BetterEr Prospecting is a Vintage Story mod by KnewOne. BetterEr Prospecting replaces much of Vintage Story’s random prospecting with configurable density, proximity, stone, and borehole searches.
Why this mod is worth installing
This mod suits players who want prospecting results to reflect actual blocks and gradually become more reliable across a save. It is especially useful for locating deposits in cramped caves or checking underground columns.
What BetterEr Prospecting adds
BetterEr Prospecting adds a density search mode connected to the in-game prospecting map. Its parts-per-thousand values come from blocks in the checked area rather than an abstract heatmap, while percentile wording is calculated from readings collected throughout the current save. The system needs several samples before its scale settles, and readings can be refined later as more data is gathered.
The mod also provides proximity, stone, and borehole modes. Proximity helps narrow down ore inside confined caves; stone mode checks the surrounding rock either by percentage or with an exact block search, making it useful for materials such as lime. Borehole mode reveals a vertical column toward the mantle after breaking a top block, with separate controls for ore and stone and a configurable radius.
Vanilla-style node mode remains available, and every search still consumes three durability overall. The intended progression is to identify promising areas with density search, inspect depth with boreholes, then use node or proximity searches for final locating. Configuration is supported through the recommended Configlib integration, with additional settings exposed through the mod’s commands.
Where to download BetterEr Prospecting
The official Vintage Story Mod DB page is the right place to get the current release through the in-game mod manager.
Download the BetterEr Prospecting mod on mods.vintagestory.at