The Super Speedy Highway (original, temporary name Dolphin Highway[4]) is a high speed road built by Grian in Season 9, based on the Soul Speed and Depth Strider enchantments and Dolphin's Grace effect to increase the speed of movement. Grian began the Highway under MumboJumbo's Vault, with the intention of connecting it with EthosLab's base.[5] However, once he reached the Shopping District, the construction was stopped by shops standing in its way. Grian's plan to bypass them via a diagonal section of the highway was never implemented and the road never extended past that point.
On the other side of the highway, expansion was also planned to reach the Deep Frost Citadel and possibly also to the Land Of Soup,[6] however, this was also not achieved, apart from digging a tunnel under the Vault.
On the last day of the season, Grian returned to this project, only to decorate the existing part of the highway.
History[]
The idea[]
EthosLab's base.
Grian came up with the idea for the highway after visiting EthosLab's base, along with Cubfan135 and GoodTimesWithScar. The main part of this building is the platform made of soul soil and waterlogged slabs, which allows for quick movement around, using Soul Speed and Depth Strider enchantments and the Dolphin's Grace effect. EthosLab demonstrated how it worked and inspired Grian to use this technique for traveling.[7]
Grian's original idea was to connect various locations on the server. However, he intended to focus on only one section, connecting his and EthosLab's bases, hoping that others would join in to expand the project.[8]
Design and preparations[]
Prototype on Grian's creative server.
Before construction began, Grian decided to first design the highway by creating a prototype on his creative, private server with a copy of Season 9 world. The main problem he had to face was locating the route to connect chosen areas, with a minimum number of turns (the best option being two straight, direct lines and one turn).[9] However, it was necessary to avoid others' buildings because he wanted the highway to be above ground (instead of underground or very high in the air) right at the level of EthosLab's base, so it could be accessible from any point.[10]
He managed to mark the first line of the highway, fitting in the space between several bases, starting from MumboJumbo's Vault and ending in Shopping District. Grian found this to be a very good route as it was close to his base, Zedaph's base, Scarland and The Perimeter. This location also allowed for expansion in a straight line to The Deep Frost Citadel and Land Of Soup.[11]
Prototype of a diagonal highway section.
However, there was a problem in the Shopping District as there were shops (BdoubleO100's Moss O Menos and GoodTimesWithScar's Tomato) in the way of the highway. Grian designed a diagonal part of the route to avoid them, but when traveling through this section it was easy to hit the walls and lose speed, so he was not sure about this solution.[9]
In the meantime, he went into the nether to gather a large amount of soul soil from a Soul Sand Valley, ending up with over two full shulker boxes.[12] And he also obtained the Soul Speed enchantment for himself by bartering with the Piglins.[13]
Construction[]
Base for the first line[]
Beginning of soul soil path under MumboJumbo's Vault.
Grian started building the highway by placing a long path out of soul soil, creating a base for a later structure. After that he joked that this process wins the award for most boring timelapse. He limited himself only to the section he was sure of, from the Vault to Moss O Menos. The shape of the next section had not been decided yet. He was debating between the diagonal part of the route and going straight through the inside of the shops, which required BdoubleO100 and GoodTimesWithScar's consent.[14]
Collecting dolphins[]
Grian transporting dolphin near the edge of the Perimeter.
To move forward with construction, Grian began collecting dolphins, which he had to place at boost stations spaced evenly along the highway. This made it possible to gain and maintain the Dolphin's Grace effect while traveling.
He was hoping to take a group of dolphins from the near ocean biome and gather them at one location closer to the highway. However, it turned out to be more problematic than he expected.
Grian's place to gather dolphins.
He first tried to lead four of them across the land using leads and Water Breathing splash potion, but they all suffocated anyway as they passed the Perimeter. On the second attempt, he headed for the river much faster and finally managed to reach the place to stock dolphins. He even fenced and cleared the area around them, hoping it would keep them safe. However, when he returned to this place later, they were all dead again, for a reason unknown to Grian.
The beginning part of the highway.
On his next attempt, he discovered GoodTimesWithScar's water tunnel that allowed him to move the dolphins faster and safer. He gathered another group in the same place and cleared the surroundings even more. This time he immediately took one dolphin and placed it in highway's first boost station. After this he was determined to move forward with the construction, but discovered that he had lost all his dolphins again.[15]
EthosLab later spoke with Grian and explained the reason for the dolphins' disappearance. It turned out that at a certain distance from the player, mobs cannot move, and in the case of dolphins, they cannot surface to breathe, so they suffocate under water.[16]
Further development[]
A section of improved highway next to Scarland.
Despite the problem with dolphins, Grian continued the construction he had started. He enclosed the existing soul soil path with crimson planks, creating a trough filled with waterlogged slabs. He also added all the boost stations with dolphins, making the highway section functional.
Meanwhile, he also abandoned the idea of going through the shops and opted for a diagonal section, wide enough not to hit the walls. However, he left the implementation of this project for later, as he was tired of building.[17]
Testing with GoodTimesWithScar[]
GoodTimestWithScar and Grian using the highway.
Shortly thereafter, GoodTimesWithScar was hanging out with Grian and he asked how the Super Speedy Highway works. Grian showed him how to use it and they did a test to compare the speed. The difference wasn't too big, GoodTimesWithScar reached the Shopping District by casually flying with elytra (not spamming rockets, but imitate a regular way of flying) only a few seconds after Grian, who was running on the highway.[18]
After that EthosLab contacted Grian again and informed him that the beacon with Speed II effect increases the speed even further, so Grian added one at the beginning of the highway. He also wanted to place another one around the Shopping District but he ran out of iron blocks.[19]
Later fate[]
In the meantime, a tunnel was dug under the Vault and the beginning of a route to the Citadel was created, but it was not a functional part of the highway. Despite numerous plans, the Super Speedy Highway was left in this state and was no longer expanded in any way.
BdoubleO100's horse area[]
A section of highway covered by the horse area under construction.
Part of the Super Speedy Highway was located right next to Cyberpunk Temple in the place where BdoubleO100 wanted to create his horse area. However it wasn't a problem, because he raised the terrain in such a way that part of the route was hidden under ground. He left the holes so the Super Speedy Highway could still be used.[20]
Zedaph's Dragon Egg quest[]
Zedaph missing the egg by passing under the Super Speedy Highway.
During Season 9 Zedaph was trying to collect all the items in the game, as a part of his Zedvancements (specifically The Hall of All Zedvancement). Grian, who had copies of the Dragon Egg, was asked to donate one to his collection. Instead, he created a mini-game in which the prize was a Dragon Egg. Zedaph had to follow the regular eggs placed around the server, showing him the way. One of them was on the highway, however, Zedaph missed it because he was walking on the ground instead of flying with the elytra as Grian expected. Despite this, he managed to get to the next one.[21]
Final changes[]
Grian while adding arches and pillars.
On the last day of Season 9 he returned to the Super Speedy Highway, because he didn't want to leave it in a raw state for the Map Download. He didn't have much time, so he only added small pillars and arches, and he decided that it was enough to visually improve the structure. He also removed a section in the Shopping District, so finally the Super Speedy Highway ends just beyond BdoubleO100's horse area.[22]
Known uses[]
List of Super Speedy Highway uses consistent with its intended purpose, in chronological order.
| User | Details | Episode |
|---|---|---|
| Presentation of the functioning of the Super Speedy Highway for episode, right after it was built[23] | Grian's Season 9: Episode 34 | |
| , |
Presentation of the Super Speedy Highway to GoodTimesWithScar and speed comparison with the elytra[18] | Grian's Season 9: Episode 34 |
| Travel to the Shopping District to check on the Entity[24] | Grian's Season 9: Episode 36 | |
| Presentation of the functioning of the Super Speedy Highway for episode[25] | GoodTimesWithScar's Season 9: Episode 33 | |
| , |
Presentation of the Super Speedy Highway to PearlescentMoon and speed comparison with flying with elytra[26] | PearlescentMoon's Season 9: Episode 33 |
Other uses[]
List of Super Speedy Highway uses in a way that isn't consistent with its intended purpose, in chronological order.
| User | Details | Episode |
|---|---|---|
| Traveling by horse along the edges of the Super Speedy Highway, between BdoubleO100's horse area and Scarland[27] | BdoubleO100's Season 9: Episode 28 | |
| , (indirectly) | Grian left on the Super Speedy Highway an egg in item frame as a direction indicator for Zedaph's quest to get the Dragon Egg. However, Zedaph accidentally missed this egg.[21] | Grian's Season 9: Episode 40 |
| Transporting two ocelots to Zedaph's base[28] | - |
Trivia[]
- The highway prototype was made of mangrove planks, but when building the final form Grian used crimson planks. In the meantime, GoodTimesWithScar recommended him using "green wood" (probably referring to warped wood) to blend in better with the landscape.[29]
- Because the Super Speedy Highway ran through area reserved for Sci-Fi Land, GoodTimesWithScar decided to implement it into this part of Scarland.[30] However, this never happened because Sci-Fi Land was never built.
- Grian used leftover signs from decorating the highway to place some Signs Of Admiration on the server.
References[]
- ↑ There was no sign of Super Speedy Highway during ImpulseSV's livestream: Gem will watch Impulse build a Nether Tunnel here! - Hermitcraft, timestamp: 2:29:14
- ↑ The Super Speedy Highway is visible in its beginning stage during ImpulseSV's livestream: Get Squished! - Hermitcraft, timestamp: 3:40
- ↑ The Super Speedy Highway was visible in its expanded stage during Xisumavoid's livestream: Hermitcraft Nine (93) Livestream 07/02/23, timestamp: 0:23
- ↑ Grian's Season 9: Episode 33, timestamp: 7:22
- ↑ Grian's Season 9: Episode 33, timestamp: 9:01
- ↑ Grian's Season 9: Episode 33, timestamp: 29:09-29:48
- ↑ EthosLab's Season 9: Episode 6, timestamp: 14:07-14:52
- ↑ Grian's Season 9: Episode 33, timestamps: 4:52-5:29 and 7:04-8:58
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Grian's Season 9: Episode 33, timestamp: 22:34-28:27
- ↑ Grian's Season 9: Episode 35, timestamp: 0:47-1:56
- ↑ Grian's Season 9: Episode 33, timestamp: 28:45-29:52
- ↑ Grian's Season 9: Episode 33, timestamp: 0:11-0:32
- ↑ Grian's Season 9: Episode 33, timestamp: 5:30
- ↑ Grian's Season 9: Episode 33, timestamp: 26:41-28:03
- ↑ Grian's Season 9: Episode 34, timestamp: 0:00-5:16
- ↑ Grian's Season 9: Episode 34, timestamp: 6:45-8:46
- ↑ Grian's Season 9: Episode 34, timestamp: 5:17-6:45
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Grian's Season 9: Episode 34, timestamp: 14:38-16:29
- ↑ Grian's Season 9: Episode 34, timestamp: 18:55-20:35
- ↑ BdoubleO100's Season 9: Episode 27
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Grian's Season 9: Episode 40, timestamp: 9:12
- ↑ Grian's Season 9: Episode 50, timestamp: 1:20-6:06
- ↑ Grian's Season 9: Episode 34, timestamp: 5:33
- ↑ Grian's Season 9: Episode 36, timestamp: 1:48
- ↑ GoodTimesWithScar's Season 9: Episode 33, timestamp: 10:12
- ↑ PearlescentMoon's Season 9: Episode 33, timestamp: 6:40
- ↑ BdoubleO100's Season 9: Episode 28, timestamp: 16:06
- ↑ Zedaph's livestream Dangling Everything!!! - Minecraft Hermitcraft Season 9 LIVE, timestamp: 1:19:40
- ↑ PearlescentMoon's Season 9: Episode 33, timestamp: 8:15
- ↑ GoodTimesWithScar's Season 9: Episode 33, timestamp: 11:20-11:44