Tutorials/Playing on servers

Minecraft is a single player game. You survive by yourself and your only friends are the animals that you will probably cook for food! Yet you might want to roam the world with friends. Just experience it with other players and more mobs that you can shake a Creeper at. So servers have made a mark in the Minecraft world of blocks. Here is a lowdown on them:

[edit] Joining a Server

• Find a website on the Internet that lists servers.
  
• Read the descriptions and pick one you like. Find its IP. This is often a number displayed next to the name of it, or a domain.
  
• Start Minecraft, click Multiplayer and click Add Server. There should be two boxes, Server Name and IP Address. The server name does not matter a bit. Call it what you like. Now remember the IP and type it into the bottom box. Confirm your entries.
  
• You should go back to your list of servers. The server should appear on it with green bars on the right.
  
• Click this server, click Join Server. Normally, you will be brought directly into the server. If you are not, there is a list of common errors below to help you.
  

Possible Errors
Things will go wrong at some point, so here are some error messages and what they mean. I do not know them all,so add others+make major edits. These messages appear when you click JOIN SERVER.

• Disconnected by server. Outdated server!
  

If you've updated your Minecraft recently, you might get this error message. This means that you might be running on 1.1, but the server is still on 1.0. You will have to wait for the server to update, this may take more or less time depending of the server owners' reactivity.

• Disconnected by Server. Bad login!
  

There are many reasons for this, often because you clicked "Play offline". Simply reset Minecraft, connect to the Internet and try again.

• Cannot connect to server
  

This appears next to the list of servers. There are many reasons for this: You might not be connected to the internet, the server may be offline or heavily lagging. Click Refresh. If nothing happens, then wait a bit.

[edit] What happens on the server

Servers can be daunting for some. There are people chatting, maybe trading, Ops broadcasting changes and players entering and leaving. So this section shall help you get started.
1. You will spawn in the server's spawn point. Depending on which one you are on, you will spawn in a room. It is called the spawn room and is purely used where people spawn. The server may make it look lavish, with gold blocks and diamond as well as lava and glowstone.
2. On the left hand side of the screen is the chat log. Players will be talking and things will be announced, in different coloured text. You can chat and bring it up by pressing T. Then enter what you have to say and press enter.
3. There will be a rules board. This is just lots of signs that say how the server operates. Here are some common rules:
No griefing: This is where you do not destroy constructions or don't place rude structures.
No cheating mods: You know what mods are. Well some servers ban them. This is because they can make it easier for you to grief, or to ruin fun for others.
No swearing or offensive comments: I'm sure you know what is right to say.
4. Sometimes you might have to register online to play on a server. If you really want to play, then create an account.
5. Other times you will need to agree to the rules. Type in "I agree" or something like that. Then you will become a builder or the door will open.
6. What you do next depends on the server. There is a full list under Server.
7. Some servers require prerequisites to prove yourself, like building a house, answering trivia, or killing mobs. If you do what you need, and the mods approve, or you finish the trial, you will be promoted to Member, Player, etc.
8. DO NOT anger mods or ops by attacking them, griefing them, etc. They have authority and can ban, mute, or put you in jail (that's right, some servers have jails). This is crucial if you want to stay on the server.

[edit] Getting Yourself Started

Now that you're in the server, you probably want to find a place to live! Some servers will automatically give you some tools (normally wooden) so that you can get yourself started. Other times you will spawn and, well, be on your own! Some servers also have what are called Lots. Lots are places you can build your house. Typically you will need to apply for a lot with the Admins to get one.

Find out what is acceptable, and seek out a place you want to call home. Here are a few things to keep in mind

• You will need a source of food, so make sure there is water for farms, or at least animals for meat.
  
• You will want to go far enough away from Spawn so you dont have too many visitors (some of them might be griefers!) But not so far, or else you will be all the way back at the beginning if you die.
  
• Take your coordinates: Press F3 and write down on a piece of paper or a .txt document your X,Y, and Z coordinates in case you ever get lost.
  
• /sethome, /home and /spawn: several servers have a plugin that allows for the commands /home and /sethome. /sethome will save your coordinates, and /home will teleport you to that exact same spot. Ask the admins what the exact code is, as they may vary from server to server. /spawn takes you to the server's spawn.