Voltfin
A playable Eel boss and BossMakerAPI learning example: dodge Static Lance, survive Overcharge, and study the included API starter to create your own boss.
About this mod Author’s original text
Voltfin
A playable Eel boss and a small, working example of what you can build with
BossMakerAPI. Dodge its Static Lance, then face a faster Overcharge phase.
The same readable design is explained in the API's creator tutorial.
Voltfin is a separate content mod. BossMakerAPI alone installs no bosses,
and Voltfin does not require Devourer of Light. Installing Voltfin adds this
encounter; studying or copying the source is optional.
Installation
Install BepInExPack 5.4.2305, BossMakerAPI 0.10.4, and Voltfin 1.3.2
with your -compatible mod manager. For manual installation, install
the two dependencies separately and extract this package into the game folder,
with the game closed. Its only plugin is BepInEx/plugins/Voltfin/Voltfin.dll.
The host and every client need the same API and selected content builds. Install
Voltfin on every peer, not just the host. ModMenu is optional and is neither
bundled nor required. No game binaries, game assets, framework DLLs or CFG files
are included in this package.
If you used the private friend kit, keep only one installed Voltfin DLL.
This release preserves its existing plugin GUID, boss ID and CFG filename;
do not install an extra renamed copy of the unmodified creator starter beside it.
Back up worlds before changing the mod set, and update all peers together.
The encounter
- Each eligible Eel catch has a configurable 10% chance to become Voltfin.
Catch attempts are repeatable; there is no trigger cooldown or session cap.
Normal rod, bait and location rules still decide whether you catch an Eel.
- The boss starts with 2,500 base HP, before game difficulty scaling, and
1.2x physical scale. It keeps native Eel movement and contact damage.
- Static Lance marks a fixed 12-metre-long, 2-metre-wide lane toward a nearby
eligible player. Its cyan-and-white warning lasts 1.2 seconds, then deals
8 damage by default. Step sideways: the warning does not track you.
- Charged is the starting phase. Overcharge begins at 50% HP, reducing
the post-cast cooldown from 6 to 3 seconds. Including the warning and
recovery, default cast starts are roughly 8 seconds apart, then 5 seconds apart.
- The fight uses the native mini-boss health bar and 15-minute timer.
Its corpse is worth 2x an equivalent vanilla Eel before normal weight,
cooking and other value modifiers. There is no extra drop or fixed sale price.
The ability adds no projectile, stun, electrical status, dash or replacement AI.
Its recovery delays the next ability but does not freeze native Eel movement.
The hit volume extends 4 metres vertically above and below the line's origin;
it does not automatically raycast cover. Target availability and scheduling can
delay a cast. A phase change cancels the old cast and its phase-local schedule.
The API looks for clear water 8-12 metres from the authenticated fishing rod.
An occupied native boss slot, incompatible peer or unsafe placement preserves
the original fish. After a successful replacement, the fish is consumed and
empty-bait return is a separate delivery; a delayed return does not create
another boss or restore the fish. Voltfin is not left attached to the rod.
Configuration and optional menu
First launch creates BepInEx/config/example.howtofish.voltfin.cfg. The example
prefix is retained deliberately so existing settings and saves keep their identity.
| Section | Setting | Default |
| --- | --- | ---: |
| Balance | BaseHealth | 2500 |
| Balance | LanceDamage | 8 |
| Encounter | SpawnChancePercent | 10 |
| Abilities | NormalCooldownSeconds | 6 |
| Abilities | OverchargeCooldownSeconds | 3 |
The host controls these five gameplay values for the session without overwriting
client CFG files. Accepted live edits apply to future catches and newly spawned
bosses; an active Voltfin keeps its captured balance. A client's menu displays
local preferences, not the host's effective values. Check the API log if an edit
is queued or rejected.
BaseHealth is base HP, before native difficul
Install & use Install: follow the bundled instructions
- Unzip the archive from playbuff and read the bundled readme / instructions first.
- Most mods rely on the game's mod loader — the usual route is a community mod manager (such as r2modman): pick this game, install, and it handles the loader and dependencies.
- For a manual install, put the mod files into the matching Mod / plugins folder inside the game directory.
- Launch the game to confirm it loaded; mods with listed dependencies need those installed as well.
Install locations vary a lot between mods — the bundled readme is the most reliable guide.
Install these first, or the mod will not work: