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So I decide to make a record farm. I did the typical trench one.... a 14x1 4-deep trench, with two block "intervals" (one block, one space, one block) at 5 and 10. The idea was, drop a Creeper in the middle, drop a skeleton at the end.

So, it looks like this....OOOXXOOOOXXOO empty, and O*OOXXOOCOXXSO when loaded... (O = Empty space, X for the interval blocks (preventing movement but affording a "window" in both for attraction and for arrow fire) * for me, C for Creeper and S for Skeleton.

The idea, the tutorial said, is that I go up to the first interval block. The Creeper moves up to the interval on his side, but can't get me and can't get close enough to detonate. The skeleton fires at me, and hits the Creeper... the Creeper goes back to the skeleton but is likewise protected by the interval block. Repeat until the Creeper dies.

Thats how it SHOULD have worked.

I moved up to the interval block and found out, much to my chagrin, that the blast radius for a Creeper is in fact THREE, not TWO. So I had a split second to cheerily note that not only is he going to explode, but I have absolutely nowhere to run, being in this trench.

BOOM.

So, after respawning and extensive rebuilding of the trap, I added another interval block on both sides. Now, the skeleton is apparently too far away and won't fire.

Long, long story short... the trench record farm obviously does not work. Any ideas how to make one that WILL work?

I use my mob drop trap...


Note that on the Xbox, making the trap 28 blocks off the ground is sufficient to enable mobs to spawn. For XP and discs, I limited the drop to a platform at 22 blocks so the mobs don't die but I can still go up and down to it so that I can stand the full 28 blocks below the platform if spawning rates drop off while I'm using it. Another way to prevent them from dying is to install a water break part way up the tower.


I enclosed the base around the platform such that nothing can get out of the trap, but the skeletons can still see me. I can also move away from the base of the trap quickly to prevent creepers from blowing up, but I can move in closer as well to get the skeletons to fire. Since the drop makes the creepers a 1 hit kill, it's very rare that I have one accidentally blow up. The basic idea is that I run around the outside of the base of the trap coercing the skeletons to fire at me and hit the creepers caught in the trap with them. You can also set up pistons to close off the trap from above the platform so you can periodically go in and collect the drops without additonal mobs falling on your head.

Gravity mob grinder dropping them into a 2x2 shaft, to the point they have ~1 heart left (24 blocks is what I used IIRC). 1 Block openings on each side. When creeper and skeleton are in the shaft, run up to the opening that puts the creeper between you and skeleton and back away quickly. Skeleton fires, killing creeper with one shot - producing a record. Quick and painless, and you don't have to worry about creepers exploding after the first skeleton shot.

In my current setup, I have the mobs land on a platform 1 block higher than where I'm standing, The 1 block opening is at foot level for the mobs, and head/eye level for me.

I have a mob grinder(ethos lab design) that rises up to my kill floor. I have pistons that control passageways and a lava blade so that if I want, they can bypass the kill mechanism and drop down a 1x1 shaft to 1 heart health. Then I go stand next to em and watch the records pile up. I have about 8 of each one now.

What they said. Gravity Grinder.. Surround the drop platform 2-high with glass, and run around jumping like an idiot. Skellys hit creepers you have a million discs.

This is the one that I have used very effectively. Only difference from the video is to make the interval between the two mobs one block longer.

If the mobs are trapped in a single block, ie 1x1 area, then when the skelly fires it will HAVE to strike another mob in the same block before it can hit you.