FTB StoneBlock 4 Server Crash: Spellbook & Avaritia Bug

Hey everyone, let's dive into a tricky situation we've encountered in FTB StoneBlock 4, specifically version 1.0.8. We've pinpointed a rather frustrating server crash that occurs due to an interaction between Iron's Spells 'n Spellbooks and the Avaritia mod. This isn't your typical server hiccup; it's a specific, repeatable bug that brings things to a grinding halt. We're talking about a fatal ConcurrentModificationException that rears its head when a mob is killed by the "Echoing Strike" spell from Iron's Spells 'n Spellbooks, but only under a very particular set of circumstances. This issue has been meticulously tested, and the logs point quite clearly to an event handler within the Avaritia mod itself, specifically AvaritiaEvent.onLivingDrops. It seems that when the Skullfire Sword from Avaritia is held in the main hand and the Amethyst Rapier (casting Echoing Strike) is in the off-hand, the game gets confused when the spell deals the killing blow. The server simply cannot handle this combination, leading to the crash. We've been through the steps, and the result is consistent: cast the spell, the mob dies, and BAM! Server down. We'll be detailing these steps and the implications further in this article, aiming to shed some light on this compatibility quirk.

Understanding the Crash: The Specifics of the Bug

Let's get into the nitty-gritty of this FTB StoneBlock 4 server crash. The core of the problem lies in a ConcurrentModificationException, a common indicator in Java that something is trying to modify a collection while it's being iterated over. In our case, this is happening within the AvaritiaEvent.onLivingDrops event handler. This means that when a mob dies and the game tries to process what loot it should drop, the Avaritia mod is doing something it shouldn't, likely related to modifying the drop list while the game is still trying to read it. The crucial detail here is the specific equipment setup: the avaritia:skullfire_sword must be in the player's main hand, and an irons_spellbooks:amethyst_rapier must be in the off-hand, with the "Echoing Strike" spell selected to be cast from the rapier. It's this exact combination that triggers the fault. What's fascinating is that the Skullfire Sword itself, when used for direct melee attacks, works flawlessly. Similarly, casting the "Echoing Strike" spell without the Avaritia sword equipped also presents no issues. The crash is exclusively tied to the mob's death being attributed to the spell's damage while the Avaritia sword is being held. This strongly suggests a compatibility issue where Avaritia's event handler, designed to manage loot drops for powerful items like the Skullfire Sword, is not playing nicely with the indirect damage and death event registration from Iron's Spells 'n Spellbooks. The game’s logic gets tangled, leading to the server folding under the pressure. We've uploaded the log file to https://api.mclo.gs/1/raw/DfCH9LO for anyone who wants to delve deeper into the technical aspects of this crash.

Step-by-Step Reproduction of the Server Crash

To help diagnose and potentially find a workaround for this FTB StoneBlock 4 server crash, we've outlined the precise steps required to reproduce the bug. Following these steps consistently leads to the server throwing a ConcurrentModificationException due to the interaction between Iron's Spells 'n Spellbooks and Avaritia. It’s important to note that this bug is highly specific and requires a precise setup. First, ensure you have the Avaritia Skullfire Sword (avaritia:skullfire_sword) equipped in your main hand. This powerful sword is known for its devastating capabilities, but in this scenario, it seems to be the catalyst for the issue. Second, equip the Amethyst Rapier (irons_spellbooks:amethyst_rapier) from Iron's Spells 'n Spellbooks in your off-hand. This weapon will be used to cast the spell. Next, make sure the "Echoing Strike" spell is selected and ready to be cast from this Amethyst Rapier. Once your loadout is correct, you'll need to find any mob in the game. It doesn't matter if it's a common zombie or a more challenging foe; the outcome will be the same. Finally, target the mob and cast the "Echoing Strike" spell from your off-hand rapier. The server crash occurs at the exact moment the mob dies from the spell's damage. It's not the casting of the spell itself, nor is it the damage dealt before death. The crash is triggered precisely when the death event is processed, and the game attempts to determine the loot drops, with the Skullfire Sword being held. If any of these conditions are not met – for instance, if you use the Skullfire Sword for direct melee damage, or if you cast the spell without the sword in hand – the server remains stable. This confirms the specific interaction between the two mods as the root cause. This meticulous reproduction process is crucial for modpack developers and players alike to understand and address the bug effectively.

Expected vs. Actual Behavior

In a perfect world, when playing FTB StoneBlock 4 with mods like Iron's Spells 'n Spellbooks and Avaritia, players should experience seamless gameplay. The expected behavior when casting the "Echoing Strike" spell on a mob, even with the Avaritia Skullfire Sword equipped, is straightforward: the mob should take damage from the spell, die, and then drop its loot as usual. The server should continue to run without any disruptions, allowing the player to continue their adventures. The player should be able to utilize the powerful abilities of both mods without encountering game-breaking errors. However, the actual behavior we're observing due to this specific interaction is far from ideal. Instead of a smooth resolution, the server experiences a critical failure. The moment the mob is killed by the "Echoing Strike" spell while the avaritia:skullfire_sword is held in the main hand, the server crashes with a ConcurrentModificationException. This interruption not only halts gameplay but can also lead to data loss if the server isn't configured with robust backups. The logs clearly indicate that the crash originates from the AvaritiaEvent.onLivingDrops handler, suggesting that Avaritia's logic for handling loot drops is conflicting with the spell's death event. This unexpected crash disrupts the player's experience significantly, making it impossible to use these items in conjunction for mob elimination. The contrast between the intended smooth functionality and the actual catastrophic failure highlights a critical compatibility issue that needs attention from either the mod developers or the modpack maintainers.

Investigating the Avaritia and Spellbook Compatibility

The compatibility issue between Iron's Spells 'n Spellbooks and Avaritia in FTB StoneBlock 4 is a fascinating, albeit frustrating, puzzle. As we've established, the crash occurs when the "Echoing Strike" spell from the Amethyst Rapier (off-hand) kills a mob while the Avaritia Skullfire Sword is in the main hand. The error message, ConcurrentModificationException originating from AvaritiaEvent.onLivingDrops, is our primary clue. This exception typically means that a collection (like a list of loot items) is being modified while the game is iterating through it to determine what to drop. Avaritia, being a mod focused on incredibly powerful, end-game items, likely has sophisticated logic for handling loot drops, perhaps even modifying them based on the weapon used or other factors. Iron's Spells 'n Spellbooks, on the other hand, triggers its own death event when its spells deliver the killing blow. The conflict arises because when the spell kills the mob, the game fires Avaritia's onLivingDrops event. Inside this event handler, Avaritia might be attempting to process or alter the loot table. Simultaneously, the game is still processing the death event triggered by the spell, potentially leading to a situation where Avaritia tries to change the loot list while the game is already iterating over it to decide what should be in that list. The fact that direct melee attacks with the Skullfire Sword don't cause a crash suggests that Avaritia's loot handling is fine on its own. Likewise, casting the spell without the sword equipped works fine. It's the combination and the method of death attribution that causes the problem. This could be due to how the game attributes the final damage source, or how the different mods hook into the death and loot drop events. It points towards a need for a patch or an update that allows these two powerful mods to coexist more harmoniously, ensuring players can leverage the full arsenal of FTB StoneBlock 4 without fear of server instability.

The Role of the Skullfire Sword and Echoing Strike

Delving deeper into the FTB StoneBlock 4 server crash, it becomes clear that both the Avaritia Skullfire Sword and the "Echoing Strike" spell from Iron's Spells 'n Spellbooks play a very specific and intertwined role. The Skullfire Sword is one of Avaritia's most potent weapons, often featuring unique mechanics and incredibly high damage output. Its inclusion in the main hand seems to prime Avaritia's event handlers for potentially complex loot manipulations. On the other hand, the "Echoing Strike" spell, cast from the Amethyst Rapier in the off-hand, is the direct cause of death in this scenario. This spell, like many from Iron's Spells 'n Spellbooks, likely registers its own entity or damage type that attributes the kill. The problem isn't the damage itself, but how the game reconciles the death event when it's triggered by an external spell while a specific, powerful item is equipped. The logs point to AvaritiaEvent.onLivingDrops, indicating that Avaritia is attempting to manage the loot drops. However, because the kill is attributed to the spell, Avaritia's logic might be encountering an unexpected state. It's possible that Avaritia's code expects the killing blow to be registered differently when it's involved, perhaps assuming its own weapon delivered the final impact. When a spell does it instead, while the sword is merely equipped, the ConcurrentModificationException occurs. This highlights a common challenge in modded Minecraft: ensuring that different mods' event handling systems can communicate and coexist without interfering with each other. The Skullfire Sword's powerful nature and the spell's specific death-event triggering mechanism create a perfect storm for this particular compatibility bug.

Potential Solutions and Workarounds

Addressing the FTB StoneBlock 4 server crash involving Iron's Spells 'n Spellbooks and Avaritia requires careful consideration, as direct fixes might involve mod updates or configuration changes. One of the most straightforward potential solutions would be for the developers of either Avaritia or Iron's Spells 'n Spellbooks to release an update that specifically patches this interaction. This could involve modifying Avaritia's onLivingDrops handler to be more resilient to indirect kills or adjusting how Iron's Spells 'n Spellbooks registers its death events. Until such a patch is available, players might have to rely on workarounds. The most obvious workaround is to simply avoid using this specific combination: do not hold the Skullfire Sword in your main hand when casting the "Echoing Strike" spell from the Amethyst Rapier. Players could switch weapons after casting or ensure the killing blow isn't from the spell while the sword is equipped. Another potential avenue, though more complex, could involve server-side configuration if the modpack allows it. Some mods offer configuration files where certain event handlers or features can be disabled or tweaked. It might be possible to disable specific aspects of Avaritia's loot drop mechanics or alter how it handles entity deaths, though this would require in-depth knowledge of the mod's configuration options and carries the risk of unintended side effects. For those managing the server, investigating server-side logging and potentially using plugins that can monitor and perhaps even mitigate such exceptions could be explored, though this is an advanced solution. Ultimately, the best path forward is often collaboration between mod developers and modpack creators to ensure stability.

Conclusion and Next Steps

This deep dive into the FTB StoneBlock 4 server crash has illuminated a specific and reproducible bug stemming from the interaction between Iron's Spells 'n Spellbooks and Avaritia. The ConcurrentModificationException occurring during AvaritiaEvent.onLivingDrops when the "Echoing Strike" spell kills a mob while the Skullfire Sword is equipped is a clear indicator of a compatibility issue. While frustrating, understanding the exact conditions—main hand Skullfire Sword, off-hand Amethyst Rapier casting "Echoing Strike", and the spell dealing the killing blow—is the first step towards resolving it. We've explored the technical reasons behind the crash, highlighting how Avaritia's loot handling might conflict with the spell's death event registration. The lack of crashes during direct melee with the Skullfire Sword or spellcasting without the sword present underscores the precise nature of this bug. For players, the immediate recourse is to avoid this specific item and spell combination for mob kills. For the broader community and developers, the ideal resolution lies in a targeted patch from either mod's creators or a configuration adjustment within the FTB StoneBlock 4 modpack itself. We encourage anyone experiencing this issue to report it on the relevant forums or issue trackers to bring it to the attention of those who can implement a fix. Stable gameplay is paramount, and addressing such bugs ensures a smoother experience for everyone involved in the fantastic world of modded Minecraft.

For further information on modding Minecraft and troubleshooting common issues, you can refer to resources like the Minecraft Wiki for general game mechanics and information, or specialized modding communities such as CurseForge for mod details and support.