Well i was on my world on the seed gargamel i found this cave that was almost endless like everytime i landed in a new area there was no dead ends? Has anybody else found this before and i was so far away i didn't know how to get back so i simply used a cobblestone stack and mined up to the surface. Your thoughts?
Make a hand-drawn map of the cave. This is time consuming but very useful for complex cave sytstems. The map doesnt actually have to be accurate, it just had to let you know where the turns are and where each lane connects so you can find your way around. personally, once I've mined the obvious coal and iron, etc. from cave tunnel surfaces, or if a lane is a dead end, I go back to then next joint where lanes meet and block it off so I don't wander into somewhere useless.
This is just my method of mapping and navigating complex maze systems. Minecraft is a game of experimentation so don't worry about doing things wrong, just as it works ~!
The size of a cave system varies from map to map... sometimes you get holes in the ground, sometimes you get nearly endless spelunking fun...but since we're on the xbox version its not technically endless.
EDIT: a nice way of marking the way out of a huge cave system is to put down redstone torches as you go.
I'm on gargamel too, and yes, it has some enormous caves. No thanks to drawing maps, though. That would really take forever. What I do is use a system of multiple torches to point in the directions that matter, especially the ways out. I never place 2 or more torches close together unless they are a signal of some sort, usually a pointer.
I always only take one path at each fork, I don't check out the others before I start mining. That way, the path that's lit up is always the way out. When I'm done with one section, I just partially block it off with cobblestone so it's obvious I've already been there.
When exploring a cave, always place torches on one side and one side only. So, if you're going into a cave, place the torches on the left wall only. To find your way out, make sure the torches you're following are now on the right so you can backtrack to the entrance.
That is the single best way to navigate caves. As long as you keep torches on one wall, you'll always be able to find your way out.
Well i was on my world on the seed gargamel i found this cave that was almost endless like everytime i landed in a new area there was no dead ends? Has anybody else found this before and i was so far away i didn't know how to get back so i simply used a cobblestone stack and mined up to the surface. Your thoughts?
i don't mind the ones that go on and on so much... it's the ones that go round and round and then double back on different levels that get me. I also frequently find that a dead end is often only 1 block think, so mining a little at each dead end frequently reveals another cave. However, I now have a rule about not leaving any gravel "steps" that I might have to use to get out. I change them to dirt or cobble on my way in so I don't tend to undermine them if there happens to be a connected cave on a level below it.
I use the torch method as well. Although I make large arrows pointing to the exit , and put large amounts of torches on exits .
No need to use that many, though I did the big-arrow thing myself in one place. Just string together 2-3 torches angled in the direction you want to follow on the way back--diagonally up or down, or pointing straight across or straight up, etc. Keep all normal illumination torches separated by at least one space, to avoid confusion.
I like the one-wall idea. I think I'll use it too.
No need to use that many, though I did the big-arrow thing myself in one place. Just string together 2-3 torches angled in the direction you want to follow on the way back--diagonally up or down, or pointing straight across or straight up, etc. Keep all normal illumination torches separated by at least one space, to avoid confusion.
I like the one-wall idea. I think I'll use it too.
I find I can still get lost using the 1-wall rule - in the caves that tend to have interlinking branches that double back on themselves on different levels. I place my torches consistently on the left wall going in and then follow them on the right wall going out. Quite often, I have found that two or more of the tunnels join together at another place and it's not uncommon for me to encounter a section I've been down before. Depending on where the two joined, I've had times when following the torches on the wall has just led me around in circles. Some of the caves in my world have junctions with as many as 7 branches, some on the same level and others just up or down 1 or 2 blocks. Now, when I hit one of these, I add in a small arrow or "T" (or maybe it's more like a "J") - i.e. 3-4 torches on the floor, pointing the way back into the mouth of the tunnel that go me there (i.e. the way home)... That, along with being careful not to undermine any of my "stairs," means I get lost far less frequently these days and is well worth the extra torches. Similar arrows drawn with redstone also work.
I find I can still get lost using the 1-wall rule - in the caves that tend to have interlinking branches that double back on themselves on different levels. I place my torches consistently on the left wall going in and then follow them on the right wall going out. Quite often, I have found that two or more of the tunnels join together at another place and it's not uncommon for me to encounter a section I've been down before. Depending on where the two joined, I've had times when following the torches on the wall has just led me around in circles. Some of the caves in my world have junctions with as many as 7 branches, some on the same level and others just up or down 1 or 2 blocks. Now, when I hit one of these, I add in a small arrow or "T" (or maybe it's more like a "J") - i.e. 3-4 torches on the floor, pointing the way back into the mouth of the tunnel that go me there (i.e. the way home)... That, along with being careful not to undermine any of my "stairs," means I get lost far less frequently these days and is well worth the extra torches. Similar arrows drawn with redstone also work.
This is exactly what I do, and way better than just torches on the one side! Use multiple things
This is just my method of mapping and navigating complex maze systems. Minecraft is a game of experimentation so don't worry about doing things wrong, just as it works
EDIT: a nice way of marking the way out of a huge cave system is to put down redstone torches as you go.
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Retired StaffWhen exploring a cave, always place torches on one side and one side only. So, if you're going into a cave, place the torches on the left wall only. To find your way out, make sure the torches you're following are now on the right so you can backtrack to the entrance.
That is the single best way to navigate caves. As long as you keep torches on one wall, you'll always be able to find your way out.
i don't mind the ones that go on and on so much... it's the ones that go round and round and then double back on different levels that get me. I also frequently find that a dead end is often only 1 block think, so mining a little at each dead end frequently reveals another cave. However, I now have a rule about not leaving any gravel "steps" that I might have to use to get out. I change them to dirt or cobble on my way in so I don't tend to undermine them if there happens to be a connected cave on a level below it.
No need to use that many, though I did the big-arrow thing myself in one place. Just string together 2-3 torches angled in the direction you want to follow on the way back--diagonally up or down, or pointing straight across or straight up, etc. Keep all normal illumination torches separated by at least one space, to avoid confusion.
I like the one-wall idea. I think I'll use it too.
I find I can still get lost using the 1-wall rule - in the caves that tend to have interlinking branches that double back on themselves on different levels. I place my torches consistently on the left wall going in and then follow them on the right wall going out. Quite often, I have found that two or more of the tunnels join together at another place and it's not uncommon for me to encounter a section I've been down before. Depending on where the two joined, I've had times when following the torches on the wall has just led me around in circles. Some of the caves in my world have junctions with as many as 7 branches, some on the same level and others just up or down 1 or 2 blocks. Now, when I hit one of these, I add in a small arrow or "T" (or maybe it's more like a "J") - i.e. 3-4 torches on the floor, pointing the way back into the mouth of the tunnel that go me there (i.e. the way home)... That, along with being careful not to undermine any of my "stairs," means I get lost far less frequently these days and is well worth the extra torches. Similar arrows drawn with redstone also work.