I'm using creative mode so I can build it more rapidly and experiment with more dangerous configuration like up in the sky (as well as keep things simple with flat ground, as well as no caves where hidden spawns can occur). However, I'm not sure just how high I will need to build it. One thing I do know is I will need to build it so high above the surrounding terrain that, when I'm at the height of the mob farm, no mobs will spawn on the ground below, and in fact will be forced to despawn (if they already exist).
What height will I need to achieve this? How high will I need to build it above the surrounding terrain?
I thought that monsters despawned if more than 128 blocks away from the player. My ground is a super-flat level, with an elevation of 40. So I should only need to go up to 168, theoretically. However, I discovered that monsters stayed spawned even at that distance. Is the 128 despawn distance horizontal only? Do I actually need to build up to y=200 (160 blocks above the ground) in order to make sure that they despawn? Somebody familiar with the actual requirements, please chime in here.
I believe it is true mobs SHOULD auto despawn when over 128 - however (& I am probably wrong here) you say your flat world starts at lvl 40, this mean mobs 'feet' will be at lvl 41 & their 'heads' will be @ lvl 42 - which means they MAY still be within the 128 maximum limit
Just to check my theory
Stand on your flat world & use F3 & look at your XYZ position, go to your AFK spot & do the same thing
- Take the Y positions aways from each other & see if it says 128 (or less) then mobs are still withing the 128 limit & wont despawn.
A quick fix is raising your AFK spot up by 2-3 blocks
I believe it is true mobs SHOULD auto despawn when over 128 - however (& I am probably wrong here) you say your flat world starts at lvl 40, this mean mobs 'feet' will be at lvl 41 & their 'heads' will be @ lvl 42 - which means they MAY still be within the 128 maximum limit
Just to check my theory
Stand on your flat world & use F3 & look at your XYZ position, go to your AFK spot & do the same thing
- Take the Y positions aways from each other & see if it says 128 (or less) then mobs are still withing the 128 limit & wont despawn.
A quick fix is raising your AFK spot up by 2-3 blocks
I tried going up to Y=175 to force a despawn and then drop back down, but they hadn't despawned. How long should the despawn take? According to the Minecraft wiki, it should be instantaneous once you have moved over 128 blocks away from the mobs in question. 40+128=168, so 175 should be more than enough.
I'm using creative mode so I can build it more rapidly and experiment with more dangerous configuration like up in the sky (as well as keep things simple with flat ground, as well as no caves where hidden spawns can occur). However, I'm not sure just how high I will need to build it. One thing I do know is I will need to build it so high above the surrounding terrain that, when I'm at the height of the mob farm, no mobs will spawn on the ground below, and in fact will be forced to despawn (if they already exist).
What height will I need to achieve this? How high will I need to build it above the surrounding terrain?
just start at y:200 or something bigger
I thought that monsters despawned if more than 128 blocks away from the player. My ground is a super-flat level, with an elevation of 40. So I should only need to go up to 168, theoretically. However, I discovered that monsters stayed spawned even at that distance. Is the 128 despawn distance horizontal only? Do I actually need to build up to y=200 (160 blocks above the ground) in order to make sure that they despawn? Somebody familiar with the actual requirements, please chime in here.
I believe it is true mobs SHOULD auto despawn when over 128 - however (& I am probably wrong here) you say your flat world starts at lvl 40, this mean mobs 'feet' will be at lvl 41 & their 'heads' will be @ lvl 42 - which means they MAY still be within the 128 maximum limit
Just to check my theory
Stand on your flat world & use F3 & look at your XYZ position, go to your AFK spot & do the same thing
- Take the Y positions aways from each other & see if it says 128 (or less) then mobs are still withing the 128 limit & wont despawn.
A quick fix is raising your AFK spot up by 2-3 blocks
I tried going up to Y=175 to force a despawn and then drop back down, but they hadn't despawned. How long should the despawn take? According to the Minecraft wiki, it should be instantaneous once you have moved over 128 blocks away from the mobs in question. 40+128=168, so 175 should be more than enough.