Expanding Your Minecolonies World with SmallColonies ME
If you have ever dreamed of building sprawling medieval towns, bustling trade hubs, or ornate fantasy settlements in Minecraft, the Minecolonies mod has likely already captured your imagination. It transforms the game into a deep colony management simulator, where every citizen, builder, and guard plays a role. Yet even the most dedicated mayors eventually crave fresh architectural styles and schematics. That is exactly where SmallColonies ME steps in — a Mod Extended version of the original SmallColonies mod, designed to inject new life into your colonies with additional style packs and carefully crafted building blueprints.
What Is SmallColonies ME?
SmallColonies ME is a companion mod built for both Forge 1.20.1 and NeoForge 1.21.1, expanding the creative palette of Minecolonies. It does not alter the core colony mechanics; instead, it supplies a library of new schematics — pre-designed building layouts — that your builders can construct. These schematics are grouped into distinct style packs, each offering a cohesive visual theme for an entire settlement. The mod is actively maintained, with ongoing development for a new style called Keep, and the creator encourages play testing and feedback via their YouTube channel.
Because the additional mod dependencies are primarily decoration-oriented, you can safely omit them without breaking essential schematics. However, including them unlocks the full visual detail intended by the designer, with furniture, storage solutions, and decorative blocks that make each building feel lived-in.
Required Mod Dependencies
To run SmallColonies ME smoothly, you must install a set of core dependencies that provide the structural and decorative backbone. These are non-negotiable for the schematics to function correctly:
- Domum Ornamentum – handles ornamental blocks and decorative elements.
- Minecolonies – the foundation colony management mod.
- Structurize – powers the schematic placement and building system.
- Create – adds mechanical components and rotational power that some schematics integrate.
- Beautify – introduces a range of aesthetic blocks for interior and exterior decoration.
- Supplementaries – provides functional and decorative items like ropes, lanterns, and signs.
- Amendments – a collection of tweaks and additions to vanilla and modded blocks.
- Storage Drawers – compact, visually appealing storage often used in warehouse designs.
- Farmer’s Delight – expands farming and cooking, fitting neatly into agricultural schematics.
- Handcrafted – adds furniture and detailed decorative pieces.
Optional but Recommended Additions
Beyond the required list, two extra mods elevate the experience further. Decorative Storage and Immersive Armors are listed as additional dependencies. While not mandatory, they bring more variety to storage rooms and guard outfits, respectively. Since these are decoration-centric, skipping them will not cause broken schematics — you might simply miss some visual flair in certain builds. The mod author notes that other schematics may also appear in future updates, and those may or may not rely on these optional mods.
Included Style Packs
SmallColonies ME currently ships with three distinct style packs, each offering a unique architectural identity for your colony. You can mix and match or dedicate an entire settlement to one theme.
- Littleton – A fully updated style pack that has been refreshed to work seamlessly with all required dependencies. Expect a charming, village-like atmosphere with cozy houses, compact workshops, and tidy streets. It is an excellent starting point for players new to the mod.
- Sandyton – Also updated and dependency-complete, Sandyton leans into warmer, arid aesthetics. Think sandstone textures, open courtyards, and structures that feel at home in desert or savanna biomes. It pairs beautifully with Minecolonies’ biome-specific resource gathering.
- Keep – Marked as a work in progress, this style is intended for play testing and bug reporting only. It focuses on fortified, castle-like architecture, with towering walls, keeps, and defensive structures. While functional, you may encounter minor issues documented in each version’s changelog. Your feedback on Keep is highly valued by the developer.
As the mod evolves, additional schematics may be slipped into updates. These could be standalone buildings or small thematic sets that do not require a full style pack designation. Always check the changelog for the latest additions and known issues.
How SmallColonies ME Enhances Gameplay
Minecolonies already offers deep satisfaction as you watch your citizens chop wood, mine stone, and erect buildings block by block. SmallColonies ME amplifies that joy by removing visual repetition. Instead of building the same tavern or town hall for the tenth time, you can switch to Littleton’s quaint timber-framed designs or Sandyton’s sun-baked elegance. The inclusion of Create-powered contraptions in some schematics also introduces subtle automation possibilities — imagine a windmill that actually turns or a mechanical press integrated into a bakery.
Moreover, the mod respects your server or single-player world’s performance. Because it relies on Structurize and Minecolonies’ existing framework, the building process remains efficient. The decoration-focused dependencies like Handcrafted and Beautify add detail without heavy scripting, so your colony can grow large without crippling tick rates.
Installation and Getting Started
Setting up SmallColonies ME follows the standard mod installation routine for Forge or NeoForge. First, ensure you have the correct version of Minecraft (1.20.1 for Forge or 1.21.1 for NeoForge) and the appropriate mod loader installed. Then, gather all required dependencies — it is wise to double-check each mod’s own compatibility with your loader version. Once everything is in the mods folder, launch the game and create a new world or open an existing one with Minecolonies already active.
When you place your supply camp or town hall, the builder will offer the new style packs in the construction GUI. Select Littleton, Sandyton, or Keep (if you are ready to test) and watch your colony take shape. For players who enjoy a streamlined modding experience, 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, eliminating the hassle of manual file management.
Tips for a Smooth Colony Expansion
To get the most out of SmallColonies ME, keep a few practical tips in mind. First, always read the changelog before updating the mod; the developer documents known issues for each version, especially for the Keep style pack. Second, if you plan to use multiple style packs in one colony, consider assigning different districts to different styles — your builders can handle it as long as you specify the style per building. Third, experiment with the optional mods. Decorative Storage adds visually distinct containers that fit perfectly into Littleton’s cozy interiors, while Immersive Armors makes your guards look the part of a fortified Keep settlement.
Finally, do not hesitate to provide feedback. The Keep style is actively shaped by community input, and your bug reports or suggestions on YouTube can influence future schematics. SmallColonies ME thrives on collaboration between the developer and the player base.
Conclusion
SmallColonies ME breathes new architectural life into the Minecolonies experience, offering two polished style packs and an exciting work-in-progress fortress theme. By leaning on a carefully curated set of decoration mods, it delivers immersive, detailed settlements without overcomplicating the core colony loop. Whether you are a seasoned mayor looking for fresh blueprints or a newcomer eager to build something beyond the default styles, this mod is a worthy addition to your modded Minecraft journey. Install it, pick a style, and let your citizens craft a home that truly reflects your vision.