Applied Energistics 2
Applied Energistics 2 (v15.4.10) is the pack’s endgame digital storage-and-autocrafting system, built around the ME (Matter Energy) Network: a web of cables carrying both power and “channels” (bandwidth for connected devices) that links Drives full of Storage Cells, Terminals, and processing machines into one searchable, sortable inventory. Instead of a wall of labeled chests, players insert items once and pull any of them from any linked Terminal; a Crafting CPU can be taught multi-step recipes (“patterns”) and then auto-craft entire chains of intermediate materials on demand. Getting started leans on real-world AE2 progression — meteorite hunting for Certus Quartz and Charged Certus Quartz, then Inscribers pressing Silicon/Logic/Calculation/Engineering Processors — reflected directly in the pack’s Quest Book chapter (applied_energistics_2.snbt, 298 quests, icon ae2:controller), whose early quests are literally titled “Preparing to Find Meteorites 1/2”, “Your First Meteorite”, and “Inscriber Presses.” AE2 sits at position 4 of 7 in the Quest Book’s intended order, ahead of Create and Industrial Revolution — the pack expects players to have a functioning ME network before tackling the heavier tech trees.
AE2 ships its own in-game documentation system (a custom Guide book renderer, not the Patchouli framework other guidebook mods use) rather than a lexicon-style item. Under the hood, this server’s config reveals some deliberate tuning: Spatial IO (the pinning/duplication-prevention storage-teleport system) costs scale with spatialPowerExponent = 1.35, meaning larger spatial regions get disproportionately more expensive to store; and — notably — AE2 ships a built-in power-conversion ratio for Tech Reborn (PowerRatios.TechReborn = 2.0), meaning AE2’s own energy storage natively understands and converts Tech Reborn’s power values without needing a separate compat mod.
AE2 is also this pack’s most-extended mod: ExtendedAE, MEGA Cells, ME Requester, AE2WTLib, Applied Botanics, and Polymorphic Energistics all build directly on top of its network, cells, and crafting APIs rather than being standalone systems.
Anticipated questions
Q: What is AE2 for? A: It’s the pack’s endgame digital storage-and-autocrafting system, built on the ME Network — insert items once and pull any of them from any linked Terminal, with a Crafting CPU auto-crafting multi-step recipes on demand. See Storage & Applied Energistics — Getting Started.
Q: How do I get started? A: Real AE2 progression — meteorite hunting for Certus Quartz and Charged Certus Quartz, then Inscribers pressing Silicon/Logic/Calculation/Engineering Processors — mirrored in the Quest Book’s early quests (“Preparing to Find Meteorites”, “Your First Meteorite”, “Inscriber Presses”).
Q: Where does it sit in progression? A: Position 4 of 7 in the Quest Book, ahead of Create and Industrial Revolution — the pack expects a functioning ME network before the heavier tech trees.
Q: Does it tie into the other tech mods?
A: Yes — it has a built-in power ratio for Tech Reborn (PowerRatios.TechReborn = 2.0), and it’s the pack’s most-extended mod: ExtendedAE, MEGA Cells, ME Requester, AE2WTLib, Applied Botanics, and Polymorphic Energistics all build on it.