Overview#
The Lightest Lamps Mod is designed to solve the common Minecraft problem of having to place hundreds of torches to light up large areas. By introducing a series of advanced lamps with extended light ranges—reaching up to 30 blocks—this mod allows players to illuminate massive halls, caves, and bases with a single light source.
Beyond simple illumination, the mod adds a deep progression system involving the extraction of noble gases (Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon, and Radon) using a Gas Extractor machine. It also features specialized blocks like the Alchemical Lamp for base defense and Vantablack for creating perfect darkness.
Core Mechanics#
Light Air
To overcome the vanilla Minecraft engine's limitation of a maximum light level of 15, Lightest Lamps utilizes a custom mechanic called Light Air. When a high-intensity lamp is placed, it generates invisible, non-collidable "Light Air" blocks in a radius around it. These blocks act as secondary light sources, effectively extending the lamp's reach far beyond its physical location.
Light Range Progression
Standard lamps are categorized by Greek letters, each representing a specific light radius. Unlike vanilla torches or glowstone which only reach 15 blocks, these lamps can illuminate much larger areas:
| Lamp Tier | Light Range (Blocks) | Primary Material |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Lamp | 15 | Glass Tube |
| Alpha Lamp | 16 | Neon |
| Beta Lamp | 17 | Argon |
| Gamma Lamp | 17 | Argon |
| Delta Lamp | 18 | Krypton |
| Epsilon Lamp | 19 | Xenon |
| Zeta Lamp | 24 | Radon |
| Eta Lamp | 26 | Radon |
| Omega Lamp | 30 | Advanced Noble Gas Mix |
Noble Gases and Extraction#
The mod introduces a chemical processing system centered around the Gas Extractor (also known as the Gas Centrifuge). This machine is essential for obtaining the noble gases required for high-tier lamps.
The Gas Extractor
The Gas Extractor requires a Filter and a source of glowstone (dust or blocks) to operate. It processes the glowstone to isolate specific gases.
- Power: By default, the machine can run in a "Vanilla Friendly" mode without external power, but it can be configured to require Forge Energy (FE) in technical modpacks.
- Filters: Different filters increase the yield of specific gases.
- Basic Filter: Provides a balanced mix of Neon and Argon.
- Neon/Argon/Krypton/Xenon/Radon Filters: Specialized filters that significantly increase the chance of obtaining their respective gas dusts.
Noble Gas Types
Each gas is obtained in a "Dust" or "Pile" form and can be crafted into Tubes for lamp construction:
- Neon (Red): Used for Alpha Lamps.
- Argon (Green): Used for Beta and Gamma Lamps.
- Krypton (Purple): Used for Delta Lamps.
- Xenon (Blue): Used for Epsilon Lamps and Alchemical components.
- Radon (White/Pink): Used for Zeta, Eta, and Omega Lamps.
Specialized Utility Lamps#
Sea Lamps
Standard lamps often struggle to illuminate underwater environments effectively. The mod adds specialized Sea Lantern variants that are water-resistant and have extended ranges:
- Clear Sea Lantern: Range 16.
- Ocean Lantern: Range 19.
- Abyssal Lantern: Range 24.
Alchemical Lamp
The Alchemical Lamp is a defensive utility block. In addition to providing light, it creates an 8x8 block interdiction zone that physically pushes away hostile mobs and deflects incoming arrows, making it an excellent tool for base security.
Vantablack
While most of the mod focuses on light, Vantablack is the ultimate block for darkness. It is a "full black" block that absorbs all light, making it appear as a void. It is perfect for building dark rooms, mob farms, or aesthetic "black hole" structures. It is crafted using Carbon Nanotubes, which are processed from coal and coal blocks.
Materials and Resources#
Lanthanum Ore (Monazite)
Lanthanum is a rare earth metal added by the mod, often found in the form of Monazite Ore. It is a critical component in high-tier lamp recipes and machine components. It typically spawns at lower Y-levels and can be mined with a Pickaxe (Iron tier or higher).
Decorative Blocks
- Lampfruit: A decorative, hanging light source that resembles a fruit. It is waterloggable and can be placed underwater.
- Glowing Glass: Glass blocks that emit light, allowing for seamless illuminated windows.
- Glowing Pillars: Vertical light sources that can be used as architectural supports.
- Curtain Blocks: Used to block light from passing through windows or openings without using solid blocks.
Recipes and Crafting#
Most recipes involve the use of the Gas Extractor to create gas dusts, which are then combined with glass and other materials.
| Item | Recipe Components |
|---|---|
| Gas Extractor | Boron, Glass Tubes, Pistons, Iron Ingots |
| Glass Tube | Glass Panes in a vertical line |
| Vantablack | Carbon Nanotubes + Black Concrete/Wool |
| Carbon Nanotubes | Processed Coal Blocks in the Gas Extractor |
| Alchemical Dust | Xenon Dust + Diamonds + Glowstone |
| Basic Filter | Iron Nuggets + Paper + String |
Configuration#
The mod is highly configurable via the lightestlamps-common.toml file. Key options include:
- Energy Requirement: Toggle whether the Gas Extractor requires FE power.
- Light Air Behavior: Adjust how the invisible light blocks are placed and updated.
- Ore Generation: Enable or disable the spawning of Lanthanum/Monazite ore.
- Vantablack Effects: Toggle the light-absorption properties of Vantablack blocks.
