Now Running 1.10

After the release of Minecraft 1.9, the game's community was very vocal about how they want more frequent updates rather than occasional, feature-packed updates. For better or for worse, Mojang listened: Minecraft 1.10 is here already, with few snapshots needed as there aren't many changes.

Honestly, 1.10 lacks that "wow" factor we've gotten from recent updates to the game. But since Superstes Noctis is a vanilla server, we're updating anyway; the server is now running the official release of Minecraft 1.10, even though we still haven't found Beetroot in new 1.9 chunks from that update yet! (The search for that continues)

Not only has 1.10 been finished so quickly, but supposedly 1.11 snapshots are right around the corner. If 1.10's lackluster changelog is any indication, we may not see any huge updates to the game anytime soon... and while personally I find that a shame, more frequent updates may turn out to be a nice thing after all. Whatever your personal opinion may be on this new strategy for Mojang's update releases, we continue to wish you the best of luck surviving the night.

Now Running 1.9.4

After a server backup, Superstes Noctis has been updated to Minecraft 1.9.4 on Friday, May 20, 2016! While this update is mainly bug fixes for the game, it also includes minor changes to the game as well. I was out of town when the update dropped, so I wasn't able to back up the server for the update until today... better late than never though, right?

Mojang has also released the first snapshot for Minecraft 1.10, but keeping to our current policies regarding development versions of the game we will not be updating to the snapshot versions of the game. We plan to update to 1.10 once it is finished and released, as long as it has proven stable for use on the server. But until then, we'll be sticking with 1.9 as we continue surviving the night.

Map Updates

For those of you who may not be aware, there is a 3D interactive map of Superstes Noctis available on the MinecraftWorldMap website. This awesome map lets you move around the server as you would in Google Maps (in fact, the viewer is powered by Google) and explore all the land the server has generated from players moving around while online. This map even includes a night view, cave view, and Nether view!

Originally, the map for the server was created just to have one available. It remained outdated until early April 2016, when I decided it desperately needed an update. I hope to update it more frequently now, especially as large builds change the landscape, so members of the server and fans following my YouTube videos of it can view the map and all the builds the server members have worked so hard on.

In addition to a link to the 3D interactive map of the server, our "World Map" page on this blog also includes a static image of the spawn area of Superstes Noctis. This is more tricky for me to update than the interactive map, because I cannot actually remember how I made the one on the page in the first place! I hope to get an updated static map on that page soon, but I'll need to figure out how to do so first. If possible, I'd greatly prefer to embed the interactive map... trouble is, I don't know how or even if the Terms of Use for that site allow me to. (The issue is the lack of an "embed this map" option on the page; I know the basics of HTML and could figure it out if I had the embed code) If anyone knows how to embed a MinecraftWorldMap render, please let me know!

I first found out about MinecraftWorldMap when I was searching for a way to publicly display a map of the Noctis MC server, which the three founding members of Superstes Noctis have been working on for quite awhile now; I decided it would also be cool to make a map of this server, and I for one really enjoy checking out the map from the aerial view it provides. It's really easy to use too, since I just have to upload a world backup of the server and give it around 24 hours to render. Our map is currently 647 MB, so understandably it is not a quick process but thankfully the old map remains visible until the new one is rendered and ready for viewing. If you have your own server or know someone who does, I'd definitely recommend checking out the site! (No, we are not sponsored by MinecraftWorldMap) The interactive 3D map is a nice way to enhance our experience on the server and aid us in our continuing efforts of surviving the night!

Now Running 1.9.2

Our update to Minecraft 1.9 was a huge success and breathed new life into the server that we've been waiting for quite awhile to find! If you've followed this blog or any of my other works for awhile now, it won't surprise you that I forgot to update the blog when that update took place... but I assure you it was awesome for the Superstes Noctis crew.

The 1.9.2 update is a bug fix update to 1.9, and as such there's not much to report about regarding it. But since I missed the upgrade post for 1.9 itself, I wanted to make sure you all know the move went well and has done so much for the server and its members. We've been playing a lot more since the update, and having a lot more fun while doing so.

The downside is the Ender Ender. We're not sure exactly what happened, but Endermen are no longer spawning in the Ender Ender and therefore it is effectively useless at this point aside from the surviving storage of Ender Pearls there. It's likely the issue involves the spawning mechanics for certain "non-solid" blocks, namely the Stone Pressure Plates that line the floors where the Endermen spawn in the Ender Ender; adapting the system to detect mobs with string and tripwire hooks may make it work again, but in the meantime it can no longer be used for XP grinding or Ender Pearl farming.

The crew of the server enjoyed fighting the Enderdragon again, since you can now craft End Crystals and summon in the Dragon whenever you want. The fight is different now, and it was fun to experience the new mechanics as a team. We collected some of the new "Dragon's Breath" for crafting Lingering Potions, ventured to the new End City, started growing Chorus Fruit back in the overworld behind Noctis Manor, and even found our server's first pair of Elytra!

Overall, the 1.9 update is an extremely positive change for Superstes Noctis. We've done alright adapting to the new combat system for the most part, and are enjoying the new blocks added. We've adapted as necessary to continue surviving the night.

Welcoming Our Two Newest Members

For the first time in Superstes Noctis history, the population of our server has increased! Two new members - XHANRIC and IosefKoranison - joined Superstes Noctis in April 2016 by Angie's invitation, with a unanimous vote in support of them joining.

We are very excited to see Superstes Noctis growing for the first time ever, and look forward to the builds made by the new members as well as the collaboration between the larger-than-ever Superstes Noctis crew. Already there are some cool builds going up from our newest two members, who have officially joined in our efforts to survive the night.

IosefKoranison (left) and XHANRIC (right)

Now Running 1.8.9

Hello again everybody. Not much to report today... the server is now running 1.8.9, but there's really nothing exciting about that; just more bug fixes and preparations for 1.9 coming soon.

We've mentioned in the past that we are not using development snapshots due to the instability and problems we had with the 1.8 snapshots last year, and we've held true to that. Once 1.9 is officially released, however, we will update as soon as possible to enjoy all those new features! (After a backup, of course)

That's all for this update; as I said, there's not much to report as it is mostly bug fixes. In case another post doesn't come until 2016, I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year... and, as always, the best of luck surviving the night.

Wrapping up Year Two

I realize that only two posts ago I told you all we were "Wrapping up Year One" on the server, and yet another year has come and gone since then. This goes along with the lack of content available on my YouTube channel as well from the server (I still upload videos every weekday whenever possible, but most of that content this past year has been Destiny) and the overall decline of interest in Minecraft lately due to lack of updates this past year... but more on that in a future post.

What's the plan for Superstes Noctis in Year Three? That's a good question... one that we are not able to answer at this time. The server is successfully renewed until November 2016, and we wouldn't have paid for that if we didn't plan to use it. Minecraft 1.9 is coming soon, and that should hopefully boost interest in the Minecraft community for playing the game... as well as in the Superstes Noctis community, leading to more videos of the server and information here regarding it.

When I get the chance to, I plan to update the Noctis MC blog as well, although not much has happened there in 2015. We still plan to finish and launch the server, but interest in it has been minimal as the interest in the game declines and we haven't been putting much work into the server apart from a few sessions of "Skype and Build" (a more productive and much less raunchy version of "Netflix and Chill" apart from some dirty jokes) that have seen spawn develop slightly further. If you are interested in that server, be sure to share that interest so we know people care!

Year Three of Superstes Noctis should hopefully be much more interesting than Year Two was. Thanks for sticking around, and as always... on behalf of the Superstes Noctis crew, I wish you all the best of luck surviving the night!