Early Game Priorities

New to The Universim? Learn the essential early game priorities for building a thriving civilization, from placing your Epicenter to managing resources like water and food.

Alright, so you've just dropped into The Universim and you're wondering what to do first? Don't sweat it, we've all been there! This guide is all about getting your little nuggets off to the best start possible, focusing on those crucial early decisions that'll set you up for a thriving civilization. Remember, there's no single 'right' way to play, but these tips will definitely help you avoid some common early-game headaches.

The Tutorial

First off, the game's gonna offer you a tutorial. It's a good idea to jump into it! It'll walk you through the basics of camera controls and introduce you to your main goal. It's a quick way to get your bearings.

The Mother Planet & Your Epicenter

You'll land on your 'Mother Planet,' which is randomly generated each game, so expect a different layout every time. It'll feel familiar, with water, greenery, and seasons, just like Earth. This is your blank canvas!

Your very first move is placing the Epicenter. This is the heart of your budding civilization. Once it's built, it'll pop out four little Nuggets to get you started – two adults and two kids. Here's the key:

• Location, Location, Location: Try to place your Epicenter near a water source, a forest, and some loose rocks. Having these resources close by means your Nuggets won't waste precious time trekking back and forth. Less travel time = faster progress!

Once you've picked the spot, just left-click to confirm. Easy peasy.

Construction: The Essentials

With your first four Nuggets, the adults will get right to work gathering stuff, while the kids explore. Your immediate priority should be building a Well to secure a fresh water supply.

• Getting Started with Buildings: Click the hammer icon in the bottom-left corner to open the Buildings menu. You'll find the Well under the 'Epicenter' category.
• Water Source Quality: When you hover the Well over a spot, you'll see numbers indicating water source quality. Aim for the highest numbers you can find!

While the Well is being built, take a look around. If you've got multiple water sources nearby, you can plan ahead. You might need more Water Pumps later, or maybe you'll want to build Fisher Piers to start getting food. More water bodies mean faster resource gathering for both.

Once the Well is up and running, it's usually best to build a Water Pump next, as many buildings need it to function.

Food, Glorious Food!

After securing water, it's time to think about food. You have a couple of options:

• Fishing: Use those Fisher Piers you might have considered earlier.
• Farming: Build Farms and plant crops. If you go this route, you might need another Water Pump to keep those crops happy and hydrated.

Different crops have different needs – some prefer certain biomes or temperatures, and some take longer to grow but give more food. A good starting tip is to pick a crop that doesn't need a ton of water.

Keeping Things Running: Maintenance

As your population grows, you'll get more adult Nuggets. Your next crucial building should be an Engineer's Hut. This is vital because Engineers can repair your buildings. If buildings fall apart, you'll waste resources rebuilding them from scratch!

It's also a good time to think about a Hospital or a Cemetery:

• Injured Nuggets: If a Nugget gets hurt, they'll start losing health if not treated.
• Dead Nuggets: Unburied corpses can spread illness, so burying them quickly is important.

Ignoring injuries and deaths can quickly spiral into a disaster for your civilization.

The Nice-to-Haves: Accessories

Once the essentials are covered, you can start adding buildings that improve your civilization:

• Eatery: This lets you turn raw food into prepared meals, which is generally better for your Nuggets.
• Forecast Tower: Get a heads-up on future weather and seasonal changes, helping you plan ahead.

The Cycle of Growth: Repeat

As your population booms, you'll constantly need to add more of the essential buildings – more Water Pumps, more Farms, more Hospitals, and so on. Keep an eye on your resource demands and population growth. The game is always evolving, so staying on top of these early priorities will pave the way for a successful and thriving civilization!