The Minecraft Thread

How similar/how much is new compared to TC 2?
Lots of the raw materials (around 75%) are the same but the backend code has been completely rewritten - Vis is now a measure of Aura levels and not likely to come back as a liquid source - may do, but Azanor is on the fence.

Research Changes?
See video - NOT A LOTTERY ANY MORE!

Expanded upon that please?
More of a simple minigame - Cobblestone is not the powerhouse of research it once was.

How about SFX/Graphics?
Will be scaled back due to the common complaint of "Wah, wah - my FPS dropped." (I may be putting a personal bias on that answer but it's Azanor's answer at its' core).

Structure-style Features like Railcraft?
Almost everything will be something like that (See video and Research table). TC 3 furnace is a 3x3x3 structure (See former Spoiler images I think). Most crafting will follow the pattern set out in the video though Azanor has been forced to include his own Crafting-like table in order to INDIVIDUALLY lock recipes - Player A doesn't know what Player B does.

Theme/Look of Mod?
Magical theme but with Eldritch stuff being more "Futuristic Fantasy" vibe.

Lets go back to Research..
There will be three tiers:
Medieval Feel
Fantasy Steampunk - (Azanor let slip about an Engine)
Eldritch/Arcane Machines

Golems - Explain Much?
Quote: "My Version of Pipes!"
They are WIP so he's not happy releasing any details - technically done and could be released "As is" but Azanor wants to add much more to them.

TC 2: Hard to live up to?
TC 2 was far more popular than TC 1; yeah it's hard.

Multiplayer?
Yes it will be; kind of has to be. Learning the new code for SMP is why the release is taking a while.

Have you tested SMP yet?
Yes, but only at home solo by creating a server and loading up multiple/clone clients instances.

Any modding before Thaumcraft for Minecraft or anything else?
Nope; none at all for anything.

Some personal details/background?
* Mainframe Programmer

• No graphical background
• Some Java experience
• Played Buildcraft, Red Power and EE before started modding.
• Love of EE's style but concerns about it's balance lead to what became TC 1.Grid

In video - Research Grid; care to explain?
All items have Aspects. Items in grid show all available Aspects for those items.
Doubling up Aspects in items on grids will equal greater gain in Research.
Some Aspects are very rare - may even be tied to only one item; especially relevant in 3rd Tier research.
Slider Bar Function?
See former comment (Safe = slower but less item lose, Thorough = Faster & Greater gain but MUCH greater item loss)

TC 2: The Obligatory Update Question?
Impossible. Much of the backend of TC 2 was "Hacks" and the new base code of 1.3+ simply makes it impossible - hence why Azanor shifted over to new design.

Any new items to discuss?
Most old items have been repurposed for TC 3 (Portable Hole, Crucible, etc).
The Magic wand item is the core of ALL TC 3 crafting and comes in three tiers. The one displayed in the video is 1st Tier.
Consider the Wand TC 3's answer to IC 2 Wrench or RP 2 Screwdriver.
Higher tier wand will allow for greater yields - you'll still need to put more ingredients in the crucible but you'll be able to make more than one item at a time.
The wand is your starting point in TC 3 - its around 90% of the work.
The wand has no fixed recipe as yet.

Any extra points?
Thaumcraft is aiming to be a "throughout" mod; it should have value at all stages of play.

Got to ask; Magic Carpet?
Already Done.

Artifacts?
"Ummm... "
On the fence; maybe craftable as yet undecided - Azanor is presently working on World Gen item/codes so has/will be decided soon.

Arcane Seals?
No; at least not as they were in TC 2. They were far too cheap. They may come back as "One-shot" paper ward style items with variable costs based upon function (Azanor voiced concept of Tree-Harvester ward).

Arcane Bore?
"I love it but..." - It created much lag in TC 2 and Azanor has misgivings on how a server would deal with 10+ players setting these up. It MAY come back, but if it does the SFX will be seriously scaled back.

Will Exploration still matter?
It will be MORE important - Vanilla temples are getting TC 3 treatment, Azanor is adding his own structures and generally more stuff in that regard.

Eldritch Dimension?
A Lot of work. Azanor doesn't rule the idea out but if he were to do it, it would need to be more than "A simple End-clone".

Nostalgia Question: Obelisks - Why not Leyline Teleporters?
Azanor REALLY liked this idea and made a point of recording it for later analysis and use.

Will TC 3 be out before 1.4?
Short answer: Not likely if Mojang keep to schedule.

What's with the Compass Item in the Video?
Azanor wanted to keep this a surprise but does state "I've made improvements since the video; it does more."

Pickaxe of the Core's Wisp Ability - Will it return?
Azanor states that he liked the function but that it was OP - If it comes back, it will be it's own item and will cost more to make.

Corruption/Taint Returning?
No; well not quite - We now have Flux which you should consider Chaos. If you mess with Magic, things go wrong. Every Aspect can be "released" and become a form of Flux. Azanor gives the example that "Energy" could result in Lightning.

Azanor did then go back and say "Taint may come back as it was, but more as a Spawned-Hazard then as a direct consequence".

Why did you start modding?
Love of EE but lack of feel of "Balance" lead Azanor to his modding life (I have new-found love for EE now)

CAN HAZ BRAIN-IN-JAR?
Oh hell yes; even if it only comes back as an Aesthetic block it is "Too cool looking" not to return.

"Mojang stole your Wisp sound"
Nope; I used their existing sound file.

Mod Integration?
There will be an API - Azanor makes mention to custom meta-tags which will allow you access to the Aura, Tags, Aspects, Recipes, etc.
Some mod items should already have Aspects as these are based upon recipe items "A pickaxe has METAL and WOOD Aspects because you used Iron Ingots and Sticks.

Wisps in Jars?
Quote: "That's actually...Fun you should say that." - Azanor earlier in the interview stated he was working on code whilst the interview was underway (What a trooper!)

GHOSTBUSTERS! Can we have a creature capture system like the Particle Gun and Ghost Trap?
Azanor LOVED this idea and made serious point of noting it down. He states that there was already something akinned to this idea already in place in the mod but loved the idea of expanding it to "Give players a way to craft creature egg-like items".

A viewer makes a comment like "Creeper in a Jar?" and Azanor love, Love LOVES it.

Enchanting - Will you do more on this in TC 3?
There will be a new system - only one tier and it will feel more like "Crafting with Enchantments" then anything else.

Is the Eldritch Content coming back?
Hell yes.