Seed & Map: theborgiapopes

Special Achievements

• Premium! This seed has scored higher than 40 out of 70 in the overall score.
• Treemium! Higher than 8 out of 10 in wood.

Rating

• Beginner
• ++ Intermediate ++
• Advanced
• Expert
• Suicidal Expert

Spawn and Version

Spawn: -78.75.-19
Version: XBL 1.1.1 (equiv Beta 1.7.3)

Seed Score MH 6.6 DW 4.8 C 7.4 W 8.2 SP 4.8 VR 3.9 AF 5.1     40.8

Etymology

The Borgias were a famous family of popes who took the Vatican Church to a whole new level of simultaneous corruption and proselytism. Their hedonism, though admirable in most ways, is rumored to have dabbled in the incestuous. And their quest to consolidate their power came at the cost of the entire Italian peninsula. They are literally the definition of Machiavellian.

My Review

The hovering, twisted land bridges and overhangs of this Gothic and beautiful seed hold a debauchery worthy of their namesake. Throughout the level, random creeper after random creeper sits in silence waiting to make his move. Skeletons appear from inside forests to train their bows upon you. It's quite a thing. During the moments of peace, you're going to find hundreds of pumpkins all around the level... staring. Just staring. It's like you owe them money. Suddenly, you find yourself hiding in a cave, weeping at the thought of facing their collective grimace. Always watching.

Eh... anyway... there are some really nice caves to explore and of course plenty of wood. All told, true beginners should shy away but everyone else should at least have a look at this thing because it's truly beautiful. And infested with pumpkins. Grinning... always watching...

Caves

• [338.80.-30] submerged square cave; suspicious...
• [324.72.27] deep pitfall cave with iron
• [-98.65.19] small cave with nearby lava fall and medium coal
• [-103.65.33] shortcut cave with iron
• [-112.68.-176] deep cave
• [-320.74.-103] shortcut cave with deep dead drop inside
• [-322.67.-341] small cave
• [-344.76.-346] shortcut cave with deep hole
• [-351.73.-99] small tabletop overhang and deep cave

What Do You Want From Me?!?

• [322.87.192] pumpkins
• [136.73.-358] pumpkins
• [90.81.-126] pumpkins
• [-165.71.-375] pumpkins
• [-288.68.-266] pumpkins
• [-359.73.-40] pumpkins

Items of Interest

• [17.66.185] small flat beach
• [25.92.-331] dead drop cliff
• [48.65.223] small clay
• [121.71.66] two small tabletop overhangs
• [132.70.-34] deep cave complex
• [155.65.380] sugar
• [159.78.-103] massive overhang
• [189.65.348] medium coal inside large hidi-hole
• [233.65.327] large coal inside hidi-hole
• [285.70.73] large land bridge
• [316.74.-215] tabletop land bridge
• [335.70.-289] small hidi-hole with coal
• [330.73.93] valley of overhangs
• [333.80.110] large hidi-hole
• [303.73.107] medium land bridge
• [359.80.77] medium waterfall
• [353.92.140] medium cave complex
• [-11.77.344] medium lake with medium cliff dive
• [-27.79.-136] thick forest
• [-105.69.364] medium clay with medium cacti
• [-184.72.380] submerged cave with small coal
• [-194.55.281] deep water hole
• [-198.71.-345] small waterfall
• [-315.90.-95] thick forest
• [-394.75.-53] overhang that looks like the bow of a ship with medium coal
• [-398.70.366] small clay

Images

I have in my possession at least another four photographs that are equally compelling. This level has a lot to look at. Starting at the top, a striking overhang that looks a lot like the bow of a ship. Beneath that, you'll find a photo of a less conspicuous overhang and a small hole in the foreground that leads to a dead drop cave.

The two smaller images at right include a photo from within the "overhang valley" of a massive overhang that floats above the trees. Luckily, none of these overhangs are close enough to the ground to house zombies. Finally, this massive beast is only two blocks away from being a land bridge. These are just some of the many things to see and play with in this level. Good luck!

Seed & Map: moonburn

Rating

• Beginner
• Intermediate
• ++ Advanced ++
• Expert
• Suicidal Expert

Spawn and Version

Spawn: 6.93.0
Version: XBL 1.1.1 (equiv Beta 1.7.3)

Seed Score MH 6.8 DW 5.9 C 7.4 W 3.8 SP 3.9 VR 4.2 AF 4.7     36.7

Etymology

Uncle Fester -- a character from the fictional world of the Addams Family -- used to take pleasure in "moonbathing" to keep his milquetoast complexion looking its palest. Conceivably, because the moon does reflect rays of UVB, you could get a "moonburn" if you stayed out there long enough. Of course it could take days, but we're talking science here.

My Review

If for no other reason, the underwater zombie spawn is worth checking this one out. The one thing holding this seed back from being a premium seed is the lack of wood. It's so inconvenient, I just can't let it slide. Beyond that, you're going to find huge, flat stretches of sand speckled here and there -- perfect for someone looking to set up a waterfront condo or anti-creeper, Normandy-style beachhead. The north end of the map has many interesting formations, some of which are featured in the photographs you see here. All in all, a good challenge.

Dangerous Drops

• [-156.84.-367] dig down for large dead drop cave
• [203.59.383] pitfall cave inside of hidi-hole
• [235.73.-123] medium pitfall cave

Overhangs and Land Bridges

• [296.65.338] small land bridge
• [139.75.-334] small overhang with hidi-hole
• [119.81.-307] large land bridge
• [-91.71.-358] small land bridge hiding a deep cave with coal
• [-310.80.-361] small overhang

Items of Interest

• [127.71.-209] large floater
• [-2.82.-356] medium squat spire
• [-381.65.-45] medium sugar, small gravel
• [-326.68.283] grassland, small gravel
• [-362.79.325] stalagmite cave
• [360.74.312] medium cliff dive event
• [339.65.212] large cave complex with iron
• [335.65.137] underwater zombie spawn
• [359.67.52] small clay
• [300.65.-80] large sugar
• [353.63.-139] hidi-hole with river
• [380.67.-229] medium cave complex
• [247.68.-305] exposed stone with iron
• [235.69.-292] hidi-hole with coal
• [155.67.46] suspicious hole
• [-108.65.136] sandbar

Images

This large land bridge appears to drip rock from it's midway point. In the background, you can see that this is the entrance to a complex of unusual rock formations. Feel free to have a look around, but don't turn your back on the shadows for too long. You'll regret it. At right... don't go in there.

Seed: tomorrowonfire

Special Achievements

• Premium! This seed has scored higher than 40 out of 70 in the overall score.
• Rolling! Higher than 8 out of 10 in hills and mountains.
• Anseled! Higher than 8 out of 10 in awesome features.

Rating

• Beginner
• Intermediate
• ++ Advanced ++
• Expert
• Suicidal Expert

Spawn Coordinates

12.72.53

Seed Score MH 8.1 DW 4.1 C 4.7 W 5.2 SP 4.8 VR 6.1 AF 8.2     41.2

My Review

This seed is a great seed for two reasons. First, the surface has some very interesting formation, some great mountains with deep, flat basins, and plenty of resources to simply scoop up as you're wondering around. Secondly -- and more importantly -- I found through sheer happenstance an underground lava lake and cave complex that is absolutely massive. It is so much so of a must-see that I took the Can't Miss portion out of this write-up and gave it it's own post with photos and instructions. This thing is gorgeous. But even if you're not one to dig down for your fun, this seed sands on its own as a premium-rated seed.

Can't Miss

Above is the first ever episode of "This Old Seed". Here is me showing you exactly how to get to the Epic Cave of Fire. The link below goes to the special bonus post I wrote up on the same subject.

[POST] The Epic Cave of Fire

The Nether

So, I took a hike into The Nether on this level. I spawned in a very bland underground tunnel system that dead-ended in every direction save one. When I climbed up to the bedrock wall and then stair-stepped my way through up to the main level, the world really opened up.

Really interesting here was the lava island, located in the middle of the primary lava lake underneath of a thick overhang. This would be a perfect spot to build a little house -- provided you could get there.

Items of Interest

Warning: the following list contains coordinates and descriptions of the majority of resources and other features in this seed. If you prefer to discover these things on your own, skip ahead to the final paragraph.

• [2.102.92] large spire, cliff-side hidi-hole
• [30.87.43] tiny coal
• [16.60.-9] dig down for hidden cave
• [162.89.55] large ravine
• [215.81.68] hidi-hole
• [271.86.64] deep hole
• [311.73.27] large cave complex
• [324.81.36] large spire
• [332.77.-39] red and yellow flower patch
• [302.77.-120] medium hidi-hole, grassland, and sugar
• [316.65.-237] medium sugar
• [315.65.-301] huge coal pit, dig down for hidden cave
• [303.69.-341] sand pit
• [342.69.-346] iron and coal
• [224.72.-312] small hole
• [214.75.-322] deep cave, underground waterfall, coal, iron
• [141.69.-369] medium cave complex
• [10.81.-340] cave
• [12.79.-342] medium cave, underground waterfall, iron
• [-21.72.-332] large hidi-hole
• [-124.66.-304] small island, medium clay, large gravel
• [-190.66.-316] large gravel, dig to collapse revealing hidden pitfall cave with underground waterfall.
• [-183.46.-315] hidden cave
• [-167.12.-304] The Epic Cave of Fire - an underground lava lake with diamonds, gold, obsidian, the works

Final Tally

[Update: September 2] I have been playing this seed off and on exploring all the caves connected to the Epic Cave of Fire. I used 155 torches. Here is a list of all the things in my chests that were naturally visible or happened to be mined while trying to connect one section to another:

• Obsidian: countless, I stopped at 98 pieces
• Coal: 487 pieces
• Iron: 212 pieces
• Redstone: 145 pieces
• Gold: 57 pieces
• Diamonds: 12 pieces
• Lapis Lazuli: 9 pieces

Images

Here is an interesting rocky outcrop from the side of a mountain. At bottom, you can see the top of a nice hidi-hole. At right, this is one of the two photos I took of the Epic Cave of Fire. The "bridges" that you see crossing the lava were added by me so that I could get inside this thing. Bring lots of torches.

As for the shots I got from The Nether, the first one is of a nice island in the middle of the lava lake. The second is a wide open view of the entire nether area from where I dug myself out of the underground tunnel system where my portal spawned.

Seed: epichills

Special Achievements

• Premium! This seed has scored higher than 40 out of 70 in the overall score.
• Rolling! Higher than 8 out of 10 in hills and mountains.
• Spelunked! Higher than 8 out of 10 in caves.

Rating

• Beginner
• Intermediate
• ++ Advanced ++
• Expert
• Suicidal Expert

Spawn Coordinates

1.79.55

Seed Score MH 8.9 DW 5.5 C 8.2 W 6.4 SP 5.5 VR 5.2 AF 7.9     47.6

My Review

So, this is one of the more popular seeds you find out on the Internet. It's usually like number ten on the top ten list and it's easy to see why. There are many awesome formations spattered around the board. Overhangs galore. I will warn you that at one point I was wondering along minding my own business and I feel through a hole in a grassland plain into a lava pit and was almost burned alive had it not been for a single square of water just within emergency reach. So, I'm just saying... watch your step.

Items of Interest

• [-2.79.89] hidi-hole
• [10.80.112] skeleton cave
• [-9.65.256] lava pit
• [0.66.257] zombie cave
• [42.65.269] lone wolf

Images

An epic overhang and a real narrow shortcut cave define this particular mountain. At right, this land bridge/spire combination is definitely unique. Good luck trying to climb on top of this thing.

Seed: [25]

Rating

• Beginner
• Intermediate
• Advanced
• ++ Expert ++
• Suicidal Expert

Spawn Coordinates

112.85.372

Seed Score MH 6.3 DW 4.1 C 5.1 W 5.9 SP 1.2 VR 2.4 AF 5.9     30.9

My Review

Welcome to the next of my ongoing series of obsession-based bracketed seeds. "[25]" is a good seed with plenty of hills and interesting things to see. For instance, I found a good sized hidi-hole that comes complete with it's own built-in waterfall and drilled through the top of a mountain is another fantastic shortcut cave that could easily be renovated into a lighthouse or lookout tower. Just gorgeous.

Items of Interest

• [172.65.243] two huge patches of yellow and red flowers
• [226.67.148] a hidi-hole
• [153.90.48] cliff diving
• [179.74.-99] small cliff dive, but you can hear zombie sounds here
• [104.93.-175] a fantastic short-cut cave/hidi-hole
• [265.73.-174] a large lava-pit complete with sacrifice alter with a hidden cave underneath to store all the bones. Be careful where you dig so you don't get lava in the eye.

Images

The photo above was taken from 187.65.-12. It's of an island off the mainland that has some good places to build a house and raise a family. Of course, you'll have to bring the wood, but we can't do all the work for you.

Seed: finger-lickin

Rating

• Beginner
• Intermediate
• ++ Advanced ++
• Expert
• Suicidal Expert

Spawn Coordinates

-2.68.64

Seed Score MH 3.8 DW 3.2 C 3.9 W 4.9 SP 2.1 VR 2.8 AF 5.2     25.9

My Review

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.

Seed: floppytensioncrash

Special Achievements

• Premium! This map has scored higher than 40 out of 70 in the overall score.
• Rolling! Higher than 8 out of 10 in hills and mountains.
• Anseled! Higher than 8 out of 10 in awesome features.

Rating

• Beginner
• Intermediate
• Advanced
• ++ Expert ++
• Suicidal Expert

Spawn Coordinates

-230.68.0

Seed Score MH 8.6 DW 2.9 C 4.2 W 6.9 SP 6.7 VR 5.1 AF 8.8     43.2

My Review

This is one of the best levels I've seen so far. It's ranked as expert for one simple reason -- this level features massive overhangs that are so large and so profound that their shadows allow all forms of baddies to live above ground during the daytime. Then once night falls, the creepers are already out so they populate the board significantly faster than in other levels. This, is one challenging board that is both gorgeous and treacherous.

Items of Interest

• [-247.68.-18] coal is buried here; you have to dig for it
• [-261.66.27] a shortcut cave

Image Coordinates

The top photo is a four corners shot of this beautiful level and some of it's amazing overhangs. As for the photo at right, that's me holding off a creeper while I steady my camera to take this shot. I put my life at risk for this shit, people. Recognize!

Seed: stupidbystupid

Special Achievements

• Premium! This map has scored higher than 40 out of 70 in the overall score.
• Rolling! Higher than 8 out of 10 in hills and mountains.
• Anseled! Higher than 8 out of 10 in awesome features.

Rating

• Beginner
• Intermediate
• Advanced
• Expert
• ++ Suicidal Expert ++

Spawn Coordinates

8.74.16

Seed Score MH 8.7 DW 3.8 C 5.8 W 4.8 SP 6.3 VR 4.8 AF 8.1     42.3

My Review

Well, here's to all you snarky bastards that think that name games are stupid. Thanks to your "stupid" suggestions, we found this awesomely sinister level. Many hills and mountains with great features and sheer cliffs that fall so far they can kill you instantly. With practically no trees and resources that are hidden better than the gold at Fort Knox, this is a suicidal challenge for anyone who bothers to give it a go.

Can't Miss

So, right near the spawn, I found something truly awesome. It was a lava pit that was probably built next to running water. The result is a huge black spot of obsidian. While you won't be able to do anything about it for a while, it's cool to know that three years from now when you finally get a diamond pickaxe that this is your reward.

Items of Interest

• [-18.65.42] Obsidian Lake
• [-26.65.150] a hidi-cave
• [-40.66.145] a cave with a secret waterfall
• [-45.71.249] a huge, huge lava fall that is pouring out of a cliff
• [-20.83.241] a cool hidi-hole in a cliff.

Image Coordinates

Some amazing rock formations, including a few floaters. The black lake of obsidian at -18.65.42 calls to you, begging you to come back and mine it should you ever find enough wood to make a diamond pickaxe.

Seed: coltiamnotdonkey

Rating

• Beginner
• Intermediate
• Advanced
• ++ Expert ++
• Suicidal Expert

Spawn Coordinates

0.95.0

Seed Score MH 5.3 DW 6.1 C 4.7 W 6.2 SP 5.1 VR 3.7 AF 5.1     36.2

My Review

This is an expert-level archipelago with a few caves and plenty of deep water to explore. This level has many, many chickens. I don't know why you would care, but they were quite annoying. Several of them did not survive my wrath. The main island has a large desert peninsula that may contain some surprises. In fact, I spawned there, but then headed off in the other direction scouting for trees. I found many... elsewhere.

Items of Interest

• [-43.74.-34] a deep coal-infested cave
• [-112.65.-38] I could easily have walked past this insanely deep cave had it not been for a small bit of serendipity and a willy chicken. The entrance is only two blocks wide, but this cave may come close to bedrock.
• [-279.65.-98] a deep cave
• [-376.65.-284] a cute little hidi-hole

Image Coordinates

There are several of these odd rock formations consuming various tiny islands around the periphery of the level. Difficult to climb and even harder to figure out why you would want to be up there in the first place.

Seed: 694228

Rating

• ++ Beginner ++
• Intermediate
• Advanced
• Expert
• Suicidal Expert

Spawn Coordinates

152.67.-15

Seed Score MH 5.3 DW 3.1 C 2.1 W 4.8 SP 6.2 VR 1.3 AF 1.9     24.7

My Review

I had a great spawn point on this one that had a hidi-hole filled with iron. Go figure! You're going to find lots of sheep -- including a few black sheep -- and lots of gravel. This is a great board for beginners with some really cool rock formations and a land bridge that is part sand and part rock.

Items of Interest

• [0.78.91] there's an interesting path through a mountain that you can see through from one end to the other which makes it like a natural doorway
• [398.66.-348] I didn't have time to investigate, but there's a gravel pit here with zombie noises coming from underneath. Look into that for me.
• [-91.69.0] a valley that runs between two cliffs in the southwest of the map. Very scenic.
• [324.68.-215] a shortcut cave

Image Coordinates

The top image is of a land bridge that's part sand and part mud. Really cool. You can find that at 217.85.-183. The image at right is the mouth of a cave that I didn't feel like climbing up to because it's wedged between two steep cliffs.

Seed: jsmash7

Special Achievements

• Rolling! Higher than 8 out of 10 in hills.

Rating

• ++ Beginner ++
• Intermediate
• Advanced
• Expert
• Suicidal Expert

Spawn Coordinates

270.65.-127

Seed Score MH 8.4 DW 8.1 C 1.4 W 6.3 SP 4.7 VR 1.6 AF 6.3     36.8

My Review

I love hiking through hills in Minecraft, so this was a really nice level. Lots of ups and downs, as it were. This seed looks like something out of survivor. Picking out two photos for this particular level was tough because I found four really quirky formations within five minutes walk of each other. Pretty good! The spawn is on the far east of the map and is surrounded with wood. I'd say this was a challenge for a beginner who can stay on the spawn island and a fun curiosity for a seasoned player who doesn't mind swimming due west to check out the rest of the board.

Items of Interest

• [61.73.-161] a cave that as I was passing it, the creepers literally came out to greet me in the middle of the day. It was like overflowing with death
• [-76.88.6] is a really nice valley that might have some good resources to mine
• [-140.88.11] a nice waterfall

Image Coordinates

Image at top is a really nice spire that could house a house if you felt like climbing that beast. The image at right is a dinosaur!