Back to basics

The All the Mods (ATM) team have returned for their third skyblock modpack with ATM9: To the Sky. Taking some of the aspects that were key to the success of previous modpacks in the Sky series, this latest entry is sure to be a favorite of existing ATM Sky fans. Automate your resource gathering with Ex Machinis, and enjoy ProjectE, which adds much needed content and utility to the end game. With their third iteration, the ATM team wanted to take the pack back to basics, making sure the modpack is a fun, content-filled experience that has minimal gating between the mods whilst simultaneously making the mods work cohesively.

I spoke with the lead modpack author and Akliz employee, oly2o6, about his new modpack. I gave him only the most hard-hitting questions I know you all want the answers to.

(Author’s note: I am American, and he is British, so there will be differences in the spelling of some words. We ask that you read his answers in a British accent. Thank you.)

Real photograph of Alk interviewing oly2o6

Are there any core gameplay themes changing from ATM9 to ATM9 to the sky?

ATM9 focuses more on GregTech and recipe gating. With atm9sky, we wanted to make sure that it was done in a slightly different way to make sure that it remains fun for the user. Having a more open-ended feel to it, and with 99% of the recipe gating being in the late game, atm9sky opens up the early- to mid-game to completely free choice on the path you take.

What were the challenges in making this pack?

The biggest challenge was integrating ProjectE into an ATM modpack, in a different way to what was done in atm7sky. ProjectE is usually known for its exploitation, so it either consumes a modpack or is locked at a point where it is no longer needed. For this modpack, we wanted to have it integrated in some form from the early game to the very end. You will see that EMC has been completely overhauled, limiting what can be done with it as a whole.

For someone who has played ATM9, why should they try ATM9: To the Sky?

Fear not! The packs have been made mostly independent of one another, meaning that it should be a completely fresh and different experience. You can play between one or the other whilst still paying homage to your usual atm modpack quirks, such as allthemodium and the atmstar.

What was your favorite part about making this modpack?

My favourite part has to be seeing how people perceived it in the beta. With all of my modpacks, I like to make sure that there is something different on offer, whilst remaining true to my own style. From atm6sky to atm9sky, you will see a significant jump, as we always take what people find fun and then keep that in the new iteration. And each iteration adds more content on top in a different way to really make it feel different.

How is the performance?

The performance of atm9sky has been thoroughly stress tested. In our beta phase we had 20 unique players, with chunkloading, and an average of 10 players on at any given time. The TPS (ticks per second) remained at an ideal 20tps. The modpack was built with stability and community at the heart. That, paired with the amazing servers here at Akliz, gave us the boost necessary to allow a large number of players with no noticeable lag.

Are there any surprises or new features in this version of the ATM skyblock series?

Whilst the modpack is a fresh experience from start to finish, we wanted to make sure that it closely resembled the originals. There are a few surprises hidden inside the pack, but you will have to wait and see what those are (no spoilers!).

How is the experience from the perspective of players new to skyblocks, as well as the opposite end of the spectrum, from the perspective of skyblock/modpack experts?

With the full quest guide included within the modpack, both new and experienced players can have a good time. If you are newer to modded minecraft or skyblocks, the quests will be your best friend. Experienced players can also go through them to get some rewards along the way, or to inform them of any quirks that are specific to this modpack.

How can we play this modpack?

You can download it now, from Curseforge or the Curseforge launcher.

I personally am excited for this, as I haven’t played a skyblock modpack in a while, and I know this will be a good one. I love the simplicity of the early/mid-game in skyblocks, with all of the unique challenges they bring. It is a great way to approach familiar mods in a completely new way, and breathe life into mods even if you’ve used them extensively. And if you haven’t, even better!

We’re having a game night in the Akliz Discord server tonight for ATM9 to the Sky too! Come join us!