Better With Addons Mod 1.12.2, Wiki

Better With Addons (BWA) is a spiritual successor to several legendary addons for the 'Better Than Wolves' mod, ported and expanded for Minecraft. It requires Better With Mods to function and focuses on three primary modules: Eriotto (Japanese culture and weaponry), Deco (aesthetic and architectural blocks), and Utility (mechanical and redstone logic). The mod introduces complex processing chains, such as the creation of Japanese steel (Tamahagane), spirit-based infusion, and advanced agricultural systems like the Alicio tree.

Ancestry and Spirits

The Ancestry system is the heart of the mod's mystical progression. It revolves around the collection and utilization of Spirits.

• Spirit Collection: Spirits are primarily obtained by killing Karate Zombies or other mobs while holding a glass bottle, resulting in a Bottle of Japanese Ancestry. Alternatively, killing mobs near an active Ancestral Infuser will release spirits directly into the environment.
• Ancestral Infuser: A 3x4x3 multiblock structure. It must be placed on top of Infused Soul Sand. To function, it requires a light level of 7 or lower and clear space around it. When active, the orb on top glows red.
• In-World Infusion: Items thrown onto an active Infuser can be transformed. For example, throwing Sugar Cane onto the Infuser converts it into Bamboo.

Soaking and Drying

Processing raw materials into refined goods often requires the Cherrywood Soaking Unit and Cherrywood Drying Unit.

• Soaking Box: Used to hydrate materials. Placing Mulberry Bark inside with water will eventually produce Soaked Mulberry Bark.
• Drying Rack: Used to remove moisture. Soaked materials or wet items (like Wet Soap) are placed here to harden over time, often requiring exposure to air or specific light conditions.

World Scale

The World Scale is a powerful centerpiece for base protection. When placed and topped with a Banner, it creates a zone where block breaking is significantly inhibited for anyone not wearing a matching banner. The complexity of the banner design determines the difficulty of counterfeiting the protection.

This module adds a vast array of items and blocks inspired by feudal Japan, focusing on traditional craftsmanship.

Materials & Steel Working

Creating high-tier Japanese weaponry requires a multi-stage smelting and folding process:

1. Iron Sand: Harvested from the world, used to create Tamahagane.
2. Tamahagane & Hocho-Tetsu: These are the base steels. They must be heated in a kiln and then folded on an anvil.
3. Folding: Steel can be folded multiple times (Once-folded, Twice-folded) to increase its purity and the quality of the resulting blade.

Architectural Blocks

• Tatami Mats: Traditional flooring that comes in various sizes (1x1, 1x2). They must be placed in specific patterns to be aesthetically 'correct'.
• Shoji & Fusuma: Sliding paper walls and doors. Shoji are translucent, while Fusuma are opaque and often decorated.
• Paper Lanterns: Decorative light sources made from Washi paper and wooden frames.

BWA introduces a specialized arsenal of weapons, each with unique combat behaviors.

Melee Weapons

• Katana: A fast, high-precision blade. It has a higher attack speed than standard swords but requires Tamahagane to craft.
• Wakizashi & Tanto: Shorter blades used as sidearms or for quick strikes in confined spaces.
• Greatsword: A massive, slow-swinging weapon that deals immense damage and has a wide sweep area.

Ranged Weapons

• Matchlock (Tanegashima): An early firearm. It requires Matchlock Shot and Gunpowder to fire. It deals massive damage but has a very long reload time.
• Yumi & Ya: The Japanese longbow and its corresponding arrows. The Yumi has a longer draw time but greater range and power than a vanilla bow.

Mechanical Blocks

• Chute: A variation of the Filtered Hopper. It has multiple output holes on the bottom, allowing items to be distributed in multiple directions. It can be powered mechanically to change its distribution logic.
• Spindle & Spinning Wheel: Used for automated thread and cloth production, integrating with the Better With Mods mechanical power system.

Redstone Logic

• Banner Detector: Detects specific banner patterns within its line of sight. Useful for automated gates or security systems.
• Weight Sensor: Emits a redstone signal based on the weight of items or entities on top of it.
• Block Matcher: A specialized sensor that outputs a signal when the block in front of it matches a reference block placed inside its GUI.

Unique Trees

• Alicio Tree: A grotesque tree with a face. It secretes a red sap that attracts animals. Players must 'feed' the face with items to trigger animal spawning.
• Mulberry Tree: The primary source of Mulberry Bark, which is essential for making Washi paper.
• Sakura Tree: A decorative tree with pink leaves that drop leaf piles. Its wood is used in various Japanese-themed recipes.

Mobs

• Karate Zombie: A rare variant of the zombie that spawns in the world. It is faster and more dangerous than standard zombies, using martial arts attacks. It is the primary source of Bottles of Japanese Ancestry.
• Spirits: Non-solid entities that appear as red orbs. They are generated by the Ancestral Infuser or by killing mobs with specific tools. They act as a 'fuel' for high-tier Japanese crafting.

The mod expands the food system with several traditional Japanese dishes and new crops.

• Rice: Grown in water-saturated soil. Can be harvested and processed into Rice Bowls or Cooked Rice.
• Tea: Tea leaves can be harvested and brewed using a specialized brewing system involving the Soaking and Drying units.
• Fugu (Pufferfish): Can be prepared into Sashimi. If prepared incorrectly (without a high-quality Hocho-Tetsu blade), it may retain its poisonous properties.