What Is MineZ?
MineZ is much more than a minecraft server, it is a multi-server Minecraft MMO based on the Arma II DayZ mod – meaning that the main order of the day is killing and / or running away from zombies. When not being hunted by zombie hordes, MineZ players explore a post-apocalyptic world populated with cities, towns and other resources. This is technically a minecraft mod, but it is hosted entirely server-side, so anyone with an un-modded copy of vanilla Minecraft can join and play without having to download or install any files.
Playing MineZ
MineZ contains a whole lot of new game mechanics, including thirst. When you spawn, you do so with a piece of paper (which I later discovered functions as a bandage), a wooden sword, a full water bottle (refillable at water sources) and an eye of ender, used for chat and a few other things.
There are two main types of NPC, bandits (hostile) and healers (friendly). Players also tend to be hostile, as I discovered when I was ended by a leather clad chappy surrounded by zombies whilst I was trying to work out where I was. I suppose he has my eye of ender and my water bottle now. Unfortunately for him, I already used up my bandage by right clicking it by accident.
My second attempt at joining MineZ was much more successful. I spawned near a desert bunker and found two chests containing a damaged leather tunic, boots and two stone axes. Night was falling quickly, and zombies were beginning to gather – and a second player appeared. This time the player was not hostile and together we bested two zombies before I set out into the desert to find new resources.
Chests spawn with loot and food in them, and you have to keep searching for them because hunger and thirst are fearsome enemies in MineZ. Once a chest is opened and the loot is taken, the chest will disappear for a time before it respawns with fresh supplies. You can spawn camp a chest if you like, but it means you won’t be going anywhere any time soon. It actually seemed easier to get weapon and armor upgrades than to find food, but that was probably related to where I was on the map. View the MineZ tips below for a guide to getting started in MineZ.
MineZ Tips
- Food First
Your first priority should always be finding food. There is more food to be found around the southern spawn points, so collect a good supply before heading north, where better loot is to be found, but food is harder to get and more dangerous to obtain.
- Walk, Don’t Run
A corollary to the first tip. Hunger will get you faster than any zombies will. Jumping (climbing) also chews through your hunger bar.
- Drink!
Thirst is also a terrible enemy. When you find a water source, make sure to drink your fill and top up any water bottles you have. A water bottle is one of the most precious resources you have.
- Get Your Bearings
There is a MineZ map you can refer to on the main MineZ site. You can use the co-ordinates found by pressing F3 in game to work out where you are on the main map. This will help you decide which direction to go in and reduce the chances that you’ll wander aimlessly before dying of dehydration.
- Mo Buildings = Mo Zombies
Built up areas have a higher chance of spawning chests containing useful loot and food, but they are also infested with zombies. Get in fast, get what you can and get out.
- Safe Logout Is Best Logout
If you just disconnect from a MineZ server, it creates a vulnerable NPC that can and very possibly will be killed in your absence. Typing /logout puts you into a 15 second cooldown that can be broken by movement. As long as you don’t move (or get hit) for 15 seconds, you are safely logged out.
Free MineZ / Premium MineZ
MineZ is free to join and free to play on public servers, but to support MineZ development (and keep the servers up) it is possible to buy private server access, as well as points packages which can be used in the Last Man Standing game mode.
Premium Access is probably of more use to a general player, and comes with a number of benefits. First of all there is the snazzy premium chest plate, which shows off your donation skillz, but beyond that vanity perk, there are plenty of valuable in game perks, including access to private servers, priority access to public servers, early access to new features, special event access, spectator access in Last Man Standing arena bouts, spawn point selection and more. Basic packages start at $15 and go all the way to $500. The unlimited server access unlocks at the hundred dollar price point, fifty bucks will get you 240 days, so about 8 months.
MineZ Links