Today; I submit a brief blog entry about my Minecraft client setup.
Firstly; I too use the highly popular optimization mod called Optifine.
I consider it the most essential of mods for game play experience, performance and appearance.
I use the HD variant since my main PC has a decent graphics card; however some of my screenshots will appear different when they are taken from slower performing systems using a standard version of this mod.
The other mod I use is a mini map; which I find equally as essential for efficient play while also being a practical tool for placement of multiple buildings and structures in relation to each other.
Mini maps provide a good overhead view for structures with
more intricate outline designs; rather than the traditional squares
and/or rectangles that are the most common shape of buildings in
minecraft, which I shall demonstrate from a project soon.
Build Tip: Mini maps, use them as often as possible. The measure twice and cut once tool for Minecraft.
The current mini map I use is called voxelmap that I have installed via the LiteLoader mod loader.
I have just started using this in Minecraft 1.7.10 and have found it to be a smooth transition from my previous setup; in which I exclusively used Rei's mini map since I first learned about Minecraft client mods a year ago (and only just mined my first piece of Cobblestone on the server a few weeks prior).
Rei's has not been updated since Minecraft 1.7.2 so I needed to find an alternative mini map in preparation for Minecraft 1.8; luckily voxelmap turned out to be a great option. I have had a smooth transition into this new mini map and am just about ready to go for the 'Bountiful' update (pending updates to Optifine and voxelmap).
Simplest installation instructions for these mods are available at the below links:
Optifine - scroll down a bit and choose the installation instructions that suit you best.
Litebox and voxelmap - You can use either the download link in the instructables site for the voxelmap litemod file or via the previously linked voxelmap page.
Texture packs
Outside of the enhancements from Optifine; I use the original Minecraft texture pack.
This helps to ensure my builds, when rendered in other texture and/or mod packs, have a greater chance of being rendered and viewed correctly. There are a huge number of mod packs available on the internet; and as opposed to choosing one and hoping my buildings colour scheme will appear right in most other packs (or even in the default Minecraft one by comparison of whatever mod/texture pack I had installed), I opted to stick with the original texture pack.
This was a deliberate decision to ensure compatibility in appearance is made as wide as possible for most mod/texture packs; as these are all made on top of the standard texture pack. Stone is stone (clay is clay, etc.) in all texture packs so this should be achieved successfully.
Build Tip: Stick to this practical design policy of using the default texture pack, unless your doing a highly specialized project that needs a custom texture pack.
If my builds look terrible in a specific texture/mod pack your using; either try a different one or just turn it off for a few minutes and look at them as I intended via the default textures.
Regarding the server
If you do join Minecraftcc with the above mods; please remember to uncheck cave mapping, mob and chest radar options (etc) in VoxelMap as use of these are against the rules on that server.
As to texture packs; most are allowed save any that assist in rule breaking activities (that includes x-ray aiding texture packs) or are an unfair advantage on other players (if in doubt, ask in the forums and the mod staff will help you out).
Coming up shortly; a post about a few more basic build tips I have used since building my first major project.
Happy Mining,
Crypto4coin
PS: If you have snooped around the server/forums you would have found a much bigger spoiler ;)
