Quarrying on hold outside of Mindcrack Overworld

[Sorontar]

The Admin team is considering a number of issues relating to quarrying/automated digging to bedrock on dimensions other than the Overworld. As a result:

Until otherwise notified, players are not use automated digging machines like quarries in the Myst dimensions, the Nether and the Twilight World.

You can still use them on the Overworld provided you follow the rules in the Code of Conduct. Digging with handheld tools is still allowed on those other dimensions.

Thank you,

Sorontar

[Akira Doe]

I've just started up a Quarry and those things are cool, but a few questions spring to mind. I'm not questioning the rules themselves, I'd just like to know a bit more about why they are the way they are so I don't break anything.

So I have a Quarry setup on the Overworld, outside of the city, default size. When I placed the block it said it's keeping 1 chunk loaded. Is there something I need to do to disable that chunk always being loaded? When I logout I power off the engines that are powering the Quarry, does that unload the chunk? Do I need to pickup the quarry before leaving the server?

The size restrictions of the Quarry to 9v9, is that to keep the minimum amount of chunks loaded or reduce the size of the dug out hole? I was planning on once one 9x9 had finished, smooth out the bottom layer, put a 3 layer thick lid on it then move the quarry to the edge of that hole and start over, rinse and repeat.

The problem with this is that it will create a large hole and I don't know if the reason to keep them 9x9 was to avoid these giant holes or unnecessary loaded chunks.

I've setup my mining outpost near the world border but have not crossed it either with the quarry or on foot to keep it away from as many people as possible (so it's not loaded when I'm offline).

[DaedalusAlpha]

Quarries will keep the chunks loaded even when you're not online, and this is why their size and number is limited. Other than that you are free to use at as you wish as long as you turn it off when you leave. The size of the hole should be irrelevant, as long as you cover it, but you might want to create the occasional wall by moving the quarry 1 step further than necessary. That way you'll never get a huge hole that is open towards the world and drops framerate.

[Sorontar]

Originally Posted by Akira Doe

So I have a Quarry setup on the Overworld, outside of the city, default size. When I placed the block it said it's keeping 1 chunk loaded. Is there something I need to do to disable that chunk always being loaded? When I logout I power off the engines that are powering the Quarry, does that unload the chunk? Do I need to pickup the quarry before leaving the server?

The Mindcrack mods have settings that are supposed to prevent chunk loading when the player is absent (ie. not in game or somewhere else). However, quarries seem to override these settings. Even if the quarry gets no power (ie. it is off), it still loads the chunks it is in. Therefore, the ideal situation is for you to dismantle the quarry when it is not being used. This lessens the load on the cpu due to there being less chunks loaded.

The other issue is the processing of any blocks that are being dug up. That adds to the cpu usage as well. While we don't mind players running the quarry etc when in-game but somewhere else, we don't want this done when the player is not in the game.

This is all part of the reason we want the quarry space size kept to 9x9 each time. It allows players the flexibility to come and go from the game without leaving an uncovered, unfenced, unfinished quarry space behind. Having finished mining that space, you can dismantle the quarry, since you have to move it next time anyway. It also helps you manage the quarry space as having a small space is easier to cover and easier to deal with when it hits water or lava etc. It also does less damage if you accidentally mine into something you don't want to destroy, e.g. a stronghold or someone else's construction.

I was planning on once one 9x9 had finished, smooth out the bottom layer, put a 3 layer thick lid on it then move the quarry to the edge of that hole and start over, rinse and repeat.

That is the idea. You don't have to do the digging manually but you do have to manage the mining site.

I've setup my mining outpost near the world border but have not crossed it either with the quarry or on foot to keep it away from as many people as possible (so it's not loaded when I'm offline).

That is fine. Others have done likewise. Be sure to fence it out or mark it in some way so that people will know that it has been dug out once you go three layers below the surface.

Sorontar

[white_bear_84]

What is the reason for covering quarries? This is just something i have wondered. Obviously you have your OHS reasons , but i assume it is because having the quarry open increases lag e.g. More blocks need to be rendered or something like that?

[Sorontar]

If the quarry isn't covered, the chunk loader has to determine the visible portions of the world, ie. all the sides of the quarry space. If the bedrock level is left irregular and the top open, then the edges of the bedrock make things worse.

We tried to use a bedrock levelling mod when we started the world, but it didn't work.

The covering is also an issue of safety. People don't expect big holes in the world, so if it isn't fenced off, it is an unexpected danger. Due to the danger of creeper explosions removing thin covers, we recommend you use two levels of cobblestone then a top level appropriate to the biome, e.g. sand or dirt.

So an ideal quarry space is

• fenced off (easy to do with cobblestone fencing)
• covered with 3 layers

When a quarry is installed, we also ask players to leave a sign saying whose it is, in case we need to dismantle it. We presume you want your quarry back.


Sorontar

[Obsi]

Yup, basically it's a surface area issue....

A 9x9 section of flat land is only 81 blocks worth. If you have a 9x9 hole to bedrock, even just with the uneven bedrock you're likely to be doubling that (at least) - then you have all the blocks that make up the sides of the hole too. Plus apparently any caves that open into the hole are also counted.

Also, it's a cosmetic issue too.... huge gaping holes all over the landscape is ugly. So covering them is like picking up your litter after you have a picnic and trying to leave the land as you found it (albeit a lot more empty hah)

When you cover a quarry you'll probably notice that when you place the last block to completely cover it - you get a moment of lag (at least I do) - that gives you some indication of what processing is going on with a bedrock level hole.

[Deweyoxberg]

I wonder if there is any performance gain to be had by first leveling out (or even leveling then covering) that layer of bedrock, THEN capping the quarry hole.

[DarkDuck]

Yes there is dewey

[DaedalusAlpha]

Though that will make mobs spawn down there, which may or not may be a problem for you. But they will drain a small amount of juice out of the server moving around.

As for quarries I tend to place them underground. It's a bit more work setting them up, but on the other hand I don't need to cover them and I don't affect the landscape above. It's also a shorter time until I hit the ores.
Though the quarry will destroy stuff inside the frame when constructiong. This can be handled by placing a filler with a clear pattern first, to mine that part out.