Getting Started with AstikorCarts Deluxe: The Ultimate Plow Cart Overhaul
Minecraft has always been about creativity, but sometimes the vanilla tools feel a bit limited when you are managing vast farmlands or clearing stubborn groundcover. That is where the original AstikorCarts mod stepped in, letting you hitch carts to horses for tilling and hauling. Now, a community-driven fork called AstikorCarts Deluxe takes that concept and injects it with a heavy dose of configurability. Whether you are a server admin who wants to tweak every interaction or a modpack maker looking to integrate custom tools, this version gives you the reins.
What Makes This Fork Different?
AstikorCarts Deluxe is not a complete rewrite. It builds upon the MIT-licensed foundation of the original AstikorCarts, preserving the core horse cart mechanics while layering on powerful configuration options. The primary focus is on cart tilling, transforming a simple plow into a fully customizable landscaping tool. The mod stays true to the spirit of the original, so if you have used AstikorCarts before, the basic controls and cart types will feel familiar. The magic lies in the new config files.
Key Features That Set It Apart
The Deluxe fork introduces three major config additions that modpack creators and server owners will appreciate. These are not just simple on/off toggles; they allow deep integration with other mods and custom items.
- Custom Hoe and Shovel Conversions: You can now define exactly which items count as a hoe or shovel for plow cart purposes. Want a diamond hoe from another mod to work? Define it. Need a special shovel to clear snow layers? Add it to the config. This opens up cross-mod compatibility without needing additional patches.
- Groundcover Destruction Control: Ever wished your plow cart would destroy tall grass, ferns, or even modded groundcover like dead bushes? This config lets you list any block as removable groundcover. When the cart passes over, those blocks are broken automatically, leaving behind pristine tilled soil.
- Plow Item Flexibility: The most game-changing addition: you can assign a specific item to act as the plow itself. Not just a hoe, but any item you choose. You can then define its own set of plow conversions. This means a custom scythe could till dirt into farmland, or a magical staff could convert coarse dirt into grass paths. The possibilities are endless.
The updated Gradle build system also ensures smoother development and easier maintenance for future updates. While the mod currently focuses on these configs, the roadmap hints at even more generic grouping of items, which would simplify managing large sets of custom tools.
Installing and Using AstikorCarts Deluxe
Adding this mod to your game is straightforward. Since it is a fork, you need to remove the original AstikorCarts if you have it installed to avoid conflicts. Drop the Deluxe jar into your mods folder, and you are ready to start. For players who prefer a more streamlined experience, managing mods can be a breeze. If you happen to use a launcher that supports direct mod downloads from a curated menu, you might find that this mod can be easily installed via the foxygame.net launcher — a convenient, flexible, and modern Minecraft launcher where you can download mods right from the menu. Once loaded, the carts work exactly as before: craft a plow cart, attach it to a horse, and ride or lead the animal across your fields. The real power, however, is in the config folder.
Diving into the Configuration
After the first launch, a config file named astikorcarts-deluxe.toml will appear. Open it with any text editor, and you will see sections for each feature. The syntax is well-commented, but here is a quick example of how to add a custom plow item:
Find the [plowItem] section. Set enabled = true, then add the registry name of your chosen item. For instance, if you want a netherite hoe to act as a plow, you would enter item = "minecraft:netherite_hoe". Below that, you can list conversion pairs, like turning dirt into farmland or podzol into grass blocks. The groundcover list works similarly: just paste block identifiers like "minecraft:grass" or "biomesoplenty:clover".
These configs are applied in real-time if you use the /reload command, so you can test changes without restarting the server. This is a huge time-saver for modpack development.
Compatibility and Modpack Use
Because the fork is based on MIT-licensed code, you are free to include AstikorCarts Deluxe in any modpack, whether it is hosted on CurseForge or distributed independently. The mod author explicitly encourages this. If you encounter unexpected behavior, the GitHub Issues page is the place to report it, and the CurseForge comment section is open for feature suggestions.
The config-driven design means compatibility with other mods is largely in your hands. You can add support for tools from Tinkers' Construct, Botania, or any other mod by simply entering the correct item IDs. This flexibility is what makes the Deluxe fork stand out — it turns a niche horse cart mod into a universal tilling engine.
Future Possibilities
The roadmap mentions allowing more generic grouping of items for custom plow tools. Imagine defining a tag like #forge:hoes and having all hoes automatically work as plows, or creating a custom tag that includes items from multiple mods. This would reduce config clutter and make the mod even more adaptable. While there is no set release date, the developer’s commitment to community feedback suggests that these features are on the horizon.
Conclusion
AstikorCarts Deluxe takes a beloved but somewhat rigid mod and turns it into a canvas for customization. Whether you want to clear away pesky groundcover, integrate exotic tools from your favorite magic mod, or simply fine-tune your farming automation, this fork delivers. The MIT licensing ensures it will remain open and modpack-friendly, and the active development path promises even more control. Saddle up your horse, tweak those configs, and watch your fields transform exactly the way you want them to.