Hey, here's an idea: On the server I suggested, people spend the current time scouting for an ocean monument. If we cannot find one, we try to find the one Baffler came across (since he got there through a portal, should be easy to find (if people would post where the entrance to the portals are)). If we do, we establish a resource gathering base about 500 blocks or so away. This place wouldn't be decked up, its only purpose being to gather resources for the construction of Rapture, which will only begin on the day of the migrant wave.
Sounds good to me. I'll start scouting when I get a chance. Also, how do we want to approach this thing? Should we try to make it look like actual Rapture, with lots of glass and bridges between , or do we want to go for a more Atlantis style sunken Greco-Roman ruins vibe, with lots of mossy stone and columns built up around the ocean monument? I could see either way, personally, but the guardians might be a problem. Or a natural defense mechanism...
Here's my idea:
If there is a nearby island, we construct a structure upon it to serve as the entrance. A path spirals down into the earth from its intererior, and eventually comes out at a minecart station that sends you to the city (could use glass walls and floor for an interesting visual). This will connect into a central tower, which, if there is no nearby island, will go above the water to act as the entrance (this would probably be defacto until the rail passage is built). Even if it is not above the water, this tower should be identifiable as the largest building in the city, for navigation purposes (six to nine blocks higher than its peers, having it be 14 blocks beneath the surface while others are 20-23?).
Inside that tower, there are lines/walkways that lead out into other buildings that simulate various industries (as minecraft industries are pretty simple, we would be having stuff look more complex than it is), or residential towers (built by the player who 'owns' the tower). These would be built with the largest tower at the center.
In terms of the tower's placement in relation to the Ocean Monument, that would depend upon aggression distance. We want to get it close to the Monument so that the sprawl will wind up engulfing it, but not close enough to have the guardians be a constant aggro when constructing the tower. Once it is in place, it is less of a concern, as people could (hopefully) flee into it.
As for design, either an imposing or non-indicative/deceptive (small town with a secret entrance to get to the rails?) for the entrance. For the central tower, I'm thinking it having primarily archways. Others would be 'design on a whim' for the most part. To get it to look like a good city, maybe we could have the buildings limited to a floorplan of 7x7, with the center being 9x9, both including walls. Between each building would be a gap of at least...five sound good?