JoshLOD

JoshLOD delivers a client-only far-terrain LOD pass for 1.20.1 NeoForge/Forge builds. It samples heightmaps for every chunk as they load, caches simplified grids, and renders lightweight colored meshes during the render stage to extend the horizon without the heavy cost of full chunks.

• What it does: captures height data with a 4-block grid per chunk, preserves snapshots after unload, and draws translucent top faces with short skirts so distant terrain stays filled in. The renderer uses standard position/color shaders to stay compatible with most shader packs.
• Performance behavior: a background tuner watches FPS and automatically pushes LOD distance between a 32–192 chunk range, trimming or extending detail to keep framerate smooth. Cached chunk data is capped to avoid runaway memory use.
• Usage: drop the mod in a client mods folder for 1.20.1; no config screen required. Once in-game, the extra horizon layer renders above the sky and fades with distance so nearby chunks from the main renderer remain dominant.
• Notes: the LOD layer relies on visited chunk data, so brand-new, unseen terrain appears as normal fog until chunks stream in. The visuals are color-derived from height rather than block textures, trading fidelity for speed and shader friendliness. Future work could add a small in-game config UI and per-biome coloring.