Character wipe?

Make lot's of torches, super easy and they really light up your tunnels. Also when you're not that deep you can knock holes in the back wall to let in light.

 

Starting a new character is honestly not a big deal. If it's your items you are worried about losing all you items, simply spawn them with a single command (use this list http://pastebin.com/ut4kchgH). Easy peasy. I don't see any reason in the world someone would want to keep an old character and essentially not experience the current game or any of the updates. It's not a "new players experience", it's a completely different game.

Bustow, If you want ore just type /admin and then /spawnitem ironore 500 and you'll have 500 iron ore. Or copperore, or bars, or any item you don't want to waste time looking for. Use that link I posted, load a chest up with stuff.[DOUBLEPOST=1422591967][/DOUBLEPOST]

Also, keep in mind the new ore hit sounds. You don't even need light. Your matter manipulator makes a high "ting ting ting" when it's over ores. I never even use light. I dig straight down and reach out with my matter manipulator listening for ore pings. It's very fast. But if you don't want to do that, just use my previous suggestion and spawn ore in 2 seconds.