Research Station
Research Station adds a research system to NeoForge, modeled on the one in Ancient Warfare 2, where players gain recipes through research before crafting them.
What it does
Research is performed at the Research Station, and researched items are crafted at the Engineering Station. Research definitions can require earlier research, cost a set number of iron ingots to start and take a fixed number of ticks to finish. Each definition is written as a data file, so a pack author decides which research exists and what it grants.
Research recipes use a 3x3 pattern and can consume several items in one slot. A recipe can also hand back a converted item, such as an empty bucket after a water bucket is used, through the onComplete field. The Engineering Station doubles as a normal crafting table. The mod requires ARLib on NeoForge, runs on client and server, and is published for 1.21 and 1.21.1 with the latest file 1.0.6 for 1.21.1 dated 2025-03-14. The code is covered by All rights reserved, so it is not open source.
Key features
Research Station
A block where players spend resources to run a research definition over a set number of ticks.
Engineering Station
A crafting block that shows researched recipes and also works for ordinary crafting.
Research prerequisites
A definition can require another research to be completed before it becomes available.
Multi-item recipes
Research recipes can consume several items per slot and return a converted item after completion.
Recipe lookup
Engineering Station recipes can be looked up in a recipe viewer, so players can see what each research yields.
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Requirements
Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.
Required 1
Use cases
Progression packs
Pack authors can gate equipment behind a chain of research so players advance step by step.
Modded tech trees
Definitions with prerequisites let an author arrange grants in a branching order.
Who it’s for: Pack authors and players who want research-gated crafting on a NeoForge 1.21.1 world, with ARLib installed.
How it compares
Research Tree is open source under the Apache License 2.0, runs on NeoForge for 1.21.1 and is client and server. Advanced Research is also NeoForge for 1.21.1, client and server, but is not open source and is licensed under the MIT License. Journey Creative is open source under the MIT License and targets both Fabric and NeoForge, for 1.21 – 26.1.2, so it covers a wider range of loaders and versions.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Station | NeoForge | 1.21 – 1.21.1 | Client and server | 2025-03-14 |
| Research Tree | NeoForge | 1.21.1 | Client and server | 2026-03-25 |
| Advanced Research | NeoForge | 1.21.1 | Client and server | 2026-07-09 |
| Journey Creative | Fabric and NeoForge | 1.21 – 26.1.2 | Client and server | 2026-04-16 |
Questions
Does Research Station need ARLib?
Does the server need Research Station?
Which game versions have files?
Is the Engineering Station usable without research?
More from MarvinEckhardt
What the author says
This mod adds a research system similar to the one used in Ancient Warfare 2. You will use the Research Station to do research and the Engineering Station to craft researched items.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/research-station
- Owner
- MarvinEckhardt
- Published
- 2024-12-29
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2025-03-14
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15