Happy Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras!!!

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We’ve never celebrated Mardi Gras on the servers before, but thanks to the suggestion from our spicy admin straight from the bayou, JP_Zilla we can’t image image why we wouldn’t!

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So come on down to the UK Holiday area for our First Annual Mardi Gras parade! Floats have been set up for decorating by the community to kick off the celebration. While we encourage teams, you can build one solo. Only 15 spots so hurry in and claim yours! All we ask is no digging, build as high as you want (the sky is the limit), and you can build on top of the border, but not beyond it.
Please have floats completed by Friday for everyone to check them out!

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Enjoy some New Orleans inspired foods and traditonal Mardi Gras goodies with our Custom Villagers. Be sure to bring some sticks, cobble, and emerald blocks for trading.

Check out some of the Floats!

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Want to join in on the fun? Join our Minecraft group on Facebook and submit your name for whitelisting on our Awesome Servers!

 

GeocacheNuNuSmAs some of you old-timers remember, we have a geocaching center on Main. We thought it was time to bring this fun family centered activity to NuNu since it has grown so much! So announcing, Geocaching on Some Awesome – NuNu Style! Those not familiar with geocaching, let’s start with the basics.

2016-01-28_08.40.41What is Geocaching?

Geocaching is basically a treasure hunt! It exists in real life and it is a wonderful family activity. Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location.

 

How do I geocache?

In the Geocaching Center, you will find a section for instructions (to the left), Geocache Book dispensers (up the stairs), the Trace your Trackable section (to the right and back) and a Hints center (to the right). You can access the Geocaching center by walking along the SOUTH road in the market.

Here is how geocaching will work: when you visit the Geocaching Center, go to the second floor and retrieve ONE book from a geocaching dispenser. You may do the geocaches in order or in any order that you wish.  This book must be returned (at the top of the stairs) when you have found your geocache. Please only take one book at a time.  In the book you will find coordinates and information about a cache. Using the x y z coordinates contained within the book, you can navigate to the cache to find the hidden treasure!  Each book also contains a hint on where the cache may be located. That might help narrow down a starting point for you.

Notes on geocaching and cache locations:

1) All caches are located in public properties.  Do not go on any private property to search for a cache.

2) No caches are buried. They may be underneath things so look around but you should not have to dig in order to find a cache.

3) All caches look the same. They are a single chest with a Geocaching Compass in an item frame on the outside.

4) Contained within each geocache is the following: a Welcome book for reading and putting back, a geocaching log for signing and putting back, possibly a trackable (see Trackable section for more information), and a number of items.

5) The random items in the chest are the treasure. However, the treasure system is take one, LEAVE one.  If you cannot leave anything, please do not take anything.

6) Always leave an area better than you found it! (Meaning, don’t destroy the area. Be kind to the geocache. Be respectful.)

7) Can’t find a cache even with the coordinates and hint? There are hints available as a last resort!

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Once you have found your cache, you have to return the book so it can be returned into the system.

2016-01-27_09.30.20What is a Trackable?

A trackable is part of a collection of items that remain within the geocaching system.  A trackable may be found in any of the geocaches.  You will know a trackable because it is named, numbered, and enchanted.  Trackables are meant to stay within the geocaching system and are NOT for personal use like the other items that can be found in the chests.  If you find a trackable, take it and return to the geocaching center to sign the log associated with the trackable you found. It will be your responsibility to place the trackable back into the system (meaning, go to another geocache and leave the trackable in that cache). It is OK if there are multiple trackables in a geocache. Please be respectful of the trackable system and try to return the trackable to a geocache in a timely manner. If you cannot, there is a hopper where you can place the unwanted trackable and it can be placed back in the system.


Ok, what else?

Please be respectful of the Geocaching system. It will not work unless everyone plays nice.  No griefing, PLEASE! And the most important rule, HAVE FUN! Having a hard time finding a geocache? Check out the Hint Room located in the Geocaching Center.  If you are interested in participating in making a geocache, contact Nancy Owen (dancingn27) and she will set you up!

If you find 5 geocaches or 10, sign your name on the Silver or Gold wall and contact dancingn27 (tag Nancy Owen on FB) for a prize! All participants should add their names to the main wall as well. Don’t forget once you found your first geocache, you can grab a Some Awesome Geocaching map!  Happy Geocaching!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s a New Year, and we have a new update for our NuNu Server Teams. The Sorting Hat leads to a more relaxed & fun experience in 2016.
What are these Teams?

For our newer members who have been wondering why other players’ names are colorful in the player list, we’d like to introduce you to our Sorting Hat.

 

SortingHat

 

Yes, if you’re a Harry Potter fan, that name will sound familiar. Last year we took the concept of the sorting hat & Hogwarts houses to create Admin-led teams on the server. We focused on earning points, in a competition to beat the other teams. However over time we found the need for constant point-earning opportunities to be more of a chore & burden on the team captains & admins than initially anticipated. The team projects, member participation, & points dwindled, but the teams and the camaraderie between players continued.

 

What are the new changes?

Not a whole lot from what has been happening in the last few months, but we wanted to officially change the focus.

 

PointsDontMatter

 

Points no longer exist.

The competition of point earning was fun for a while, but also sparked plenty of team versus team banter that occasionally went a little far. Keeping the teams more for fun & even cooperative in nature will help us maintain our awesome community spirit.

 

Teams no longer have Captains.

Admins are still assigned to their teams, but are mostly there to oversee & be a point of contact & approval for projects. They will no longer be trying to come up with monthly projects or members of the month, unless they have a specific idea & availability to do so. Players are welcome to come up with project ideas for their team, or even the whole community, to submit to the admins. Projects are not required & there is no requirement of participation for team members. If you want to join in the fun, feel free!
Please Remember: if a project idea would be a big change to the server/community (especially if it’s in community space)- it needs to have Admin Approval before anything is done. We understand there are a lot of exciting & fun project ideas out there, but please know that the admins hash out every detail together before deciding if a project will be feasible for the community & server as a whole. Those following the adage “It’s better to ask forgiveness than permission” may be facing a harsh reality of having to undo their project if it’s not something the admins would approve. Asking first will save time & resources. 

Here are your Admins:

 

Pink_wDani

MizzDani87

 

Cyan_wDancing

dancingn27

 

Purple_wMandaAkumo

Akumo & MandaLin

 

Do I have to be sorted on a team?

No. If you do not wish to participate with the teams, or to be sorted, that is completely fine. These are voluntary & we want them to be fun. We see it as a bonus way of getting to know players that you may not regularly spend time with. However participation is not required.

 

How do I get sorted on a team?

Contact an admin (via in-game chat, or tag in the group) and one of us will get you sorted. The sorting is random; you don’t get to choose which team you join.

If you have a child who would like to join a team, we make an exception for young kids (especially 12 & under) that they can be automatically added to the same team as their parent(s) or guardian.

 

Is there any way I can get off the team I’m on?

Yes. We now have an “Opt Out” option! We know that there was a lot of hype & excitement over the teams & a lot of players were encouraging each other to quickly get sorted. If you have since decided that the Teams aren’t for you, please contact an admin & they will add you to the Opt Out list & remove you from your team. (Your name will again turn to white in the player list.)

 

OptOut_wTonya

 

If I’ve opted out, but want back on the teams later, can I get re-sorted?

You will be welcomed back to your original team, but we will not be re-sorting you to a different one. The decision of the sorting hat is final.

 

After I’ve joined a team, how do I know what my team is doing?

We have groups for each team!

Click Here if you’re on Pink Team.

Click Here if you’re on Cyan Team.

Click Here if you’re on Purple Team.

 

We hope you continue to enjoy this fun team system! Let us know if there are any other questions or clarifications that we can discuss or add to this list.

Here it is! For the 3rd year, our official Secret Santa & Christmas Stockings event! 😀

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~~Secret Santa~~
We have such a fun & amazing community here that our Secret Santa events are always a hit. Leaving someone presents is basically a daily thing on our servers, but the randomized drawing of Secret Santa makes it so you may get to know a completely different player when leaving a Secret Santa gift.

We have some changes, so even if you’ve done this before, please READ all the way through! 😉

WHAT is Secret Santa?

A Gift exchange, but more! You submit your name into a pool of others, when submissions are closed, you’ll be given a random name. That person will be whom you are giving a gift to!

If you submit your name, you’re not only committing to giving someone else a gift, but you should receive one as well!

HOW do we get started?

SecretSanta_web

 

Inside the trunk of the giant Christmas Tree in the holiday area, is where you start the submission process. From ~now~ until Monday, Dec. 7th, you will be able to join the Secret Santa event by grabbing a book* (provided via button), sign it with your name (Step 1), and drop it into the chest (Step 2).

You are welcome to submit names on behalf of other players (family/friends) if they cannot get on & do it for themselves (put their name as the book title). However please keep in mind: 1. You should have their permission first. 2. If they cannot get online to give their gift, you will be the one responsible for the gift.
*Fine print: Please ONLY grab these books for this purpose & for nothing else. Thanks!

What’s next?

At this point, some people already start planning for the gift they’re going to give or build. Others wait until they know who will be receiving their gift so they can customize it to that player’s needs or likes.

Beginning Monday, Dec. 7th: the Admin team will work on randomly assigning Santas to recipients. This way we can make sure everyone has someone & that you don’t get your own name! 😉 We will let you know the name of the player you’ve been assigned sometime on Dec. 7th or 8th. This will be the person you are giving a gift to.
~The Fine Print!~ When you submit your name/signup, you are agreeing to provide a gift for someone else. If you are too busy to get online to submit your own name and have someone do it for you, please only have your name submitted if you will be available to give a gift later. 😉 We try to avoid such sadness as missed giving opportunities.

 

Finally: GIFT! 😀

Go forth & GIFT! Now is your time to customize something special for your recipient. YOU choose how you will reveal the gift! You can give it early, or you can wait until just before Christmas. We do ask that all gifts be given (delivered, built, etc) by Dec. 24th at the latest.

Tips:

  • Join the Event! 😀 We will have opportunities for people to list their needs/likes so that a Secret Santa might get to know a little more about the player they are giving to.
  • Make sure your name & IGN are listed on the group’s IGN doc (click here) so it’s easier to match gift suggestions to players in-game.
  • If you are building a gift for your recipient, pick an area that won’t be in their way. For purely decorative builds, maybe around the edges of their land would be best (i.e.: don’t place a fountain in the middle of/blocking their tree farm). If they need a new farm or animal pens, then a place they can get to them easily would probably be great.
  • If you are wanting to leave a chest of goodies for your Secret Santa recipient, we will have options available where you can leave gifts *under the Christmas tree*. Of course you’re welcome to build them a decorative present at their place with the chest of goodies hidden inside. 😀

Gift Ideas (a few things that have been done before):

  • Pixel art of something the receiver likes (pick a fandom, any fandom!)
  • Completing or helping with a large build they’re in need of
  • Chest of goodies: favorite blocks, colors, supplies needed, specially named items for decor, hard-to-get items

We look forward to another great holiday season of fun gift-giving here in our Awesome Community!

 

~~The Stockings Were Hung…~~

All the good little Steves & Alexes are hoping to get something special in their stockings this season! While you’re at the Holiday area, hang your stocking by the fireplace & you’ll get a gift from the Admins after Christmas! ^_^

FireplaceStockings2_web

There are buttons for red or green stockings, choose your color and rename your stocking* with your IGN on one of the anvils. Using the item frames provided, hang it on the brick wall around the fireplace. Only stockings hung before Christmas morning will be eligible for gifts.
*Fine print: Only ONE stocking per player. Please only use/take 1 item frame.

FireplaceStockings3_web

After Christmas morning, the admins will collect the stockings & you will be able to make ONE Christmas wish. It can be any one item (not a stack), or enchantment that you wish (from creative inventory, not an item that needs to be summoned).
Addendum: A power shovel or power pick is a valid option for your item. 😉 

 

~Holiday Area OPEN for December!~

As usual, our Holiday area isn’t without other amenities! We have festive decor to enjoy and custom villagers to trade with. This holiday our villagers have such things as festive goodies, custom outfits, banners, & more.

 

Trades: cobble, emeralds, diamonds blocks, sticks, & white wool

Trades: cobble, emeralds, diamond blocks, sticks, & white wool

 

 

See the “Gingerbread Man” with your cobble for some special treats; check where you sit on the Naughty or N’ice list with “List Checker” (bring diamond blocks & emeralds, trust me); Santa’s Elf has your custom tailored Santa Suit (he likes sticks), and Santa’s Elf2 has some of our most Festive banners for trade (bring white wool)!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: the collectible Christmas Map is also now available! 

 

Don’t forget to download the Some Awesome community’s favorite Christmas Texture pack:
XmasBDCraft 2014 from Sphax!

Please join us on NuNu as we witness the Minecraft Marriage of Shamurai_One and LunaUA. We will have a ceremony at the Basilica of the Sacred Moon (just past the Sorting Hat near the CT). Reception to follow! Hope you can make it!

Time is 8PM (EST) on Friday the 13th. Don’t forget to dress up!

 

Check out the wedding album in our Facebook group

Every year our community participates in a charity event known as Extra Life which is a 24 hour gaming marathon to help raise money for the care and support of sick children in hospitals within the Children’s Miracle Network.

Since 2013, we have hosted creative theme builds for the community to work on during the event. Together we have built an Amusement Park, and a Mini City project as we raised money for charity.

This year however, we’ve decided to change things up a bit. Nothing excites this group more than a challenge map, and we all have one community favorite in particular that we keep coming back to. That of course is Skyblock.

If you’ve never played Skyblock before, it is a small floating island above a void with limited supplies to get you started. Playing by yourself or as a team you must transform your tiny little dirt block into a livable island.

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Here’s the thing though, previous challenges have gone on as long as two weeks, but this is Extra Life so this one is special. This map will only be available for the 24 hour event! The list of challenges is long so some of you may be sweating that detail (/me raises hand) while others are thinking “oh good, I’ll have time to build two”. Either way we can’t think of a better way to devote an entire day towards gaming than with a little friendly competition, and what better game than Minecraft and what better map than Skyblock?

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For those of you who may be intimidated by the idea of this map, I encourage you to try it. Even if you aren’t playing to win, the map is so much more than just beating your neighbors. If you think building on the server is rewarding, wait until you see what you have created from virtually nothing. It is so much fun to challenge yourself (and you’ll never appreciate cobblestone more). So please, step outside your comfort zone and join us on November 7th at 8 o’clock AM Eastern Time as we play together and raise some money for this amazing charity!

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Rules and Other Important Details:

Welcome to Extra life 2015: Skyblock Challenge! We have created a custom Skyblock map for you, but this isn’t a map you’ve played before, and some of the game rules have changed so pay attention. One change you’ll notice right away is that your cobblestone generators have already been set up for you. Nearly everyone who has attempted to make one for the first time has without fail, turned their lava into obsidian. We’ve allowed one “Get Out of Jail Free” card and replaced it for the teams once, but this time we just decided to make it easier on everyone and set you up. Another big game change is that there are no command blocks back to the main hub. The only way back to spawn is if you die but since keep Inventory will be OFF we wouldn’t recommend it. You may think that would make this map Mission Impossible considering how easy it is to die with valuable items on you, but we have a gift. Each individual island has it’s own XP shop with a very special villager inside who is willing to sell you valuable “lost” items that otherwise may have knocked you out of the competition. See, we love you 😉

site-villager

This villager is special indeed as he will not be accepting your stack of cobblestone (as if you’d be willing to give that up anyway). Instead he only accepts a very special “Life Crystal” that can only be obtained through experience OR (this is the best part) in the spirit of the charity we are doing this all for, by donating to the group’s Extra Life donation page! For every $1 dollar donation you pledge you will receive 1 precious Life Crystal to trade with your villager. Did you lose your bucket? Step on a seedling? Your tree didn’t drop a sapling? Dug up all your grass? Your villager has them and more, but they won’t be cheap. The team is trying to raise $3,000 this year (our biggest goal yet) and every dollar you donate to the group donation page goes straight towards the team goal, and 100% of that goes to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. There can not be a better way to turn a day of fun and a few bucks into a good cause.

Rules:

  • Teams can be 1-3 players.
  • Do not purposely jump off the island to regenerate your health.
  • Do not attempt to make a bridge to the Island Hub, neighboring islands, or map edge. Each individual island is roughly 2,000 minecraft blocks away from the other. If you are found attempting to bridge islands or the other two areas stated you will be disqualified and removed from the whitelist.
  • Your island may extend up to 100 blocks out from the bedrock block marking the center in any of the 4 compass point directions. You are not restricted as far as height is concerned.

Notes:

  • Anvils and enchanting tables will not be provided for you. You can purchase both, as well as a brewstand, from your villager for 3 Life Crystals a piece.
  • KeepInventory is set to false so you will lose your xp when you die so be careful and use “shift”!
  • A pair of each animals spawn eggs are available in the chests provided for you, but if you should lose them you may purchase extra from your villager for 5 Life Crystals a piece.
  • If your tree fails to produce saplings the admins will not give you saplings. You may purchase them from your villager **Helpful tip** Natural leaf decay seems to increase your odds of receiving saplings. A little patience goes a long way.
  • If you lose the sand, gravel, or cacti from your sand islands the admins will not replace them. You may purchase replacement blocks from your villager **Helpful tip** Approaching the sand islands from below is the safest option.
  • There will be no nether on this map. Do not attempt to create a portal or you will be disqualified and removed from the whitelist.
  • If for any reason you lose your snow blocks they will not be replaced by the admins. You may purchase replacement blocks from your villager.

Important Note: Your XP shop command black is preset to teleport you back to a specific coordinate. Be sure to leave a block or create a safe spawn area to teleport back to once you start moving your island around.

Challenge Goals:

Build Challenges

  • Build a house ~ Housing Requirements~ Your home must have a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. Homes must be furnished. You must provide a bed and bedroom for every member of your team.
  • An infinite water source
  • A small pond
  • A mob box/dropper

Farms/Crops **NOTICE** Auto farms, using redstone, are not permitted.

  • Melon farm – Collect 64 Melons slices
  • Pumpkin farm – Collect 64 Pumpkins
  • Sugarcane farm – Collect 64 Sugarcane
  • Wheat farm – Collect 64 Wheat
  • Carrot farm – Collect 64 Carrots
  • Potato farm – Collect 64 Potatoes
  • Cactus farm – Collect 64 Cactus
  • Tree farm – at least 1 of each of the 6 tree types planted
  • Collect 64 Red Mushrooms
  • Collect 64 Brown Mushrooms

Food Stores:

  • 32 Bread
  • 10 Mushroom Stew
  • 32 Baked Potatoes
  • 64 cooked fish (any type)
  • 32 Pumpkin Pie
  • 10 Rabbit Stew

Crafting:

  • 5 Snow Golems
  • 1 bed per team member
  • 64 torches
  • 1 furnace
  • 1 crafting table
  • 32 jack o’lanterns
  • 16 paintings
  • 16 item frames
  • 64 snow blocks
  • 32 mossy cobblestone
  • 32 cobblestone stairs
  • 32 cobblestone slabs
  • 32 stone bricks
  • 32 mossy stone bricks
  • 32 cracked stone bricks
  • 32 stone slabs
  • 4 stone pressure plates
  • 4 wooden pressure plates
  • 16 signs
  • 32 ladders
  • 32 fences
  • 16 fence gates
  • 32 Acacia stairs
  • 32 Acacia slabs
  • 32 Birch stairs
  • 32 Birch slabs
  • 32 Dark Oak stairs
  • 32 Dark Oak slabs
  • 32 Jungle stairs
  • 32 Jungle slabs
  • 32 Oak stairs
  • 32 Oak slabs
  • 32 Spruce stairs
  • 32 Spruce slabs
  • 8 trap doors
  • 8 levers
  • 15 bookcases
  • 64 fireworks (must have 4 different types)

Mob Collection:

  • 64 spider eyes
  • 64 string
  • 16 ender pearls
  • 64 rotten flesh
  • 5 iron ingots
  • 5 golden nuggets
  • 64 bones
  • 64 arrows
  • 1 bow per team member (100% durability)
  • 64 gun powder
  • 16 glowstone dust
  • 16 redstone dust
  • 64 sugar

Dyes/Wools:
8 dyes of the following colors: black, gray, light gray, cactus green, lime, yellow, orange, red, pink, white
8 wool of the following colors: black, gray, light gray, cactus green, lime, yellow, orange, red, pink, white

Brewing: **NOTICE** Any version of the potions listed is fine.

  • 1 potions of swiftness
  • 1 potions of water breathing
  • 1 potions of poison
  • 1 potions of weakness
  • 1 potions of slowness

Redstone:

  • 8 redstone torches
  • 2 dispensers
  • 2 redstone repeaters
  • 2 pistons

***BONUS CHALLENGES***
To receive the Bonus Prize, all challenges listed below must be complete

Cure a zombie villager and name him (Bonus Team Challenge)
Craft a full set of iron tools (Full set includes: a pickaxe, a shovel, axe, and sword) (Per Team Member)
Have a full set of the follow sets of armor with 100% durability: iron, gold, and chain mail. (Per Team Member)

Prizes:
1st Place: 1 set of extra command blocks on either Main or NuNu server, a set of enchanted power tools, 2 row backpack, 50 xp per team member
2nd Place: set of enchanted power tools, 2 row backpack, 30xp per team member
3rd Place: Choice of power pick or shovel, 1 row backpack, 10xp per team member

Bonus Prize: extra set of command blocks on either Main or NuNu server

Top Donator: 1 set of extra command blocks on either Main or NuNu server, a set of enchanted power tools, 2 row backpack, 50 xp