Ascension Total Evolution - Changelog

0.4.0 - Progression, EMC Endgame, Performance and Server Files Update

This update is focused on making the pack feel more connected and less loose: Create,
Mekanism, Industrial Foregoing, RFTools, ProjectE, quests, performance, and server files
now have a much clearer role in the Ascension progression.

Highlights

- Reworked ProjectE/EMC into a true endgame system instead of an early shortcut.
- Added a large Create + Mekanism + Industrial Foregoing progression pass.
- Added new Create Blaze Burner fuel alternatives balanced around pack progression.
- Added dedicated item textures for the new Ascension Create fuels.
- Restored and gated selected RFTools recipes so the mod is usable again.
- Expanded quests to point directly at important automation and integration milestones.
- Improved Silent Gear material colors for Ascension custom materials.
- Added a performance config pass focused on chunk loading, saving, and server load.
- Rebuilt the server files into an ATM-style package with included server-safe mods and installers.

ProjectE / EMC Rebalance

- Added ProjectE mapping config that disables automatic EMC generation from recipes, tags, brewing, oxidization, wax, facades, P2P, and other automatic mappers.
- Added a KubeJS EMC whitelist so only selected raw/natural resources can receive EMC.
- Raw resources such as raw iron are allowed to have EMC.
- Processed shortcuts such as ingots, blocks, alloys, machines, circuits, essences, singularities, boss materials, and progression items are explicitly blocked from EMC.
- ProjectE remains gated behind the existing creative/endgame chain, but now it no longer invalidates the rest of the pack once unlocked.

Create Progression

- Added an explicit Create Precision Mechanism sequenced assembly recipe.
- Added a Mekanism-assisted Precision Mechanism route that becomes better after Mekanism progression starts.
- Added batch Create routes for Brass and Rose Quartz to reduce repetitive crafting friction.
- Added new Ascension Create fuels:
  - Ember Coal
  - Blazing Coke
  - Volatile Blaze Coke
- Added custom item models and textures for Ember Coal, Blazing Coke, and Volatile Blaze Coke.
- Blazing Coke can superheat Blaze Burners but lasts less than a Blaze Cake.
- Volatile Blaze Coke matches Blaze Cake duration but costs higher-tier Ascension materials.
- Added data maps so the new fuels work properly as Blaze Burner and furnace fuels.

Mekanism Integration

- Added Create + Mekanism bridge recipes for Infused Alloy and control circuits.
- Added Create sequenced assembly routes for higher-tier Mekanism circuits.
- Added Ultimate Control Circuit progression using Atomic Alloy, Quantum Circuit, and Pure Essence.
- Gated Mekanism chemical progression more directly through Ascension materials.
- Reworked key Mekanism machine progression, including:
  - Electrolytic Separator
  - Chemical Infuser
  - Pressurized Reaction Chamber
  - Purification Chamber
  - Chemical Injection Chamber
  - Chemical Dissolution Chamber
  - Chemical Washer
  - Chemical Crystallizer
  - Digital Miner
- Digital Miner now depends on both Mekanism and Industrial Foregoing progression instead of acting as a loose standalone unlock.

Industrial Foregoing Integration

- Added Industrial Foregoing Advanced Machine Frame progression through Dissolution Chamber.
- Added Supreme Machine Frame progression through higher-tier Ascension materials.
- Reworked several Industrial Foregoing machines so they connect to pack progression:
  - Laser Drill
  - Ore Laser Base
  - Fluid Laser Base
  - Material Stonework Factory
  - Washing Factory
  - Soul Laser Base
- Added or restored recipes for earlier Industrial Foregoing automation machines:
  - Plant Fertilizer
  - Fluid Extractor
  - Latex Processing Unit
  - Dissolution Chamber
  - Mob Imprisonment Tool
  - Mob Duplicator
  - Block Placer
  - Block Breaker
- Industrial Foregoing now bridges farming, plastic, mob automation, laser resources, and late Mekanism progression.

RFTools Balance

- Restored selected RFTools Base, Utility, and Builder recipes that were previously dead after broad recipe removals.
- Gated RFTools recipes behind Ascension materials so they work as utility progression instead of free shortcuts.
- Restored progression for useful RFTools items such as Machine Base, Machine Infuser, Tablet, Module Templates, Screens, Crafters, Redstone tools, Matter Transmitter/Receiver, Dialing Device, and Shield upgrades.

Silent Gear

- Improved Ascension Silent Gear material colors so custom gear visually matches the material used.
- Updated colors for Ascension alloy and essence materials:
  - Crude Alloy
  - Reinforced Alloy
  - Magical Alloy
  - Quantum Alloy
  - Raw Essence
  - Refined Essence
  - Pure Essence
  - Transcendent Essence
- This is mainly a visual clarity fix, but it makes custom Silent Gear progression easier to read in-game.

Quests and Progression

- Added Bronze Age quest guidance for Create Deployer, Precision Mechanism, and industrial Blaze Burner fuels.
- Added Iron Age quest guidance for the Create + Mekanism precision bridge.
- Added Automation quests for Create assembly lines and Mekanism circuit factories.
- Added Automation quests for Industrial Foregoing Advanced Frames, Laser Drill progression, Mekanism heavy chemistry, and integrated Digital Miner progression.
- Added RFTools integration quest guidance.
- Added ProjectE/EMC whitelist quest guidance so players understand that ProjectE now learns raw materials, not processed shortcuts.
- Tightened quest dependencies so side mods unlock through the main Ascension material path instead of feeling disconnected.
- Split Oritech Quarry progression away from basic Oritech utility and pushed it later behind Quantum Alloy.

Performance and Stability

- Tuned BetterChunkLoading to use a smaller prediction area and lighter preloading speed.
- Enabled faster chunk tasks in BetterChunkLoading.
- Tuned SmoothChunk save and unload behavior to reduce spikes.
- Tuned LimitedChunks so offline chunk tickets are dropped sooner.
- Reduced FTB Chunks long-range tracking frequency and lowered default force-loaded chunk limits.
- Enabled AllTheLeaks ingredient dedupe.
- Enabled AllTheLeaks unloaded Flux Networks ticking protection.
- Added ModernFix common config from the tested instance to avoid known async JEI plugin issues.
- Kept Lithium's chunk access mixin disabled to avoid conflicts with BetterChunkLoading.

Server Files

- Rebuilt the server files as an ATM-style self-contained serverpack.
- The serverpack includes server-safe mods, configs, defaultconfigs, and KubeJS files.
- Removed Python and maintenance tooling from the final server files.
- Added Windows and Linux installers:
  - `installer.bat`
  - `installer.sh`
- Added Windows and Linux start scripts:
  - `startserver.bat`
  - `startserver.sh`
- The installer downloads:
  - NeoForge `21.1.233`
  - NeoForge ServerStarterJar as `server.jar`
  - Required Minecraft/NeoForge server libraries
- The server starts through `server.jar`, which is useful for hosts that require a custom jar.
- The Windows scripts now keep the window open on errors instead of closing instantly.
- Final server files include 333 server-side mods and exclude 51 client-only mods such as Sodium, Iris, JEI, Jade, JourneyMap, client UI mods, shader/render mods, tooltip mods, and other client-only utilities.

Notes

- Java 21 is required for the server.
- The first world load after updating can take longer because KubeJS, datapacks, recipes, quests, and ProjectE EMC mappings need to reload.
- Existing worlds may still contain old explored chunks or already-crafted items, but normal progression should now guide players through the updated systems.
- Server hosts should upload/extract the server files, run the installer once, accept the Minecraft EULA, and then start with `startserver.bat`, `startserver.sh`, or `server.jar` depending on host support.