Applied Energistics 2 Mod Wiki

Applied Energistics 2 (AE2) is a sophisticated technology mod that revolutionizes resource management in Minecraft. It introduces a network-based digital storage system where items, fluids, and energy are stored in a digital form within a network of connected devices. This allows for incredibly compact storage solutions and instantaneous access to vast quantities of items. Beyond storage, AE2 provides a robust framework for automatic crafting, spatial manipulation, and complex logistics through its unique channel-based networking system.

Key Features

• Storage Systems: Items and blocks are converted into energy and stored on digital disks, allowing thousands of items to fit into a single block.
• Auto-Crafting: Set up complex, multi-step recipes that the system can execute on demand.
• Networking and Channels: A strategic layer of planning where cables have limited capacity, requiring clever architecture.
• Spatial Storage: The ability to digitize entire regions of the world, including blocks and entities, and move them elsewhere.
• Unique Resources: New materials like Certus Quartz and Fluix Crystals that form the backbone of the mod's technology.

AE2 adds several new resources and structures to the Minecraft world generation to facilitate its high-tech progression.

Meteorites

Meteorites are large structures made of Sky Stone that crash-land throughout the world. They are essential for early-game progression as they contain Sky Stone Chests at their center. These chests hold the rare Inscriber Presses (Calculation, Engineering, Logic, and Silicon) required to create processors.

Ores and Crystals

Crystal Growth

Pure versions of Certus Quartz, Nether Quartz, and Fluix Crystals can be grown from Seeds (crafted from dust and sand). Placing these seeds in water will slowly grow them into full crystals. This process can be significantly accelerated using Crystal Growth Accelerators placed around the water block.

To operate an AE2 network, you must understand the two fundamental constraints: Energy (AE) and Channels.

Energy (AE)

AE2 uses its own energy unit called AE. Most networks require an Energy Acceptor to convert FE (Forge Energy), RF, or EU into AE.

• Vibration Chamber: A basic generator that consumes solid fuels to produce AE.
• Energy Cell: Stores AE for the network to use during power fluctuations.

Channels

Channels represent the data capacity of the network. Most functional blocks (buses, terminals, interfaces) require 1 channel to operate.

• Ad-hoc Networks: A network without an ME Controller can support up to 8 channels.
• ME Controller: The brain of larger networks. Each face of a controller can provide 32 channels if connected to a Dense Cable.
• Cables:
  • Glass/Covered Cable: Carries 8 channels.
  • Dense Cable: Carries 32 channels but cannot connect directly to most machines (must be split into smaller cables).

The Inscriber is the most important machine for mid-game progression. It is used to press raw materials into circuits and then assemble those circuits into Processors.

Processor Recipes

All processors require a two-step process: pressing the components and then assembling them with Redstone.

The ME (Matter-Energy) system allows for the digitization of items.

Storage Components

• ME Drive: A block that holds up to 10 Storage Cells. This is the primary storage hub.
• Storage Cells: Available in 1k, 4k, 16k, and 64k sizes. Each cell can hold a limited number of unique item types (63) and a total number of items based on its capacity.
• ME Storage Bus: Allows the network to access external inventories (like chests or barrels) as if they were part of the digital storage.

Access Terminals

• ME Terminal: Provides a searchable interface to view and withdraw items from the network.
• ME Crafting Terminal: An upgraded terminal that includes a 3x3 crafting grid that pulls resources directly from storage.
• ME Fluid Terminal: Used for managing liquids stored in Fluid Storage Cells.

AE2's auto-crafting system allows you to request any item, and the system will calculate and execute the necessary steps to build it.

Components of Auto-Crafting

1. ME Pattern Provider: Holds Blank Patterns encoded with recipes. It pushes ingredients into adjacent machines (like Furnaces or Molecular Assemblers).
2. Molecular Assembler: A high-speed crafting machine that executes standard 3x3 recipes.
3. Crafting CPU: A multi-block structure made of Crafting Storage (determines how complex a craft can be) and Crafting Co-Processors (increases speed).
4. Blank Patterns: Encoded in a Pattern Encoding Terminal to teach the system how to make an item.

Logic Flow

When a player requests an item via the Terminal, the Crafting CPU checks the storage for ingredients. If missing, it looks for patterns to craft those ingredients, eventually sending items to the Pattern Providers to begin the process.

Spatial IO is an advanced feature that allows for the storage of physical space. By surrounding an area with Spatial Pylons, a player can use a Spatial Anchor and Spatial Storage Cells to "capture" that area.

• Function: The captured area is moved into a separate dimension. When the cell is used again, the area is swapped back into the world.
• Use Cases: Moving entire bases, creating portable rooms, or sequestering dangerous entities/explosions.

AE2 provides several high-tech tools for the player:

• Wireless Terminal: Allows access to the ME network from a distance. Requires a Wireless Access Point connected to the network.
• Meteorite Compass: Points toward the nearest chunk containing a Meteorite.
• Matter Cannon: A weapon that uses blocks (like Cobblestone) as ammunition, dealing damage based on the mass of the block.
• Network Tool: Used to inspect the channel usage and energy consumption of any block in the network.
• Color Applicator: Used to dye cables and other AE2 components on the fly.
• Certus Quartz Tools: Early-game tools made from Certus Quartz, comparable to Iron.

Applied Energistics 2 is a technology-focused mod and does not introduce new biological mobs or creatures to the Minecraft world. All interactions are centered around blocks, items, and energy systems.

However, the mod does include a few unique entities:

• Tiny TNT: A smaller, more controlled explosive used for precision clearing or crafting (like creating Singularity).
• Spatial Entities: When a region is stored in a Spatial Cell, any entities (mobs, players) within that region are also stored as data until the cell is released.

AE2 includes several commands for server administrators and debugging:

• /ae2 list: Lists all active ME networks in the current world.
• /ae2 energy: Displays the energy status of the network the player is looking at.
• /ae2 guide: Opens the in-game guidebook (if the required library mod is installed).

Configuration

The mod's behavior can be tuned in the ae2.common.json file. Key configurable options include:

• Channel Limits: Can be disabled for a "limitless" experience.
• Energy Multipliers: Adjust how much FE is required to produce 1 AE.
• World Gen: Toggle the frequency of Meteorites and Certus Quartz veins.