Place the base on a resource node
Your first base should sit on or next to the resource you consume most — ore is the usual answer. Relocating later costs more than choosing well now.
Assign pals by suitability, not rarity
Each pal has suitability levels for kindling, watering, mining and so on, shown on its info panel. Assigning a pal to work it is suited to makes the base run continuously without supervision.
Automate gathering before crafting
The bottleneck early is raw material collection. Get pals producing ore and wood automatically, then use the freed time for exploration and catching.
Keep the palbox area clear
Do not build structures on the palbox radius edge or in the paths pals walk. Blocked paths cause pals to get stuck, which stops production silently.
Feed the base
A food source and a feed box keep pals working. Hungry and stressed pals stop producing and slow the whole base.
Catch for utility, not just combat
Pals with riding, gliding or mining abilities change how fast you move through the world. Catch one of each utility type early.
Use the in-game technology tree
Unlock order matters because several technologies gate better tools. Follow the tree towards the tool upgrades first rather than unlocking decorative items.