My suggestion - adding a third liquid to the game - Oil. I am not sure why it wasn't added already, as it seems like a natural next step. The addition of oil, which would lurk at the lowest levels of the map, right next to the bedrock, with the source-block securely embedded down below to prevent the easy oil-farming, and would have to be pumped up through "pipe" blocks (perhaps created out of
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). The oil could be used as (near?) infinite source of fuel for furnaces, or could be "refined" into stackable plastics resource using a refinery block (a combination of smelter blocks, piping, diamonds and red ore perhaps - just so it was something difficult to make). The plastics resource could then be used to create more high-tech devices such as engines or pumps and perhaps (nearly) infinitely replenisheble low-durability tools, or high-durability tool-handles.
Oil? Maybe. High-Tech gadgets? Hell no. Minecraft has a strict medieval theme. The most high-tech minecraft is ever likely to get is primitive flintlocks, and even that is in serious question.
High-tech or not - oil would open up new possibilities for fire-based devices such as the inevitable powered mine-carts. Also - it could be used to power lanterns and such. In combination with the pipes - it could become an interesting replacement for all those infinitely-burning torches.
We already ave powered minecarts. And yes, you are right about the lanterns and such. It's only been suggested about 600 times by various people. Though if torches become finite, wouldn't it be a little unfair to have to mine to the bottom of the map just to get an infinite light source? I mean yea, it should be hard, but not that hard. There is more then one kind of oil, you know. Maybe you could get it by tapping trees to get resin (how torches are made IRL). Also, if Notch implements the swamp biomes, maybe you could get oil from peat?
Well, the way its planned (To my knowledge) is to have lightstone dust powering lanterns...so you will need to go find some diamonds/make a portal/not get killed by ghasts/mine lightstone 300 meters above a lava lake/not get killed by ghasts again to get infinite light.
Well, the way its planned (To my knowledge) is to have lightstone dust powering lanterns...so you will need to go find some diamonds/make a portal/not get killed by ghasts/mine lightstone 300 meters above a lava lake/not get killed by ghasts again to get infinite light.
Yea, that is insanity. The depth you would have to mine to to get diamonds would be impossible to reach without getting killed by mobs without infinite light. Why? Because while your digging, torches would burn out, and when you go back up to get a new pick....KABAM! A creeper that spawned in your now-dark tunnels kills you.
If Notch makes the lightsources finite - there has to be a way of centralizing their fuel source for all those lights. Otherwise managing to keep all of them will be a nightmare. Therefore my pipes+lanterns system could be useful - with oil, or lava or maybe some sort of a centrally-fueled converter block.
Oh, and sorry - despite messing with MC for months I haven't thought of throwing a furnace onto a minecart... or rather I did, but never thought it would make it into a locomotive!
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). The oil could be used as (near?) infinite source of fuel for furnaces, or could be "refined" into stackable plastics resource using a refinery block (a combination of smelter blocks, piping, diamonds and red ore perhaps - just so it was something difficult to make). The plastics resource could then be used to create more high-tech devices such as engines or pumps and perhaps (nearly) infinitely replenisheble low-durability tools, or high-durability tool-handles.
Yea, that is insanity. The depth you would have to mine to to get diamonds would be impossible to reach without getting killed by mobs without infinite light. Why? Because while your digging, torches would burn out, and when you go back up to get a new pick....KABAM! A creeper that spawned in your now-dark tunnels kills you.
I don't think Notch would do that, either your information is wrong, or Notch has gone completely crazy.
even if it's nether rock, You'll still need some diamonds to get there.
Oh, and sorry - despite messing with MC for months I haven't thought of throwing a furnace onto a minecart... or rather I did, but never thought it would make it into a locomotive!
That article only said lanterns were an absolute. It only listed glowstone as a possible ingredient.