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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 the central hub of the Dwarven Transit Authority. The following services are offered:
Mt. Paradox can be reached via two 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.
Entrance | From | X | Y | Z |
---|---|---|---|---|
Main Entrance | Route 1 | -235 | 79 | 3 |
Spawn Entrance | Spawn Point | -227 | 89 | -38 |
Central Station | Minecart Network | -250 | 46 | -6 |
Gate Room | Nether | -277 | 38 | 0 |
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. A stairwell, shown in the left of the image, leads down through a man trap and into the gate area. 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. The lock-down places several layers of doors between the gate and the outside world. The room containing the gate is covered by multiple, independently-controlled arrow dispensers.
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.
The Harbor provides access to the lake which comprises the eastern border of Mt. Paradox. The harbor contains a single automatic boat launcher and recovery system, and it is accessible via a long tunnel from Central Station. The lake is shared with Ft. Gears and Einlund, and Shagariden is reachable via a series of canals. 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.
An observation tower was built to survey the top-most extents of the world. Glass observation rooms, which are located at two different altitudes, provide a nearly-uninterrupted view of the surrounding terrain. From the observation tower, it is possible to see Samus Aran and the Creeper Statue.
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.
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 radially outward from the world's Spawn Point. As tunnels were cut to each new location, Mt. Paradox became the logical center of the minecart network. Eventually, these tunnels were unified into a single central station, making it possible to traverse the entire network without leaving the rails.
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.