I apologize wholeheartedly if this or a variation of it has been posted or discussed previously. It's a more advanced form of obsidian farming, really.
Anyway.
I have found a simple way to make a portal with no need for a diamond pick-axe. (Remember, this only works when creating a portal TO the nether as you cannot use water buckets there.)
I've never been one for beating around the bush so:
*SETTING UP*
1. Make some buckets.
2. find a reliable source of lava, and fill (most of) you buckets with it
3. Fill the rest with water
4. Select a site for the portal and dig a pit one deep by two wide.
*MAKING*
5. Pour lava into the two holes, and then empty a water bucket next to them. They will turn into obsidian.
6. Collect the water you just used.
7. Use dirt to make a "mould" similar to this:
(the obsidian created earlier is underneath the two dirt blocks in the center!)
8. Pour lava into the two holes, and place water next to it to make obsidian. (alternatively, you may not need to use a mould- just place a block of water, letting it waterfall, then replace the middle with lava. Sorry if that wasn't a very good description.)
9. Make two more moulds in this fashion directly above, so you now will have 3 obsidian in a pile.
10. Make a mould like this:
...on top. Pour lava, create obsidian, remove mould.
Now you have the frame for your portal, and you didnt have to waste any diamonds!
I got fed up with my new world I started after the halloween update; I mined for four hours, and found 128 iron, 500+ coal, 30+ gold...and 2 diamonds. Stupid diamonds. So I thought of this idea, it works. It's cheap. Also, don't try to make a burning hellstone path into the gate, or this'll happen:
I also ran across the 10-block configuration for making a working portal, and it's nice to only have to use 10 blocks instead of 14 obsidian to make a gate.
But, I'll admit I didn't think of "pouring" a gate from lava. Clever.
Also, this is my 1st post. Please be gentle with me. ;2)
I don't know if I'm screwing something up or not, but I had thought of this and am trying it (using cobblestone instead of dirt cause its what I had on me.
I put the lava in, then add the water, and all I am getting is the water. it seems to be 'replacing' the lava.
I don't know if I'm screwing something up or not, but I had thought of this and am trying it (using cobblestone instead of dirt cause its what I had on me.
I put the lava in, then add the water, and all I am getting is the water. it seems to be 'replacing' the lava.
not sure what I am doing wrong.
Try first by putting the water next to the place you want the lava/obsidian to be, and let the water "flow" over that block. See if that helps.
I don't know if I'm screwing something up or not, but I had thought of this and am trying it (using cobblestone instead of dirt cause its what I had on me.
I put the lava in, then add the water, and all I am getting is the water. it seems to be 'replacing' the lava.
not sure what I am doing wrong.
The water has to run over the Lava. Don't pit the water into the same tile as the Lava.
I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong either. I never thought of pouring a gate, but I've been trying to farm obsidian for a while now. I did the trench, I added lava, and I poured water over it...and I got cobblestone. WHICH is what I expected, but I also expected to get SOME obsidian out of it at least. But after 30 some trials, not a single block of black glass.
dude you just thought of a new revolutionary minecraft thecnique
+1
(btw this should be stickied
It's not revolutionary, I'm fairly certain half of the community already knew this. This is for the rest that complains portals are too hard to make. :V
I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong either. I never thought of pouring a gate, but I've been trying to farm obsidian for a while now. I did the trench, I added lava, and I poured water over it...and I got cobblestone. WHICH is what I expected, but I also expected to get SOME obsidian out of it at least. But after 30 some trials, not a single block of black glass.
The water has to run over a lava spring. If it runs over flowing lava, you get cobble.
The problem with this is, due to shoddy portal linking and placement mechanics, if you want anything other than just an access point you'll need to able to place / remove obsidian to clean up the obsolete gates or build needed ones when the game doesn't gen them (seriously, a portal 10 tiles away in the nexus SHOULD spawn a new one in the Overworld, but that doesn't mean it always will, sometimes it'll spit you out in one you built before).
The problem with this is, due to shoddy portal linking and placement mechanics, if you want anything other than just an access point you'll need to able to place / remove obsidian to clean up the obsolete gates or build needed ones when the game doesn't gen them (seriously, a portal 10 tiles away in the nexus SHOULD spawn a new one in the Overworld, but that doesn't mean it always will, sometimes it'll spit you out in one you built before).
Is this problem really widespread? My first portal functioned properly and always functions properly as a two-way portal. I made mine free-standing over water.
I feel that this is a good thing to do, very cheap does not invlove diamond, yes.
But.
Don't you think Notch made it with obsidian so you would be up to the level of 'I have Diamond' when you finally went in?
Because I can see why.
Imagine it. You found a good source of iron, so you have a sword, and pick, the works. You make your little obsidian gate, and enter excitedley.
Yes, you get the hell world, but genuinely do you really want to be fighting Ghasts and ZPG's with a steel sword? Because in my opinion, getting up to that precious diamond level would be a lot more sensible.
Don't get me wrong, this is a very good idea. I just think your better off getting ready for anything, instead of a quick fix to experiencing hell, and a better chance of getting burnt to a crisp.
I feel that this is a good thing to do, very cheap does not invlove diamond, yes.
But.
Don't you think Notch made it with obsidian so you would be up to the level of 'I have Diamond' when you finally went in?
Because I can see why.
Imagine it. You found a good source of iron, so you have a sword, and pick, the works. You make your little obsidian gate, and enter excitedley.
Yes, you get the hell world, but genuinely do you really want to be fighting Ghasts and ZPG's with a steel sword? Because in my opinion, getting up to that precious diamond level would be a lot more sensible.
Don't get me wrong, this is a very good idea. I just think your better off getting ready for anything, instead of a quick fix to experiencing hell, and a better chance of getting burnt to a crisp.
I see "diamond level" mentioned a lot. What is this? I have dug to adminium and I've barely found any .
Anyway.
I have found a simple way to make a portal with no need for a diamond pick-axe. (Remember, this only works when creating a portal TO the nether as you cannot use water buckets there.)
I've never been one for beating around the bush so:
*SETTING UP*
1. Make some buckets.
2. find a reliable source of lava, and fill (most of) you buckets with it
3. Fill the rest with water
4. Select a site for the portal and dig a pit one deep by two wide.
*MAKING*
5. Pour lava into the two holes, and then empty a water bucket next to them. They will turn into obsidian.
6. Collect the water you just used.
7. Use dirt to make a "mould" similar to this:
(the obsidian created earlier is underneath the two dirt blocks in the center!)
8. Pour lava into the two holes, and place water next to it to make obsidian.
(alternatively, you may not need to use a mould- just place a block of water, letting it waterfall, then replace the middle with lava. Sorry if that wasn't a very good description.)
9. Make two more moulds in this fashion directly above, so you now will have 3 obsidian in a pile.
10. Make a mould like this:
...on top. Pour lava, create obsidian, remove mould.
Now you have the frame for your portal, and you didnt have to waste any diamonds!
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11846144/over9000.png
no
[] []
[] []
[] []
[] []
[] []
Nope, you dont need any corners. But I like to place the red hell bricks there because it looks nice : P
+1
Thanks for the easy-to-follow-steps.
Thanks, voicelessbard for the great avatar and sig! (search him in the MC forums)
Isn't it just?
Sorry about not seeing yours :tongue.gif:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11846144/over9000.png
But, I'll admit I didn't think of "pouring" a gate from lava. Clever.
Also, this is my 1st post. Please be gentle with me. ;2)
I put the lava in, then add the water, and all I am getting is the water. it seems to be 'replacing' the lava.
not sure what I am doing wrong.
Try first by putting the water next to the place you want the lava/obsidian to be, and let the water "flow" over that block. See if that helps.
The water has to run over the Lava. Don't pit the water into the same tile as the Lava.
Like this:
[]
Edit: Ninjad!
Venit, quessit, induravit.
It's not revolutionary, I'm fairly certain half of the community already knew this. This is for the rest that complains portals are too hard to make. :V
The water has to run over a lava spring. If it runs over flowing lava, you get cobble.
Is this problem really widespread? My first portal functioned properly and always functions properly as a two-way portal. I made mine free-standing over water.
But.
Don't you think Notch made it with obsidian so you would be up to the level of 'I have Diamond' when you finally went in?
Because I can see why.
Imagine it. You found a good source of iron, so you have a sword, and pick, the works. You make your little obsidian gate, and enter excitedley.
Yes, you get the hell world, but genuinely do you really want to be fighting Ghasts and ZPG's with a steel sword? Because in my opinion, getting up to that precious diamond level would be a lot more sensible.
Don't get me wrong, this is a very good idea. I just think your better off getting ready for anything, instead of a quick fix to experiencing hell, and a better chance of getting burnt to a crisp.
I see "diamond level" mentioned a lot. What is this? I have dug to adminium and I've barely found any .