What Is the Stress System?
Create's biggest difference from other tech mods: no electricity (RF/EU), just rotational force and stress. Every machine consumes Stress Units (SU) — think of it as a torque budget. Power sources provide a fixed SU capacity; machines each take a share: crushing wheels 8 SU, mechanical pumps 4 SU, saws 6 SU. Exceed your source's capacity and the whole network stalls and turns red. Half of Create is understanding SU.
Choosing a Power Source
Three main sources: water wheels are free but need flowing water; windmills need 8-16 sail blocks and scale with altitude; steam engines output the most but burn fuel. For your first 10 hours, go with 3 parallel water wheels — zero-cost power for a full starter line.
| Source | SU Capacity | Cost | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Wheel | 256 SU | Low (planks + shafts) | Day one |
| Windmill | 512-1024 SU | Medium (sails + wool) | Mid game |
| Steam Engine | 8192 SU | High (copper + fuel) | Industrial era |
Your First Line: Auto Cobblestone Crusher
Goal: infinite cobble → auto crush → auto collect. Steps: 1) connect a water wheel to cogwheels, target 64+ RPM; 2) place two Crushing Wheels; 3) feed cobble with a hopper + Mechanical Arm; 4) route output onto a Belt into a chest via hopper. The whole line draws ~32 SU — one water wheel handles it.
Three Classic Beginner Mistakes
1) Insufficient RPM — many machines need a minimum speed (pumps need 32 RPM) and won't run below it while still drawing stress; 2) Belt direction — Shift+right-click while facing the belt or it runs backwards; 3) Large-to-small cogwheel meshes change speed 2:1 — erratic line speeds are almost always a gear ratio issue. Avoid these three and early Create is smooth sailing.