Using pickaxe as a T0 tool instead of Rolands laser, would've added some earlier level progression and feeling of starting it truly from the start with all the stuff being blocked by greedy ARC corporation (which can simply unlock all of the tech upgrades remotely without actually adding any new technology or modules to the suit or Rolands chassis)? May make sense to improve laser on T1. Also it would make sense as it feels like protagonist is just standing and watching how Roland does all the mining all the time - feels a bit counter intuitive. Adding grades of the pickaxe and potentially hand held continuous power laser (like the stationary ones) for faster late game mining and resource gathering may be a good idea.
#Pickaxe as a T0 tool
feral garnet
wheat jacinth
I did consider this but the pickaxe thing is super over-used and I wanted it to be a bit more unique so went with the laser from the start!