How To Make A Minecraft Mod

I've had a few people contact me asking how to make a mod. It's not really an easy thing one person can explain and if I went into every step, I'd probably be here all week. Others have posted info on how to do this stuff anyway. However, it's sometimes hard trying to find that info, so I'll give you a break and try to include everything here for quick reference so you can get started and won't have to waste a bunch of time trying to search for the right things.

First, you will need the Java SDK found here. You'll have to configure it to your computer, which the following video explains how to do that. Ignore the fact he's using a different version of JAVA and after you install it, you can skip to about 5:50 in the video to learn how to configure it. That's the main tricky thing about this. Here is text tutorial on how to configure Java if you're still having problems.



You'll need the latest version of Minecraft MCP, found here and you'll need something to edit code on, which I suggest using Eclipse (I'm using the one that says "Eclipse IDE for Java EE Developers". Here's a video that shows you how to configure those to work...



There's a lot of good tutorials under the Mapping and Modding Tutorials forum, but this thread helped me get started the most. If you plan on making new mobs, you'll save a lot of time and frustration if you use Techne. Also, the IRC channels #mcp, and #mcp-modding are good places to ask other modders for help. There's also some good tutorials if you search on YouTube.

The hardest part IMO is just getting Java, Eclipse, and MCP set up so you can start coding and then it's pretty fun and easy from there on out (depending on how well you can figure out Java code). I started out with no knowledge of Java a few months ago and found all these tutorials others had done and with that I was able to make NamCraft. While it looks like a lot to learn, well, actually it is, but just keep at it and don't give up. Just remember, if some hillbilly, high school drop-out, from Arkansas can do it, anyone can do it.

Fixing Bugs and adding guns

Since I released NamCraft I decided to take a few days off and relax a bit (reason for no new posts). I'm back working on it now though. I've taken the distilled water out of the game since it was bugged. The empty canteens will now fill up like buckets by clicking on water and you just purify them with iodine tablets like normal. I'm going to make more mobs drop iodine tablets so they aren't as rare as they are now. I'm also working on adding more guns to the game, probably just an AK-47 and M-16 for starts. I've got a "cool" idea for the M-60, but it'll take a while to do, so I'll save that for later. I'm going to give the guns item damage like the tools have so you'll have to replace them over time the more you shoot them. I'm kind of thinking about having a cleaning kit that you can use to repair them. As I've said before, different guns will have different magazine sizes and different durability. I'm also working the best I can right now to make them more accurate when you fire them. That's not coming along too great right now, but maybe in a few days I'll have it working like I want it to. I'll try to put a new update here soon whenever I get the new guns added and working right.

NamCraft Beta is Released!

Finally, it's here! Click the link at the top, or here to get your copy of NamCraft. Also, be sure to check out the Minecraft Forum Topic.

NamCraft Beta Feedback

This is to all the beta testers out there. If you find any bugs, have any suggestions on future versions, or questions, please post them as a comment below so I can see them and fix them in future versions. Meanwhile, for all the crafting recipes and more information about NamCraft, go to the NamCraft Wiki.

New and Improved Huey

I had to redo the Huey model because I had it turned the wrong way and so I had to redo the skin for it too.

NamCraft Weapons and Napalm!

Get your first good look at the weapons I've been working on and the napalm strike too. The White Phosphorus (WP) isn't done yet and I still might alter some stuff, so just keep that in mind. Today I'll probably work on the WP, alter the helicopter, and work on the crafting recipes.

I need a Snake and Nape

Got the radio working so when you click it, it'll call a napalm strike around the area you're aiming. It works like the bow, or rifle. You can arch over objects to hit your target. Just have to tweak the fire so it'll spawn in the air and fall like sand. Got a few more things to do on the radio and still have to set up the crafting recipes, but beta is getting close.

New Water and Vegetation Colors

Well, I was going to have brown, muddy water, but the running water didn't look right brown, so I decided to make it kind of a tropical teal color. I also adjusted the saturation in the leaves and grass colors. I also managed to switch over my mobs to their own files. There's also a radio item in the game now that will be used to call in airstrikes to drop napalm. I've just added the item and haven't yet made it to where it can call in strikes. Anyway, it's late and I'm going to bed.

Glitches 1: Clown Puke Water

While editing the water color, I somehow managed to make the flowing water all strange and colorful. Looks like someone put acid in the reservoir again ;)

Better snakes

Still working on getting the napalm right. This morning I've been working on the water color. I'm going to make the water all muddy, as you can see from the pics. I also made a better snake model. I made the snake model bigger for more detail, gave it a better skin, and then scaled it down to size. Hopefully I'll be able to fully animate it before I release the beta.



Yeah, about the beta relase...umm, all I can say is it will be soon. Just as soon as I get napalm drops added to the game, I'll have to fix some of the models, and I should be pretty much done. The problem with the models is they're replacing the skeletons and creepers, which kind of messes up multiplayer, so I'm going to change them over to their own files when I get time to do that and I have to fix my Huey because I got it turned sideways believe it, or not and that's going to mess me up later when I make it shoot stuff, so I'm going to get that out of the way too. THEN, this thing will be out for a closed beta for a few days and then a public release after that.

Napalm Death!

I've got napalm working, with the help of Winner5740. There's still a lot I have to tweak about it to make it look right, but I've basically got a TNT block that will spawn fire around it. I also have a grenade that does the same thing. I plan on making a napalm fire block that will act differently than normal fire in that it will stick to more things, stack on each other, fall like sand and gravel, and won't go out if there's air under it. This napalm thing has been bugging me for a while now and hanging over my head. It looks like it's pretty much all downhill from now on.



Another thing I fixed today was the cobra. Like the elephant, it will attack you back when you attack it. I was going to try to make it drain your health over time like you were slowly dying from the venom, but the thing just attacks so fast that it would kill you before you even had a chance to drain health, so I think I'm just going to leave it like that. Oh, and it drops the slime balls to make sticky pistons. I just renamed the slime ball to "snake oil". The Elephants drop ivory and the turtles drop turtle shells, which are both used to make armor. I'm really having a hard time thinking up something good to craft with ivory and turtle shells, but since I got elephants and turtles in the game, what else could they drop? If you got any suggestions, please feel free to send them my way.

Pissed Off Elephants

Elephants now attack you when you attack them. And boy do they hurt! 2-3 hits and you're done.

New Armor and Paintings

I've changed the old armor around. Vietcong clothes replaces cloth armor, a ghillie suit replaces iron armor, hippie clothes replaces the gold armor, and regular military flak vest, helmet, etc. replaces the diamond armor. I've also created a section 8 armor that replaces chain mail, but you'll just have to wait to see what it is ;) I also replaced the paintings with 60's looking posters, billboard ads, and flags. There's also some new crafting items added to the game, which include ivory and turtle shells. I felt like the elephants and turtles needed to drop something unique to them, but I still haven't figured out a good use for it yet. Tomorrow, I plan on making the elephant and cobra agro when attacked by the player. Also, I think I'm going to add an AK-47, which would provide more ammo (30 rounds) than the M-14 (20 rounds).

NVA & Bushwacker

I've added the NVA mob and a Vietcong Bushwacker. I tried making the NVA shoot RPGs and it was way too deadly. 10 seconds after walking out of your house and you'd be dead. So I gave it a gun and upped the fire rate on it, so it's a little more deadly than the Vietcong. The Vietcong Bushwacker will be armed with a machete (not shown) and replaces the Minecraft Zombie. He goes faster than other mobs, so you have to be fast and alert around this guy.


Right now I'm redoing the gun and ammo. I did have them replacing the bow and arrows, but I think I'm going to give them their own class so I can include the bow and arrows with a possible Montagnard NPC I might add to the game. Besides that, The Hueys now drop ammo and other supplies to help you out. I've been losing internet connection every 5 minutes lately, preventing me from uploading any new video, but as soon as my connection gets reliable again, I'll try to record something and post it.

Weapons

I worked on adding the RPG to the game this morning and refined the M-79 grenade launcher a bit. Right now, I'm working on getting the Huey to drop items (weapons, ammo, and rations) and will try to make the skin and model for my NVA enemy. If that goes well, I'll probably work on adding that to the game tomorrow. I'll also try to take some video of the new stuff and will try to post that tomorrow, or the day after.

What is NamCraft?

NamCraft is a Vietnam War mod I'm making for the game, Minecraft. I'm going to use this blog to help me keep track of what I've done for the day, but also maybe get some feedback from others. Anyway, here's a video showing what this mod is going to look like.



I also have a Wiki for the mod here. I'm sorry that there's not much there right now. I'm 100% focused on just getting the mod made right now and I'll probably not get around to really working on it until the first public beta gets released.