Overview#
Millénaire is a massive content mod for Minecraft (1.12.2 and 1.7.10) designed to fill the 'emptiness' of the single-player world. It introduces seven distinct human cultures based on 11th-century history: Normans, North Indians, Mayans, Japanese, Byzantines, Inuit, and Seljuk Turks.
Unlike vanilla villagers, Millénaire NPCs have complex AI; they build and upgrade their own houses, farm unique crops, craft specialized equipment, and engage in trade or warfare with neighboring villages. Players can rise through the ranks of a culture to become a 'Natural Leader,' eventually founding and managing their own controlled settlements. The mod also features a deep 'Creation Quest' storyline that explores the origins of the Minecraft world.
Cultures#
Each culture in Millénaire has unique architecture, language, food, and specialized items.
Norman (French)
Based on 11th-century Normandy. They focus on heavy stone and timber-frame architecture. They are known for producing superior tools and armor.
- Specialties: Cider, Calvados, Norman Broadswords, and heavy armor.
- Key Buildings: Forteresse (Fort), Abbaye (Abbey), Manoir (Manor).
North Indian (Hindi)
Based on the Ganges Valley. They utilize mud bricks and sandstone. They are masters of agriculture and spice production.
- Specialties: Rice, Curry, Turmeric, and ornate statues.
- Key Buildings: Qila (Fort), Mahal (Palace), Mandir (Temple).
Mayan (Yucatec)
Based on the pre-Columbian civilization. They build massive stone pyramids and focus on maize farming.
- Specialties: Maize, Obsidian tools, and Macuahuitl (war clubs).
- Key Buildings: Great Pyramid (Noah Mul), Temple of the Sun.
Japanese (Japanese)
Based on the Heian period. They use paper walls and thatch roofs, transitioning to stone tiles as they grow.
- Specialties: Rice, Sake, Udon, Katana (Tachi), and Yumi bows.
- Key Buildings: Yashiki (Manor), Bukkyou Mura (Religious village).
Byzantine (Greek)
Based on the Eastern Roman Empire. They use elaborate tiles and mosaics.
- Specialties: Wine, Silk, Grapes, and Byzantine Maces.
- Key Buildings: Chorio (Village), Orthodox Church.
Inuit (Inuktitut)
Found in snowy biomes, they live in igloos and sod houses.
- Specialties: Whale meat, Fur clothes, and Kakivak spears.
- Key Buildings: Iglu (Igloo), Shaman's Hut.
Seljuk Turk (Turkish)
Added in later versions, they feature Middle Eastern architecture with elaborate carpets.
- Specialties: Pide, Lokum (Turkish Delight), and Pistachios.
- Key Buildings: Caravanserai, Seljuk Mosque.
Villagers & Mobs#
Villagers are the heart of the mod. They are born as children, grow into adults, and eventually pass away, with their roles being filled by the next generation.
Villager Roles
| Role | Description | Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Leader | Village Chief, Lord, or King. | Manages reputation and sells land/buildings. |
| Builder | Constructs and upgrades buildings. | Collects resources from chests and moves to build sites. |
| Farmer | Tends to crops (Wheat, Rice, Maize). | Harvests and stores food in the village center. |
| Merchant | Handles trades with the player. | Approaches the player in the Town Hall or Market. |
| Guard/Knight | Defends the village from mobs and raids. | Patrols the perimeter; attacks hostile entities. |
| Wife | Manages the household and crafts items. | Cooks food and crafts materials like timber frames. |
Hostile Mobs
- Bandits: Found in lone Bandit Towers. They will attack the player on sight and can raid nearby villages. Killing them unlocks their loot chests.
- Soldiers: During a state of 'Open Conflict,' soldiers from rival villages will march to attack. They have high health (20-40 HP) and wear culture-specific armor.
Items#
Currency (Deniers)
Millénaire uses a tiered currency system for all trades.
- Denier (Copper): Base unit. Obtained by selling common resources like wood or stone.
- Denier d'Argent (Silver): Worth 64 Copper Deniers.
- Denier d'Or (Gold): Worth 64 Silver Deniers.
Magical Amulets
| Sold by Viking merchants in markets once a village is sufficiently advanced. | Amulet | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Amulet of Yggdrasil | Displays the player's current Y-level (altitude). | |
| Amulet of Skoll and Hati | Toggles between Day and Night (limited uses). | |
| Amulet of the Alchemist | Glows red when near valuable ore deposits. | |
| Amulet of Vishnu | Glows red when hostile mobs are nearby. |
Specialized Equipment
- Norman Tools: Have the speed of Gold but the durability of Iron. Norman Hoes have Diamond-level durability.
- Japanese Tachi: A sword with a higher critical hit chance than vanilla swords.
- Byzantine Mace: Deals high knockback and heavy damage (6+).
- Inuit Fur Armor: Provides high protection and resistance to cold (in modpacks with temperature mechanics).
Mechanics#
Reputation
Your standing with a culture is tracked individually. High reputation is required to unlock advanced trades and leadership status.
- Increasing Reputation: Trade with villagers, complete quests, or donate resources (using the 'Donate' toggle in the trade GUI).
- Decreasing Reputation: Attacking villagers, stealing from their chests, or destroying village blocks.
Village Growth
Villages grow by collecting resources (Wood, Stone, Iron, etc.) in their central chests. Once they have enough, a builder will automatically start a new project or upgrade an existing building. Players can accelerate this by selling the required materials to the village.
Diplomacy
Villages can have several diplomatic states with each other:
- Trade: Villages exchange goods via traveling merchants.
- Neutral: No interaction.
- Conflict: Occasional skirmishes between guards.
- War: Full-scale raids where soldiers attempt to kill the rival leader and loot the village.
Summoning & Negation
- Summoning Wand: Used on a Gold Block to generate a new village of your choice. Used on an Obsidian block to generate a random village.
- Wand of Negation: Found in village centers or bandit towers. Using it on a village's central block will 'erase' the NPCs, leaving the buildings for the player to occupy.
Creation Quest#
The Creation Quest is a multi-chapter storyline triggered by reaching 'Friend of the Village' status with specific cultures.
- Chapter 1 (The Sadhu): Triggered in Indian villages. Players must assist a forest hermit (Sadhu) with botanical samples and ancient epics to learn about the world's creation.
- Chapter 2 (The Alchemist): Triggered in Norman villages. Involves helping a Norman Alchemist with explosive experiments and dimensional anomalies.
- Chapter 3 (The Fallen King): Triggered in Mayan villages. Focuses on the history of the Mayan people and their fallen deities.
Completion of a chapter typically grants the player the 'Natural Leader' title for that culture, allowing them to found their own controlled 'Seigneurie' or 'Jaagiir' settlements.
Blocks#
Millénaire adds dozens of decorative and functional blocks used in village construction.
| Block | Culture | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Timber Frame | Norman | Structural block for houses; comes in plain and cross patterns. |
| Mud Brick | Indian/Seljuk | Primary building material for desert structures. |
| Thatch | Japanese/Mayan | Roofing material for early-stage buildings. |
| Paper Wall | Japanese | Translucent decorative wall/window. |
| Byzantine Tile | Byzantine | High-tier roofing and flooring with ornate patterns. |
| Stained Glass | Norman | Used in Abbeys and Cathedrals (Rosette patterns). |
| Path Blocks | All | Custom gravel, dirt, and stone paths that villagers use for navigation. |