[jawngee]

> Bedrock supports simple LAN multiplayer! Java makes this > possible only if you have a real computer (server) and know > how. Any people playing Bedrock can play a LAN game with > zero preparation, even 3 consoles, a PC, and an iPad.

You can do this with Java. After you start a new world you select "Open to LAN" in the settings menu.

> Again I know there are a ton of free mods for Java but that whole scene has > become a nightmare for me with all these various weird third party programs > I have to use to “apply” the mods. Again, not really a safe situation either to > just have even a young teen on Google looking for downloads which may or > may not be Minecraft mods. Or even non-tech-savvy adults, tbh.

Nobody is downloading mods from Google. Modrinth, CurseForge and Prism are all very straightforward apps. You download the mods within those apps and they (mostly) handle dependencies. It's 1 click to launch Minecraft after that. My 6 and 9 year old use them easily and only one of them is a genius - but I won't say which one out of fear they might read these comments after I pass.

They both prefer Java fwiw.

And Essential mod gives you costume editing as well as making playing with friends even easier than it already is. https://essential.gg/

[xp84]

I was dead wrong about LAN, my bad. I happened to have seen that option just today as my son wanted to play a game of Hardcore.