Hi gang!

Editorial

I consider myself a rather casual gamer yet with one major exception: Minecraft. I don't know what it is but I hardly get bored during a nice Minecraft session. Either on my favorite public server, my private LAN server and even in single player. I actually consider myself a rather vivid Minecraft player.

As you probably know we're close to the release of Minecraft 1.13 dubbed project Aquatic. It's actually a mixed release because it basically combines the originally planned 1.13 (which was supposed to be a purely technical update) with 1.14 which was meant to enhance the oceans. Not any more: it's all rolled into one package.

There is definitely a bit of controversy surrounding 1.13 (its going to break every map in existence which uses command blocks, it heavily changes the textures ('looks') of the game and... it's going to make it easier on the admins to crash the entire server (yikes!!)) but at the same time there's also a ton of good stuff heading our way.

It's currently very hot in the Netherlands, my weekend just started and I'm seriously tired and demotivated because of it (sweating behind your PC is no fun) but... 1.13 can always get me going a bit ;)

In no specific order.

We can teleport between dimensions

The massive change in the commands is going to be bothersome, no matter how you look at it. If you're a server admin then this means you'll probably have to re-learn quite a bit. But there's also a lot of positive stuff happening here. For example this one: being able to teleport yourself (or others) between dimensions, something not currently possible.

How? By executing commands in that specific dimension: /execute in the_nether run tp @s 10 ~ 10.

So, translation: "Execute the following command in the nether: tp @s (= the one running the command, so you!) to X 10, the same Y coordinate and Z 10". Easy!

It's making some plugins & tools a little bit obsolete

I consider MCEdit to be a must-have program if you're serious about "Minecraft scripting" and map making. Yes: even in its current, somewhat outdated, state (old doesn't always mean obsolete you know!).

But it seems to me as if Mojang has been carefully looking at some of the things which matter to veteran Minecraft players and which they like to use. So now Mojang is providing vanilla alternatives for it. Take for example that same MCEdit, but also the Schematica mod; both allow you to import and export structures from your world(s). So right now we got the structure block which can do the exact same thing (within a 35x35x35 size limit).

Enter the new /data command. This has serious potential to revolutionize the way you work.

Want to know what items a player has in their inventory? Easy: /data get entity AyanamiKun Inventory. Or maybe you're interested in the items in their Ender chest? Also easy enough: /data get entity AyanamiKun EnderItems.

This command and all the things we can do with it... it's going to be huge, trust me on this!

Example? Ok ;) On my snapshot server players who are getting low on their health while they haven't exactly killed much hostile mobs now get a status warning ("hint") telling them to eat some food so that they can heal themselves.

Stuff like this was only possible using mods up until now!

More love for Silk touch!

Ok, fair warning: bias is in effect here. The first server I played on somewhat banned the use of silk touch because of the perks we got from mcMMO. And being the n00bie player I was at that time it always made me wonder what the magic behind this mysterious enchantment was ;)

My current server sits close to vanilla. Definitely no restrictions - what so ever - on enchantments such as Silk touch. Now I know!

But this always left me with a (minor) fascination for the ability. Leading up to me being a current advocate for magma blocks turning to lava unless you use silk touch tools on them. (and something which I almost got to work, without mods, on my snapshot server).

So yeah... The upcoming coral blocks will only be mineable when you're using silk touch tools on them. And I hope you can understand why I consider that a very nice touch.

More (enhanced) "tech trees"

When I was a kid I was a huge fan of Command & Conquer. Fun fact: the original was the first game I bought with my first paycheck (no joke!). It wasn't only the real-time strategy which hooked me, I loved the tech trees. You know: build a barrack and wham: you can produce infantry units. Build a research station next to it (or something close; it's been years since I played) and you can suddenly build enhanced infantry units. But uh oh: do make sure you build enough power supplies because otherwise your entire base goes dark.

Different, sometimes supporting, buildings which all help you build bigger things.

Minecraft is no different. And 1.13 is only going to make things better.

Let's take a look at the most elementary and also important item in the game: wood! (I love this)

When you see a tree you can chop it and you get the log blocks. But right click on one with an axe and you strip it of its bark and therefor end up with the stripped log block. So far, so good. Chop all log blocks, wait for the leaves to despawn and you get saplings. So: tree => log blocks, stripped log blocks, saplings, leaf blocks (with silk touch).

Now for the second tier of our tech tree: 4 log blocks give you 3 bark blocks. A bark block is basically a log block without the "stem sides". So instead of actually showing where the log was cut it'll have the bark texture all around it. This is the extension. And better yet: it'll behave just like a log block, including the option to strip it off its bark (which will get you a stripped bark block). Other than that it'll behave just like a log block, it can also give you plank blocks.

So the 2nd tier: log blocks, bark blocks, stripped bark blocks. Where both log and bark blocks lead us to plank blocks.

Onto the next tier and its enhancement: one plank block can get you a wooden button. And in 1.13 we have button varieties for all wood types. So dark buttons with dark oak and spruce, reddish buttons with acacia and of course wood / bright with oak and birch.

But it's all about mining and crafting and seriously: I deeply admire this.

My gf's current favorite: find some turtles and try to breed them. Or find their eggs (which you can mine with... you guessed it: silk touch!). Once the eggs hatch you get baby turtles. And when they turn into an adult they drop one scute. Collect enough and you can craft yourself a nice turtle shell (aka turtle helmet). Not only does it protect you, it also provides with you 10 seconds with of air when diving under water (I like to think of it as a snorkel of some sort).

Of course this doesn't stop there... Such a shell can also be used as a brewing ingredient which gets you the potion of the turtle master (severely slows down your descent).

And these are everywhere... Get kelp (underwater plant), cook it and you get dried kelp which you can actually eat. Get 9 and you can craft 'm into a dried kelp block. And that can be used as fuel :) Not just that: one block of dried kelp is actually better than 1 single coal item.

The things which lurk beneath the sea, eh?

Customability is taken to extremes...

In other words: datapacks for the win.

The amount of stuff which we can change in the game is mind blowing. Seriously, I am not exaggerating. Not only do we get full custom recipes (both crafting and smelting), the ability to tag blocks in the wild (which is an advanced subject; just look at it this way: we can now "detect" and "do" stuff with all the ore blocks below ground without the need for massive search commands if we want to) but also all the stuff you can do to entities.

Did you know that loot chests in the game have a pre-determined drop value?

What I meant with that? Ok... if you find yourself a desert pyramid (use: /locate desert_pyramid) you will notice that it has 4 loot chests at the bottom. We all know this I hope: drop down, accidentally end up on the pressure plate and b00m, there goes your treasure ;)

So here's the thing: if you export those chests (for example with a structure block) and then place them somewhere else in your world they will always have the same loot. Why? Because of what I said earlier: the loot has been pre-determined.

But we can fix this if we want to! => /data remove block <coords> LootTableSeed. If you copy those chests around in this state you'll always get random loot no matter what.

I know, I know... this all sounds very complicated. Let's use a better example:

• Place a chest somewhere (in creative).
  
• Point at it with the crosshair, use: /data merge block <tab for chest coords> {Items:[{id:"minecraft:coal",Count:1}]}
  
• Look inside ;)
  

Cool huh? lets ante this up!

• Place a chest (as above).
  
• Point at it with crosshair (yaddah, yaddah): /data merge block <coords> {LootTable:"minecraft:chests/desert_pyramid"}
  
• Look inside & be amazed.
  

In case you can't wrap your head around it: ever wanted to give players stuff without any risk of playing favoritism? How about this?

What you're basically doing here is tell the system: "Fill this chest according to the chances of this loot table". In other words: role a virtual dice to determine what items will make it inside. No favoritism possible.

Well.. unless you use the wrong loot table of course ;) but it's not as if the admins can't check on that ;)

[19:16:40] [Server thread/INFO]: [AyanamiKun: Modified block data of -224, 63, -69]
[19:16:40] [Client thread/INFO]: [CHAT] Modified block data of -224, 63, -69
[19:16:42] [Client thread/INFO]: [CHAT] -224, 63, -69 has the following block data: {LootTable: "minecraft:chests/desert_pyramid", x: -224, y: 63, z: -69, id: "minecraft:chest", Lock: ""}

And if you thought this was something: /give @p debug_stick. That stick really sticks it to the blocks ;)

Enhanced gameplay

This needs some context... Minecraft is a sandbox game and in a sandbox game you basically do "your thing". But what companies like Rockstar apparently seem to totally ignore is that a sandbox by itself does not make a good game.

At the risk of controversy (not my intention) but I am also a sporadic GTA V player. I enjoy the game, it's pretty solid. But it also gets boring really quick in my opinion because you will reach a point where there's nothing more to do. Sure: it is amazing that you can follow a car around and see how its driver does their thing (which is hardly as extensive as the media wants you to believe, it's not as if they ever get out or something). But in the end it's all icing on the cake. Meaning? Follow a car around once and you'll be amazed. Do it twice and you'll go "seen this, done that". Try it a third time and you'll wonder why you even bother anymore.

The game world in itself, no matter how diverse, does not provide good game play per definition.

I don't know about you but when I work on my wood farm (chop trees and replant sapplings) it is a chore for me. Sometimes (especially in the weekend) I do stop and think at the underlying game mechanics. Making me really admire the whole thing, at times like that I often say to myself: "What an amazing game this actually is".

But as amazing and impressive as it is: it does NOT provide good gameplay. It only enhances on it. ... a little bit.

So enter Mojang: treasure chests. Dolphins can lead you around towards wrecks. Feed them fish and you'll even motivate them (time to go fishing, either the old fashioned way or the bucket way :D). Inside that wreck you may find a treasure map, and that can lead you to a buried treasure chest which contains even more loot.

Are you getting my point yet?

Get fish to feed and "satisfy" dolphins. Use dolphins to lead you to ship wrecks. Explore wrecks to find treasure chests. Get a turtle shell (or potions) to extend your under water times. In wrecks you may find maps which lead to burried treasure.

So far, so good.

Find more wrecks and chests and you'll eventually obtain items such as nautilus shells and the fabled 'heart of the sea'. Use 9 shells (I feel loved in this update!) and one heart to build a conduit. And use that together with prismarine to build an underwater beacon; allowing you to breathe and mine under water.

THAT is enhanced gameplay for you.

Boss bars

I know, I know... if you're as critical as I am you may now be thinking: "Shell, you already covered this item somewhat before". And you're right, but that's what you get when I write ad-hoc "at a whim" articles. (I did not plan this, not at all).

Boss bars are a thing and boss bars are amazing. And despite their name... do not allow this to fool you: it's not only about fighting bosses. You can just as easily use them as a progress bar, a health bar for yourself and even... (Aya & me are working on this): A distance bar to indicate how far away you are from your target.

These things are amazing.

And like Minecraft itself: it's all about what YOU make of them.

The new parser

If you use / while in the snapshot you will notice plenty of pop ups showing you the options which you can use.

Try it: /ex<tab>in<space><tab><tab>

This can seriously help you to find whatever it is you need.

To give an example... the scoreboard is one of the most extensive and confusing aspects of Minecraft. If you want to do some serious work you need to learn this.

Try this: /scoreboard objectives add m00 <space>

... that list was something I used to invoke with tab completion and then I'd open my log file and try and find what I needed.

No more!

Mojang listens to the fans

Many players were excited about the bark blocks because these would allow us to build using the specific log textures but without having to cope with the somewhat out of place stem textures. Many of us don't want to deal with that, but instead we'd like our wooden cottage to actually look like a solid wooden cottage. Not like something hacked together from logs.

Unfortunately the bark blocks were made to behave like log blocks (as I explained earlier); including the option to strip them of their bark which would result in a stripped log block, including the stem texture again. This was obviously quite out of place, and I think we could all agree with that, but unfortunately for us Mojangs first solution was to add a "stem like texture" to the bark blocks. Gone were the blocks which had a log texture on all 6 sides, now we once again had to cope with something that looked out of place.

Many argued that this basically made those highly anticipated bark blocks completely useless. After all: they were now basically a different set of bark blocks. So we still couldn't make that solid wood looking house which we wanted to. And so many players also spoke up about this.

And guess what? Mojang listened! In 1.13-pre2 they reversed their decision to re-texture the bark blocks so that we could once again look forward to building solid wooden buildings. And better yet... fully unannounced was the fact that they also added a solution to the previous problem: as of pre2 bark blocks can be stripped, and they give us stripped bark blocks.

I know, I know, Mojang also does plenty of things "wrong" according to some, fair enough. But even so: when it comes to 1.13 they really listen to the fans, and I think that's something to respect.

Always remember that you can't please everyone (most of the time anyway) :)

Protected gameplay mechanics

What I also really enjoy about the upcoming version 1.13 is that Mojang is very careful with protecting the gameplay mechanics and in doing so ensures that the game remains a nice challenge. I mean really, what is a game without a challenge to overcome?

The reason I mention this is because I couldn't help but notice how some players (youtubes in specific) seem to be convinced that kelp as a food source is basically rubbish because it doesn't give you very much saturation. Which by itself is true. Filling out one hunger item will take several dried kelp, and you can achieve the same (and better!) when eating one cooked beef.

But when I read comments like those I can't help but wonder if those guys have ever looked at the ocean yet and stopped to think about what they're seeing. Quite frankly I'm convinced they didn't.

See.. What those guys are completely ignoring is that a regular ocean is stuffed to the brim with kelp. You'll probably even find kelp in larger (deeper) rivers. Which means that getting your hands on a few stacks of kelp is peanuts. Even in the ocean: just sim down (which is pretty fast), punch the kelp as deep as you can and the whole top will break down and float up: ready for the picking.

Sure: you'll need plenty of kelp to satisfy your hunger, but guess what? There's also plenty of kelp available to do just that! It may not be the best food source out there, but it can definitely keep you alive if you find yourself stranded on an island without any grass on it (to grow wheat).

And that is what I mean with protecting the gameplay mechanic: there is SO much kelp out there and it's so easy to get that it would easily become much too overpowered if it would have a higher saturation value. Fortunately for us Mojang keeps a clear eye out for these things, making sure that our game still remains somewhat of a challenge.

Returning home

One of the most frustrating stuff for me... "let's find xxx". so I: /tp ~500 ~ ~500. I continue and vary ranges and eventually I am at X 32678, Y 64 (why!? ;) ) and Z 53276.

...but where was my original location again? "uh oh"

No more!

Before you start your journey press: F3-c. (hit F3, keep pressed, then press c). Now the command to return home is in your clipboard.

Need to go home? 't', paste, enter. Done.

Just be careful here. If you press F3-c and keep it pressed for too long it will crash your entire game.

"No Aya, I swear I didn't realize this was going to happen and cut our game short. I am innocent!!"



Now how did that get in here? ;)

But yes: it is another feature :)

And there you have it!