This guide assumes you have no prior experience with Minecraft datapacks. A datapack is a special folder that adds new features to your Minecraft world.

1. Download the Datapack

• If you received this as a ZIP file, you're ready to go
• If you have the folder structure, compress it into a ZIP file first

2. Locate Your World Save Folder

• Open Minecraft and note which world you want to add this to
• Close Minecraft (important!)
• Find your Minecraft saves folder:
  • Windows: Press Win + R, type %appdata%\.minecraft\saves and press Enter
  • Mac: Press Cmd + Space, type ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/saves and press Enter
  • Linux: Navigate to ~/.minecraft/saves

3. Install the Datapack

• Find the folder with your world's name
• Open the datapacks folder inside (create it if it doesn't exist)
• Place the datapack ZIP file (or folder) into this datapacks folder

4. Enable the Datapack

• Launch Minecraft and open your world
• You should see a message in chat: "[Totem Rituals] Datapack loaded successfully!"
• If you don't see the message, type /reload in the chat and press Enter

5. Get Started

• Type /function rituals:give/all to receive all totem items
• You're now ready to perform rituals!

Server admins can disable fire sacrifice and restore the old automatic activation:

/data modify storage rituals:config require_fire_sacrifice set value false
/function rituals:config/reload

Or enable Kiwi Mode for easy testing:

/function rituals:admin/enable_kiwi_mode

There are six tiers of totems, each with increasing effect power. All totems use tier-based ranges, with higher tiers providing stronger effects and larger areas.

Tier 1 - Wood Totem

• Material: Oak Planks + Sticks
• Range: 2×2 horizontal, 3 up, 3 down
• Effect Power: Basic
• Visual: Oak fence post with item display on top

Tier 2 - Copper Totem

• Material: Copper Ingots
• Range: 3×3 horizontal, 4 up, 4 down
• Effect Power: Improved
• Visual: Copper-colored post

Tier 3 - Iron Totem

• Material: Iron Ingots
• Range: 4×4 horizontal, 5 up, 5 down
• Effect Power: Strong
• Visual: Iron bars with particles

Tier 4 - Gold Totem

• Material: Gold Ingots
• Range: 5×5 horizontal, 6 up, 6 down
• Effect Power: Very Strong
• Visual: Golden post with particles

Tier 5 - Diamond Totem

• Material: Diamonds
• Range: 6×6 horizontal, 7 up, 7 down
• Effect Power: Powerful
• Visual: Diamond post with cyan particles

Tier 6 - Netherite Totem

• Material: Netherite Ingots
• Range: 7×7 horizontal, 8 up, 8 down
• Effect Power: Maximum
• Visual: Netherite post with purple particles

Range Visualization

      [item]  ← Item display on top
        |     ← Totem pole (fence post)
    ███████   ← 5×5×6 effect zone
    ███████     (3 blocks up, 3 down)
    ███████

Visual comparison of effect ranges for all totem tiers

See RANGE_DIAGRAM.md for detailed range specifications.

The datapack includes a comprehensive interactive menu system accessible via commands:

Main Menu

• Access: /function rituals:menu/main
• Features:
  • Totem browser with all available tiers
  • Quick access to guidebook
  • Admin tools and configuration options

Totem Browser

• Access: Through main menu or /function rituals:menu/totems
• Features:
  • Visual preview of all totem tiers
  • Crafting recipe display
  • Range and effect information
  • One-click item giving

Admin Tools

• Debug Mode: /function rituals:admin/enable_debug_mode
  • Shows detailed ritual timing and range information
  • Displays particle effects for troubleshooting
• Kiwi Mode: /function rituals:admin/enable_kiwi_mode
  • Disables fire sacrifice requirement for easy testing
  • Perfect for creative mode and experimentation
• Reset All: /function rituals:admin/reset_all
  • Clears all active rituals and resets configuration
• List Totems: /function rituals:admin/list_totems
  • Shows all placed totems and their current state

Wood Totem (Tall)

Wood Totem (Short)

Copper Totem (Tall)

Copper Totem (Short)

Iron Totem (Tall)

Iron Totem (Short)

Gold Totem (Tall)

Gold Totem (Short)

Diamond Totem (Tall)

Diamond Totem (Short)

Netherite Totem (Tall)

Netherite Totem (Short)

Give Commands

These commands give you totem items. They can only be used by players with operator permissions (or in creative mode).

• /function rituals:give/all - Gives you one of each totem tier
• /function rituals:give/totem_basic - Gives you a Wood Totem (tall)
• /function rituals:give/totem_basic_short - Gives you a Wood Totem (short)
• /function rituals:give/totem_copper - Gives you a Copper Totem (tall)
• /function rituals:give/totem_copper_short - Gives you a Copper Totem (short)
• /function rituals:give/totem_gold - Gives you a Gold Totem (tall)
• /function rituals:give/totem_gold_short - Gives you a Gold Totem (short)
• /function rituals:give/totem_advanced - Gives you a Diamond Totem (tall)
• /function rituals:give/totem_advanced_short - Gives you a Diamond Totem (short)
• /function rituals:give/totem_master - Gives you a Netherite Totem (tall)
• /function rituals:give/totem_master_short - Gives you a Netherite Totem (short)
• /function rituals:give/guidebook - Gives you the Totem Rituals Guidebook

Menu Commands

• /function rituals:menu/main - Opens the main interactive menu
• /function rituals:menu/totems - Opens the totem browser
• /function rituals:help - Shows the in-game help menu

System Commands

• /reload - Reloads all datapacks (use if the datapack isn't working)
• /function rituals:config/reload - Reloads configuration changes

Admin Commands

• /function rituals:admin/enable_debug_mode - Enables debug mode for troubleshooting
• /function rituals:admin/disable_debug_mode - Disables debug mode
• /function rituals:admin/enable_kiwi_mode - Enables easy mode (no fire sacrifice)
• /function rituals:admin/disable_kiwi_mode - Disables easy mode
• /function rituals:admin/list_totems - Lists all placed totems
• /function rituals:admin/reset_all - Resets all rituals and configuration

Performance Considerations

• The datapack uses interaction entities for totem placement (Minecraft 1.19.4+)
• Rituals check for activation every 20 ticks (once per second)
• Effects apply at intervals (20-40 ticks) to maintain performance
• Each totem uses 3-4 entities: 1 interaction, 1-2 block displays, 1 item display
• Item displays have smooth animations (rotation + bobbing) with 10-tick interpolation

Compatibility

• Should work with most other datapacks
• Uses custom scoreboard objectives (all prefixed with "rituals.")
• Uses storage namespace "rituals:config" and "rituals:temp"
• Custom tags are all in the "rituals" namespace

Architecture

• Main Loop: rituals:tick runs from minecraft:tick
• Initialization: rituals:load runs from minecraft:load
• Entity System: Uses interaction entities for hitbox/data, display entities for visuals
• ID System: Each totem gets a unique ID for linking its entities

Scoreboards

• rituals.data - Constants and global data
• rituals.timer - Tick counters for cooldowns/durations
• rituals.distance - Totem range values
• rituals.tier - Totem tier (1-6)
• rituals.effect - Active ritual effect type
• rituals.temp - Temporary calculations
• rituals.id - Entity linking system

Entity Tags

• rituals.totem - Main totem interaction entities
• rituals.short_totem - Short variant totems (1 block tall)
• rituals.totem_visual - Block display entities for totem visuals
• rituals.totem_display - Item display entities for held items
• rituals.totem_barrier - Barrier block displays for collision
• rituals.has_item - Totems with items displayed
• rituals.active_ritual - Totems participating in a ritual
• rituals.[ritual_type]_ritual - Specific ritual type tags

File Structure

data/
├── rituals/
│   ├── advancement/      # Achievement system
│   ├── function/
│   │   ├── load.mcfunction
│   │   ├── tick.mcfunction
│   │   ├── give/        # Item give commands
│   │   ├── totem/       # Totem placement/interaction
│   │   ├── ritual/      # Ritual effects
│   │   ├── config/      # Configuration system
│   │   └── admin/       # Admin utilities
│   ├── recipe/          # Crafting recipes
│   ├── predicate/       # Random chance predicates
│   ├── item_modifier/   # Item modification
│   └── tags/            # Custom tags
├── minecraft/
│   └── tags/
│       └── function/
└── pack.mcmeta

See SYSTEM_OVERVIEW.md for detailed technical documentation.

You can customize various datapack settings using the config storage system.

Viewing Current Config

/data get storage rituals:config

Modifying Settings

/data modify storage rituals:config <key> set value <value>
/function rituals:config/reload

Available Settings

• min_totems_required - Minimum number of totems needed for a ritual (default: 1)
• max_totem_distance - Maximum distance between totems in blocks (default: 32)
• ritual_duration - How long rituals last in ticks (default: 600 = 30 seconds)
• require_fire_sacrifice - Whether rituals require fire sacrifice (default: true)
• kiwi_mode - Easy mode that disables fire sacrifice (default: false)
• debug_mode - Enables debug information and particles (default: false)

See CONFIG_GUIDE.md for complete configuration documentation.

You can visualize a totem's effect range by powering it with redstone!

How to use:

1. Place a lever, redstone torch, redstone block, or powered redstone wire next to or below your totem
2. Red particles will show the exact ritual range (varies by tier)
3. Turn off the redstone to hide the display

Supported redstone sources:

• Redstone torch (always on)
• Redstone block (always on)
• Lever (toggle on/off)
• Button (temporary)
• Powered redstone wire

See RANGE_DIAGRAM.md for detailed range specifications!

Totems won't place:

• Make sure you're right-clicking (not sneaking required!)
• Ensure there's empty space (air block) where you're trying to place the totem
• Check that you have the actual totem item (should have custom name and colored text)

Items won't display on totems:

• Make sure you're right-clicking the totem, not the ground near it
• The totem can only hold one item at a time
• Try removing the current item first (right-click empty-handed)

Rituals won't activate:

• By default, only 1 totem is needed (check config if changed)
• Totems work individually by default (configurable to require multiple)
• Items must be placed ON the totems (floating above them)
• Wait 1 second after placing the last item (system checks every 20 ticks)
• Check fire sacrifice: Drop 4 catalyst items around totem and light fire

Pattern rituals won't work:

• Use redstone to see particle guides for correct placement
• Ensure all totems have the exact required items
• Check that totems are at the correct distances (5 blocks for most patterns)
• Verify the central totem has the correct item for the ritual type

Datapack not working:

• Type /reload in chat
• Check that the datapack is in the correct folder (world/datapacks/)
• Ensure the folder structure is correct (pack.mcmeta should be at the root)
• Make sure you're using Minecraft 1.21 or later

Resource Pack Issues:

• The resource pack is optional but provides custom textures
• Place it in your resourcepacks folder and enable it in-game
• If textures don't appear, make sure the pack is above other resource packs in the list

Debug Mode:

• Enable debug mode: /function rituals:admin/enable_debug_mode
• This shows detailed timing, range, and effect information
• Disable when done: /function rituals:admin/disable_debug_mode