I'm sure many users have, such as myself, have been constantly frustrated when we dig through a nice-looking quarry, only to find not a single bit of ore after fifteen minutes of digging. Well, what if Minecraft had a tool to help you find ores? I was thinking that dowsing rods would be an interesting tool to implement in Minecraft, and figured it should be made out of gold, since gold has no other use as of yet. The grid could look like this:
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I'm still wondering how it would work, exactly, though. Should it differentiate between metals? How sensitive should it be? (I was thinking 20-30 meters)
Interesting, but they hardly have that technology now! I ha this game for 3 weeks and I found 2 diamonds. Yet no gold.
My strategy is to get rid of dirt in caves hoping to reveal something... Thats How i found diamond. It always works.
Another thing... be observant! Ores like to hide in plain sight.
Dowsing rods can be made from all sorts of things, so why not put it into practice here?
Stick rods - 30m accuracy
Iron rods - 15m accuracy
Gold rods - 5m accuracy
I don't quite get what you mean here... shouldn't it be reversed? (e.x. stick rods - 5m; gold rods - 30m)
Quote from Interrobang Pie »
Also, you could craft it with an extra bit to tell the rod what to douse for:
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So, this rod would douse for coal (as if you would ever need to douse for coal!).
^This^
But maybe with
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So you have to find at least five legit diamonds before you can find them this easily?
Dowsing rods can be made from all sorts of things, so why not put it into practice here?
Stick rods - 30m accuracy
Iron rods - 15m accuracy
Gold rods - 5m accuracy
I don't quite get what you mean here... shouldn't it be reversed? (e.x. stick rods - 5m; gold rods - 30m)
Quote from Interrobang Pie »
Also, you could craft it with an extra bit to tell the rod what to douse for:
[] []
[] []
So, this rod would douse for coal (as if you would ever need to douse for coal!).
^This^
But maybe with
[] []
So you have to find at least five legit diamonds before you can find them this easily?
He meant the accuracy as in gold can be as off as 5 blocks, and stick can be as off as 30 blocks
Have it scan for water or lava. Often these indicate the presence of underground caves. And underground caves are rich in minerals.
I actually think this idea would work a lot better. Either that, or do what some other people suggested and have it made of a specific material to find that material. However, there is the problem with the former suggestion of the dowsing rods locating water; I'm assuming the programming for defining what water is "underground" and what is just "below you" (e.g. you're on a mountain) would be a little more difficult than simply using ore proximity. But still, it would work better, if it worked well.
I was going to post this topic, but had a different idea for its use and direction.
First, the dowsing rod would be made as one would think:
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The basic dowsing rod works as such:
Player equips the dowsing rod and spins in a circle - after releasing the turn key the dowsing rod will cause the player to continue spinning a little bit and slow them down and will also tilt their view downwards until it's pointing in a single direction. The basic dowsing rod is used to find water spawn points that are below the current altitude of the player - this way it doesn't find the ocean or waterfalls, but under ground water sources.
Advanced dowsing rod:
The advanced dowsing rod uses the unusual properties of red stone dust to amplify its effect, and to allow it to find other things. An advanced dowsing rod is created by the following formula:
The dowsing rod now looks to have an extension made of whatever material is used and a redstone tip - if the material is irregularly shaped, it just looks like that thing covered in red dust
List of possible tip components:
Sapling - finds trees
Flint - finds Gravel
Coal - finds coal veins
Iron bar- finds iron ore
Gold bar- finds gold ore
Diamond - finds diamond ore
Gunpowder - finds creepers
Red mushroom - finds red mushrooms
Brown mushroom - finds brown mushrooms
Red Flower - finds red flowers
Yellow Flower - finds yellow flowers
Clay - finds clay
Glass - finds sand
redstone dust - finds redstone ore
Bucket of Lava - finds Lava spawns
Sponge - finds sponge spawns
*insert new resource here* - finds new resource
Perfect dowsing rods: Finding another use for gold was also something I thought of when I thought of the dowsing rod (I really do promise I only thought of this like 2 hours ago and hadn't seen this thread at all). The perfect dowsing rod is different from the normal one in 2 ways:
1. There's no spinning ritual
2. It doesn't matter what the player's altitude is, it will point towards things in any direction.
So the perfect dowsing rods will fixate a player's view on that one resource - they can still move, they just can't look any other direction. It's made with the same formula for the normal dowsing rod but uses gold bars:
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The Treasure Diver's Dowsing Rod: This dowsing rod finds mob spawners, and thus dungeons. It works like a perfect dowsing rod, the difference being it is made entirely out of diamonds:
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So this was what I had in mind before I saw this thread.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"
-Arthur C. Clark
"Any sufficiently rigorously defined magic is indistinguishable from technology"
-Larry Niven
They have been suggested before, several times. I'm completely against dowsing rods.
First, dowsing rods don't work. It's just a very silly idea. In fact, they are a dangerous myth to spread. And I'm being very serious. Check that link.
Make it an enchanted staff or compass or something, but please, just don't use the idea of "dowsing." Let that ******** die.
That some communities in Brazil got ripped of is not a reason for us not to include it in a fantasy game. Or we might as well take out everything.
There's a big difference between explicit fantasy (a magically enchanted rod, zombies and skeletons) and using a myth (pieces of wood can find stuff).
And it's just not just some communities in Brazil. That's just the example that hit closer to home. It happens all over the world. Lots of people are harmed, or even die, because people really believe this crap. This is one of those things that takes zero effort to do, but that can ultimately make the world a better place: killing myths and pseudo-scientific ********. Dowsing rods are a perfect example.
So make it an enchanted compass or a staff. Just don't make it a common stick, please.
That some communities in Brazil got ripped of is not a reason for us not to include it in a fantasy game. Or we might as well take out everything.
There's a big difference between explicit fantasy (a magically enchanted rod, zombies and skeletons) and using a myth (pieces of wood can find stuff).
And it's just not just some communities in Brazil. That's just the example that hit closer to home. It happens all over the world. Lots of people are harmed, or even die, because people really believe this crap. This is one of those things that takes zero effort to do, but that can ultimately make the world a better place: killing myths and pseudo-scientific ********. Dowsing rods are a perfect example.
So make it an enchanted compass or a staff. Just don't make it a common stick, please.
But my idea wasn't a common stick. It was a golden stick. So it's magic. So there :tongue.gif:
I do see where you're coming from, but you have to realize that this is a game. Anything can work in a game that wouldn't work in real life. For instance, cars and gas tanks won't blow up when you shoot them in real life. But in a videogame? Bring on the 'splosions. It adds a new element to the game.
Also, I know dowsing rods don't actually work. But again, see my above paragraph.
I do see where you're coming from, but you have to realize that this is a game. Anything can work in a game that wouldn't work in real life.
Geez, people I'm aware it's a game. I'm aware it's not supposed to be realistic.
I'm talking about the CONCEPT of dowsing rods being dangerous pseudoscience. The sooner we stop using it, the sooner it'll disappear from our culture. The context of them is completely irrelevant. Is that so hard to understand? :|
The gold does help, but someone suggested a wooden one in here (and most of the times, people suggest them to be wooden). But it would still be better if it were something else entirely.
@lycanox: I see that you are completely and utterly blind about the point I'm trying to make, so just forget it. I'm not in the mood for dealing with straw men and appeal to ridicule arguments.
I'm sorry, you're never going to get rid of the concept of the dowsing rod, it doesn't matter what you do. Unless you plan on erasing a great number of works of fiction and also a good number of historical documents and various books, it will always be there. People will jokingly pick up sticks and pretend to find water with them (I jokingly did it only a few days ago, ironically enough).
You'll get rid of the problem by properly educating people so that they can tell the difference between fantasy and reality. Not by trying to erase it from culture.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"
-Arthur C. Clark
"Any sufficiently rigorously defined magic is indistinguishable from technology"
-Larry Niven
@Hypevosa: you're also completely missing the point. Just forget it. I'll stop bothering you guys in this thread.
Your point is that we need to stop perpetuating the idea of a dowsing rod so that it eventually disappears from culture. (because its existence has caused harm to people)
"The sooner we stop using it, the sooner it'll disappear from our culture."
So you want us to not have dowsing rods in minecraft to aid in the death of the idea of dowsing rods.
I'm saying it's impossible to erase it from culture - it will always be there in one form or another. Instead you need to properly educate people so that they can understand the difference between what's real and what's not. I understand your problem, I'm saying that your method of attacking the problem is flawed because you're treating a symptom of the problem, and not the source of the problem.
Dowsing rods = pseudoscience is not the problem, but the symptom.
lack of education = belief in pseudoscience / susceptibility to fantastic deception: this is the problem that needs to be solved.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"
-Arthur C. Clark
"Any sufficiently rigorously defined magic is indistinguishable from technology"
-Larry Niven
I like the idea of a tool to assist underground resource location, but I think it should be balanced by being very broad in what it detects and directionally inaccurate. I think it should detect all metals, diamonds, redstone, caverns and gaps of any size, cobblestone, lava, water, gravel and clay. This means you have to think about where you're using it, how you're digging towards it, and some trial/error and triangulation to figure out where something is.
As for the idea of dowsing rods, as harmful an idea as it is, anyone who's going to learn pseudoscience from a computer game is probably already thieving oxygen. This is hardly the place to make a stand against the problem of criminally-unscientific devices. Given what's happened in Iraq with the little black box of lies, even your "magical compass" idea can be construed as reinforcing the problem, Torus.
I'm talking about the CONCEPT of dowsing rods being dangerous pseudoscience. The sooner we stop using it, the sooner it'll disappear from our culture.
This will not happen by going all extremist on a Minecraft forum, please allow us to continue this interesting thread without fear of being preached to over 'dangerous myths'. I'm sure Zombies could be tied to viral genetic alteraton which happens in labratories all over the world too but that arguement, like yours is not something that is of relavence to this topic.
Back on topic - Downsing Rods are AWESOME! BUT - Don't take the excitement out of finding diamond please :wink.gif: I like that little fuzzy feeling when I come across it :biggrin.gif:
That some communities in Brazil got ripped of is not a reason for us not to include it in a fantasy game. Or we might as well take out everything.
There's a big difference between explicit fantasy (a magically enchanted rod, zombies and skeletons) and using a myth (pieces of wood can find stuff).
And it's just not just some communities in Brazil. That's just the example that hit closer to home. It happens all over the world. Lots of people are harmed, or even die, because people really believe this crap. This is one of those things that takes zero effort to do, but that can ultimately make the world a better place: killing myths and pseudo-scientific ********. Dowsing rods are a perfect example.
So make it an enchanted compass or a staff. Just don't make it a common stick, please.
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I'm still wondering how it would work, exactly, though. Should it differentiate between metals? How sensitive should it be? (I was thinking 20-30 meters)
Thoughts?
Taming Spiders!
My Suggestions on Goblin Villages
Tl;dr, good idea!
My strategy is to get rid of dirt in caves hoping to reveal something... Thats How i found diamond. It always works.
Another thing... be observant! Ores like to hide in plain sight.
I LOVE CAVES (not really, they have ores though!)
I don't quite get what you mean here... shouldn't it be reversed? (e.x. stick rods - 5m; gold rods - 30m)
^This^
But maybe with
[] []
So you have to find at least five legit diamonds before you can find them this easily?
This or else it can be extremely easy to abuse this mechanic
He meant the accuracy as in gold can be as off as 5 blocks, and stick can be as off as 30 blocks
I actually think this idea would work a lot better. Either that, or do what some other people suggested and have it made of a specific material to find that material. However, there is the problem with the former suggestion of the dowsing rods locating water; I'm assuming the programming for defining what water is "underground" and what is just "below you" (e.g. you're on a mountain) would be a little more difficult than simply using ore proximity. But still, it would work better, if it worked well.
Taming Spiders!
My Suggestions on Goblin Villages
Wood ones would detect the mineral 5 meters away
Steel would do it 15 meters away
And Gold should do it 30-45 meters away.
And, just for fun, use it to detect dirt. :biggrin.gif:
First, the dowsing rod would be made as one would think:
[] []
[] []
[]
The basic dowsing rod works as such:
Player equips the dowsing rod and spins in a circle - after releasing the turn key the dowsing rod will cause the player to continue spinning a little bit and slow them down and will also tilt their view downwards until it's pointing in a single direction. The basic dowsing rod is used to find water spawn points that are below the current altitude of the player - this way it doesn't find the ocean or waterfalls, but under ground water sources.
Advanced dowsing rod:
The advanced dowsing rod uses the unusual properties of red stone dust to amplify its effect, and to allow it to find other things. An advanced dowsing rod is created by the following formula:
[] [redstone dust] []
[] [Material need] []
[] [ Dowsing rod ] []
The dowsing rod now looks to have an extension made of whatever material is used and a redstone tip - if the material is irregularly shaped, it just looks like that thing covered in red dust
List of possible tip components:
Sapling - finds trees
Flint - finds Gravel
Coal - finds coal veins
Iron bar- finds iron ore
Gold bar- finds gold ore
Diamond - finds diamond ore
Gunpowder - finds creepers
Red mushroom - finds red mushrooms
Brown mushroom - finds brown mushrooms
Red Flower - finds red flowers
Yellow Flower - finds yellow flowers
Clay - finds clay
Glass - finds sand
redstone dust - finds redstone ore
Bucket of Lava - finds Lava spawns
Sponge - finds sponge spawns
*insert new resource here* - finds new resource
Perfect dowsing rods: Finding another use for gold was also something I thought of when I thought of the dowsing rod (I really do promise I only thought of this like 2 hours ago and hadn't seen this thread at all). The perfect dowsing rod is different from the normal one in 2 ways:
1. There's no spinning ritual
2. It doesn't matter what the player's altitude is, it will point towards things in any direction.
So the perfect dowsing rods will fixate a player's view on that one resource - they can still move, they just can't look any other direction. It's made with the same formula for the normal dowsing rod but uses gold bars:
[] []
[] []
[]
The Treasure Diver's Dowsing Rod: This dowsing rod finds mob spawners, and thus dungeons. It works like a perfect dowsing rod, the difference being it is made entirely out of diamonds:
[] []
[] []
[]
So this was what I had in mind before I saw this thread.
-Arthur C. Clark
"Any sufficiently rigorously defined magic is indistinguishable from technology"
-Larry Niven
First, dowsing rods don't work. It's just a very silly idea. In fact, they are a dangerous myth to spread. And I'm being very serious. Check that link.
Make it an enchanted staff or compass or something, but please, just don't use the idea of "dowsing." Let that ******** die.
MINECRAFT FACTS: BIG LIST OF WHAT NOTCH HAS ACTUALLY SAID ABOUT THE PLANNED FEATURES OF MINECRAFT
There's a big difference between explicit fantasy (a magically enchanted rod, zombies and skeletons) and using a myth (pieces of wood can find stuff).
And it's just not just some communities in Brazil. That's just the example that hit closer to home. It happens all over the world. Lots of people are harmed, or even die, because people really believe this crap. This is one of those things that takes zero effort to do, but that can ultimately make the world a better place: killing myths and pseudo-scientific ********. Dowsing rods are a perfect example.
So make it an enchanted compass or a staff. Just don't make it a common stick, please.
MINECRAFT FACTS: BIG LIST OF WHAT NOTCH HAS ACTUALLY SAID ABOUT THE PLANNED FEATURES OF MINECRAFT
But my idea wasn't a common stick. It was a golden stick. So it's magic. So there :tongue.gif:
I do see where you're coming from, but you have to realize that this is a game. Anything can work in a game that wouldn't work in real life. For instance, cars and gas tanks won't blow up when you shoot them in real life. But in a videogame? Bring on the 'splosions. It adds a new element to the game.
Also, I know dowsing rods don't actually work. But again, see my above paragraph.
Peace :smile.gif:
Taming Spiders!
My Suggestions on Goblin Villages
Geez, people I'm aware it's a game. I'm aware it's not supposed to be realistic.
I'm talking about the CONCEPT of dowsing rods being dangerous pseudoscience. The sooner we stop using it, the sooner it'll disappear from our culture. The context of them is completely irrelevant. Is that so hard to understand? :|
The gold does help, but someone suggested a wooden one in here (and most of the times, people suggest them to be wooden). But it would still be better if it were something else entirely.
@lycanox: I see that you are completely and utterly blind about the point I'm trying to make, so just forget it. I'm not in the mood for dealing with straw men and appeal to ridicule arguments.
MINECRAFT FACTS: BIG LIST OF WHAT NOTCH HAS ACTUALLY SAID ABOUT THE PLANNED FEATURES OF MINECRAFT
You'll get rid of the problem by properly educating people so that they can tell the difference between fantasy and reality. Not by trying to erase it from culture.
-Arthur C. Clark
"Any sufficiently rigorously defined magic is indistinguishable from technology"
-Larry Niven
MINECRAFT FACTS: BIG LIST OF WHAT NOTCH HAS ACTUALLY SAID ABOUT THE PLANNED FEATURES OF MINECRAFT
Your point is that we need to stop perpetuating the idea of a dowsing rod so that it eventually disappears from culture. (because its existence has caused harm to people)
"The sooner we stop using it, the sooner it'll disappear from our culture."
So you want us to not have dowsing rods in minecraft to aid in the death of the idea of dowsing rods.
I'm saying it's impossible to erase it from culture - it will always be there in one form or another. Instead you need to properly educate people so that they can understand the difference between what's real and what's not. I understand your problem, I'm saying that your method of attacking the problem is flawed because you're treating a symptom of the problem, and not the source of the problem.
Dowsing rods = pseudoscience is not the problem, but the symptom.
lack of education = belief in pseudoscience / susceptibility to fantastic deception: this is the problem that needs to be solved.
-Arthur C. Clark
"Any sufficiently rigorously defined magic is indistinguishable from technology"
-Larry Niven
As for the idea of dowsing rods, as harmful an idea as it is, anyone who's going to learn pseudoscience from a computer game is probably already thieving oxygen. This is hardly the place to make a stand against the problem of criminally-unscientific devices. Given what's happened in Iraq with the little black box of lies, even your "magical compass" idea can be construed as reinforcing the problem, Torus.
This will not happen by going all extremist on a Minecraft forum, please allow us to continue this interesting thread without fear of being preached to over 'dangerous myths'. I'm sure Zombies could be tied to viral genetic alteraton which happens in labratories all over the world too but that arguement, like yours is not something that is of relavence to this topic.
Back on topic - Downsing Rods are AWESOME! BUT - Don't take the excitement out of finding diamond please :wink.gif: I like that little fuzzy feeling when I come across it :biggrin.gif:
BUT - What abotu this?
Water Rod
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Lava Rod
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Calm down, man.