Frequently asked questions
Short answers about what the solver supports, how to read its results, and what it does with your data.
Using the solver
- Which versions does the solver support?
- It targets the hex-grid research notes of Thaumcraft 4.2 on Minecraft 1.7.10, plus extension aspects found in GregTech: New Horizons. The library has 69 aspects. Thaumcraft 6 uses a different research system and is not supported. Other versions and packs have not been tested. The recipes page lists every aspect.
- Does the solver connect to Minecraft or spend my research points?
- No. It is a planning tool that runs in your browser. You copy the suggested aspects into the in-game note yourself.
- Do I have to enter how many points I own?
- No. The solver does not track quantities. You can switch an aspect off entirely if you cannot spare it, and you can move its commonness slider to tell the Common ranking how plentiful it is for you.
- Which grid size should I pick?
- Pick the one that matches the note in the game: Small has 19 hexes, Medium has 37, and Large has 61. Then mark any hexes that are missing on your note as gaps. Changing the size clears the current note, so choose it first.
- Does it work on a phone?
- Yes. The grid scales to narrow screens and you can tap to place aspects instead of dragging. A larger screen is more comfortable for the 61-hex grid.
- How do I keep a note for later?
- Use Export to download the note as a JSON file, and Import JSON to load it again. The note lives in the page’s memory only, so it is gone after a reload unless you exported it.
Routes and rankings
- Why did the solver find no route?
- The usual causes are an endpoint in the wrong hex, a gap that should be an empty cell, or too many aspects switched off. The search is also bounded: it explores a limited number of candidates, so on a hard note it can miss a route that exists. A “no route” result is not a proof that the note is impossible. The guide has a checklist.
- Is the Cheapest route really the cheapest possible?
- It is the cheapest among the routes the search generated, not a guaranteed global optimum. Compare several before committing.
- What does the cost number mean?
- Each primal counts as 1 and each compound counts as the sum of its two components, all the way down. A route’s cost adds that up for the cells you would fill. It estimates synthesis effort; it is not a count of points in your inventory. Research basics shows how the costs spread across the library.
- Can the same aspect appear more than once in a route?
- Yes. The game allows it and the solver uses it. Each placement costs one point of that aspect.
- Two aspects share a component. Why won’t they link?
- Sharing a component is not enough. Two neighbors link only when one is a direct component of the other. Lux and Motus both contain Aer, but you need Aer between them. See the strategy page for the common bridges.
- What is the difference between Simplest and Cheapest?
- Cheapest minimizes total synthesis cost. Simplest minimizes the number of different aspects in the route, which makes it quicker to copy into the game and can suit a pool with only a few well-stocked aspects. The two often disagree. The worked examples show a case.
Data and privacy
- An aspect is missing or its recipe is wrong for my pack. What can I do?
- Modpacks can add aspects and change recipes. If an entry does not match your game, switch it off in the library so routes avoid it. Report the mismatch with your pack version so the data can be corrected.
- Where does the recipe data come from?
- Base recipes were compared with Azanor’s published Thaumcraft API for Minecraft 1.7.10. Extension recipes were compared with the GTNH GregTech and Forbidden Magic sources. Four extension entries could not be matched to a pinned source and are marked unverified. The recipes page links each entry to its declaration.
- Is my research note uploaded anywhere?
- No. Notes are solved in your browser and are not sent to a server. Analytics is off unless you opt in. The privacy policy has the details.
- Is the solver free? Who runs it?
- It is free to use and needs no account. It is an independent fan project maintained by Zachary Inserra and is not affiliated with the Thaumcraft or GTNH teams. You can reach the maintainer at commongroundsupportdesk@gmail.com.
Still stuck?
The step-by-step guide covers every control. For anything else, see about & contact.