[Suggestion] Wireless Crate Station?

[ruvaldak]

Would be nice to potentially have a late endgame version of the Crate Station that can deposit items to any crate network. For balance (and to avoid the "infinite inventory" problem), perhaps have its range limited to i.e. 3 chunk radius around it, or maybe like beacons with x number of blocks in any direction (including vertically)? In fact, matching a t4 beacon's range would be fitting if the "wireless" crate station was crafted using nether stars or something.

[khazoda]

It's a cool idea and there are a few ways this could be tackled. I agree with you that a nether star would be the right item, it could be inserted into a frame to create the wireless station.

To be honest I think, if it's sensible on a technical level, that this station should have unlimited range and the player does a linking action to bind it to a crate network, which can then be distributed to from anywhere in that dimension.

I think limiting the range to the T4 beacon range could be another option but the normal station already basically has infinite range, so a step down from that might feel weird for the nether star station

[ruvaldak]

I think limiting the range to the T4 beacon range could be another option but the normal station already basically has infinite range, so a step down from that might feel weird for the nether star station

That's a great point, actually. Didn't think of it like that; since the station already has an unlimited range (only limited by how long of a connector chain you're willing to build), I can see how a limited range wireless station could be a step down. My only concern was the issue of players carrying around a wireless station everywhere they go, connected to a network with hundreds of crates for every conceivable item, allowing them to effectively have an infinite inventory.

[khazoda]

Yeah that's a valid concern.

Perhaps the nether star loses it's connection to it's network once the wireless station is broken, so the player has to go back to their network to reconnect it before placing it in a station frame again? That would prevent it being easy to place down and pick up as needed

But then if you have multiple nether stars you'd have a bunch of charges.. 🤔

[ruvaldak]

Been racking my brain on this problem for a while and I really cant figure out a better solution than distance. The only other solution I can think of is having a crate station be a receiver, and you have to somehow link the wireless station to the regular station (maybe shift+right click?) and then make it so that breaking the wireless station after placing it removes the link.

Or idk, maybe right clicking on a crate station with an eye of ender after making it preps a link, then right clicking on a wireless station with an eye of ender completes the link? That way y'know, the link works across infinite distance, but requires both blocks to already be placed in the same dimension to even link them

Oh and of course, no moving wireless stations with pistons

[ruvaldak]

I think having the link be severed on breaking is the only real solution to the infinite inventory space problem that doesn't involve a range limit.

[khazoda]

maybe right clicking on a crate station with an eye of ender after making it preps a link, then right clicking on a wireless station with an eye of ender completes the link

having the link be severed on breaking is the only real solution to the infinite inventory space problem

I think these two approaches together would actually work quite well, along with potentially limiting wireless stations per network to 1. This way you can enforce 1 linking pearl and no more, so anytime you move the wireless station you'd have to fully relink it. This removes all the issues we mentioned I think.

[ruvaldak]

maybe right clicking on a crate station with an eye of ender after making it preps a link, then right clicking on a wireless station with an eye of ender completes the link

having the link be severed on breaking is the only real solution to the infinite inventory space problem

I think these two approaches together would actually work quite well, along with potentially limiting wireless stations per network to 1. This way you can enforce 1 linking pearl and no more, so anytime you move the wireless station you'd have to fully relink it. This removes all the issues we mentioned I think.

i agree, that's perfect. although 1 wireless station per network might defeat the purpose a little. I think having multiple wireless stations per network should be allowed to some degree, that way if you're using a crate in a farm for example, you can replace it with a wireless station that links to a crate network with that item in it. I.e. I have these two farms in use at my base:

but my crate network is in my house, which isn't too far from those farms, yet far enough that connecting them directly to a single network would be tedious and difficult to manage.

Mayhaps the wireless stations could be separated into a receiver and a transmitter? the transmitter would be able to deposit items, and the receiver would be able to be pulled from, requiring an item to be selected the same way you put items into crates; right clicking on it with the item you want pulled from the network. I dunno, perhaps that complicates things too much for a mod called "Basic Storage" lol.

[ruvaldak]

come to think of it, i could probably accomodate 1 wireless station per network. just means that i'd have to have more than 1 network in my house XD

[khazoda]

definitely something to test lots of different versions of before deciding for sure I think.
also on your note about the name 'basic storage' I do agree 😅 I even had the thought that I was overcomplicating things with the networking rewrite but ultimately I still think 4 blocks, no upgrades etc. feels basic and lightweight