Bringing Custom Lore to Your Server with JinGames Notes and Tomes
Minecraft servers thrive on community, creativity, and a sense of shared adventure. One of the most immersive ways to welcome new players, deliver rules, or spin a server-wide story is through in-game books. The vanilla written book is functional but limited. If you have ever wanted to embed images, resize text dynamically, or push live updates to every player holding a guide, the JinGames Notes and Tomes mod for Forge 1.7.10 is a hidden gem that deserves a spot in your modded toolkit.
What Exactly Is Notes and Tomes?
Notes and Tomes is a standalone server-side mod that transforms plain text files into richly formatted, customizable books. It was designed primarily for multiplayer servers, giving admins the power to craft interactive manuals, rulebooks, lore tomes, and even illustrated tutorials without touching a single line of Java. The mod works by reading specially named .txt files from a dedicated folder inside your Minecraft directory, then injecting that content into a book item players can hold, read, and keep.
Core Features That Set It Apart
- Image embedding: Pull textures from vanilla Minecraft, other installed mods, or custom PNGs placed in the
minecraft/jgnotesandtomesfolder. - Precise image positioning: Control X and Y coordinates, plus the width and height of the source region inside the image file.
- Text formatting: Use classic Minecraft MOTD color and style codes (like
\u00A7lfor bold or\u00A75for dark purple) to make headings pop. - Global resizing: Scale the entire page’s text and images with a single
(size=...)tag, from tiny footnotes to oversized title screens. - Live updates: Edit the text file, run a command, and every book with that ID instantly refreshes—no need to redistribute items.
How to Create Your First Custom Book
The workflow is refreshingly straightforward, though it does require access to the server’s file system. Start by navigating to minecraft/jgnotesandtomes and creating a new text file. The filename must follow a strict pattern: bookID_page1.txt, bookID_page2.txt, and so on. For example, a welcome book with the ID “welcome” would have welcome_page1.txt and welcome_page2.txt. Each file contains the raw formatting codes and image tags that define that page’s appearance.
Once your files are ready, hop into the game and use the command /notesandtomes create @p welcome Welcome Message to give yourself (or any player) the book. The first argument after create is the target selector, then the bookID, and finally the display title. There is also a createmissing variant that only gives the book if the player doesn’t already have one with that ID in their inventory—perfect for ensuring every newcomer gets a copy without cluttering backpacks.
Mastering the Formatting Syntax
The real magic happens inside those text files. Let’s break down the key codes you will use most often.
Adding Images
Images must use a 1:1 aspect ratio, and a 256x256 resolution is recommended for crisp results. The syntax looks like this:
- Vanilla block texture:
(image=textures/blocks/stone;x=10;y=30;w=256;h=256) - Image from another mod:
(image=jgnotesandtomes:book2) - Custom PNG from the mod folder:
(image=jgnotesandtomes/stamp)
The x, y, w, and h parameters let you crop a specific portion of the source image, which is incredibly useful for creating stamps, icons, or decorative borders. For a custom stamp, you would place a stamp.png file in the jgnotesandtomes folder and reference it as shown above. You can download the example stamp texture from the mod’s official resources and rename it accordingly.
Text Styling with MOTD Codes
All the formatting codes that work in server.properties and pack.mcmeta are supported. Here are a few essentials:
\u00A70– Black text\u00A7l– Bold\u00A7n– Underline\u00A7r– Reset all formatting
Combine them to create striking headers. For instance, \u00A75\u00A7n\u00A7lWelcome to our Server! produces a bold, underlined, dark purple greeting.
Resizing Everything
The (size=...) tag scales both text and images on the current page. The default is 100. Setting (size=50) halves the size, while (size=200) doubles it. You can change the size multiple times within a single page to create a dynamic layout.
Example Book Pages
Here is how a two-page welcome book might look on the server side. Page 1 (welcome_page1.txt):
(size=100)(image=jgnotesandtomes:book2) (size=80)\u00A75\u00A7n\u00A7lWelcome to our Minecraft Server! \u00A7rTo get started make sure to read all of the rules below: \u00A75Make sure to \u00A79never \u00A75attempt magic without a helmet!(size=50)(image=jgnotesandtomes/stamp;x=10;y=90;w=80;h=70)
Page 2 (welcome_page2.txt):
(size=100)(image=jgnotesandtomes:book2) (size=80)\u00A7rHere is a stone block:(size=10)(image=textures/blocks/stone;x=10;y=30;w=256;h=256)
After editing, run /notesandtomes update welcome and every player holding the book will see the refreshed content immediately. All online admins receive a notification, making collaborative editing a breeze.
Commands at a Glance
/notesandtomes create @p bookID BookTitle– Gives a player a new book./notesandtomes createmissing @p bookID BookTitle– Gives a book only if the player lacks one with that ID./notesandtomes update bookID– Updates all existing books with that ID.
While the mod is built for Forge 1.7.10 and the creator has stated they are unlikely to port it to newer versions, it remains a robust choice for servers anchored in that golden era of modding. If you are assembling a modpack for a classic 1.7.10 experience, you will find that installing Notes and Tomes is hassle-free. Many modern launchers streamline the process; for instance, you can grab the mod directly from the menu of the foxygame.net launcher, a flexible and modern tool that lets you download and manage mods without digging through forum threads. This makes it simple to keep your server’s custom books up to date alongside your other favorite mods.
Limitations and Practical Tips
Keep in mind that the mod is server-only; players do not need to install it client-side to read the books, but they will need any custom textures you reference (like the stamp) placed in their own jgnotesandtomes folder to see them. Distribute those textures through your server’s resource pack or a direct download. Also, always test your formatting codes in a single-page book first—MOTD codes can be finicky, and a misplaced \u00A7r can strip all styling from the rest of the page.
Why Notes and Tomes Still Matters
In an age of flashy GUI plugins and datapacks, a text-driven book mod might seem quaint. But the tactile feel of flipping through a physical in-game book, complete with custom artwork and server lore, creates a level of immersion that chat messages simply cannot match. Whether you are running a roleplay server, a complex modpack with custom mechanics, or just want to give your spawn area a polished handbook, JinGames Notes and Tomes delivers a lightweight, reliable solution that puts creative control squarely in your hands.
So dust off that 1.7.10 instance, fire up your favorite launcher, and start writing. Your players will thank you for the extra touch of magic.