I've been playing this game a lot lately, and I have to say I really like a lot about it. It's very addictive, and I think you've got the pacing of the early stages spot on. It's good to play a game like this where expanding is a slow but rewarding process. I don't get the heavy criticism this game has come in for, I guess some people just wanted it to be something else. So, anyway, I do want to say that as far as I'm concerned you're doing good work.

However, here's the biggest problem that I've experienced. Once I get to Weyworld progress just becomes frustrating. I've found that the best way to expand is to either go back to Homeworld and sacrifice wave after wave of followers for gems, or to stay in Weyworld and sculpt the same little peninsula over, and over, and over, and get belief from that card that gives you belief from sculpting sand, and then use Rain of Purity to grow some crops. Neither of these are great gameplay experiences. The former actually feels like I'm setting up some sort of massive industrial death complex, and call me over-sensitve but I'd rather not do that to the poor little guys. Also, it's just not that fun. The latter is even less fun.

So something needs to change here. I'm not necessarily opposed to the slowing down of the rate of progress, but the game still needs to be fun to play.