Really interesting game! Took me a bunch of tries to fully start to understand the rules but once I did I started to really like it. I think the capturing of territory and how that related to zooming in and out was a really unique take and I do not think I have ever seen anything like it. Also, and I cannot say this enough, fractals are just so cool.
I think trading with enemies is also really smart although I only had stuff for trading just a few times. I do think combat is on the clunkier side. I think the bizarre nature and shape of the arenas (which is really cools) knocks heads with the wasd directional shooting. Perhaps, if you update the game post jam, you could try making the combat mouse cursor based, outside of combat I feel like the zoom in and out could be attached to the mouse buttons instead of z/x and then have the aiming of projectiles handled by the cursor and mouse buttons during combat.
Regardless , exploring the fractal was hella cool, It was as trippy and wild as one would have hoped! You did a lot with the visuals and feel in this one and it really showed. I especially enjoyed the music, it merged well with the trippy nature of the game.
I really like how you made capturing territory in the fractal such an in depth and trippy affair, where positional thinking and resource evaluation play such a big role in whether or not to zoom in/out at any given point.
I always love seeing what you come up with and this was no exception.
Awesome work as always.