Ok, I tested it for myself and here are some instructions that should work for you.
1. Make sure you're running Java 8 or higher. When I run the terminal command "java -version" from my home folder, I get the following output:
java version "1.8.0_111" Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_111-b14) Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.111-b14, mixed mode)
2. As far as I've tried, MCreator 1.7.1 for Minecraft version 1.10.2 doesn't work, but MCreator 1.7.2 for Minecraft version 1.7.10 does work.
3. Make sure you installed the Linux .zip file, not any of the other ones.
4. UNPACK the .zip into another folder of your choice (I recommend a folder that's right inside your home directory so it's easy to access). If you don't know how to unpack properly, just drag all of the components of the .zip file into the new folder you created for MCreator. (I named mine MCreator172.)
5. Go to your terminal and change directory to your folder you created. In my case, the folder is right inside of my home directory so all I had to do was "cd MCreator172". If it's on your desktop, do "cd Desktop/myFolder". If it's in your downloads folder, "cd Downloads/myFolder". You get the gist.
6. Next, run the command "java -jar MCreator.jar". That should run your MCreator jar file.
I hope that helped. If you need more help, let me know.
Try installing the windows .exe and running it through Wine.
@#1 Not working
Ok, I tested it for myself and here are some instructions that should work for you.
1. Make sure you're running Java 8 or higher. When I run the terminal command "java -version" from my home folder, I get the following output:
java version "1.8.0_111"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_111-b14)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.111-b14, mixed mode)
2. As far as I've tried, MCreator 1.7.1 for Minecraft version 1.10.2 doesn't work, but MCreator 1.7.2 for Minecraft version 1.7.10 does work.
3. Make sure you installed the Linux .zip file, not any of the other ones.
4. UNPACK the .zip into another folder of your choice (I recommend a folder that's right inside your home directory so it's easy to access). If you don't know how to unpack properly, just drag all of the components of the .zip file into the new folder you created for MCreator. (I named mine MCreator172.)
5. Go to your terminal and change directory to your folder you created. In my case, the folder is right inside of my home directory so all I had to do was "cd MCreator172". If it's on your desktop, do "cd Desktop/myFolder". If it's in your downloads folder, "cd Downloads/myFolder". You get the gist.
6. Next, run the command "java -jar MCreator.jar". That should run your MCreator jar file.
I hope that helped. If you need more help, let me know.
Thanks,
-A