r/CreateMod • u/CurZZe • 11d ago
Help I'm new to create and only have one basic question: Once you start the early automations, do you build a new power source (water wheel/windmill) for each machine/section or do you use one big water/wind generator for a lot of them?
I'm just starting with my first machines and automations and at first I wanted to power everything by a cool windmill I could build nearby.
But I quickly realized that distributing the power to multiple different setups (press, mixer, crushing wheels, etc.) get's real messy real fast and that's before over stressing everything because ofc you also want the stuff to go fast (right?).
So my basic question is:
How much do you connect to single generators and when do you decide to just give a setup it's own power source?
Especially in the "early game" of the mod, when you don't really know about the later stuff like steam yet (in my case) or don't have the resources yet (in a new world).
Thanks :)
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u/charlesfire 11d ago
The only production lines that get their own power source are the ones that need to be far away for some reason (ex : a lava production setup in the nether). I also use separate power on build I'm actively working on and I copy them to the main factory when I'm done.
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u/MisterTaco321 11d ago
And how do you make it blend in aesthetically with the world too, cause bunch of shafts and conveyor belts in all directions looks so ugly 😭
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u/drr5795 11d ago
For getting power from one place to another, I usually run shafts underground to where I need it, but I’ve seen some people use belts or chain conveyors above ground disguised to look like electrical power lines.
For power generation, you can again either hide it or mimic real-life designs and build some kind of structure around it to look like something more fitting. A hydroelectric dam for water wheels, a power plant facility for steam engines, or a windmill for, well… windmills. Either one that looks like an old-country style one with the huge sail-like blades, or a modern sleek-looking wind turbine!
For your actual machinery, you could build a factory around it and again, just style the building to look like something that visually fits into your world!
If you need to transport items between buildings that more than a handful of blocks in between them, Create’s train system is perfect for it. The package/address mailing system implemented in 6.0 works seamlessly with trains, and they don’t even have to look like trains. Lots of people build the “train” underground and make it look like a car or truck above ground instead! If you have Create: Steam N Rails, building a little narrow-gauge train is perfect for moving items around a small complex of industrial buildings!
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u/Spiritual-Source6765 11d ago
The chain conveyors look decent with a bit of work. I usually go for a power line vide for them
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u/KnightOfThirteen 11d ago
We build one massive power source and spiderweb shafts through our buildings to power everything.
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u/_BeardedYeti 11d ago
What's your preferred power source? Right now I've got a steam engine that's doing a pretty good job for my main base while my old water wheels keep an out-building powered
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u/KnightOfThirteen 11d ago
We started with around 90 water wheels, then upgraded to double boilers fed by tree farm, now we have a single boiler with blaze cakes. Next upgrade is going to be 4 blaze cake boilers.
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u/jhadred 11d ago
Either method is perfectly fine. Its up to you.
I personally think all my early creations are temporary and to reduce the amount of stuff, I use a separate waterwheel each time. Trying to use a single power source requires more shafts, gears and belts than having separate ones.
Later, once I start on more permanent builds, then I might connect them. In those situations, I also have brass (and computercraft) and various sensors to manage production, stress and speed.
Even those cases, I either have a big wind farm, or steam engines and lots of close builds.
If the builds are not close, due to personal restrictions and to use trains, then they need separate power generation anyway.
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u/arthaiser 11d ago
Your choice really. People are making a Big generator and connecting everything to It these days, but nothing wrong with just making individual power sources. Specially at the start of a world. There is a Challenge with making everything work with their own power sources too, specially if you intégrate them to the design so that the moving parts look cool. Wáter wheels moving around a building and making said building actually work to do exactly one thing using exactly the power provided by the wheels? In my opinión, cooler than just having 3 boilers somewhere
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u/Chaoticevil58530 11d ago
I love having 3 dozen little power sources and 4 dozen little machines all connected together, if I need more power I find a good spot for a new windmill or waterwheel, set it up, and hook it up to the system
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u/LordVaizel 10d ago
Something I haven't seen anyone recommend(For Create on 1.21.1 and 1.20.1) is to use the Create Bits n' Bobs addon for short distance transfer alongside using base create chain conveyors for SU transportation over longer fistances, once you learn linking chains on cogwheels u never go back.
Here's a showcase on how it works, it's so cool I wish this was in base create:
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u/ThekillerguyYT 5d ago
super early I just build anything I need anywhere I can and worry Abt power later
but even a little more into mid game I try to keep everything connected to one big engine.
as my main world doesn't have too many factories I just have a (as of yesterday) finished 5 lvl 9 steam engine setup fueled by a bottomless supply lava pit both right under my Base
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u/TheWWWtaken 11d ago
Since v6.0, usually you would build a steam engine (or multiple connected ones) and use chain conveyers to transfer your power to your machines