This is a very well done post.
My immediate thought is wondering how necessary this layer of strategy is for the Microbe Stage. This is something that can technically work and would add complexity that isn’t too unmanageable, but ultimately, I am skeptical about how much missing value it adds.
Atleast in my head, this layer of strategy is more relevant to the Multicellular Stage than the Microbe Stage - just because it is more readily apparent how crucial “adjacency” is for tissue formation.
If there was no space for an adjacency bonus in the future stages, or if much more of our game is the Microbe Stage, then sure, this would be pretty important. But I do think making some sort of adjacency feature be unique and paramount to the Multicellular Stage would be more valuable than having a Microbe Stage “prelude” that isn’t impactful turn into a larger mechanic. It can reduce repetitiveness and the learning curve on the player.
Unless you’re seeing something that I am completely oblivious to.