I often find myself lost in Minecraft. It happens all the time. I can happily chop down trees, mine for ores, hunt pigs, and wander off without a care in the world. But when night falls unexpectedly, I realize I’ve stepped into the same trap again. Where did I go, and how did it happen? It’s completely unclear to me, and honestly, I’m not sure what to do next.
I never take a compass with me because I haven’t read the guide on how to craft and use one. However, there’s another way to find your way back home—signs. If you also tend to get lost frequently, I recommend placing signs indicating the direction of your home wherever you’ve been.
Signs were introduced in Minecraft in September 2009, and until June 2010, they couldn’t be crafted by players. Initially, they could only be placed on the ground, but over time, the ability to attach them to walls was added. Currently, you can place them on the ground, on walls, and even inside furnaces, although they don’t stay there for long.
The easiest way to obtain a sign is by crafting it. To do this, you need to combine six wooden planks and three sticks in the crafting grid. Additionally, signs can be discovered in basements and rustic village houses. They can be collected with any tool, but since they are quite fragile, it’s advisable to gather them by hand.
Once you’ve placed the sign, you can write something on it. By right-clicking, you’ll be able to enter any text up to four lines long. This text will remain until the sign breaks. If that happens, creating another sign won’t be difficult, as it requires minimal materials, and writing the text doesn’t take much time either.
In the real world, signs have existed longer than one might think. Ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks used them as posters for advertising shops or public events. Ancient Roman taverns were marked with a sign depicting a bush, while barbershops featured the classic red-and-white pole.
In Ancient China, there were also signs, which emerged independently from those in other nations. Recent studies have revealed copper printing plates that were utilized to create posters promoting the sewing needle brand “White Rabbit“. The advertisements claimed that their products were “high-quality steel rods” ready for “immediate home use.”
Signs gained popularity during the medieval period, reaching their peak in the 16th century in London. They became so widespread that they began to obstruct traffic, prompting authorities to implement regulations on their placement.
The United States perfected these signs, commonly referred to as “billboards.” Animated, illuminated, colorful, and diverse versions started appearing in Manhattan in 1892, while the introduction of neon lights in the 1920s enhanced their visual impact. Today, massive screens displaying advertisements can be seen worldwide, showcasing content not only during the day but also at night. It would be fantastic to introduce neon signs into the world of Minecraft Bedrock!
