Overview#
Ex Astris is an essential bridge mod designed specifically for the 1.7.10 version of Ex Nihilo. Its primary purpose is to allow players in Skyblock-style environments to access content from other popular mods that would otherwise be unavailable due to the lack of a traditional world generator.
By adding specialized blocks like the Automatic Sieve and Automatic Hammer, as well as summoning items known as 'Dolls,' Ex Astris enables the automation of resource gathering and the spawning of mod-specific mobs. It features extensive compatibility with Thermal Expansion, Thaumcraft, Blood Magic, Metallurgy, MineFactory Reloaded, and TConstruct.
Summoning Dolls#
Dolls are consumable items used to summon specific elemental mobs from Thermal Expansion. To use a doll, it must be placed into a Barrel filled with a specific liquid. After a short processing time, the doll will transform the liquid into the corresponding mob.
Doll Types and Effects
| Item | Liquid Required | Mob Summoned | Mod Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freezing Doll | Water | Blizz | Thermal Expansion |
| Floating Doll | Water | Blitz | Thermal Expansion |
| Smoldering Doll | Lava | Basalz | Thermal Expansion |
Crafting the Dolls
All dolls begin with an Unfired Porcelain Doll, crafted by surrounding a Diamond with Porcelain Clay. Once fired in a furnace, the Porcelain Doll is combined with specific catalysts:
- Freezing Doll: Porcelain Doll + Snowball + Netherdirt.
- Floating Doll: Porcelain Doll + Glowstone Dust + Gunpowder.
- Smoldering Doll: Porcelain Doll + Blaze Powder + Redstone Dust.
Automation Blocks#
Ex Astris introduces high-tier machinery to automate the tedious tasks of sieving and hammering, powered by Redstone Flux (RF).
Automatic Sieve
The Automatic Sieve functions identically to a manual sieve but operates using RF. It can be upgraded to increase its efficiency and speed.
- Internal Buffer: 10,000 RF
- Usage: 40 RF/t (base)
- Slots: Input slot, Mesh slot, and 21 output slots.
Automatic Hammer
The Automatic Hammer automatically breaks down blocks (Stone to Cobblestone, Cobblestone to Gravel, etc.) just like a manual hammer. It requires RF to operate and can be upgraded.
- Internal Buffer: 10,000 RF
- Usage: 40 RF/t (base)
Machine Upgrades
Both the Automatic Sieve and Hammer can accept upgrades to modify their behavior:
- Speed Upgrade: Increases the processing speed but significantly increases the RF cost per tick.
- Fortune Upgrade: Increases the chance of obtaining rare drops from the sieving process. This upgrade is expensive, requiring high-tier materials like Emeralds or Diamonds.
Thaumcraft Integration#
Ex Astris provides several tools and blocks to bridge the gap between Ex Nihilo and Thaumcraft, allowing for the progression of magic in a void world.
Thaumium Barrel
The Thaumium Barrel is an upgraded version of the standard wooden or stone barrel. It is required for specific high-level transformations and is highly resistant to the corrosive effects of certain fluids.
- Usage: Fill with Water and add a Freezing Doll to summon a Blizz.
- Witchwater: Used to create Witchwater by placing it near Mycelium, which can then be used to transform mobs (e.g., Skeleton into Wither Skeleton).
Items and Tools
- Thaumium Hammer: A durable hammer that can be enchanted and has a higher mining level than iron.
- Thaumium Crook: Used to pull silkworms from leaves with higher durability than wooden variants.
- Vis-Infused Seeds: Obtained by sieving certain materials, these allow for the growth of shards or other Thaumcraft-related plants.
Advanced Tools and Equipment#
The mod adds various tools made from materials provided by other mods to ensure consistent power scaling.
Hammers and Crooks
| Material | Tool Type | Special Properties |
|---|---|---|
| Invar | Hammer/Crook | High durability, mid-tier efficiency. |
| Electrum | Hammer/Crook | Very high speed, low durability. |
| Thaumium | Hammer/Crook | High enchantability. |
| Flux-Infused | Hammer/Crook | Uses RF instead of durability (requires Redstone Arsenal). |
| Bone | Crook | Early game upgrade over wood, crafted from Bone Meal. |
| Reed | Crook | Crafted from Sugar Cane, very low durability but easy to mass-produce. |
Bee Trap
For integration with Forestry, the Bee Trap can be placed in a barrel of Seed Oil to produce Hive Fragments, which are essential for starting apiculture in a skyblock world.
Mechanics and Logic#
Ex Astris modifies several core Ex Nihilo mechanics to account for external mod ores and items.
Sieve Logic Changes
When Ex Astris is installed, the Sieve table is expanded to include:
- Metallurgy Ores: Copper, Tin, Silver, Lead, etc., can be found by sieving Gravel, Sand, and Dust.
- Tinkers' Construct: Ore Berries can be obtained through sieving at a low probability.
- Chisel: Various Chisel stones (Marble, Limestone) can be obtained as stones from sieving Cobblestone.
Hammering Logic
Ex Astris adds the ability to hammer blocks from other mods. For example, hammering compressed blocks from 'Extra Utilities' will yield the equivalent amount of crushed material, saving time for the player.
Configuration#
The mod is highly configurable via the ExAstris.cfg file. Server owners and pack creators can toggle the following:
- Mod Support: Enable or disable integration for specific mods (e.g., disable Thaumcraft support if the mod is not present).
- Drop Rates: Adjust the percentage chance for specific items to drop from the Sieve.
- RF Costs: Modify the energy consumption of the Automatic Sieve and Automatic Hammer.
- Barrel Processing: Change the speed at which barrels process items or transform liquids.
