could go the hole in the ground route and allow for exploration even if you lose resources by doing so
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That's absolutely an option I'm exploring but it changes the pacing of the entire game so it would require a LOT of extra testing to confirm if that feeling is better or worse. Additionally, I have to make sure a change like that wouldn't allow for a soft-lock to occur due to wasting a resource you later might need to move forward.
Coincidentally, the fact that you can't explore further because you hit the max of a resource actually is inspired from YFAHITG, though in that game the resource you have to stop exploring if you hit the max of is Treasure.