Has anyone figured out what the numbers in the seed name translates to on the map? I was just wondering if the numbers entered when making a new seed can directly affect what is created on the map.
The seed is the starting number used to initialize the pseudo-random number generator for the map creation algorithm. It does not relate directly to anything on the map.
Here's an incredibly simplistic example of how it might work:
Take your seed number. Square it. Keep two numbers from that: the first three digits, and the last digit. The latter determines the biome type: 0 water, 1-4 plains, 5-7 forest, 8-9 swamp. The 3-digit number is used for the next iteration.
So let's say we start with the number 123. That's our seed for the example. Square it, you get 15129. So the biome value is 9 (the last digit), and the next input to the generator is 151 (the first 3 digits). According to my very simple list above, this gives us a swamp biome. Cycle it again, 151 squared is 22,801. So this time we have a plains biome, and the next input is 228. Next time around we get 51,984, giving us another plains biome, and 519 to feed the generator. 519 squared is 259,081, so we have plains again, and 259 for the next cycle. If we do this for 8 cycles, we get:
swamp, plains, plains, plains, plains, water, plains, water
Now, if we started with the seed 234, it would work out like this:
123 always produces swamp, plains, plains, plains, plains, water, plains, and water (unless I can't type, of course!), and 234 always gives you forest, swamp, plains, forest, plains, plains, swamp, and forest, but nothing about those numbers indicates anything specific with regard to what biome goes where; it's just an initial seed for our incredibly simplistic pseudo-random number generator. The actual terrain generation in Minecraft is enormously more complicated than my deliberately very simple example, of course, and the RNG is more sophisticated than just "square the first three digits", but the principles are the same.
The seed is the starting number used to initialize the pseudo-random number generator for the map creation algorithm. It does not relate directly to anything on the map.
Here's an incredibly simplistic example of how it might work:
Take your seed number. Square it. Keep two numbers from that: the first three digits, and the last digit. The latter determines the biome type: 0 water, 1-4 plains, 5-7 forest, 8-9 swamp. The 3-digit number is used for the next iteration.
So let's say we start with the number 123. That's our seed for the example. Square it, you get 15129. So the biome value is 9 (the last digit), and the next input to the generator is 151 (the first 3 digits). According to my very simple list above, this gives us a swamp biome. Cycle it again, 151 squared is 22,801. So this time we have a plains biome, and the next input is 228. Next time around we get 51,984, giving us another plains biome, and 519 to feed the generator. 519 squared is 259,081, so we have plains again, and 259 for the next cycle. If we do this for 8 cycles, we get:
swamp, plains, plains, plains, plains, water, plains, water
Now, if we started with the seed 234, it would work out like this:
123 always produces swamp, plains, plains, plains, plains, water, plains, and water (unless I can't type, of course!), and 234 always gives you forest, swamp, plains, forest, plains, plains, swamp, and forest, but nothing about those numbers indicates anything specific with regard to what biome goes where; it's just an initial seed for our incredibly simplistic pseudo-random number generator. The actual terrain generation in Minecraft is enormously more complicated than my deliberately very simple example, of course, and the RNG is more sophisticated than just "square the first three digits", but the principles are the same.
Do you have any clue what I would need to type in to give me lots of water, forest, and jungle with mountains? Or just lots of mountains? I'm assuming no but it's worth an ask. Great post btw
Do you have any clue what I would need to type in to give me lots of water, forest, and jungle with mountains? Or just lots of mountains? I'm assuming no but it's worth an ask. Great post btw
No, because while the results of any seed are called pseudo-random, they're random enough for all practical purposes. 123456 might give you almost all snow, yet 123457 would be mostly desert. (I'm just making those up) There is no observable. connection between the seed you enter and the map you get.
As ConArt70 said, the best way to get a good seed for the terrain you want is to check the ones listed in our Seeds forum, or to request it (or check the answers to previous posters' requests) in Seed Requests.
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Retired StaffHere's an incredibly simplistic example of how it might work:
Take your seed number. Square it. Keep two numbers from that: the first three digits, and the last digit. The latter determines the biome type: 0 water, 1-4 plains, 5-7 forest, 8-9 swamp. The 3-digit number is used for the next iteration.
So let's say we start with the number 123. That's our seed for the example. Square it, you get 15129. So the biome value is 9 (the last digit), and the next input to the generator is 151 (the first 3 digits). According to my very simple list above, this gives us a swamp biome. Cycle it again, 151 squared is 22,801. So this time we have a plains biome, and the next input is 228. Next time around we get 51,984, giving us another plains biome, and 519 to feed the generator. 519 squared is 259,081, so we have plains again, and 259 for the next cycle. If we do this for 8 cycles, we get:
swamp, plains, plains, plains, plains, water, plains, water
Now, if we started with the seed 234, it would work out like this:
forest, swamp, plains, forest, plains, plains, swamp, forest
123 always produces swamp, plains, plains, plains, plains, water, plains, and water (unless I can't type, of course!), and 234 always gives you forest, swamp, plains, forest, plains, plains, swamp, and forest, but nothing about those numbers indicates anything specific with regard to what biome goes where; it's just an initial seed for our incredibly simplistic pseudo-random number generator. The actual terrain generation in Minecraft is enormously more complicated than my deliberately very simple example, of course, and the RNG is more sophisticated than just "square the first three digits", but the principles are the same.
The golden age: it's not the game, it's you ⋆ Why Minecraft should not be harder ⋆ Spelling hints
Do you have any clue what I would need to type in to give me lots of water, forest, and jungle with mountains? Or just lots of mountains? I'm assuming no but it's worth an ask. Great post btw
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Retired StaffNo, because while the results of any seed are called pseudo-random, they're random enough for all practical purposes. 123456 might give you almost all snow, yet 123457 would be mostly desert. (I'm just making those up) There is no observable. connection between the seed you enter and the map you get.
As ConArt70 said, the best way to get a good seed for the terrain you want is to check the ones listed in our Seeds forum, or to request it (or check the answers to previous posters' requests) in Seed Requests.
The golden age: it's not the game, it's you ⋆ Why Minecraft should not be harder ⋆ Spelling hints