Thanks for the update!! 25 sounds pretty amazing. Going to add my feedback here.
- Deep Dives: LOVE IT. This smacks of the instances of the MMORPG's of old. Just what we need!
- "Batteries": I'm glad you put this in quotes, it's feeling a little forced to me. Too.... anthrocentric. I fear this has the ability to detract from some of the core mystique of a mission, and that is the feeling of _exploring_. Why are we finding batteries way down deep in the planet where no one has ever been before? How did they get there? Why are the batteries down there, but machines are on regular shallow missions? I understand that you need something to activate the machine encounters.... but, can we maybe agree that it could be something like "core diamonds" retrieved from the crust/mantle boundary of Hoxxes IV - real exotic treasure? I feel like that would scratch the mining itch better anyway.
And for "Machine Encounters", if I find someone ...