Enhancements as findable upgrades.

[strange haven]

Whilst the enhancement system is a interesting idea, I think doing it in a menu with stats takes you out of the immersion / gameplay loop.

Given the fact that we're a robot i think it would be much cooler to enhance our caretaker by obtaining actual upgrades. "Insert robots meme Upgrades people upgrades! here"

Each enhancement lends itself well to a robot styled upgrade.

Vitality: scarf
Haulmastery: Legs
Improved hydraulics: Arms
Engineering: Eyes
Pressure: Head
Scrapper: Hands
Battery: Back
powermangement Chest

you could then maybe give them visual differences ontop of evolving your robot to be more high-tech. You could also then scatter these upgrades around the map to give more reason to explore the non story outposts. with more difficult outposts giving the better upgrades. or obtaining a "plan" so you could craft the upgrades yourself.

I think this kind of enhancement system would be better for the game and the gameplay loop of explore + gather + craft, than a "Boring" menu with stats..

[edgy forge]

Yeah, I've always thought the idea of improving your characted by way of investing points to be weird, especially when the game world is filled with broken down robots that you could take parts from. I would much rather a system where I can find parts/schematics to improve my character instead of an arbitrary point system.

However, I see it pretty unlikely that they'd change it this late in development.

[serene bramble]

It would be fun to get "upgrade parts" from salvaged robots. Since you do already have different kinds of them. (older ones and newer more modern looking) that could have parts you use to process into upgrades. Could also suggest a reason you can't respec the points later. And would also encourage finding all robots you can. (even the insufferable ones inside sunken buildings and secret places under water.

[abstract topaz]

I would like to see module upgrades like how you can put parts on a rifle upgrade modules that allow "wireless charging" or charge share between eletrical weapons and your body so you don't have to run around with a bunch of cables connect to you and your weapons

would be even better if upgrades were visual improvements to your body/frame like you get beefier bulkier or the color of your plating changes because you now have a more dense matieral to withstand the deeper depths

[serene bramble]

maybe a weapon mod that auto connects to backback or self?

[past gale]

Yeah the point systems (for both research and enhancements) don't really feel great. It would make more sense to have a research machine (maybe linked with the future data system) for research and some kind of craft your stat upgrades system for enhancements. Paying with points doesn't fit a game where you go around collecting materials (especially if you get xp for said collecting), it's an artificial progress limitation, that just gets in the way. You constantly worry about unlocking stuff, because you might end up not having the points at hand to unlock something you need.

A system that uses the materials you collect to pay for upgrades would feel better. It should also make it easier to decide what to upgrade, as you can just make upgrades from materials you have a good stock of. If feel being able to unlock all upgrades by just going all loot goblin on anything that has the materials you need would fit the game well. (at least better than a generic point system)

[sterile wind]

Ugh. Only a good idea if the hints to find them were way WAY better than what both Subnautica games did... without a Wiki, you will be out of luck. That would be really bad to see in TLC.