Parts of Borealis is a mod dedicated to my original universe. I wanted to share a piece of my world with others, which is why I decided to start developing a mod. I've never done any coding in my life, so this isn't just my first Minecraft mod—it's also my first-ever attempt at writing in JS! This mod is pushing me to learn!
The mod is designed to make survival mode more engaging by adding NPCs with dialogues (and possibly quests), pets, mounts, entities with unique functions, various mechanics (such as cooking, sandboarding, and more), magic, artifacts, original music composed specifically for the mod, armor, and much more!
I'm developing it together with my friend, who creates 3D models based on my concepts. I handle everything else, including animations. But I love it—it’s like a breath of fresh air after work.
I plan to release the mod for Minecraft 1.20.1 Forge, but I also want to support Fabric, NeoForge, and newer Minecraft versions. Right now, I’m actively working on it almost every day, drawing tons of concepts to define the mod’s style and atmosphere.
I've also decided to create a Discord server where I'll post sneak peeks and development updates. And of course, it's also a place to chat and share creative work! (I’m trying to break out of my little social anxiety bubble, haha.)
https://youtu.be/iLts0-pa_JA I'm almost finishing one of the items for the mod – the sand board. It will be obtained through a quest with an NPC (the one in the video, though it's just a test version for now. I'm still drawing a proper dialogue sprite for him). With this board, players will be able to cross deserts quickly. The speed boost will be powered by an additional item – the air rune, which can be crafted and used to "recharge" the energy bar, allowing for longer acceleration.
The NPC will explain all the details of how the board works.
I'm continuing to add items and blocks. It's not going very fast since I'm balancing mod development with work, but since I'm on vacation, I decided to add some blocks to the mod and see how they look! I'm still working on and redrawing some of them, but my primary goal is functionality—I can always change the textures later.
Some blocks have animations (since I figured out how to make them :D), which I'm really happy about!
For those who love building, Ishtar will delight you with a wide variety of column blocks and their variations! They can be decorated with patterns, inlaid with crystals, adorned with gold, and bring any idea to life that the builder's soul desires. Columns can be made from Ishtar sandstone found all over the world; paint can be obtained from plants, and crystals discovered in caves.
NPCs are one of the core elements of the mod.[/b] Each biome will feature at least three unique characters, so we’re excited to share some of their concepts![/p]
Through these NPCs, you’ll be able to dive deeper into the world’s lore, learn more about the area you're exploring, and get familiar with various terms and features of the universe. They’ll also offer all kinds of things: some will help you craft a full-fledged vehicle, others — powerful weapons to aid you in future boss battles, and some — simply themed decorations, from home furniture to cosmetic items.[/p]
NPCs will spawn inside unique structures. To make finding them easier, you’ll be able to get a special compass from Ganesha — it will point you to the nearest structure.[/p]
Hey! There may not be many progress posts lately, but development is very much alive. Right now, I'm focusing on polishing the existing content — creatures, weapon effects, icons, and more.
And finally, I’m moving into active work on biomes!
The full mod will feature 6 biomes, with at least 3 planned for the first release. Each one is currently being filled with unique blocks, structures, trees, and other things you’ll be able to discover.
Started a server with some friends to test out my mod — I'm getting close to finishing the first version, which will include about half of the planned content. We took a bunch of screenshots, made sure everything runs smoothly on a server, and honestly just had a great time playing around. It's really exciting to see things coming together for the first release!
Checking out how the mod’s blocks will look in builds + some structure concepts for the mod. For now, we’re mixing them with vanilla blocks, but I think I’ll add a couple more decorative pieces to give more room for creativity.
Juharuud are among the many insect species of Ishtar, living beneath the sands. They build nests near crystals and coat their bodies, and their young, in crystal shards for protection, then venture deeper into the dunes to forage. The hatchlings are harmless, and the people of Ishtar have learned to carefully take crystals from their nests. But if an inexperienced traveler pokes around, they’ll almost certainly disturb the young, who will call for their mother. An adult Juharuud is tough and very strong, so the best choice is simple: run.
Releasing the mod’s music bit by bit! First up — Assam-Pradesh, a track inspired by a bustling port city in Ishtar.
More is coming: regional themes (Ishtar, Eligor, and more) plus dedicated boss tracks. Many will appear not only on YouTube but also inside the mod as vinyl records you can get from NPCs or as boss drops.
I recorded my first devlog despite being shy (and a bit scared :D). I pulled together most of what I wanted to show, and, honestly, I’m super nervous for no clear reason. I just hope you like it!
Decor for the mod is ready! Now, in addition to blocks, you can capture each region’s atmosphere with lots of models themed after the setting’s different cultures. Each set also has its own custom icons. It was a big job [/p]
[p]In game, there are several ways to get decor: most often NPCs craft it, and you can also buy it from Ganesha—an NPC merchant who occasionally appears near you with a selection of items from the mod.[/p]
Some things I'm already actively testing in the build. I'm gradually transferring many of the models, adding functionality to them.
https://youtu.be/iLts0-pa_JA
I'm almost finishing one of the items for the mod – the sand board. It will be obtained through a quest with an NPC (the one in the video, though it's just a test version for now. I'm still drawing a proper dialogue sprite for him). With this board, players will be able to cross deserts quickly. The speed boost will be powered by an additional item – the air rune, which can be crafted and used to "recharge" the energy bar, allowing for longer acceleration.
The NPC will explain all the details of how the board works.
A small part of the items currently in the mod
I'm continuing to add items and blocks. It's not going very fast since I'm balancing mod development with work, but since I'm on vacation, I decided to add some blocks to the mod and see how they look! I'm still working on and redrawing some of them, but my primary goal is functionality—I can always change the textures later.
Some blocks have animations (since I figured out how to make them :D), which I'm really happy about!
For those who love building, Ishtar will delight you with a wide variety of column blocks and their variations! They can be decorated with patterns, inlaid with crystals, adorned with gold, and bring any idea to life that the builder's soul desires. Columns can be made from Ishtar sandstone found all over the world; paint can be obtained from plants, and crystals discovered in caves.
Through these NPCs, you’ll be able to dive deeper into the world’s lore, learn more about the area you're exploring, and get familiar with various terms and features of the universe. They’ll also offer all kinds of things: some will help you craft a full-fledged vehicle, others — powerful weapons to aid you in future boss battles, and some — simply themed decorations, from home furniture to cosmetic items.[/p]
NPCs will spawn inside unique structures. To make finding them easier, you’ll be able to get a special compass from Ganesha — it will point you to the nearest structure.[/p]
Hey! There may not be many progress posts lately, but development is very much alive. Right now, I'm focusing on polishing the existing content — creatures, weapon effects, icons, and more.
And finally, I’m moving into active work on biomes!
The full mod will feature 6 biomes, with at least 3 planned for the first release. Each one is currently being filled with unique blocks, structures, trees, and other things you’ll be able to discover.
Started a server with some friends to test out my mod — I'm getting close to finishing the first version, which will include about half of the planned content. We took a bunch of screenshots, made sure everything runs smoothly on a server, and honestly just had a great time playing around. It's really exciting to see things coming together for the first release!
Checking out how the mod’s blocks will look in builds + some structure concepts for the mod. For now, we’re mixing them with vanilla blocks, but I think I’ll add a couple more decorative pieces to give more room for creativity.
Juharuud are among the many insect species of Ishtar, living beneath the sands. They build nests near crystals and coat their bodies, and their young, in crystal shards for protection, then venture deeper into the dunes to forage. The hatchlings are harmless, and the people of Ishtar have learned to carefully take crystals from their nests. But if an inexperienced traveler pokes around, they’ll almost certainly disturb the young, who will call for their mother. An adult Juharuud is tough and very strong, so the best choice is simple: run.
Releasing the mod’s music bit by bit! First up — Assam-Pradesh, a track inspired by a bustling port city in Ishtar.
More is coming: regional themes (Ishtar, Eligor, and more) plus dedicated boss tracks. Many will appear not only on YouTube but also inside the mod as vinyl records you can get from NPCs or as boss drops.
I recorded my first devlog despite being shy (and a bit scared :D). I pulled together most of what I wanted to show, and, honestly, I’m super nervous for no clear reason. I just hope you like it!