Soul Shard Spawning Mechanics?

[ARoomKey]

I gotta begin just by thanking whoever responds, as this problem has been bothering me and I can't seem to find an appropriate answer anywhere.

I've been fiddling around in Minecraft trying to answer these few questions about soul shard spawners, but I keep getting results contradicting what I find online.

1. What is the spawning radius (x, y and z values) of a soul shard spawner? Is it the same as a vanilla spawner?​

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2. Additionally, as an example, stating that the spawning radius of the soul shard spawner is 8x8x5:​

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a) Does the radius mean the dimensions of the wall? For example, if it does, then there would be a section of air 6x6x3 excluding the spawner where the mobs can spawn.​

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b) Do two-tall monsters only spawn based off of their feet, or both their feet and head must be clear? (What really confuses me here, is that online I find the the z value in the radius is 3, but that would mean that anything that spawns on the spawner would suffocate immediately).​

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My apologies if I posted this in the wrong section, or came off as a little brash. As you might see, I'm fairly new here.
Thanks to whoever helps me with my problem!

 

[Whovian]

From my setting up an Enderman Farm in creative a little while ago, it seems they do have the same mechanics as Vanilla spawners in terms of where they can spawn. You can check the Minecraft wiki for that, I think it's an 8x8 square centred on the northwest(?) corner of the spawner.

 

[LittleMike]

Same as Vanilla - 8x8x3:

http://ftbwiki.org/Soul_Cage

 

[Indalor1]

Actually you need a room that is 9x9x3 of open space with the spawner in the center block. That way you have 4 blocks in every direction open from the spawner and a 3 high room to spawn the mobs.

I prefer a 4 or 5 block high room with the spawner at least 1 or 2 blocks off the floor and water running over the floor to push the mobs to where I want them to go.

 

[lazaruz76]

I use about 5-6 tall space with mfr conveyors so I can build one BIG glass structure for all my spawning needs. Last one i built was 15x35x7 on the inside. I had 10 SS spawners in it. With the conveyors I can put my endermen in with all my other spawners and not worry about them teleporting out since there is no water. Ya I know I don't need it that tall but I like to watch them fall and it makes sure that none of the mobs get stuck behind a spawner. I find it quite funny that I can get my ender eyes at the same place I get my food. Usually use several mfr grinders at one end with the belts all moving to a kill zone with an item collector in the ground for anything that drops that does not get collected by the grinders (eggs anyone). I feed all drops to an ender chest connected to my sorting system (usually AE) for storage and processing.

 

[Neoxon]

it 2 down , 2 up, and 4 away from the spawner, it 9x9x5

 

[Adonis0]

I think the "spawn" dimensions are 8x8x3, but seeing as only cave spiders actually fit in a 1x1 hole, you'll need to expand that to accommodate for bigger monsters spawning on the edge of their range.

So for most mobs you'll need to expand it to a 10x10x4 (1 below, 2 above) as these are two high and have a chance of spawning right on the edge of your 8x8 spawning square taking up part of the block outside that. For endermen you'll need to make it 10x10x5 (1 below 3 above), whilst for ghasts you'll need to make allowances for the fact they're 5 blocks across

You get the picture.

EDIT: Didn't realise you had asked about this in the OP. Yes mobs spawn based on their head and feet, but the spawning area only refers to where their feet can be placed. You need to make allowances for their head as I said above, else they won't spawn in that area.