This week’s news is going to look a little different! Every now and then, we pick a resident Humbug to interview for the paper. This week, The Friendly Zoologist was the lucky winner! She gave us such incredibly thoughtful and interesting answers that we decided she deserved her very own special edition.
Editor’s Note: Grab a snack and get comfy! This is an interview you won’t want to miss! 📰✨
The Friendly Zoologist. Does the name come from a real-life love for animals, or is there a fun in-game story behind it?
When my children were young, I left my job as an ecologist to become a stay-at-home mum. Instead of simply saying that, my husband and I would joke that I was running my own private zoo. My zoo had one gorilla (my husband) and two monkeys (our children). My days were spent cleaning cages, preparing meals, and making sure all the animals were happy and healthy. Years later, when we started playing Minecraft together, the name The Friendly Zoologist just felt right. It combines my love of wildlife and conservation with the fun, family adventures we have in Minecraft. Whether I’m collecting every mob, building research stations, or creating beautiful survival builds, the zoologist in me is never very far away.
You mention that you play a lot with your family and kids. What is that dynamic like? Has playing with your family influenced the way you build or the projects you choose to take on for the server?
I love playing with my family. When we first started, my children were still quite young, so it could be challenging. I had to “child-proof” all my farms because they would accidentally break them while exploring! We learned together what worked and what didn’t, and over time we all became better at building farms that were both efficient and family-friendly. I’ve played with other people for so long that I honestly don’t really know how to play Minecraft alone anymore. For me, the game has always been about sharing the experience.
Because my children were young when we started, I also got into the habit of building large projects away from the busiest areas so I could work in peace. I expected to do the same on HumbleCraft, but it turned out not to be necessary. Everyone there has been incredibly welcoming, respectful, and genuinely kind, which has made it a wonderful community to build alongside.
One thing I do miss is going on adventures with other people on the server, like raiding a bastion or exploring a Trial Chamber together. I think that’s mostly because of the time zone differences.
Luckily, we do those kinds of adventures all the time as a family, and they’re always great fun. Before we set off, everyone chooses what they’re going to be responsible for collecting or bringing, then we meet at a specific point and head out together. It’s become one of my favourite ways to play Minecraft.
During the last school holiday, we even decided to see how quickly we could beat the Ender Dragon, starting from spawning into a brand-new world. Our fastest time was four and a half hours, which I think is a really good time for a family playthrough!
Looking at all your builds, especially the spawn portals, Where does that meticulous eye for detail come from? Do you plan it all out before placing a single block, or do the details happen naturally as you build?
I do a lot of research on Pinterest before I start a build. First, I’ll look at lots of different portal designs, then I’ll research Nether block combinations to see which blocks work well together. For the spawn portal, I also looked at cathedral architecture and different window designs. I never copy a build exactly as it is because I don’t think that helps you improve as a builder. Instead, I use the references to get the height, proportions, and overall feel right. After all that research, I usually have a clear picture in my head of what I want to create. From there, I start building in Survival. Some ideas don’t work, so I change them and try something else. The build definitely evolves as I go. I also don’t build things in Creative first and then rebuild them in Survival. Building the same thing twice would be exhausting, and I honestly don’t see the point. I’d rather solve the problems as I build and let the design develop naturally.
You designed the Shopping Hall in the Nether which is phenomenal! Along with that, you’ve earned a serious reputation as a Master Mob Mover. Is moving mobs a skill you’ve always had, or did this season of Humble Craft force you to level up that talent?
When I first started playing Minecraft, I refused to go mining because it was too scary! My husband and children would go underground while I stayed safely above ground, Googled a farm, and built one to produce the same resources without having to deal with mobs. Looking back, that probably doesn’t sound like me at all!
What changed everything was turning my sound off and, on Java Edition, enabling subtitles. I realised it was the sounds that made Minecraft so frightening. Once I wasn’t constantly startled by every hiss and growl, I started exploring a lot more.
When I joined Chief’s Realm, I built a Nether Research Base and became determined to collect every Nether mob. I spent hours researching each one and figuring out how its mechanics worked. I even managed to get a ghast to spawn inside its own enclosure by understanding exactly how it behaved.
The only mob I couldn’t imagine moving was a blaze. Then Ricky said, “No problem.” We put it in a minecart and transported it all the way to my base. That was the moment I realized that every mob in Minecraft can be moved—you just have to understand its mechanics and use them to your advantage.
I honestly love moving mobs. In many ways, it feels just like studying real animals. Every species behaves differently, and once you understand that behavior, you can work with it instead of against it. As a zoologist, that way of thinking comes very naturally to me.
Your main base is located in a crater deep in the jungle. It looks incredible!! What was the biggest logistical challenge of setting up a life there?
Thank you! I really enjoyed building it. The biggest challenge was definitely clearing the jungle. It was right at the start of the season, so I didn’t have much iron or decent armor yet. Chopping down all those trees without getting killed by mobs took weeks! One of the first things I built was a Nether portal and a road back to spawn. The crater is quite a long way from spawn, so having a quick travel route made a huge difference. It saved a lot of time and made gathering supplies for the build much easier.
The block palettes at your base are unique and bursting with color. Minecraft players can sometimes get stuck using the same safe block pallets, so how do you approach choosing such vibrant colors and making them blend together so perfectly?
A lot of it comes from other builders. Players like Grayson, Benjamijn, BdoubleO100, RickyToo, MasterJelly and, on our family server, LadyBuildALot have all inspired me. What I admire most is that they create their own designs and develop their own colour palettes instead of copying someone else’s work. Watching them has taught me a lot. This season I also challenged myself to use as much terracotta as possible because I have a terracotta shop. I think deliberately using blocks you wouldn’t normally choose is one of the best ways to improve as a builder. It forces you to experiment, and that’s when you discover colour combinations you never would have considered otherwise. I’m sure my colour palettes can still improve, but when I look back at my older builds, I can definitely see how much I’ve learned. My favourite colour is teal, and I absolutely love quartz, but if every build used only those two blocks, it would get pretty boring! Challenging yourself to step outside your comfort zone is what helps you grow as a builder.
With spawn portals, the Nether shopping hall, and a crater base under your belt, what is the next detail or project you’re itching to bring to HumbleCraft?I’d really like to finish the portal I’m currently working on and wrap up all the smaller projects I’ve started by the end of this month. After that, I’d love to focus more on community builds. I know Chief is planning a dystopian area, and I’m looking forward to helping with that. I’d also like to contribute to the games in the Gaming District, build a house at Zanjo’s Homestead, and I’d love to encourage everyone to build a hot air balloon near my base. I think having lots of different balloons floating around the crater would look amazing. I don’t think I’ll manage to get everything done before the season ends, but that’s part of the fun. I’m really looking forward to the final part of the season and seeing what everyone creates together.
What an absolute treat it was getting to peer inside the brilliant, colorful mind of The Friendly Zoologist! Child-proofing mob farms, conquering fears, masterfully moving ghasts and tackling vibrant terracotta palettes, she brings an unmatched energy and expertise to our community. We are incredibly lucky to have her building, and taming the local wildlife, alongside us on HumbleCraft.
Huge thanks to TFZ for sitting down with us and sharing her story. Until next time, Humbugs, keep building, keep exploring, and maybe turn on those subtitles! 🦖✨
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