So I decided to give multi-block structures a try and thought I would give a simple 3x3x3 a go. I have a couple questions.

 

1. How can I check whether certain blocks are x and certain blocks are y. For example, say I want the multi-block structure to have a setup like this on each side

 

[X X X]

[X Y X]

[X X X]

 

Where the X represents one type of block and the Y represents another. I'm confused with this looping system how I can check individual blocks, as it seems with the system I am using it checks with relation to every block in the structure, therefore the coordinates are going to point to different areas based on the current block's position. I simply want the multi-block structure to require each side has this kind of setup before returning that it is in fact a multi-block structure.

 

2. I seem to have a problem with setting metadata values to my blocks. In the second x3,y3,z3 for loop inside the isMultiBlockStructure function I am setting metadatas with values I am expecting to be 1-28, but instead I am finding that 1-15 or so are being set correctly, but after that the rest of the blocks are set seemingly randomly from 1-15 again.

 

Sorry if these questions are worded poorly, I'm a bit confused on how to explain it all. But please ask if you need more clarification!

 

here is my block file.

 

package skytanic.atomicmanipulation.blocks;

import net.minecraft.block.Block;
import net.minecraft.block.BlockContainer;
import net.minecraft.block.material.Material;
import net.minecraft.tileentity.TileEntity;
import net.minecraft.world.World;
import skytanic.atomicmanipulation.blocks.tileentity.RefineryControllerTileEntity;
import skytanic.atomicmanipulation.common.AtomicManipulation;

public class BlockRefineryController extends BlockContainer{

public BlockRefineryController(Material material) {
	super(material);
	this.setBlockName("RefineryController");
	this.setBlockTextureName("atomic:RefineryController");
	this.setCreativeTab(AtomicManipulation.TabAtomic);
	this.setStepSound(soundTypeMetal);
	this.setHardness(4f);
	this.setResistance(50f);

}

public int getRenderType(){
	return -1;
}

public boolean renderAsNormalBlock(){
	return false;
}

public boolean isOpaqueCube(){
	return false;
}

public void onNeighborBlockChange(World world, int x, int y, int z, Block neighborBlock){
	updateMultiBlockStructure(world, x, y, z);
}

public void onBlockAdded(World world, int x, int y, int z){
	updateMultiBlockStructure(world, x, y, z);
}

public void updateMultiBlockStructure(World world, int x, int y, int z){
	isMultiBlockStructure(world, x, y, z);
}

public boolean isMultiBlockStructure(World world, int x1, int y1, int z1){
	boolean mStructure = false;

	boolean currentCheckStructure = true;

	for(int x2 = 0; x2 < 3; x2++){
		for(int y2 = 0; y2 < 3; y2++){
			for(int z2 = 0; z2 < 3; z2++){
				if(!mStructure){
					currentCheckStructure = true;

					for(int x3 = 0; x3 < 3; x3++){
						for(int y3 = 0; y3 < 3; y3++){
							for(int z3 = 0; z3 < 3; z3++){
								if(currentCheckStructure && !world.getBlock(x1+x2-x3, y1+y2-y3, z1+z2-z3).equals(AtomicManipulation.RefineryController)){
									currentCheckStructure = false;
								}
							}
						}

					}

					if(currentCheckStructure){
						for(int x3 = 0; x3 < 3; x3++){
							for(int y3 = 0; y3 < 3; y3++){
								for(int z3 = 0; z3 < 3; z3++){
									world.setBlockMetadataWithNotify(x1+x2-x3, y1+y2-y3, z1+z2-z3, x3*9+y3*3+z3+1, 2);
								}
							}

						}
					}
				}

				mStructure = currentCheckStructure;
			}
		}

	}

	if(mStructure) return true;

	if(world.getBlockMetadata(x1, y1, z1) > 0) world.setBlockMetadataWithNotify(x1, y1, z1, 0, 3);

	return false;
}

@Override
public TileEntity createNewTileEntity(World var1, int var2) {
	return new RefineryControllerTileEntity();
}

}

Metadata is only a nibble (4 bits), meaning 16 possible combinations.

 

Only 0-15 are valid metadata values, any larger values will overflow or probably just get truncated to 4 bits.

Hmm I see, so is there a way to do what I am trying to do? Or would I have to do something like turning 1 block into a custom rendered  block while removing the rest, then rebuilding the previous structure minus 1 block whenever it is broken?