[jackavsfan]

So while I wait for someone to get to my ban appeal...merp :S...

How do you guys design your mob grinders? Particularly curious about zombie grinders...do you have them set up so you hit the mobs straight on or from underneath?

Also, is there ANY way to set up a skeleton grinder where they can't hit you but you can hit them? So far, the closest I have is a setup where I have to duck behind a wall when I'm not hitting...

[jailbird556]

When I get on my computer later I will take some screenshots to show you how to do it safely.
This is an xp farm, no?

[jackavsfan]

Yeah. Current setup I have involves hitting them through a 1 x 0.5 hole while peeking around the corner of a wall to protect myself. It generally works but it's not foolproof and it drains hunger like crazy..

[Prodigy9]

I have a zombie grinder that funnels them (with water) into a water elevator (a 1x1 column with alternating signs and water--the signs create air blocks that prevent drowning), then ship them over to an area just outside the spawning range where they drop about 20 blocks to have their health mostly gone.

They drop into a 3x3 area blocked off by a row of three pistons that keep them from getting at me. They can be killed with a single stone sword attack, and the exp orbs can usually get to me through the arms of the raised pistons--exp that doesn't get to me (and also any zombie flesh that drops) can be obtained by lowering the pistons with a lever, and quickly running through and returning before more zombies drop.

I haven't built a skele farm yet, but I have a spawner ready to go (let me just say, the payoff to working on the subway is more than just the satisfaction of helping the community). Hitting them from below (to avoid getting shot) should get considerably easier with the next update:

@jeb_ Is the small "head-only" hit-box on tall mobs in SMP intentional or something that'll be fixed?

@Dr_John_Doe That should have been fixed in the latest snapshot

[jackavsfan]

Wow, that'll be great. I don't really like hitting from the bottom because I find exp collection easier from the sides. So I'll probably set up the skele spawner so you hit their legs, etc. Can't wait for that

[alexrybicki]

Also, is there ANY way to set up a skeleton grinder where they can't hit you but you can hit them? So far, the closest I have is a setup where I have to duck behind a wall when I'm not hitting...

It was an SMP bug where the hit box didn't include the legs. It's patched when 1.2 comes out, along with the bug where spawners only show pigs.