# So i decided to play Minecraft

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-decided-to-play-minecraft/962617>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Tags:** video-games-e-games\
**Created:** [April 10, 2022, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-decided-to-play-minecraft/962617 "2022-04-10T12:35:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 8

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**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2022, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-decided-to-play-minecraft/962617/141 "2022-09-02T22:37:11Z")

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Thanks!

I’ve been too busy to play recently, but i hope to build a blaze farm starting in about a week, after i get past a deadline at work. That sounds like approximately what i was planning to do. Except i hadn’t thought of using slabs and walking among them. That sounds intriguing.

Can you give a few more details? How do you hop from one “level” to another? How do you remove the slabs after the lava is in place?

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**Author:** ![Retzbu\_Tox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/retzbu_tox/32/11829_2.png) [@Retzbu\_Tox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Retzbu_Tox)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2022, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-decided-to-play-minecraft/962617/142 "2022-09-02T23:20:52Z")

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You can have a ladder running up one of the corners inside the spawning box, and destroy it too during your “evacuation”. Use some throw-away material for the slab floors and rip them out while backing toward your ladder. Let the junk slabs fall in the lava and burn. The blazes only levitate upward if they can see you. Whenever blazes spawn near you during the slab removal phase, you can move out of their line of sight by going up the ladder or out a hole in the side of the box, allowing them to drift down into the lava and get flushed away. Work your way up and out, sealing off the box as you go out somewhere at the top.

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**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-decided-to-play-minecraft/962617/143 "2023-02-24T16:26:22Z")

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Well, that took a whole lot longer than I hoped. Partly, I was busier than I expected, but mostly it proved to be too hard for me.

For starters, I had trouble even finding the damn blaze spawner, and when I did, it was teetering over a giant lake of lava. That was WAY too hard for me. So I ended up cheating, and putting the nether into peaceful mode to build the farm. In the meantime, I’ve expanded my roof-of-the-nether highway and added a pony express, and built magma cube, wool, and cactus farms. I used powder snow to kill the magma cubes. Sadly, I found that snow when I slept in a random village in the right biome, and shortly after I awoke, I heard a villager dying, because it had walked into a block of powder snow. 😢 It was right next to his house. Why on earth don’t villagers pathfind to avoid powder snow? Or wear leather boots?

Anyway, I can now make as much fire-resistance potion as I want, and have also made my first couple of ender chests. I suppose at this point I’ll be annoyed if I don’t have ender chests all over the place, so I suppose next up is making a ton of those. I will need a more efficient way to get obsidian. Maybe I’ll make and destroy a lot of portals to do that.

I may also use some of that fire potion to go mining the nether for netherite.

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**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-decided-to-play-minecraft/962617/144 "2023-02-24T22:29:03Z")

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Congratulations on your Nether run, even if you ended up doing it on peaceful! Here’s a quick reminder of a couple tips from before,

> [@Max\_S](#):
>
> Always spend the Redstone to make the resistance potion last longer. If you have a silk touch pick and an enderchest you can carry tons of potions […]

~Max

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**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-decided-to-play-minecraft/962617/145 "2023-02-25T00:17:58Z")

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I’ll be using that fire resistance potion! And yes, i will include redstone in the brew, thanks.

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**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2023, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-decided-to-play-minecraft/962617/146 "2023-02-26T14:25:47Z")

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Also, I’ll say it again, but my sense of direction sucks even in real life, and sucks worse in video games. There’s no way I’d be able to do this without dynmap.

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**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2023, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-decided-to-play-minecraft/962617/147 "2023-03-15T03:50:03Z")

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I’ve been bed-mining for netherite, but wondering if it’s worth it. It’s kind of tedious, and i keep running into hoglins and endermen who impede my travel.

I was pretty surprised that the piglins killed one of the hoglins, and got it out of my way. 😀

So, if i only have a few ingots of netherite, and only can upgrade a few items, what items would be first on your list and why?

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**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2023, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-decided-to-play-minecraft/962617/148 "2023-03-18T02:43:53Z")

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Weapon. It will last forever. Then chest armor.

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**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-decided-to-play-minecraft/962617/149 "2023-06-22T20:15:17Z")

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Oh, I should give an update: We killed the ender dragon. That means mostly my son. He, his roommate, and I played together. We entered the end, and collectively killed the dragon. I mostly hid under cover and shot the occasional arrow at it. I also collected some bottles of dragon’s breath and died once. But I now have access to the End. And we built some safe areas around the portal to the end, the portal out of the end, and the portal to the islands.

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**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-decided-to-play-minecraft/962617/150 "2023-06-22T20:36:10Z")

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> [@RickJay](#):
>
> Weapon. It will last forever. Then chest armor.

I ended up doing almost exactly the opposite. I upgraded all my silk touch tools, my leggings, and my best diamond boots. (I also have gold and leather boots.) I usually wear either a turtle shell helmet or a gold helmet, and I’m planning to replace the chest plate with elytra. But maybe i should upgrade a chest plate anyway. I have a couple more netherite ingots.

I mostly avoid having to fight. But when i do, i generally get some experience. So my “mending” weapons never wear out. My armor never wears out, either, but the bonus on “less knock back” turns out to be really useful.

I’m embarrassed to admit that I often kill minor mobs with my armor – I invested in thorns, and sometimes, as I am waling on a spider with a steak (yeah, sometimes I select the wrong item to hold) it impales itself on my thorns and expires.

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**Author:** ![Retzbu\_Tox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/retzbu_tox/32/11829_2.png) [@Retzbu\_Tox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Retzbu_Tox)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2023, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-decided-to-play-minecraft/962617/151 "2023-07-06T16:46:06Z")

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> [@puzzlegal](#):
>
> waling on a spider with a steak

On a multiplayer server, one of the other players went on a rampage, just doing bizarre things. He began following me around and hitting me with a potato. He wouldn’t stop and didn’t respond to my queries regarding his motive. So, I beat him to death with a fish, which he seemed to find hilarious. Apparently I chose the correct course of action.

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**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2023, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-decided-to-play-minecraft/962617/152 "2023-07-09T12:50:46Z")

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Uh, that’s funny, but weird. I prefer playing Minecraft with other people around, but I’ve only played with friends, or friends of friends.

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**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2023, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-decided-to-play-minecraft/962617/153 "2023-09-08T14:07:59Z")

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I was just killed by shulkers. On the one hand, yay! I finally made it to the end. On the other hand, I’d gotten two shulker shells and hadn’t thought to put those into my ender chest when i was killed. 😟

I was floating above the roof of the end city when i died. I wonder if it’s worth trying to recover my stuff, or if i should just declare it a loss, and try to stay as low as possible while killing shulkers.

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**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-decided-to-play-minecraft/962617/154 "2023-11-28T17:05:11Z")

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I’ve given up. Those suckers are too much for me. But they exist and don’t attack in peaceful mode. I’m going to try to build a shulker farm in peaceful mode (which will run in normal modes).

I also have a world that i mostly play in creative, to test stuff. I succeeded in moving a live shulker to the central end island. That’s step 1…

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**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2023, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-decided-to-play-minecraft/962617/155 "2023-12-14T15:21:30Z")

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I haven’t played Minecraft since I played with my son maybe 7 years ago. After reading this thread, I’m inspired to pick it back up again. I’m going to have to start from scratch, though. Wonder what’s changed since 2017?

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**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2023, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-decided-to-play-minecraft/962617/156 "2023-12-14T16:48:51Z")

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Ooh, some fun stuff has been added.

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**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2023, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-decided-to-play-minecraft/962617/157 "2023-12-14T17:06:28Z")

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A couple of really big ones:

Village and pillage 2019 greatly expanded what villagers can do, and added villager-like enemies.

Nether update 2020 rewrote the nether, with 5 different biomes, new creatures, and new nether-trees.

Caves & cliffs update in 2021 rewrote the generation of the overworld. The mountains are taller and steeper, and there are new types of caves. It’s really gorgeous.

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**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2023, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-decided-to-play-minecraft/962617/158 "2023-12-14T18:04:38Z")

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> [@puzzlegal](#):
>
> there are new types of caves. It’s really gorgeous

NEW types of caves? sounds intriguing. I think I heard about the different biomes. May have actually seen a few screen shots online of a desert and maybe a swamp.

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**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2023, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-decided-to-play-minecraft/962617/159 "2023-12-14T18:15:41Z")

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Yes, in addition to caves that are basically just holes in other biomes, there are dripstone caves and lush caves that are their own biome. The lush caves, in particular, are gorgeous, and include a bunch of plants and some animals unique to that biome. Dripstone caves also look cool, and dripstone has certain useful properties. (You can use it make a really simple lava farm, for example.) There’s also a new biome called “the deep dark” with a new boss and a lot of blocks that have interesting properties if you are into redstone. (I’m not especially into redstone, and haven’t played with those.)

I like that it’s a sand box with a lot of different ways to play. I like to explore, and I’m super excited to finally have elytra. But i also have some stuff i want to build, which is why i want a lot of shulker boxes.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2023, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-decided-to-play-minecraft/962617/160 "2023-12-18T07:14:08Z")

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As I just found out,

PSA: Microsoft bought Minecraft about seven years ago, and they no longer honor game licenses for the original PC version. There was a window where they would transfer your account and license to a Microsoft account but the window is now closed. Either yesterday or today, December 18, 2023, is apparently the very last day Microsoft is offering consolation licenses for people who missed the window.

[https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/19615552270221#h\_01HAN3HSNGX3234WCNJ1G35BDK](https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/19615552270221#h_01HAN3HSNGX3234WCNJ1G35BDK)

> **From website: I missed my chance to migrate. What now? (click to show/hide)**
>
> > ## I missed my chance to migrate. What now?
> > 
> > While you’ve missed the chance to migrate your Mojang account, we still want you to enjoy Minecraft: Bedrock Edition and Minecraft: Java Edition. Through the following process, we’re providing you with one more chance to play.
> > 
> > While you won’t be able to keep your skins, progress, or Java profile name, you can complete the following post-migration process before **December 18, 2023** to experience Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition for PC with a Microsoft account:
> > 
> > 1. Log-in with your Mojang account email address [here](https://minecraft.net/login).
> > 2. Click on the ‘verify Mojang account email address’ button.
> > 
> > - Enter your Mojang account email address. Next, click ‘Get Code’ and a code will be sent to your Mojang email.
> > - Enter the code.
> > 
> > 1. Enter a Microsoft account email address.
> > 
> > - This email address can be from a new or existing Microsoft account that you own.
> > - Click ‘Submit Request’.
> > 
> > 1. Check the box next to ‘I understand that my Mojang account will be deactivated’.
> > 
> > - Double-check that the Microsoft account email displayed is correct.
> > 
> > 1. Click ‘Finish’.
> > 2. Receive an email confirming that we’ve granted your Microsoft account an entitlement to Minecraft: Java Edition and Minecraft: Bedrock Edition.
> > 3. Download the free Minecraft Launcher through either [Minecraft.net](http://Minecraft.net) or the Microsoft Store. [This article](https://help.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/4412261881229#h_01GXBWAWCWXEHQ9W7KWGXZJE9V) provides more details on how to download the Launcher.
> > 4. Log into your Microsoft account through the Launcher and check that you have access to both Java and Bedrock.
> > 
> > **Note: Child accounts will need assistance from their parent accounts to complete this process.**
> > 
> > As migration is now over, Minecraft Support will no longer assist with any migration related tickets.

~Max

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