Decide what the recruit will do first
Before comparing candidates, name the gap you are trying to fill. A useful worker and a useful expedition member are not necessarily the same person. If your next trip is already well covered, adding another similar fighter may contribute less than addressing the settlement task holding everyone back.
Character development considers equipment, skills and traits in the official game description. Inspect the actual candidate’s information rather than choosing from a portrait or apparent level alone.
A practical acceptance check
Our editorial recommendation is to answer four questions:
- Can the colony feed and house this person now?
- What work or combat problem will they solve?
- Do their displayed traits conflict with your intended role?
- Can you supply the equipment or training that role needs?
If the answer to the second question is unclear, wait. Recruitment should change what you can accomplish, not only the population count.
Party size is not a hiring target
An expedition supports up to four members. That is not evidence that every colony must stop at four residents, nor a reason to hire indefinitely. The pre-release recruitment guide discusses work roles outside the active group, but current capacity rules and refresh costs need in-game verification.
Keep a reserve plan proportionate to what your settlement can sustain. Do not drain essential supplies to prepare for a hypothetical loss while creating an immediate shortage at home.