Minecraft Modding Blockstates

Introduction

In Minecraft modding, blockstates are used to define how a block behaves and looks in the game. This includes its visual appearance, such as textures and models, as well as its properties and behavior. Understanding blockstates is essential for modders to create custom blocks and customize their appearance and behavior.

Blockstate Format

Blockstates in Minecraft are typically defined in JSON format. A blockstate JSON file contains multiple variants, each of which defines a specific state of the block. A variant can specify different model and texture files, as well as other properties.

Here is an example of a simple blockstate JSON file:

{
  "variants": {
    "normal": { "model": "modid:block_model" }
  }
}

In this example, the blockstate has only one variant named "normal", which specifies that the block should use the model file "modid:block_model.json". By default, the block will use the "normal" variant.

Variant Properties

Each variant can have additional properties that define its behavior. These properties can be used to create different block states based on factors such as the block's orientation, facing direction, or other custom properties.

For example, to create a block with different variants for each of the four cardinal directions, you can define the blockstate as follows:

{
  "variants": {
    "facing=north": { "model": "modid:block_model_north" },
    "facing=east": { "model": "modid:block_model_east" },
    "facing=south": { "model": "modid:block_model_south" },
    "facing=west": { "model": "modid:block_model_west" }
  }
}

In this example, the block has four variants, each representing a different facing direction. Depending on the orientation of the block, the corresponding variant will be used.

Model Files

Block models define the 3D shape and appearance of the block. They can be created using various modeling tools or by manually editing JSON files. A blockstate references the model file that should be used for each variant.

Here is an example of a simple block model JSON file:

{
  "parent": "block/cube_all",
  "textures": {
    "all": "modid:block_texture"
  }
}

In this example, the block model uses the parent model "block/cube_all", which is a simple cube. The "textures" section defines the texture file "modid:block_texture.png" to be applied to all sides of the cube.

Conclusion

Blockstates are an essential part of Minecraft modding as they allow modders to define how their custom blocks behave and look in the game. By understanding the blockstate format, variant properties, and model files, programmers can create highly customized blocks to enhance the Minecraft gameplay experience.