Custom Ore Generation Mod Wiki

The Custom Ore Generation Mod (often abbreviated as COG) is a powerful utility mod for Minecraft that grants players and server administrators unparalleled control over the generation and distribution of ores and other blocks within their game worlds. Instead of adding new content like mobs, items, or blocks, COG focuses entirely on modifying the world generation mechanics.

Its primary purpose is to allow for highly flexible and detailed customization of ore spawning, supporting both vanilla Minecraft ores and those added by other mods. The mod introduces several custom distribution types beyond the game's default 'cluster' generation, such as 'vein' and 'cloud' distributions, and allows for the substitution of any block type with another during world generation.

Customization is achieved through a sophisticated XML-based configuration file and simpler plain text options files, enabling conditional generation, mathematical expressions, and other advanced features. This allows for intricate control, including biome-specific ore generation and the ability to define custom parameters that players can adjust via an in-game GUI during world creation.

The core mechanic of Custom Ore Generation revolves around its highly configurable XML files. These files dictate every detail of how ores and other blocks are generated.

Distribution Types

Custom Ore Generation offers several methods for distributing blocks throughout the world:

• Cluster: This is the default vanilla distribution type, where ores appear in small, somewhat spherical groups.
• Vein: This distribution creates long, branching deposits of ore, mimicking realistic geological veins. Biome-specific vein generation is possible by including a BiomeType tag within the Veins configuration.
• Cloud: Ores are generated in larger, more diffuse 'cloud-like' formations.
• Substitute: This powerful feature allows any existing block type in the world to be replaced with another during generation. For example, gravel could be replaced with stone, or specific types of stone could be substituted for other materials.
• StandardGen: This likely refers to a general or default generation method, often used as a base for other configurations.

Configuration Files

The mod's behavior is entirely controlled by its configuration.

• XML Config File: This is the primary configuration file, written in XML, containing all the detailed rules for ore generation. It supports advanced features like conditional branches and mathematical expressions.
• Options File(s): These are plain text files that provide a simpler way for players to adjust certain features defined in the main XML config without directly editing the complex XML structure.

Custom Ore Generation comes with a standard configuration that supports vanilla ores and a variety of mod-added ores, biomes, and dimensions.

For full control, users typically copy CustomOreGen_Config_Default.xml to CustomOreGen_Config.xml and modify it. To enable custom configurations and prevent interference from standard settings, users can delete default import statements and add an <OptionalImport file='modules/custom/*.xml'/> statement within the 'Import Custom Configs' block.

All configuration is handled server-side, meaning that for single-player or LAN worlds, the integrated server handles it, and for true multiplayer worlds, the stand-alone server manages the generation.

Debugging features are also available to assist with configuration experimentation.

The Custom Ore Generation Mod requires Minecraft Forge to function.

Client Installation

While not strictly necessary for basic gameplay on a server running Custom Ore Generation, installing the mod on the client is required to view specific visual features, such as wireframe models of ore distributions and custom Mystcraft symbols.

Because terrain generation is a server-side process, Custom Ore Generation must be installed on the server for its effects to take place in multiplayer environments. The server needs to have Minecraft Forge installed first, after which the mod's archive file is placed into the /mods folder. Currently, only the Mojang server is supported, with no official port for Bukkit.

Custom Ore Generation is designed to be highly compatible and extensible, supporting a wide range of content beyond vanilla Minecraft.

• Mod-Added Ores: The mod can be configured to generate ores introduced by other mods. Default configurations often include support for major mods.
• Biomes: It supports mod-added biomes and allows for biome-specific ore generation, enabling different ore distributions depending on the biome.
• Dimensions: Custom Ore Generation can also extend its effects to mod-added dimensions.
• Mystcraft Symbols: The mod supports custom Mystcraft symbols, which require client-side installation to be rendered.

Standard configurations are provided for various popular mods, including Industrialcraft 2, Forestry, and RedPower 2, in addition to vanilla Minecraft ores.

The Custom Ore Generation Mod does not introduce any new items, blocks, or mobs into the game. Its functionality is solely focused on altering the generation of existing blocks, including ores, and can be used to replace any block type with another during world creation.

The Custom Ore Generation Mod does not add any new crafting recipes to the game, as it does not introduce new items or blocks. Its purpose is entirely focused on world generation mechanics.

Information regarding specific in-game commands for the Custom Ore Generation Mod is not extensively documented in available sources. The primary method of interaction and configuration is through its XML and options files, and an in-game GUI for player-selectable options during world creation.