In this challenge, you will be taking on the role of a tree spirit. Not all trees have a spirit to watch over them, many dying due to old age, disease or other (un)natural causes. In this case you will be choosing a particular tree that shall be blessed by your presence, made to grow and prosper, to shadow over all the other trees and become a monument in itself.
Rules
1. You must select one tree to be blessed by the tree spirit
(This tree may be any size, whether it be a three or four block trunk, or eight high with multiple branches)
2. You are not allowed to gather any materials prior to selecting a tree
(After selection, you may gather as many wood or saplings from the tree as you wish, making sure to leave at lest one block to signify that the tree is alive)
3. Once a tree is selected, you must always be within one block of a wood block belonging to it
(When first gathering materials from the tree, you are allowed to gather the fallen saplings from it, but after that you must always be adjacent to a wood block)
4. Which ever tree you select, you can only use wood blocks belonging to that type of tree
(You cannot begin making a birch tree and then use brown wood blocks to fill in parts. Select one type and stick with it.)
Being that you must only select one tree, I recommend finding a large tree with many wood blocks to begin from. Climb to the top of the tree and begin gathering the wood blocks from it. Gather all the blocks down to the last stump of the tree, and use the wood blocks you possess to build a small shelter. Then, expand from the base of the tree into a system of roots, branching out to give you access to dirt in which you can plant new saplings.
Creating a sort of tree-farm, or small planters in which to grow new trees, will be of utmost importance. This challenge can start off fairly slow if you do not have access to many trees.
Since you must always be adjacent to a wood block from your tree, if you plan on digging into the earth to gather stone, iron, coal or diamonds, you will need to use wood blocks to expand the trees root system, creating tunnels within the roots themselves.
In the end, it is my hope that your tree will have grown into something incredible. While I myself have difficulty trying to make it look neat or natural, I urge you to prioritize over having a nice looking tree, rather than expanding quickly or gaining access to certain materials more swiftly.
You literally live inside of the tree, thinking of it more as an extension of yourself than just a home. Where it goes, you can go. Where it cannot reach, you must help it to do so.
Sooo, you want us to pick a single tree, harvest the wood and saplings, then build a larger tree from logs of the original tree + its saplings?
While I didnt stay one space away, all of the logs did come from a single sapling spruce tree I carried over 3000 blocks to this location so maybe that helps? :smile.gif:
The tops are a pain.. Good Luck!
Pretty much :tongue.gif: I've been wanting to try a sort of 'world tree' project for quite a while, and then I got to thinking about ways that it could be more fun or more challenging, or perhaps even look more natural and not so symmetrical. So this is what came of it!
What do you guys think of it? Is there any way it can be made to be more challenging, or more fun? I'm totally open to suggestions!
A tree spirit would never leave their tree for the same reason a dwarf would never leave their mine, I suppose.
Alternatively, you could look at it as a method of controlled expansion or industry, but with a more natural tone to it. A tree grows roots and branches out due to necessity, the same reason that the challenger shall do so. If they want access to nutrients beneath the soil, then the tree must first reach those patches of minerals.
It is a challenge I am issuing to players in order to help them create a tree that grows due to necessity, in a more natural manner, than just merely to look pretty. If players could leave their tree, they would be able to gather huge amounts of wood and their tree would grow very swiftly, and most likely look rather boring. In this way, they use the resources they have to try and gain access to more resources.
Yeah =D Instead of just digging nonstop, you'd have to make 'mine shafts', but out of the wood blocks. To represent the woods that expand into the earth to soak up the minerals and nutrients in the soil.
Everything you do is representative of the trees growth. By digging down far enough to find stone, the tree is spreading its roots deeper to find minerals in the earth. By planting new saplings from your tree, the tree is spreading its seed. Though in this case it would also be consuming them, then :ohmy.gif:
Sounds interesting, and one of the more unique challenges Iv'e seen as a lurker. I will have to try this one out, expect pictures from my new Tree in a day or so
Let's say my tree wants a diamond. I must dig one hole next to my tree then fill it with a wood block. I must then dig a hole next to that placed block and put another wood block in that hole. I repeat this process all the way to the diamond level and spread out placing a wood block for each stone block I dig until I find a diamond, then I must replace the diamond with a wood block?
If this is the case, must I also fill in my human's space with wood even though it is just a manifestation of the tree's spirit? For example, must I dig a hole, then fill in the hole plus the 2 air blocks I was standing in when I dug the hole? That seems a bit more complicated than just one line of wood blocks trailing along as I plunge into the depths.
You don't have to fill the entire interior of the tree, no. The interior is allowed to be hollow for the sake of you moving around.
Let's say that you want to dig straight ahead of you. You're going to dig two squares, one at your foot level and one at your head level, in order to continue stepping forward. To advance, you need to dig out the squares around you to be sure that you're always walking within the 'root' of the tree.
I'm glad to hear that people are interested in trying this challenge! I'm trying it myself as well. Having lost motivation to continue several times before, I'm feeling encouraged to take it up again.
I shall post pictures before too long, as well. It shall be interesting to compare the various trees.
Oh wow, you've gotten a lot luckier than I have, Duffanon :tongue.gif: Barely any critters come around my tree. The one pig I was able to kill didn't drop any porkchops, and two sheep wandered by but only one was in range for me to gather its wool, and it only had one. So I've been having to live night to night!
Here's a shot of the first floor, just entering the door.
This is a shot of the second floor, accessible through a ladder above the workbench.
Here's a shot from outside the tree.
I've tried multiple root patterns, putting dirt on the roof at some points in order to grow trees up there in addition to around the tree. I'm still debating what I want to make it look like, whether to make multiple planters along the length of the tree and whatnot. I'm also thinking of expanding the roots out some more, but I'm not sure yet. Still, I'd like to see it take more shape than it has so far.
Jeeze, my tree has some catching up to do. I was going for a more "Natural" look with plenty of leaves. As for the mobs, I have been quite lucky, and the root pattern seems to keep some mobs within hitting distance.
Hehe :tongue.gif: I look forward to seeing how it develops. Mine was smaller when it started, but slowly I expanded it further and further outward, then hollowed out the inside. Right now it's not too ideal for growing more saplings, which I really need to fix. And yes, it's also not very natural looking, I really want to give it more shape and form when I've the time to resume.
My center base around Home Tree is bigger than this but just to give you an idea of the structure. I think right now it is at 7x7 spaces for saplings minus the 9 in the center for my base.
Rules
1. You must select one tree to be blessed by the tree spirit
(This tree may be any size, whether it be a three or four block trunk, or eight high with multiple branches)
2. You are not allowed to gather any materials prior to selecting a tree
(After selection, you may gather as many wood or saplings from the tree as you wish, making sure to leave at lest one block to signify that the tree is alive)
3. Once a tree is selected, you must always be within one block of a wood block belonging to it
(When first gathering materials from the tree, you are allowed to gather the fallen saplings from it, but after that you must always be adjacent to a wood block)
4. Which ever tree you select, you can only use wood blocks belonging to that type of tree
(You cannot begin making a birch tree and then use brown wood blocks to fill in parts. Select one type and stick with it.)
Recommended Skin
http://minecraft-skins.com/2010/12/tree-skin/
Tips, Hints and Suggestions
Being that you must only select one tree, I recommend finding a large tree with many wood blocks to begin from. Climb to the top of the tree and begin gathering the wood blocks from it. Gather all the blocks down to the last stump of the tree, and use the wood blocks you possess to build a small shelter. Then, expand from the base of the tree into a system of roots, branching out to give you access to dirt in which you can plant new saplings.
Creating a sort of tree-farm, or small planters in which to grow new trees, will be of utmost importance. This challenge can start off fairly slow if you do not have access to many trees.
Since you must always be adjacent to a wood block from your tree, if you plan on digging into the earth to gather stone, iron, coal or diamonds, you will need to use wood blocks to expand the trees root system, creating tunnels within the roots themselves.
In the end, it is my hope that your tree will have grown into something incredible. While I myself have difficulty trying to make it look neat or natural, I urge you to prioritize over having a nice looking tree, rather than expanding quickly or gaining access to certain materials more swiftly.
While I didnt stay one space away, all of the logs did come from a single sapling spruce tree I carried over 3000 blocks to this location so maybe that helps? :smile.gif:
The tops are a pain.. Good Luck!
What do you guys think of it? Is there any way it can be made to be more challenging, or more fun? I'm totally open to suggestions!
I know there is a good alternative, I just can't think of one.
Alternatively, you could look at it as a method of controlled expansion or industry, but with a more natural tone to it. A tree grows roots and branches out due to necessity, the same reason that the challenger shall do so. If they want access to nutrients beneath the soil, then the tree must first reach those patches of minerals.
It is a challenge I am issuing to players in order to help them create a tree that grows due to necessity, in a more natural manner, than just merely to look pretty. If players could leave their tree, they would be able to gather huge amounts of wood and their tree would grow very swiftly, and most likely look rather boring. In this way, they use the resources they have to try and gain access to more resources.
Everything you do is representative of the trees growth. By digging down far enough to find stone, the tree is spreading its roots deeper to find minerals in the earth. By planting new saplings from your tree, the tree is spreading its seed. Though in this case it would also be consuming them, then :ohmy.gif:
Let's say my tree wants a diamond. I must dig one hole next to my tree then fill it with a wood block. I must then dig a hole next to that placed block and put another wood block in that hole. I repeat this process all the way to the diamond level and spread out placing a wood block for each stone block I dig until I find a diamond, then I must replace the diamond with a wood block?
If this is the case, must I also fill in my human's space with wood even though it is just a manifestation of the tree's spirit? For example, must I dig a hole, then fill in the hole plus the 2 air blocks I was standing in when I dug the hole? That seems a bit more complicated than just one line of wood blocks trailing along as I plunge into the depths.
Let's say that you want to dig straight ahead of you. You're going to dig two squares, one at your foot level and one at your head level, in order to continue stepping forward. To advance, you need to dig out the squares around you to be sure that you're always walking within the 'root' of the tree.
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.
I'll post pictures in a few days.
I shall post pictures before too long, as well. It shall be interesting to compare the various trees.
The front, got lucky and found a coal vein used for torches.
Inside the hut you can see, not much but it works for when night comes.
Top view from my viewing deck(thicker tree trunk in progress makes a good view-deck) over-looking the sapling farm with roots.
Here's a shot of the first floor, just entering the door.
This is a shot of the second floor, accessible through a ladder above the workbench.
Here's a shot from outside the tree.
I've tried multiple root patterns, putting dirt on the roof at some points in order to grow trees up there in addition to around the tree. I'm still debating what I want to make it look like, whether to make multiple planters along the length of the tree and whatnot. I'm also thinking of expanding the roots out some more, but I'm not sure yet. Still, I'd like to see it take more shape than it has so far.
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=sapling
[] =dirt
=roots
= Home Tree
My center base around Home Tree is bigger than this but just to give you an idea of the structure. I think right now it is at 7x7 spaces for saplings minus the 9 in the center for my base.