Lanosian 488 MA
Ylemnics is the study of ylem-powered enchantments, called blocks. It is also the term used to describe the process by which these enchantments are powered by ylem. This process was invented by Rappu, a young Kobold originally from Rock Bottom. She has now moved to Esterport, where she operates a workshop.
The benefit of Ylemnics is that it allows individuals to create useful contraptions from basic building blocks. A few examples:
Blocks are the fundamental parts from which a ylemnic circuit is built. Each block manipulates ylem in order to fulfill a specific purpose, such as reacting to an individual touching it. All blocks receive input from the environment or another block, perform some sort of action and interact back with other blocks or the environment.
There are seven types of blocks, which are described in depth further in this manual:
Anticipators react to interactions upon them (e.g. someone pushes it), or in the nearby environment (e.g. an item is dropped in the vicinity). They are considered input blocks.
Exhibitors interact with the environment, such as by showing lights, creating sounds or even opening doors. These blocks are considered output blocks.
Perceivers are sensitive to cues from the environment, such as fire and flooding.
Counters are blocks with the ability to store or detect amounts in various ways.
Operators apply mathematical operations upon signals received from other blocks.
Conditionals control the flow of a ylemnic circuit based upon signals received from other blocks.
There are special blocks which do not interact with other blocks. As of now, most of these blocks allow or deny interactions from individuals when present.
Certain blocks can be tweaked to react differently or attuned to certain objects. This is elaborated in a further section.
See also AB YLEMNICS INSPECT, AB YLEMNICS INSTALL, AB YLEMNICS TWEAK.
Thaumizers are special containers which primarily hold the blocks comprising a ylemnic circuit. However, they also hold keys which are used by certain blocks to manipulate locked chests and doors. In order to power blocks, thaumizers may also contain ylem shards which are ground into a fine dust.
Blocks are installed onto a seven by seven grid to form a circuit. It is possible to have multiple, independent circuits on one thaumizer. In these cases, a circuit is simply a series of properly connected blocks between an anticipator and an exhibitor.
Most interactions with a circuit are exerted onto a thaumizer. You can see what kind of actions are possible, as well as the amount of energy available by probing a thaumizer:
> PROBE THAUMIZER
...
This thaumizer anticipates: pressing, entering, dialing, turning, and dropping.
It holds 6020 units of ylem dust.
It has been dyed through the use of a dyekit.
...The first line shows the various actions which can be used on this thaumizer. The second line shows the current amount of energy available, with a maximum of 28,000 units. One ylem shard adds 7,000 units of energy when placed into a thaumizer. As you can see, it is also possible to use a dyekit and change the color of a thaumizer, for easier identification.
See also AB YLEMNICS INSPECT, AB YLEMNICS INSTALL, AB YLEMNICS TWEAK.
Schematics allow you to safeguard or share the circuits of your own thaumizers. You can have up to twenty schematics of your own, and you may provide a small description of your schematic.
Schematics may be shared with other Ylemnists. Note, however, that this grants them a separate independent copy, which also includes all the tweaked information. This means that if you created a circuit which requires a secret number to activate, they will be able to see it, eep!
Should you have the required blocks to assemble it, you may install the circuit of a schematic onto a thaumizer at a specified location. SCHEMATIC <thaumizer> DETAILS will show whether you have every required blocks to assemble, or not.
See also AB YLEMNICS SCHEMATIC.
This section will guide you through building your first contraption. As a bonus, this is the same contraption required to pass the first examination. Once completed, this will make you adept in Ylemnics.
Head to Rappu’s workshop at v66405 and obtain the following items:
EXM)PRS)LIT)Now, head somewhere quiet and DROP the thaumizer. This is where we will be installing the blocks required for this simple circuit.
INSPECT the thaumizer, and you should see an empty seven by seven grid.
Now INSTALL PRS IN THAUMIZER and INSTALL LIT IN THAUMIZER. If you inspect the thaumizer, you should now see:
You inspect a gray-accented ylemnic thaumizer:
A B C D E F G
+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ X
| X| @ X| | | | | |
1 | PRS | LIT | | | | | |
| v | | | | | | |
+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| | |Some notes:
Installing a block will always place it in the first available square.
You can specify a block by its item (e.g. block123456) or its type (e.g. PRS).
Now that our blocks are installed, let’s talk about what we are looking at:
If you have MXP enabled, you will see an X in the top right of a block. Clicking this will UNINSTALL the block.
If you have MXP enabled, clicking on the block’s name (e.g. PRS) will auto-fill the command to tweak that specific block. Details on tweaking below!
The v below the PRS block means that it is outputting to the bottom. All blocks will show arrows in the direction they output, with two exceptions:
Exhibitor blocks (e.g. LIT) will show an @ representing their single input side.
Special blocks do not connect to anything.
Now let’s tweak our blocks so they can communicate to each other:
Do TWEAK THAUMIZER A1 OUTPUT E (or click PRS and finish the command). This will change the PRS block to output to the right (east).
Do TWEAK THAUMIZER B1 OUTPUT W. This will change the LIT block to output to the left (west).
As you can see, now the PRS block outputs into the LIT block. Your circuit is complete, so it should now work! Try it with PRESS THAUMIZER.
You may notice that the thaumizer does not light up due to lacking energy. This is because we need to put some ylem shards into the thaumizer. Do PUT SHARD IN THAUMIZER and try pressing the thaumizer again.
Tada! You’ve now created your first Ylemnics contraption. If it still didn’t work, make sure you did DROP the thaumizer earlier. Thaumizers will not work in your inventory.
Bonus: Certain blocks can be tweaked to modify their function slightly. For example, try to TWEAK THAUMIZER B1 VALUE 13 and press the thaumizer again. You should see it light up with magenta light! To see what kind of tweaks a block can receive, simply use TWEAK THAUMIZER <coordinates> or TWEAK THAUMIZER <coordinates> VALUE.
Thaumizers must be placed on the ground to work. They may also be dyed with the use of a dyekit, to ease in identification.
Inspecting a thaumizer (INSPECT <thaumizer>) will show you the grid arrangement of blocks on it. You are also able to inspect it in more details (INSPECT <thaumizer> DETAILS) to see more specifics about each block.
Blocks may be tweaked to modify their functionality in some way. A few examples:
TMR block can be tweaked with a duration (in seconds) between 300 and 86,400 seconds.LIT block can be tweaked with a color, which it will use when displaying. See COLORS. Note that it cannot be set to pitch black.RND block can be tweaked with a number, which represents its maximum possible output.FRD block can be tweaked with a space-delimited list of people.However, certain blocks must be attuned rather than tweaked. Typically, these are blocks linked to a specific door, chest or thaumizer. This must be done with the block in your inventory. See AB YLEMNICS TWEAK for details.
You can INSPECT <block> to see information on a block in your inventory, or you can TWEAK <thaumizer> <coords> to see information on an installed block.
Note: Blocks continue to decay while installed into thaumizers.
You may use ylem shards obtained via your respective Research Minister to fuel a thaumizer. A thaumizer can hold up to 28,000 units of ylem, and each shard provides 7,000 units. To do so, simply PUT SHARD IN THAUMIZER. Anyone is able to do this, regardless of whether they own the thaumizer or not.
Each block uses a specific amount of energy when it is evaluated, which you can find via INSPECT <block>. Generally speaking, perceivers are the least power hungry blocks, whereas remotely operating exhibitors (e.g. LKD, GLD) and the TMR block require the most.
Part of the function of a thaumizer is remote lock manipulation. A thaumizer contains five slots in which keys may be installed (via PUT KEY IN THAUMIZER). The keys serve as proof that you have access to the chest or door in question.
Though a thaumizer can, in theory, open any doors, it only works on wooden chests crafted by a woodcrafter. Most of the time these are plain wooden chests, but they do not need to be. Thaumizers will not work on any other containers or furniture, even if they can be locked.
Note: Rappu’s giant pet vulture has an affinity towards keys laying on the ground, as well as a highly accute sense of sight. If a key was inside a thaumizer, and that thaumizer decays, it will find it. The bird will return the key(s) to you the next time you find yourself outdoors.
In order to advance within the Ylemnics skillset, you will need to pass eight (8) examinations with the help of an EXM block. The EXM block is a special block which grades a circuit once it has been triggered, assuming it has been installed in the thaumizer. As it is a special block, it can be installed anywhere. The block itself holds no information, rather basing its decision on the owner of the thaumizer.
In order to begin the examinations, you will need to acquire the following from Rappu’s workshop (at v66405):
a gray-accented ylemnic thaumizera ylemnist examination block [EXM]a shard of crystallized ylem to put into the thaumizer for energy.You will need to acquire the appropriate blocks for each examination, although there is some overlap. Once you have installed your circuit correctly, simply trigger the thaumizer while the EXM block is also installed.
Note: There is a public lockable chest in Rappu’s workshop which you can use. Simply
ASK RAPPU ABOUT THE KEY.
This first examination demonstrates the basic idea behind blocks and thaumizers. Blocks are placed on a thaumizer, then moved and tweaked in order to build something useful.
Blocks trigger adjacent blocks which are properly connected, meaning that a side tweaked as an output feeds into a side tweaked as an input. Any other combination of adjacent sides will prevent two blocks from interacting. It should also be noted that exhibitors treat their one output side as an input, since they could be considered output blocks themselves.
Your task for this examination is to build a circuit using the blocks in the materials list. This circuit should trigger a LIT block when the thaumizer is interacted with.
Bonus: The
LITblock can be tweaked with a different color. SeeAB YLEMNICS TWEAKfor information.
LIT.Obviously, two block circuits can only go so far. The second examination demonstrates two further points:
Your task for this examination is to build a circuit which displays the current time of the day when someone enters the room.
Bonus: If you used a different anticipator for the first exam, re-install it in your finished circuit. Tweak the block to connect to the anticipator you use for this circuit. You will then notice that you are able to trigger the same circuit via either interactions!
ENT.TIM.CLK.This examination explores two new blocks: VAR and CTR. The VAR block is useful for providing another block with a specific value. The CTR block counts by adding the value(s) it receives, and outputs the result.
There are multiple ways to arrange blocks this time. As previously mentioned, a snake-like formation works fine. However, this time, the VAR block could be fed into the CTR block from different sides.
To set the value of a VAR block, use TWEAK <thaumizer> <coords> VALUE <value>.
Your task for this examination is to build a circuit which increments a number each time it is triggered. The EXM block will look for a final value of 25, so you can increment by one or five!
VAR.CTR.NUM.Maaaaaaaaths. This time we introduce mathematical operators. Don’t worry, it will be basic arithmetic - and if you do it right, it will even do the math for you! As with the previous examination, there are multiple ways to setup this circuit. As long as your anticipators are feeding into your operator block, it should be good.
Your task is to build a one-operation calculating machine. Pick between ADD, SUB, MUL or DIV, as long as the result is 100, you will pass this examination.
DIA or TRN or TWS. Remember, you cannot use two identical ones.ADD or SUB or MUL or DIV.NUM.Sometimes you may wish for a circuit to only work based on certain conditions. This is where conditionals come into play. This examination introduces blocks which will allow you to cut the flow of a signal if a condition is not met.
All conditionals work the same: If the block’s condition is met, given its two inputs, it continues on. Otherwise, evaluation of the circuit past this conditional stops.
Your task is to create a circuit which lights up when a specific item is dropped in the room. As a quick reference, the DRP block emits the replica number of an item that is dropped.
DRP.EQN.VAR.LIT.You should now be familiar with the basics of what a thaumizer can do. Things get slightly more involved when we start introducing external items into the mix.
This examination introduces a block which can manipulate chests. Since circuits installed into a thaumizer can only be viewed by its owner, it is possible to store unique values which nobody else will be able to see. This task takes advantage of this feature.
Your task is to create a passcode-protected chest, which when dialing a specific value, opens a chest. The passcode can be anything you wish, as the exam will only be graded by whether a chest is opened or closed by the thaumizer.
DIA, TRN or TWS.EQN.VAR.OPC.Besides opening and closing chests, it is also possible to gather items from them. This examination makes use of the GLD block, which can be attuned to a chest. When activated, it will make the attuned chest drop gold amounting to the value it receives.
Some important facts which may help with this examination:
Certain blocks make use of the values they receive as input. For example, the GLD block uses the value as the amount of gold to attempt retrieving from a chest. Other examples include the NUM block, which displays the value directly, and the CLK block which displays the time of day.
Other blocks are activated by receiving values, but do not make use of them. For example, given this circuit:
A B C
+-------+-------+-------+--
| | | |
1 | PRS >| RND >|@ NUM |
| | | |
+-------+-------+-------+--The PRS block will output a one (1) into the RND block, which activates the block. However, the RND block makes no use of this value, instead generating a random value, which it outputs to the NUM block.
For the purposes of this exam, this means that in order for the GLD to receive a proper value, you must activate a VAR block tweaked to the proper value. This VAR block should then be connected to the GLD block.
Your task is to create a simple slot machine. When activated, it should generate a random number using RND, which is displayed via a NUM block. If the generated number matches a specific number, have a chest give out some amount of gold using a GLD block. This can be no gold at all, as the exam will be graded successfully even if there are no chests linked to the GLD block.
PRS, PSH or TCH.VAR.RND.EQN.NUM.GLD.The final examination introduces the RCV and SND block, which receive and send values from/to thaumizers respectively. This greatly expands the capabilities of Ylemnics, as thaumizers can be far apart and still communicate.
This exam is not as complex as the previous one, though it will require you to obtain a second thaumizer. The materials list describes only the blocks required for the receiving thaumizer, which is where you should also place your EXM block. The method by which your first thaumizer transmits the proper value is left to you.
Your task is to link two thaumizers together. Have the transmitting thaumizer transmit the value 123456. The receiving thaumizer should simply receive this value and output it straight into a NUM block.
RCV.NUM.Use the following diagram as a reference when reading this section.
a
+-------+
| |
b | ADD | c
| v |
+-------+
dIn this diagram:
The order of the sides corresponds to the order in which they are evaluated (top, left, right, bottom).
Sides a, b and c are considered inputs. Side d is considered an output.
The letters representing each side are not static. Rather, side a corresponds to the first valid input, side b the second and so on.
A side is considered a valid input when an adjacent side points an output side into one of the block’s input sides.
Anticipators are blocks which allow individuals and the environment to interact with a thaumizer. They are what triggers the evaluation of a ylemnic circuit. Certain anticipators provide identical functionality, to allow for two buttons, for example.
Some facts about anticipators:
PRS blocks, for example.Buttons output a fixed value when activated.
PRS a press anticipating blockPSH a push anticipating blockTCH a touch anticipating blockDials output a specified value when activated.
DIA an anticipator of dialing blockDIAL <thaumizer> 15 will emit a value of 15. This block remembers the last specified value.
TRN an anticipator of turning blockTURN <thaumizer> 15 will emit a value of 15. This block remembers the last specified value.
TWS an anticipator of twisting blockTWIST <thaumizer> 15 will emit a value of 15. This block remembers the last specified value.
These blocks detect when someone enters or leaves a room.
Note: These blocks are easily fooled by nearly every form of stealth or magical transportation.
ENT an arrival anticipating blockLVE a departure anticipating blockThese blocks detect when someone drops or picks up an item in the room.
DRP a drop anticipating blockPCK a take anticipating blockRCV a ylemnic receiver blockTMR a ylemnic hourglass blockExhibitors allow a thaumizer to interact with the outside world. This includes simple functionality such as lights and buzzers, up to more advanced actions such as unlocking doors and chests remotely.
Some facts about exhibitors:
LIT a ylemnic lantern blockCOLORS).
NUM a number exhibiting blockCLK a time exhibiting blockThis exhibitor displays the time of the day, based on the non-zero value it receives. Any values outside of the following range will be wrapped around. Possible values are:
(1) dawn (4) noon (7) dusk (10) midnight
(2) sunrise (5) afternoon (8) twilight (11) deep in the night
(3) morning (6) evening (9) night (12) early morningBuzzers are various blocks which simply make a sound in a room when activated.
R01 a tinkle exhibiting blockR02 a buzz exhibiting blockR03 a chirp exhibiting blockR04 a croak exhibiting blockR05 a quack exhibiting blockThese blocks manipulate lockable doors remotely. They must be attuned to a door for which there is a key inserted in the thaumizer.
LKD a door locking blockOPD a door opening blockThese blocks manipulate lockable chests remotely. They must be attuned to a chest for which there is a key inserted in the thaumizer.
LKC a chest locking blockOPC a chest opening blockGET an item retrieving blockGLD a gold retrieving blockSND a ylemnic transmitter blockPerceivers provide a way for a thaumizer to assess the current state of something in the environment.
FIR a blaze perceiving blockWAT a flood perceiving blockSEA a season perceiving blockThis perceiver emits a value corresponding to the current season. Possible values are:
(1) winter (2) spring (3) summer (4) autumnTIM a time perceiving blockThis perceiver emits a value corresponding to the current time of the day. Possible values are:
(1) dawn (4) noon (7) dusk (10) midnight
(2) sunrise (5) afternoon (8) twilight (11) deep in the night
(3) morning (6) evening (9) night (12) early morningRather than beginning at midnight, it has been made so that values 1 to 6 correspond to daytime, and values 7 to 12 to night time.
BAT an energy counting blockCounters deal with various amounts in the world or generated magically.
RPC a presence counting blockRIC an item counting blockThese blocks must be attuned to a lockable chest for which there is a key inserted in the thaumizer.
CIC a chest item counting blockCGC a chest gold counting blockRND a chaotically counting blockVAR a number containing blockCTR a counting blockOperators perform a mathematical operation on multiple inputs. Please reference the diagram at the beginning of the Reference section of this document.
These blocks perform simple arithmetic. If they only have a single valid input, they simply pass the value through.
ADD an additively operating blocka [+ b [+ c]].
SUB a subtractively operating blocka [- b [- c]].
MUL a multiplicatively operating blocka [* b [* c]].
DIV a dividingly operating blocka [/ b [/ c]]. A division by zero will cause the thaumizer to overheat momentarily.
MOD a remainder operating blocka [% b [% c]] where % is the modulo operator. Finding a modulus of zero will cause the thaumizer to overheat momentarily.
These blocks perform logical operations. In this case, a one (1) means true, and a zero (0) means false. Non-zero inputs will be interpreted as a one (1).
AND a logical multiplying blocka [AND b [AND c]] where AND is sometimes known as the & operator.
OOR a logical adding blocka [OR b [OR c]] where OR is sometimes known as the | operator.
These blocks assess a condition between two inputs. All conditionals will emit a one (1) if the condition is true, otherwise the block will appear non-existent to connected blocks. This means that a false condition will stop the circuit past the conditional block.
Some facts about conditionals:
EQN an equality deciding blocka == b as in “is a equal to b?”
NEQ a non-equality deciding blocka != b as in “is a not equal to b?”
GEQ a greater equality deciding blocka >= b as in “is a greater or equal to b?”
LEQ a lesser equality deciding blocka <= b as in “is a lesser or equal to b?”
GTH a greatness deciding blocka > b as in “is a greater than b?”
LTH a lessness deciding blocka < b as in “is a less than b?”
Special blocks currently consist only of access controlling blocks. By default, a thaumizer may be used by anyone. A thaumizer’s owner will also always have access, regardless of which special blocks are installed.
It is possible to install multiple special blocks. Doing so will broaden the population of individuals which may use the thaumizer. For example, installing the TSH block and the ENO block translates to: “Any Shadow-tethered individuals and anyone from Enorian may use this thaumizer.” It does not translate to needing to be a Shadow-tethered Enorianite, as that would be silly!
Some facts about special blocks:
TSH and TSP will block any neutral parties.TSH a shadow-inscribed limiting blockTSP a spirit-inscribed limiting blockDUI an acorn-inscribed limiting blockSPI an ice-inscribed limiting blockENO a fire-inscribed limiting blockBLO a blood-inscribed limiting blockFRD a friendly limiting blockNote: If used alongside a tether or city limiting block, it may make it impossible for an individual to use your thaumizer.
ONE a fairly limiting blockThere are some common issues you may run into when interacting with a thaumizer. This section describes the causes for such issues.
SND) specifically:
INSPECT <thaumizer> DETAILS will show what it is attuned to.GET), it means that the chest is empty.-2,147,483,647 and 2,147,483,647. Anything above or below these amounts will result in unexpected values.Note: Signals can only pass through approximately twenty (20) blocks before the signal dies down.