Chimera Lab

# Changelog

## [1.0.0] – 2026-11-09

First public release.

### Genetics
- DNA sampling with the Sampling Syringe and empty Sample Vials. Every sample holds 3–5 genes and a purity value.
  Bosses (warden, wither, ender dragon, elder guardian) need the Reinforced Syringe and carry legendary genes.
- 24 genes, among them Night Vision, Gills, Climbing, Teleportation, Sonic Boom and Dragon Wings. Dominant genes are
  permanent, recessive genes wear off. Gene slots and the overload limit can be set in the config.
- The genome menu (**G**) lists your genes. The Antidote removes one gene.
- Gene serums are crafted from gene cartridges and Serum Base.
- Genes show on your body: dragon wings, spikes, gills, glowing eyes and spots, aura particles (client config
  `geneVisuals`).
- Gene Scanner: right-click a creature to see its gene pool, a chimera's genes and level, or a player's active genes.

### Mob transformation
- Inject mob DNA into yourself: syringe in one hand, mob DNA sample in the other, hold right-click. You turn into that
  mob for 3 minutes.
- Works for every vanilla mob. Each one has its own strengths and at least one weakness, for example:
  - Enderman: teleport and carry blocks, but water and rain hurt.
  - Creeper: self-destruct, but cats weaken you and lightning hurts three times as much.
  - Spider: climb walls and see in the dark, but weaker during the day.
  - Blaze and ghast: fly and shoot fireballs. Breeze: wind charges. Guardian: a charging laser beam.
  - Warden: sonic boom, vibration sense and great strength, but bright light blinds you and noise attracts enemies.
  - Rabbit: super jump. Chicken: falls slowly and lays eggs. Strider: walks on lava. Sniffer: digs up ancient seeds.
- Transformation animation: your skin really turns into the mob's skin, and your head, body, arms and legs slowly
  reshape into the mob's body. At the end the complete mob model takes over. Turning back plays it in reverse.
- Hitbox, eye height and size match the mob. The ability key (**R**) uses the first ability, sneak + **R** the second.
- Mobs react to you: your own kind leaves you alone, predators hunt prey forms, prey and villagers run, iron golems
  attack hostile forms.
- Afterwards there is a cooldown and a short DNA hangover. The Antidote ends a transformation early.
- Morph profiles are data driven (`data/<namespace>/chimera_lab/morph_profile/`). Mobs from other mods get an
  automatic profile from their attributes. Boss transformations are off by default.

### Laboratory
- Genome Sequencer, Gene Bank, Gene Editor and Incubator Tank, each with its own GUI, animations, particles and sounds.
- The machines run on Forge Energy or on lab fuels (data map `chimera_lab:lab_fuel`).
- The Gene Editor shows the success chance, and amethyst raises it. Better food makes embryos grow faster.

### Chimeras
- Built from the real vanilla model parts of 1–3 parents. 78 vanilla mobs are supported, mobs from other mods get
  stand-in parts.
- Natural size based on the parents, growth from baby to adult, taming, sitting, and riding with a visible saddle.
- Abilities inherited from the parents: fireballs, wither skulls, dragon breath, arrows, shulker bullets, evoker fangs,
  witch potions, wind charges, llama spit, tridents and a charging guardian laser. Chimeras can also be sheared,
  milked or brushed, lay eggs, walk on lava, spray ink or toss attackers.
- Flying mounts: saddled chimeras with a winged parent fly, with a stamina bar.
- Levels: chimeras gain experience from fights, abilities and tournaments and level up to 10.
- Stasis Capsule to carry your chimera anywhere, Mutagen for a risky new mutation.
- 7 mutations, breeding with Serum Base, generations, a family tree and inherited genes.
- Chimeras drop their parents' loot. Boss loot is excluded (tag `chimera_lab:no_parent_loot`).

### Water chimeras
- Chimeras with gill-breathing parents live in water and dry out on land.
- Bucket of Chimera: catch a water chimera with a water bucket.
- Aquarium Tank: your water chimera swims inside, heals, grows faster with food and yields sea products of its parents.

### World
- Secret labs: underground structures with varied rooms, traps, logbooks, balanced loot and a lab boss.
- Sunken labs on the floor of deep oceans with their own boss.
- Events: lab outbreaks with escaped chimeras, and mutated wildlife. Both can be configured.
- The Lab Guide: a book with 10 chapters, the real crafting recipes and a page spread with a rotating 3D model for
  every mob you can turn into. A chain of advancements leads the way.

### Multiplayer
- Research Journal, shared with your team or the whole server: a Pokédex of your crosses with 3D models, plus
  milestones with rewards.
- Breeding Arena with tournaments in three disciplines (race, fight, beauty) and a server ranking.
- Gene Exchange Terminal for safe trades. Both players confirm, and nothing can be duplicated.
- Geneticist villager profession with trades on five levels.

### Effects
- Sound effects made for the mod, with subtitles.
- Screen effects, camera effects and machine particles. Each can be turned off in the client config.

### Compatibility
- Optional support for JEI, REI, Jade and The One Probe.
- Automatic genes and morph profiles for mobs from other mods, with a whitelist and blacklist.
- Data pack interface: mob genomes, morph profiles, the data maps `chimera_powers` and `gene_tuning`, and tags. An
  example data pack is included in the source repository.

### Server
- Commands `/chimeralab gene`, `chimera`, `sample`, `roll`, `morph`, `event outbreak`, `reload` and `selftest`, each
  with permission levels.
- All balancing values are in the server config.

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## Roadmap

These are plans, not promises. The order may change based on feedback.

### 1.1 – Deeper genetics
- Gene fusion: combine two genes into a rare hybrid trait.
- Selective breeding goals in the Research Journal.
- Model mappings for mobs from other mods through resource packs, so they get real body parts instead of stand-ins.

### Later
- More tournament disciplines and arena seasons with rankings.
- Updates for newer Minecraft versions, after the 1.21.1 release is stable.