Transform your Hytale experience with Orbis Origins, a species selection mod that allows players to choose from 18+ unique playable species, each with distinct attributes, resistances, and visual models.

Overview

Orbis Origins introduces a species system that changes how players approach character creation in Hytale. Upon first joining the server (any world), players receive a Species Selector item that opens a custom GUI, allowing them to browse, preview, and select from a diverse roster of playable species. Each species offers unique gameplay advantages through stat modifiers, damage resistances, and in some cases, starter items.

If the AbilityAPI mod is installed, Orbis Origins can also grant additional gameplay abilities based on your selected species. These abilities are defined in each species JSON and are applied as soon as you confirm your selection.

Key Features

Species Selection Interface

3D Model Preview: Preview species models in-world before selecting
Model Variant Cycling: Most species feature multiple visual variants to choose from
Attachment Customization: Customize model attachments (hair, outfits, accessories) for species that support them
Species Information: View descriptions, stat modifiers, resistances, and starter items
Persistent Choices: Your species selection, variant, and attachment choices are saved and automatically re-applied when rejoining worlds

Comprehensive Species System

18+ Unique Species: From small agile Kweebecs to massive elemental Golems, plus Tuluk, Slothian, Saurian, Fen Stalker, and more
Stat Modifications: Custom health, stamina, and mana modifiers that enhance gameplay variety
Damage Resistances: Each species features unique resistances to specific damage types
Balanced Weaknesses: Strategic weaknesses ensure no species is overpowered
Model Persistence: Species models persist across world joins and server restarts
Attachment Customization: Many species support customizable attachments (hair styles, outfits, accessories) discovered automatically from model definitions

Species Abilities (Requires AbilityAPI)

Ability grants via species JSON: When AbilityAPI is present, species can define an abilities array to grant gameplay perks like flight, underwater breathing, wall climbing, faster mining, movement bonuses, and more.
Visible in the selection GUI: The species selection screen includes an Abilities section that lists the ability names and descriptions for the currently selected species.
Applied immediately: When you switch species, Orbis clears the previous species abilities and applies the new ones right away (so effects take effect immediately).
Supports conditional abilities: Some abilities can be active only in certain situations (for example, specific zones, sunlight, or low-health scenarios), depending on how they are configured.

Crafting Integration

The Species Selector item can be crafted at an Arcane Workbench (Misc category) using:

1 Emerald
8 Green Crystal Shards

This allows players to obtain additional selectors if needed, or craft them for other players.

Playable Species

Intelligent Races

Kweebec (7 variants)

Small, agile forest-dwelling creatures
Ability perks: Photosynthesis
Higher stamina, high mana (+15), and nature resistance
Starter kit: Kweebec head and chest armor, wood staff
Variants: Rootling, Sapling, Seedling, Sapling Orange, Sapling Pink, Sproutling, Razorleaf
Supports attachment customization (hair, outfits, accessories)

Trork (9 variants)

Large, brutish warriors
Ability perks: Berserker Fury
Much higher health and physical resistance
Starter kit: Full trork armor set (head, chest, hands, legs), stone sword
Variants: Warrior, Shaman, Sentry, Mauler, Hunter, Guard, Doctor Witch, Chieftain, Brawler

Feran (6 variants)

Balanced fennec fox species
Ability perks: Desert Endurance
Moderate mana (+5), fire and lava resistance
Starter kit: Crude bow, crude axe
Variants: Cub, Civilian, Burrower, Sharptooth, Longtooth, Windwalker
Supports attachment customization

Klops (3 variants)

Industrious mining and trading creatures
Ability perks: Tunnel Expert
Slightly higher stamina and minor physical resistance
Starter kit: Onion staff, crude axe
Variants: Merchant, Miner, Gentleman

Goblin (4 variants)

Crafty scavengers
Ability perks: Scavenger's Pull
Higher stamina and poison resistance
Starter kit: Scrap sword, scrap club, scrap shield
Variants: Scrapper, Scavenger, Ogre, Miner

Outlander (3 variants)

Humans who split off from civilization
Ability perks: Hardened Wanderer
Moderate mana (+10), balanced stats with minor magic resistance
Starter kit: Crude bow, scrap spear
Variants: Outlander, Ranged, Cultist
Supports attachment customization

Tuluk

Walrus people from the cold coasts; sturdy and at home in the water
Ability perks: Tideborn, Powerful Swimmer
Resistant to cold, physical damage, and water
Supports attachment customization: tusks, beards, winter hats, jackets

Slothian

Sloth people of the canopy; laid-back and hardy with a strong connection to nature
Ability perks: Canopy Climber
Resistant to nature, poison, and physical damage
Supports attachment customization: warrior, scout, monk, and villager sets; multiple haircut styles

Saurian

Reptilian people with sharp instincts; agile and resilient
Ability perks: Predator's Instinct
Resistant to physical damage and poison; vulnerable to cold
Supports attachment customization: warrior, rogue, and hunter sets with feather ornaments

Beasts

Fen Stalker

A beast of the swamps, at home in water and on land
Ability perks: Swamp Lungs, Marsh Strider
Resistant to water, poison, and physical damage

Undead

Undead (2 variants: Zombie, Skeleton)

Reanimated corpses; immune to poison, physical resistance, vulnerable to fire
Ability perks: Second Chance
Variants: Zombie and Skeleton, each with distinct looks and options

Elemental Constructs

Earth Golem

Construct of earth and crystal
Ability perks: Poison Proof
Very high health, moderate mana (+10), and physical resistance (10%)
Weak to fire

Frost Golem

Construct of ice and crystal
Ability perks: Poison Proof
Moderate mana (+10), immune to cold, physical resistance (10%)
Weak to fire

Flame Golem

Construct of fire and crystal
Ability perks: Poison Proof
Moderate mana (+10), immune to fire and lava, physical resistance (10%)
Weak to cold

Thunder Golem

Construct of lightning and crystal
Ability perks: Poison Proof
High mana (+15), immune to lightning with strong resistances, physical resistance (10%)

Sand Golem

Construct of sand and crystal
Ability perks: Poison Proof
Moderate mana (+10), physical resistance (10%)
Weak to water

Firesteel Golem

Construct of firesteel
Ability perks: Poison Proof
Moderate mana (+10), fire and physical resistance (10%)
Weak to cold

Standard Race

Orbian

The standard Orbian species with no special bonuses or penalties
Ability perks: None
Uses default player skin

Gameplay Impact

Each species offers a unique playstyle:

High Health Builds: Trork, Undead, and all Golems provide massive health pools for tank-focused gameplay
High Stamina Builds: Kweebec, Goblin, and Klops excel at mobility and sustained activity
High Mana Builds: Kweebec, Thunder Golem, and Void Golem provide significant mana bonuses for magic-focused gameplay
Balanced Builds: Feran, Outlander, Slothian, and Orbian offer well-rounded stat distributions
Specialized Resistances: Each species provides strategic advantages in specific combat scenarios
Starter Kits: Most species begin with a full set of starter items including armor and weapons appropriate to their theme
Visual Customization: Many species support attachment customization, allowing players to personalize their appearance

Technical Details

Model Persistence: Your chosen species model, variant, and attachments persist across sessions
Stat Synchronization: Health, stamina, and mana modifications are immediately applied
Damage System Integration: Resistances and weaknesses work with Hytale's damage system
Attachment Discovery: Automatic discovery of model attachments from Hytale's model definitions
Species Management: Server owners can disable species or add custom ones via JSON configuration

Installation

Download the latest release
Place the JAR file in your Hytale server's plugins directory
Restart your server
Players will receive the Species Selector item the first time they join the server (any world)

Usage

The first time you join the server (any world), you'll receive a Species Selector item in your inventory
Right-click the item to open the species selection GUI
Browse available species and preview their models
Cycle through variants using the arrow buttons
Customize attachments (hair, outfits, accessories) if available for your selected species
Read species details including stats, resistances, and starter items
Click "Confirm" to select your species
Your choice (species, variant, and attachments) is saved and persists across sessions

Custom Species & Modifications

Orbis Origins supports adding custom species and modifying built-in ones through JSON configuration files. This allows server owners and modders to extend the mod with their own species or adjust existing ones.

Adding Custom Species

Create a JSON file in mods/hexvane_OrbisOrigins/Species/ with your species definition. For example, a custom Dragonling species:

{
  "id": "dragonling",
  "displayName": "Dragonling",
  "description": "A cute little dragonling.",
  "modelBaseName": "Dragonling_Green",
  "variants": ["Dragonling_Green", "Dragonling_Red", "Dragonling_Blue", "Dragonling_Purple"],
  "healthModifier": 10,
  "staminaModifier": 5,
  "manaModifier": 10,
  "enabled": true,
  "enableAttachmentDiscovery": true,
  "attachments": {},
  "eyeHeightModifiers": {
    "Dragonling_Green": 0.1
  },
  "hitboxHeightModifiers": {},
  "starterItems": ["Soil_Dirt"],
  "damageResistances": {
    "Physical": 0.75,
    "Fire": 0.0
  }
}

Modifying Built-in Species

To modify a built-in species, create a JSON file in the data directory with the same species ID. Your file will override the built-in definition, allowing you to adjust stats, resistances, starter items, or add custom eye height and hitbox modifiers.

Species with no custom model

Custom species that only change stats and resistances (no custom model, like Orbian) can set "usePlayerModel": true with empty modelBaseName and variants. The player keeps their default appearance while gaining the species' stats and damage resistances.

Disabling Species

You can disable any species (including built-in ones) by setting "enabled": false in a JSON file with the same species ID. Disabled species won't appear in the selection list but their data files remain intact.

Attachment Customization

Species can enable automatic attachment discovery using "enableAttachmentDiscovery": true, which automatically finds customizable attachments (hair, outfits, accessories) from Hytale's model definitions. You can also manually define custom attachments using the attachments field. See the documentation for details.

Documentation

See SPECIES_JSON_GUIDE.md in the github repo for complete documentation on the JSON schema, field descriptions, and examples.

Compatibility

Compatible with Hytale server builds that support the modding API
Does not modify core game files
Safe to use alongside other mods that don't conflict with player models or stats
Supports referencing models from other mods

Future Plans

This mod is actively being developed with plans to expand its features and add more content in future updates. Stay tuned for announcements about upcoming additions.

Support

For issues, suggestions, or questions, please visit the project repository or join the support discord.

Credits

Developed for the Hytale modding community. Built using the Hytale Modding API.