Finally! I am just ecstatic that we finally have some feedback! Really appreciative of the input.
The whole purpose of creating this server, was to create something that was a bit more challenging than the typical server that one might end up playing on. It was also designed to deter the kids and to deter those who just wanted to play Factions. It was also designed to be a long term server to where you can count on it being there 6 months or even 2 years from now. We own the equipment, so our costs are low enough to keep it online indefinately.
Here were the things in mind when creating this server:
Make it hard core
Make it fully PVP based
Make it CheatProof
Encourage using vanilla Maps to get around
Make the map so large, that one could use it as a "Build Server" if thats what their preference is.
Have enough mods installed to where an update to Minecraft itself wouldn't deter the extra features added.
But, to address your comments...
Client Crashing : We have a few people playing occassionally, but haven't heard of any complaints about it crashing. I will sign on tonight and play as a typical player to see what happens. Question though, how did you install / configure the client? Did you just add the modpack and thats it?
Mods : Yes, you will need to read up on SOME mods installed before playing as a few things have changed. The most important mod is "Tinkers Construct" (vanilla tools removed due to this mod). In your starting inventory, you should have a book that tells you exactly how to start, what to craft, how to craft it, and basically the basics for surviving. If you did not read this, then you'll be doomed... just as the Rules explained at spawn, everything in your starting inventory is highly important, and have a purpose!
Controls Menu: Controls has been disabled. From your perspective, what exactly did you need to change? You mentioned that it might be a pain in the ass if you didn't like the default controls... so do you normally change something? Like what? (just so that I can change it if needed). If I were to have enabled this, then the player could change other items in the game that would have countered "fair play"... For instance, F3. So here's an explanation of what was disabled, and its purpose:
* F3 - Disabled to make it a bit more hardcore. This will allow regular players to build in the massive world without fear of someone tracking them. However, there are items that you can creaft "Radar Gun" that can get coords, but makes it a bit more difficult.
* Minimap - I've disabled this, or any ability to install one. Again, its to make it a bit more hardcore and to also encourage crafting Vanilla maps. With a vanilla map, you can see a massive amount of area (if you know how).
* Brightness : i've set this to "Moody", but have disabled players from changing it. This again is to make it a bit more hardcare, to encourage a bit more thought in using torches and to enhance that mood and dark environment.
* Texture packs : disabled completely to counter cheating with Xray blocks.
* Several other keys i've disabled due to keeping the client CheatProof. Its fully cheatproof, and the only way that I can ensure that, is to disable certain keys and features... this SHOULD NOT affect gameplay.
Massive Spawn area: Yes, spawn is massive. Its 500 blocks out and its all due to ICBM. I initially had spawn very small, but made it much large so that you would see massive Nuke craters around making the area looking like an eyesore, as well as making it difficult to even leave with those huge holes. However, this can easily be changed to a smaller spawn area, which I might end up doing anyways.
Spawn interaction (killing mobs): We had someone "interacting" with the gun turrets and stealing its batteries, so a few days ago I made everything non-interacting. That should not have affected mobs, but I am going to check tonight. What exactly were you wanting to interact with? Just mobs? I can fix that... I made a change a few nights ago and guess I didn't take mobs into account. Also, because of ICBM, Nuke's and other items are able to bypass any spawn protection, so its also a reason why I tightened down security in spawn.
Rail Station gun turret : I was fixing the turret that someone had stole its battery, and in doing this, I accidently broke it. I put it back but forgot to change it to not target players. I can fix that tonight.
Axe : Yes, you cannot break wood at all unless you have an axe. You cannot even break wood with your fists. It was designed this way on purpose. I wanted to make breaking tree a bit more realistic. Of course, when you finally break a tree, the whole thing comes down. Also, I made it this way to make the landscape not sore visually appalling, with half broke trees, naked trees,etc.... which by the way, I guess you saw the next thing I'm going to mention...
Leaves : Yep, you cant break leaves without a shear.
NEI : Nope, no NEI. However, you can craft a "Crafting Guide" to get all of the recipe's in game. It's equivalent to NEI with the only difference being that you need to craft it first.
Crafting a pickaxe : You'll need to read the Book that's in your starting inventory to find out how to survive the night, and how to craft. Tinker's Contruct is now your base mod for crafting base tools and weapons. (my oversight is that if you die, you will no longer have this... so I can correct this)
Coordinates : Yes, F3 has been disabled. You can craft a few items to get your coordinates.
Help commands : Most server commands include things that take away from the playstyle im going for. What kind of commands were you wanting to see? /money... nope, you have to craft your money (coins) and will be driven by the players. /faction? Nope, everyone knows this but is not a factions server. But yes, I get your point. The commands that a player does have, needs to be listed so that they know what they can do in game. So... I will fix this. (/ps, /sc are the 2 main commands used in game. Everything else is craftable).
Axe dispenser : Yes, you'll need to go back to the Axe station to get another axe and unforunately there will be mobs randomly around. I cannot change how mobs spawn, much less high end Mintaurus... unless I disable them completely.
Mobs at spawn : There are turrents all around spawn to kill any type of mobs (Except for a Minotaur (male)... Minotaurus' (female) are killed) so being a bit careful, you should be able to get around spawn with no problems. Except the rail station, of which i'm going to fix.
Item Stacks : Yes, this has been changed by Iguana's Hunger Overhaul mod, and his Hunger Tweaks. It's based on the type of block you have and each has it's different weight, which means some items you'll be able to carry more of... like dirt / grass. http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/1813158-162152-hunger-overhaul/
Well, when we first started the server, we had a lot of people join, but it was completely amazing that not one person asked one question, and literally spent about 15 seconds on the server.... literally! They spawned, sent out of the house... then logged. So those I guess are the ones that I was trying to deter... ones that just look around quickly, and log if they dont see a bunch of really cool colorful buildings around. There are a few people that do play, but think they are highschoolers and after talking to a few of them they can only get on here and there. They have created some amazing bases, quite large and have touched quite a few mods at that. They use the radar guns to keep track of where each other is.
So all in all, I'm glad that you even toughed it out for the amount of time that you did without really knowing the basics. I feel bad that you had to go at it not knowing. As the other guys play, they have been letting me know things that need to be adjusted, and I adjust. Lots of things have been changed since I opened it, but unfortunatley it looks like I still may have missed a few things like....
... posting things on the website like the commands used, the starting items, the important mods that you need to know before playing (Tinkers Contruct), and just the basics.