to fix a room that took too much damage.

first one here ;)

Skill tree is a cool idea as long as there is a cost to upgrading because it wouldn't make sense for the sub to get stronger without loosing resources.

I really love the idea of researching the fauna and flora to unlock new technology for your submarine, adapting to the environment as you go

I think the skill tree idea is pretty good... a bit of complexity in exchange for more customizing sounds good to me. Personally I think having a new vehicle feel and play differently should be a main concern for any mod that adds one, a skill tree is sure to achieve that feeling of being different and unique. As for your question on how the submarine should sink, I don't have much of an opinion, it could be either of the three options and I would be happy with the result regardless.

Sounds awesome, and honestly i hope the devs give you some support here :p because your trailer reeeally hooked me again xD

I like the idea for the warning screen, but I have a feeling some people are going to ignore it and see just how far they can go. It would be neat if after a certain point of ignoring the warning, there's an animation of huge jaws biting the Hydra, instantly killing you. That way, it would serve as an "I told you so" and would discourage trying to swim past the edge of the map. Overall, I think this mod idea is genius! Keep up the amazing work!

dude that clip in the beginning was amazing! i thought i was watching a real commercial from altera lol.

That skill tree concept just tripled (at least) the replay potential of this whole project. Love it! 😁

i think that for destroying it should 100% be a slow flooding incresing in strength and pressure till eventual implosion followed by inescapable death, it helps to give more use to the escape pod aswell giving chance of life in certain death moments

Dang bro this looks absolutely amazing! I really love the new submarine design, it looks perfect! I think it would be really cool to see the tech tree implemented into the Subnautica universe and I'm loving the idea that there would introduce multiple different play styles, for example prioritizing evasion or stealth rather than weapons and defense. I also think that because they majority of the game takes place within the void, when the submarine crashes it would probably start sinking and eventually get to the point where it's too deep to recover, so maybe a set amount of time where your items are recoverable depending on their depth, or something along those lines. Anyway I'm really excited to see what else comes along in the future and how it works out, keep up the amazing work man! 😊

I think that the Cyclops-like explosion is a cood idea. Also, the skill tree sounds utterly dope!

Love the idea of the skill tree, though it might make sense to have it only for skills limited to the hydra and have skills that are already in the game still be module based

Breaking wise, I think the ship should slowly flood, making room to hopefully fix the submarine. Then once the whole thing is submerged, it will split into pieces, leaving the 4 main compartments damaged, but still enter-able (Like the cyclops) Also I think the modules may effect this such as the warp drive will explode and leave nothing left. Aquariums may burst so all your fish can escape, Holograms will break and electrify you of you get too close, and maybe if it gets destroyed before the EEL escape pod launches then the pod lays flat and can still be used. This means if your salvaging the wreck and a predator sneaks up on you, you can re-use the pod to escape. As well as this, the pod should be able to be re-packed and re-used if you make another hydra submarine. Maybe im giving too much ideas though.

I think this mod is an amazing idea! And the way you designed the submarine and biomes is extremely well executed, I know the odyssey and other custom vehicle mods looked good on the outside but the inside wasn't great, the HYDRA sub looks like it will look good on the inside, too! I love the idea of one single building compartment like the cyclops but slightly more selective. The creatures as well fit nicely into the vanilla game! Love the project and hope that you get the support you need to finish, I'd bet good money that this mod will turn out amazing and one to rival the game's content in of itself! Best of wishes!

Things I would love to see: *Docking module for bases (there is already a mod for the Cyclops; all you'd have to do is make it compatible) *Able to be pinned like other vehicles to HUD / map *If you do the tech tree idea (which I love) make it bound to that particular sub so that you could, theoretically, have all the tech trees filled via 3 subs. Have a Research Station somewhere on the sub (bedroom?) and have it consume new resources / need scans of new creatures / downloads from terminals *Some big slot ideas - Scanner room, small food / water producer, fish scoop (like in BLZ), perimeter defense system module that could be automatic / use crystals, charging station for batteries, Shield generator - needs crystals *Sinking animation of the Cyclops exploding is cool (as long as you keep the music! /s) * HP of the sub is naturally low without Tech upgrades Tech tree ideas: Alterra Tree: * Hull reinforcement with damage reduction * Air scrubbers - Longer O2 * Emergency Blow - damages ship by fixed amount to rapidly surface (watch for overhead objects!) * Torpedo - Stasis * Short range teleport * Solar / thermal charging Organic Tree: * Hull regeneration * Air scrubbers - All trees should have this * Lower sound and visibility (maybe it can effect running at all ahead full) * Torpedo - Gasopod * Grows a small amount of food (or creates built in plant pots) Crystal Tree: * Cloaking tech * Air Scrubbers * Retaliation damage to attacking creatures * Torpedo - None but you get a nifty laser that consumes power that shoots from the nose of the craft * Better efficiency when using crystals * Grow a very small amount of crystals General Tech: * Exterior lighting that is AOE - Maybe colour coded to Tech Tree of the sub? * Exterior storage for Seaglide that charges it * Torpedo - Decoy Of course feel free to mix and match and these are in no way balanced ideas I'm just spit-balling thematically. You could also set it up like the Cyclops where you need to slot in the Tech at a console.

Love the tree idea... what might be best would be to only allow 4 to be active at any time, but the deeper you go in a tree, you see "upgrads" which combine certin abilities.

I am very excited for this as a crazy mod like this deserves to be brought to life and I can’t wait !

5:08 ahhh the escape pod, I always like making my seamoth into an escape pod for a cyclops, loaded with materials, bladder fish, max crush depth, and it’s always ready to head out. So this escape pod sounds fun. Yes when you’ve got a seamoth setup with a few upgrades that make it maybe not the best for long trips but a short escape run back to safety or to just get out of the situation I ended up in, it works great.

Did i just get an ad for a subnautica mod sub. I love it.

I really like the idea of having a tech tree for the submarine, because it gives the players a good reason to go out and explore the void. Maybe there could even be a precursor path, which could be unlocked by cataloging precursor tech in the void.

The branching pathways for upgrades seems like a very unique take on ship upgrading, and one I would love to see expanded on. As many have already pointed out, it would help make the player think more strategically, that is if you are locked to one branch. I am very fascinated by the concept of biological upgrades, like some amalgamation of flesh and robotics. Perhaps it would work by integrating behaviors of the local fauna to better navigate or stay safe within the void. I’m just imagining large synthetic gills on the sides of the submarine, filtering oxygen from the surrounding water. Or perhaps some defense similar to the octopus’s ink, deploying some biological decoy to get aggressive fauna of your tail.

A suggestion I have for a module would be a surveillance room like the one in the habitat builder, I know you mentioned having drones but having it function like the base game one I think would work better, that’s just my opinion though 😆

Such a great piece of work! That definitely deserves a patreon sub to support the dev team and Aci

This looks amazing! Really like the skill system upgrades idea.

I really like all the ideas that has come up so far and indeed looking into this project. It has so much potential in not being "another youtube content mod" and instead being a whole overhaul mod like fcs, c2c and rota About the upgrades: It would be really cool if some of them would be shown on the sub itself, like you did with the armor Maybe a gun could point out of a submarine, or depth upgrades could add some shininess to the sub, as suppose for it being more protected or something like that Also a good idea would be if you would need to still craft them. At least give some materials, because creating a whole gun just because you were in a certain area feels weird, at least to me Also maybe, to make the player explore even more, you could add some secret hidden upgrades, aka artifacts, that were build by the precursors for whatever reason and could be adapted to the sub using alterra technologies They are not part of the main tree, but instead they use the original technology from any other subs like the cyclops, but could still be installed using the screen with the main upgrades and could change a bit depending on what upgrades do you have. You would also need to craft them into proper modules

I think the best option with the skill tree is to have 2 branches, one for alterra tech, and one for precursor tech, you could do both but it would take vastly more recourses/time/whatever but it would be very good

This expansion may finally get me to go out to the Void. Having nothing to orient myself to is the most terrifying thing about the deep ocean.

I love your concepts and ideas for this mod your working on and it earned you a sub. My only recomendation on the skill tree is to potentaily combine the organic and crystal trees into one so there are two main trees rather than three. Then you can choose between embracing the biotech you discovered on the planet like the precursers or trusting in human engineering with alteara!

I have spent a few months working on my own underwater survival game with a somewhat similar idea as call of the void and these videos have been great for reference and inspiration, thanks

This has got to be the best idea since the creation of Subnautica

The skill tree sounds amazing, I think it would be great to have it in the mod

The modular upgrade room just makes me want multiple tiers of submarines with more and more such modular rooms. I love the overall concept, though. I also really like the upgrade tree idea.

Since crystals are such a core feature of the mod, I think you should keep to just the tech and bio trees, and focus more on how the crystals interact with those two trees in unique ways. I also think that you should not be locked out of mix and matching the two trees, but you can only get to the further nodes by investing in the early ones.

One problem with the oxygen system is that it would force the player to rush through the deeper islands, as they would have less time to get there. the time limit it adds is a great addition for single 'void clusters', but perhaps you could add an upgrade which would allow it to efficiently convert power to oxygen above certain depths. This would mean that you could keep the time constraint, but limit it to one area at a time without forcing the upgrade on the player, allowing them to forgo it in the name of speed. This would also keep the stress of a ticking clock at higher depths as well, but allows for more breathing room. Speaking of oxygen, maybe you could replace a traditional damage system with one where oxygen acts as the health bar? It would be unique to the hydra and would pressure the player to avoid damage. Otherwise, I would suggest the sub getting damaged having some negative affect before it is destroyed, or having damage be permanent in the void.

You're giving a great reason for more people to get into subnautica modding right now!

this thing is beautiful as a subnautica enthusiast i love this so far. i can't wait to see it soon! im really curious as to where you get in and out of the submarine. i also think a special dock both in your base and on the hydra would be really cool

I think the one modular upgrade could be made more interesting by having it be a Fabricator that can build each of the different upgrades. So instead of choosing which one you want at a base, you can choose what you want on the fly, but have to wait for it to build/ have it cost power. That way if you really want a place to store some fish you can, but you’d have to lose your map. Or imagine the stress of trying to avoid a leviathan for long enough for the fabricator to finish building a warp drive/escape pod to escape. Otherwise I feel like most people will just pick one upgrade and use that the entire game. Maybe going down the different tech trees can increase the time for certain upgrades, or make the ship specialized for certain aspects. Like the organic ship would be better at hiding/interacting with the environment while the tech side would be more about defense/escape. Maybe even a Precursor ship for offense so we can finally use the beam weapons from the first game. BUt only if we are being evil or something haha

A really cool anomaly that could happen is if youre in a section of the void clusters thats empty, or in the actual void, where the sonar becomes really aggresively pointing in a specific direction, and you Get a jumpscare leviathan attack.

this literally looks like it could've been in the vanilla game, fantastic job Aci!

Amazing concept! For the skill tree, I don't know if you mentioned whether hybrid pathing is an option but you could add that too for even more replay value. Good luck!