Overview#
The Jack O' Launcher mod, created by ochotonida for the Spooky Jam 2018, introduces a powerful and highly customizable ranged weapon to Minecraft. Inspired by the Jack 'O Lantern Launcher from Terraria, this mod allows players to fire explosive pumpkins that can be modified with various materials to change their behavior, damage, and utility.
Whether you need a portable TNT cannon, a long-range fertilizer, or a tactical potion delivery system, the Jack O' Launcher provides a versatile solution for late-game combat and utility.
Items#
The mod adds two primary items that form the core of its gameplay loop.
Jack-O'-Launcher
The Jack-O'-Launcher is the primary weapon. It functions similarly to a bow or crossbow, requiring the player to hold the right-click button to charge the shot before releasing. It has its own durability and can be enchanted to improve performance.
Jack-O'-Launcher Ammo
This is the base projectile for the launcher. While it can be fired in its raw state for a basic explosion, its true power lies in its ability to be combined with other items in a crafting grid to gain special properties.
Recipes#
The following recipes are standard for the mod. Note that the mod is fully compatible with Just Enough Items (JEI), which is recommended for viewing version-specific variations.
Jack-O'-Launcher Crafting
| Slot | Material |
|---|---|
| Top Row | Iron Ingot, Carved Pumpkin, Iron Ingot |
| Middle Row | Iron Ingot, Dispenser, Iron Ingot |
| Bottom Row | None, Iron Ingot, None |
Base Ammo Crafting
To create the standard ammunition, combine a pumpkin with gunpowder in any crafting grid.
| Result | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Jack-O'-Launcher Ammo (x4) | 1x Carved Pumpkin + 1x Gunpowder |
Ammo Customization#
Ammo can be customized by placing a Jack-O'-Lantern or existing Ammo into a crafting grid with specific materials. Multiple effects can be stacked on a single piece of ammunition.
| Ingredient | Max Amount | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Gunpowder | 8 | Increases the size and power of the explosion. |
| Fire Charge | 1 | Sets the impact area on fire. |
| Wool Block | 1 | Muffled: Prevents the explosion from destroying blocks. |
| Feather | 1 | Applies Silk Touch to any blocks destroyed by the blast. |
| Gold Nugget | 3 | Applies Fortune to blocks destroyed by the blast. |
| Slimeball | 3 | Causes the projectile to bounce off surfaces (once per slimeball). |
| Iron Nugget | 4 | Increases direct impact and explosion damage. |
| Ender Pearl | 1 | Teleports the player to the location of the projectile upon detonation. |
| Bone Block | 1 | Applies a fertilizing (Bone Meal) effect at the impact site. |
| Potion | 1 | Releases the potion's effect (Splash or Lingering) upon explosion. |
| Arrow | 8 | Causes the projectile to burst into multiple arrows on impact. |
| Firework Rocket | 1 | Removes gravity from the projectile, allowing straight flight. Adds particle effects. |
Mechanics#
Firing Physics
By default, the Jack-O'-Launcher fires projectiles in an arc. Players must account for gravity when aiming at distant targets. However, adding a Firework Rocket to the ammo recipe removes gravity, causing the pumpkin to fly in a perfectly straight line until it hits a surface or its fuse expires.
Combat and Damage
The launcher deals two types of damage: Impact Damage (from the physical hit of the pumpkin) and Explosion Damage. Iron Nuggets are the primary way to scale both damage types for tougher enemies.
Enchantments
The Jack-O'-Launcher supports several vanilla and mod-specific enchantments:
- Unbreaking: Increases durability.
- Mending: Repairs the launcher with XP.
- Looting: Increases drops from mobs killed by the launcher.
- Launching: Increases the initial velocity of the projectile.
- Unwasting: Provides a chance to fire without consuming ammunition.
- Reloading: Decreases the cooldown time between shots.
- Blast Shield: Significantly reduces the explosion damage the shooter takes from their own projectiles.
Configuration#
The mod includes a configuration file (typically found in config/jack_o_launcher.cfg or .toml) that allows server administrators to balance the weapon.
- Explosion Power: Adjusts the base radius and strength of the pumpkin blasts.
- Block Damage: A global toggle to enable or disable terrain destruction from the launcher.
- Cooldown: Sets the internal timer between shots to prevent rapid-fire spamming.
- Ammo Consumption: Toggles whether the launcher requires ammo in Creative mode.
