Brave new world: Minecraft edition

September 5, 2015 10:04 AM

I've set up a Minecraft realm. You are invited. There are sheep and stuff. It is a blank canvas, and it is lonely. Please populate this world.

Shoot me your username via email or MeMail and you will receive an invitation. I'll just be over here punching trees. I think realms can have up to 20 players, so come on, post haste!

posted by mudpuppie to MetaFilter-Related at 10:04 AM (84 comments total)

Thanks for setting this up! The landscape is very nice and I have started construction of a Needlessly Large Gallery.
posted by Zarkonnen at 5:16 PM on September 5, 2015

This sounds ok! MeMail sent.
posted by dazed_one at 5:17 PM on September 5, 2015

I am building a tower on a small mountain.

It's.. it's what I do, I guess.
posted by curious nu at 6:29 PM on September 5, 2015 [3 favorites]

I am also building a tower! Mine always start out as giant spiral staircases inside of a mountain. And I never finish them, because I get too caught up in the planning. This is gonna be fun!
posted by duien at 6:41 PM on September 5, 2015 [2 favorites]

Sounds fun, I'll send an invite request right away.
posted by sotonohito at 5:58 AM on September 6, 2015

I haven't played in years so it's almost a new game, but I've been reacquainting myself through the wiki and SP play so I'll be starting slow, but if you all in your towers want a change of scenery you can come visit the Stairway Straight Down To Bedrock because I guess that's what I do. Now I just need to decide if I'm going to get anything done today or just play Minecraft for 18 hours.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:24 AM on September 6, 2015 [2 favorites]

I'm building a little outpost out in the savannah near the village. Once I have that established, I will likely be tunnelling down to the bedrock because that's what I do too. Or I will be stockpiling stuff to trade for emeralds.

But laundry and some other stuff to keep domestic peace first.
posted by nubs at 8:31 AM on September 6, 2015

Every Minecraft server I've ever played on, I just wind up building giant subterranean train systems. This time around, I'll... probably do the exact same thing!
posted by Itaxpica at 9:24 AM on September 6, 2015 [5 favorites]

I tend to go with both the tower and spiral staircase to bedrock. One stairway to rule them all!
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 11:01 AM on September 6, 2015

Just a quick note to say we're at 19. Only one more spot left.
posted by mudpuppie at 12:37 PM on September 6, 2015

I'm attempting to build an enormous sky fortress. WE SHALL SEE.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 12:38 PM on September 6, 2015 [1 favorite]

Oh and I cannot thumbs-up minecraft rail systems aggressively enough.

Maybe we should set up some kind of message board near the spawn point where we post about our projects? Or I could make a book we can all write in...HMMMMmmmm......
posted by Narrative Priorities at 1:11 PM on September 6, 2015

Hmm. Haven't built a utility-free fractal in a while.
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:41 PM on September 6, 2015 [5 favorites]

I encourage you to post this on the Mefight club site. There's a few former mc admins who can help with the things that will inevitably pop up.
posted by boo_radley at 3:29 PM on September 6, 2015 [1 favorite]

Aw, I wish I had the time for this. I've had an account since the alpha (probably late 2009), but I haven't really played since then. I gather there have been a whole ton of changes since then.
posted by teponaztli at 5:54 PM on September 6, 2015

So many changes. The underlying game is the same, but there's (more) animals, villagers, two new realms, circuitry ...
posted by Joe in Australia at 5:58 PM on September 6, 2015 [2 favorites]

Oh yeah, I did play for a while, now that I think about it - I remember when they introduced redstone, and I remember making portals to the Nether. But I must have stopped shortly after that, because I looked at it recently and I was beyond confused. Spells, enchantments, horseback riding - it's so complicated now!
posted by teponaztli at 6:03 PM on September 6, 2015

A friend and I used to play on a multiplayer server with a bunch of guys from the UK who were really into drum n' bass, heh.
posted by teponaztli at 6:04 PM on September 6, 2015

I'm digging a deep mine and collecting diamonds, lapis, redstone, and emeralds. Yes, I am a dwarf.
posted by rikschell at 7:24 PM on September 6, 2015 [2 favorites]

The "notional park" me and some friends made in the venerable Aporkalypse MeFightClub server to preserve some weird alpha-build landscapes is the most satisfying computer gaming experience of my life. I have extremely vivid memories of Big Floaty Notional Park.
posted by Kattullus at 2:35 AM on September 7, 2015 [8 favorites]

I just got a non-Chrome computer so can play Minecraft again. If you think vanilla has gone nuts, you should try some of the mods. Once you get the hang of them, stuff like Tinker's Construct and Mekanism really help out the mid-game and help speed along more advanced projects like going into space or cloning dinosaurs.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 3:51 AM on September 7, 2015 [2 favorites]

(So if there is a modded Mefi server somewhere, lemme know!)
posted by robocop is bleeding at 4:41 AM on September 7, 2015 [1 favorite]

What's driving me nuts right now is that there doesn't seem to be a working version of Zombe or Forge for 1.8.8, meaning I am without my beloved "push a button to see an overlay on nearby tiles that shows if they're dark enough to spawn" function. I am way, way too paranoid...
posted by Pope Guilty at 5:04 AM on September 7, 2015 [2 favorites]

Can I tag on to this to say -- if you're interested in playing in a Minecraft world ON XBOX please mail me.
posted by anastasiav at 7:37 AM on September 7, 2015

I barricaded myself in a one of the houses in the village Saturday night. My Labor Day plans are to see if I can establish a base nearby without dying too many times. I usually build elaborate houses with furniture and decor because apparently I crave verisimilitude.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 9:34 AM on September 7, 2015 [1 favorite]

Pope Guilty: Forge is out for 1.8.8. I have it installed on one of my profiles. There aren't a lot of 1.8.8 mods available, mind you.

Also I think I accidentally dug a sign of yours off the wall? Dazed says your mines connect to his, and I came at it from the back side. It was near a short stack of ladders that didn't go anywhere.

I relabeled the sign ;P
posted by curious nu at 9:56 AM on September 7, 2015

What's the deal with all daytime mobs? I don't remember being in constant danger, but maybe that was a setting on Apork? Either way, I do not like it!

Does everyone have a home base already? I travelied for days in all directions but haven't found a space that isn't too close to someone else. (Well, I actually found a perfect place but was killed before I wrote down the cords. I can't seem to find it again, but if anyone recognizes an area along the river that has four or five compounds along the hillside, all lit with torches, please let me know!) I'm going to keep searching when I get back tonight and I'm sure I'll find a good spot soon.

Also, I like being part of ambitious projects that are way beyond my planning ability, so if anyone needs a hand gathering supplies hit me up and I can do a little grinding.
posted by Room 641-A at 11:39 AM on September 7, 2015

Forge is out for 1.8.8.

Do you know where to get it? I've only found 1.8 so far.

Also I think I accidentally dug a sign of yours off the wall? Dazed says your mines connect to his, and I came at it from the back side. It was near a short stack of ladders that didn't go anywhere.

The only ladders I've put down are in the stairs up to spawn, since I didn't want to mess up the existing tunnels, so I can't speak to ladders or signs.
posted by Pope Guilty at 11:43 AM on September 7, 2015

I don't really want to get back into Minecraft right now due to the time suck but playing with a bunch of mefites does sound fun. The old Apork server was a blast, I wish that I could go wander around there for an hour or so, there was so much great stuff there.
posted by octothorpe at 12:00 PM on September 7, 2015

PG: Forge just seems to label them according to the major version. So on the site it's listed as "1.8" but it should work with any 1.8 I think. I just grabbed the latest.
posted by curious nu at 12:41 PM on September 7, 2015 [1 favorite]

Damnit. Everything was going peachy but now every time I try and connect I get a java IOException error.
posted by dazed_one at 1:15 PM on September 7, 2015

I find that I can only play on modded permadeath servers anymore. Building a desperate monument against the futility of life is only really satisfying if I know that, when I eventually get creepered, it will be an eternally irredeemable tribute to my brief existence.
posted by 256 at 2:41 PM on September 7, 2015 [1 favorite]

So only 20 people can play on one realm? I'd like to wander around and punch a few trees, but I can't promise any large fancy structures being built.
posted by isthmus at 9:00 PM on September 7, 2015

You all need to post screenshots of what you've built for those of us too busy to play right now.
posted by Elementary Penguin at 2:46 AM on September 8, 2015 [3 favorites]

I'm not sure that Minecraft would be as fun now that it's stable. Half the fun was installing a new update to see what broke or if it even ran at all.
posted by octothorpe at 8:00 AM on September 8, 2015

So only 20 people can play on one realm?

I thought this was true, but it seems that maybe the 20-person limit is the number of people in the realm at any given time? I've sent 25 invites and it's still letting me, so I guess there is still room.

And some of the things people have built are amazing!
posted by mudpuppie at 8:24 AM on September 8, 2015

I am amazed at some of the projects! Makes me feel very unambitious...although I had an idea this morning in the shower that is going to require lots of wool and lots of dye...

Or I'm going to pack up and head out into the great beyond and build my modest structures far away from all you mad engineers...
posted by nubs at 8:36 AM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]

What's the deal with all daytime mobs?

Not sure how it used to be - I'm relatively new to Minecraft because my boys went nuts for it on their iPods so I figured it would be more fun on computers - the mobs need darkness/night to spawn, but:

-zombies and skeletons will seek out shade/water to avoid burning in the sunlight;
-zombie children and armored zombies won't burn;
-zombies have a chance to summon other zombies nearby when they get attacked.
-creepers are not affected by sunlight;
-endermen are not affected by sunlight, though they usually won't hang around in it.
posted by nubs at 8:55 AM on September 8, 2015

Creepers do despawn at midday, if you can wait that long without getting your house blown up.

Yay, MetaMinecraft! (MetaCraft?) I had so much fun last night and can't wait to come back tonight.
posted by daisyk at 9:29 AM on September 8, 2015

Going near the spawn point seems to make me disconnect at the moment, so i shall stay in my compound and continue building my giant pink roofed castle for now.
posted by dazed_one at 9:43 AM on September 8, 2015

According to the main Realms page, you can have 20 invitations and 10 active players, but according to the help page you can have up to 200 invitations.
posted by notbuddha at 12:22 PM on September 8, 2015

200 is the new 20. We're at 30 invites, and the later ones seem to have no trouble signing on, so that's cool.
posted by mudpuppie at 12:27 PM on September 8, 2015

SHEEEEEEEEP!
posted by terrapin at 2:13 PM on September 8, 2015

(So if there is a modded Mefi server somewhere, lemme know!)

I believe we have members running at least one modded Minecraft server over at Mefightclub (along with all the other game servers kind Mefighters provide to the group).
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 2:43 PM on September 8, 2015

Woot!
posted by Celsius1414 at 3:40 PM on September 8, 2015 [2 favorites]

Is it not okay to build close to other people's buildings? I like the density.
posted by rikschell at 4:48 PM on September 8, 2015

Until now I only played on Apork and people were really, really spread out there so maybe I'm overcompensating. I still inadvertently ended up around the corner from someone's huge mountaintop compound, at the base. I don't care if anyone builds near me. If I want to spears out I'm going to need to move anyway; this is mostly a mining hut.

I'm around -168, 302, next to a waterfall.
posted by Room 641-A at 5:22 PM on September 8, 2015

Thanks, nubs. There are new mobs so that may be it. (And I think Apork had mobs turned off near spawn?)
posted by Room 641-A at 5:36 PM on September 8, 2015

There is now an Olde Potion Shoppe just north of spawn, in our burgeoning commercial district!
posted by Zarkonnen at 1:57 AM on September 9, 2015

if you're interested in playing in a Minecraft world ON XBOX please mail me.

I just picked up an XBOX to play with The Nephew, once I get things hooked up I'll try to remember to hit you up.

To continue a sidetrack -

Is there any way to setup a world on XBOX/PS4 where whoever started the world doesn't have to be online for others to jump back in and play? Would it work if someone setup a spare console someplace and just let it on with Minecraft running or would it timeout? I'd pay quality cash money to be able to do this.
posted by bowmaniac at 6:36 AM on September 9, 2015

Argh! I didn't have time to play last night. Now my building will be even suckier than everyone else's.

Maybe I will run away into the wilderness.
posted by nubs at 8:37 AM on September 9, 2015

Can we kill each other in this realm? Because I have an awful feeling that in a panic I attacked a human, thinking it was a mob D:
posted by Room 641-A at 11:22 PM on September 9, 2015

No, the PvP option is turned off. At worst all you did was make a mortal enemy who's going to mess with your stuff.
posted by mudpuppie at 10:15 AM on September 10, 2015 [2 favorites]

Wait, no PvP? So the MeTa Arena of Flameouts i want to build will be useless? Damn.
posted by dazed_one at 11:45 AM on September 10, 2015 [1 favorite]

Well, there's always lava buckets (#takethelavabucketchallenge) and tricking people into a Hell Dimension From Which They Cannot Escape.
posted by Zarkonnen at 12:23 PM on September 10, 2015

Well, the PvP option is toggle-able. Maybe we should set aside a day to play capture the flag in teams or something, with death being an option. Kinda sounds like fun....
posted by mudpuppie at 12:59 PM on September 10, 2015 [1 favorite]

Is it not okay to build close to other people's buildings? I like the density.

I'm kinda automatically playing by Apork rules, because they're the first rules I learnt and I've had them in my head ever since. Which were, basically, don't mess with other people's shit, and the way you claim land is by building something on it. I don't think this server is "spread out" at all, compared to many I've been on. Let the density fill itself in as things progress.
posted by Jimbob at 3:57 PM on September 10, 2015 [1 favorite]

Our downtown now has a gem shop, potion shop, and cake shop, on Pancake Street. Thanks to all who've tossed me some extra building materials.

Also, is it okay to peek into other people's private buildings as long as you don't mess with their stuff?
posted by rikschell at 5:06 PM on September 10, 2015

I think yes. If anyone has an objection to that, they can hang a Keep Out sign and then we can all sneak around behind their back.
posted by mudpuppie at 5:48 PM on September 10, 2015 [2 favorites]

Yeah. Part of the fun is seeing what other people have built. But careful to re-close people's gates/doors once you've passed through, and not to let animals out.
posted by JiBB at 6:32 PM on September 10, 2015 [2 favorites]

Some postcards from tonight's journey to the south. Lots of desert and savannah for a while at first.

Stone beach lava flow

Some waterfalls along the way

I ain't going in that cave

Big lava flow with odd floating formation

I'm now somewhere past Z 9000; at a minimum I need to stop and get some food going for a time.

Two underwater temples passed in the journey - one close to x -431, z 2355 and the other at x-354, z 4695
posted by nubs at 9:24 PM on September 10, 2015 [3 favorites]

Happy mining day! Only had a stone pick so had to mine the iron first.
posted by quercus23 at 10:39 PM on September 11, 2015 [3 favorites]

There's been lots of construction in the Commercial District and the adjoining Port District. Here's an album. Drop by the port area and get a refreshing lemonade!
posted by Zarkonnen at 4:18 AM on September 12, 2015 [2 favorites]

Oy. I checked the wiki to see which mob dropped the glowstone dust (spoiler alert: none), which is how I realized that someone may have actually been bringing me a gift but I just attacked and ran back inside, thinking it was one of the new mobs. I'm so sorry! And if you lost anything please let me know so I can replace it.

I was thinking it would be nice to have some kind of community message board, or even plain bulletin board, especially since this MeTa is going to close. Iim not sure what solutions are out there, but I'm happy to help facilitate that, if people are interested.
posted by Room 641-A at 6:20 AM on September 12, 2015

Maybe a thread on MeFightClub would be a good place to move this discussion to?
posted by mudpuppie at 7:50 AM on September 12, 2015

That sounds like a good choice, mudpuppie. I'm not currently a MeFightClub member but I have nothing against joining!
posted by daisyk at 7:54 AM on September 12, 2015

Yeah, nthing that MFC is the obvious place to move to.
posted by Zarkonnen at 7:55 AM on September 12, 2015

Witches drop glowstone? I think? I'll set up a messageboard near marketplace. We had a meetup in Minecraft!
posted by quercus23 at 6:38 PM on September 12, 2015 [3 favorites]

The pirate ship side-on, and NP's ? helicopter waterfall thing ?
posted by quercus23 at 6:53 PM on September 12, 2015 [1 favorite]

Minecraft meetup selfie.
posted by mudpuppie at 7:04 PM on September 12, 2015 [4 favorites]

Someone left a message on the messageboard at the marketplace saying that there was an underwater temple at 620/62/380. There is water there, but in the form of a cute little lake with horses and flowers around it. I think a few numbers might have got missed out. ;)
posted by daisyk at 2:23 AM on September 13, 2015

Zarkonnen and I have found one of the other underwater temples and got zapped to death many times by the Guardians around it. Bracing!
posted by daisyk at 3:04 AM on September 13, 2015 [3 favorites]

Witches drop glowstone?

Ohh that's who/what I killed. I looked up glowstone and it wasn't dropped by any mobs, but I should have looked up glowstone dust. Phew. Innocent!
posted by Room 641-A at 8:38 AM on September 13, 2015

You're lucky you survived it! Witches are a pain to kill.
posted by mudpuppie at 8:44 AM on September 13, 2015 [2 favorites]

I'm a long ways away from the message board, so I'll just leave some notes here - and in the MeFight Club thread when we get it - on what I am discovering. Until I decide to stop this wandering routine...

Anyways, lava tower.

Nearby, an underwater temple (X 233, Z 8915)
posted by nubs at 9:03 AM on September 13, 2015 [1 favorite]

Multiplayer session service
This service is down! We are doing our very best to resolve the issue as soon as possible

Authentication service
This service is down! We are doing our very best to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

Minecraft.net
This service might be a bit shaky. We are doing our best to stabilize it.

boo.
posted by Room 641-A at 9:28 AM on September 13, 2015

Boo indeed - I had hoped to jump in for an hour or so...
posted by nubs at 9:34 AM on September 13, 2015

This ruins my plan for the day!
posted by mudpuppie at 9:41 AM on September 13, 2015

This is highly unfortunate! I had just finally found some jungle (cocoa beans!) and was about to make my way back. BTW, I think we should switch over to MFC sooner rather than later. I have taken the liberty of starting a thread.
posted by Zarkonnen at 10:08 AM on September 13, 2015

I used the time to play around with my plans and the scale in creative mode, which will probably save me a ton of time. Heading over to MFC, thanks for starting the thread!
posted by Room 641-A at 11:22 AM on September 13, 2015

I am doing the same thing!
posted by mudpuppie at 11:27 AM on September 13, 2015 [1 favorite]

I miss minecraft. I'm in.
posted by clockbound at 2:23 PM on September 13, 2015 [2 favorites]

Plate of Beans Central Station is now fully automated and operational. Pick a destination, hop on a cart and enjoy the ride!

Carts are now deployed and replaced automatically and destination is chosen with the flip of a switch.
posted by dazed_one at 10:40 PM on September 13, 2015 [6 favorites]

Thanks, dazed!
posted by daisyk at 10:49 PM on September 13, 2015