Default automatic Return Links to disabled and review compatibility

README.md

@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ Linking creates a bound Return Link to the exact source position and orientation
 according to the configured Return Link policy.
 
 Server owners can set `descriptive_books.return_link_mode` in Rivencraft's
-server config to `ON_CREATION` (default), `ALWAYS`, or `DISABLED`.
+server config to `DISABLED` (default), `ON_CREATION`, or `ALWAYS`.
 Age creation, persistence, lifecycle commands, configuration, backups, and
 administrator recovery are documented in [docs/AGES.md](docs/AGES.md).
 Data-pack runtime profiles are documented in

docs/AGES.md

@@ -69,10 +69,9 @@ definition.
 Rivencraft writes gameplay settings to the world/server configuration managed
 by NeoForge. `descriptive_books.return_link_mode` accepts:
 
-- `ON_CREATION` (default): create one Return Link the first time a player
-  enters each Age.
+- `DISABLED` (default): never create Return Links automatically.
+- `ON_CREATION`: create one Return Link the first time a player enters each Age.
 - `ALWAYS`: create a Return Link after every successful Descriptive Book trip.
-- `DISABLED`: never create Return Links automatically.
 
 Each client has a separate `rivencraft-client.toml`. Its `book_preview.mode`
 setting accepts `AUTO`, `IMMERSIVE_PORTALS`, `PONDER`, or `LEGACY`. This changes

docs/LEGACY_M7_AUDIT.md

@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ For a manual check, create a fresh surface Age and run `/rivencraft library near
 
 Issue #75's comment calls this a despawning drop. The code differs subtly: [`EntityLinkbook`](https://github.com/Mystcraft/Mystcraft-Legacy/blob/9bc8ddc061845df0cd5ea47f4fdef773cff786ae/src/main/java/com/xcompwiz/mystcraft/entity/EntityLinkbook.java#L190-L224) explicitly cannot despawn, but takes one starvation damage every 10,000 ticks and damage while wet. It can eventually be destroyed if left unattended; a vanilla item entity's fixed five-minute timeout is not parity. A modern equivalent should retain the visible book and avoid silently deleting its Age identity at that timeout.
 
-Legacy's travel path creates no automatic Return Link. Rivencraft currently defaults to `ON_CREATION` via `DescriptiveBookItem` and `descriptive_books.return_link_mode`. Per #75's comment, change the **new-config default** to `DISABLED` while retaining `ON_CREATION` and `ALWAYS` as opt-ins. Existing saved server configs must keep their explicit value. Handheld-book drop and Return Link default are tracked in [#85](https://truenas-scale.tail180fb1.ts.net:8443/dnorberg/rivencraft/issues/85), not portal-frame logic.
+Legacy's travel path creates no automatic Return Link. Rivencraft now defaults to `DISABLED` in new server configs while retaining `ON_CREATION` and `ALWAYS` as opt-ins. Existing saved server configs keep their explicit value. Handheld-book drop is tracked in [#85](https://truenas-scale.tail180fb1.ts.net:8443/dnorberg/rivencraft/issues/85), not portal-frame logic.
 
 ## Crafting, sounds, and progression
 

docs/MILESTONE_7_COMPATIBILITY_REVIEW.md

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+# Milestone 7 compatibility review (#82)
+
+Reviewed 2026-10-19 for Minecraft 1.21.1. The project compiles against
+NeoForge 21.1.251 and advertises that as its minimum. The official
+[NeoForge Maven metadata](https://maven.neoforged.net/releases/net/neoforged/neoforge/maven-metadata.xml)
+lists 21.1.264 as the newest 21.1 release. Its
+[changelog](https://maven.neoforged.net/releases/net/neoforged/neoforge/21.1.264/neoforge-21.1.264-changelog.txt)
+includes received split-packet size checks (21.1.260), network setup payload
+direction/decoding limits (21.1.261), ad-hoc channel identifier limits
+(21.1.262), and an initial attachment-sync fix (21.1.264). Those are concrete
+reasons to evaluate an upgrade, but do not by themselves prove Rivencraft and
+its optional integrations work on that loader.
+
+**Decision: keep 21.1.251 as the build target and minimum for now.**
+`./gradlew build runGameTestServer -Pneo_version=21.1.264` compiled and built
+successfully, but the GameTest server repeated its storage-progress display
+without producing test results. The run was stopped; it is neither a pass nor
+evidence of a NeoForge defect. Under the project's stalled-test rule, hand
+the equivalent in-game validation to the player. No 21.1.264 client or
+dedicated-server compatibility pass has been recorded, so do not claim a
+supported upgrade or raise the required version yet. The earlier 21.1.251
+baseline passed 70 required GameTests for release V0.6.6.0.
+
+| Dependency | Project baseline | Newest checked 1.21.1 release | Follow-up |
+| --- | --- | --- | --- |
+| Dynamic Dimensions AR Edition (required) | 0.9.1 | 0.9.1 | No newer release found on [CurseForge](https://www.curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/dynamicdimension-ar-edition/files/all). |
+| Bad Packets (required) | neo-0.8.2 | neo-0.8.2 | No newer matching [Modrinth](https://modrinth.com/mod/badpackets/versions) release found. |
+| JEI (optional) | 19.57.0.449 | 19.64.0.455 | Separate update issue; verify recipe categories and GUI discovery. |
+| Create (optional) | 6.0.10 | 6.0.10 | No newer matching [Modrinth](https://modrinth.com/mod/create/versions) release found. Its jar bundles Ponder 1.0.82. |
+| Ponder (bundled with Create) | 1.0.82 | 1.0.87 library artifact | [Maven](https://maven.createmod.net/net/createmod/ponder/ponder-neoforge/maven-metadata.xml) has a newer artifact, but Create 6.0.10 still bundles 1.0.82. Do not treat this as a separately installed Create update. |
+| Immersive Portals (optional) | 6.0.7 | 6.0.7 | No newer matching [Modrinth](https://modrinth.com/mod/immersive-portals-neoforge/versions) release found. |
+| TerraBlender (optional) | 4.1.0.8 | 4.1.0.8 | No newer matching [Modrinth](https://modrinth.com/mod/terrablender/versions) release found. |
+| Serene Seasons (optional) | 10.1.0.8 compile target | 10.1.0.9 | Separate update issue; the user's Prism instance already contains 10.1.0.9, but that is not a recorded compatibility pass. |
+| GlitchCore (Serene dependency) | 2.1.0.2 | 2.1.0.2 | No newer matching [Modrinth](https://modrinth.com/mod/glitchcore/versions) release found. |
+| Biomes O' Plenty (TerraBlender test addon) | 21.1.0.14 in user's Prism instance | 21.1.0.14 | No newer matching [Modrinth](https://modrinth.com/mod/biomes-o-plenty/versions) release found. |
+
+The Modrinth version comparisons above were filtered to **NeoForge and
+Minecraft 1.21.1** on 2026-10-19. Create's bundled Ponder version was read
+from `META-INF/jarjar/metadata.json` in `create-1.21.1-6.0.10.jar`; the
+separate library-artifact comparison came from Create's Maven. Dynamic
+Dimensions was checked on CurseForge. Versions for other Minecraft lines and
+similarly named mods were excluded.
+
+The player reported an in-game pass for the 0.6.6.1 slice on 2026-10-19.
+That confirms the current gameplay change, not the untested 21.1.264
+dedicated-server and optional-mod matrix. The keep decision therefore remains
+unchanged. [Issue #89](https://truenas-scale.tail180fb1.ts.net:8443/dnorberg/rivencraft/issues/89)
+tracks the remaining loader qualification separately.
+
+Before raising the loader target, test a clean 21.1.264 client and dedicated
+server with only the two required dependencies. Create and enter an Age,
+restart and revisit it, and confirm the LEGACY book-preview fallback without
+Create/Immersive Portals. Then test separate optional combinations: JEI;
+Create/Ponder; Immersive Portals alone and with Create; TerraBlender with
+Biomes O' Plenty; Serene Seasons with GlitchCore. In each combination, verify
+startup, book/portal travel, relevant previews or recipe/biome/season behavior,
+and restart. Repeat the baseline with each optional addon absent. Serene's
+GameTest mock-player network limitation requires a real client/server check.

gradle.properties

@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ mod_name=Rivencraft
 # The license of the mod. Review your options at https://choosealicense.com/. All Rights Reserved is the default.
 mod_license=LGPL-3.0-or-later
 # The mod version. Rivencraft uses the x.y.z.b policy documented in README.md.
-mod_version=0.6.6.0
+mod_version=0.6.6.1
 immersive_portals_version=6.0.7
 terrablender_version=4.1.0.8
 serene_seasons_version_id=B6nTjh4b

src/main/java/net/dnorberg/rivencraft/config/RivencraftConfig.java

@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ public final class RivencraftConfig {
                         "Controls automatic Return Link creation for Descriptive Book travel.",
                         "ON_CREATION creates one link when an Age is first reached; ALWAYS creates one on every arrival; DISABLED creates none."
                 )
-                .defineEnum("return_link_mode", ReturnLinkMode.ON_CREATION);
+                .defineEnum("return_link_mode", ReturnLinkMode.DISABLED);
         builder.pop();
         builder.push("libraries");
         LIBRARY_LOOT_MODE = builder.comment(