Tutorials/Endless circling pool

Endless circling pools, also known as AFK pools, will let the player or any player-sized mob that gets in the water circle endlessly around the center. These are commonly used for AFK players in multiplayer so that they won't get kicked off the server.

Usage
Endless circling pools, or AFK pools, are primarily used on multiplayer servers. Most servers prevent players from being idle for too long by kicking them off the server after 15 minutes or more. Even if you use the AFK command (if the plugin is installed), you will still be kicked off, so some players make "AFK Pools" to prevent being kicked.

This is why many players build an endless circling pool when they have to be away from the computer. An endless circling pool will automatically move the player continuously. However, it will malfunction once in a while, and the player will stop moving. Because of this, make sure to check your computer every 15 minutes (or however long the player is allowed to be idle before he/she gets kicked off on that specific server). Also, note that some servers ban the usage of endless circling pools.

Usage notes
Here are some important things to think about when using an endless circling pool.


 * The sound that the water makes may disturb the player, so if you mind the noise, turn the computer's volume off.
 * Sometimes you may stop moving when in an AFK pool, and will need to manually move the player to start again. Using a second sign as the central block instead of a solid one can prevent this, and makes the pool more reliable.
 * Using an endless circling pool may be against the rules of your server, particularly if it has an auto rank system to give benefits for playing longer, or is often near the player cap. So, make sure to check the rules before constructing one.
 * Using this pool will cause your hunger bar to go down, which can kill you in hard difficulty. Riding a boat in a pool wide enough for it will not deplete hunger. Otherwise, keep food on hand for when you return, and accept that you will die if you are away too long on hard difficulty.
 * If the pool is exposed to sky, a phantom can spawn from lack of sleep and attack you in it. So it should be built in a cave or inside a building to avoid getting attacked by them if phantoms spawn on your server.
 * If you are in a multiplayer server, another player might troll you (Obsidian trap).

Materials
When you are ready to build an endless circling pool, first make sure you have all of the materials. Here is list of materials you'll need to build an endless circling pool. All of these are fairly easy to acquire.


 * At least 15 building blocks (such as stone bricks)
 * A sign
 * A water bucket
 * A stair or slab (a slab requires less materials to craft, so it is recommended)

Building
Once you've gathered all the materials to make an endless circling pool, it is time to start building. The following grids show you how to construct an endless circling pool:

Note: Darker blocks are 2 blocks high.
 * Schematic


 * Layered blueprint

Step by step

 * 1) Place a block down. This will be what the water will go around.
 * 2) Place blocks 1 block high around the center block but two blocks away from it, so that there is 1 block of space in between the center block and the outer blocks, including for the corners. However, you don't have to connect the corners for the blocks.
 * 3) Place a slab or stair directly diagonally up-left from the center block.
 * 4) For the block behind the slab/stair you just placed, place another block, so that it is two blocks high. Then, place one block to the right of that part to make 2 blocks in the barrier 2 blocks high.
 * 5) Place a sign on the front side of the block you just placed. The layout of the pool is now done.
 * 6) Put the water on the side of the block to the left of the one that now holds the sign. It should flow all the way around the pool. You are done.

Construction notes

 * You can replace the stone bricks shown in the grids above with any solid block, such as cobblestone or wood planks.
 * The slab can be of any type. It can be any block one automatically step up onto, that water will not wash away, meaning that stairs are another option. Place the slab or stair under the water source that is 2 blocks high.
 * The water source block (marked with an S) will flow down, and around to under the sign.
 * After the water is flowing correctly, the sign can usually be removed once everything is in place.
 * 1.13 has changed the water flow mechanics, such that the end of the water has less current. This will cause you to get stuck on the central block.  Replace it with a sign instead to solve this issue.

Activation
To make an endless circling pool work, all you have to do is jump into the water at any place in the flow. The water should constantly carry the player using the pool all the way around.

Video
See this video for a demonstration on how to make an endless circling AFK pool.

This tutorial was made by by JL G4M1NG.