Overview#
Blue Power is a massive overhaul for Minecraft's automation and logic systems. Designed to replicate and expand upon the classic RedPower 2 experience, it provides players with the tools to create incredibly compact and complex logic circuits, high-speed item transport networks, and advanced resource processing systems. The mod is centered around 'Blulectricity' (in specific versions) and advanced Redstone integration, allowing for 16-color bundled cables and sub-block logic gates.
Key features include:
- Integrated Logic Gates: Dozens of logic gates that fit on a single block face.
- Pneumatic Tubes: An intelligent item transport system that prevents overflows.
- Microblocks: The ability to cut blocks into covers, panels, and strips for detailed building and wire concealment.
- World Generation: New ores, gems, and volcanic structures.
World Generation#
Blue Power adds several new resources to the world to facilitate its advanced crafting recipes. These ores and materials are essential for creating alloys and logic components.
Ores and Minerals
| Ore | Spawn Height | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Teslatite Ore | Deepslate layers (Y < 0) | The 'blue redstone'. Used for Blue Alloy and logic wafers. |
| Copper Ore | Standard (Y 0 to 96) | Used for wires and alloys (if not provided by other mods). |
| Silver Ore | Deepslate layers | Essential for Blue Alloy and high-tier electronics. |
| Zinc Ore | Mid-to-low layers | Used to create Brass alloys. |
| Ruby Ore | Deepslate layers | Used for tools and specialized machines. |
| Sapphire Ore | Deepslate layers | Used for tools and specialized machines. |
| Amethyst Ore | Deepslate layers | Used for tools and specialized machines. |
Natural Structures
- Volcanoes: Large structures made of Basalt. They often contain lava pools and are a primary source of Basalt blocks.
- Rubber Trees: Found in various biomes, these trees provide Rubber, which is used for insulating wires and crafting tubes.
Logic Gates#
The heart of Blue Power is its logic system. Instead of massive redstone structures, players can use compact gates placed on any surface. These gates can be rotated using a Screwdriver.
Common Logic Gates
- AND Gate: Outputs a signal only when all active inputs are receiving power.
- OR Gate: Outputs a signal if any of its inputs are receiving power.
- NOT Gate (Inverter): Outputs a signal only when its input is OFF.
- XOR Gate: Outputs a signal when an odd number of inputs are ON.
- Buffer Gate: Passes a signal forward, strengthening it and preventing backflow.
- Timer: Emits a redstone pulse at a configurable interval (default 2 seconds).
- Sequencer: Cycles a redstone pulse through its four output faces in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.
- Counter: Keeps track of pulses received and outputs a signal once a specific threshold is reached.
- State Cell: A complex gate used for timing and memory, often used in automated pulse-width modulation.
- Randomizer: Outputs a signal to a random output face when triggered.
Pneumatic Tube System#
Blue Power's item transport system is 'intelligent.' Unlike BuildCraft pipes, items in Pneumatic Tubes will never drop on the ground if a destination is full; they will simply bounce back or seek an alternative valid inventory.
Tube Types
- Pneumatic Tube: The standard transport pipe. Items move through these toward the nearest valid inventory.
- Restriction Tube: Acts as a long distance for the pathfinding algorithm, making items avoid this path unless no other options exist.
- Magtube: High-speed transport tubes that require power to operate.
- Color-Coded Tubes: Tubes can be painted with dyes. Items painted the same color will preferentially travel through matching tubes.
Transport Machines
- Transposer: Sucks a single item out of an inventory when it receives a redstone pulse.
- Filter: Similar to a Transposer, but can be configured to only pull specific items or stacks.
- Retriever: Pulls items from a remote inventory across a tube network toward itself.
- Sorting Machine: An advanced filter that can route different items to different colored paths based on a GUI configuration.
Machines#
Blue Power includes several machines for processing materials and automating world interactions.
Processing Machines
- Alloy Smelter: A 3x3 furnace used to create alloys. It does not require a specific pattern, only the correct ingredients.
- Red Alloy Ingot: 4x Redstone + 1x Iron Ingot (or Copper).
- Blue Alloy Ingot: 4x Teslatite + 1x Silver Ingot.
- Brass Ingot: 3x Copper + 1x Zinc.
- Project Table: An advanced crafting table with an internal 18-slot inventory. It 'remembers' the last recipe used and can pull items from its internal buffer.
Automation Blocks
- Block Breaker: Breaks the block in front of it when receiving a redstone pulse and ejects it out the back (or into a tube).
- Deployer: Simulates a player right-clicking with the item in its inventory. Can be used to plant crops, place blocks, or use tools.
- Igniter: Lights a fire in front of it when powered; extinguishes it when unpowered.
- Buffer: A simple storage block that interfaces well with tubes to act as a holding area for items.
Tools and Equipment#
Several specialized tools are required to manage Blue Power systems effectively.
- Screwdriver: The most important tool. Used to rotate logic gates, change the mode of tubes, and configure machines. Right-clicking rotates the block; Shift-right-clicking cycles through modes.
- Handsaw: Used to create Microblocks. By placing a block and a Handsaw in a crafting grid, players can create Slabs, Panels, Covers, Strips, and Nooks.
- Athame: A specialized dagger that deals massive damage to Endermen and is often used in rituals or for obtaining specific drops in associated mods.
- Gem Tools: Ruby, Sapphire, and Amethyst can be used to craft tools with durability and speed between Iron and Diamond.
Mechanics: Redstone Wiring#
Blue Power replaces traditional redstone dust with more versatile wiring options.
- Red Alloy Wire: Can be placed on walls and ceilings. It can run for up to 255 blocks without signal loss.
- Insulated Wire: Available in all 16 Minecraft colors. These wires do not connect to each other unless they are the same color.
- Bundled Cable: A single cable that can carry 16 different signals simultaneously. It is used to connect complex logic arrays without a mess of wires.
- Wire Strips: Using the Handsaw, wires can be hidden under 'Covers' (Microblocks), allowing for completely hidden circuitry inside walls.
Recipes and Crafting Components#
Many logic gates require sub-components created in the Alloy Smelter or via specialized crafting.
Essential Components
- Silicon Wafer: Created by smelting Coal or Silicon. The base for all logic gates.
- Red Wafer: Smelted from a Silicon Wafer and Redstone.
- Blue Wafer: Smelted from a Silicon Wafer and Teslatite.
- Cathode: A logic component used in gate recipes.
- Anode: A logic component used in gate recipes.
- Pointer: Used in the construction of Timers and Sequencers.
Alloy Smelter Recipes
| Input A | Input B | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 4x Redstone | 1x Iron Ingot | 1x Red Alloy Ingot |
| 4x Teslatite | 1x Silver Ingot | 1x Blue Alloy Ingot |
| 3x Copper Ingot | 1x Zinc Ingot | 4x Brass Ingot |
| 1x Sand | 1x Coal | 1x Silicon |