Understanding the Limitations of Light Level Manipulation in MCreator

Hello MCreator Community,

I wanted to share some insights and experiences I've had while working on a project that involves manipulating light levels in Minecraft using MCreator. Through this process, I’ve encountered several important limitations that I think others should be aware of, especially if you're considering creating a mod that involves light level changes.

Challenges with Light Level Manipulation in MCreator

MCreator is a fantastic tool for creating Minecraft mods without needing deep coding knowledge. However, as powerful as it is, MCreator has its limitations, particularly when it comes to manipulating light levels. Here’s what I’ve learned:

1. No Direct Control Over Light Levels

Unlike traditional Minecraft modding with Java, MCreator does not provide blocks or features that allow for direct manipulation of global light levels. This means you cannot dynamically change the brightness or darkness of the world based on conditions in your mod using the standard procedure system.

2. Procedures and Variables

We tried to work around this by creating and manipulating various numerical variables (like GlobalDarknessLevel, PlayerVisionRadius, EnvironmentLightFactor, etc.), but found that these alone are not sufficient to affect the world’s lighting. The procedures system is limited in its ability to handle such complex global effects.

3. No Integration for Advanced Environmental Effects

MCreator lacks the ability to implement advanced environmental effects, such as adjusting how light behaves across different biomes or in various conditions (like caves versus open fields). These kinds of modifications require direct interaction with Minecraft’s lighting engine, which MCreator does not support out-of-the-box.

What This Means for Your Mod

If your mod concept heavily relies on altering light levels or dynamically changing the brightness of the environment, MCreator may not be the right tool for the job. While MCreator excels at item creation, mob behavior, and basic block functions, light level manipulation is currently beyond its capabilities.

Moving Forward

• For Simpler Projects: If your mod doesn’t require complex light level changes, MCreator is still a great choice.
• For Advanced Lighting Effects: Consider learning Java and using traditional Minecraft modding methods to achieve your goals. This will give you the control you need over the game’s environment and lighting.

Final Thoughts

It's important to recognize what MCreator is capable of and where its limitations lie. Understanding these boundaries can save time and help you decide if MCreator is the right tool for your project. If light level manipulation is a crucial aspect of your mod, you might need to look beyond MCreator and dive into more advanced modding techniques.

I hope this helps others who are trying to achieve similar goals. Let’s continue to support each other and share our experiences to make the most out of this amazing tool!