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Overview

Bandlands are Lithostitched’s system for creating stratified terrain with horizontal bands of different blocks, similar to Minecraft’s Badlands biome but fully customizable. The system uses a 192-block height array filled with different block states based on configured band patterns.

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How Bandlands Work

Bandlands generate terrain in layers by:
  1. Creating a 192-block vertical array initialized with a base block
  2. Filling the array with different block patterns using band types
  3. Sampling the array at world positions with noise-based vertical offset
  4. Applying the resulting block state during terrain generation
The band offset noise adds variation by shifting which band appears at a given Y-level, creating natural-looking strata that undulate across the terrain.

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Bandlands Structure

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Java Interface

public final class Bandlands {
    private final BlockState base;
    private final List<Band> bands;
    private BlockState[] filledBandlands; // 192 blocks
    
    public BlockState getBand(SurfaceSystem system, int x, int y, int z) {
        int offset = (int)Math.round(bandOffsetNoise.getValue(x, 0.0, z) * 4.0);
        return filledBandlands[(y + offset + 192) % 192];
    }
}
Source: Bandlands.java:14-53

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JSON Format

{
  "type": "lithostitched:bandlands",
  "base": {
    "Name": "minecraft:terracotta"
  },
  "bands": [
    {
      "type": "lithostitched:repeating",
      "interval": { "type": "uniform", "value": { "min_inclusive": 3, "max_inclusive": 5 } },
      "size": { "type": "uniform", "value": { "min_inclusive": 1, "max_inclusive": 2 } },
      "state": { "Name": "minecraft:red_terracotta" }
    },
    {
      "type": "lithostitched:wrapped",
      "interval": { "type": "uniform", "value": { "min_inclusive": 8, "max_inclusive": 12 } },
      "max_count": { "type": "constant", "value": 15 },
      "wrapper_chance": 0.8,
      "wrapper_state": { "Name": "minecraft:orange_terracotta" },
      "wrapped_state": { "Name": "minecraft:white_terracotta" }
    }
  ]
}

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Band Types

Bands are processed in order, with later bands overwriting earlier ones where they overlap.

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Base Band

Places random bands of a block throughout the height array. Fields:
  • count (IntProvider): Number of bands to place
  • size (IntProvider): Size of each band in blocks
  • state (BlockState): Block to place
Example: 
{
  "type": "lithostitched:base",
  "count": { "type": "uniform", "value": { "min_inclusive": 5, "max_inclusive": 10 } },
  "size": { "type": "uniform", "value": { "min_inclusive": 2, "max_inclusive": 4 } },
  "state": { "Name": "minecraft:brown_terracotta" }
}
Source: BaseBand.java:9-34

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Repeating Band

Places bands at regular intervals throughout the height array. Fields:
  • interval (IntProvider): Spacing between bands
  • size (IntProvider): Size of each band in blocks
  • state (BlockState): Block to place
Example: 
{
  "type": "lithostitched:repeating",
  "interval": { "type": "constant", "value": 4 },
  "size": { "type": "constant", "value": 1 },
  "state": { "Name": "minecraft:yellow_terracotta" }
}
Source: RepeatingBand.java:9-32

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Wrapped Band

Places a core block with optional wrapper blocks on either side. Fields:
  • interval (IntProvider): Spacing between wrapped bands
  • max_count (IntProvider): Maximum number of wrapped bands to place
  • wrapper_chance (float, 0-1): Probability of wrapper blocks appearing
  • wrapper_state (BlockState): Wrapper block
  • wrapped_state (BlockState): Core block
Example: 
{
  "type": "lithostitched:wrapped",
  "interval": { "type": "uniform", "value": { "min_inclusive": 10, "max_inclusive": 15 } },
  "max_count": { "type": "constant", "value": 12 },
  "wrapper_chance": 0.75,
  "wrapper_state": { "Name": "minecraft:light_gray_terracotta" },
  "wrapped_state": { "Name": "minecraft:cyan_terracotta" }
}
Source: WrappedBand.java:12-43

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Creating Custom Bandlands

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1. Create a Bandlands Data File

Place in data/<namespace>/lithostitched/bandlands/<name>.json: 
{
  "base": {
    "Name": "minecraft:sandstone"
  },
  "bands": [
    {
      "type": "lithostitched:repeating",
      "interval": { "type": "constant", "value": 6 },
      "size": { "type": "uniform", "value": { "min_inclusive": 1, "max_inclusive": 2 } },
      "state": { "Name": "minecraft:red_sandstone" }
    },
    {
      "type": "lithostitched:base",
      "count": { "type": "constant", "value": 8 },
      "size": { "type": "constant", "value": 3 },
      "state": { "Name": "minecraft:smooth_sandstone" }
    }
  ]
}

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2. Apply with Surface Rule

See Surface Rules for how to use bandlands in terrain generation.

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IntProvider Types

Band configurations use Minecraft’s IntProvider system for randomization: Constant Value: 
{ "type": "constant", "value": 5 }
Uniform Range: 
{ 
  "type": "uniform",
  "value": {
    "min_inclusive": 3,
    "max_inclusive": 7
  }
}
Biased Range: 
{
  "type": "biased_to_bottom",
  "value": {
    "min_inclusive": 1,
    "max_inclusive": 10
  }
}

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Tips & Best Practices

Use repeating bands for consistent layering and base bands for variation. Combine multiple band types to create complex, natural-looking strata.
Bands are applied in order - later bands will overwrite blocks placed by earlier bands. Order your bands from general patterns to specific accents.

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Registry Information

  • Registry Type: Dynamic
  • Registry Key: lithostitched:bandlands
  • Band Type Registry: lithostitched:bandlands_band_type
  • Codec: Bandlands.CODEC
Source: LithostitchedRegistryKeys.java:24,31

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