Better With Hands - v1.0.2 (BTA 8.0)

Better With Hands v1.0.2

The mod is now ported to BTA 8.0.1. Same offhand system, same features, few things properly fixed along the way.

Fixes

• Offhand slot is now a movable HUD element drag it wherever you want in the HUD layout editor
• Creative inventory shows the offhand slot properly

Requirements

• BTA 8.0.1
• HalpLibe 6.1.4+8.0
• Fabric Loader 0.18.4-bta.11
• Java 17

Download

Modrinth: https://modrinth.com/mod/better-with-hands/version/v1.0.2

Better With Hands - v1.0.1 (BTA 7.3_04)

Better With Hands v1.0.1

Multiplayer Improvements

• Offhand item sync - Other players can now see items in your offhand
• Offhand swing sync - Other players see your offhand swing animations
• Custom packet system - Clean server-side handling for offhand block placement

Dual-Wield Swords

• Hold a sword in each hand for true dual-wielding combat
• Left click attacks with your offhand sword
• Right click attacks with your main hand sword
• Priority indicator shows on both hands when dual-wielding

Bug Fixes

• Fixed equip animations being frame-rate dependent (now consistent 300ms regardless of FPS)
• Fixed offhand item not animating out when removed
• Fixed HUD slot slide animation speed varying with frame rate

Technical

• New packet actions: offhand item sync (action 2), swing broadcast (action 3), use offhand on block (action 4)
• Time-based animation system replaces tick-based approach
• Server broadcasts offhand changes to nearby players within 64 blocks

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Better With Hands - v1.0.0 (BTA 7.3_04)

Better With Hands v1.0.0

Did you know that you have a second hand? Look down. It's right there. You've had it this whole time.

For years, Steve has been living with a mysterious condition — completely ignoring his left arm. He'd hold a single pickaxe while his other hand just... hung there. Doing nothing. Watching. It's frankly a miracle he survived this long.

I cured him.

This is the initial release of Better With Hands for BTA 7.3_04 - a complete reimagining of the offhand system. This isn't a lazy port — it's what dual-wielding should have been from the start.

Features

• Dedicated offhand slot with proper inventory UI integration
• Full swing animations - your arm actually moves, torso rotates, no shortcuts
• Smart rendering - properly mirrored items in first-person and third-person
• Dynamic hand priority - automatically picks the best tool for mining, combat, or building
• HUD integration - smooth sliding offhand slot display
• Multiplayer support - everything syncs, other players see your animations
• Left-handed mode - full support for southpaws

Controls

• F - Swap items between main hand and offhand
• X - Toggle hand priority (which hand is "active")

Both keys are rebindable in Options.

Installation

1. Install Babric mod loader
2. Download better_with_hands-1.0.0.jar
3. Place in your mods/ folder
4. Launch BTA 7.3_04
5. Configure in Options > Better With Hands

Requirements

• BTA 7.3_04
• Babric mod loader

Practical Examples

Mining Setup: Pickaxe + Torches (mine and place light without switching)
Combat Ready: Sword + Food (fight with instant healing access)
Building: Two block types (swap with X instead of hotbar scrolling)
Dynamic Mode: Pickaxe + Axe (auto-switches between stone and trees)

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Steve can finally use both hands. You're welcome.