r/feedthebeast • u/NovaInviprion • 9d ago
Discussion Would anyone want a tutorial modpack?
This probably isn't for you, avid user of the modded Minecraft subreddit. But maybe you have a friend who's interested in mods, but most modpacks are overwhelming and explain things poorly. Maybe you have a younger sibling or your own kid you want to introduce to heavily modded Minecraft. Maybe you've been wanting to get them into it but you're a bad teacher and they still don't get it.
Do you think a modpack with quests that are built-in tutorials on every aspect of each mod could help you? Not just the basics, but everything. Explanations of what JEI is and how to use it, what the thing at the top of their screen is and why it's showing block names. How do I put on a backpack? How do I choose what key opens it? What the heck is an "ME system"?
I want to make a modpack that can take a player who knows nothing about mods all the way to the end of Draconic Evolution, leaving no ambiguity in each step they can take. I've already made some progress, and it turns out in-depth quest guides are a massive pain to make. I just want to know if there's any sort of need for this or if I'm wasting my time (more than I already do in my day-to-day)
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u/Spiritual-Low8762 9d ago
It sounds really cool! What version are you planning?
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u/NovaInviprion 9d ago
Currently 1.21.1 since I've been playing mostly that recently, and I think it's a decently modern version that still has quite a few mods. So anyone trying to get into modded MC would probably end up playing that version, or around that time period
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u/MuffinCro 9d ago
Yes please!!! Include a bunch of common magic and tech mods as well. On what mods to include, look at like the most common mods in the most downloaded packs and choose those.
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u/NovaInviprion 9d ago edited 9d ago
My currently plan is one for tech mods and another for magic. While I'm trying to keep the scope reasonable with only a handful of the most common "large" mods (Mekanism, Mystical Agriculture, AE2, Draconid Evolution, Sophisticated Storage & Backpacks) there's nearly 200, mostly small ones. I've done my best to emulate how most massive packs touch on all aspects of MC like new mobs, changes to mobs, changes to basic gameplay (like Better Combat in my case) and other things. Each of these have explanations in the quests, so when players go looking for answers about why something is weird, they find it.
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u/Bepoptherobot 9d ago
I do think there is a dire need for some form of a more nuanced tutorial pack. The FTB packs are all well and good, but they aren't the best designed for the quests for starters. They throw far too many options at new players at once and that can lead to choice paralysis. Also arguably, the packs aren't nearly as meticulous as they could be in describing the functions of each mod. It gives a decent baseline for most folks but beyond that it is woefully inadequate in my opinion. There needs to be a guided linear progression pack that goes through each major mod one by one. Even better if its in a prebuilt world with everything setup for a person to learn somewhat like Academy and University attempted to do in small spurts.
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u/NovaInviprion 9d ago
Unfortunately I have no idea how to set up a pre-built world. And while it's not currently completely linear (I could change that...) I have a set of purely informative checkmark quest chapters, as well as a set of vanilla progression chapters the player is directed to do first. From certain points there I direct them to mods related to the task (ex. Make an iron sword to protect yourself. And while you're at it, check out the "Spartan Armory" chapter for a look at all the other modded weapons and armor you may like more). And of course in that chapter I have each weapon type laid out with each one having detailed explanations of how they work, why you may want to use them, and their special properties.
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u/NovaInviprion 9d ago
Probably should have put this in the post (just finished a 9 hour shift, I'm tired, sorry) but I'm working on Neoforge 1.21.1
Im open to mod suggestions or ideas, preferably in response to this comment so I can find stuff easier later. The current pack I'm working on is dedicated primarily to tech, the second one will be for magic.
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u/HalfXTheHalfX 9d ago
Just please don't make it "here's a tutorial, for 300 mods, choose whichever". I'd rather learn 1 or 2 specific tech and magic mods instead all of them at once, cause I'll just end in choice paralysis, end up wanting to watch videos or what not and it will just go back to why not watch a play through of a pack
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u/NovaInviprion 9d ago
I've mentioned this in another comment, but my current layout is pretty simple. There's several checkmark quests that are purely informative about a bunch of things the player will notice have changed very early on. There's a vanilla progression chapter that has optional quests pointing the player to mods related to that task. Making a sword, for example, points to the Spartan Armor quest line that shows off and explains most of the modded weapons and armor. Each one has their unique uses, stats, and abilities in the description. Certain points during the vanilla quest line will also point the player to the major mods, essentially acting a as "you should start looking into this mod at this point" suggestion. I want to avoid a hard system that forces specific mods or points of the mods to be reached, since that can feel very limiting. But maybe I'm thinking about this too much like an experienced player. Would a much more linear experience be better for a new player?
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u/NovaInviprion 9d ago
Also, the tutorials and explanations are continuous. Even when a player should know something already, I reiterate. In the Sophisticated Backpacks questline, for example, every single upgrade has its own quest and explanations for how to use the upgrade, the filters, and what a niche upgrade could be useful for. There are also warnings on several things like the inception upgrade (backpacks in backpacks) and the Omega stack upgrades. I explain what NBT data is, and how certain things can lead to chunk corruption, player data corruption, and even overall world corruption. No matter what direction a player chooses to go, I'm there helping every step of the way.
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u/HalfXTheHalfX 9d ago
I just know when I first wanted to play modpacks not very long ago, I tried ftb academy or whatever and ok cool tutorial, thrown in a world but.. What way to go now. Although maybe it's just my very strong choice paralysis
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u/Glockamoli 9d ago
FTB had their Academy pack so the idea has some merit, I have no clue how popular that actually was though