Many well-known mods make it easier to break blocks (hammers, quarries, veinminer), but not many focus on placing them. Even the most experienced players still often place blocks one by one. This mod makes building easier by providing tools like mirrors, arrays, build modes and a block randomizer.
- Mirror blocks in realtime
- Build repeated sections quickly using arrays
- Place random blocks using the Randomizer Bag
- Quickly replace existing blocks (toggle with a key press)
- All of the above works in synergy
- Works in survival and creative mode
Switch build modes by holding ALT.
Open modifiersettings with the + key on the numpad.
The road to 1.13
- Keybindings DONE
- Config DONE
- GUI DONE
- Modifier rendering DONE
- Reach command DONE
- Reach upgrade items DONE
- Networking DONE
- Modifiers DONE
- Capabilities DONE
- Randomizer bag DONE
- Build modes DONE
- QuickReplace DONE
- Undo redo DONE
- Shader DONE
- Server support IN PROGRESS
After 1.13 release I will take some time to make this version stable and fix the incoming bugs. After that I will start looking at a 1.14 port and adding new features such as a circle buildmode and improving the randomizer bag.
Build Modes
Hold ALT to switch build modes.
Build modes:
- Normal: vanilla placement
- Normal+: increased reach
- Line: place lines of blocks in any 3 axis
- Wall: place walls with locked x or z axis
- Floor: place 'walls' with locked y axis
- Diagonal Line: place freeform lines of blocks
- Diagonal Wall: place walls at any angle
- Slope Floor: place slopes at any angle
- Cube: place cubes with 3 clicks
Holding ALT is compatible with the radial menu of Chisels and Bits; when a chisel or bit is held, it will open the Chisels and Bits menu, otherwise the build mode menu.
Mirror
Mirror blocks in realtime, as you place them. Works with even and uneven builds (add .5 to the position). Rotates blocks like stairs, logs, slabs, pistons etc properly.
Set position, radius (size) and what axes to mirror by pressing the + key on the numpad.
Mirror settings:
- Position: where the mirror is situated in the world
- Direction: what axes to mirror, can mirror on all axes simultaneously
- Size (radius): how many blocks away from the position the mirror will still work. Limited by your reach.
- Set to current pos: set the mirror's position to the current player position
- Toggle odd/even: set position to center or corner of block, for odd or even numbered builds
- Show lines and area: helps visualize where the mirror is
Still not sure what's going on? Watch this tutorial by ScottoMotto: The Fastest Way to Build a House in Minecraft
Array
The array modifier copies your build in a certain direction a certain number of times. Very useful for nether tunnels but also useful for quickly building walls etc.
It is possible to add offset to multiple directions so diagonal builds are possible (e.g. a nether tunnel that goes upwards or sideways). And of course breaking blocks is also supported for if you make a mistake.
Set offset and count by pressing the + key on the numpad.
Array settings:
- Offset: in what direction to replicate your block. Example: with offset (2,1,0) and count 3, placing a block at (0,0,0) will also place blocks at (2,1,0), (4,2,0) and (6,3,0).
- Count: how many times to replicate your block
- Reach: limits how far away you can place blocks (highest offset * count)
Radial Mirror
The radial array lets you place blocks in a circle around a certain point. The circle can be divided into slices, and each slide will copy your block placements.
I heard you liked mirrors, so I put mirrors in your radial mirror. Mirror every other slice by enabling alternative mode.
Set position, slices, radius and alternative mode by pressing the + key on the numpad.
Radial mirror settings:
- Position: center of the radial mirror
- Slices: the amount of slices to cut the circle in. Each slice copies your block placements.
- Radius: how many blocks away from the position the radial mirror will still work. Limited by your reach.
- Alternate: mirrors every second slice
Randomizer Bag
Put blocks in the bag, then rightclick to place a random block from the bag. Adjust ratios by filling slots with the same block (e.g. 2 slots cobble + 1 slot stone makes for a 2:1 ratio). Handy for building walls and paths with variation. Combine with array and QuickReplace for super easy path building.
Crafting recipe:
Craft by surrounding any wooden planks with leather.
Survival-friendly
Playing this mod in survival mode is fully supported. When playing in survival mode:
- All actions consume the right amount of blocks.
- You have to use the appropriate tool to break blocks.
- This correctly damages the tool based on how many blocks are broken.
- Replacing only works on blocks that can be harvested by hand.
- Mining speed is increased for each additional block mined (change percentage in config).
Explanation video:
Recommended: use Magic Feather to get flight while building.
QuickReplace
Press the - (minus) key on the numpad to toggle QuickReplace. When on, new blocks you place won't be put on the block you are looking at, but replace it. Handy for swapping out floors or replacing materials in general. Replaces underneath tall grass for your convenience.
Note: in survival mode QuickReplace only works with blocks that can be harvested by hand.
Reach
Your reach determines how far away you can place blocks. It also determines the maximum radius of the mirror and the reach of the array.
Increase your reach using craftable reach upgrades. They need to be used in order, it is not possible to skip straight to upgrade 3 without using 1 and 2.
Reach Upgrade 1
Block placing: 12 blocks
Mirror radius: 25 blocks
Array reach: 50 blocks
Reach Upgrade 2
Block placing: 25 blocks
Mirror radius: 50 blocks
Array reach: 100 blocks
Reach Upgrade 3
Block placing: 50 blocks
Mirror radius: 100 blocks
Array reach: 200 blocks
Miscellaneous
Toggle between creative and survival mode by pressing F4.
FAQ
"Can I add this mod to my modpack?"
Yes.
"Is this a client-side only mod?"
No, it needs to be installed on both server and client. The server part places all the blocks and verifies the players input.
"Am I allowed to make my own version of this mod?"
Yes, as long as you comply with the LGPL-3.0 license (usually this means: link to this page, license your modification under LGPL-3.0, make the code visible and state significant changes).
Mod Spotlights
ScottoMotto
Credits
Radial Menu from Chisels and Bits by AlgorithmX2
In reply to featherfurl:
Fixed in 2.10.
Also, breaking multiple blocks with build modes is not easy, as I'd somehow need to remember what the player selected, and then the player needs to hold the button after selection, which is not very intuitive. I don't see an easy way to implement this. You can break multiple blocks using the build modifiers (mirror, array, etc).
That's fair. I kind of imagined something like how auto-tree chopping mods work, ether by taking a while to mine the first block in a multi-block sequence, then breaking everything at once, or by automatically triggering a sequence where blocks break one after another with a delay that depends on your tool's mining speed. In the latter you wouldn't need to hold the mining button down for an extended period of time, and it would give players a way to break sequences of blocks precisely that doesn't interfere with survival balance too much.
Either way, this is a great mod with a lot of awesome ideas and I've been really enjoying building with it!
So, will it only be a feature of the 1.13 version?
Also, good point.. woops.
In reply to Shadow2hel11757:
I will try to keep feature parity between all versions for as long as possible. Depends on how much work it turns out to be, but circles and spheres will most definitely be added to 1.12.
Please tell me you plan on bringing this mod to updates 1.13 and especially 1.14.
In reply to FreakAboutSims:
Yes I will. I'm working on 1.13 at the moment and when forge comes out for 1.14 I will do that too.
Great job on the mod! Will use it for everything in my future builds!
Is a spherical mode by any chance on your to do list?
Also maybe a slope wall as well instead of just a slope roof?
In reply to Shadow2hel11757:
Yes, circles and spheres will be added after it is ported to 1.13. And there's already a diagonal wall mode, not sure what else you would want.
Is it possible to install the mod server-side and leave it optional for players?
In reply to FallendeWurst:
No, this is not supported. I fail to see a reason as to why you would want this? Sharing entire modpacks (including this mod) is easy enough with Twitch and this mod has no noticeable impact on performance in the background.
Any way to give the randomizer bag the same UI as for blocks to bruild walls etc? It's working kinda but seems broken
Edit: Is the "Reloading Shaders" message in the chat from this mod? If yes could we get an option to
In reply to TheRealDadBeard_33575088:
I'm not sure what you mean. Randomizer bags are items for a reason. They hold other items, you can have multiple of them etc. What seems broken to you?
The "Reloading Shaders" message is from this mod. It is solely used for development of the block preview shader, and will be removed in release versions. Reloading optifine shaders is not within the scope of this mod.
Quick replace isn’t working for me. I’m in survival. Does it only work in creative mode?
In reply to Dimentive:
QuickReplace works in survival, but only with blocks that can be mined by hand by default. This can be changed in the config to allow replacing of blocks that can be mined with wooden/stone/iron or diamond tools in version 2.9.
In reply to Requios:
All right. I’m excited about the release of version 2.9.
Do you think you could add a config option that, when enabled, lets you use quick replace with any block`? Also, another config option I would love would be one that makes blocks appear directly in your inventory when you replace blocks or undo, rather than blocks dropping on the ground. If you undo, you had those blocks in your inventory originally anyway, so them dropping on the ground is kind of a hassle. If this is something you could consider implementing, that would be fantastic! 💙
In reply to Dimentive:
Setting the config of quickReplaceMiningLevel to 3 would allow you to replace any block that can be mined with any diamond tool. This is already really powerful in survival, and allows you to even replace obsidian. Allowing you to replace more than that would break the game (think end portal frames etc).
Dropping broken blocks directly into your inventory is on the list. Also, 2.9 is now released. Enjoy!
In reply to Requios:
Awesome! 🙌 Thanks! I’m downloading 2.9 right away.
ERROR REPORT: Hard crash when equipping anything from Blockcraftery to hand while Effortless Building is installed. Seems to be a rendering error.
In reply to Marvin_Megavolt:
See issue #9.
Excellent job on this mod. I have it as a central focal point of one of my modpacks that encourages people to build as it contains a variety of the decorative mods like Chisel and what-not. It's got its own page on the Modpack Pages lol.