2001

Yeah, it’s fixable, but it’s still annoyingly immersion-breaking. I like solving engineering problems in the game’s world, but this particular one just feels too much like I’m working around an implementation bug.

2002

That’s sorta true. It’s working correctly, it just goes against common sense.

2003

I’m not sure why notch changed that. His original implementation worked much better. Having spring blocks spawn even if there was a water block underneath worked much better. It was even possible to dam up a valley without too much work.

2004

I think the previous implementation made it too easy to flood an entire world from a single spring block. Erm, as long as it was flat.

2005

Regarding Wholly Schmidt’s question…

Marker solutions work pretty well for me until the moment I get turned around and confuse myself. Do you guys go a step further and create waypoints pointing to other waypoints, within a deep cavern?

Ladder shafts to the surface are also an option that has occurred to me on occasions where I think I might end up getting lost, but that seems like a potentially costly, inefficient and probably overkill one (or at least, in that context).

I still spend the vast majority of my Minecraft time on the surface. I bet some clever entrepreneur could make a killing off of Minecraft therapy. (“So tell me about these caverns you mentioned.”)

2006

I’ve never had a cavern quite that deep, I guess. I did find one that branched in 3 directions - I promptly walled off two branches and continued until the first one petered out, then repeated with the others.

Or at least attempted to - the middle one turned out to have subsystems and lava and creepers and DOOM. Still exploring it, but I never felt like I was lost in it, really. I just torch the crap out of every place I explore, and if I find a dark passage, I clearly haven’t visited it yet …

2007

My strategy has changed after suggestions is this thread, with regard to finding one’s way out of large caves. I try to place torches on my left as I explore and keep them on the right to get out. This almost always works. Combined with the occasional wooden sign and liberal use of picks to open confusing areas up. Pretty much works to keep myself from getting lost these days. Also, even underground I carry a compass. I have to say it would be easier if there were a bit more variety of block types.

2008

If I find a new tunnel or cave I want to explore at a later date, I mark it with two torches, one above the other. When I do finally decide to explore the path, I take one torch down on my way in.

2009

Uhm, yeah that looks pretty awesome. Can’t wait to see the Halloween update…

2010

I’m going to give the “place torches on left” trick a try next time I boot up the game. I’ve been exploring this ridiculous cavern network that just doesn’t quit. Every time I think I’ve finally explored it all, I stop to grab a block of coal and break into a new section. I’ve been lost down there so many times, and lost so much loot to creeper and skeleton attacks.

I wish you could build an atomic bomb. I’d just drop it down that damn hole and be done with it. It’s the only way to be sure.

2011

I am tempted to use one of the maps editors, and make a map where all the air over the spawn is replaced by lava. So the player has to live underground forever. Maybe put in his inventory enough saplings, so he can start a tree farm.

2012

I hope that rare resources, IE: Diamonds are far more common in hell world.

Also, where is the post about DocLazy’s map and what are the rules and where to get it?

2013

I love how everyone switches to diamond gear before they take a screenshot. Even in a game as basic as Minecraft people can’t resist saying “dude, check out my phat loot”.

I also switched to my only iron implement (sword) before I took the screenshots of my Motte and Bailey BTW, so I’m guilty as anyone.

2014

I usually switch to something silly, like a flower or a porkchop.

2015

http://www.quartertothree.com/game-talk/showpost.php?p=2390803&postcount=1630

2016

Err… a diamond pick is pretty standard stuff. It’s not exactly hard to get and it’s the first thing anyone should make with diamond.

2017

Yeah I started using diamond tools a while back and I never looked back. If you’ve got a decent supply there’s no reason not to; the upgrade from iron in terms of wear & tear is just ridiculous.

2018

I’ve actually not found diamond in enough quantity to make anything yet. I’m just happy that the massive cave system I’m still exploring has provided piles of coal and more iron than I’ve ever seen before.

I actually had enough for some buckets, a full suit of armor, a compass and some tools. I still have almost no diamond.

I’m starting to think I just have crappy luck.

2019

I have found that if I use a little of the cobble stone I have gathered to seal up or build doorways to “dead ends” (fully explored areas) this helps greatly in reducing the lost factor.

If the cave system is obviously quite involved, I always lay a “main road” of those silver step blocks leading to my storage point. Then if I get lost, I only have to wander till I find that path. I always have spare wood blocks so that if I get lost but found lots of cool stuff, I build storage chests and offload things I want to save. Eventually I will find it again when I have better bearings.

2020

Is the developer of minecraft trying to create a group of people who are prepared to live underground? :)