PneumaticCraft Native Chunk-Loading

• time-limited (configurable duration before being reset)
• trackable through block/entity tracker upgrade for Pneumatic Helmet
• optionally pneumatically powered; maybe also requiring another catalyst, like memory essence?
• --- scalable consumeable cost according to range of chunk loading

As a server admin and modpack maker, the above feature would be an absolute dream to have access to. I've got a squatter or two on my server. Chunk loading that times out would be helpful for all of us keeping our server resources manageable. My other challenge with chunk loading mods is that it's not always readily apparent how/where they're being chunkloaded from, so as an OP, being able to track that would be neat. Or possibly even being able to hack someone else's chunkloading like their security station... :evilgrin:

The Programmable Controller has built-in chunkloading that can be configured. It can chunk-load itself, and/or a radius of chunks around the mini-drone's working area. Both the minidrone and the programmable controller are trackable via the Pneumatic Helmet, and activating the chunk loading mechanism ups the pressure usage, and the pressure cost scales according to the range/whether you've got the working area enabled as well (in addition to the base pressure cost of the PC itself).

The only features I think are missing from your description is the fact that when supplied with infinite pressure, it can never run out, and being able to easily track them. Maybe a command that returns a list of all PCs actively chunk loading with their coordinates might be cool for OPs to have

There is another limitation to the programmable controller, which is that chunks it loads don't tick; i.e. it wouldn't be much good for a remote farm, since no crops would grow. It's really more intended to allow the drone to work, e.g. a remote quarry. (THat's possibly something I could add as a feature, at an increased air cost perhaps - not sure, since that also adds a non-trivial CPU cost to the server).

I'm not opposed to the concept of a more dedicated chunk loader with features such as ticking chunks and the ability for server ops to track them, but as with all feature requests at the moment, I need more hours in my day :)