Minecraft

LobsterMobster wrote:

I'm pretty sure what Kraint is saying is that a massive forest fire makes an excellent marker.

That's how everyone in California finds their way home!

IMAGE(http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090427101438/fallout/images/thumb/3/35/Pyromaniac_FO3.png/120px-Pyromaniac_FO3.png)
The fire is your friend...

I did some exploring on the other side of my spawn point. So far, most of my exploration has been to the West of it, so venturing out to the East was like starting over again.

The area to the East is covered with many more mountains and valleys though, so bringing the compass with me really helped. I ventured into areas that would have had me all kinds of turned around in the past. The compass allowed me to explore with confidence.

I got to the other side of the connected land mass and about 3/4 of the way there, I started hearing hostile spider, zombie, and skeleton noises. This seemed odd to me considering it was high noon. That told me to look for a cave entrance. What I found instead was a gigantic 8 square deep and 25 square wide crater with lots of connecting tunnels to it.

I lit up what I could and got ambushed by 4 skeletons before I ran back into the sun. They gave chase, but burned up before they could do significant damage. I made sure to mark it with a cobblestone and torch marker before heading back to my base to get a proper exploration kit.

After getting the kit together, I began by building a base camp. I took cobblestone and built a three high wall around a section of flat ground 15x15 squares wide. I put doors on three sides, a stairway to the top of the wall, lit the inside with torches, and stocked it with bench, forge, and two double chests. After that, I proceeded to level the terrain around my base camp to give me a good, flat field of fire that I lit up with more torches.

I haven't decided how I want to continue my exploration of the cave. The layout seems ideal for strip mining since it spiders out close to the surface. I'm concerned that since there are so many splinter caves, I'll have to deal with a whole lot of ambushes before I have the cave fully explored. I've taken to using lava quite a bit and will probably have to make numerous trips back to my home base to keep the lava supply fully stocked.

I have been taking a lot of damage and will probably need to replace my armor soon, but the mine is huge enough that I'm confident there will be some sort of massive payoff for it.

Was fiddling around in Minecraft SP last night while my kid was taking a bath. When she was done she came into the office and said "Oh yay! Minecraft!" (She loves watching me play that game) She sidled up next to the office chair and I instinctively made a little bit of room for her.

I was busy moving inventory around and making picks.

She stared at the screen for a minute and said "New world?"

"Yeah."

"Died too much?"

"Yeah, deep caves, wanted a fresh start."

I headed over to a nearby pit and started in. It wasn't long before I was deep, deep below the surface.

"There's a creeper over there."

"Yep, see him."

"You should go back up to the surface, you're going to die here. Too many bad guys."

"I should. But look!"

"Iron! Yeah, there's like 10 of them! You want to get those for sure."

(time passes, the mouse is clicked)

"You should go up now. You got your iron, now go up and build a tree house."

"I was thinking of an island fort. Some kind of castle."

"Yeah, do that. That sounds fun!"

"Hey... Wait a minute! Shouldn't you be getting ready for bed?"

Filthy enabler... (kids these days, I tells ya)

Quintin_Stone wrote:

1. For a while I've been studiously collecting all coal I find, knowing I'd need it to fire cobble into stone and sand into glass. I'm now worryingly low.

You can use wood to fuel your furnace (logs, planks, or sticks).

Katy wrote:
Quintin_Stone wrote:

1. For a while I've been studiously collecting all coal I find, knowing I'd need it to fire cobble into stone and sand into glass. I'm now worryingly low.

You can use wood to fuel your furnace (logs, planks, or sticks).

Ayup. 1 plank = 1.5 furnace units. Ie, 2 planks + 3 sand = 3 glass. Sticks are 0.5 units. Logs are also 1.5 units, so convert to planks before burning.

http://minecraftwiki.net/wiki/Furnace#Fuel_efficiency

Quintin_Stone wrote:

2. All that cobble I got from strip mining? Gone. Fired into stone and made into half-blocks (and double half-blocks). I actually had to go and mine some more (not that the map has any shortage of it).

This might explain part of why you're using so much coal... You don't need to use smooth stone to make half-blocks and double half-blocks (i.e. steps). You can do that straight out of cobblestone. I believe the only thing you *need* cooked stone for is... placing "stone" blocks.

And as Kraint mentions, you can cook stone with wood. I didn't develop my fascination with tree cultivation because I'm a tree-hugger.

Another efficiency I've seen is that stone tools are self-renewing and a much better practical bargain in my game than steel. I save the steel for armor. But my area is really metal poor and I haven't dug truly deep yet so we'll see how that continues to pan out.

Hypatian wrote:
Quintin_Stone wrote:

2. All that cobble I got from strip mining? Gone. Fired into stone and made into half-blocks (and double half-blocks). I actually had to go and mine some more (not that the map has any shortage of it).

This might explain part of why you're using so much coal... You don't need to use smooth stone to make half-blocks and double half-blocks (i.e. steps). You can do that straight out of cobblestone. I believe the only thing you *need* cooked stone for is... placing "stone" blocks.

Sorry, that was ambiguous. I am not using smooth stone for half-blocks, I'm using cobblestone. Keep in mind that 1 block of double-half-block costs 2 cobblestone though.

And yes, I do keep forgetting that wood can be used in a furnace!

Minecraft has officially consumed me, I was able to squeeze in a scant 7 hours last night. I'm just starting to explore the mechanics (i.e. smelting & Food) past simple crafting and exploring. I've really enjoyed the tangents that cave exploration ends up taking me and the awesomeness that randomly discovery. I also played with sound for the first time last night, and wow it really ups the creepy factor.

I did have one question, Has anyone noticed a memory leak in the non-browser alpha? I've been meaning to check the forums over there but haven't had a chance. I was playing for a while and started to slow way down and checked and minecraft was using almost 25% of my ram. I ran the browser based version for the rest of the night without getting anything near that large. Just curious.

Anyway, I think I'll check out the GWJ server soon and see what I can contribute.

The rest of this post is a narrative of my adventures last night. I'm not nearly as creative as momgamer or other writer types here, but I enjoy chronicling my minecraft adventures.

So I started a new SP world last night and spawned on a beach in a deep valley and instantly was drawn to a huge cavern like cliff structure (a giant "n", the top trees were in the clouds) with dual waterfalls coming from one of the interior cliff faces and making a lake against one of the caverns legs. I commenced what any good minecraftinian would do and chopped trees.

Surprise! I lost track of time crafting! So as the moans of the blocky undead began to sound I hastily retreated to dig a quick home next to a waterfall. I was able to create a quick 3x1 tunnel and a door without being killed so I started extracting a seam of coal and after only a few blocks I broke into a sinkhole (safely) that was about 10x10 that extended down to what from appeared to be a underground river. I created spiral stairs down the edge of the sinkhole and found it to be a inverted "T" cavern with an additional cavern passages at each end of the "T". After blocking off one side, I explored the larger side which included a underground waterfall that lead to another drop off and skeletons armed with arrows. They were no match for my wooden sword, so I ran away after killing one and blocked the rest off. After determining the lower cavern to be hazardous to my health (for now) I decided that the most logical thing for me to do would be to tunnel my way to the top of the giant n.

So after trenching my way through solid rock for a very long time I broke through into a tree (of course) and out onto the top of the "n". Night was falling so I placed torches around and worked on resupplying my tools. At day break I realized the top was pretty much a giant forest, so I cleared a large area and built a corral to trap critters. After completing that and deciding that this is where my floating castle would eventually go, I decided to begin an alternate staircase that would be easier to navigate down to my initial lake home. I straight lined a 1:2 staircase in one direction until I broke through to a water tile. I carefully excavated and broke into the inside of the "n" cavern and realized that I had tunneled to the top of the waterfall that I build my initial house at the base of and was about 1/2 way to the bottom. It was pretty cool. After a little more goofing off it was 1 am so I called it quits.

So next I’ll have to start getting supplies and doing the grading work for my sky castle

Quintin_Stone wrote:

Hey Druid, pretty interesting stuff. Automatic reed harvesting, though, seems like more work than it's worth. I simply plow through my row of reeds, swinging my fist at eye level, and this will harvest all the reed above the first block. No replanting required! Since the first block of reed is still there, it'll quickly grow back up to full height.

Does your water-harvest method for wheat also produce seed?

Your cactus method is the most intriguing in my mind, because harvest cactus manually can be hazardous to your health!

Yeah, it definitely falls into the "More trouble than it's worth?" category. The wheat will produce seeds when harvested using the water.

Edit: As just discovered, I lied. No seeds are produced when harvested with water.

With all of the hype surrounding this game, how could I not buy it? I've played a little bit and am enjoying it immensely. Looking forward to getting into the multiplayer with everyone eventually.

I think I've decided that a semi-strip mining operation is in order. I've gone through two whole sets of armor and have quite a bit to explore yet as the caves seem to keep spawning bad guys. I figure I'll bust out the ceiling over the dark areas and start dumping buckets of lava. I have a stockpile of six buckets ready for that purpose. I've dropped 3 buckets already and refilled them so here's hoping they do the trick.

I've found that the optimal structure for outposts is the star fort. Build a square fort with multiple doors, then extend your wall by one square over each corner over a V shape three squares wide. This way, when hostile mobs bump up against your wall, you can shoot down the length of your wall. In multiplayer, I imagine this will be even more powerful as characters will be able to support one another with overlapping fields of fire.

One thing I didn't know, and just found out when connecting to Mantis' server, is that your login name is also your name in multiplayer, and there is apparently no way to change it. So if anybody hasn't purchased yet, keep that in mind when you do!

Question for other Minecrafters - is there some way to release the mouse but leave the game running without going to the menu? Would be nice for websurfing during the night time hours.

Unknown Soldier wrote:

Question for other Minecrafters - is there some way to release the mouse but leave the game running without going to the menu? Would be nice for websurfing during the night time hours.

Open your inventory, a chest, workbench menu, etc. and then alt tab.

Blind_Evil wrote:
Unknown Soldier wrote:

Question for other Minecrafters - is there some way to release the mouse but leave the game running without going to the menu? Would be nice for websurfing during the night time hours.

Open your inventory, a chest, workbench menu, etc. and then alt tab.

Good to know! Thanks!

Well, I'm pretty much hooked now. Thanks, jerks.

This game very much reminds me of the days I spent building custom houses in Ultima Online; it's a very satisfying way to express creativity.

KrazyTacoFO wrote:
Blind_Evil wrote:
Unknown Soldier wrote:

Question for other Minecrafters - is there some way to release the mouse but leave the game running without going to the menu? Would be nice for websurfing during the night time hours.

Open your inventory, a chest, workbench menu, etc. and then alt tab.

Good to know! Thanks!

Cowards! I utilize those precious night hours to go Rambo on fuzzy green pickle dude with legs, chase arachnids across the plains to harvest their fine silky string, bring the smack down on a shambling undead brethren, or shake the bones of a skinny anorexic stick man. And then on those nights off in the present reality, I sit stiffly in my cosy little home and I laugh. I laugh at the folks who alt tab the night hours away, alt tab from the fear that looms around the corners, ready to end your current life, scattering your items amiss. Well not me, I sit cosy in little home in the ground waiting, holding on to my mouse ready to spam mouse button one in fear of the things that lurk the night. For real men hide in holes in the ground at night and most importantly do not have panic attacks when a pig drops in, because it might have looked like a zombie in the moonlight.
[size=8]I sometimes also hide in a cave and just mine till its morning.[/size]

badgerpendous wrote:

(kids these days, I tells ya)

That's a lovely story, thanks for sharing!

KrazyTacoFO wrote:
Blind_Evil wrote:
Unknown Soldier wrote:

Question for other Minecrafters - is there some way to release the mouse but leave the game running without going to the menu? Would be nice for websurfing during the night time hours.

Open your inventory, a chest, workbench menu, etc. and then alt tab.

Good to know! Thanks!

There are many options for night-time activity. I built a perimeter earth wall around the entire area where I am beautifying everything, so I can work unmolested at all hours of the day/night. I have many, many torches and flaming tree parts scattered all over, inside and outside my area, and crowning the earth wall. This keeps all spawns outside my area, and any spawns cannot get close enough to 'activate' and blow holes in my precious buildings etc.

I may be a tad paranoid...

Kudos to whomever it was that said this game is really quite terrifying. I nearly crap my pants when I'm mining happily away, 3/4 of a mile below the surface and suddenly hear moaning, growling and spider-shrieks.

Speaking of mega-projects, check this out, linked from the comments of one of the RPS articles:

Katy wrote:

Speaking of mega-projects, check this out, linked from the comments of one of the RPS articles:

I would totally put mob drowners underneath the pyramid. If there was a way to transport them to the top of the pyramid alive and captured, I'd totally put in a sacrificial altar.

I like the history lesson.

But I love how he built this huge thing yet it's still unexplored and haunted.

I suddenly have the urge to build a walled Korean city with one of these gates on each of its four sides.

IMAGE(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Korea-Seoul-Dongdaemun_gate.jpg/220px-Korea-Seoul-Dongdaemun_gate.jpg)

Makes me want to join folks in multiplayer and start a Tenochtitlan project. Probably not the most time-saving way to map a history lesson but it would still be awesome. What's the quote? "When efficiency gets in the way of awesome, awesome wins?"

IMAGE(http://imgur.com/p4lWV.gif)

Spoiler:

Cool, but just an idea from a fan.

If I could build a windmill, I would immediately saddle up my pig, charge at it, and hack it down with my sword.

God, I can't imagine how long that guy just spent digging. That's insane.

LobsterMobster wrote:

If I could build a windmill, I would immediately saddle up my pig, charge at it, and hack it down with my sword.

You don't charge at windmills you charge at giants.

Norfair wrote:
LobsterMobster wrote:

If I could build a windmill, I would immediately saddle up my pig, charge at it, and hack it down with my sword.

You don't charge at windmills you charge at giants.

Giants that turn into windmills.