User:Beithir/Drafts/2Maps2Calendars

Template:Infobox group2Maps2Calendars is a yearly event run by Beithir with the help of friends, largely overlapping with the Astral Brotherhood. The event takes advantage of map mechanics in Minecraft to make an advent calendar during December that references groups, bases, and other aspects of the server throughout the year. Due to the way maps work, the maps can be given out as numbers before being updated and "revealed" on their correlating days.

History

2Maps2Calendars is inspired by Beithir's previous event on Constantiam that was called Constmas. During that time Beith had shown friends from 2b2t the project and they expressed interest in doing something similar on 2b. Beithir would later play on 2b due to invitations from friends on the server, and Constantiam being down he decided to carry out the project on 2b while having a friend take it over on Constantiam.

Project concept

2Maps2Calendars worked by taking advantage of Mapart mechanics to let players have calendars update on specific days. This is done by building cover maps, mapping them, and distributing unlocked maps. Later on, the maps could be built over and only updated on the corresponding day. Due to the nature of these mechanics, the first set would need to be made by the time maps were distributed, but they and their updated versions could be created well in advance. The calendar was designed to be given out in shulkers as kits with 25 individual maps, glow item frames, and a book with holiday greetings. Due to experience gained from the original Constantiam version, the decision was made to create different kits with locked and unlocked copies. These kits would be given together so people receiving them after some had updated would have the original locked copies still.

Project work and funding

Starting from January, work started slowly but gradually as they figured out ideas, formatting, and how to fund the project. SM Grants helped get things started for the basic parts of the project and initial outreach. DuctTapeMessiah and TraZeeStrike would be essential to building and funding many maps to the point where it would not have been possible without them. Essential work was also done by Chipoff and a basemate from Const, Jimmy_potato. The majority of the work creating map designs was done by Number1Princess, Joey_Coconut, and Skai256. Joey and Astral helped in supplying item frames and books that were a major aspect in being able to create kits to give to people. Beithir would utilize a primitive redstone machine to autofill shulkers with the maps, books, and item frames in the correct order to mass-produce kits easily.

Mapart distribution and execution

The initial distribution and launch of the project would start in late November, during the start of the holidays. As the project launched, Beithir, Chipoff, Jimmy_Potato, and Joey_Coconut worked towards distributing maps by leaving them in chests near spawn after taking requests in the project discord server. CirocDrip would help get the project more publicity by posting an announcement in the Map Artists of 2b2t Discord. In total, over sixty calendar kits were distributed through the discord as people requested, with over a hundred being given during other events and left at bases of groups including the Astral Brotherhood, SBA, and others. Chipoff, Beithir, Jimmy, and DuctTape would update maps as they pertained to their day, showcasing the new map for the day. The project would wrap up at the end of December, and after a group vote it was decided that the core group would meet again for next year to continue it again.

Gallery

The updated Calendar maps. The Calendar covers. Calendar distribution sheet.