@stinky: In order to derive that the machine cannot release you, you must first derive that it must assess you. While it is technically true that you can derive both from the given data, in order to get one you must go through the other. So... 1. IF one derivation is necessary for another derivation, THEN the perquisite derivation should be listed first. 2. "The machine must assess you" is a perquisite derivation to "the machine can NOT release you". 3. Therefore "the machine must assess you" should be listed first.
You should be able to scrap parts for a (partial) refund of raw materials, in case you make too much. Also, a 'discard' option for junk you don't need but can't convert into fuel/repairs (like lava) would be nice, but not necessary.
@Rhino:
This genre is naturally aimed towards a specific mindset to begin with, but within that genre this game is relatively quick-paced and rewarding. The trick is to set goals for yourself. Pick something on the upgrade screen that looks nice, and seek what you need to make it. Or drop a teleport pad near a particularly rich concentration of gas, lava or minerals and get mining away. If you find yourself encountering the same types of minerals repeatedly, that is because even the cheapest kinds keep value later on. I find myself in need of iron much more often than gold. If you're having trouble finding the rarer minerals, then dig deeper (and/or make your goal to upgrade cooling), carefully choose your planets and use radar pulses to home in on stray clusters.
Thankfully the "small lava glob problem" can be solved by simply putting a teleport pad near a lava pocket or three and repeated 'milking' of the pockets, coming back to the ship to repair/unload as needed.
@zzxxzz3:
I know, I love the supports too; in my first real game I used a long jump/spyglass combo to go from a turn from defeat to an even fight (which I won).
Excellent, excellent game! The thing I think is really neat is how the battles are completely deterministic, but retain a degree of uncertainty and bluffing involved. I'd describe it as more of a cross between chess and poker than anything else.
 "Jahooma's LogicBox"){kind=icon}
 "Fort Blaster. Ahoy There!"){kind=icon}
 "ir/rational Redux"){kind=icon}
 "Bricky Escape"){kind=icon}
 "Mud and Blood 2"){kind=icon}
 "Effing Hail"){kind=icon}
 "Glean"){kind=icon}
 "Effing Worms 2"){kind=icon}
 "Cards Wars"){kind=icon}
 "Fat Cat"){kind=icon}
 "Gravitee Wars"){kind=icon}
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those numbers are only for deception :D