I always scout locations. This is probably the best part of the game to me. Planning the logistics for base placement.

I like to find Black Forest areas near resources I want. So for example in the swamp I will find a close black forest and put my base on a copper node. As I mine out the copper for the forge I build the base in the pit. Ideally I will find a copper node right on the edge of a swamp or mountain so running ore there is a short trip. So for a swamp I need to scout the swamp to make sure there are some crypts. Then I look for the closest copper node to work from.

Put a portal on top of the crypt or mountain for quick return and things move pretty quickly. I will process the ore into metal as I go get more.. I don't waste a lot of time baby sitting the kiln or smelter.. just load them up and get more stuff to process.

Current seed I am on is a bit of a pain for Iron crypts, I am sure they are somewhere... but that sort of thing is what keeps each play through fresh and new to me.