I dare call this game an immersive sim. I adore everything you've all done with it so far, there's so much I have to rave about.
>> Lots of spoilers though for anyone reading. <<
You have a real skill for making things so grand and awesome, Pyramid was an amazing sight and the Golden Wisps felt like such a threat that I coddled myself and all my most important belongings up in the bedroom, just listening to the radio and watching the stars until things blew over, and all of that culminating in Pyramid's appearance made it feel like the valley forest was rid of an evil, especially from the max reputation gift. Your worldbuilding is top-notch, it's so subtle yet so vast, it makes you think, "What else could be out there?" "Are these two planning a resistance?" "How did these frankly very marketable plushie collectables get where they are?" It's amazing. The silliness of the game is also wonderful, I can imagine Dr. Kellen being the protagonist in a chronological animated comedy horror series, tripping over things while running for his life from nothing one moment, then sitting at his desk wide eyed while listening to horrifying processed signals, holding onto his Ariral plushies the next.
This is in pre-alpha 0.7.0 and is Name Your Price. I so badly regret not having a credit card yet, I'd gladly pay for this wonderful experience of a game. You've gone above and beyond with this so far and I cannot wait one bit to see how the forest shapes up through development. Now onto actual ideas, the reputation system is wonderful and I hope it'll be expanded upon in the future.
Maybe some sort of event where, at max reputation, an Ariral directly uncloaks near and hugs the player while at their desk or doing something specific, catching them off guard with a delightful scare while they're busy. If you plan on giving the Rozitals the Rep system, maybe they could send the little guard bots to your base to scout for you, and you have to hide inside and put things like curtains over your windows so you can keep working. - By the way, Esraniki's gift made me feel so warm, and now I just love the Arirals even more.
Small side bits, I played this with day length increased to 128%, I think it'd be a wonderful idea to finish that. I also experienced a large decrease in frames when in the new base, then again this build is highly experimental to my knowledge. That being said the new base is something you warm up to, which I think is the best way it could be handled for this game.
What if you leaned into the coziness of the game a bit, adding a blanket for the player to wrap up in, maybe a hot cocoa bag for the coffee maker. And this is a huge reaching idea - I can't believe this game is still in pre-alpha - but maybe a seasonal system, I take this game takes place in a northern forested area, so I think it'd make sense for winter snow. Maybe upgrades to the ATV to add a snow plough, a rake reskin for the broom to rake up leaves into piles like the trash balls so you can dive into them and break a fall.
I do hope development carries on well for everyone, and be careful with your scope on things. Demotivation is the worst.
WORRY NO
GAME GOOD, MAKE A ADDICT
DO BREAKS
LUCK