Is there not a true creative mode in the game?

[CipherDec]

As someone who is coming from a game like Space Engineers where I can contextualize a design without having resources then moving it into a server via blue print is very important I would think. Is that not an option here. With full building skills but still requires resource gathering.

Is there a mod or something I can get that lets me build or is there a key in survival that I'm missing?

[Antineutron]

there is creative mode you pick when you start new game

[VulcanTourist]

Originally posted by CipherDec:

Is there a mod or something I can get that lets me build or is there a key in survival that I'm missing?

Use Creative mode when starting a game, or "cheat" and use itemmenu from the command console in other game modes to enable the same free materials menu available in Creative. Why ask the question before you've tried to start a single game? If you had, you would have seen Creative mode.

[EzRyder]

everything you want is there, i usually create my ships in 'creative mode' where i have no cost and no threat, then i use console commands to 'free spawn' them in a SP survival game to test them against enemies. you can effectively turn survival into creative also with just a few console (~) commands such as
sbp = spawn blue prints (allows spawning any bp for free)
im = item menu (enables the free item menu for parts)
the tilde (~) key brings up the console
for more console commands https://empyrion.gamepedia.com/Console_Commands

to get to 'creative mode' click the start new SP game then choose Creative (its not evident its there from the main screen but it is)

[ravien_ff]

Creative mode in addition to giving you access to the item menu for unlimited resources, built in god mode, and a map optimized for building (flatter, smaller), you also have access to the creative mode tools such as copy, paste, delete, fill, undo/redo, etc.

[CipherDec]

Cool finally found by pressing H lets you access blocks in creative mode.

[Sparrowhawk65]

I remember seeing a few seconds of a video where a creative mode started in space gives you a station with loads of information panels inside a space station you spawn at. I never tried it so presume it's still there,

[VulcanTourist]

Originally posted by Sparrowhawk65:

I remember seeing a few seconds of a video where a creative mode started in space gives you a station with loads of information panels inside a space station you spawn at. I never tried it so presume it's still there,

When you choose Creative orbital start, the orbital base has been completely redesigned in 10 or 11 to take full advantage of the new LCD Projectors to turn the entire station into one big walk-through tutorial.