Gems

Overview

Gems is a PvP-first RPG progression mod built around gem archetypes. Each gem grants a unique set of passives and active abilities, unlocked through a level and energy system that rewards kills, punishes deaths, and creates constant power swings. Progress carries across swaps, so you can change playstyles without starting over.

Core Loop: Energy, Levels, and Unlocks

• You spawn with a random gem at 3 energy.
• Kills grant +1 energy and death removes -1 energy.
• Energy tiers: Broken (0) -> Common (1) -> Rare (2) -> Elite (3) -> Mythical (4) -> Legendary (5) -> Legendary +1 to +5 (6 to 10).
• Ability access scales with energy:
  • 0 to 1: passives and abilities disabled
  • 2 to 4: keep the first (energy - 1) abilities active
  • 5 plus: full kit online
• Leveling (max level 10):
  • Level 1: all passives
  • Levels 2 to 4: unlock abilities in gem-defined order
  • Level 5: unlock any remaining abilities
  • Levels 6 to 10: buffer levels (no new powers)

Hearts, Death, and the Assassin Endgame

• On death, players drop one Heart item that increases max health when consumed.
• Max health limits: cannot drop below 5 hearts and cannot exceed 20 total hearts.
• If you die while already at 5 max hearts, you become an Assassin:
  • Highlighted red in the player list and tab UI
  • Fixed 10-heart cap
  • Never drops hearts and cannot consume heart items
  • If killed by another Assassin: -2 max hearts
  • Can only regain those hearts by killing other Assassins
  • Reaching 0 max hearts permanently eliminates the Assassin
• Scoring (only after becoming an Assassin):
  • Normal kill: +1 point
  • Final kill (turning someone into an Assassin): +3 points
  • Winner selection uses points (admin-run duel afterwards): highest-score Assassin vs last surviving non-Assassin

Gem Swapping, Ownership, and Upgrades

• Gems are bound to their owner. You can own multiple gems, but only one is active.
• Gem Trader swaps only your active gem (owned gems stay owned).
• Gem Purchase Token lets you pick any gem to add to your owned set and activate.
• Craft Energy Upgrades to increase gem energy (up to Legendary +5).
• At Legendary +5, players gain an enchant glint. If a Legendary +5 player kills a non-broken player, the victim drops an upgrade item that anyone can consume for a level (not usable by Legendary +5).

Legendary Items

Legendary items are unique, server-wide crafts designed to create objectives, conflict, and endgame moments.

• Each legendary craft takes 10 minutes.
• When crafting starts, the crafter’s location is announced globally.
• Crafting progress is shown to all players via a boss bar with coordinates.
• When complete, the item drops at the crafting table.
• Some recipes require a player head that is not your own.

Legendary item list

• Gem Seer: view any known player's gem info and status.
• Tracker Compass: pick a player (including offline) and track current or last-known coords, respawn coords, and direction.
• Recall Relic: mark your location, then teleport back later (consumes the mark). Persists through use and has a cooldown; chunks are forceloaded while marked.
• Hypno Staff: hold a beam on a mob to temporarily convert it (bosses excluded). Controlled mobs follow summon-style AI priorities.
• Earthsplitter Pick: netherite-tier Silk Touch pick with a toggleable tunneling mode (3x3x3 vs 9x3x1), respecting protected or unbreakable blocks.
• Supreme Set: legendary armor set with strong utility effects; full set grants Resistance.
• Blood Oath Blade: gains +1 Sharpness per unique player kill (capped).
• Demolition Blade: arm a demolition charge on a targeted block or entity (cooldown).
• Hunter’s Sight Bow: aim assist toward your last hit target within range and line of sight.
• Third Strike Blade: every 3rd crit within a short chain window deals bonus damage.
• Vampiric Edge: critical hits heal you.
• Chrono Charm: cooldowns tick faster while carried.
• Reversal Mirror: reflect incoming damage for a short window.
• Experience Blade: consume XP to upgrade Sharpness levels.
• Duelist’s Rapier: parry window; successful parry guarantees a crit.
• Hunter’s Trophy Necklace: steal passives from defeated players.
• Gladiator’s Mark: brand a player; both deal more damage to each other for a short time.
• Soul Shackle: link to an enemy; damage you take is split between you.
• Challenger’s Gauntlet: challenge a player to a duel arena; winner gains energy.

Gem Roster Highlights

• Astra: soul capture and release, anchor return, ability suppression void, ranged daggers, scouting tools, tracking tag.
• Fire: fire immunity, auto-smelt and enchant, healing campfire aura, debuff zones, chargeable fireball, meteor shower.
• Flux: charge-based scaling up to 200 percent, beam with armor damage, damage to charge conversion, overcharge ramp with self-damage.
• Life: sustain and max-health control, adaptive vitality vortex, health drain, life circle aura pressure, heart lock, and timed life swap reswap.
• Puff: fall immunity and mobility kit, double jump, dash damage, knock-ups, peel tools.
• Speed: speed and haste core with momentum scaling, lightning arc shot, storm field control, terminal burst, frictionless steps, slipstream and afterimage mobility.
• Strength: raw melee power, sharpness auto-enchant, nullify effects, weaken enemies, bounty tracking.
• Wealth: loot and durability economy, pockets inventory, disables eating or offhand use, hotbar locking, enchant amplification, rich-rush drops.
• Terror: traps and explosives, rigged blocks, remote detonation, panic ring, breach charges.
• Summoner: configurable minions per slot with costs and budget, Commander’s Mark focus, recall safety.
• Space: lunar scaling, low gravity, projectile shield at night, orbital laser, gravity control zones, black hole pull, white hole push.
• Reaper: undead resistance and regen on kills, withering hits, death oath targeting, retribution reflect, scythe arcs, skeletal mount.
• Pillager: faster projectiles, shieldbreaking, resist at low HP, evoker fangs zoning, ammo-free volleys.
• Spy: stillness invisibility, silent sculk, signature masking, backstab bonus, mimic form, echo replay, ability steal, smoke bomb, stolen cast cycling, skinshift disguise.
• Beacon: mobile beacon core with pulses for trusted allies, stabilize support, absorption rally, toggleable moving auras.
• Air: mace-focused wind kit, reduced knockback and fall, wind-charge jump, gale slam, crosswind gust, air dash.
• Chaos: random rolls on abilities and passives from the gem roster with reduced cooldowns.

Server-Friendly Balancing

• Balance values live in config/gems/balance.json (generated on first run).
• Reload without restarting: /gems reloadBalance (op level 2 plus).
• Export current sanitized values: /gems dumpBalance.
• Includes sane clamps and optional particle and sound caps for large servers.

Credits

This project uses (or is inspired by) the following third-party assets:

Logo

• https://magory.itch.io/ultimate-gem-collections (logo + background + gem icons)

Icons / Items

• https://kanomwan.itch.io/kw-16x16-gems-icon?download (gems)
• https://karsiori.itch.io/free-pixel-art-gem-pack (gem trader + energy upgrade + gem purchase)
• https://skristi.itch.io/heart-and-health-bars (heart item)
• https://snoopethduckduck.itch.io/things (compass + augments + inscriptions)

Weapons

• https://season-penguin.itch.io/free-fantasy-weapon-pack (weapons)
• https://runicpixels.itch.io/swordtember-2023-collection (swords)