Mt. Paradox

Mt. Paradox, as its name suggests, is located inside of a mountain near the spawn point. It provided shelter to the server's early inhabitants, and it is thought to be the oldest man-made structure in the world. The mission of Mt. Paradox—providing security and resources for new players—lives on to this day. Mt. Paradox ensures that players who respawn at the Spawn Point can safely and rapidly reach their final destination in the world. It is presently the home of Ch1b1 and a main hub for the Dwarven Transit Authority. The following services are offered:

• DTA Minecart station
• DTA Nether portal
• Airport
• Harbor
• Guest rooms
• Bulletin board
• Indoor tree and melon farms

Mt. Paradox can be reached via three separate above-ground entrances, the Minecart system, and from the Nether. To reach Mt. Paradox from the Spawn Point, follow the instructions given in the introduction page. To reach Mt. Paradox from anywhere in the DTA transit system, just follow the sandstone arrows as described on the DTA standards page.

Grand Central Station links the red, yellow, and blue minecart lines. The station immediately adjoins the Gate Room and was placed there in order to minimize transit time between the two. The rails, shown in the upper right of the photo, lead to a switching center some twenty meters below the station itself. The cart station also contains version 1.0 of the server wiki: a wall of blank signs on which announcements can be posted.

The station connects directly to Locke's Lab, Einlund, and Ft. Gears. It is also capable of dispatching automatic freight to, and receiving automatic freight from, Locke's Lab via the blue line.

The Mt. Paradox gate room was built as an experimental foray into extra-dimensional travel. Because other dimensions can hold both cataloged and unknown terrors, every precaution was taken to ensure that the experiments were conducted safely. The gate room was constructed deep underground, away from population and food production centers. The entire gate room facility can be locked down by pulling a single lever, which is located above the observation window in the control room. Extra security can be summoned with the touch of a button.

Since it first came online in May 2011, the DTA has reported no extra-dimensional incursions, attempted or otherwise.

In addition to inter-dimensional travel, the Gate Room also offers a total of eleven fully-furnished guest rooms. These rooms are available to any player who wants a place to stay at Mt. Paradox, and they can be claimed for free with a sign.

Mt. Paradox is bordered to the east by a lake, which is shared with nearby Ft. Gears and Einlund. Shagariden is also reachable via a series of canals. The harbor provides access to this lake and a holding area for boats. It is accessible from any of the surface exits, but it has its own dedicated tunnel from the Central Station.

The harbor is the permanent berth of the HMS Petitfour: an ancient artifact which was salvaged from the The Outlands. The Petitfour served with distinction in the War to End All Wars. Today, she is a memorial to voyages of exploration—past and present. Although she wears the Jolly Roger on her gaff, the DTA denies that the ship was acquired by an act of interdimensional piracy.

The best viewing point for Tom Servo is located immediately outside of the harbor.

The Main Chamber, which is Ch1b1's primary residence, is located at the top of a stairwell from the Central Station. It was constructed in a natural cave system, and the irregular cave structure is still visible at its edges. The Main Chamber provides access to several other minor locations.

A small farm grows both melons and pine trees. The public is welcome to harvest these farms at any time, as long as the trees are replanted. The melons can be harvested with the simple push of a button.

The main exit leads to a small courtyard with a swimming pool. Immediately outside the courtyard walls are the beginnings of Route 1 and Route 2. A secondary entrance, which is made from blast-resistant materials, provides easy access to the Spawn Point. There is also an exit which leads directly to the Airport runway.

Mt. Paradox is home to a general aviation airport, Sam International-T. Servo Field (KSAM). The aerodrome consists of one east-west runway and a control tower. The runway is sixty five meters long and is paved with high energy absorbing materials to reduce impact damage. Arriving traffic is encouraged to approach from the east, over water, to reduce the risk of colliding with terrain or pixel art. An airport map is on file with the DAA. Arrivals may enter Mt. Paradox through the doors at the end of the runway. Checked baggage may be claimed from the nearest Enderchest.

The airport terminal itself is located on the upper level of Mt. Paradox, near the main entrance. Departing traffic should take the train to the Air Traffic Control tower. The tower provides a number of convenient leaping-off points. The safest departure vector away from Mt. Paradox is towards the east.

The airfield was named for the two major terrain hazards in the area. Give them a wide berth.

As written on its dedication plaque,

On 8 Feb 2011, an axe 
struck a mighty blow for
civilization by 
unearthing this Guardian 
of New Beginnings

Mt. Paradox was created during the LAN test of the Minecraft server as a joint undertaking between Ch1b1 and ManaLocke. The cave system containing the Main Chamber was unearthed while the two were frantically searching for coal. It was judged to be a suitable location for a base and rapidly fortified. Wooden doors still stand in the Main Entrance where they were originally placed.

The need for long-distance transportation was first realized after the cornerstones of Ft. Gears were laid. Tunnels were deemed to be the most appropriate choice for safe transportation. The first long-distance tunnel, which linked to Ft. Gears, was bored near the bottom of the world. This tunnel was abandoned after the Ooze Outbreak of 1.2, but it was quickly re-cut at a higher elevation. As the world's population grew, civilization expanded outward, radially, from the world's Spawn Point. As tunnels were cut to each new location, Mt. Paradox became the logical center of the minecart network.

In April and May of 2011, the DTA began a new research program in inter-dimensional travel. A secure gate room was hollowed out underground, including space for extensive wiring. Many of its security systems were designed and installed by ManaLocke. On May 26, 2011, the Gate Room sent the world's first explorer to the Nether. The expedition was a success, and construction of a Nether fortress and transit system began in earnest.

Although the DTA minecart tunnels all converged at Mt. Paradox, they did so in separate locations in a haphazard manner. An extensive foot commute was often required to change trains. Throughout the summer, work continued on a grand central station which would unify all tunnels, at one location, with push-button access. In an effort to keep all transit options close together, the station was installed in an unused chamber next to the Gate Room. This location posed numerous technical challenges due to the extremely limited space available for such large tunnels. The project was completed, nonetheless, and the new station made the minecart network much easier to access.

In September 2011, major steps were undertaken to improve the surface appearance of Mt. Paradox. The courtyard, columns, outer walls, and a secondary entrance from the spawn point were added to improve the overall look and safety of Mt. Paradox.

An airfield was added in March 2018 in an effort to improve aviation safety for the nautically-challenged.

In June 2018, the airfield became a full-fledged airport. A brand new control tower, complete with a “plane train” Minecart, were added. These renovations required the removal of the old observation tower, which was one of the oldest structures on the server. The Dwarven Heritage Society briefly objected to its removal but—after an investigation—concluded that the ugly, Samus-blocking edifice “invited expeditious removal.”

In August 2018, Ch1b1 returned from a long voyage to The Outlands… with a warship in tow. The old harbor was insufficiently deep to accommodate the ship, however, which had to be moored out at sea. A deeper channel was carved. The single boat launcher was replaced by a pair of docks, and the old cobblestone edifice was demolished. The newly-acquired warship could then be docked. The ship, which was named the HMS Petitfour, watches over the harbor to this day.

The Mt. Paradox Gate Room underwent substantial modifications in February 2019. The doors and stairwell were moved and enlarged. The security system received a substantial upgrade. A total of 42 redstone blocks of wiring were removed, refactored, and reinstalled. Cosmetic improvements were made using materials not available during the original construction.