The MineColonies mod for Minecraft turns your game into a cool colony-building experience, where you manage a bunch of NPC villagers who handle stuff like building, farming, mining, and fighting. Think of it as running your own little town in Minecraft, but with less manual work. Here’s everything you need to know to get rolling and keep your colony thriving.

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Overview of Minecraft MineColonies

MineColonies lets you build and run a settlement in Minecraft. You’re the boss, telling NPC citizens what to do while they take care of the grindy tasks. It’s like a mix of Minecraft and a city-building game, but all in that blocky world you love.

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Here are its main features:

  • NPC Workers: You’ve got Builders, Farmers, Miners, Fishers, Couriers, Guards, and tons more—over 30 jobs total.
  • Buildings: Town Hall, Warehouse, Citizen Huts, Barracks, Farms, Mines, and others, all upgradable from basic to fancy (Levels 1–5).
  • Schematics: Uses Structurize to show you a preview of buildings before you place them. There’s over 1,300 designs, and you can grab more or make your own.
  • Multiplayer: Play with friends to build together or compete. There’s a permissions setup, and they’re working on PvP stuff for later.
  • Customization: Pick from styles like Medieval or Nordic, and build your colony anywhere—mountains, oceans, you name it.
  • Automation: Your citizens can handle repetitive tasks, so you focus on planning the big picture.

Getting Started

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1. Installation

  • What You Need:
    • Minecraft versions 1.16.5 to 1.20.1 (make sure the mod matches your game version).
    • Forge or Fabric mod loader.
    • Structurize comes with MineColonies; Domum Ornamentum is optional for extra decorations.
  • How to Set It Up:
    1. Install Forge or Fabric for your Minecraft version.
    2. Grab MineColonies from CurseForge or minecolonies.com.
    3. Drop the mod file into your Minecraft mods folder.
    4. Start Minecraft and check that the mod’s loaded.

2. Starting a Colony

  • Kicking Things Off:
    1. Craft a Supply Ship or Supply Camp (check JEI/REI or the wiki for recipes).
    2. Place the Ship in water or the Camp on land to spawn your colony’s starting gear, including a Town Hall chest.
    3. Open the Town Hall chest to claim your colony and get a Town Hall block.
    4. Set down the Town Hall block to mark your colony’s center. This locks in a 200x200 block area (you can tweak this in the settings).
  • First Moves:
    • Check the Town Hall menu to manage your citizens, buildings, and options.
    • Craft a Builder’s Wand (sticks and leather) to start construction jobs.
    • Punch a citizen to open their menu and make them a Builder.

3. Building Your First Structures

  • Builder’s Hut:
    • Place a Builder’s Hut near the Town Hall using the Structurize tool.
    • Assign a citizen as a Builder and give them the materials listed in the hut’s menu.
    • The Builder will put it together, unlocking more worker slots.
  • Citizen Huts:
    • Build these to house your colonists (one hut per person, but you can upgrade them to hold more).
    • Citizens sleep here at night, which keeps them healthy and happy.
  • Tips:
    • Use the preview to place buildings exactly where you want them.
    • Stock the Town Hall or Warehouse with materials so workers can grab what they need.
    • Upgrade buildings to make them better and look cooler.

Core Mechanics

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1. Citizens and Jobs

  • Getting More People:
    • New citizens show up when you build or upgrade Citizen Huts or the Town Hall.
    • Build a Tavern to hire named citizens (you’ll need emeralds or certain items).
  • Giving Them Jobs:
    • Each building (like a Farm or Mine) needs a specific worker.
    • Open a citizen’s menu to assign them to an open job.
    • Workers get better at their jobs as they gain experience, like building faster or growing more crops.
  • Citizen Stats:
    • Health/Happiness: Depends on food, housing, and safety. Unhappy citizens slack off.
    • Skills: Things like Strength or Intelligence affect how good they are at their job (e.g., smart citizens craft faster).
  • Kids:
    • Citizens can have kids who grow up to work after going to a School (needs a Teacher).
    • A Library or University boosts citizen skills through research.

2. Resource Management

  • Warehouse:
    • Build one to store all your stuff (upgrade it for more space).
    • Couriers move items between the Warehouse and other buildings.
  • Keeping Things Stocked:
    • Citizens ask for stuff like tools or food through the Town Hall or building menus.
    • The Request System lets you automate crafting or gathering (e.g., a Smelter makes ingots, a Baker whips up bread).
  • Tips:
    • Stock up on wood, stone, and food (bread, carrots, potatoes) early.
    • Craft a Clipboard to keep track of tasks and requests.

3. Food and Farming

  • Feeding Everyone:
    • Citizens need food to stay happy and work hard. Keep the Town Hall or Warehouse stocked.
    • Farmers grow crops like wheat or potatoes and can compost stuff for bonemeal.
  • Fancy Food:
    • A Cook or Bakery makes better meals (like bread or pies) that make citizens happier.
    • A Fisher catches fish if you’ve got water nearby.
  • Animals:
    • Build a Shepherd, Cowhand, or Chicken Herder to get wool, leather, or eggs automatically.

4. Defense

  • What’s Coming for You:
    • Raids happen now and then, with barbarians or other enemies attacking.
    • They get tougher as your colony grows (you can adjust this in the settings).
  • Protecting Your Colony:
    • Build a Barracks and assign Guards (Knights for close-up fights, Archers for distance).
    • Add walls, towers, and gates using schematics to keep enemies out.
    • Give Guards armor and weapons through the Barracks menu.
  • Tips:
    • Train Guards at the Training Grounds to make them better fighters.
    • Use the Tavern to hire mercenaries if you need extra help.

5. Research and Progression

  • University and Library:
    • A Library unlocks basic upgrades (like better crops or faster building).
    • A University lets you research advanced stuff (like automation or stronger defenses).
  • How Research Works:
    • Needs a Researcher citizen and stuff like books or paper.
    • Unlocks new buildings, better citizen skills, and handy features.
  • Examples:
    • Couriers move faster.
    • Farmers grow crops quicker.
    • Guards get smarter during raids.

Advanced Features

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1. Building Styles and Schematics

  • Styles:
    • Pick from looks like Medieval Oak or Nordic when you start or change it in the Town Hall.
    • Grab more styles from minecolonies.com or make your own with Structurize’s scan tool.
  • Custom Schematics:
    • Use the Scan Tool to save your own builds as schematics.
    • Share them with others or import cool designs from the community.
  • Decorations:
    • Use a Decoration Controller to add paths, fences, or other cosmetic stuff without messing with function.

2. Automation and Supply Chains

  • Request System:
    • Buildings ask for materials or crafted items (e.g., a Builder needs planks, a Cook needs wheat).
    • Assign Crafters like a Blacksmith or Stonemason to handle these requests.
  • Production Chains:
    • Example: Forester cuts trees → Lumberjack makes planks → Builder uses them.
    • Example: Farmer grows wheat → Baker makes bread → Citizens eat it.
  • Tips:
    • Get more Couriers to move stuff faster.
    • Upgrade the Warehouse to sort items automatically.

3. Multiplayer and Permissions

  • Playing with Others:
    • Team up for alliances or trade with other colonies.
    • Use the Officers’ System to give friends roles like Builder Manager or Guard Captain.
  • Permissions:
    • Set who can build, break blocks, or manage citizens in the Town Hall menu.
    • Lock things down to avoid griefing on public servers.
  • Colony Borders:
    • Each colony gets a protected area. Tweak the settings to avoid overlapping with other players.

Tips for Success

  1. Start Simple:
    • Build a Builder’s Hut, Citizen Huts, and a Farm to get food and workers going.
    • Don’t build too much too fast or you’ll run out of stuff.
  2. Keep Food Coming:
    • Stockpile food and get a Farmer or Fisher early so citizens don’t starve.
  3. Upgrade Smart:
    • Level up the Town Hall and Warehouse for more citizens and storage.
    • Focus on buildings that help most (e.g., a Mine for ores, Barracks for safety).
  4. Check the Wiki:
    • The MineColonies wiki (wiki.minecolonies.com) has all the details on buildings and recipes.
  5. Get Defenses Early:
    • Set up a Barracks and at least one Guard before raids start (usually after a few days).
  6. Try Different Looks:
    • Play with schematics to make your colony look unique.
    • Use the Build Tool to cancel misplaced buildings without losing materials.
  7. Automate Everything:
    • Get workers for all your resources (Forester for wood, Miner for ores, Smelter for ingots).
    • Use the Request System to cut down on crafting by hand.

Common Challenges and Solutions

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  • Citizens Not Working:
    • Make sure they’re happy (check food, housing, or safety).
    • Confirm they’re in the right job and building.
    • Check if they have the tools or materials they need (e.g., Builders need a Builder’s Wand).
  • Raids Too Tough:
    • Build walls and towers early.
    • Train multiple Guards and give them good gear.
    • Lower raid difficulty in the config if it’s too much.
  • Low on Resources:
    • Build resource buildings like a Mine or Forestry.
    • Use the Warehouse and Couriers to manage stuff better.
  • Colony Feels Slow:
    • Upgrade buildings to make workers faster.
    • Research speed boosts in the Library or University.
    • Add more Couriers to move items quicker.

Additional Resources

  • Website: minecolonies.com for downloads, schematics, and updates.
  • Wiki: wiki.minecolonies.com for guides, recipes, and FAQs.
  • Discord: Hop into the MineColonies Discord for help and chats with other players.
  • Tutorials:
    • Check YouTube channels like Sjin or ChosenArchitect for beginner guides.
    • Search “MineColonies 1.20 guide” for videos on your version.
  • Modpacks:
    • Find MineColonies in packs like All The Mods 9 or Medieval Minecraft on CurseForge.