“The Game Board of The Ancients” or “Phain” is the magnum opus of famed Minecraft map creator Darastlix. This absolutely massive map measures nearly six square kilometers and you will find something to drool over in each region, nook, and cranny. And with its hexagonal structure, its hard not to be reminded of Settlers of Catan and wars over timber, roads and sheep. You won’t find any of that here, though. Only wonder and mystery.
Divided up into four regions, each of which boasts their own unique biome (Red Sun, Green Leaf, Yellow Fields, and Blue Ice) and qualities, the sprawling game world offers a host of hidden secrets and caves.
Traversal of the terrain happens in segmented stages. Each hexagonal portion of the map is divided from its hexagonal neighbors by natural barriers such as trees or cliffs, and the topography itself is classified in four layers–beach, at the bottom, and then Levels 2-4 in ascending order, which may require ladders or even more complex methods of climbing.
Even more novel than the unique aspects of the map itself are the hidden “Obelisks”, which are larger spires that permit teleportation. But be warned! The game states that teleportation when abused could prove deadly.
The possibilities for “Phain” are endless. Using it as a survival map is one hell of a challenge, judging from the comments over at Planet Minecraft where you can download the map and discover its mysteries for yourself.
