FTB Banners (Forge): Floating Custom Images for Your Minecraft Maps
Adding visual flair to Minecraft worlds usually means building elaborate structures or relying on resource packs. But what if you could summon floating, custom images anywhere with a simple command? That is exactly what FTB Banners brings to the table. Designed for map makers and server operators, this Forge mod lets you place persistent, non-interactive banner images that can transform how you tell stories, mark progress, or decorate environments. Whether you run a quest-based adventure or just want to surprise players with floating trophies, FTB Banners gives you a lightweight, creative tool that stays out of the way when not needed.
What Is FTB Banners?
FTB Banners is a Forge mod that allows you to create floating image blocks in your Minecraft world using commands. These banners are not the vanilla banner blocks you place on walls; instead, they are custom, invisible entities that display a static image in mid-air. They can be sized, positioned, and oriented freely, making them perfect for map events, custom HUD-like elements, or decorative signage that regular players cannot alter.
The core idea is simple: give map creators a way to display banners when certain conditions are met, such as completing all tasks in a quest-based map. Once placed, the banner images become completely invisible and untouchable to anyone not in creative mode, so they never interfere with normal gameplay. This separation of editing and viewing ensures that your carefully designed visuals remain pristine, while players enjoy the immersive effects without accidentally breaking anything.
Key Features at a Glance
- Command-driven placement: Summon floating banner images with a single command, no block placement required.
- Invisible and intangible outside creative mode: Players in survival or adventure mode cannot see or interact with the banner blocks, preventing griefing or accidental removal.
- Perfect for map triggers: Display banners as rewards, quest completion markers, or event announcements without needing complex redstone.
- Lightweight and server-friendly: The mod focuses on minimal performance impact, using entities only where needed.
- Full control for ops: Only operators or those with creative mode access can spawn or edit banners, keeping map integrity intact.
How to Use FTB Banners
Placing a banner is straightforward if you have operator permissions or are in creative mode. The mod introduces a dedicated command that lets you summon an image at your current location or at specific coordinates. While the exact command syntax may vary slightly between versions, it generally follows a pattern like /ftbbanners create <name> <image_path>. You can then adjust the size, rotation, and facing direction using additional parameters.
For example, you might create a congratulatory banner that appears above a player’s head after they defeat a boss. Since the banner entity is invisible in survival, you can trigger it via command blocks or functions without players ever seeing the underlying mechanism. The banner will simply float there, displaying your custom texture, until you remove it or the map resets.
Editing Banners with NBT
Currently, the only way to modify an existing banner’s properties—such as its image, size, or position—is through an NBT editor. The mod developer recommends using FTB Utilities’ built-in /nbtedit command for this purpose. While this approach works reliably, it does require a bit of technical know-how. You need to locate the banner entity’s data and manually change tags like image, width, height, or rotation.
This limitation is temporary, though. The creator has stated that a proper in-game editing interface is in the works, which will eventually let map makers tweak banners without leaving the game or opening external editors. For now, patience and a little NBT knowledge go a long way.
Creative Mode Only – Safety for Players
One of the most thoughtful design choices in FTB Banners is how it handles visibility and collision. As soon as you switch out of creative mode, all banner blocks become completely invisible and intangible. They do not obstruct movement, cannot be hit, and leave no trace for regular players. This means you can scatter dozens of hidden trigger banners across your map without worrying about them cluttering the world or confusing participants.
For server owners, this also means no extra lag from players bumping into invisible walls, and no support tickets about “floating images” blocking paths. The mod stays entirely in the background until you need it, then vanishes again when you don’t.
Perfect for Adventure and Quest Maps
Map makers will find FTB Banners especially useful for quest-driven experiences. Imagine a sprawling RPG map where each completed quest line causes a unique banner to appear in the quest hub, visually tracking progress. Or a puzzle map that reveals a clue image only after all levers are pulled. Because the banners are command-spawned, you can tie them directly into your existing command block chains or datapack functions.
Another clever use is creating custom UI elements that float in the world, such as a “boss health bar” made of multiple banner segments that update as the fight progresses. Since the images can be changed via NBT editing, you can even animate simple sequences by swapping the image tag on a timer.
When you are building a complex modpack with many custom mechanics, managing all the individual mods can become a chore. A modern launcher like the one available at foxygame.net simplifies this process considerably. You can browse, download, and install mods like FTB Banners directly from the launcher’s menu, keeping your modpack organized without juggling multiple websites or manual file placements.
Installation and Compatibility
FTB Banners is built for Forge and requires no additional dependencies beyond a standard Forge mod loader. Simply drop the mod file into your mods folder, and you are ready to go. It plays nicely with most other mods, especially those in the FTB ecosystem, and does not introduce any world generation changes, so you can add or remove it from existing saves without corruption.
Because the mod relies on commands, it works seamlessly on both single-player and multiplayer servers. Just ensure that your server’s server.properties file has command blocks enabled if you plan to automate banner placement. For modpack creators, FTB Banners is a lightweight addition that adds immense creative value without bloating the mod list.
What’s Next for FTB Banners?
The developer is actively working on a more intuitive editing system that will eliminate the need for NBT editors. Future updates aim to provide a simple GUI or in-world editor so you can tweak banner images, sizes, and rotations on the fly. This will open the mod to a wider audience, including map makers who prefer visual tools over raw data manipulation.
Additionally, there are hints that the mod might eventually support animated textures or conditional visibility based on player proximity, but no firm timeline has been announced. For now, the focus remains on stability and the upcoming editor overhaul.
Conclusion
FTB Banners fills a niche that few other mods address: placing clean, floating images in the world without resorting to bulky resource packs or entity trickery. Its command-based workflow, combined with the safety net of creative-only visibility, makes it an ideal tool for map makers who want to add visual storytelling elements without compromising the player experience. While the current NBT editing requirement may feel a bit technical, the promise of an in-game editor means the mod will only become more accessible over time. If you are designing a quest map, an adventure server, or simply want to experiment with world decorations that stay out of the way, FTB Banners deserves a spot in your mod collection.