I've been working on a large-scale mapping project, a 3x3 grid of full zoomout maps centered around spawn. I have all the maps created in the proper locations and partially explored (probably <25% overall at the moment). I have most of the ocean areas explored (easy by boat, even with their bugginess). The Caspian Sea is part of a larger Ocean that wraps all the way around to the Northeast map, then there are smaller oceans in the North map and Southwest map.
I have a copy on a wall in my sandstone house overlooking the sheep pen if anybody is curious about the general shape of our immediate world (feel free to make copies for yourself or fill-in exploration!). I've been working on creating portals to wilderness cabins near the center of each map, and so far, I have links to the Northwest, North, and Northeast, with mostly reliable paths in the nether to them. Each cabin has an ender chest, and a bit of supplies, but no food sources set up yet.
The big news of my exploration so far is that I found a mushroom island in the ocean about 2600 blocks due East of spawn. Plenty of mooshrooms on it, but getting any back to civilization...
For new posters waiting on getting on the server, I need to get a reliable backup regime going first. It's not that I don't trust those that have posted, but with the growing trend of "professional" griefers out there looking for easy targets, it wouldn't be responsible of me to just say yes to anybody that doesn't have a history here who asks without being able to protect the hard work of those already on the server. This is also when I'll start allowing close friends folks are willing to vouch for to also join.
