Trade requires demand, right? If that's so, then the easier it is to approach self-sufficiency, the less important trade becomes. The ability to produce almost everything at home means less demand to import resources, and less motive to export resources to other equally well-off communities.

I am beginning to believe that the unrealistically wide distribution and availability of many (if not most) resources negatively impacts what I understand to be the goal of the server: to promote the kinds of interactions that lead to civilization. I'm concerned that as resources are distributes now, it seems too easy to be isolationist.

There are a few resources that stand out because they are useful but are unique to or primarily found in certain biomes. That means that they have the potential to become valuable for trade.

• Cactus only grows in desert or nether
• Cocoa is native to jungles
• Netherwart is native to the nether
• Glowstone and quartz are primarily found in the nether

I wonder what would happen if these sorts of distinctions were more pronounced. What would happen if more things were like the cactus—and not just luxury items—more basic things too. For example, what if it were honestly only feasible to grown trees in a forest biome? What if cattle only bred in the plains? What if sheep would only graze in the mountains? What if (!) iron were only found in Ice Mountains/tundra/taiga?

Imagine if every biome had at least one unique resource that was needed everywhere else. A resource that could not be transplanted. In a world like that, you might be able to simply survive on your own, but if you wanted move beyond dirt huts, you would have to travel or trade. In other words, you would have to interact with civilization.

I really doubt that I'm the first to think all of this. Maybe I'm way off, and if so, I welcome criticism. But I poked around in the sub and didn't find much along these lines. I'm interested to hear your thoughts. :]

"No man is an island, entire of itself . . . any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind." —John Donne