BalancedVanilla

BalancedVanilla adds a middle step between stone and iron tools by introducing a full copper tool set. Copper nuggets can be obtained and smelted from copper items, so the tier is reachable with the copper that is abundant early in a world. The mod aims to change a few vanilla mechanics while staying close to the original game.

Four sets of copper armor are included. Like copper blocks in vanilla, the armor passes through the four oxidation stages Unaffected, Exposed, Weathered and Oxidized over time. An Oxidized piece can be restored to its shiny original look by placing it in a crafting table together with an axe, and the axe takes damage in line with the oxidation level of the item. A craftable copper horse armor is also added, made from copper and a saddle.

The Nether Furnace is a new block that reaches temperatures high enough to smelt twice as fast as a regular furnace, and it keeps its heat longer. It is fueled with blaze rods and lava buckets, which is its main cost. Fabric API is required, and BalancedVanilla runs on client and server, so the server and every player need it. Files cover 1.21.1 – 1.21.3, and the mod is released under the MIT License.