Overview#
Practical Logistics gives you the ability to create automated systems via reading, displaying, and acting upon data. It allows you to monitor inventories, energy, fluids, entities, machines, tanks, light, weather, direction, movement, and much more.
You can then send Redstone Signals based upon data through dimensions, giving you absolute control. Data can also be displayed via Display Screens or Holographic Displays. Practical Logistics also provides data from a growing list of mods including Thaumcraft, Applied Energistics 2, Blood Magic, Industrial Craft, Botania, Calculator, and Thermal Expansion.
Important Requirements:
- Sonar Core: This mod requires Sonar Core to run.
- Calculator Compatibility: If you use this mod alongside the Calculator mod, ensure both are updated to the same version to prevent crashes.
Core Mechanics#
The mod operates on a system of Cards, Stations, and Cables.
- Reading Data: Use a Data Card or Entity Card to right-click a block or entity. This "links" the card to that specific target.
- Processing Data: Place the linked card into a Monitoring Station. The station acts as the brain of the network, processing the information from the card.
- Displaying/Acting: Connect the Monitoring Station to Display Screens or Redstone Signallers using Data Cables. The data will then be visible on the screens or used to trigger redstone logic.
Wireless Data Transfer
By using Wireless Transceivers and Wireless Cards, data can be sent across dimensions. For example, you can monitor a Lava Pump in the Nether from your base in the Overworld.
Blocks#
Practical Logistics adds several specialized blocks for data management and display.
| Block | Description |
|---|---|
| Monitoring Station | The central hub of any network. It contains slots for Data Cards and processes the information for the network. |
| Display Screen | A block that displays information from a connected Monitoring Station. Multiple screens can be placed together to form a Large Display Screen. |
| Holographic Display | Projects a 3D holographic image of the data. Useful for aesthetic monitoring or compact setups. |
| Redstone Signaller | Emits a redstone signal based on user-defined conditions (e.g., "If Energy < 10,000 RF"). |
| Data Cable | The primary method of connecting blocks in a Practical Logistics network. Supports Forge Multipart for compact wiring. |
| Wireless Transceiver | Allows for the wireless transmission of data between two points, even across different dimensions. |
| Forging Hammer | A machine used to process materials like Sapphires and Iron into components like Sapphire Dust and Etched Plates. |
| Node | Used to connect the network to specific blocks or entities that require a physical interface. |
Items#
Items in Practical Logistics are primarily used for linking data or as crafting components.
- Data Card: The most common item. Right-click a block (chest, tank, energy cell) to store its location and data type.
- Entity Card: Used to monitor entities. Right-click a mob or player to track their health, hostility, or inventory.
- Wireless Card: Used to link two Wireless Transceivers. Shift-right-click the first transceiver and then right-click the second.
- Network Reader: A handheld tool that provides detailed information about a Data Cable network when right-clicked on a cable.
- Sapphire: A gemstone found in Sapphire Ore. It is a core crafting ingredient for many of the mod's advanced blocks.
- Etched Plate: Created in the Forging Hammer, used in high-tier recipes.
Mod Integration#
Practical Logistics is designed to be the "universal remote" for your modded world. It supports a wide array of 1.7.10 mods:
- Applied Energistics 2: Monitor ME Power levels and specific item counts within the ME Network.
- Industrial Craft 2: Read EU storage in BatBoxes, CESUs, MFE, and MFSU, as well as machine progress.
- Thermal Expansion: Monitor RF storage in Energy Cells and fluid levels in Portable Tanks.
- Thaumcraft: View Aspect levels within Jars and Nodes.
- Blood Magic: Track LP levels in the Soul Network or Life Essence in Altars.
- Botania: Monitor Mana levels in Mana Pools.
- Calculator: Read energy and processing progress for all Calculator machines.
- Mekanism: Monitor Joule/RF storage and gas levels.
- Storage Drawers: View total item counts across drawer controllers.
World Generation#
The mod adds one primary resource to the world generation:
Sapphire Ore
- Spawn Height: Found between Y-levels 10 and 40.
- Drops: Drops 1-2 Sapphires when mined (affected by Fortune).
- Usage: Sapphires are required for crafting Data Cards, Monitoring Stations, and most other electronic components in the mod.
Mechanics & Automation#
Redstone Automation
The Redstone Signaller is the key to automation. In its GUI, you can create "Statements."
Example Setup:
- Link a Data Card to a Steam Boiler.
- Place the card in a Monitoring Station.
- Connect a Redstone Signaller to the station.
- Configure the Signaller:
If Fluid < 1000mB, Output Signal: ON. - Connect the Signaller to a pump to automatically refill the boiler.
Entity Monitoring
By using an Entity Card, you can display the health and status of mobs or players. This is particularly useful for:
- Monitoring the health of a Wither or Ender Dragon during a fight.
- Tracking player inventories in a multiplayer base.
- Identifying hostile mobs in a dark room or mob farm.
Recipes & Crafting#
Crafting in Practical Logistics revolves around the use of Sapphires and Redstone.
| Item | Key Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Data Cable | Glass, Redstone, Iron |
| Monitoring Station | Sapphire, Redstone, Iron, Glass |
| Display Screen | Glass Pane, Redstone, Sapphire |
| Data Card | Paper, Redstone, Sapphire |
| Wireless Transceiver | Ender Pearl, Sapphire, Redstone, Iron |
Most advanced components require Etched Plates, which are produced by placing Iron Ingots into the Forging Hammer machine.
Gallery#
