@jdutton One note that I wanted to add is that I was heavily inspired by the Mass Effect series while brainstorming this idea. A helpful way to imagine this world is one in which the advanced cordyceps from The Last of Us evolved to fight animals so quickly that fungus became the dominant kingdom on this planet, then a crew like the one from ME: Andromeda both discovered and decided to settle it. But regardless of these inspirations, this concept is its own IP.
While replaying ME: Andromeda, I remembered how unfulfilled I felt regarding the base building. For this game, I charge the players with building and maintaining a community in a world that seeks to destroy them. Combat will occur (with monsters, no less), but most of the fight is against a threat that cannot be seen. I am no artist. My wish is for the fungal and plant life to appear familiar to players, but the advanced fungi should be depicted as alien, hostile, and somewhat intelligent.