Changes for the new Server

First of all, thank you all for your patience as we try to get hosting figured out. We will definitely go with MCProHosting for the service, and it should hopefully be happening very soon. Once it is up and running it will be publicized using our usual methods, to make sure members know it is running.

When the server is back up, hosted professionally, there will be some changes. The include, but are not limited to, the following:

• New 1.7 World with new biomes nearby
• Survival mode for all players
• PvP enabled unless it becomes a problem
• New sense of community with survival builds
• Building a community from nothing with a nearby forest
• Cooperative builds, both for style and function
• Server roles for members, decided at a later date
• Democracy-based decision system
• "Elite" status for users based on donation status

If you have any questions, of course feel free to ask them! We want to make sure the new server is even better than the last one for everyone involved, and communication is key to making sure everyone is enjoying themselves. A world download of the original server map will be available here for anyone interested in using it for single-player.

Changes in Hosting

Up until now, the server has been running from the personal computer of the server's host. However, this is severely limiting and recently the ISP controlling the network has began throttling data speeds due to excessive web activity. In order to restore speed and regain what is paid for, the server must be moved to another network location.

Enter MCPro Hosting. They are the lead provider of professional Minecraft Server hosting, it's the only thing they do and they excel at it. Tons of people use their services, and plans are relatively cheap compared to the alternatives. Going forward, the server will require donations to stay afloat with this new hosting solution, and that's where you come in! Donation widgets have been added to the server's website, where you can pay securely through PayPal to donate any amount you can spare in order to keep the server running. We aren't in this for profit; we only want to prevent losing money. All donations will be used for the server, and anything other than payment for hosting will be run by the server members first (such as the possibility of someday adding a professionally-hosted website or something similar to that, if such an opportunity presents itself and is seen favorably by server members)

If you donate, be sure to leave your name and Minecraft username in the memo field so we know who you are! You can of course remain anonymous if you choose, but we would love to acknowledge you for your help! If you play on the server, we can even offer benefits in-game in return for your assistance if you'd like. (Diamonds, anyone? Lots and lots of diamonds?)

Enter the Ender Ender in the End

After long nighttime hours of work, the Ender Ender is now ready for business! It is located in The End along the main path, which can be found by locating the Stronghold portal in the Nether (the short and wide portal in "Creepy Caverns" within the Nether) It is open to all members of the server provided you do not modify it in any way whatsoever.

What is the Ender Ender? It's an Enderman farm! Endermen spawn on spawning platforms high within the structure (all other areas are spawn-proof so they will all spawn on the specified platforms) and fall into a chamber in the center of the main room where they take just enough fall damage to be easily killed by a single punch with a player's fist. In the main mode (Pearls and XP) they must be punched one at a time but drop both Ender Pearls and XP orbs, and in the secondary mode (Pearls only) they automatically die when they fall but do not drop XP orbs since no player actually made the killing blow to any of them. It also contains a level-thirty Enchantment Station, and Anvil, and an Ender Chest for your convenience, as well as a Powered Rail system to get you there and back since it is far away from the regular land area of The End where other Endermen can spawn.

It is important to note that the farm is much more efficient when there are no players elsewhere on the server since there is a maximum number of mobs that can exist on the server at any given moment. Also, be sure even though the Endermen are contained and not angry at any player, they will still attack if you look them in the eye. Lastly, you should not use weapons against them since you can just kill them in one hit with your fist anyway; keep in mind that Fire Aspect swords and Flame bows will reset the Endermen's anger focus and teleport them away from the chamber, so they should not be used at any time in the Ender Ender.

Questions? Feel free as always to contact timmc94, who built the structure based on the original design from another player and can assist with any issues that may come up.

Carl's Cakes is now open!

A new shop is on the server, Carl's Cakes, located South of spawn through the new underwater tunnel. He only sells one thing: cake! The current price for a full cake is 7 gold nuggets; for those of you who may not know, you can get gold nuggets from killing Zombie Pigmen in the Nether or place gold ingots in a crafting table to get nine gold nuggets per gold ingot.

Stop by and visit Carl, where you can pick up a delicious homemade cake! (Please don't eat the display models)

Server Downtime: August 20-23, 2013

The server will be down from Tuesday, August 20th to Friday, August 23rd while the server host (timmc94) is away for the week; this will be similar to the server downtime last weekend. There is a possibility the server will run in the morning and/or early afternoon on the twentieth, but it is not guaranteed. The server will probably be up on Saturday the 24th, however.

We apologize for the inconvenience that the server downtime may cause, and we encourage you to use the downtime as a chance to use the time you would normally play online to switch things up and perhaps get outside for a bit... just remember to come back after the break!

Trader Ted 3.0 Update

Trader Ted has reached his third generation! Trader Ted III is the most valuable of them all so far, with a ton of extremely useful trades. These include:

• 5 Brown Mushrooms + 5 Red Mushrooms = 1 Mooshroom Spawn Egg
• 1 Stick + 10 Gunpowder = "Knockback Stick" (Knockback X)
• 1 Ender Pearl + 1 Chest = 1 Ender Chest
• 64 Rotten Flesh + 64 Rotten Flesh = Diamond Sword (Sharpness I, Knockback I)
• 1 Sign + 1 String = 1 Name Tag

..and there's more! Check out the new Trader Ted in the same spot he's always been and get some of these great new items.

Your feedback is appreciated! Let timmc94 know what you think of Trader Ted's options and you could influence the next generation of the trading station.

Plans for the Stronghold

The stronghold has been located! It is now open for all whitelisted server members to explore, so long as you do not mess with the End Portal. It has been thoroughly looted already, but you are welcome to collect any loot you find in chests or cave walls.

Plans are to eventually enter The End and fight the Enderdragon. One or more expeditions to the Nether must be completed first however, (as well as fighting Endermen) to craft Eyes of Ender for the End Portal frame. Please keep in mind that work on the End Portal is to be a planned collaboration, and should not be done apart from the group. Server host timmc94 has plans for the Enderdragon fight and if you interfere you may be banned [temporarily or permanently, at his discretion] from the server.

If you are interested in being a part of the eventual Enderdragon fight, contact timmc94 to let him know you are interested. The fight will happen when the group is ready, even if some people cannot make it. The requirements to fight the dragon are as follows: an enchanted Iron Sword or a Diamond Sword, full Iron or Diamond Armor, and a Bow with a large supply of arrows or an Infinity enchantment. It is recommended that everyone who wishes to participate in the fight enchants all their gear, including armor.

We hope the Enderdragon fight will be an experience to remember, so please feel free to participate if you want to be a part of it! Thanks again to everyone who is helping grow the server.

All about Trader Ted

In the general spawn area is a small shop made of brick where Trader Ted resides. One of SethBling's MCEdit Filters makes Trader Ted more than the usual NPC Villager as far as trades are concerned (he's also invincible) so be sure to check out what he has to offer at his shop!

Trader Ted also offers two services: Loans and Insurance. Drop a written book in his mailbox to apply for a Loan or to apply for an Insurance plan! Loans are useful when you require resources, and interest rates are low; Insurance can protect you, your pets, your belongings, your home, and/or your property at low cost to you.

For more information about Trader Ted, including his Loan and Insurance services, contact the server's host (timmc94) for details.

Server Introduction Video

Check out timmc94's YouTube video introducing the server. It's very informal but gives a basic overview of the way it works as of opening day.

Let's Talk Scoreboards

A cool feature of Minecraft Servers is the ability to implement custom scoreboards. These are useful for keeping score of who has the most kills, who's died the most, or some servers even use them as currency. It is a really awesome feature and I think it could work really well for the server.

What are your opinions? I'm thinking it would be cool to have score counts in the sidebar and death counts next to usernames. That's not official as of the time of this writing, but I'm definitely interested in implementing scoreboards into the server. Of course, I welcome your feedback on this idea!

EDIT: Three scoreboards are now active! Holding down TAB to view the currently logged-on players shows everyone's health -- in half-hearts -- next to their connection strength. Above players' heads, under their usernames, is their total PvE (Player vs. Enemy) kills. In the sidebar on the right of the screen is the total deaths for players on the server whose total deaths are equal to or greater than one.

Help name the Server!

"timmc94's Minecraft Server" isn't very catchy, nor does it promote the idea of the community that the server hopes to build as it directly references the owner of the server rather than the community itself. If you have any ideas for the name of the server, please feel free to comment here or using the in-game chat. (even if timmc94 is not online, the server keeps a text record of all chat messages and he can find it later) The final decision is still up to the server's owner, but ideas are welcome from the server community!

Internal Server Error Report, August 2

At just after noon on August 2, 2013 the server was launched for the day. Immediately connections were failing, so the server was taken down at 2 pm PDT for maintenance. What was learned during the downtime is the server settings must be updated after every restart of the server computer, which is just another step required to be taken by timmc94 before starting up the server each day. Apologies for the inconvenience, the server is run in a way that is free of monthly costs (by using a private server rather than renting one from a corporation) so there may be some trouble from time to time. Thanks for your patience and please continue to enjoy the server!

Check the new "Server Status" blog page for updates on the status of the server.

Opening Week Server Operation

REMINDER: All times are subject to change without prior notification.

• Wednesday, 31.Jul: As much time as available. The server is brand new!
• Thursday, 1.Aug: Server down all day.
• Friday, 2.Aug: Afternoon and Evening PDT planned.
• Saturday, 3.Aug: Morning to Evening PDT planned.
• Sunday, 4. Aug: Afternoon and Evening PDT planned.

As of right now, with the server being so new, a lot of things still need to be figured out. The server may need to go down from time to time with no prior notice, in which case if possible the server will notify those online a few minutes before shutting off.

Early members, thank you for your support! You're very much appreciated!