You've Got Mail!!!

And it's being delivered by our very own postal piggy, Hermes!  If you see Hermes randomly spawn to you, right click him -- he'll give you your letters.

To start writing a letter, open up chat by hitting 't' and type "/letter" followed by your message.  When you're finished with your letter, type "/post (username)".  

Hermes will make his round every 30 minutes.  You can also drop your written letters into chests or hang them on walls with item frames.  

Here's a tutorial video if you need more help:

Server Status Update

Current list of civilizations:

------------------------------------------------------------------

Stoneheart  400,500

Led by robertej09

------------------------------------------------------------------

Oblivion  -100,-115

Led by Nissan24zero24

------------------------------------------------------------------

Zotterdale  1100,800

Led by ltaggz3

------------------------------------------------------------------

CRMville  -300,-900

Led by CRM31367

------------------------------------------------------------------

Haven  -400,500

Led by tpeep

------------------------------------------------------------------

Settlements & Independents: 

Auriel  -280,-2

Paccina  1020,-420

Mourningwood  1650,-660

Sanctuary  -240,-200

Smoulderhelm  0,800

Koldby -750,350 - Player

Mal's Place -613,-151 - Player

------------------------------------------------------------------

Make a Town Page

Our lovely Nikki (DynamicDolphin) has suggested that each group have the opportunity to create their own page for the site!  To get started, head over to this page (located under "Community Directory" on the right) and fill out the form.  You supply the text and Otter will do the rest!

If you are web savvy, you can also create your own webpage on a different provider and Otter will link it for you under the directory.  Some examples of free hosts you can use are:

• Weebly
• http://www.weebly.com/
• Free Website Builder
• http://www.webs.com/
• Wix
• http://www.wix.com/
• Yola
• https://www.yola.com/
• Webklik (Dutch)
• http://www.webklik.nl/

Or, if you would prefer something a little more user friendly, you can opt for a social media blog:

• Tumblr
• https://www.tumblr.com/
• Facebook Pages
• https://www.facebook.com/pages/create/
• Twitter
• https://twitter.com/
• Blogspot
• https://www.blogger.com/home

Finally, if you haven't already, don't forget to create a banner for your group.  It's a great way to advertise and get more members, keep your group organized, and let others know about the goings on in your sub-community.

Create a banner!

Here are some fancy examples of what our community has already.

Collect ALL the Heads!

Last week we put up a poll about having mob heads added as a rare drop and the results were overwhelmingly positive!

• Yes, collect ALL the mob heads!
• 17 (85%)
• No! More vanilla!
• 0 (0%)
• I don't care.
• 3 (15%)
• Maybe, but I have concerns (tell Z or Otter).
• 0 (0%)

You can now collect mob heads by slaying either hostile mobs or animals.  Please note that player heads are NOT available as we do not want to encourage unwanted PvP.  Here's a list of all the mobs dropping heads.:

• Skeleton
• Zombie
• Creeper
• Blaze
• Cave Spider
• Chicken
• Cow
• Enderman
• Ghast
• Magma Cube 
• Mooshroom
• Pig 
• Zombie Pigman
• Sheep 
• Slime 
• Spider 
• Squid 
• Wither Skeleton

Some are more rare than others.  If the mob is very easy to farm/grind (chickens, skeletons, etc.), it's head is going to be more rare than a mob that is not (ghasts, mooshrooms, etc.).

A new poll has also been posted about adding DW pads to settlements.  Share your thoughts!

1.7.9 Update!

Our server has been updated to 1.7.9!  Yay!  

This means you will have to update your launcher profile to get in.
  
1. Open Minecraft Launcher
2. In the bottom left there is a button called "Edit Profile"
3. Near the bottom is a section called "User Version." Select "release 1.7.9"
4. Click "Save profile"
5. Launch Minecraft by clicking "Play."

Also, we had a slight hiccup for those who logged in during a 6 hour period yesterday.  If this was you and you lost items from your inventory, please grab a book from spawn and report what was lost.  Otter and Z will reimburse you.

1.7.7 Log-in Troubles

Minecraft recently had an update which means some server and resource pack woes.  Our server has not yet updated to the most recent version which means you'll have to temporarily downgrade to 1.7.5 if you want to play.  ThePunisher1028 posted a nifty step by step instructions to help with this:

For those who still cannot connect. The server has been kept on a 1.7.5 Server. In order for you to connect to the server follow these steps.
1. Open Minecraft Launcher
2. In the bottom left there is a button called "Edit Profile"
3. Near the bottom is a section called "User Version." Select "release 1.7.5"
4. Click "Save profile"
5. Launch Minecraft by clicking "Play."

You should now be able to connect to Gazer Craft's server.

Thanks, ThePunisher1028!

Results Are In! New Poll!

Poll results are in!  We asked if you thought we should reset the Nether, and here's what you had to say:

Yes, materials have become scarce.
7 (38%)

Not yet, let's wait until 1.8.
8 (44%)

No, I've built a lot in the current nether.
1 (5%)

I'm not sure.
2 (11%)

I have another concern (tell Z or Otter).
0 (0%)

The general consensus seems to be asking us to hold off until 1.8, so we will revisit the issue when 1.8 is released (probably next month).  In the mean time, a new poll is up!  This one is about mob heads.

Should we install a plugin that makes it possible to collect mob heads?

Mob heads are technically vanilla (you can get them in the creative inventory) but there is no way to get them when playing survival (except for wither skulls).  There are plugins that make all mob heads available as rare drops when mobs are killed -- even players!  Do you think this would be a good plugin to have on our server, or do you think it would take away from the "vanilla-ness" we're going for?  Share your thoughts in the comments and place your vote on the right!

Advertise Your Place!

Would you like a way to advertise your group for free?  Rank (city, settlement, independent tribe, etc.) doesn't matter -- all are welcome to participate!  Create an banner for your group and it will be randomly appear at the top of the server's website as people browse through the pages.

Here's what you do:

1. Right click and save this template.  
   
2. All banner ads must be no larger than 830x50 pixels and should be in the shape of a rounded rectangle.  Transparent backgrounds are appreciated so we don't have those white squared off corners.
3. Create your image.  This can consist of screen shots, words, or your own graphics.  The ad must use appropriate language and images.  While our server chat has a PG-13 rating, banner ads should be G to PG rated.
4. Your group's name must be visible on the ad.  It's also recommended that you include your group's coordinates. 
5. Please do not put the rank of your group (settlement, village, town, city, etc.), just the name.  This way, if your group gets promoted/demoted, you will not have to redo the entire image or have an outdated banner ad.  
6. Save your image as a .gif.  
7. Contact Otterun to figure out how to send the image to her.  

We can't wait to see your amazing banners!

If you need help getting started, try Googling a banner generator.  Here are some free sites you can try:

Banner Fans
http://www.bannerfans.com/banner_maker.php 

Fotor Banner Maker
http://banner.fotor.com/

HTML5 Animation
http://html5maker.com/

Webestools
http://www.webestools.com/banner-animated-maker-generator-gif-banners-free-online.html

We're Back!

Gazer is back!  Here is our new IP:

198.27.82.18:25580

Potential Downtime + New IP Address

Just as a quick note, our server will be getting an upgrade within the next 48 hours.  This should help with lag issues and the unexpected time outs.

Our data and files will all remain in tact, but there will be a short amount of downtime while the upgrade is taking place (IT says it should be a matter of minutes).  This upgrade will cause our Server IP address to change.  I will post the new IP address here and on the forums as soon as I'm given the new address.

If you have any questions, please contact Otterun on Skype, the Minecraft forums, or post a comment here.

Community Project #1

While server life can offer a new perspective on Minecraft, it is not immune from becoming dull when you've finished your won projects and collected all the materials you wanted.  To help pull us all out of these doldrums, Z and Otter would like to introduce...

For this first community project, we will all be banding together to build a horse race track!  This track will have an oblong course for horses to run on, redstone powered gates, a stadium for spectators, a greenway in the middle of the course, and a club house for vendors.  Please see our Community Project page for more information!

April Fool's!

Upon logging in yesterday, you may have noticed the server welcome message encouraging you to go to Mordor to find diamond blocks and amazing rewards!  You may have also noticed that it was a trick.  The only prizes to be found were colored wool blocks that looked like gem blocks along with sillily named tools and items.

The Mordor prank was nothing compared to the prank Minecraft pulled on all of us!  They updated their forums with an "April Apology" where they told us about their commitment to seriousness.  Upon playing the game, it was quickly discovered that this was a trick.  All player skins were gone and replaced with testificate villagers!  Our Minecraft characters also noisily narrated everything they saw and did and even hummed along to the occasional background tune.

What was your favorite part about Minecraft's prank yesterday?