BTH - Beyond the Horizon FAQ | Jangro.com | Modded Minecraft with Jangro

BTH - Beyond the Horizon is an ambitious Minecraft 1.20.1 modpack featuring over 340 mods, combining exploration, technology, magic, and stunning visuals through Distant Horizons. This comprehensive FAQ addresses the most common questions and issues players encounter.

Performance & Optimization
Installation & Setup
Gameplay Questions
Server Management
Hosting Recommendations
Additional Resources

Performance & Optimization

Why is BTH lagging so much?

BTH lag typically comes from several sources:

Chunk generation: Distant Horizons generates terrain in the background, causing initial lag
Insufficient RAM: BTH needs at least 8GB allocated, 10-16GB recommended depending on your system
Background processes: Close Chrome, Discord overlay, and other programs
Wrong Java arguments: Use optimized JVM flags for modded Minecraft

See our complete BTH performance optimization guide for detailed solutions.

How much RAM should I allocate to BTH?

Recommended RAM allocation depends on your system:

16GB system RAM: Allocate 8-10GB
32GB+ system RAM: Allocate 12-16GB
General rule: More RAM helps with heavily modded packs, but watch for stuttering
If experiencing stutters: Try reducing allocation or check JVM arguments
Servers: Can use 16GB+ depending on player count

BTH crashes when loading - what do I do?

Common crash solutions:

Ensure you have at least 8GB RAM allocated
Update your GPU drivers
Use Java 17 or 21
Disable shaders initially
Try reinstalling BTH - CurseForge downloads can get corrupted
Try launching with Prism Launcher instead of CurseForge
Still crashing? Upload your crash report to mclo.gs and share it in our Discord for help

Installation & Setup

What Java version does BTH need?

BTH requires Java 17 or newer. Recommended versions:

Java 17 - Most tested and stable
Java 21 - Works well, newer LTS version
Adoptium Temurin or Amazon Corretto distributions recommended
GraalVM for advanced performance tuning
Avoid: Java 8 (too old for 1.20.1)

Can I add mods to BTH?

Yes, but be careful:

Check compatibility with Minecraft 1.20.1
Ensure no duplicate functionality
Test in single-player first
Popular additions: JEI addons, QoL mods, decoration mods

Gameplay Questions

How do I use waystones?

Waystones in BTH require money (Tiny Coins) to use instead of experience:

Cost: 1 Tiny Coin per 100 blocks of distance
Requirements: Money must be in a wallet from Lightman's Currency mod
Setup: Equip the wallet in the wallet curio slot
Finding waystones: They generate in villages and on top of Ancient Towers
Tip: Break and replace a waystone to rename it

Note: Waystones cannot be crafted, only found and relocated.

Why doesn't my chunkloader work when I'm offline?

BTH is designed to be server-friendly. Chunkloaders only forceload chunks when the player who owns the chunkloader is online. This prevents server lag from having too many chunks loaded when players are offline.

Why aren't monsters spawning at night?

BTH uses the PeacefulSurface mod to make early-game travel easier:

Most hostile mobs don't spawn on the Overworld's surface during regular nights
Endermen, illagers, and phantoms still spawn normally
Monsters still spawn in caves and anywhere not exposed to the sky
Blood Moons: Every few nights, all monsters spawn at increased rates and sleeping is disabled

What can I do in this modpack? Is there an end goal?

BTH is a sandbox modpack focused on exploration with no specific end goal. If you're feeling lost:

Check the in-game Quest Book for guidance
Browse the Advancements menu for inspiration
Work toward custom end-game items:
- Terminus: Ultimate sword combining late-game weapons from all dimensions
- NanoBot Soda: Powerful consumable with hours of buffs (requires magic and tech progression)
Take on the Plushie Challenge for collectors (details in Quest Book)

Where is my hunger bar? Why do I start with 3 hearts?

BTH uses Spice of Life: Valheim Updated to improve the hunger system:

No traditional hunger bar - food provides health and speed buffs instead
You start with 3 base hearts when unfed
Eating food grants temporary health and speed boosts
Better quality food = stronger and longer-lasting buffs
Permanent upgrades: Complete advancements to increase base hearts (check Quest Book)

How do I enable PVP?

BTH uses PVP Flagging mod - players are unflagged by default to prevent accidental damage:

Toggle PVP: Type /pvpFlag in chat
Set specific state: /pvpFlag [on | off | status]
Default off encourages co-op play without AOE damage concerns

For Server Admins wanting PVP:

Create PVP zones: /pvpZone add (can cover entire dimensions)
Auto-flag players by editing PVP Flagging config:
- player_login_state = FLAG
- player_respawn_state = FLAG

Can I enable per-player loot chests (Lootr)?

Lootr is included in BTH but disabled by default. To enable it:

Find the Lootr config file on the server
Change disabled = true to disabled = false

Why Lootr is disabled by default:

Visual consistency: Lootr chests/barrels stand out from BTH's aesthetic
Balance concerns: Ratlantis portal requires 1000 Tiny Coins from loot chests - with Lootr, groups can gather coins too quickly and access late-game content early

Neither reason is game-breaking, so enable it if you prefer! Lootr was included (disabled) so you only need a config change rather than adding the mod manually.

How can I transport larger animals?

Several options for moving mobs:

Quantum Catcher from Forbidden & Arcanus - works like a pokeball (right-click to capture/release)
Carry mobs: Sneak + right-click with empty hands on some mobs
Carts: Use AstikorCarts for ground transport
Aircraft: Use vehicles from Immersive Aircraft
Mob stacking: Stack passive mobs and put them on carts for efficient transport

Warning: Don't stack mobs then put them in Small Ships boats - causes lag. Regular filling works fine.

Can I pick up the submarine from Alex's Caves?

No, breaking it only yields 3 copper ingots. Consider using the Copper Fin submarine from Immersive Machinery (v1.4+) instead, which can be picked up.

Do I need to explore for Distant Horizons LODs to generate?

No, DH generates LODs up to your configured render distance as long as you're logged in. To AFK without auto-pausing, press 'T' to open chat first. The F3 debug screen shows DH's current activity and chunk queue status.

How do I get Ancient Tomes for MineColonies?

Ancient Tomes are rare drops from colony raids (barbarians, pirates, Norsemen). They don't drop from spawner mobs - only actual colony raids. Drop rates may improve as your colony levels up.

Tip for underground colonies: Raiders can glitch in cavern builds. Use the Forbidden & Arcanus mob-highlighting amulet (crafted with nether star) to track them.

How can I find Tetra ruins?

Tetra structures spawn in cold and/or mountain biomes. Tips for finding them:

Use the scanner tool to locate them (range varies)
Ocean spawns are disabled in BTH due to Tectonic's deeper oceans
Use minimap's underground view to spot suspicious caves under mountains/cold biomes

What's the currency system in BTH?

Lightman's Currency uses Create Deco's coins for the main currency chain based on Tiny Coins, creating an integrated economy system.

Building Wands warning

Important: Building wands can crash when used on Domum Ornamentum panels or trapdoors. Avoid using them on these blocks.

Is there a biome search mod?

No, we're encouraging exploration! Instead of biome search mods, we've made it easier to find biomes through gameplay:

Maps to biomes and structures: Purchase from cartographers, find in loot, or get from fishing
Custom structure maps: Many BTH custom structures contain maps to other structures
Archaeology tip: Bring an archaeology brush when exploring - there's suspicious gravel around custom structures
Fishing returns: We're bringing fishing back as a viable way to get treasure maps and loot

Useful gameplay tips

JEI Search: Type "@modname" to see all items from a specific mod (e.g., "@machinery" for Immersive Machinery)
Finding mobs in caves: Forbidden & Arcanus amulet (with nether star) highlights all mobs through walls
Custom structures: BTH includes custom structures using Create mod blocks - Create is essential for world gen

Server Management

How do I update my BTH server?

Follow our complete BTH server update guide:

Backup everything
Delete old mod folders
Copy new files from staging
Keep world data and configs
Restart and test

What are the server requirements for BTH?

Minimum server specifications:

RAM: 8GB minimum, 12-16GB recommended
CPU: 4+ cores, high single-thread performance
Storage: 50GB+ SSD space
Additional RAM will be required for more concurrent players

Hosting Recommendations

Best hosting providers for BTH?

Recommended hosts for BTH servers:

Apex Hosting: Excellent modpack support, 24/7 support
CloudNord: Budget-friendly, customizable specs
StickyPiston: Best support, multiple instances
Self-hosting: Use dedicated machine with 32GB+ RAM

Can I run BTH on free hosting?

Free hosting typically won't work because:

BTH needs 8GB+ RAM minimum (free hosts usually offer 1-2GB max)
Distant Horizons requires massive disk space (50GB+ for pregenerated worlds)
Free services have strict storage limits (usually 5-10GB)
Heavy CPU requirements for chunk generation
Better option: Self-host on powerful PC or use budget hosting provider

Additional Resources

Where to get more help?

Official Discord: discord.gg/jangro - Most active support community
GitHub Issues: Report bugs and issues
CurseForge comments: Common issues and solutions
Reddit r/feedthebeast: General modded Minecraft help
Our guides: Performance guide | Server update guide

How to report bugs?

Check if already reported on GitHub Issues
Gather crash logs and screenshots
List steps to reproduce
Create a new issue on GitHub
Include system specs and Java version

This FAQ is regularly updated based on community feedback and new issues. For specific problems not covered here, join our Discord or check our detailed guides for more in-depth solutions.

BTH - Beyond the Horizon FAQ

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