Worse was I had a run with 5 keys and no chests to open and the one merchant before boss 1... RNG is fine for some things but a few certainties is also good.

you'll unlock the ability to come across more stores through your passive tree, it kinda sucks early on but once you put some points in the tree it makes sense the way it works

Agreed.
Keys should be a randomized drop on a harder enemy.
Locked doors should only/always spawn IF you have a key.

I'm directly opposed to it being a part of the passive tree. It's a very awkward design choice that feels misplaced as something you obtain through diligence instead of spicing runs up with more replayability.
I also feel like shops should be a part of the random.
Should just earn/save the merchant through gameplay then it can show up whenever.

The PASSIVE tree shouldnt be anything other than PASSIVES for your character.
should be more like the unlocks for more heal vials, hp, etc.

They've got so many aspects they can work with:
1)Attributes like: Move speed, Dodge regen, Dodge distance, Jump height, Dmg Resist, Slow Health regen, etc.

2) Weapon based: (Not just for dmg) But rate of fire, reload time, capacity, Weapon has better chance to proc energy, even holding Pistol with other Weapon, etc.

3) Energies: Higher % chance to proc skills, weight your chances of finding a specific type on reroll, take less dmg from ___ type,

4) Then do world space stuff: Spawns more gold pots or loot goblins, has a chance to spawn a 'side passage' that may have a chest or a hard enemy or both, any random/misc stuff.



Just my 19 cents. I love the game and will be buying it asap.

I've come across a merchant who wasn't behind a locked door, just sitting out in the gardens. That said I don't mind the keys being random rewards, that's kinda how it goes in roguelites, sometimes you die early, sometimes you go on a killer run with all the luck in the world....