Mods are what make your Totem unique. They define how your token behaves, how it’s priced, how it’s minted, what happens when it’s transferred. Choosing the right mods is one of the most important decisions you’ll make.
What Are Mods?
Mods are modular pieces of smart contract code that plug into your Totem. Each mod adds specific functionality:
- Burn mods control when and how tokens can be destroyed
- Minting mods define who can mint and under what conditions
- Transfer mods add rules for when tokens change hands
You can use one mod or combine several.
They’re designed to be composable, so different mods can work together to create complex behaviors.
The Mod Market
All available mods are listed in the Market.
Each mod includes:
- Description - What it does
- Parameters - Settings you can configure
- Creator - Who built it
- Usage stats - How many Totems use it
Browse around the market and other Totems before you start building. Understanding what’s available will shape your vision and let you see possibilities you might not have considered.
How to Choose
Start With Your Goal
What are you trying to create?
Community token - Consider how distribution and rewards will work.
Creator coin - A bonding curve rewards early supporters and aligns incentives as you grow.
Membership pass - Access control mods can restrict transfers to approved members.
Collectible - Supply caps and royalties create scarcity and ongoing revenue.
There are no one-size-fits-all answers. Your choice of mods should reflect your unique vision and goals.
Consider Your Audience
Who’s going to use this?
- Crypto natives expect certain behaviors and will notice if something feels off
- Newcomers need simplicity, don’t overwhelm them with complex mechanics
- Speculators want liquidity and clear price dynamics
- True believers want utility and long-term value
Keep It Simple
More mods isn’t always better. Each mod stacks up.
- More things to explain to your community
- More potential edge cases
- More gas costs for interactions
Start with the minimum you need. You can always add more later through upgrades.
Configuring Mods
Some mods have parameters you’ll need to configure before they can be used.
- Read the documentation carefully
- Think through the implications of each setting
- If something is unclear, reach out to the mod creator or community for help
- Double-check your choices before deploying
Common Mistakes
Over-engineering - Adding every mod that sounds cool. Complexity kills adoption.
Ignoring gas costs - Some mod combinations are expensive to interact with.
Misaligned incentives - Your mod configuration should encourage the behavior you want.
No upgrade path - Think about what you might want to change later. Some decisions are permanent.
Questions to Ask
Before finalizing your mods:
- Does this configuration match my goals?
- Can I explain how this works to my community?
- What’s the worst thing someone could do with this setup?
- What can I change later, and what’s permanent?
Key Points
- Mods define your Totem’s behavior, choose thoughtfully
- Start simple and add complexity only when needed
- Test everything on testnet before mainnet
- Consider your audience and their expectations
- Align your configuration with your goals