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13Sep/1125

Pre-1.8 Preparations

Posted by EagleRock

Hey, everyone!

I am happy that so far everyone has unanimously approved of the map restart idea, so that is going to be what will happen to Eagleworld come 1.8.  I am already preparing for all the changes necessary once 1.8 is released.  Since I have a better idea of what's going to happen, I wanted to reiterate what I said in my last post with a bit more clarity, as well as provide a loose timeline of how this is going to roll out.

NOTE: I do apologize that this post is very long and verbose, but I'm putting all this information out there to ensure everyone is informed, and your questions are answered.  I'll update this post as more questions and need for clarifications arise.

Rollout Timeline

  1. Pre-1.8 Preparations
    • I am currently testing the pre-release 1.8 to see how the new features should be handled (new rules, necessary plugins/configs, etc.)
    • Users can finish up structures in the old world and gather resources or earn money to prepare for the new world
    • Users should consider what town they wish to join/found on the new map and prepare or help prepare the town applications
  2. Release-time changes
    • Once 1.8 is officially released, I will wait for a Bukkit release before I generate the new map, and ideally wait for Essentials to get updated as well (Essentials is vital to protecting against creepers/endermen/etc., and usually release the same day as Bukkit anyway)
    • Once Bukkit/Essentials are ready to go, I will implement these on the test server and select our chosen seed
    • I and Eagleworld Staff will help generate the new map as I install/configure all the new mods
    • While on the test server, no building will occur, except for me marking the location of the new Capitol City
    • Once the server is fully tested and ready for cut over, I will push out all the changes to production
    • I cannot guarantee a timeline for how long this will take, as it depends on Mojang, the Bukkit Team, and all our plugin developers, but I am hoping to get it done within a week of 1.8's release.  Again, however, a lot of this is dependent on other people, not me, so I can't give hard timelines.
  3. Migration to the new map
    • Towns will be officially selected and mayors will found their towns with my assistance
    • Members will move into their towns and help build town structures, as well as set up personal homes as well
    • Members will move all their items from the old world to the new, and select their structure to be moved, as well as the location (if possible)
  4. Building migration by Admins (if possible)
     

    • Users will select their structure to be migrated, and the location of the structure
    • If a structure is to be moved to a town, the mayor will need to approve of the location as well as the admins
    • Admins will then move the structure using WorldEdit as time allows (we are volunteers, after all)
    • Note that users that opt to move their structures into a town will get a bonus.
    • Additionally, users that opt to not move a structure at all will get an even larger bonus
    • I'll decide on the bonuses after I can determine whether or not this is even possible
  5. Lockdown of the old map and finalization of move
    • Once the active users are moved over to the new world, I will make the old one immutable, as to preserve it
    • I will ensure warps remain active (I might rename them for clarity purposes)
    • I will attempt to ensure things such as redstone, mine carts, and the like work in the world, but can't give a guarantee
    • If users come back after a while and wish to reclaim their items/building, I will deal with those on a case-by-case basis.

Rule/Policy Changes

As far as what's going to change/stay the same, here's what I have so far:

Inside Towns

  • Mayors will be responsible for controlling towns as usual, but assistants will need to be run by me in the future
  • Mayors will need to allow for me to put one highway and at least one subway station in their town (the width will be equal to one towny block (16 blocks), and leave the area above/below it for my use (signs, subways, etc.)
  • Mayors are strongly encouraged to use the town plot system to allow for residents to control their own buildings
  • Mayors are strongly encouraged to allow residents to build all their structures inside the town, as opposed to in the wilderness
  • Naturally, towns will have a large demand for space, and will be allowed to get much larger than on the old map
  • I will make it easy for towns to expand to fulfill their needs, as well as ensure towns are far enough apart to not feel cramped for space

The Wilderness

  • The wilderness will remain free to build, but all users are encouraged to build their structures primarily inside towns
  • I will encourage the wilderness to be used more for exploration and mining, or for special structures/creations that are not fitting for a town
  • Since Strongholds will be limited on maps (currently set to 3 according to Jeb's latest remarks), I will make sure Eagleworld's Strongholds are preserved for all users to see and explore (however, the person that finds it will be allowed to loot the chests inside for items)
  • Since chests will now spawn in places like mine shafts, dungeons, and strongholds, unlocked chests in the wilderness will be allowed to be free game (this does NOT apply to chests in towns, public LWC chests, or chests inside an obvious player building)
  • Assuming I can find a way to do this, I will periodically wipe out parts of the wilderness that are solely used for resource gathering and allow for areas to regenerate to keep resources available on the map

The Economy

  • The economy will largely remain unchanged, as users will retain their items and Talons, and salaries are unaffected
  • A new marketplace will be created in Capitol City where users can set up stores (I have not yet decided how it will look...I might even make a mall or a bazaar that users can make stores in or something)
  • Old stores will be deleted, and users will get their stocked items back
  • As before, all players regardless of rank will be allowed to make a store in Capitol City
  • I will hopefully get the worldwide global shop working again, but if I cannot, another physical store will be created, similar to Walmart.

Maps/Warps/Dynmap

  • The new Eagleworld map will be a random seed based on a string symbolic to Eagleworld
  • I will not release the seed string, to encourage fair play and not allow users to scout for locations/resources
  • The Dynamic Map will stay as usual, and it will show the new map, old map, and the nether
  • Warps from the old world will be preserved but preceded with a string to differentiate the old warps from the new ones
  • Warps as usual will be given out by admins, and warps outside of towns will be created very sparingly

Blog/Users/Promotions/Advertising

  • I will revamp the New User and Server Info pages to simply them and include the updated information
  • Eagleworld will be promoted on both MC Server list and the Minecraft Forums to encourage new users to join
  • Users will still be tested to ensure trustworthy, mature players join the server
  • I will retain the referral system bonus for players
  • Users will still be promoted based on trustworthiness, maturity, and activeness on the server as usual (I am aware some of  you are overdue for promotions, but I will straighten that all out after 1.8 is out)

What I need from you

So far, everyone's been very good at voicing their opinions about this change, and I greatly appreciate your feedback so far.  If you have opinions or whatnot about this, please feel free to add a comment to this post.

I do have some other questions for everyone, and would appreciate you answering them:

  • How do you feel about the shift to building primarily in towns as opposed to the wilderness?
  • What would make you more willing to build in a town as opposed to sticking to the wilderness?
  • What is your opinion on creepers/endermen in the wilderness?
  • Do you have any concerns about 1.8 or the changes being made to Eagleworld?

Again, as before, I do take your opinions very seriously.  Also, your feedback has not just made decisions easier for me, but brought my attention to things I had not accounted on.  So please  speak up if you have something to say, as I want to ensure if we are going to make this huge change, I do it in the best way possible for everyone!

Thanks for your time!

 

8Sep/1155

Important: Should we start anew?

Posted by EagleRock

Hey, everyone!

Okay, I've got some plans down the pipeline, especially with 1.8 coming out, and I want to get a consensus from the active players on what to do.  I implore ALL of you to read this and leave at least one comment to have your voice heard, as this is important to you and your creations on Eagleworld.

Eagleworld has been running for almost a year, and the game has changed drastically since we started on Minecraft Alpha.  The game has introduced many new items, and the map format has changed drastically.  Additionally, 1.8 is going to have a large change to the map structure, including a much higher ceiling.  So, suffice it to say a lot of the spawned area Eagleworld has is, well, outdated.

Also, in that year, the players have done a damn good job of pillaging the land for all the good stuff.  :-)  So, after a year, the map has many good creations, but has a lot of "exploited territory" laying in ruin as well.  As such, now might be a good time to start anew.

Start anew?  Does that mean I lose all my crap?

Not exactly.  I'd like to get a consensus from the players as to whether or not they are okay with this first.  Second, all your creations and hard work would not just disappear.  As most of you know, I don't settle for second-best with how I run this place, so it would be a lot better than just dumping everything and starting anew.

Here's what will stay the same:

  • All members would retain their ranks, and there would be no change to that system at all.
  • All players would retain their Talons, and the banking system would be the same.
  • I will create a new Global Shop and let players create new player shops as I did before.
  • Players will be allowed to bring all of their items over to the new map.

Here is what will change:

  • Once 1.8 comes out, Eagleworld will be updated as per the normal update procedure.
  • Once the server is on 1.8, I will create a new map called Eagleworld2 (note the server can support multiple maps).
  • The nether's map will be purged and be started fresh.
  • Townymod data will be purged completely and new towns will be allowed to form on the new map.
  • Players will start playing on the new map, forming towns again.
  • All players are allowed to use their resources from the old map on the new one, but are recommended to not destroy their old creations, as the old map will be kept around.
  • Not Guaranteed - With the help of WorldEdit, Admins will allow players to select one building/structure of their choice to be copied to the new world.  For example, in my case, I would "copy" my mansion and bring it over to the new world.
  • Once the transition is complete, the old Eagleworld map will be frozen and exist as a museum.  This way, we can start anew, but you can still show off all your hard work to other players.

Here's what will happen to the towns:

  • All the old Towny data will be removed.  All players and towns will start fresh.
  • I will lay claim to the new Capitol City and mark the land first (hey, my server guys :-))
  • I encourage ALL active players to have a town to join.  I would rather more structure than not inside towns.
  • The new towns can be based off of old ones, or completely new ones can be formed...it's all up to you.
  • In terms of claiming space, I will make sure towns have the ability to claim the land they need, as I am aware we had problems with this in the past.
  • I will accept applications for new towns, but those towns need to have a definitive citizen list, mayor, location, theme, etc.
  • Everyone can apply, but realize the more organized groups/mayors will have a better chance than less organized ones.
  • Once we get settled on the new map, I encourage more players to set up home base inside towns, not scattered in the wilderness.  Wilderness building is fine, of course, but I would rather see towns be more active than less active.

What I need from you people

I need to know what people think about this.  It is going to take a lot of work to do this, but I believe it will be worth it,  However, it'll only be worth it if everyone is on-board with the idea, and people will actually play on the server.  Note that once we transition to 1.8 and the map is reset, I will start promoting the server more aggressively to bring in new blood.  So, I ask every player on the server to make a comment to this post! Your opinion is very important, so please make sure your voice is heard.

Please note the following in your comment:

  • Are you for or against this move for Eagleworld?  Please explain why/why not.
  • How important is the ability to copy a structure from the old world to the new one to you?
  • Would this move make you play more or less on Eagleworld?
  • Do you like or dislike that players will retain their items/Talons?
  • Do you like how the Towny system will be handled?
  • Finally, any additional comments/suggestions are welcome.

Like I said before, I am NOT doing anything without first getting a voice from the players, so don't worry about the changes just yet.  They will not take place until the server is on 1.8 anyway, so we have time to deliberate.  I want to get a feeling from the players first, and from there I can get a more definitive plan.

On that note, I welcome your comments/suggestions!  Please make sure to respond, as it is highly important I hear from everyone!  Thanks!

13Jul/113

Eagleworld updated to 1.7.3

Posted by EagleRock

Hey, everyone!

This is just a quick note that Eagleworld is now on version 1.7.3 of Minecraft. Feel free to update and join! Thankfully, the update went through without any averse regressions or bugs that I can see. Here's a quick synopsis of what I did:

  1. Minecraft SMP is now on 1.7.3 and up-to-date.
  2. The Piston Bugs (and the resulting dupe bugs) should be resolved.
  3. Craftbukkit is temporarily on a non-canon version put out by Dinnerbone, one of the head developers.  Once the Bukkit Team fixes all of the dev cycle problems they had due to the delay of the 1.7.3 update, they will release a recommended build and I will update accordingly.
  4. Essentials has been updated to the latest version and appears stable.  New commands, too!
  5. LWC is an all-new version, but the functionality appears to be the same, so no new commands to learn.
  6. CreativeStick is updated as well.  Functionality is pretty much the same.
  7. BigBrother is updated and caught up to the latest MC functionality.  Server protection is the same as it always was
  8. Dynmap is a new version!  Also, I've installed the Landmarks plugin to allow us to label things on the server.  I'm working out the details more, but you can see two examples at the spawn point and The Capitol.
  9. iConomy, LocalShops, Townymod, and FlatEarth are unchanged.  No new version, still work 100%.

I still need to update the help page so you can get a view of all the latest commands.  It's going to take me a while to parse through the whole thing and update it.  Honestly, I'm really tired and can't do it right now.  If you're that desperate to find out (which I suspect), go to the Essentials Command Guide and figure it out yourself for now.

And for those of you that thinks this is easy, it's not.  If you're bitching about why I don't have any new mods or that it took longer than you wanted, take a small look at some of the stuff I have to configure every time we update:

Spoiler Inside: Permissions Config File for Eagleworld
Spoiler Inside: Essentials Config File for Eagleworld

 

And these are just two configs out of the whole list I have.  Just two.   These are also in YAML format, which makes it more difficult.  While YAML is not difficult syntax, if you accidentally put one thing out of order (e.g. one of the subitems in a group is just ONE SPACE OFF, or if I use a tab instead of 4 spaces), the whole plugin will crash and cause the server to crash.  If that happens, I get to scour the logs to figure out which plugin crashed, then I get to scour through this entire file to find the one damn thing that's off.  It doesn't help that sometimes a tab can be disguised as spaces if they line up in my text editor.

Also, when it comes to configuring each plugin, I have to scour through the whole list of permissions (This is iConomy's for example, and this is a small one) for every updated plugin.  If any permissions have changed at all, I have to go through and revalidate all of the permissions for that plugin to make sure functionality won't break when I update.  It's tedious and slow.  And this is all AFTER I manage to get all of the plugins to work on the latest Minecraft SMP and Bukkit build.

Now, I get the fun of translating that permissions file you saw above into something you can use on the Help Page.  Otherwise, I'll get nothing but complaints that you can't do what you want to do.  So even after I'm done, I still get 5-10 hours of work scouring through this crap making sure the blog is updated.

This latest update took roughly 10 hours to do so far.  And no, this is not fun.  It's tedious, boring, mind-numbing, and painful.  Testing new plugins and actually playing the game is fun.  Unfortunately, both of those activities as of late tend to give me more work to do on the server...

One last thing: You can expect some more promotions this weekend, so stay tuned!

2Jul/112

1.7 Update, Promotions, Salaries, and Playing Admin

Posted by EagleRock

Hey everyone!

Here's a quadruple-whammy post for y'all tonight.  I have four major things to cover, but I'll try to keep it as succinct as possible:

1.7 Update News

Just so you are in the loop, yes, Craftbukkit does have a recommended build for Minecraft 1.7.2, and I can update at this point.  However, there are major bugs in the server app itself (not Bukkit) that cause dupe bugs and piston bugs.  The Bukkit team is strongly recommending not to update until this is fixed, and I tend to agree.  Here is the Bukkit team's blog post regarding the matter: link here.

So, the long story short is hold tight until this is resolved.  The good news is I can temporarily start working towards updating the server to get a head-start once the update is finished.

Independence Day Promotions

Well, I promised more promotions, so here they come!  This batch involves the newest string of members and an embellishment of the server staff:

Builder to Architect:

  • Banana_Blob
  • adamant454
  • MegaUltraBuilder
  • pillsbaryjoeboy

Artisan to VIP

  • Nonagrrl

VIP to Moderator

  • Nephylim
  • Melany23

Moderator to Administrator

  • Openminded

I chose to promote Nephy and Melany to mods because they are both dependable and trustworthy members of the server, and they have experience modding Minecraft servers in the past.  Also, the times they are online will fill the gaps of when mods/admins are actually online to ensure greater coverage of the server at all times.

I chose Openminded as the latest admin because Nick (Runninghobo) has been quite busy lately and he hasn't been able to back up me as much as he was in the past.  Therefore, the need for additional admins is in order.  Open has consistently proven to provide great assistance to helping me deal with the server, not just in building things (such as the subway system), but also in dealing with new members.  He's proven as a mod that he will be able to serve as a quality admin on this server.

So, I hope you all congratulate the new promotions and welcome the new server staff!  And if you were expecting a promotion, don't get upset.  There are three major reason that people don't get promoted at any given time on this server:

  1. Hasn't been on the server long enough to demonstrate the worthiness of a promotion
  2. Has demonstrated trustworthiness, but has been inactive on the server
  3. Has given me a reason to question whether or not to promote them.

The majority of the lack of promotions in the list are due to 1 and 2.  Honestly, I have 10-12 people I'd be willing to promote right now, but they either don't play anymore or have played very sporadically.  So, don't fret if you don't see your name on the list today.

July Salaries

Well, it's that time of the month again!  July salaries are ready to be given out, so make sure to claim them!  And, since the server is not on 1.7 yet, I'll be giving out another "SNS-Free Bonus" this month for those of you that were willing to either not update or willing to back-up their 1.6 install: If you claim your salary before I update the server, you will get a 500 Talon bonus!  So, make sure to claim them soon!

Quick update on Playing Admin

I've received a LOT of questions regarding Runninghobo's post on Playing Admin on the server.  While I posted a response to his post in the comments and clarified some stuff, I still see people unclear about this.  For example, someone was concerned because they saw a moderator asking questions and accused them of playing admin.  Note that while mods cannot actually promote members, they can do all the preliminary questioning and prep them for membership.

So, to the members, if you see a mod asking questions, it's okay.  And if you are a moderator, and want to know what you need to do to question a member, please ask me!

I'll be redoing the Server Info and Help Pages soon, so I'll make sure to add all this info in to clarify it for good.

And in closing...

It's a lot of crap to read, I know, but there's a lot going on in Eagleworld right now.  Any questions about the post (I'm sure there will be a lot), please comment below and ask away!  I will be sure to answer them as best as I can!

30Jun/1110

Yes, I am aware Minecraft is now on 1.7

Posted by EagleRock

Before you even start, I'll stop you right there.  I go through this every update, and nothing is going to change about how I do things, so don't bother trying to convince me otherwise:

I am not updating Eagleworld to version 1.7 until it is damn good and ready.  It will stay on 1.6.6 until most or all plugins are running nice and stable on the latest version.

If you're not sure what to do about it, please read this post regarding backing up your files.  If you already updated your Minecraft installation, then there is nothing I can do to help you.  I also recommend reading this post I made a while back regarding this exact situation.

And if you have no clue why it is so elaborate and takes so long to upgrade the server when it is "just updating it," expand the spoiler below and read what I have to do every update:

Spoiler Inside: Minecraft Beta 1.7 Upgrade Plan

And yes, all that crap is really necessary, at least if you want a server that runs properly and all the time (otherwise it doesn't matter).

So, needless to say, bugging me about updates will only piss me off and possibly slow me down.  Otherwise, you are doing no good by complaining that the server is outdated.  I have to not only wait for Bukkit to get up to speed, but every plugin we depend on as well.  So, it is going to take time.  This is why I mention to everyone that joins this server that patience is a requirement for playing on Eagleworld.

In exchange for that patience you will get a server that hardly ever goes down (usually only 1-2 minutes a day for nightly maintenance), a well-backed-up map, and a multi-level anti-griefing system that has not failed to perform yet.  So, continue to enjoy 1.6.6 until 1.7 is ready!

13Jun/113

Eagleworld updated to Minecraft 1.6!

Posted by EagleRock

Hi, everyone!

This update was a long time coming.  My apologies to everyone that it took so long.  The Bukkit team recently released an excellent recommended build that works with 1.6.6 that solved a LOT of the bugs I was coming across in trying to update.  Either way, 1.6 is here, and it's stable!  You should find the server to be in a far better state than it was when I rolled out 1.5.

I am also very happy to say that very little functionality has been lost between 1.5 and 1.6, and that we have a bunch of new great stuff thanks to Essentials.  Things HAVE changed, though, so please make sure to familiarize yourself with the following:

1. The Global Shop is now a Local Shop

Unfortunately, for now, this is the best solution.  The person that took over SimpleShop has stripped many of the features that are compulsory for Eagleworld.  There IS another plugin I can use called BetterShop, but it doesn't have the full functionality, either.  So, LocalShops is our savior.  Here's what you need to know:

  1. SimpleShop is no more, so you can't use the Global Shop everywhere.
  2. The Global Shop is located at the Walmart in Capitol city.  There are two warps you can use to get to the Walmart: walmart and globalshop.  The second one plops you directly into the shop.
  3. Use the Global Shop as you would any local shop.
  4. Now, /lshop and /shop work with LocalShops.  Using either one is fine.
  5. ALL Eagleworld members now have access to /back to make using the new Global Shop easier.  However, only Artisans or better can use /back to teleport to their death location.

2. Bug fixes and new bugs

I believe the mass-majority of issues we had on the server are now good.  Here are things I know are fixed now that were previously problematic:

  • The area around the spawn point with performance issues is now okay.
  • Any nether issues as a result of the 1.6 upgrade are resolved.  Nether works as before.
  • The dynmap site issues are fixed and the dynmap works normally again
  • The CreativeStick server crash is now fixed, as well as other cstick bugs
  • Residual iConomy database bugs (that caused performance issues) are now cleaned up

There are plenty of other bugfixes I'm sure, but I am unsure what else occurred.

Here are some new bugs that I am aware of:

  • Possible TNT detonation issue...investigating
  • Possible spawn point lag issue...investigating

Also, please let me know if you do see any new bugs..I will update the blog accordingly.

3. Dynmap is back...and bad!

The Dynmap plugin was long overdue for an update, and it is finally fixed.  There are some new features to look out for, such as seeing player health/armor bars, and general performance improvements.  Also, the isometric view works again, and it is available for both the normal world and for the nether.  Please note that right now, it is not fully re-rendered, so that will be done during the early morning.

4. Promotions all around, and I'm listening to you on them!

Promotions are LONG overdue on the server.  And yes, I will be doing more this weekend.  I am sorry it's been so long, so I have automatically promoted a bunch of you.  I will give you your salaries/raises tonight:

Builder to Architect:

  • xcaboose22
  • jbkarate9

Architect to Artisan:

  • Archer665
  • Nonagrrl
  • WARRIORSPARTON
  • ugonalose

Artisan to VIP:

  • MrKindLife
  • ZackBlaze164

VIP to Moderator:

  • openminded

Please note that if you are not promoted, DO NOT FRET.  I am still evaluating users.  These are just those that I knew were long overdue.  If you wish to plead a case for a promotion for yourself or someone else, I will welcome your opinions. I will not hold it against you if you ask for a promotion at this time (for yourself or someone else).  The server has been in a rough state for a while (as have I been), so I am not 100% in touch with every user.  That will slowly be rectified over the next week or two, but in the meantime, I am counting on you to speak up if you feel you deserve a promotion.

Conclusion

There's still plenty for me to do.  The blog will be updated with all the new commands and stuff over the next few days.  Feel free to let me know about promotions for you or someone else, as well as any bug information.  Tell me in-server or make a comment below!

13Jun/110

Almost There

Posted by EagleRock

Well, after battling with the global shop plugin forever, I can't get it to work, SO, the solution is that in terms of the global shop, you will have to visit a store to do so.  I will make the Walmart in Capitol City the Global Shop, so you can buy all the items there for the same price as before.  I will also make a warp to it so you can get to it very easily.  I am also going to give /back access to everyone, to make your lives easier in the transition.  Sorry for those of you that earned /back, but I believe this is a fair exchange.

The latest Craftbukkit stable release is working VERY well on Eagleworld, and has solved many of the issues.  I am working on the Global Shop now on the test server, and I am also working on redoing the permissions for the latest plugins.  After that, I will be just about ready to roll out.  The only caveat here is that I will have to work on the dynmap plugin AFTER the upgrade, but at least you will be able to play in the meantime.  Dynmap isn't working well now anyway.

So, hang in there.  I am hoping to get the server up and running tonight, but just in case I cannot, you can expect it up Tuesday or Wednesday the latest!

9Jun/110

Another 1.6 Update

Posted by EagleRock

It's been a while since 1.6 is out, but I see no easy solution for this one.  I'm going to try to hack my way to a solution this weekend.  I have had a rough time the last week or so and haven't had the full brain power to devote to the server.  I will get this done, though, and either with a LocalShop prescribed for the Global Shop or with another plugin, I'll roll this out this weekend.

I also owe a bunch of players promotions, so hang in there.

3Jun/115

More 1.6 News

Posted by EagleRock

Hey, everyone.

Unfortunately, I have hit a bit of a road block here, and fear there is no easy solution.  Right now, for the version of Craftbukkit that supports 1.6.6 (version 818), there is no working plugin that will give us a Global Shop.  Basically, all plugins that exist don't give even close to the functionality we want/need, and the ones that do are all out of date and not updated.  They won't work at all on the latest version.

Unfortunately, I don't see an easy fix to this.  We will need to wait a bit longer until I can find some kind of fix.  It might involve me creating a Local Shop in Capitol City with an unlimited supply, but I'll find some kind of fix.  In the meantime, be patient until we can get past this showstopping lack of functionality.

27Apr/118

Minecraft Beta 1.5_02 Updates and Changes

Posted by EagleRock

Hey, everyone!

Well, the Bukkit team put out their recommended build yesterday for Beta 1.5_02.  For those of you still grumbling about it, the wait was warranted.  The team had a lot of work to do not just working on Beta 1.5, but restructuring their entire update process.  Let's remember they're not coding in Logo here...there's a lot of effort that goes into this.  Try to curb that immediate gut reaction of chagrin and show some appreciation for these guys.  They DO make Bukkit for free, after all.  :-)

Anyway, let me go over everything you need to know about Beta 1.5.  Yes, you need to read it.  Everyone's gonna complain about it, you might as well read the page of info I have for you regarding the updates.

Server Changes

Here's the quick view of what I actually had to update this release:

  • Minecraft - Now on Beta 1.5_02 (no, that's not a typo...the server is on 1.5_02)
  • Craftbukkit - Now on Build 733
  • BigBrother - Now on a development snapshot of 1.8
  • LWC - Now on 2.31

Nothing really outstanding here.  All other plugins seem to be working in a stable manner (or, at least as stable as they were in 1.4...).  Note that some of these plugins are not being actively developed, but seem to still work (such as SimpleShop and LocalShops).

Permission Changes and New Kits

I've tweaked some of the permissions in the game, and added a bunch of new kits!  Some of these were requested, some I came up with myself.  Here's the list:

  • /tptoggle - Guests now have access.  Now, you guys can use /tpa to show guests around.
  • /tpdeny - Guests now have access.  Allows guests to clear existing /tpa or /tpahere requests.
  • /kit bedtime - New Architect kit.  Gives you 1 bed to allow server-synchronized sleeping.
  • /kit armor - New Artisan kit.  Gives you a full set of leather armor.
  • /kit snowballs - New Artisan kit.  Gives you a full stack of snowballs.
  • /kit jewellry - New VIP kit.  Gives you 1 watch and 1 compass.
  • /kit doggie - New VIP kit.  Gives you 8 bones and 8 cooked pork for use in taming/healing wolves.
  • /kit cookie - New Mod kit.  Gives you 1 cookie.
  • /kit boobtasmic - Restricted to admins only (per Runninghobo's request).

Known Dynmap Issues

Currently, the Dynamic Server Map seems to have some problems on the new release.  The web page seems to work fine when in top-down view.  Chatting, user locations, and map scrolling works perfectly.  However, when you switch to isometic view, the web page crashes.  I have to look into this to see what is going wrong.  I might be able to fix this with a simple plugin reinstallation, but it could take me a while to fix.  Note that complaining about this to me will not fix the plugin.  Thanks.

Otherwise, Business as usual

Besides, the changes above, the server is the same as it was before.  Towny, iConomy, FlatEarth, and everything else you're used to is the same as usual.  I hope everyone enjoys Beta 1.5!

P.S. - I still owe you the jar backup tutorial...I'll post that this week.