If you are using the latest vanilla launcher:
- Create or edit a profile
- Check the box labeled "Game Directory" and fill in a location to put it. It will automatically create the directory if it doesn't exist on next launch of the profile. (Note that I doubt it will expand shell variables, but it works just fine with symbolic links if you use those)
- Click Save Profile
What I have done for this is I have created a directory under my $HOME called .minecraftProfiles and I put each separate profile in its own subdirectory. For example, vanilla 1.7.4 I have put at homedir/.minecraftProfiles/1.7.4-vanilla.
Sharing data between profiles:
- If and when I want to share a file and keep it shared (for better or for worse) I would symlink to it from one profile in the other(s).
- If I want to use some data (saves and such) as a basis for a new profile, I first copy the directory to a new one, create the new profile in the launcher (click "New Profile" when the one I'm copying is the selected profile), and after starting up that profile, (if necessary) do manual editing of the
$HOME/.minecraft/versions/profilename/profilename.json when it is needed to have it actually keep some necessary data (if same version of Minecraft and wanting to keep Forge, for example)
Tips to avoid issues with losing valuable data:
- Keep multiple profiles in separate directories to avoid conflicting mods or mod configurations.
- Each profile should have a specific version set for the "Use version" under "Version Selection" in the Profile Editor to prevent it automatically updating and preventing you from playing on servers that haven't updated.
- Backup, backup, backup - before adding/removing mods, changing the version of a profile, and especially regular backups just in case your computer (or just Minecraft) crashes.
If you are not using the vanilla launcher (read: FTB / Technic launchers), all I can say with 100% reliability is you would have to either use a separate user account (for Linux, which you should be for different people anyways according to many Linux security specialists) or deal with moving the storage location of those launchers manually each time before starting.
(partially off topic) I choose to use a naming scheme of version-info for the naming of my profiles' directories, but you can opt for adding the user's name at the beginning of it.
This is actually a very good question.
"Note" You should have the latest version of Java installed before trying this as you need that to play Minecraft.
For the client version
First you download and run your 'regular Minecraft' at least once. This ensures that your .minecraft folder has been made (if you don't know what that folder means, it's the folder where the game places most of its essential game files).
The next step would be to download Forge. You can download that here: FORGE.
You just select the right version you want and you run the installer.
Once you downloaded the file you right-click it and select the option to run it with Java.
Click install client and continue
Open the Minecraft launcher once done, make a new profile using the version with Forge- and the version you installed.
Play Minecraft.
For the server version
If you want to run your own server so your friends can join in on the fun, you would need to do some additional steps. The start is the same as the client version.
First you download and run your 'regular Minecraft' at least once. This ensures that your .minecraft folder has been made (if you don't know what that folder means, it's the folder where the game places most of its essential game files).
The next step would be to download Forge. You can download that here: FORGE.
You just select the right version you want and you run the installer.
Once you downloaded the file you right-click it and select the option to run it with Java.
Click install server and select your server folder.
In the folder rename the Forge-..___.jar to forge.jar
Make a new Text file and rename it start.bat (remove .txt)
In that file type:
java -jar forge.jar -Xmx1024M nogui
Run the start.bat file
To connect in game use the ip localhost.
For port forwarding, so other people can connect watch the VIDEO on how to install forge.
Now for the mods
Since you've now successfully installed forge you can start to install some of the mods. If you download a mod it usually comes in either a .Zip, .Rar or something like that. You don't need to extract this. Just keep it as it is.
So the first step would be to download the mod.
Next, go to your Minecraft folder, located at:
- Windows:
C:\Users\You\AppData\Roaming\.minecraft or %AppData%\.minecraft
- Linux:
~/.minecraft
- Mac:
~/Library/Application Support/minecraft
If you can't find the .minecraft folder you can do the following:
- Launch Minecraft.
- Select "Mods and Texture Packs"
- Select "Open Texture Pack folder"
- Go up one level
Now proceed to the .minecraft/mods folder (create it if it doesn't exist) and simply put your zipped/rarred/downloaded file there. (once again don't extract it just place it there as you downloaded it.)
Now if you run you Minecraft, select the forge profile you made, and create a world, your mod should be just there waiting for you to be explored.
Source : http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/1900774-164-how-to-install-minecraft-forge-client-and-server-port-forwarding-tutorial/
Source: Where is my Minecraft folder on Windows?
Best Answer
I played with this for a while (just for fun though(dont use it on a server(It's still unfair compared to the other players))). I used a x-ray texturepack which you can just put in your texturepack in .minecraft or directly through minecraft itself.
StrongestCraft : http://resourcepack.net/category/x-ray-resource-packs/
I hope this helped.
Edit
Since this is a texture-pack and no mod it doesn't interfere with any mods. The obvious downside it that you cant combine this with a fancy hd texture pack but you wouldn't see any blocks anyhow so that doesn't matter.