New Member Guide

Congratulations on making it out of The Guest Zone and into Membership on The Voxel Box.

This page is to help you get acclimated to what being a member is like, and some general advice on how to go about making your time spent on the server as productive as possible.

Membership Benefits

• See: Ranks, Member

What's Expected of You as a Member

• Obviously, you must understand the Rules and Terms of Service: They still apply to you and everyone else.
• Anything you build on The Voxel Box will be judged, and just as it was in the guest area, only the best of the best builds are kept as permanent features on the map.
• If your project is moved or removed, understand it's only because someone with a bird's eye view for the large-picture on the server feels it's in the map's best interest to do so. Do not take this personally.
• Projects may also be removed due to lengthy member inactivity.
• Use the tools available to you: Every member is expected to understand that the Wiki is a huge repository of knowledge about The Voxel Box; it's more than just the FAQ! Start by using the Map and Cities pages to start getting oriented with all of the different things you can do in the worlds of Holocene and Facet. Be sure to do even more touring around both worlds to see what's out there.
• Make every possible effort to get along with other members: If you're not fitting in, we'll remove you from play. Getting along with others is a requirement on The Voxel Box.
• Get to know how to use this Wiki! Being active and knowing how to trace the Wiki's changes are invaluable for keeping up with what's going on on the server, even when you don't have time to play! See the Getting Started on the Wiki article if you've never used a wiki before!

Getting Involved

Holocene is a showcase world for The Voxel Box's varied Texture Packs.

Facet opens up lots of workshops, build-off events, curated areas and member-directed areas to get you building on The Voxel Box.

There are new Wild West Towns and Wild West Cities added all the time!

• Join Build-Off Events! Use the /vtlist and /vtjoin Commands to get to available Build-Off! events. These will give you great practice building small projects and getting to know the Texture Packs and various thematic leanings of the many Worlds now open to you.
• Read everything you can on building permits in the New Worlds. Server staff recommend you complete at least three builds in a [FREE-FOR-ALL] area before starting your own settlement in The Wild West or submitting builds to Curators.
• Getting around: If you didn't learn how to use the Travel systems as a guest, now is the time. No one is going to teleport you all over both of the worlds! You can start teleporting once you reach the Sniper Rank.
• Definitely consider joining the other members on Mumble sometimes. This is usually members-only and serves as a second chat channel with much easier access to questions aimed at Admins (and the ability to scroll through the chat log, link to pictures, etc.!). It's also a great place to get to know other members and workshop new ideas. Not everyone uses the voice-chat options, so don't feel obligated: many of us just stick with chat functions.
• Always Keep your Maps & Texture Packs up to date, and heavily consider installing The Official VoxelBox Modpack.

Staff Advice for Starting Your First Developments

• Respect your neighbors: Anything that is expected to grow into a Town or City in The Wild West should be spaced at least out of sight, but preferably 2-3 horizons (the distance visible chunks are rendered on the far setting), from another established build. Using the Map as a guide, one horizon spans approximately three sets of coordinates, or 320 meters.

• Build a feature structure first: Start your project off with a bang! Now is the time to go for broke; Exciting feature builds are what make Towns into successful Cities! Make your project feel like a destination: Remember you are going to have to convince people to Travel there! A good idea and a good plan will help immensely with this. Don't forget everything you learned as a Guest! Consider adding a wiki page for this structure as well, using this infobox as a basis.

• Run your ideas by others: The best ideas stand up to scrutiny. Experienced members on the server can help guide you toward sculpting, developing and refining your rough ideas into polished concepts and executions.

• Be as sparse as possible with requests: The server staff are extremely busy: Remember that in addition to running the server, we are also developing new VoxelPlugins, planning for the next map expansions, and dealing with guests (remember what it was like to be a Guest?). We have lots of active members on every week who are all working to develop their projects and it is a lot to keep track of. Remember that we occasionally like to be working on our own projects as well. Priorities have to be given to projects that are promising, ready and closer to completion sometimes, compared to new projects and new members. Again, this is why we recommend you create several quality additions to existing cities before proposing your own city. Being more established on the server makes it much easier to call in the cavalry when you need to. Always be prepared to execute the large requests you have: An exciting and specific plan (you can make one in MS-Paint!) and a reference image can go a long way in convincing others to help. If you've been helped once recently, remember that your other plans may have to go on the back-burner for a time. Always prioritize and make the most of what was already done for you before you even consider asking for additional assistance.

• Use landscape interest: Do not expect anyone to terraform anything for you as a brand-new member. Just as in the Guest Zones, the more you show us you have both the attention to detail it takes to plan and execute a build, the more they will go out of their way to help you. Remember that flat-land cities are not the norm on this server: All members are expected to work with some vertical interest. If you do want land cleared, remember there are players other than admins who have the power to help you clear quickly. Even a Member with Litesniper can terraform like a champ if they know how.

• Adding VoxelPort travel: It can take weeks, or even months for a Town to become a City and receive Travel system tie-ins. Don't rush it. Remember that your city has to actually exist before anyone bothers building travel infrastructure to get there. Always use your /sethome command at your most active build location. This will keep your personal warp tied to your work. MetroVox lines, however, can be built by any member, by following the simple MetroVox Tutorial (or visit the tutorial center in The New Trade Cities. Feel free to coordinate your own rail lines in The Wild West as you see fit. Always ask your neighbor for permission to build a line to his/her city, of course, but no admin permission or special commands are required.

• Create and maintain a presence for all your projects on VoxelWiki: Use the Help:Contents page or even the Getting Started on the Wiki page to help you get started with Wiki editing. Staff also recommend you make use of the Template:Infobox_City on your new towns' page! Providing exact coordinates for your build will make it much easier for us to get there and help you even if you are offline. Also, make sure to add your new Town's VoxelWiki article to the Category:Wild West Towns page so that other new members will know you if you are looking for assistance with your project. The more in order your project's wiki page is in, the easier it will be for high-ranking server members to develop a good strategy and timelines to assist you, even when you're not online!

• In accordance with the Terms of Service, projects not properly located in VoxelWiki or built without proper permits may be DELETED WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE by a Curator or Admin.

"I'm Bored"

[ GOD ] IF YOU ARE BORED, THERE IS PLENTY OF MENIAL LABOR TO BE ACCOMPLISHED TO IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF HOLOCENE AND FACET.

• There are many MetroVox track sections and tunnels that need designing.
• Designing a good tunnel or track section entails creating a polished pattern 20-40 blocks long. This pattern should:
  • Use a visual rhythm. Set up a series of interlocking patterns.
  • E.G.: (a 4 block pattern + 6 block pattern + 12 block pattern = 36 block track section)
  • Your track section should be styled appropriate to the track section's terrain and attached destinations.

• You might be amazed what you can learn doing something simple like building something mundane, like a nice, finished road from here to there. Helping others with their Cities and Towns and executing someone else's vision can stimulate you when you're not inspired to build for yourself. Other people's builds are treasure troves of building techniques waiting to be discovered by a watchful eye! By pitching in a little on existing projects, you can learn more about the worlds of Holocene and Facet, think about your own building, and make a friend or two along the way! It's a win-win, really.

• Do not be surprised if you find yourself kicked for being "bored." If you're bored, excuse yourself and make room for someone who isn't. Do not allow your boredom to distract players who are trying to work or communicate about their projects.

[ PHILOSOPHY ] Bored people are boring people.

Ambition: Ranks

• Especially when you are new, Do not worry about promotions or VoxelSniper, rather, spend your energies building, cultivating your ideas, or having fun and making friends. Staff eyes are watchful, and we will do everything we can to get you the tools we think you need. The better, more complete, and more detailed your work already looks, the more tools we'll give you to execute your vision even faster.
• Know when to shut down social mode and focus on a work for a while -- It's hard to get into the zone with building if you're constantly distracted. Those blocks are not going to place themselves!

MicroBreaks

"Like butter scraped over too much bread!"

• Always have more than one project, but less than four. Trying to be doing too much work on too many projects will ensure that you'll never be finishing anything. Some people find it best to keep two, or maybe three projects in the till so they can pick and choose what to work on. The Wild West is big enough to accompany hundreds of builds, so having two or three projects planned for the future is not a bad thing. Always accomplish your small builds in a few sittings.
• This is really important: Give your brain and eyes a rest. Make sure to get up, run around, and feed the cat. Waiting for VoxelPorts and longer MetroVox rides are a great time for a pee and stretch break. If you find you're not being productive on the server, staying in-game might be the worst idea you could have.