BalancedVanilla

Balanced Vanilla is a Minecraft mod that aims at balancing some vanilla concepts, while adding a few quality of life changes and machanics to the game, without being too invasive or non-vanilla friendly.

features

Following you can find all the features and changes included in Balanced Vanilla:

copper tools
tools preview
Balanced Vanilla adds a new series of tools to the vanilla game to add an intermidiate step between stone and iron.
I believe that going straight from stone to iron is a steep step, and the abundance of copper makes it a perfect sabstitute candidate. In addition to the complete tool set, the mod adds a new type of nugget which, like vanilla, is obtainable both from copper ingots, as well as by smelting copper items. (more on this later)

Balanced Vanilla adds four new seets of copper armors. Just like the in-game Copper Block, the copper armors can be exposed to the air and weather to slowly degrade them overtime.
From left to right the four stages the armors go through their oxidation cycle: Unaffected, Exposed, Weathered, and Oxidized.

copper armors preview

Oxidized armors (regardless their current level of oxidation) can be reverted to their original copper, shiny look, simply by placing the armor piece in the Crafting Table, together with an Axe. The Axe will be damaged accordingly to the level of item oxidation. The higher the oxidation level, the higher the damage applied to the Axe.

TIP:
There is a hidden feature regarding the copper armor. Let's see if you can figure it out!

copper horse armor
Balanced Vanilla also adds a new craftable horse armor made out of copper. To obtain this object, you simply need some copper and a saddle. But be aware, the horse's armor is made out of copper just like yours, so you'll have to work to keep it nice and shiny!

nether smelting
Balanced Vanilla adds a new Furnace block. What this new Nether Furnace does is simply bring the heat of the Nether right to the Overworld. This allows the player to have a machine capable of reaching incredibly high temperatures and keep their furnace warm longer than ever before.

What does this mean gamplay-wise? (You might be asking)

Well simply enough, the Nether Furnace is capable of smelting for twice as long as the regular Furnace. Unlike the Blast Furnace it does not smelt items quicker. It can only smelt more. This comes at a hefty price tho: the Nether Furnace is capable to reach such temeperatures only with Blaze Rods and Lava Buckets.

quality changes

Balanced Vanilla offers a variety of quality of life changes to balance out Minecraft a little better, and avoid useless head-aches. Following you can find a list of all the changes included in the mod.

Smelting tools and armors actually gives a reasonable output:
I always found it so unbalanced that when smelting tools and armors the base logic just gives you back 1 NUGGET. If, for example, you smelt a new Iron Chestplate, you get only 1 nugget out of 72 nuggets needed to make the item; and that is just bad. The mod simply balances this by allowing the Furnace(s) to output a countable result. The result also takes into consideration the durability of the item you are trying to repurpose.
Enchanting tables have an inventory:
This is nothing new, many mods do this, but I thougt it could be nice to include as a quality of life change. Enchanting tables now support a 2 slot inventory that allows the player to store an Item and Lapis Lazuli inside of the block. Be aware though, because the inventory is not personal. (It pretty much works like a Chest)
Ladders can now finally float:
Have you ever tried to build up a ladder going up your house and having to deal with those bulky, unnecessary pillars, right in the center of your brand-new living room? Well, worry no more, Balanced Vanilla has got you covered. The mod allows Ladders to stay in their position even after you have removed the structure behind them. Simply pillar up, place your Ladders and remove the building structure.
Villagers follow emeralds:
If you are a passionate player, you might have tried building your own village next to your kingdom, just like me, and we both know how annoying it can be to move the villagers around. Balanced Vanilla simply makes Villagers fall in love with you whenever you hold Emeralds or any emerald block. Next time don't build a useless railway, just show them some money.