Ore-Vein-Generation

Overview

Overview

Ore Veins introduces a new generation architecture for ore deposits. Instead of scattered ores in each chunk, the mod generates continuous structures — from small pockets you can mine in a few seconds...

... to giant formations spanning multiple chunks. These colossal structures are rare, but when found, they provide enough resources for a long time — and justify building entire outposts, railways, and logistics networks around them.

This approach enables:

• Realistic mineral deposits that follow natural shapes
• Exploration-driven gameplay — find a vein, not just a cluster
• Complete configurability — every aspect of generation is exposed via JSON
• Mod compatibility — with a few lines of config, you can add support for any ore from any mod

Features

• Massive Veins: Rare but enormous ore deposits
• Exploration Focus: Incentive to explore caves and mountains
• Transport Systems: Makes railways and roads meaningful
• Six Distinct Shapes:
• Cloud:

A sphere filled with scattered, uneven pockets. Density varies randomly, creating ore-rich zones and empty voids within the same body. (copper, ...)

• Disk:

A wide, gently undulating horizontal sheet. Follows the ancient landscape, forming curved, nearly flat layers that can be traced across terrain. (andesite, diorite, ...)

• Falloff:

A sphere with smooth density gradient—richest at the core, fading toward the edges. Creates a clear "bullseye" pattern underground. (gold, ...)

• Kimberlite:

A tall, narrow, twisting vertical pipe. Often bends or branches, cutting through multiple rock layers from deep bedrock to near surface. (diamond, coal, ...)

• Sphere:

A large, nearly uniform spherical deposit. Consistent density throughout, forming predictable, rounded ore bodies. (iron, ...)

• Lens:

A flattened, oval-shaped lenticular deposit. Thickens in the center and tapers toward the edges, like a flattened lens or pillow. (coal, ...)

Fully Customizable Generation

Beyond the preset vein types, Ore Veins provides a complete configuration system that lets you:

• Build custom shapes – bend, stretch, and distort spheres and cylinders with radial, surface, and volume noise

• Control size distributions with different random generators

• Create complex ore mixtures using the ChanceMapping system

• Set up templates (Specs) and override any parameter in specific placements

• Disable vanilla ore generation entirely with Removals

All configuration is done through JSON files in config/ore_veins/profiles/, making it ideal for modpack creators and server admins.

Mining Philosophy

Ore Veins replaces common ore deposits with rare mineral formations, ranging from compact seams to colossal treasures up to 96 blocks in diameter — true underground vaults of wealth.

🏔️ "Harsh Survival" Style (without helper mods): Here, you'll truly learn to value every scrap of iron from a chest or a fight without a shield. The "Stone Age" may last several play sessions. Your strategy shifts from digging to exploration: seek out rocky outcrops where ore is exposed, and delve into the deepest cave systems.

🔍 "Industrial Logistics" Style (with prospecting mods): The intended experience for builders. We recommend reducing vein frequency in the world config — this makes each discovery a strategic prize, justifying the construction of roads and rails for hundreds of blocks. The core gameplay becomes about developing infrastructure, not endless searching.

The total ore in the world remains close to vanilla, but now it requires systematic exploration and thoughtful logistics.

Gameplay Impact

• Early game: Harder to find initial resources, encourages exploration
• Mid/late game: Rewards systematic exploration and infrastructure planning
• Infrastructure: Creates need for transport networks between mining outposts

Configuration

Files are created automatically after first game launch.

1.4.0 (current)

• config/ore_veins/server.toml — Server settings
• config/ore_veins/client.toml — Client settings
• config/ore_veins/profiles/**/*.json — Profiles with detailed world generation settings
• config/ore_veins/docs/readme.md — Full documentation on modifying world generation

Choosing a Profile

Ore Veins 1.4.0 introduces generation profiles — pre-configured sets of veins.

• Set the active profile in config/ore_veins/server.toml, choose one of:
• easy — frequent veins, never too large. Great for relaxed play.
• medium — balanced experience. Challenging to search, high reward.
• hard — rare veins, but colossal. Best with prospecting tools.
• abundance — experimental: ore everywhere, for fun and creative mode.
• starvation — experimental: almost no ore, for masochists.

• Or create your own:
• copy any profile folder (e.g., medium) to a new name (e.g., my-profile)
• edit the JSON files inside
• set it in config/ore_veins/server.toml (e.g., profile = "my-profile")

Each profile contains three folders: specs/, placers/, removals/. See full documentation in config/ore_veins/docs/readme.md.

1.3.1 (legacy)

• config/ore_veins/server.toml — Server settings
• config/ore_veins/client.toml — Client settings
• config/ore_veins/worldgen/*.json — Detailed world generation settings
• config/ore_veins/docs/readme.md — Detailed documentation on modifying world generation

1.2.1 (legacy)

• config/ore_veins.json5 — World generation settings
• config/ore_veins_client.json5 — Client-side options

Compatibility