Overview
To create and use magical devices, the player will need to research the nature of the things around them, and from this deduce the details of how to create their desired items. This begins with the use of the Thaumometer to scan various things (objects, blocks, creatures, items, and nodes) thus accumulating research points in each of the magical [[../aspect/]s. (Each player does start with a small supply of research points, about 16 for each primal aspect.) Use of a research table then lets the player explore for recipes using those aspects. The research table can also be used to combine aspects into new aspects; the (necessary) example from the Thauminomicon is that Aqua (water) and Terra (earth) combine to form Victus (life).
Scanning
Nearly every block, object, mob (and other entity), and especially node, has one or more aspects associated with it (read the entry in the Thauminomicon for more info). Known things will have those aspects displayed when viewing them through the Thaumometer. (Non-placeable items can be scanned by dropping them and scanning the dropped item.) By right-holding the Thaumometer, an unknown object can be scanned, and you will gain research points equal to the monster, entity, or item's points. For a node, you will gain research points equal to about 1/10 of the node's strength in each aspect.
Note that a monster or item can't be scanned and "learned", unless you have at least one research point for each of the component aspects for the scanned thing's aspects. However, when you scan anything that teaches you a new aspect, you get double points for that scan. New aspects will automatically be entered into your Thaumonomicon.
Researching
Start off by reading the Thaumonomicon's entry on research.
You spend one research points of a given aspect to start research on a related topic, getting a research note. The note is researched by playing a mini-game to connect all the nodes of the research map. The research topic will have one or two other aspects as well, and you then spend points of all of these aspects to activate or deactivate their runes. Note that not all minigames are solvable. If confronted with an unsolvable or overly difficult research note, you can put the note away or discard it, and try again.
You can also combine aspects using the list in the Thaumonomicon, but be warned this can cost a lot of points -- you normally only get one point of the combined aspect for a point each of the components. You get an extra point if you are also discovering the aspect, for example making Victus -- which you won't easily find elsewhere.
| Name | Ingredients | Input » Output | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thaumometer | All 6 Shards + gold ingot + glass | Template:Grid/Crafting Table | The Scanner |
| Table | slabs + planks | Template:Grid/Crafting Table | Tables are used on making the Research Table and Arcane Worktable |
| Scribing Tools | glass bottle/Phial + feather + ink sac | Template:Grid/Crafting Table | Used to write on research notes |