I have created now charts where you can observe how item prices developed over time.

As you can see from this example however, some of the charts are distorted by some extreme values. I would like to know if someone can recommend a way to find a better maximum value for the charts than simply the highest value of the dataset. The method has to be implemented in PHP.

We new shop web interface now! I migrated the shop to MySQL and wrote some tables so you can see what is happening in the shop and historical transactions. More data is supposed to come, if you want to see a specific datatype, please propose it here!

I have created a new world, with a new permissions system, to be alive parallel to the other worlds that exist. Please take a look at the first version of the page. More contents, instructions etc are coming. Please stand by.

Please note that I have given Architects and above tools to detect griefing. Please see the pages for griefing and userlevels/commands for details. Please use these commands with caution since they can create lag.

I want to send out a very clear warning. Do NOT use the shops as storage. I have seen a massive amount of goods in the shops with a VERY high price, so only put there for storage. This has two bad effects:

• There is a higher chance that the store becomes broken. All of the plugins are under permanent development, mostly in Alpha or Beta stage and likely to have bugs. If you overload it, the chance is even higher that something breaks.
• If the shop plugin ever breaks – and so far EVERY SINGLE plugin has been broken for some time or even abandoned permanently since this server started, ALL that stuff is gone. And then I do not want to hear anybody complaining about their stuff missing. I cannot restore it.

I am in talks with the plugin author to put some sort of limit on how many different items you can sell. I strongly recommend you to take those things out of there ASAP. The next update (1.8) is around the corner and no one knows if the shops system survives that upgrade.

We have a new, very nice shop system! Please check it out at the Money & Trading page! The Chest shop system will be removed since it is not needed anymore.  Existing chest shops will stop working soon.

I have changed a part of the chat channels. They are now setup according to the User levels and have the same color:

• Citizen (‘z’): Can be joined/read by Citizens and above; color: Light blue
• Architect (‘a’): Can be joined/read by Architects and above; color: Light Green
• VIP (‘v’): Can be joined/read only by VIPs; color: Rose

Make sure you type /join z etc to join them once! Have fun!

We now have a fully working spleef arena in the north-western part of the city thanks to plutomaster and hardcorepuding. There is also a spleef plugin installed now that teleports you into the arena once you use the proper commands. To find out more, please see the Spleef Game page in the menu!

I have setup a jail system. Only VIPs can send someone to Jail. It is to be used as an emergency measure if someone starts griefing and I am not online. That way further damage can be prevented. Here is how it works:

• /jails: List all jails. There can be several, and there are names for them. Currently there is only one, called “city”. It’s located in the General Admin Building.
• /tjails <username> <jailname> [time]: sends a user (for an optional specified time) to the named jail. repeating /tjail <username> frees the user. The jailed user cannot use /home or /spawn until freed. Removing a user from jail will try to teleport the user back to where he was jailed from. If the user moves, the tp back will be cancelled. The user however will be able to use /home or /spawn to get out.

If someone wants to build a more sophisticated jail, be my guest!

I just reactivated the /seen command for architects and above. You can use

/seen <username>

and see when that user has been online the last time. Have fun!

I just reinstalled chestshops. Please see on the plugin page how they work. I used the standard settings so it should be the same.

I just added another Minecart Block to the config:

Yellow Wool Ejects you from the minecart and kills the cart in one go. Demonstration available in the Mincart Ministry, 2nd Floor Admin Building, Uncovery City

I have started to put the city to a use and put a sample setup there that should give you a good overview what you can do with minecarts. It shows only the most basic stuff. You will have to refer to the manual for detailed instructions. In order to find the setup, please go to the city through the blue gate in spawn and go up one stair in the same building. You can try out all the stuff directly there.

Regarding the city as a whole I am planning to sooner or later (rather later) to build more and more instructional setups in the city. I would be happy if someone made a electric services building that houses the most common redstone setups. There could also be a agricultrual ministry that shows the different plants, trees etc.

I also updated the Minecarts Page on this website.

Here a little brainstorm about the shops:

Options we have:

1. A Global shop that can be used from anywhere?
2. Local shops per-user
3. A Barter system where people work via the trade-channel to offer or ask for goods

There are several advantages and disadvantages. Here are about the global shop

Global Shop

• [NEG] Impossible to limit what people can sell. There is a risk that people become rich by selling EVERYTHING they can from the public area or from harvesters. Prices can be set to low, this will be a huge problem
• [NEG] Spawn area will loose importance as a community gathering point
• [POS] Easy to setup
• [POS] Easy to determine prices
• [NEG] Complex to setup dynamic prices. There is a plugin for a dynamic market, but it’s complicated

Local Shop

• [POS] Goes along with supply and demand
• [POS] Physical Mall at spawn possible
• [NEG] One shop per lot is laggy and pushes some people to far-away spots
• [NEG] On-Demand shops are hard to clear if un-used, shop shortage is likely. A Shop-Admin user group might be required

Barter System

• [POS] No setup required
• [POS] People can barter with goods AND money
• [NEG] Risk for cheaters to steal goods w/o paying
• [NEG] Required people to be online for trading

What do you think? What is the best way to have a working economy on the server?