Selection Modes

Selection Modes

BuildersWand offers four distinct selection modes, each designed for different building scenarios. Understanding how each mode works will help you choose the right tool for the job.

Place Mode

Place mode is the default and most commonly used selection mode. It's designed for building structures by extending existing patterns.

How Place Mode Works

When you use place mode, the wand:

  • Looks at the block you're targeting

  • Identifies other blocks of the same type that are connected to it

  • Finds empty spaces adjacent to those connected blocks

  • Places new blocks in those empty spaces

This creates a natural extension of whatever structure you're building. If you have a wall and point at one of the wall blocks, the wand will extend the wall pattern into adjacent empty spaces.

When to Use Place Mode

Place mode is ideal for:

  • Building walls and structures

  • Creating floors and ceilings

  • Extending existing buildings

  • Filling in gaps in structures

  • General construction work

Place Mode Examples

  • Building a Wall: Place a single block, then use the wand on it to automatically extend the wall in all directions.

  • Creating a Floor: Place a few blocks to establish a pattern, then use the wand to fill in the rest of the floor area.

  • Extending a Building: Point at the edge of an existing structure to add new sections that match the current design.

Break Mode

Break mode is designed for removing large areas of blocks quickly and efficiently.

How Break Mode Works

When you use break mode, the wand:

  • Looks at the block you're targeting

  • Identifies all connected blocks of the same type

  • Removes all those connected blocks at once

This is much faster than breaking blocks individually, especially for large structures or mining operations.

When to Use Break Mode

Break mode is perfect for:

  • Clearing large areas

  • Mining operations

  • Removing old structures

  • Creating space for new buildings

  • Resource gathering

Break Mode Examples

  • Clearing Land: Point at any block in an area you want to clear, and the wand will remove all connected blocks of that type.

  • Mining: Use break mode on ore veins to quickly extract all connected ore blocks. (If those ores aren't blacklisted in your wand's configuration)

  • Demolition: Remove entire sections of buildings by targeting any block in the section you want to demolish.

Line Mode

Line mode creates straight lines and structured patterns instead of filling connected areas.

How Line Mode Works

When you use line mode, the wand:

  • Determines the direction you're facing

  • Creates a straight line of blocks in that direction

  • Respects the maximum range setting

This creates precise, straight structures that are perfect for roads, walls, and other linear features.

When to Use Line Mode

Line mode is best for:

  • Creating straight walls

  • Building roads and paths

  • Making borders and boundaries

  • Creating structured layouts

  • Any project requiring straight lines

Line Mode Examples

  • Building a Road: Face the direction you want the road to go and use line mode to create a straight path.

  • Creating a Wall: Use line mode to build straight wall sections that follow your facing direction.

  • Making Borders: Create precise boundaries around areas using straight lines.

Random Selection Mode

Random selection mode adds variety and creativity to your building projects by randomly selecting from available block types in your inventory.

How Random Selection Works

When random selection is enabled, the wand:

  • Analyzes all block types available in your inventory

  • Randomly selects different block types for each placement

  • Can be configured to respect material families (e.g., only wood types, only stone types)

  • Limits the number of different block types used based on wand configuration

  • Works with all other modes (Place, Break, Line) to add variety

Random Selection Features

  • Material Family Filtering: Option to only use blocks from the same material family (wood, stone, etc.)

  • Block Type Limits: Configure maximum number of different block types to use

  • Inventory-Based Selection: Only uses blocks you actually have in your inventory

  • Per-Wand Configuration: Each wand can have different random selection settings

When to Use Random Selection

Random selection is perfect for:

  • Creating natural-looking structures with material variety

  • Building organic shapes and landscapes

  • Adding texture and visual interest to large builds

  • Creating mixed-material walls and floors

  • Building with multiple similar block types

Random Selection Examples

  • Natural Wall: Use random selection with wood blocks to create a wall that varies between oak, spruce, birch, and other wood types

  • Mixed Stone Floor: Create floors using random stone variants (stone, cobblestone, stone bricks, etc.)

  • Organic Landscaping: Build natural-looking terrain using random selection with grass, dirt, and stone blocks

Configuring Random Selection

Random selection can be configured per wand in the wands.yml file:

random_selection:
  enabled: true                    # Enable/disable random selection for this wand
  max_block_types: 5              # Maximum number of different block types to use
  require_same_family: true       # Only use blocks from the same material family
  default_mode: false            # Start with random mode enabled by default

Random Selection Tips

  • Start with Similar Materials: Use blocks from the same family for cohesive results

  • Limit Block Types: Don't use too many different block types to avoid chaotic results

  • Test in Creative: Experiment with different block combinations before using in survival

  • Use with Place Mode: Random selection works best with place mode for natural extensions

Switching Between Modes

You can switch between modes using the wand's GUI. Sneak and left-click while holding your wand to open the settings menu, then click the mode button to cycle through available modes.

The available modes depend on your wand's configuration. Basic wands might only support place mode, while advanced wands support all four modes.

Mode-Specific Tips

Place Mode Tips:

  • Start with a clear pattern to get the best results

  • Use the distance setting to control how far the wand extends

  • Consider the block type you're targeting - it affects what gets placed

Break Mode Tips:

  • Be careful when using break mode near structures you want to keep

  • Use the undo feature if you accidentally break the wrong blocks

  • Consider the block type you're targeting - it affects what gets removed

Line Mode Tips:

  • Pay attention to your facing direction - it determines the line direction

  • Use the distance setting to control line length

  • Line mode works well for creating structured layouts and boundaries

Random Selection Tips:

  • Configure your wand's random selection settings before starting large projects

  • Use material families to maintain visual coherence

  • Experiment with different block combinations to find what works best for your build style

  • Consider the maximum block types setting to balance variety with consistency

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