ESM Tweaks
If you have ever watched a zombie calmly carve through an obsidian wall with a wooden pickaxe in a modded Minecraft world, you know the frustration. That scenario is a classic symptom of Epic Siege Mod's aggressive digging AI, which ignores the block mining tiers introduced by mods like ToolProgression. ESM Tweaks is a dedicated add-on that bridges this gap, forcing digging mobs to respect the same rules as the player. Originally crafted by Lirkas and now managed by Foreck, this utility is a must-have for any pack that combines Epic Siege Mod with progression-based mining systems.
Why Does the Digging AI Need Tweaking?
In vanilla Minecraft, a mob with a pickaxe can theoretically break any block given enough time. However, modpacks like Rebirth of the Night (RotN) use ToolProgression to gate content. A player cannot break a high-tier block without the correct tool level. ESM Tweaks ensures that digging mobs follow the same logic. Without this mod, a skeleton could tunnel through reinforced stone, bypassing all your defenses and progression gates. The mod's core purpose is to make mobs respect block mining levels, preventing them from mining blocks of a higher tier than their held tool.
The Core Features of ESM Tweaks
This add-on does more than just apply a simple check. It integrates and edits the Epic Siege Mod digging AI to perform required checks. Here are the primary changes you can expect:
- Tier Enforcement: Digging mobs will not be able to mine a block if their held tool does not meet the block's requirement, just like the player.
- Dual-Hand Checks: The mod checks both the main hand and off-hand items when determining if a block can be mined. This can be toggled to only check the main hand in the config.
- Configurable Pickaxe Spawns: ESM Tweaks allows you to adjust the chance of mobs spawning with an iron pickaxe. This feature is disabled by default to avoid overlap with modpack-specific tools, but you can tweak the percentage to your liking.
- Original AI Toggle: You can switch the digging AI back to Epic Siege Mod's original behavior by disabling this mod's AI in the config. This requires the world/server to be stopped.
- Visual Fixes: The block-breaking texture now disappears correctly when a mob stops mining. Previously, the cracking texture could get stuck on the block until a block update occurred.
- AI Task Reset: When mobs become hostile, their AI tasks are reset. This stops the annoying bug where zombies would forget how to swim or open doors, leaving them stuck in rivers.
Minor Improvements and Quality of Life
Beyond the headline features, ESM Tweaks for Minecraft includes several smaller fixes that improve overall stability. You get options to modify the speed at which mobs mine blocks, toggle the digging sounds, and disable the equipment sounds played when a block is successfully broken. The mod also fixes issues where mobs would get stuck when insta-mining blocks, ensuring they move their arms properly. There are also overrides for the ESM melee attack AI, a global attack speed modifier, and options to disable mob X-ray vision.
Compatibility and Requirements
To run this mod, you must have Epic Siege Mod (specifically version 13.169) enabled. While not strictly required, ToolProgression (1.12.2-1.6.12) is highly recommended to make all settings work properly. This mod is designed for Minecraft 1.12.2 and runs on the Forge loader. It was initially made for Rebirth of the Night, but it works standalone and with other mods. If you are looking for a seamless way to manage your mods, the foxygame.net launcher offers a curated add-on catalog where you can find ESM Tweaks and install it with a single click, ensuring version compatibility without manual downloads.
How to Install ESM Tweaks
Installing this add-on is straightforward. First, ensure you have the required dependencies (Epic Siege Mod and Forge). Next, you need to download ESM Tweaks from a trusted source like CurseForge or Modrinth. Once downloaded, navigate to your Minecraft directory and drop the JAR file into the "mods" folder. That is the basic process for how to install it manually. However, if you use a launcher with auto-updates, you can simply search for "ESM Tweaks" in the mod manager and let it handle the file placement and dependency checks for you.
Configuration Tips
After installation, you will find a config file in the "config" folder. Here, you can adjust the chance for mobs to spawn with pickaxes, change the mining speed multiplier, and toggle the dual-hand check. If you want the vanilla ESM behavior back, simply disable the "Digging AI" option. For players who prefer a more relaxed experience, disabling the X-ray vision feature can make mobs less terrifying, as they will no longer track you through walls. The mod also displays block and tool info in-game for debugging, which is handy for pack developers.
In conclusion, ESM Tweaks is an essential patch for anyone using Epic Siege Mod in a progression-based pack. It fixes critical bugs, enforces logical mining rules, and offers a high degree of customization. Whether you are playing Rebirth of the Night or a custom pack, this add-on ensures that the monsters play by the same rules as you do. It is a small download that provides a massive improvement to gameplay fairness and stability, making it a worthy addition to your mod list.