B.A.R.K.

A craftable, mortal base defense sentry dummy with configurable targeting modes for Valheim.

B.A.R.K. (Battle-Automaton Robotic Knight) is an armored base defense sentry dummy equipped with configurable targeting modes, customizable combat stats, and full multiplayer synchronization — while leaving the vanilla T.W.I.G. training dummy completely untouched.

Constructed via the Hammer under the Defence category, B.A.R.K. defends settlements by hurling pinpoint stone projectiles at hostile invaders, sparring with players, or standing watch in passive sentinel mode. Sentries feature persistent per-unit mode and range memory, real-time visual indicator auras, customizable armor and turnip head visuals, and server-authoritative configuration enforcement.

Features

• Dedicated Defense Sentry: Craft B.A.R.K. directly from the Hammer build menu under the Defence category using Core Wood and Iron Nails.
• Untouched Vanilla Sparring Dummy: Leaves piece_TrainingDummy completely unchanged as an immortal, safe 1-damage training partner.
• Mortal & Repairable: Sentries possess health, take damage from monsters and raids, can be repaired using the Hammer, and slowly self-repair when out of combat.

Combat & Ballistics

• High-Velocity Stone Barrage: Throws stones with ballistic trajectory compensation and zero drag, ensuring direct hits on targets across all distances up to 40 meters.
• Anti-Self-Detonation Protection: Built-in PhysX collision filtering prevents oversized projectiles from detonating against the dummy or attached armor.
• Configurable Projectile Scaling: Customize thrown boulder sizes from small rocks to siege stones via ProjectileScale.
• Continuous 360-Degree Tracking: Sentries smoothly face acquired targets and track approaching hostiles with no blind spots.

Targeting & Dynamic Modes

• Enemies Only (Default): Guards against hostile forest creatures, invaders, and raid events.
• Players & Enemies: Attacks both monsters and players within range.
• Players Only: Acts as an active combat sparring partner for players.
• Passive: Stands at ease without acquiring targets or throwing stones.
• Per-Sentry Range Presets: Tune individual sentries to engage targets at 10m, 15m, 20m, 30m, or 40m distances.
• Mode Indicator Aura: A floating, illuminated orb indicates active target modes (Green = Enemies, Orange = Both, Red = Players, Gray = Passive).

Visuals & Customization

• Armored Reskin: Comes equipped with metallic darkwood body shading, an Iron Helmet, and a Banded Shield.
• Jack-o-Turnip Head: Features a carved, glowing Jack-o-turnip lantern head with internal candlelight.
• Custom Equipment: Equip alternative vanilla helmets and shields or disable equipment through configuration.
• Custom Texture Loading: Place a PNG texture named bark_diffuse.png into BepInEx/plugins/BARK/textures/ to custom skin the sentry body.

Controls & Keybinds (if applicable)

Configuration

The configuration file is generated automatically at BepInEx/config/com.jubaroo.bark.cfg. All settings can be adjusted in-game via configuration managers (e.g. BepInEx Configuration Manager or ConfigForge) or edited directly:

Installation

Using a Mod Manager (Recommended)

Install via Thunderstore Mod Manager, r2modman, or Gale:

1. Search for BARK.
2. Click Download with Mod Manager.

Manual Installation

1. Ensure BepInExPack Valheim is installed.
2. Extract the mod package archive.
3. Place BARK.dll into your Valheim/BepInEx/plugins/ directory.
4. Launch the game!

Compatibility & Multiplayer

• Client vs Server: Both client and server installation recommended. Clients require the mod to view models, UI prompts, and targeting orbs; servers require the mod to enforce authoritative health, damage, and targeting synchronization.
• ServerSync: Dedicated servers enforce configuration locking (Lock Configuration = true), automatically replicating admin combat values, recipes, and repair costs to all connected players.
• Controller Support: Fully compatible with gamepads and custom keybindings via Valheim's native interaction system.

B.A.R.K. Changelog

1.0.0

• Dedicated Base-Defense Sentry: Introduced B.A.R.K. (Battle-Automaton Robotic Knight), leaving the vanilla T.W.I.G. training dummy completely untouched as an immortal sparring partner.
• Craftable Piece: Build B.A.R.K. from the Hammer build menu under Defence near a Workbench (costs Core Wood and Iron Nails; optional Ectoplasm).
• Mortal & Repairable: Sentries possess health, take damage, drop crafting materials on destruction, and can be repaired to full health with the Hammer.
• Sentry Repair Costs: Hammer repairs consume Wood from inventory, check private ward access, play vanilla repair effects, and synchronize health across multiplayer peers via RPC.
• Idle Self-Repair: Sentries regenerate health while out of combat, automatically pausing when taking damage.
• Dynamic Targeting Modes: Aim at sentry and press E to cycle between Enemies Only, Players & Enemies, Players Only, and Passive.
• Per-Sentry Range Tuning: Crouch and press E to cycle attack range through 10m, 15m, 20m, 30m, and 40m presets.
• Mode Indicator Aura: Floating glowing orb above the sentry displays active target mode (green/orange/red/gray), toggleable per-sentry (Shift + E) or globally in configuration.
• Persistent ZDO & Multiplayer RPCs: Mode, range, and indicator preferences persist across world saves and replicate instantly across dedicated servers.
• Native Valheim UI: In-game prompts and hover info display natively below the crosshair with gamepad and localized keybind support.
• 360-Degree Vision & Tracking: Sentries track hostiles omnidirectionally with continuous rotation and no blind spots.
• Pinpoint Projectile Ballistics: Thrown boulders feature zero air drag and ballistic gravity drop compensation, striking targets directly at chest height across all ranges.
• Anti-Self-Detonation Protection: Patched projectile collision logic to ignore sentry colliders, preventing large projectiles from self-detonating on launch.
• Customizable Projectile Scaling: Configure rock size and hit detection radius via ProjectileScale.
• Armored Reskin: Distinctive automaton visual design equipped with metallic darkwood body shading, Iron Helmet, and Banded Shield.
• Jack-o-Turnip Head: Features a carved, glowing Jack-o-turnip lantern head complete with interior candlelight effects.
• Custom PNG Texture Support: Reskin B.A.R.K. by placing bark_diffuse.png into BepInEx/plugins/BARK/textures/.
• ServerSync Integration: Enforces server-authoritative combat stats, recipes, and targeting settings on dedicated servers.
• File-Based Localization: Supports community translations via plain-text files in BepInEx/plugins/BARK/localization/.