Please refer to the spawn config guide on the Prehistoric Spawns Wiki for an explanation of the JSON spawning system.
Prehistoric spawns is an add-on for the Fossils & Archeology Revival mod that allows its dinosaurs to spawn naturally in the world. This means that you too can be chased and hunted down by ferocious prehistoric carnivores who see you as a delicious new item on the menu. Many of the mobs in Fossils and Archeology can be quite fierce when hungry, so you'll have to watch your step-- although some of the herbivores may leave you in peace, most of the carnivores are more likely to come looking for a snack!
What does the mod do (and what doesn't it do)?
Prehistoric Spawns adds natural spawns for the Fossils and Archeology Revival mod creatures, which would otherwise have to be revived from fossils a la Jurassic Park. It does not add any of its own entities or modded biomes to Minecraft. All Fossils and Archeology mod mobs were designed and created by the F&A team, not me. All I've done is create a function that lets them spawn like Minecraft's normal passive animals (pigs, sheep, etc.).
What's new in Version 2.0?
Config files now use a more flexible JSON system that allows for the dynamic creation and removal of individual spawn packages. This versatile system means it's possible to add new spawns to any biome registered in Minecraft from the user's end-- modded or vanilla. One of the biggest comments I've continually gotten was "can you update the mod to support x biome?", which of course leads to effectively limitless options. There will always be a new biome someone wants, and that's a lot more than I'll ever be able to add. So, this system is what I hope will be a nice compromise! With a little JSON editing, you'll be able to add your own mob spawns to any biome you want-- no matter what mod it's from. That said, by far the biggest request I got was to add support for Biomes O'Plenty, so that is now built in to the mod. If BOP is installed when the mod is first launched, spawns for BOP biomes will be automatically generated with the config file. To learn more about the new JSON system and how to use it, check out this page.
What happened to versions before 2.1?
Versions before 2.0 were extremely clunky, as I was still learning to code at the time. And 2.0 itself had a minor bug. However, if you're dead set on getting your hands on an old version, they are still available on the mod's Curseforge page.
How did Prehistoric Spawns come to be?
Originally, Prehistoric Spawns was created for a series on my YouTube channel, way back in 2016. I thought it would be fun to do a series where I effectively lived in a prehistoric world. Although that series never really got off the ground, it did spawn a series of requests regarding what mod I was using for it, so I decided to make the first version of Prehistoric Spawns public. Since then, it's received an unexpected flood of attention, and because of all this unforseen love, I decided to keep updating the mod. I've also since returned to making Minecraft content, which now features primarily on my side channel.
What's yet to come?
Provided no major bugs surface post release, this version of the mod is in a completed state. However, F&A has announced they are planning a 1.16 release, and when that happens, I will look to follow if natural spawns haven't already been implemented. I may attempt to address the issues with janky water spawns, if I feel up to it, however that's a low priority right now considering it's an issue with the way Minecraft itself handles spawning for water creatures, so it doesn't have a simple workaround. From my understanding, this was improved post Aquatic update, and hopefully will not be an issue post 1.16.
Who am I?
I am an independent modder and content creator, better known as JayPlays on YouTube. I create content centered on animal and nature games, and most of my mods are in a similar vein, centered on realistic or fantasy creatures or mechanics to improve the function of such creatures in Minecraft. I'm also still in active development for a variety of other mods and Minecraft projects.
I need help troubleshooting/FAQ:
You can find the mod FAQ page here.
Can I share this mod/use it in a modpack/make videos with it?
Absolutely- provided you do so using this page or one of the other official download links. You're free to distribute this mod using packs using Modrinth, and you can share the mod anywhere you'd like provided you link back to one of those official pages for the actual download. This means no reuploading the mod files to your own site, or anywhere else! Likewise, you're absolutely free to feature it in a video, but providing a link back to this page would be wonderful if you do.
Mod reposting seriously hurts developers, not to mention reposted mods may be bundled with malware! If you see my mod posted somewhere other than one of its official listings, please feel free to reach out and let me know! And make sure not to download mods from unverified sources. If you download this mod from somewhere other than an official source, I am not liable for any harm it may do to your computer if it comes bundled with a virus.
Important! Prehistoric Spawns is NOT compatible with Custom Mob Spawner(/Mo'Creatures).
Technically the game will not crash, however CMS causes a number of issues with Prehistoric Spawns' spawning system. It is very likely that controlling spawn rates will not work correctly, and other issues may occur. Support will not be offered for packs that include both Custom Mob Spawners and Prehistoric Spawns-- use at your own risk!
Tired of getting eaten by dinosaurs all by yourself? Recruit your friends to join in the fun! I use Shockbyte for all my YouTube server hosting needs, and with the code LAUNCH, you can get 25% off your first month of service with them. What's more, by using the affiliate link below, you can support me too and help ensure that I'm able to keep modding.
Promotional screenshots taken using Biomes O'Plenty and Complementary Shaders. Featured dinosaurs are, of course, from Fossils & Archeology Revival!
