u/Vox_Tenebris_

Been keeping you guys updated fairly regularly.

I beat the Dragon on Day 270, beat the Wither on Day 346.

I've cleared three Ocean Monuments and have more than a stack of sponges. I've cleared three Bastions and two Nether Fortresses. Cleared my first Woodland Mansion last night.

Today/tonight I spent most of my time setting up connections in the Nether between my favorite spots on the map. Especially between the village I've decided to make my permanent home, some 14000 Blocks from spawn, and the Woodland Mansion I discovered.

So I put one portal on the second floor of the mansion at the end of a dead-end hallway, and the other in a crater at the center of a snow-covered mountain top near the village. Paths I made to reach them require the Elytra, but I made various landing platforms to make it easier.

From here, my goals at this point are:

• Starting construction on my permanent home base later this week. I'll probably start gathering materials tomorrow with a few shulker boxes.
• Massive project I've found a perfect spot for near the Woodland Mansion.
• Start hunting for an Ancient City.
• Considering getting every advancement. I'm very close to getting the "Adventuring Time" and "Monsters Hunted" advancements. Only need to find one more biome for the former, and only five more enemies for the latter. Already found all the biomes in the Nether.

I'm at that point now where I've done all the major challenges the game has to offer.

Dragon, Wither and Elder Guardians are all taken care of. Will probably fight the Dragon at least one more time, and plan on fighting the Wither several more times to get more beacons.

So now I'm just thinking about what I'd like to do in this world now.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

So I've just passed Day 300.

I cleared out and drained two Ocean Monuments right next to each other around Day 200, I've cleared out two Bastions, two Nether Fortresses, four Jungle temples, I don't know how many Outposts. Only major structure I've yet to find is a Woodland Mansion.

I beat the Dragon on Day 270, and shortly after obtained an Elytra from an End City + Ship.

I've got fully upgraded Netherite Armor with Protection IV, Unbreaking III, and Mending. Plus Aqua Afinity and Respiration III on the Helmet, and Feather Falling IV and Depth Strider III on the Boots. Just today I finally got both Mending and Unbreaking III on my Elytra.

Netherite Sword has Sharpness V, Unbreaking III, Mending, Sweeping Edge III and Looting III. Been working on a second Netherite Sword with Smite V and the above enchantments. Fully Upgraded Netherite Pickaxe with Efficiency V, Unbreaking III, Mending, and Fortune III.

At this point, my only major goal left to accomplish is beating the Wither. I've got two Wither Skeleton Skulls, need a third. Then I'll only need to get a few more blocks of gold to make a full size beacon.

I've also discovered all but two of the overworld biomes, so I might as well do that too. I do a lot of walking. Original settlement for my first 100 Days was in a village 4000 blocks away from spawn. According to my screenshots, I discovered it on Day 6.

Current set-up is what started as a Fishing Outpost near three villages, about 12000 blocks from spawn, with the two aforementioned Ocean Monuments (and an outpost I've set up on a Mushroom Island right between the two monuments) about 14000 blocks from spawn. Have four dogs with me, two of which I take with me on adventures now.

Side note, my Fishing spot is one of the most naturally beautiful places I've found:

I usually stand on that Lily Pad when fishing

And I do have a perfect fishing rod with Luck of the Sea III, Lure III and Mending. Not shown here is the simple shack I've built that's directly behind me, with my four dogs, a bed, a few chests, and so on.

So my current checklist is:

1. Beat the Wither and craft a Beacon
2. Find the last two biomes I need
3. Find and clear a Woodland Mansion

After that, I have a few build ideas I'd like to work on.

I should also probably build a Creeper farm to trivialize the crafting of firework rockets. I try to avoid mob grinders because I find them kind of boring, but I see the utility in this.

Overall though, feeling great.

First time playing Minecraft in over a year, and I've been having a great time in Hardcore.

I had a few initial failed attempts last month, but I've got a world going now over the past two weeks and I just passed Day 200 (on Day 203 at the time of this writing). At this point in time, I have:

• Fully Enchanted Netherite Armor. Which means all four pieces have Protection IV, Unbreaking III, and Mending. I also have Feather Falling IV and Depth Strider III Boots, and both Respiration III and Aqua Afinity for the Helmet.
• Fully Upgraded Pickaxe; A Netherite Pickaxe with Efficiency V, Unbreaking III, Mending, and Fortune III. May make a second Pick with Silk Touch eventually, but it's not a priority.
• Almost Fully Upgraded Sword i.e. Netherite Sword with Sharpness IV, Unbreaking III, Mending, Looting III, and Sweeping Edge III. (Need to get Sharpness V, and been debating Fire Aspect II. Do plan on making a Second Sword with Smite V for the eventual Wither Fight.)
• Unfinished Bow with Power III and Unbreaking III. Don't use it that often, but it was very helpful with handling the Wither Skeletons and Blazes in Nether Fortresses.

So far, I've:

• Gotten all the Blaze Rods I'll ever need. Looting III is insanely helpful.
• Have a Total of 19 Eyes of Ender (I haven't fought the Dragon yet)
• Obtained a Total of 48 Pieces of Ancient Debris (half of which went to my four pieces of armor, my sword and my pickaxe)
• Looted two Bastions
• Discovered and Looted a Jungle Temple.
• Have about two dozen Golden Apples, and found one Enchanted Golden Apple too.

Just tonight I finally completed an Ocean Monument. Was honestly a lot of fun for the most part. I cleared out the Elder Guardians pretty quickly. I actually only had one close call and that was in a room full of normal guardians that I'd underestimated, but I got to safety and healed up.

I did manage to drain the entire monument (the interior anyway) and looted the place clean. Was kind of funny placing a bed in one of the central rooms and sleeping in there after I'd completely dried up all the water.

Side note is that the Ocean Monument is right next to a Mushroom Island, which is pretty cool. I can stand on the shore of the mushroom island and see the monument in the water within rendering distance.

Immediate plans from here are to finish working on the villages I've been building up. Once I feel ready, I'll take the plunge and go after the dragon so I can finally get an Elytra as well. I've been very cautious though. I figure you only get one attempt with any of the boss creatures, or any of the more dangerous enemies in general, in Hardcore.

Overall though, I've been having a lot of fun, and I think I've been handling myself very well for someone who (1) hasn't played the game in over a year, and (2) has never done a serious hardcore playthrough before.

Began writing this a week ago as an attempt to be more honest with myself and not shy away from more negative things. Keep in mind that some of the things here are said knowing that they aren't all positive traits to have.

What makes me feel happy?

1. Indulging in my interests. Playing video games, reading, listening to music and audiobooks, walking, exercising, cooking and eating, and so on. Happiest moments in my life are spent lying in bed late at night, when everything is quiet and there's no outside noise, relaxing, listening to some good music or a long video. Preferably after a shower and a great dinner. Physically and emotionally at peace. Very cognizant of when these moments are happening, and revel in them. Those are the moments I seek above all else. Where I can feel completely and totally at ease and immersed in something I find engaging and enjoyable.
2. Being alone; having peace and quiet. I simply wish to be alone and do my own thing. I never imagine myself as being a part of a group. I don't want a family of my own, I cut contact with my closest friends years ago, and I've been genuinely happier for it. In the past, I used to say that I "want to help the world without being a part of it" - which meant living in some isolated corner of the world while funding as many worthwhile causes as I could at a distance.
3. Leading. If being alone isn't an option, I'm at my best when organizing and directing others. Not only do I enjoy it, it's something I'm good at. Often been called a "natural leader" and been told I have a certain presence about me that commands people's attention. Moreover, I always take charge whenever I can in most situations. Feels good to be in control, there's often a genuine adreanline rush that comes with it.
4. Following on that last point. There's a significant part of me that does want to dominate and have more power for the sheer thrill of it - some part of me wants that to be public and visible, another part of me prefers the idea of being in the shadows. When I shed all inhibitions and allow my instincts/impulses to lead me, there's always a desire to push the boundaries - just to see how far I can push it for the sheer thrill. It's a source of enjoyment. Nevertheless, I'd always emphasize the first two points above all.

What am I afraid of?

1. Looking stupid or weak in front of other people. Always trying to maintain the appearance of being perfectly in control and confident at all times when in public. That's how I perceive myself to be, because I truly believe I'm capable anything and everything I set my mind to, and want others to see me as.
2. Losing my independence. I hate the very concept of being dependent on other people; took me a long time to be comfortable with asking for, and accepting, help when I need it. I'm extremely strong-willed. If there's a single word that comes to mind to describe myself, it's "determined" - determined to be my own person and live my own life. Worst thing I could imagine would be losing the ability to live on my own and do things on my own. Nothing scares me more than the thought of not being able to be alone and live life my way.
3. Not having control over my life. Have had a problem with authority ever since I was a little kid. Hate the idea of one having an "obligation" or a "duty" to anyone or anything. You don't "have to" do anything in life that you don't want to. It's your life to live, nobody else's. I see no other rational way to live than for yourself and what you want to do.
4. Never having privacy. I'm deliberately secretive and vague. I'm not shy or socially anxious, but rather have little desire to be around other people. Don't want anyone to really know me. I'd wager that even the people who know me best, online or in-person, only know 20% of who I am at max. I tend to be very territorial and possessive of my private space (e.g. remember physically blocking my parents from entering my room once or twice). Also generally possessive of what is "mine" and "mine alone".
5. Tying several of these points together, I grew up in a situation I desperately wanted to get out of. Thought about running away a few times. Often dreamt of living luxurious lifestyles with ridiculous amounts of wealth, until I grew older and realized that I didn't need all of that to be happy. Just someplace quiet to settle down.

What upsets/angers me (i.e. what irritates/angers me just thinking about it?)

1. People who cling onto their beliefs and values in the face of overwhelming evidence and reason that contradicts them; being illogical. This is mostly to do with politics, and people who hold onto their ideologies out of some perceived moral superiority instead of what has actually been demonstrated to create the best possible results within human societies, but can apply to a variety of other things too where people prioritize their own personal ideas and values over what is actually true and provable. This is genuinely infuriating and the reason I've given up on arguing with people online; it's better for my mental health to simply disengage and focus on the things that I actually like. Equally, I cannot lie to myself if I know something isn't true, and care a great deal about pursuing the best possible outcome (e.g. "If this isn't the best course of action, why would we pursue it?")
2. Things being disorganized or overcomplicated. I'm the sort of person who prefers things to be orderly, easy to understand, and easy to follow. While I'm not someone who is good at maintaining a routine (outside of work anyway), I am not chaotic and am often annoyed by people who are. Prefer things to be quiet, smooth and orderly. This also applies heavily to sensory things; prefer things to be neat and visually stimulating.
3. Having things I care about be ruined or tainted. If something leaves a strong impression on me, I tend to put a lot of value on it as a part of my life. Something that can become an anchor of comfort and familiarity to me in a sea of otherwise fluctuating interests. So if I learn something that ruins it for me (e.g. say the creator of something I enjoy is outed for something terrible), that leaves a dark mark on things for me and I'll completely cut it out of my life, even if it hurts to do so, because now that dark cloud will forever loom over it; can't engage with it without thinking about it.
4. Already mentioned earlier, but I have an issue with authority and not being in control of my own life. I will fight back and resist if someone tries to pressure me, or threaten me, into doing something. Physically, if needs be. I'm not a people pleaser by any stretch of the imagination and I'd rather be dead than be stuck in a situation where I have no control over my own life.
5. I also have a problem with people who are rude and can't control their emotions in public. Reflecting back on some of the things I've said, I want it to be clear that while I'm a hardcore loner and feel no connection to most people, I also am always cognizant of treating other people fairly. While I lack connection to others, people often find me to be very understanding and kind, and I'm often confused by how vicious and vindictive some people can become over the smallest of issues.

What do I struggle with?

1. Routine. I am terrible at sticking to any sort of long-term routines. Often get irritable and frustrated if there's nothing capturing my interest at the moment. What I do on a day-to-day basis is rarely thought out beyond, maybe, having a specific thing or two I'd like to do. It's largely unstructured time where I can do whatever I feel like doing at a given moment. Even if I make an effort to try to stick to a routine, I'll reason my way out of it as unnecessarily restrictive. That while it's perfectly reasonable to stick to certain rules, you shouldn't force yourself to live in a way that adversely impacts your happiness.
2. Realization. I will spend countless hours thinking about doing things, but rarely - if ever - follow through. Simple fact that the idea of things are often far more interesting than the actual concrete reality of them. Material reality rarely measures up to one's imagination. More generally, I can have many ideas, and have great difficulty deciding which one I want to do; committing to just one is sometimes very difficult for me. I've also learned over time that it's best to give myself a few days to think things over before immediately jumping into something as well (i.e. something may seem extremely interesting in the moment, but completely forgettable in a couple of days).
3. Following on the previous two points, things rarely have value to me once my interest has been exhausted. As soon as I've explored every part of something, it's exceedingly rare for me to have any interest in coming back to it unless it leaves a serious impression on me. Things that don't leave that strong impression are quickly discarded and forgotten.
4. Emotional connections. I've said before that I don't think I've ever felt "love" for anyone. Family, friends, romantic or sexual partners, etc. I've never felt an unconditional attachment to anyone. So I feel no real emotional connections to other people. I also really have no interest in developing such connections either. Will also note that I tend to be possessive when it comes to my partners, which is something I'm open about. So I don't feel love for others, but I do care about them being "mine". I don't admit to that often, but I feel it's a notable point about my personality.
5. Following up on the previous point, I'd say there's no real desire to be "loved" as much as I want to be seen as "the best" at what I do. I am very competitive when it comes to things I choose to involve myself with. There's an idea that "no one is better than me"; "most you can be is an equal". Though, again, I know from experience now that the idea of being the best is better than the actual reality of it. Which also gives me doubts about the actual value of following any other higher aspirations I might have now when I've already known I can be happy (and have been happier) without all of that.
6. I will spend literal days optimizing things that interest me. I will obsess over things, never letting them go until I'm completely satisfied with the result. Exploring new ideas, testing, re-evaluating, trying new angles or concepts, seeing what works the best for me and/or what the optimal solution to a given problem is based on what I've seen. I tend to hit things again, and again, and again until I get the result I want, or as close to it as possible.

What do you think?

Been working on this recently as I've been re-evaluating my own type. Just an assortment of basic questions that might help you look at yourself more objectively:

1. What are you good at?
2. What do you like doing day-to-day?
3. What do you struggle with?
4. What upsets/irritates/angers you?
5. Any specific traits or quirks that you think are worth noting? Why?

Still working on developing this, and answering them myself, but I've found that it has helped me a lot with being more honest with myself. Admitting to my own struggles and such.

Curious to see how all of you compare/contrast these two.

How would you know for certain which one you use?

Would love to hear some practical examples or day-to-day experiences of either.

Have a few triads I'm considering, wanted to get your thoughts based on these points:

• I am image conscious. I almost always think about how other people might perceive me based on the way I dress, how I speak, the way I look, the sort of food that I eat, the things I enjoy for entertainment, the music I like, etc. I don't follow what's popular, but rather try to line up with a certain idea of how I am (or would like to be). Despite this, I often try to tell myself to simply be proud of who I am, and that I don't have to fit some idealized mold in my head of how I want to be, and feeling a sense of guilt/unease/frustration when I fail to live up to that mold. This is virtually a constant, everyday thing.
• Since I was young, I've often had an idealized image of the kind of life I'd like to have. I remember, as a teenager, dreaming of being super rich and living a life of otherworldly luxury. Then, realizing I didn't need all of that, I dreamed of living a more self-sufficient lifestyle in the woods in my early twenties. Nowadays I'm somewhere in the middle, wanting a nice cabin in the woods away from everything without making my life more difficult than it needs to be.
• The previous bullet also applies to the fact that I'd also often dream about what it would be like to have any number of career paths I could've taken. Mathematics, Theoretical Physics, Acting, History, Psychiatry, Writing, a Legal Career, and so on. Having some romanticized idea in my head of what that life would be like without considering the day-to-day responsibilities of it. Life experiences made me reconsider what I actually liked doing in my day-to-day life, and using that to direct what path I should take, rather than chasing *the idea* of something.

Just looking for a general idea here.

Just something I've noticed as I've aged.

When I was in my younger years and especially when I was a teenager, I was very materialistic. Example I'd like to use here is that I've collected films and games ever since I was a little kid. Not as many as I would've liked, but at my peak I think I had over five hundred movies and at least a hundred physical copies of various video games.

I'd spend many hours in my teenage years scouring the internet for the rarest and most obscure films I could find to see if they were any good, and trying to find copies if I could. There are some films where I swear I may have one of the only physical copies in existence (where I could genuinely only find one copy online across the entire internet, mostly indie films that had very limited releases).

So there was a dual desire to both have a huge collection of the best movies, and also having some rare and obscure films for the sheer novelty of them being movies most people have never heard of. Being relentlessly curious about discovering films and games I'd never seen or heard of. Though I rarely, if ever, kept up with what was actually new at the time.

However, as I've gotten older, approaching thirty at this stage, I've grown to value individual films and games a lot more. I've donated or sold large sections of my collection because, being honest with myself, a lot of them are films/games I'm not going to get much use out of. They were just taking up space and had no real long-term value to me anymore.

But the films and games I've kept (and the ones I'd still like to add to my collection) are the ones that are really special to me on a purely personal level. Films and games I can see myself continuing to watch and play long into the future, and have watched and played them several times in the past.

I think you could also see this with how I played video games as a teenager, and how I play them now. When I was younger I'd 100% them for the sake of it. Just wanting to do absolutely everything sheerly to say I'd done everything. Making it a point to complete every game in my collection. But nowadays I focus more on my own personal enjoyment of the game, and don't feel that desire to do absolutely everything unless I genuinely love the game that much.

So when I was younger I'd collect things for the sake of getting as many as I could. Being focused entirely on getting them and owning them for its own sake, perhaps if only to show off to others. But as I've gotten older and had more life experiences, I've grown to focus in only on the things that I really care about and love on a personal level.

And - when it comes to the ones I do care about, I care a lot about getting the best versions of them instead of simply owning a copy for its own sake. So I might seek out the Collector's Edition of a game or movie, or at least get a 4K Release of a film I love. I know for some I'm actively just waiting for a Special Edition or 4K Release to come out one day.

Still, I've always had that relentless curiosity to see new and interesting things. Every day I'm always looking for something that captures my interest and genuinely gets my attention. Any time some new franchise or film or game captures my interest, I'll spend hours - if not days or even weeks - pouring over all the information I can find about them.

So anything that does capture my genuine interest is something I will obsess over for a limited period of time until my interest is exhausted and I'll move onto something else, or revolve back around to one of my old interests that I still love. It's rare that I truly stick with something long-term, but those that I do are the ones that have really left a serious impression on me.

Just wondering if this development/evolution of my behavior and focus over time could be reflected with certain functions.

A few examples of my thought process with things:

1. I'm not afraid of confrontation, but dislike it and tend to avoid it unless I feel like I need to intervene. Tend to repress my immediate feelings because I feel that the confrontation and potential fallout from that isn't worth the trouble.
2. I won't lie to people and pretend to like them, people immediately know if I don't like them from the look on my face most of the time, but I will repress my negative feelings to keep things moving along smoothly. Usually opting to avoid them.
3. Say I need to mow the lawn at my house. I will not go out to mow the lawn if it's too early in the morning or too late at night, and try not to do it on weekends when I know a lot of my neighbors are trying to rest and enjoy their time off. I essentially try to be mindful and considerate of the experiences of others, and not make too much noise. Just as I'd appreciate them being considerate of me in return.
4. Same applies to not reaching out or messaging anyone too late at night, because I'm sure that people are trying to settle in and rest. So there's a level of assuming that "they're probably trying to rest; best not to bother them; I'll wait until tomorrow" - Again, always trying to be considerate as best I can because it feels like the right thing to do. Sometimes overthinking it more than is necessary.

What do you think? If you'd like to ask any further questions, feel free to do so.

Feeling as though (1) no one is going to provide for your needs through their own good nature, and (2) not wanting to depend on anyone or anything other than myself. Wishing to be completely independent and self-sufficient to a point where I don't require any help.

Also - not wanting to be a part of any group, or associated with anyone or anything. Just wishing to stand alone as my own person.

One of my most defining traits, ever since I was a kid, has been my independence and individuality. I've always hated not being in control of my life; feeling like things are being demanded of me that I have no interest in doing.

Avoid being influenced by anyone as much as I possibly can when it comes to my own feelings and thoughts on things, and actively resist being a part of any specific group. Just want to be myself, alone, as an individual.

I've always cared for the world around me, and want things to be better. I always feel obligated to do the right thing. I feel bad if I do something that doesn't lead to the best possible outcome.

I'm not afraid of confrontation, but dislike it and tend to avoid it unless I feel like I need to intervene. I'm not blunt, but tend to repress my immediate feelings because I feel that the confrontation and potential fallout from that isn't worth the trouble. I won't lie to people and pretend to like them, people immediately know if I don't like them, but I will omit and repress my negative feelings to keep things moving.

While I prefer to be alone and want to live alone, I've often been called a natural leader to others. Great at getting people on the same page, giving each one a task, and making sure things are done properly while still checking in from time to time. Though this is mainly only at work, and previously when I did group projects in college. I still, primarily, prefer to simply be left alone in my own corner of the universe to do as I wish.

I cannot be something that I'm not. I've often said I'm a terrible actor and a terrible liar. Even over text like this, where none of us know each other, I wouldn't feel good about lying or being disingenuous with you all. Just wouldn't feel right to me.

Here are a few things I've said over the years:

• "It bewilders me how petty and vindictive people get over relatively trivial things."
• "I represent nothing and no one, other than myself."
• "If I could start again, I'd always choose to be me. No matter how much pain I've been through, I'd never choose to be anyone other than myself."
• "I just want to enjoy the things I like and be left alone."

I have often had fleeting interests. I always seek out new and interesting things from a mental standpoint. Spend a lot of time in my own head. Like to say that "material reality rarely measures up to the idea of it" and used to dream of living dozens of different possible lives when I was younger; took me a long time to figure out what I really wanted to do.

There's a general feeling that the real world isn't nearly as interesting as the imagined one.

Some enduring interests have been History, Political Philosophy, Obscure Horror Films, Weird Literature, and a variety of games, shows, and films that have personal significance to me. I tend to gravitate toward anything I find interesting or engaging on a personal level.

Most commonly used words to describe me are that I'm: Serious, Stoic, Quiet, Confident, Kind and Understanding.

When I'm under a lot of stress, I often turn to distractions. I'll play a video game, go out for a drive, order a big meal from a local place, listen to a lot of music, and so on. Anything I can do to get myself out of my head and get away from the source of the stress.

Although, really, my ideal night is spent completely relaxed in bed, watching and listening to a good movie or a long-form video I can immerse myself in and enjoy - or otherwise listening to some great music while I'm lying there at ease. Peace of mind and relaxation are the greatest feelings in the world.

What do you think? I've had a couple of types suggested to me, but want to get some direct feedback from this community too.