Miss Wormwood was the name of Calvin's teacher in the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes. She was a regularly occurring character -- most often the messenger of bad news for Calvin's parents, relaying concerns she had about Calvin's artistic subject matter or his propensity for making dinosaur noises at random times during her class.
My Review
This seed has some nice, flat terrain. It's easy to get around, though there aren't many caves. My spawn point was fantastic and there are many hidi-holes around. I think this would be an excellent seed for a beginner player but probably a little too boring for someone a little higher up on the leaderboard. I found an excellent cove, a mountain that was completely stripped of dirt by unknown forces, and several large patches of desert.
Items of Interest
[109.68.-200] huge erosion on entire hillside
[76.73.-221] large desert
[164.72.-279] pumpkins
[83.70.-146] really nice cove
[-4.93.-75] large sinkhole
[-39.81.229] small sinkhole
[-79.69.320] large clay
Images
For some reason, this hillside was completely stripped of dirt -- exposing lots of coal and some iron in the process.
So, I found this seed name on 552 gaming. Basically, the name of this seed is the word "Octagonal" spelled wrong. No word on who spelled it wrong first, but I'm pretty sure 552 needs an editor. "Octagonal!" is one of the random phrases on the Minecraft menu screen and means "eight-sided".
If you play this one, bear in mind the "O" in "Octogona" is capitalized.
My Review
So, I picked up this seed because I was planning on refuting it. The list it is traveling around on is posted on 552 gaming and then got wrapped into a bigger list that someone else ripped off on se7ensins. It talks about cacti and sand and a pretty grassy land bridge by your spawn and I was like, "this thing has got to suck". Well, it's just your average, ordinary Minecraft level -- unless, of course, you happen to find the super terrific mega cave complex. Then, it's something quite spectacular. The only reasons to play this level are to 1) visit the nether, and 2) attempt to conquer the labyrinthine train-wreck cave system I found. Without either of those, the rating on this level would be in the teens.
And I say, "I found", by the way, because not a single review of this seed mentioned an awesome cave. Not one. So suck it. The top-side could be a great seed for beginners, but this cave is suicidal. So I averaged the two and decided this level is for advanced players.
Can't Miss
There are no less than eight entrances to the massive cave complex located in the north by northwest quadrant of the center of the map. My entrance of choice because it was almost a straight drop down to the good stuff was at -167.19.-226. I set up base camp at the top and then built stairs down the dead drop until I reached platform #1 (there are three platforms before the lava).
The caverns are full of waterfalls that help facilitate your descent, but there are also cross-paths and circular passages that cause confusion. I used 64 torches before even making it to platform #3 and as I write this, I have used a total of 200 torches and there are still black side paths and alternate caverns that I haven't even touched yet. I focused only on getting down to lava, finding diamonds, and then digging up obsidian so I could see what the nether looked like.
For the love of James Lipton, people, label your cave!!! Attempting to remember where you are and how to get back out will leave you a raging headache.
The Nether
The nether on this level is quite spectacular, however navigating around is a huge pain. Firstly, I spawned on a shelf in the middle of the sky full of soul sand. So I'm already wondering around at 1 mph jumping up and down to pick up speed (like that works). Secondly, this thing is completely floating in mid air, so getting down to have a look around was an epic feat of engineering.
The nether itself is full of shelves and is wide open and full of interesting things to see. There are plenty of glow stone formations, towering lava falls that pour from ceiling to floor, and I also found a quadruple lava fall on the far side of the nether from where I spawned. But getting to it is going to require you to build bridges... big time bridges.
Video: This Old Seed, Ep5
This seed appears in episode five of my rockin' Xbox Minecraft seed tourism series, "This Old Seed". In this video, I hunt down diamonds and lapis lazuli in the depths of this crazy cave.
From the Cave Complex
[-100.21.-208] x7 gold
[-129.14.-216] x2 lapis lazuli, x6 red stone, x12 coal
[-155.13.-214] x4 diamonds
[-179.12.-208] x4 diamonds, x12 gold, lots of red stone
[-181.19.-217] x5 diamonds
[-198.15.-223] x4 diamonds
[-197.12.-210] x4 diamonds
[-214.15.-253] x3 lapis lazuli, x2 lava lakes
[-199.12.-256] x2 diamonds
[-241.14.-234] x3 diamonds, x5 gold
[-166.24.-235] x2 lapis lazuli
Items of Interest
[-167.19.-226] my entrance to the epic cave complex
[-90.69.-48] a flat desert valley with a small waterfall
[-271.73.-69] a low-hanging large land bridge
[-261.75.148] a huge collapsible sand formation
[-279.69.238] large land bridge and small floater on the south end of the palisade
Images
So, since the cave is all that matters on this level, the cave is what you'll get. This is a view from the first platform looking down at the second platform after I lit the whole thing up. When you first get here, it's just blackness full of drops to serious injury. At right, I did find this nice super-flat valley up top while I was looking around. If you were in the mood to plunk down a town here, this would be the place to do it.
The shot in the nether is a view of the terraces hanging over the lava sea.
To begin with, there is very little physical land in this seed; it's mostly the main island and then a ring of smaller islands and atolls to the north and east. This seed is ruled by the sands. It's mostly a big desert and you're going to have to dig to find items of interest. There are many hidden caves scattered throughout the map. If you know how to find such things, then this level is for you. Of course, you don't know how to find these things because they're hidden. That's what hidden means, people: for not to find stuff. Do not spend hours wondering around this level in tears digging random holes in the sand. This seed is for people who want to build glass houses and then blow them up with TNT.
Items of Interest
[-96.73.30] shady cave with overhang
[-82.72.149] dig down for hidden cave
[97.71.-13] lava pit
[228.66.348] dig down for another hidden cave
[355.63.95] underground sounds of bad guys
[-332.66.97] medium clay
[-332.68.197] hidi-hole with waterfall
[-107.64.338] dig down for small underwater cave
[47.65.212] small clay
[-93.69.191] deep pitfall cave
Images
A sand dune piled up against a massive butte in the background pretty much explains the amount of sand you're going to find in this seed. At right, I call this one "The Unzipped Zipper". Not really, but it was a really cool formation and absolutely lousy with bad guys. You can find it at -96.73.30.
I liked this seed. The most notable thing about it was the prevalence of visible resources that were just sitting around out in the open as you walked by. Very convenient for new players. However, there are also some interesting caves about and plenty of trees. Well balanced and full of exploration, I recommend this seed to anyone.
Caves
[241.64.-330] iron, dig into wall for hidden medium cave
[127.71.-264] iron inside of cave
[111.68.-255] deep cave with iron
[-21.71.-62] small cave with coal inside
[-241.74.232] medium cave with iron and coal
[-347.65.137] deep pitfall cave with coal
Other Items of Interest
[101.75.-233] small hidi-hole
[158.72.-292] twenty pieces of coal
[338.65.12] small flat beach
[346.70.139] hidden lava pit
[356.65.156] iron and sand pit
[-392.65.116] small land bridge with coal
[-385.74.12] wolf pack, sugar, and medium cave complex
[-216.73.-98] medium cacti patch
[79.65.111] waterfall into lake
[132.65.118] medium iron, medium clay
[149.66.-28] large hidi-hole with iron
Images
This huge mountain pierces the thick forest canopy.
At first, I was hard pressed to find a good photograph for this one. Usually a bad sign. Then, I went back and played it again -- this time checking out the other half of the map and it redeemed itself. This seed is very scenic with hills made of both sand and grass mixed together. There is a particular massive cave complex that I found that really elevated the cave rating on this one. Beyond that, it's a solid seed that any beginner would enjoy.
Items of Interest
[114.63.37] lava fall with medium cave
[137.74.54] cave complex
[267.72.10] red and yellow flower patch
[283.65.30] sugar
[266.73.84] deep sand basin
Images
This is a four-corners shot that I took the second time I played the level. As you can see, it's very scenic with lots of deep water.
There wasn't much in the way of interesting things to see in this board. The hills are nice and smooth; very easy to get around. Tons of open space and plains. However, when you do find a mountain, the sides are usually steep cliffs that are a tough climb. Overall, a challenge for beginners but not a bad seed.
Highest pumpkin patch I've ever seen. I should be able to write that and that should be the end of this review because you should instinctively want to see that. However, if you need more, so be it. This level features the highest and thickest lava fall I've found yet AND (within spitting distance) a great stone basin.
Items of Interest
[-47.107.36] the highest pumpkin patch I've ever found
[-60.71.-1] a deep cave
[-133.84.80] a large red flower patch
[-100.72.113] a great lava fall
[-108.68.186] the Great Stone Basin of moonbase87
Images
Up top, you can see a mountain jetting out of the sands. The majority of the level is like that where you're walking through sand and then suddenly there's an odd rock formation shooting up out of nowhere. At right, pumpkins with a view of the lava fall in the background.
You only want a piece of this board if you're looking for trouble. To say that trees are sparse is an understatement. The most interesting thing about this level is how the rocks spring up out of the sand like cacti. Speaking of which, if you like dying things green, then you'd love this level because otherwise it's just you and the sound of sand being crunched under your feet... for HOURS!
Items of Interest
[-25.70.0] hidden cave
[-104.79.-62] another hidden cave
[-122.75.-37] zombie cave with waterfall
[-172.66.-154] a massive hidi-hole
[-165.67.-173] coal cave
[-143.76.-184] waterfall
Images
Looks like a massive cave in the side of the mountain, doesn't it? Wrong! Don't even bother climbing up there -- it's just a divot in this sandtrap.
A lot of awards are being handed out today and this level is no exception. The location where I spawned was amazing -- both in terms of visual attractiveness and collecting-tons-of-free-shit attractiveness. There was an above-ground, pre-built skeleton spawn farm ready to go with two chests of awesome stuff (including saddles). Beyond the cool spawn, the seed proper is also very interesting. It's mostly desert. In fact, it's kinda like walking around inside a Van Gogh painting. I saw a pig commit suicide by running into a cactus. I'm not sure, but I may have been hallucinating in the dry desert heat. Grandpa, is that you?
Items of Interest
[4.80.-12] a cave full of skeletons
[-2.67.-31] skeleton farm with a ring of moss stone and two chests full of crap. There is also another cave nearby.
[65.65.-74] clay deposit
[-67.75.-13] a short cliff diving experience
[48.120.52] Grandpa Willy
Images
The vast desert stretches out before me. Hope I have enough water. At right, this is the crazy skeleton farm with moss ring and first chest. The second chest is to the left under the sand. If you look closely, you can see that there's actually a cave that runs under this thing if you dig down.
I enjoyed this level even though it didn't score very high. As my first one of the day, it's always nice to find some crazy formations to get me in the mood to Minecraft. There was a lot of clay around and I found a few day-creepers in a forest who snuck up and killed me. Overall, a good board for the advanced crowd.
Items of Interest
[43.67.38] shortcut cave
[-2.68.64] pumpkins in my spawn
[135.64.-250] three-way land bridge
Images
You can't really tell, but this is a triple land bridge. These two entrances and then an exit out the back of the mountain. It was a really cool find. At right, I found this huge sandy floater on my way out to one of the corners of the map (52.65.-194). If you get on top, don't dig, it will collapse.
One of the most beautiful and scenic seeds I have yet to come across. First of all, there were pumpkins in the spawn. This is the first time that's ever happened to me so that was cool. Many of the caves are flooded, so that was a bummer.
Can't Miss
Do you like to cliff dive? Sure, we all do. Well, virtually anyway. Well, there's this awesome spot where you can leap off a mountain top and land in water. It's an awesome ride. I spawned in the far north. There is a desert and lots of sand in this level despite what the photos suggest.
Items of Interest
[286.656.14] Shhh! I can hear zombies!
[282.65.-150] Cliff diving experience you don't want to miss
Image Coordinates
Both of these photos showcase some of the strange mountains that just reach up out of nothing. They're all around the board. It's like wondering around in Java.
The single best board of the day was bookended by the two worst of the day -- including this one... the worst. This board was so flat I didn't even have to space myself to take a photo of it. It's flat. Flat. Flat. No mountains or hills. There are many, many squid in the deep and complex ocean waters surrounding the sands of this desolate, barren sandbar. Huge swaths of gravel, if you happen to go that way. I would not recommend this for a beginner and experts and above may be able to find subterranean caverns to make it interesting, but I suspect that's going to take some serious patience.
Items of Interest
Nada.
Image Coordinates
This view won because it was the first one out of my camera. I hold it in no special regard.
Sand mixed with snow. Even though it didn't score very high, I do like this seed. This map would be especially good for someone who had never played before for the simple fact that immediately within sight of where you spawn, there is practically an entire hidi-hole dug out and ready to go. It only needs some mud to protect you from the baddies. In addition, there are plenty of trees -- you will have no problem managing your wood budget.
Items of Interest
There is a cool short-cut cave. This is near the spawn at 151.66.-43.
Image Coordinates
The above view is three of the four corners; the fourth corner was all trees so I didn't include it.
