Medieval Madness

Most builders I talk to are Creative-only people, because you can zoom around and pick any old block you like without having to go on a hunt for it... and possibly die along the way. Not MythicalSausage! "It feels so much more rewarding when you've just placed your last block, take a few steps back, and see what you just created after all that planning and resource gathering," he says. "I don't think there's ever a greater sense of satisfaction in any video game that comes close to that feeling." 

Of course, building in Survival does come with its limitations. You're a lot less likely to decide to build something entirely out of dark prismarine, for example – although that doesn't stop some people who love to punish themselves. MythicalSausage tends to work within those limitations. He uses primarily wood and stone to create his medieval-inspired builds, because "medieval just fits the Minecraft world so well, especially in the early game." But even mining cobblestone isn't easy when you've got a mega-build to (mega) build: "you better have a beacon at full power and lots of Efficiency 5 pickaxes, because you're going to be gathering a lot of materials!" 

But medieval building doesn't mean sticking to cobblestone and birch blocks – MythicalSausage's favorite blocks of all time are spruce and dark oak, and he says that the new deepslate block is a "game-changer". "The best block in the game is the spruce trapdoor," he says, and I agree. "It can help you detail a window, add more curve to an archway, create a more detailed doorway, add more support to a pillar, divide a room, help form a bridge, and so much more! I can go on for hours!" Bafflingly, we only just had planks as our Block of the Week, so maybe I'll ask if we can do spruce trapdoors next, eh?

Alongside the Hardcore Survival series, MythicalSausage also does something called the Empires SMP, in which 12 YouTubers create their own kingdoms and live alongside each other. Sausage's kingdom, Mythland, was, of course, medieval-themed, with barns and stables, barracks, an armory, and the Church of the Blood Sheep, which is perhaps a little less historically accurate. His base was a gigantic castle, which he says is his all-time favorite build, even though he just made it up as he built it. "I just went with a shape that I thought would fit nicely within the terrain, picked a block palette, and just started lifting walls and detailing. The build itself took about 15 hours to complete, and in the end, it was that build that made my whole kingdom complete." 

So, if you're looking for a challenge, perhaps MythicalSausage can inspire you to take on something new, whether that's simply trying out medieval builds, or starting a new world in Hardcore Survival and seeing how far you get. 

Sausage has tips for you, if you do take on the challenge: "Sleep! Sleep ALL THE TIME! If it doesn't get dark the bad guys won't come out! Minimizing the times you jump off high places is a must! Always keep your shield with you! Totems are your friend!!! The most important challenge is to stay out of trouble, and always be aware of your surroundings!" Honestly, most of those tips are also pretty good for real life. Except for the totems one.