Scotts - Minecraft: in a nutshell guide

Minecraft is a great game to play alone, but it gets even better if you do so with your friends. Whether you are on PvP (player versus player) mode where your goal is to be the last man or in this case, the last Steve standing, or you are just trying to create a better world compared to those made by your friends, it would be to your advantage if you take note of the tips mentioned below. From farming tips to how to swiftly take out the enemy, youll find everything you need below. Lets get started!

1.Be informed. If you are new to Minecraft, the very first tip you should follow before you jump to PvP gameplay is to know everything you possibly can about Minecraft. If you dont know the basics such as how to move, craft, farm, and build - losing is a very likely outcome.

2.Try a peaceful game first. Given the point above, before you engage in virtual combat, you might want to play under peaceful terms first. Or better yet, play in creative mode where the main concern is building stuff. Then you can try your hand at survival mode where you need to fend off, run from, be invisible to, or fight hostile mobs (AI monsters). When you already have the hang of it, proceed to playing PvP.

3.Which Minecraft version are you playing? Have you just discovered Minecraft? You should know, then, that this game has a number of versions out in the market and is already available in various platforms from personal computers to gaming consoles and tablet computers. Make sure that you know which one youll be playing to avoid confusion. While the structure of the game remains practically the same youll be creating and destroying blocks in a 3d environment certain elements change from one version to another.

4.Do research on your enemies. This doesnt refer to other players not yet, at least but to hostile characters you might encounter in the game. As with other games, Minecraft NPCs or non-player characters are either passive or hostile. If you want to be more particular about the classification, though, the game basically has 6 classes of computer-generated characters or mobs, namely: passive, utility, neutral, tamable, regular hostile, and unique hostile. The first four classes are generally passive and consist of the following: villagers, pets, animals that can be hunted for food, player-created characters such as golems, and the infamous enderman. The last two classes, on the other hand, are hostiles that you should be familiar with if you want your character to survive.

5.Know how multiplayer works. There are two ways by which you can take part in a multiplayer Minecraft game: you can either join or set up a server. If youre playing with friends and youre tasked to do the latter, there are a lot of guides online that will help you navigate through any set-up and hosting issues you might encounter.

6.Have the best possible computer set-up. Minecraft is notoriously RAM-hungry, so before you agree to a PvP game, you should first check your computers specs. The minimum system requirements are easy enough to meet, but if you want a seamless gaming experience, you should go for a computer with a fast processor, a good graphics card, and a 4 GB RAM or higher. Skipping this tip might cause lags which can mean the death of your in-game character.

7.Make sure that you have a good mouse. Delays in response time and other problems caused by a malfunctioning or substandard mouse can cost you your life, especially if youre in the heat of battle.

8.Take note of crafting patterns. Crafting is one of the essential skills you should learn when playing Minecraft. That said, the more sophisticated the tool, the more complicated the crafting pattern and the more likely that youll make mistakes. If you want to decrease the chance of wasting your resources by crafting the wrong tool or material, you need not look at a cheat sheet or alternate between your game and the guide you opened in your PC. All you need to do is remember the shape of whatever it is you want to make. While this isnt always the case, be comforted by the fact that majority of the things youll be crafting follows this rule. So if you want to craft a fishing pole, for instance, you just need to arrange the string and sticks in a way that resembles the real thing.

9.Read up on weapons and equipment. When in PvP mode, you dont have the luxury of experimenting with various types of armor and weapons. If you are confronted by an enemy unexpectedly something that can and will happen if you wont be playing in an arena and theres no need to issue a challenge among players theres a good chance youll lose if youre ill-equipped. Thus, it is very important that you have an idea of which weapon best suits you and which armor to don for maximum protection.

10.Know what type of PvP game youll be doing. There are basically two types: organized and unorganized games. Organized PvP games often make use of an arena where players fight on definite terms. Unorganized games, on the other hand, give free rein to players regarding when and how to attack opponents. There are also friendly PvP games, where any items lost by the losing player will be returned to him after the fight. Knowing which type youll engage in is important because it will dictate what combat and survival strategies you should employ.

As with other Minecraft game modes, there are also hostile mobs and other dangers in PvP. Your strategy for beating your friends should therefore include surviving despite the challenges presented by the environment. Here are some tips to remember:

11.Construct a shelter before nightfall Most hostile mobs appear at night, so you dont want to be caught outside and without a safe haven. There are players, though, who prefer nomadism instead of spending their resources on creating shelter. If you are just new to the game, this method is not advisable.

12.But dont make this your top priority! In regular survival mode it is important that you are able to build a house or any form of accommodation as soon as possible. But if youre playing in PvP mode, its highly likely that youll get killed if you prioritize this task. Most PvP players stage an escape first that is, they run away from the majority of the other players in order to secure food and do some crafting. Tips regarding these will be given in the latter part of this guide.

13.Never go on an adventure unprepared. Make sure that you have the tools and resources needed to create basic housing in your backpack before you venture out of your shelter. Even if youre certain that youll be able to go back before sundown, it still pays to be prepared. What if you went too far, got lost, or were chased by another player to what seems to be the ends of the world?

14.Always have food with you. Farm animals such as pigs, chickens, and cows may be everywhere, but you wont always have the time to kill them for food. That said, it is important that you always have food in your backpack in case you lose track of time that is, nighttime approaches and your character still hasnt eaten.

15.Always have a weapon. This tip does not only apply to PvP, but also to survival mode games. Although most hostile mobs only spawn at night, there are classes such as zombies and skeletons - that can persist even during daytime. As such, even if you havent ventured far from your home and can go back easily, bring a bow or a sword with you so that you can protect yourself.