Tutorial:New Pioneer Guide
This article is copied from this Reddit Comment, along with additional advice for Space Elevator Project Assembly, by Temporal_Illusion.
Welcome Pioneer! Your Greatest Adventure Has Just Begun.
- If this is your first play-through, it is recommended that you start in Start Area 1 (Grass Fields Biome) or Start Area 2 (Rocky Desert Biome).
- You CAN start in Start Area 3 (Northern Forest Biome) or Start Area 4 (Dune Desert Biome). However, both of these Start Areas should be saved for your 2nd or subsequent play-throughs as they are more difficult.
Factories
🚩 Best Advice, at least in the beginning, is Build don't Plan.
Until you get to Tier 5 / Tier 6 and beyond the "Layout Planning" of a "Factory" is mostly useless, and a waste of time, as most early "Factories" and "Production Lines" are dismantled to make way for better, more efficient designs.
Tier 0 - Tier 4, also known as the "Age of Conveyor Spaghetti", is fun and where you learn what works and what does not. The best "Plan" for early on (Tier 0 through Tier 4) is build to accomplish Tier Milestone Goals, MAM Research Needs, and Space Elevator Project Assembly Parts, but don't worry too much about making things "efficient", "perfectly aligned", "painted / pretty", "walled in", etc. The use of Foundations is highly recommended to help build on a level surface, or help in exploration by bridging gaps and/or climbing tall rocks and cliffs.
Then at Tier 5, the start of "Age of Expansion", things get serious, and you can, if you wish, leave your Tier 0 through Tier 4 "Alpha Base Factory" in place, and move to a new untouched area on the Planet and begin a "Beta Base New Planned Factory" that connects with your Alpha Base, that combined will eventually support your long term "vision" for how you see your Late Game Productions in the distant future.
When you reach Tier 7 and beyond, the start of "Age of Power" where things get electrifyingly complex, you should have a good idea of your "style of play" (Vanilla or Modded) and know how to properly plan any "Factory".
World Map
You need to keep in mind that there is just one World Map.
When you begin game, you will normally just hang out in near the Start Area you chose upon starting the Game.
Later, upon reaching Tier 5 / Tier 6 you will begin to expand outward to other areas, and by Tier 9 (current Max Tier) you will have most likely covered most of the Map.
❗IMPORTANT: Avoid the high plateau located in western half of the Map consisting of the Red Jungle Biome and Red Bamboo Fields Biome until you reach Tier 7 (or later) as this area of the Map is the most dangerous due to presence of Uranium, and Nuclear Hogs, and other Alpha Level Creatures. The Swamp Biome to the east is also very dangerous for the same reasons and extreme caution needs to be taken if going there.
Initial Power
- During Tier 0 through Tier 2 you rely on Biomass Burner Generators (BBGs) and lots of effort gathering / producing
Biomass to feed the 
BBGs. - Feeding BBG's is a pain, even with the new Version 1.0 ability to automate feeding since you still need to gather Biomass, and that is why most Pioneers will rush to Tier 3 where they can unlock Coal Power Generators and for the most part put BBGs in their rear view mirror.
- Additionally, view Temporal_Illusion's Reply Comment in this related Reddit Post about the use of
Liquid Biofuel and how to automate 
Solid Biofuel Production.
- Solid Biofuel is best for BBGs, and can be used in
Jetpacks dropped by Jetpack Hogs for those in Tier 2 thru Tier 4 before Jetpacks are unlocked in Tier 5. - Liquid Biofuel is not really used by most Pioneers, but becomes useful once you get a Jetpack in Tier 6.
As you increase in Tier Level, your "power requirement" will increase as you continue to expand your factories.
✓ When you reach Tier 3 / Tier 4 then it is recommended that you read Temporal_Illusion's Early / Beginner Tips in Reply Comment found here for help setting up Coal Power.
Creature Control
- Along the way the Pioneer will run into hostile Creatures like Flying Crab Hatchers / Flying Crabs, Fluffy-tail Hogs and Alpha Hogs, Spitters, and Stingers (Spiders / Arachnophobia Safe Link)
- These Creatures are handled using available Weapons, which for New Pioneers will be the
Xeno-Zapper and the 
Xeno-Basher and later projectile Weapons (
Rebar Gun / 
Rifle) and Bombs (
Nobelisk). Also the 
Boom Box can be used as an effective "weapon" against 
Flying Crabs. - If Player wishes, there are some In-Game Settings (Options) to help with Creatures.
- For those with Arachnophobia there is Arachnophobia Mode that turns Stingers (spider-like creatures) to 2D cat sprites.
- Added in Update 7, the use of the Creature Hostility Setting of Passive makes exploration easier.
- Added in Update 8, the use of Advanced Game Settings - Disable Arachnid Creatures will eliminate Stingers (including annoying "Cats") from your Game. This is separate from Arachnophobia Mode and Creature Hostility Settings.
- NOTE: Use of Advanced Game Settings will prevent you from earning Achievements (Spoiler)
Space Elevator
If from the beginning you continually make Project Assembly Parts, and store the excess until you have the max total needed of each, it helps when it comes time to make the next Phase.
- View Space Elevator - Total Number of Parts Needed for information on the max total needed of each Project Assembly Part per Phase and all Phases.
- Bottom line, when it comes to Project Assembly Parts, make and store what you need, then continue production and send the rest to the AWESOME Sink.
Gameplay Controls
Head over to Controls to learn various hotkeys and capabilities you have at your disposal.
30 Tips Every New Pioneer Needs To Know
➔ View Temporal_Illusion's Reddit Post (Video Bookmarks) for lots of great Tips that everyone can use.
Video Guides
Build It, Customize It, Enjoy It, Share It ™