Minecraft 1.4 Updates (April Fools)
Hey everyone!
I've started some preliminary work on the migration, and I have some updates:
1) Minecraft 1.4 Vanilla appears to work 100%.
Thankfully, I have tested the vanilla 1.4 on Eagleworld.net with no bugs. So far, so good!
2) Craftbukkit appears to let the server start, but it is very buggy.
It looks as though craftbukkit has been updated, so Minecraft does in fact load on 1.4. However, we are probably going to have to wait for the next recommended build for it to be stable enough for use. There are a few bugs, which might affect plugins from working properly.
3) Essentials plugin is riddled with bugs.
Unfortunately, Essentials currently is a mess. It runs, but with some bugs:
- Server will occasionally crash unexpectedly
- Wolves will not work.
- Your iConomy data might get deleted unexpectedly and you will lose your Talons.
- You will occasionally get spawned into the Nether.
- Chat sometimes doesn't work
- Attempting to purchase from a store will occasionally delete your player inventory.
- Ore blocks when placed (such as iron or diamond ore) will occasionally disappear.
These are bugs that are not going to get fixed for at least 6-8 weeks. Essentials requires a complete rewrite for this to work. I will however roll out the server before then so that we can play on 1.4. I know everyone is excited for that.
That's all I've got so far. I hope have more updates soon. With luck, the server might be running version 1.4 in another 3 weeks or so.
Other Updates
I have some other news: I'm suspending the Monthly Salary program. I've decided that monthly salaries just do not make sense on the server, as it does not work fairly towards those that work hard on the server. Instead, it promotes sloth and unfairly assists the poor on the server. I'm sure everyone will agree with me on this assessment.
Server Upgrade Progress
As per the post yesterday, I've updated the server upgrade schedule and showed what has been done so far and what is left to do. Feel free to check it out if you like.
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Preparing for Beta 1.4
Hey, everyone!
Since Beta 1.4 is expected to come any day now (possibly today), I thought it would be smart to post a few reminders for everyone about what they need to do and what they should expect over the next few days:
1. Get the latest Minecraft launcher if you have not yet done so.
This is important to do especially for the recent newcomers to Eagleworld. While the new installer has been out for a while, it is possible some of you might not have it yet. If you are using the launcher with news updates right in line, there's nothing you need to do. If you are using the older launcher (with just the login prompt), please make sure to get the new version on www.minecraft.net. Not doing so will leave you in a lurch come Beta 1.4, because...
2. Eagleworld.net will not automatically update to Beta 1.4.
I know this may disappoint a bunch of you, but this is the way it's going to need to be. After the last two beta updates, everyone gave me way too much stress and hassle over things I have little to no control over. I'm not going to go through that again. Instead, the server will stay running on Beta 1.3 until it is good and ready. This means...
3. Do not upgrade to Beta 1.4 if you wish to play on Eagleworld.
Simple as that. If this disappoints you, I am not going to fret over it. Like I said before, my previous attempts at accommodating everyone were met with harsh criticism and very impatient nagging. Remember that this is beta software, and every plugin we use/depend-on breaks every time Minecraft is updated. If you simply cannot wait for Beta 1.4, either back-up your install or forget playing on Eagleworld until 1.4 is rolled out on it. I simply can't please everyone, and I'm not attempting to do so anymore.
4. I do not want constant nagging about the updates.
Every time the server's been updated or something broke, people just don't leave me alone about it. If something isn't working or updated on the server, it's either out of my control, or I simply haven't had enough time to do it yet. I do not offer time-frames or ETA's in any way, because I am not committing myself to any form of deadline. I can promise you that asking me a million times about it will NOT make me go any faster. In fact, the opposite might happen.
To make a long story short, if you want to nag me about the update or criticize how long it takes, don't expect an answer you will like. Let me work at my own pace and I promise you it will get done as fast as my spare time and mental health will allow.
5. Check the blog regularly to stay informed.
In exchange for your not-nagging me about Beta 1.4, I'll make sure you're not kept in the dark about what's going on. As long as I have any information to pass along to the players, I will make sure I give an update about it. While I can't give ETA's on how long it'll take, I can at least make sure you know what has been done and what there is left to do.
6. Here's the basic upgrade plan I'm going to follow.
If you're really interested in what I actually have to do to get this going, take a look at my basic upgrade plan below. Otherwise, just skip it. Note that these steps are linear and require the previous steps to be done before I can work on them:
| Spoiler Inside: Minecraft Beta 1.4 Upgrade Plan | |
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If you bothered to read the list, you can see it's a lot of work to upgrade the server. Eight of these steps are necessary just to bring the server up on Beta 1.4. After that, there's still a lot of pushing and pulling needed to bring the server back to full functionality. Hopefully this upgrade won't as bad as upgrading to 1.3 was (almost 50 hours of labor), but I'm not holding my breath.
Promotions and Player Shops
Hey, everyone!
Well, I've got some fun updates for all...I'll do this in order.
Promotions
I promoted a good amount of people tonight...just to recognize those that have shown that they can be trusted to have a good time and not screw around with others... 
Here's the list:
- ZackBlaze164 - Architect
- Thel337Spy - Architect
- XmetroidfanX - Architect
- MrKindLife - Architect
- _Nod_ - Architect
- Peturd - Architect
- SittingTurtl3 - Architect
- Jon_Lupen - Artisan
- Darkseeker - Artisan
- SanctusTerra - VIP
- EG_SpaceNinJA - Moderator
- Runninghobo - Administrator
Yes, we finally have a second Admin! He can approve new members, rollback griefing problems, and do all the big stuff like me. Now we have two admins and three mods, here to help you on Eagleworld!
Player Shops
Player Shops are finally back! Thankfully, the commands are simpler than they were before, so it should be nice and easy for all! Please check the Help Page for the basic list of commands. There ARE more commands, though, so visit the LocalShops plugin page ( here for more info.
Note that the Capitol City Marketplace is designed specifically to work nicely with the LocalShops plugin. All citizens of Eagleworld are allowed to have a shop in Capitol City. You will find 12x12 plots outlined in red torches all throughout the marketplace. Find an empty plot and build your store. Just stay inside the torches!
Once your store is built, see an admin to create your store. Once your shop is opened, you can start adding stock and selling your goods!
I hope everyone is pleased with the new player shops and promotions. I'm always trying to make Eagleworld a better place! Enjoy!
Plugin Updates
Well, I managed to buckle down for a few hours (once everyone logged off the server) and get some plugin work done. Most of the work revolved around updating all the plugins and bringing them to the latest version. Here's a synopsis of what was done on the server last night:
- Craftbukkit is still at the same version. While a new recommended version came out, no plugins are ready to support it, yet.
- LWC upgraded to the latest version. Minor bugfixes.
- iConomy was upgraded to 4.4.7. Doesn't really change anything on this server, except prepare us for future iConomy plugins.
- CreativeStick (formerly iStick) upgraded. Now, when you toggle it on, it'll spawn you a stick if you don't have one. Also, if you have sticks in your inventory somewhere, it'll swap them with your current hotbar slot so you have instant access. This one will help you mods out greatly.
- FlatEarth plugin installed. This gives us back the flat bedrock at the bottom layer that BedrockGapInsurance provided. It automatically works when players roam around the bottom of the Earth, so no user intervention is necessary.
I also managed to work on the SimpleShop bug where item ID's did not work. It turned out the items.db file I had used the wrong format, so after switching to a newer format, I'm happy to announce that item names work again in the Global Shop. If you are unsure about what name to type, don't worry. The Global Shop Page has the exact name that works with the plugin. Just type in whatever is on the page, omitting any spaces in the name. Also, if you're a glutton for pain, the item ID's still work.
Anyway, that's all I have for now, and all I might have for a while. Honestly, I can't really take running this server much more like this. It gives me too much stress and between the hard work, the unrelenting questions/complaints I get, and just the plain ungrateful behavior I get from some of you. Even after I spend over $100 of my own money to upgrade the server to make it run faster for everyone, and I still get problems from people every day. It seems like some of you really go out of your way to show that you just don't give a shit.
It has gotten to the point where I can't even sign on just to do some mining without scrutiny. I can't even play the game anymore, and I have to deal with abrasiveness all around. It really takes a toll on me, and I can't take it much longer.
So, I don't know how much more work I'm going to do on the server for a while. I'll keep it up and running and up to date, but don't expect me to kick my own ass to roll out new plugins and changes for a while. Expect me to take longer to do things and to be promptly ignored when you bitch at me for the 200th time in a row about player shops. I'm seriously at the point where I am ready to stop caring about it altogether.
Promotions and New SSD
Hey, everyone!
Just two quick announcements, here... First one is about the new solid-state drive I've installed in Delorean to handle Minecraft's heavy disk load. This should GREATLY increase performance on the server. While I have only noticed lagging or performance issues during peak hours (when about 15 people are playing at once) and when massive amounts of items are on the ground, this should help with both issues.
However, please note that the item drops also take up CPU, so please do not litter. It WILL lag the server.
Also, let me formally annonce the player promotions that took place recently! While most of you know about all the promotions, I might as well put it out there formally:
- KRazedgameR42 - VIP
- SilentCobra - Artisan
- Melany23 - Architect
- Nephylim - Architect
- SafetyMoose - Architect
- tim3bandit57 - Architect
- ugonalose - Architect
If you didn't get promoted, don't worry. I have more promotions down the pipeline. Stay tuned next weekend for more promotions!
IMPORTANT UPDATES
UPDATE: Just for clarification, when I say the "latest Minecraft launcher," I mean the one that has the news updates in it. It was released about a month ago but I noticed a lot of players still play on the old one.
Hey, everyone! I've got two updates for you people here. The first one is a minor change, but the second one is a big deal. Please please please make sure you read this post fully.
First, the small update...
Updates to the Essentials Plugin
I updated Essentials this morning to a more current version. This fixes a bunch of issues we were having. Most issues were on the back and and were causing memory leaks and performance issues. The noticable differences for players is that you will no longer lose your rank and color when you teleport and move to the Nether. Mods should now see all item alerts as they are supposed to. Also, I believe /antioch should work correctly now. Feel free to test.
There is one big drawback to this update, though: EssentialsChat, which gives us our nice pretty ranks, changed its behavior recently, which breaks the Mayor/King title that shows up in front of names. Please do not whine. I'll fix it when I can. I tried updating Towny as well to no avail. The stability we get on the server is a welcomed gain over losing the stupid titles.
And now, the big one...
New Minecraft Installer - a MUST for Eagleworld players
I'm announcing today that all players must download the new Minecraft installer available on www.minecraft.net. This is not just because it looks so pretty and has the stupid news updates. The new installer has a big advantage over the old: it does not force you to install Minecraft updates. So, why is this important?
Next Minecraft update, Eagleworld will not automatically update. Period. Yes, this means you have to wait to update Minecraft until Eagleworld is safely on the latest version. However, this will make the difference between having a server and not having a server to play on once the update breaks Bukkit and all of the plugins.
It is hard enough keeping the server running at close to 100% uptime on a beta product supported by volunteer, third-party plugins, but when I have to deal with constant nagging and complaints that the server is not up, it makes it all the harder. At least this way, the server will be 100% functional (albeit on the old version) while I have a chance to work.
I normally don't to "TL:DR's, but this one requires it. Here's your TL:DR:
Download the latest Minecraft installer if you have not yet done so.
Do not automatically update Minecraft next update. Wait for Eagleworld to catch up.
Trust me, folks...everyone (especially my sanity) will benefit from this. Thanks!
EagleWorld gets back iConomy!
Hello, everyone!
Well, I'm proud to announce that we now have iConomy available for use in Eagleworld! It required some server tweaking, but I got it done easily enough. We're now on the latest updates of both iConomy and SimpleShop, and the economy is ready to go!
Please note, however, there is one hitch: ITEM NAMES DO NOT WORK IN THE STORE. You will need to use the item's data value to purchase the item. For convenience, I have placed the item's data value next to its name in the Global Shop page. Use that as a handy reference for the data value you need. Please no complaining. There is nothing I can do about it until Niji patches it. I and others have made her aware and she will take care of it in due time.
Basic Commands
For all of the command information that you need, please refer to the Help Page. Check out the iConomy section and you will get all of the info you need. Also note there are no player shops yet. So, the Proprieter Commands do not work.
New Player Salaries
As I stated earlier, I will be giving players monthly salaries for playing on the server. The new montly salaries for players are as follows:
- Builder - 500 Talons
- Architect - 600 Talons
- Artisan - 750 Talons
- VIP - 1000 Talons
- Mod - 1500 Talons
- Admin - 2500 Talons
As I said before, I don't give myself a salary. I have the Admin salary listed in case I appoint Admins in the future.
To obtain your salary, you simply ask me for it while you are logged on the server. This way you need to play at least once per month to get your Talons. Also note that if you have just joined the server as of March, you will not get Talons this month. Your starting balance reflects your monthly salary.
February Salaries
If you were unable to get your February salary because of the server downtime, I am giving a 1 week extension to those that had not yet received it. Just ask me for it and you shall receive. Note that February salaries will be based on the old salaries (500Tl for Member, 750 for VIP).
Lastly, player Talons
I might not have time to import all player net worths before you have a chance to log in. If you log in and your Talons are the default (500), just chill. I'll fix it soon. I'd prefer you not buy or sell stuff beforehand just to make my life easier.
Otherwise, enjoy iConomy's long-awaited return!
Craftbukkit, Towny, BigBrother, and iConomy Updated!
Hi, everyone!
Well, it's been a few days since I've updated, as I haven't really had any updates to give you. Nothing really changed as far as improvements or bugfixes go, but I have a recent update which I'm glad to announce:
Craftbukkit has been updated from Build 440 to Build 493! This may not sound exciting, but it has certain improvements that come with it:
- More stability overall
- Better chunk loading during warps
- Better support for certain plugins
The last bulletpoint is a good one...we have some new mods installed:
- iStick is now installed for Mods/Admins
- WorldEdit is now removed to increase server speed
- BigBrother is now updated for better undo support
- iConomy 4.3.3 is now installed
- TownyMod is now upgraded as well.
iConomy is running and the /money command works, but everyone's net worth is not 100% yet. I still have to install SimpleShop to get the Global Shop back up and running. Once that is ready, you will be able to buy and sell goods from the server once again!
Player Shops still do not have a viable method for me to install. I am still looking.
One last thing...this is important for Town Mayors/Assistants to read: Towny now supports citizen plots. Originally, all of the land you claimed for your town was considered owned by you. Now, all of the plots are unowned. You will need to work out town plots between you and your citizens. Unfortunately, since we weren't following this from the start, people's property might not cleanly fall into town blocks. So, there's really not much we can do about that.
To get more info about TownyMod's new commands, check out the master command list on their webpage: LINK. It'll show the info about how to work with plots and the like.
In the meantime, we are one step closer to having iConomy back! I will work on it more tomorrow once I get the time to do so. I would have had it done tonight, but I got derailed too many times by user requests. So, I'll try for tomorrow!
A Ghastly Update
Hey everyone!
I've worked a few more hours on the server (brings me up to 45 in total for this Bukkit migration...), and brought you a few new updates:
Mod Adjustments
I was using WorldGuard in order to restrict TNT, Flint and Steel, and Lava for non-Artisan/VIP members. It is a huge plugin, and I was using it for a very minute purpose. As such, I migrated the item protection over to EssentialsProtect, which is a subset of the comprehensive Essentials plugin.
This has streamlined the server quite a bit and reduced the load on it. Unfortunately, this has removed two useful commands from our arsenal, /stack and /locate. I like the functionality of /stack, though, and plan on bringing it back sometime in the future. Stay tuned.
In regards to iStick, I have found a potential successor to the plugin, called CreativeStick. Hopefully it will become stable and let me get rid of WorldEdit. WorldEdit is huge and bloaty, and getting rid of it will streamline the server even more.
Blog/Help Page Updates
I've tweaked the Help Page a bit more to reflect some changes and make sure people don't get confused. I still have to work on all of the plugin sections, so stay tuned for those.
iConomy Updates
Everyone has their mind on iConomy, so let me give you an update on what's going on. First off, I have updated iConomy on the server to version 4.2, which is rather stable and seems to have all the basic money commands (like /money pay and /money top) running quite smoothly. I have updated a lot of player net worths, so /money at least looks sort of what it used to look like. I still have to do importing work, though.
As far as a Global Shop, the solution is evident: SimpleShop. It works similarly to the old iConomy iCShop plugin, but only for the Global Store. It will at least let people buy/sell their items. As far as installing it goes, I will need to wait for it to get updated. There are preliminary versions that are compatible with iConomy 4.2, so it's just a matter of waiting for a stable release. Be patient, and it'll be back soon!
One more thing...
Oh yeah. Since I can't placate your iConomy needs tonight, I've implemented one little change which might please a bunch of you...
The Nether-realms have come to Eagleworld.
It's really easy to get to...just use /world to switch from Eagleworld to the Nether. Portals won't work for it, as they screw things up and spawn additional portals everywhere...really annoying and stupid. Rather, just use /world to get to the Nether, and /world to get back to Eagleworld. When you use the command, it'll bring you to either map's spawn point. In the Nether, I have created a safehouse made of adminium that'll protect you from Ghasts and Pig Zombies. However, the second you venture outside of it...beware.
And before I get a million complaints, there ARE a few bugs with the Nether. For example, your nice name color (and rank prefix) will disappear when you use the /world command. You will either have to live with it or log out and log back in every time you switch worlds. Also, the Ghast missiles do not display on-screen. You'll just see the explosion around you once it's already happened. I can't do anything about it, so don't ask me to, please.
So, have fun with the Nether! You'll be able to see the map of the Nether from the dynmap page as well (just like you can with Eagleworld). Enjoy!
Server and Blog Updates
Hey, everyone!
Well, I am proud to announce that I had a few hours between Sunday and tonight (bringing me up to 40 hours of work total so far on the Bukkit migration) to bring a few new features to the server! This is all part of an ongoing effort to make Eagleworld the best Minecraft server possible that can handle all of your Minecraft needs! Here's what I've done:
Monsters
Monsters are now enabled on the server! Also, since toggling this variable has taken the server out of peaceful mode, auto health regeneration is now disabled. So, all of a sudden, food and armor are no longer useless on the server.
However, those of you that like the peace, don't worry. I've disabled creeper block damage, so land and buildings are safe (you can die from creepers though). Also, TownyMod will clean up monsters that are inside towns, so you are guaranteed monster-free inside a town. Lastly, TownyMod will regenerate your health inside a town, just like peaceful mode did.
Long story short, the survival aspect of Minecraft is back, but it is only in the Wilderness. You city-dwellers are safe.
Blog Updates
The plethora of new features that Bukkit has brought to us can be daunting and complicated. However, I have taken the time to update the Help Page that provides a list of all of the new commands. They are organized by rank, so everyone will know what commands they have access to. I have not yet updated the LWC, Towny, and iConomy sections, but I will eventually.
So, click the Help Page link in the header above (or the last paragraph) to get a detailed list of all basic commands you now have access to!
and lastly...
A New Dynamic Server Map!
Since Minecraft Beta 1.3 changed the map format, we have lost the ability to use Cartograph for our daily map snapshots. However, Dynmap, a Bukkit plugin, takes server mapping to a new level. I have provided a link to the dynamic map on the right hand side of the page (you can also click here).
When you load the page, you will see an up-to-date server map that updates dynamically as users change it. You can navigate the map by clicking and dragging just like you would on Google Maps. You can zoom in or out with the zoom bar on the top left of the page, or by using your mouse's scroll wheel.
The server also shows who is online with the popup menu on the right. You will see the users' locations on the map as well, their locations updating in realtime. The popup menu on the right also lets you see underground locations on the map, as well as hone in on specific users.
Lastly, the dynamic map lets you see the active in-game chat, as well as participate in it! This way, even if you can't play Minecraft, you can keep in touch with your buddies in-game.
I hope these new update provide more fun gameplay for everyone. Creatures in-game will definitely bring new life to gameplay and make hard to obtain items (such as gunpowder) more accessible to the adventurous. Also, Towny has made it possible for you pacificts to still have fun without the dangers of monsters.
The only thing I ask is that if you have not read the previous post yet, PLEASE DO SO. There are TONS of server updates that you will need to know to prepare yourself for the Bukkit version of Eagleworld.net. It's a long read, but I promise you will find the information helpful.
Anyway, have fun with the new features, and let me know if you have any issues. I know the server's been rocky for a while, so spread the word and get players back to Eagleworld, so we can all have fun again!