Agreed.
I pretty much gave up on choosing city-destroying crises as they effectively reduce the game world – less quests,recruits, markets, services and “life”. It suddenly feels like I am mostly roaming uncharted wilderness, where before I had plenty to do now I can only raid random enemy camps. And afterwards I can’t even sell the loot without a lengthy trek.
It is a quest chain begging to be made flesh – clear the ruins, escort the settlers, escort the building supplies caravan, defend the budding settlement… All those missions are already implemented into the game, they just need a couple more text lines foelr some narrative linking and we’re golden.