Biome Configuration

This page discusses the configuration of Biomes.

Biome configurations are in the biomes/ directory within a config pack.

Object Options

Biomes support all Terra Object Options.

Main options

tags

A list of tags to be used in Biome Pipeline selection. Tags may be any string, and a biome may have any number of tags.

color

An integer representation of a color to be used in image selection. Example: 0xffffff = white.

noise-equation

Noise equation to generate terrain with. Positive values produce solid terrain, negative values produce negative terrain. Variables and functions:

• x - Current x-coordinate
• y - Current y-coordinate
• z - Current z-coordinate
• All defined noise functions can be accessed via their ID.
• Terra includes most standard mathematical functions (trig functions, max(a, b), min(a, b), floor(x), ceil(x), round(x), etc.) If you want another function implemented, submit a PR to Paralithic (our expression evaluator), or create an issue requesting it.

More info about setting up equations here.
This value must be included, and can be abstracted.

vanilla

The ID of the Vanilla biome to use for this custom biome. A list of IDs can be found here.

Subsections

structures

A list of structure config IDs that can generate in this biome.
This value is optional (defaults to an empty list) and can be abstracted.

palette

A list of Palettes to use in the biome. Each list entry contains a single key-value pair, with the key being the palette ID, and the value being the Y-level at which the palette starts to generate.

A shortcut exists for palettes that only contain a single block. Instead of creating a palette file for a single-block palette, you may simply include BLOCK:minecraft:block_id as a palette ID in this list.
This value must be included, and can be abstracted.

Example Palette Configuration

palette:
  - "BLOCK:minecraft:bedrock": 0
  - GRASSY: 255

This palette configuration generates the GRASSY palette at Y level 255 and down, until it reaches Y=0, where a single-block palette containing just Bedrock will be generated.

flora

A list of Flora layers to generate in this biome. Terra generates these layers one by one, meaning you can stack multiple layers on top of each other.

Various options that define the Flora to generate in this biome.
This value must be included, and can be abstracted.

Layer Options:

• density - The chance (per 100) each block will attempt to generate Flora. This value may be a decimal.
• distribution - Noise Configuration defining flora placement. Defaults to 2D white noise. If this value is zero, or if it is not included, a random distribution will be used instead.
• items - Contains a weighted pool of Flora items to generate in this layer. Key = flora ID, value = weight. IDs may be from pre-included flora, or custom flora.
• y - Height restrictions for this Flora object.
  • min - The minimum height at which this Flora object can generate.
  • max - The maximum height at which this Flora object can generate.

You may include as many layers as you want in your biomes, they will generate sequentially.

Example Flora Configuration

flora:
  - density: 100
    simplex-frequency: 0.1
    items:
      - BLANK: 7
      - LEAVES: 3
    y:
      min: 62
      max: 180
  - density: 50
    items:
      - TALL_GRASS: 3
      - GRASS: 7
      - SMALL_ROCK: 1
    y:
      min: 62
      max: 180

This example config generates 2 layers of flora, one with a simplex distribution of LEAVES and BLANK, the other with a random distribution of TALL_GRASS, GRASS, and SMALL_ROCK.

trees

A list of tree layers to include in this biome.

Layer Options

• density - The chance (per 100) every fourth block will attempt to generate a Tree. This value may be a decimal.
  (Since this value is every fourth block, it can be thought of as out of 400).
• distribution - Noise Configuration defining tree placement. Defaults to 2D white noise.
• items - Contains a weighted pool of Tree items to generate in this layer. Key = tree ID, value = weight. IDs may be from pre-included flora, or custom flora.
• y - Height restrictions for this Tree object.
  • min - The minimum height at which this Tree object can generate.
  • max - The maximum height at which this Tree object can generate.

Example Tree Configuration

  - density: 10
    items:
      - OAK: 1
    y:
      min: 58
      max: 84

A standard Tree configuration, potentially useful for a forest. It generates OAK trees. All Tree items have the same height restrictions; they can only generate from Y levels 58 to 84.

carving

Options for Carvers in this biome. This option contains key-value pairs.
The key is a Carver ID, and the value is tha chance per chunk that carver will spawn in a chunk. Carvers aren't stored in a weighted pool, Each carver uses an independent calculation, therefore multiple carvers may spawn in the same chunk!

Example Carver Configuration

carving:
  CAVE: 30
  RAVINE: 5
  CAVERN: 5

This configuration defined 3 Carvers in this biome:

• CAVE with a 30% chance of spawning per chunk.
• RAVINE with a 5% chance of spawning per chunk.
• CAVERN with a 5% chance of spawning per chunk.

ores

A set of entries that each define an Ore object to generate, how much of it to generate, and the maximum and minimum Y-levels at which veins may generate.
Options:

• ORE_ID - The ID of the Ore object to generate.
  • min - The minimum number of veins to generate per chunk.
  • max - The maximum number of veins to generate per chunk.
  • min-y - The minimum Y-level at which veins may begin.
  • max-y - The maximum Y-level at which veins may begin.

Example Ore Configuration

ores:
  DIRT:
    min: 0
    max: 1
    min-height: 0
    max-height: 84
  GRAVEL:
    min: 0
    max: 1
    min-height: 0
    max-height: 84
  DIORITE:
    min: 0
    max: 1
    min-height: 0
    max-height: 84
  ANDESITE:
    min: 0
    max: 1
    min-height: 0
    max-height: 84
  GRANITE:
    min: 0
    max: 1
    min-height: 0
    max-height: 84
  COAL_ORE:
    min: 4
    max: 8
    min-height: 0
    max-height: 84
  IRON_ORE:
    min: 2
    max: 6
    min-height: 0
    max-height: 64
  GOLD_ORE:
    min: 1
    max: 3
    min-height: 0
    max-height: 32
  LAPIS_ORE:
    min: 1
    max: 2
    min-height: 0
    max-height: 32
  REDSTONE_ORE:
    min: 1
    max: 2
    min-height: 0
    max-height: 16
  DIAMOND_ORE:
    min: 1
    max: 1
    min-height: 0
    max-height: 16

This configuration is a classic, it defines several "deposits" (Dirt, Gravel, Diorite, Andesite, Granite), as well as all Vanilla ores, at standard Y-levels and chances. This example assumes that Ore configs with the corresponding IDs have been set up.

Super-Secret Advanced Options

These options are for advanced users that wish to have more control over biomes.

ocean

Options for the ocean in this biome.

• level - Y-value at which to generate oceans. Ocean will be generated at locations that would be air, and are below this Y-value. Defaults to 62.
• palette - Palette to generate Ocean with. Defaults to a single-block palette containing Water.

slant

Options for slant palettes in this biome. A slant palette is a separate palette that is inserted into steep/slanted locations. It allows for custom blocks to be defined on cliffsides.

• palette A map of palettes for different Y-levels. Follows the same structure as the main palette configuration. These palettes will be inserted into locations that are "slanted".
• y-offset - The distance to check vertically for blocks.
  • top - The distance to check upwards for blocks. Higher values allow the normal palette to take over on top of steep ledges.
  • bottom - The distance to check downwards for blocks. Higher values allow the normal palette to take over under steep overhangs.

elevation

Options for the "elevation" feature, used to raise/lower areas in high resolution.

• equation - The elevation equation to use. The elevation equation is very similar to the noise equation, except it is 2-dimensional. This means that only x and z exist as variables, and only noise2 is available as a function. The standard noise equation receives the current Y-value, plus the result of this equation during generation, so the elevation equation raises/lowers the terrain height based on its value for any x/z coordinate pair.
• weight - Weight of this biome's elevation equation. Higher weights take priority during elevation blending.

blend

Per-biome blending options

• distance - Distance to use for blending. Higher distance = more blending. Actual distance = distance*step. By default, this is 4.
• step - Step for sampling blend points. Higher values = lower resolution blending. By default, this is 4.
• weight - Weight of this biome. Higher weights take priority during blending.

variables

Identical to the variables option in pack.yml. These may be used to define custom variables per-biome, or to override variables per-biome.

functions

Identical to the functions option in pack.yml. These may be used to define custom functions per-biome, or to override functions per-biome.