Lanterns Core Framework
[b]This mod does not add heroes.[/b]
[b]It does not add rings, belts, suits, powers, or shiny explosions.[/b]
What it [i]does[/i] add is the boring-but-critical part nobody wants to write more than once:
the [u]framework[/u] that lets [i]other mods[/i] add hero gear cleanly, consistently, and without custom C# every single time.
Think of LanternsCore as the utility belt [i]behind[/i] the utility belt.
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What is LanternsCore?
LanternsCore is a framework mod for RimWorld 1.6 that powers “hero gear” such as:
• Rings
• Belts
• Suits
• Masks
• Artifacts
• Weird glowing objects that whisper bad ideas
It supplies reusable comps, XML bases, systems, and tools so add-on mods can ship fully-featured hero equipment without reinventing the wheel (or the ring, or the oath, or the corruption mechanic).
[b]By itself, LanternsCore does almost nothing in-game.[/b]
That’s intentional.
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Originally Green Lantern. Now… basically everything.
LanternsCore started life as a framework specifically for Green Lantern–style rings.
Then it got out of hand.
Now it can support:
• Any powered wearable
• Any resource-driven hero gear
• Any “this item gives abilities and bad life choices” setup
• Any superhero, anti-hero, or “this seemed like a good idea at the time” artifact
If it has:
• A charge or energy pool
• Abilities that drain it
• Passive effects
• Transformation gear
• Corruption, influence, or autonomy quirks
LanternsCore probably supports it.
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What this framework provides
[b]Gear & charge systems[/b]
Reusable comps for powered apparel with configurable charge, regen, drain, costs, and global tuning sliders.
[b]Ability foundations[/b]
XML base abilities for blasts, heals, stuns, shields, constructs, summons, flight, teleportation, displacement, auras, and “that pawn is no longer a problem.”
[b]Stealth & veil mechanics[/b]
Optional stealth modes with their own energy pool, targeting rules, break conditions, and gizmos.
[b]Corruption & influence[/b]
Gear can corrupt its wearer, radiate influence while worn or abandoned, and trigger mental states when things get spicy.
[b]Transformation / costume systems[/b]
Auto-equip hero suits, safely store conflicting apparel, restore it on removal, and handle body-type filters without exploding.
[b]Defensive utilities[/b]
Projectile evasion, environmental damage absorption, hazard filtering, and other “nope” mechanics that burn charge instead of pawns.
[b]Flight & teleportation[/b]
World-tile flight, map teleportation, push/pull displacement, and dramatic entrances (landing not guaranteed).
[b]Delivery & discovery events[/b]
Auto-delivery, discovery incidents, timed events, and selection systems so gear actually shows up in a campaign.
[b]Author tools[/b]
A no-code Hero Gear Builder that lets mod authors create full add-ons via XML and export ready-to-use mods without touching C#.
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Important: What this mod does NOT do
• It does NOT add playable hero gear
• It does NOT add abilities on its own
• It does NOT add incidents, art, or balance by itself
• It is NOT meant to be used alone
[b]You need add-on mods that depend on LanternsCore.[/b]
If you enable this by itself and nothing happens, congratulations: it’s working correctly.
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Status & future plans
LanternsCore is functional, stable, and already powering hero gear mods, but it’s not “finished.”
Some systems are still expanding, some features are getting polish, and more hooks and helpers are planned over time.
Updates will focus on:
• More flexibility for add-on authors
• Cleaner configuration paths
• Expanded ability hooks
• Quality-of-life improvements
This is a living framework. Expect growth.
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For players
You only need LanternsCore if:
• You’re using a hero gear mod that depends on it
• You plan to use hero gear mods in the future
Load Harmony first.
Settings include global charge cost, regen, and drain multipliers.
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For mod authors
If you want to create hero equipment without writing custom C# for:
• Charge systems
• Ability costs
• Corruption
• Stealth
• Transformations
• Delivery events
LanternsCore exists so you don’t have to.
Docs, examples, validation tools, and a no-code builder are included.
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Final warning
This is a framework.
It is invisible.
It is unglamorous.
It does the heavy lifting so other mods can look cool.
If something explodes, it’s probably the add-on.
If everything just works, you’re welcome.
