Space Age Troubles

[DustBust]

So, feel like I may be missing something here but maybe not... Through trial and error, I loaded up my guy to finally head to a new planet, while I knew of some unknowns still lingered, I just sent my guy down to the new planet along with some idea of equipment to bring with me.

Let me know if you can answer some of these questions/concerns:

1) Hoping this is a bug but I could not split equipment in the ship to only drop some supplies, not all.

2) How to get back to the ship after you land on your first planet? Am I missing something here? Do you have to progress all the way to launching a rocket to get back? (My main base was overwhelmed due to a coal issue bringing down the entire grid.)

3) Are the new planets designed like a new start (or possible to start without equipment) or is there real trial and error to bringing the right supplies?

Overall, I saw having a better robot grid work to ensure I could do some things remotely but it feels an awfully long time to be gone to start a new planet before your previous planet needs some attention, like expanding to new resources.

If this is designed to be a bit "punishing" that's fine but it just feels like "figuring it out" results in save loading rather than going through the motions of getting back on your ship and making the trip back to gather some additional parts or checking up on your base.

[Chindraba]

Answers out of order, but...
The planet you landed on is able to be gotten off of with having brought no supplies with you. The more the better of course, but only the tech you learned to get there, and that you learn there, are need besides what the planet can provide.

The way out is, indeed, building and launching another rocket. That is possible, as just said. That does not mean it will be easy if you have nothing. I understand that Gleba is the worst to attempt a 'nothing' restart, yet even that is possible. Be advised, however, that once you've mastered the three early planets, that going to Aquilo is not the same. Leaving there is not possible if you don't bring some of what you need. In game terms, you can soft-lock on Aquilo.

Sending down small quantities might be possible by only placing a few things in what are called by some, and therefore probably have the same placement, auto-trash slots. I think they are called drop slots, but whatever. What's there is supposed to be sent down to somewhere. That somewhere is usually close to, but not necessarily exactly at, the spot you first landed - the spawn point for that planet. Also the place you return to if you die there, or in space before getting somewhere else.

If you cannot actually split things for the drop, does it matter? To make the rocket to get gone, every thing you can get from the platform is something you don't have to make while getting a new rocket built. If the Nauvis base gets destroyed while you're gone, this could become Second Home.

Good luck and happy building.