http://i.imgur.com/e0dr9.jpg I found this image on the internet, not quite sure where. It has been very helpful, hope it can help some others! By the way, one day I hope to put a collection together of these more then helpful little pictures. Has it already been done? I know that scattered over these very forums are many different tutorials just like this one. Comment if you would like to help! Yours appreciatively, Miss_Anomaly
Here's another one, this time from the minecraft wiki, which you can find below. Efficient pit + experience trap w/ TuT (by Epiiik) *Note, all dimensions are given the format: Horizontal x Vertical. This method is an indirect hybrid of the aforementioned traps, utilizing both fall damage and mob control with water. In the mob spawning room, dig 1 block down so that the spawner is at eye level, and place water blocks at two adjacent corners. On the wall opposite of the two water blocks, dig a 1×2 hole for three blocks in the middle of the wall (allowing mobs to pass through). Begin digging upwards in a 1×2 fashion for 26 blocks. To get up, place signs on the long-faced wall (your left/right) in a zig-zag pattern going up while placing water blocks in between the signs. The first sign should be placed as furthest, lowest space possible. Stop placing signs after the 23rd level. The last water block should be against the wall furthest away from the mob spawner on the 24th level. On the 25-24 block levels, dig a 1×2 hole for seven blocks in the direction the mob spawner. On the seventh block in, dig one block downwards. Dig in the forward direction for eight more blocks (again, 1×2). You should notice the water block placed on the 24th level should stop where the path drops by one block. Place a water block against the wall of the drop. Notice how this water block stops 1 block short of the path. Dig further for two block and begin to dig downwards in a 1×1 fashion for 22 blocks. Face the direction of the mob spawner and dig another 1×2 hole one block deep. Dig down one and fill the top level with one block so that you can only see through one block of the pit you just created. (If you are using a skeleton spawner, you will need to stand one block away from this hole so that the skeletons cannot shoot you.) You are now standing at the loot point. Now that the almost-dead mobs are depositing into your 1×1 hole, simply attack them with any item to gain their loot and experience! You may use TNT + water to do splash damage to kill all mobs at once at the risk of lag spikes. Splash potions of Healing will also work, as they do damage to most hostile mobs. note: you must have 2 block tall non-exploding mobs to do this or the mob will either destroy or get out of the trap Useful tips on this design by Duck//Marvin: When you make the opening in the spawn chamber for the mobs to exit, make it 3 blocks high and place a sign or half slab at the top. This lets the mobs into the elevator more easily and prevents water spillage from the elevator. Also making the transport corridors at the top 3 blocks tall instead of 2 allows the mobs to be transported faster as they will not hit the ceiling when they try to swim and get stuck. For me, the picture provided information enough, but to save you the trouble I've included the writing, if you can understand it. Just a tip for this one though, dig the floor under the spawner two blocks down so the mobs don't get stuck behind it, and connect the spawner to the roof to stop them from spawning on it, just as in the original picture in the first post. Happy grinding! Miss_Anomaly
I have considered using the mob elevator in the past, but I am always to worried about the possibility of the spawner being found
I make a simple kind of mob grinder where the skeles/zombies spawn and get pushed into a central hole by water. They then fall a distance onto a half block into an area where I just fish/chop them up I think this is a much simpler/efficient design since it takes time for the mobs to go up and elevator, whilst my one makes them fall straight down. I've also used this design in other faction servers- it doesn't take much room and can be easily hidden underground.
@mookiema That's a great idea! But you've got to be careful whether you take away half a block or add half. I'm not quite sure if it really makes a difference, but it might. @steveshizzle Mobs that die from fall damage do not give xp, but this leaves them with half a heart. Something to remember - If they from just 22 blocks they don't die, but if you hit them with a stone sword, or twice with your fist they die. @slvrplme The design you mentioned is good for spawners that are situated around y:30+. The design posted here is for spawners under lvl 30, where monsters don't have enough room to fall straight down, hence the elevator. Thank you all for the excellent posts! Yours truly, Miss_Anomaly
AFAIK, the elevator is needed so that the killing room is close to the spawner so that it keeps spawning mobs
