A typical hotbar from mid-to-late-game is going to contain a lot of tools:
Notice, however, that there is only one slot for building blocks. The sad part is this slot will usually contain a block like dirt or cobblestone for the sake of getting out of holes or building bridges over ravines. Worse yet, this isn't even all of the other tools that a hotbar can contain since we haven't mentioned:
- Flint and Steel
- Hoes
- Shears
- Maps
- Other weapons like Tridents
- Silk Touch shovels
- Potions (this is especially bad since it makes health potions practically useless)
- Modded tools and items
- etc.
The Solution
Or more accurately, one solution that can partially mitigate the problem.
In the controls menu, there will be a setting called "Tool Switching" next to "Auto-Jump". This has two settings: Completely Manual and Automatic First Slot. There will also be a keybind labeled "Switch Tool" under the Inventory tab, defaulted to the R key.
If this is set to Completely Manual, pressing the "Switch Tool" key will rotate the column of items in that slot.
Wouldn't you want a second key to rotate the column backward? Possibly, but I don't want to take over too many keybinds.
Why can't I switch the whole hotbar? I don't know if people would find it as useful as just rotating one slot. If you think this is better than individually rotating slots, I guess it can be a setting, but I'd personally find it disorienting.
If this is set to Automatic First Slot, the inventory will look like this:
These are not new slots. There are still only 36 item slots in the inventory. You won't be stopped from putting other non-tool items in these slots, but items will not automatically enter these slots unless the rest of the inventory is full.
If you put other items in these slots, you may notice the column automatically switches to that item when facing certain blocks. The idea of this is that if you point at a certain type of block, you will switch to the tool for that block. (And if you point at a mob, the slot will automatically switch to the sword/melee weapon slot.)
This is incredibly useful as it means you don't have to awkwardly switch between tools just because a bit of gravel or dirt got in the way of your giant tunnel, and you'll have plenty of hotbar space for a few different types of redstone components or building blocks.
But what about hoes/Specialized Enchantment tools/etc? I didn't include a slot for hoes since hoes are not for digging. Specialized Enchanted tools will have to remain outside of the special first slot, but fortunately, the "Switch Tool" key will still work in this mode if you need to work with a lot of tools.
My avatar is a texture from a small block game I made in Python. It's not very good and it probably won't work if you install it.
I'm very alone in my Minecraft worlds as I don't have a very good internet connection to run a server. If you're like me, you might be interested in my Posse mod suggestion.
Or put Fortune/Silk Touch on your main pickaxe and only carry the pick and sword in your hotbar at all times. Take the extra three seconds to hover over your axe or shovel and press a number to add it to your hotbar whenever you're going to need it a lot.
Sorry, but this issue doesn't seem bad enough to warrant four new slots.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Watch out for the crabocalypse. Some say the day will never come. But it will.
Feel free to drop by for a chat whenever.
If you'd like to talk with me about other games, here are a few I play.
Team Fortress 2
Borderlands series (Borderlands 2 is my favorite game, ever. TPS combat is a lot of fun and makes up for the lower-quality story, in my opinion)
Elder Scrolls series
Warframe (IGN is something like That_One_Flesh_Atronach)
Pokémon series (HGSS forever)
Rocket League
Fallout series
Left 4 Dead 2 (Boomer files always corrupt though)
SUPERHOT (SUPERHOT is the most innovative shooter I've played in years!)
Dead Rising series (Dead Rising 2 is one of my favorite games, and the 3rd was a lot of fun. 1st has poor survivor AI and the 4th is bad)
Just Cause series
Come to think of it, I mainly play fighting-based games.
I like the idea but don't think each slot should be restricted to a specific tool. It should just be whatever 4 tools you want and put in those slots. If I am going mining I don't bring my bow, axe, or even a shovel usually, just my regular and Fortune Pick. If I am cutting trees I'm only bringing my Sword and Axe. So I'd rather they not be locked to specific tools when odds are I'm probably only bringing 1-2 of them with me at any time.
Sorry, but this issue doesn't seem bad enough to warrant four new slots.
It isn't 4 new slots from the looks of it, just the first column would have added tool functionality.
Want some advice on how to thrive in the Suggestions section? Check this handy list of guidelines and tips for posting your ideas and responding to the ideas of others!
This sounds like a more in-depth way to say "the Minecraft inventory as a whole isn't big enough for the number of different blocks in the game now" (am I wrong in summarizing like this?) That being said, I fully support a bigger inventory outside of shulkers especially thanks to all the stained/colored block variants.
Or put Fortune/Silk Touch on your main pickaxe and only carry the pick and sword in your hotbar at all times.
I disagree. This is a waste of enchantments that can be fairly rare mid-game. (Besides the fact that while you may want to mine up some ores with Silk Touch for certain reasons, you may not want to fill up your coffers with tons of smooth stone that is basically useless for crafting)
Take the extra three seconds to hover over your axe or shovel and press a number to add it to your hotbar whenever you're going to need it a lot.
Sure, but my question is, why should you have to switch tools at all when you're, for example, doing a landscaping project which requires you to switch between tools frequently? Why not just have the game automatically switch to the right tool for the job when you need to switch from mining stone to mining gravel, or to cutting down a tree?
Also, I really don't see the point in having three hotbar slots taken up by "A tool for cracky things", "A tool for crumbly things" and "A tool for wood", when I could be putting any of the other zillion things in those slots. I've been playing a lot of Starbound recently, where there is only one main tool for doing practically all work. In Terraria, all non-wall non-tree blocks are mined with a pickaxe.
I find this system of "Well you need this tool to mine these blocks, but not these other blocks" to be arbitrary and pointless from a gameplay point of view, and it only really serves to keep a bit of realism in the game. At the very least, not having to manually switch tools would be a good quality-of-life way to make this part of the game feel less arbitrary and pointless.
Sorry, but this issue doesn't seem bad enough to warrant four new slots.
I don't think you've looked closely enough at that edited inventory GUI. There are still only 9 columns, it's just that the old first column has new functionality. Obviously I would not add four new slots to the inventory with a setting that can be toggled on or off in the controls menu.
I like the idea but don't think each slot should be restricted to a specific tool. It should just be whatever 4 tools you want and put in those slots.
That's not the point of the Automatic First Slot setting. The point is to automatically switch to the tool required to mine the block or kill the mob you are pointing at. It's worth noting that these slots are not technically restricted, but you'd find it rather annoying having your first slot switch to your bow when you point at dirt because you put the bow in the shovel slot.
If I am going mining I don't bring my bow, axe, or even a shovel usually, just my regular and Fortune Pick. If I am cutting trees I'm only bringing my Sword and Axe. So I'd rather they not be locked to specific tools when odds are I'm probably only bringing 1-2 of them with me at any time.
Fair enough, but:
- I don't know that most people switch out the tools in their inventory. I personally don't, unless it's my first Diamond Pickaxe, which I usually reserve for obsidian until I have a steady supply of Diamonds to use on pickaxes.
- This is what the Completely Manual setting is for. With it on, only the new column rotating key works, and the whole first-slot stuff is disabled.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
My avatar is a texture from a small block game I made in Python. It's not very good and it probably won't work if you install it.
I'm very alone in my Minecraft worlds as I don't have a very good internet connection to run a server. If you're like me, you might be interested in my Posse mod suggestion.
I love the idea and it makes a lot of sense, though I wouldn't want it to switch to the sword when facing a pet, though I suppose you could just stay on any of the other 8 hot bar slots in that case. It would even work if it were just a scroll function through that first column like how you can scroll through the hot bar. It would even work if they added an item that added to the inventory by one row since it wouldn't interfere and would be relatively simple to setup.
It makes sense that you would have a slot function that would essentially tag any item you put into it as being for dirt, or wood, ect. While it could lead to pulling out your bow for dirt it could be used for building easily. say your placing an alternating pattern of andesite and wood fencing. You hover over the wood fence and now you have your andesite in your hand ready to place, and then when it detects the andesite placed moves to the fencing, resulting in speed building or you could even use it for speed bridging too. Maybe one could detect lava and switch to a slot with a water bucket or a boat or haybale to MLG. Though maybe thatd be too OP.
Really great idea though! Should definitely get more attention then it has.
The Problem
A typical hotbar from mid-to-late-game is going to contain a lot of tools:
Notice, however, that there is only one slot for building blocks. The sad part is this slot will usually contain a block like dirt or cobblestone for the sake of getting out of holes or building bridges over ravines. Worse yet, this isn't even all of the other tools that a hotbar can contain since we haven't mentioned:
- Flint and Steel
- Hoes
- Shears
- Maps
- Other weapons like Tridents
- Silk Touch shovels
- Potions (this is especially bad since it makes health potions practically useless)
- Modded tools and items
- etc.
The Solution
Or more accurately, one solution that can partially mitigate the problem.
In the controls menu, there will be a setting called "Tool Switching" next to "Auto-Jump". This has two settings: Completely Manual and Automatic First Slot. There will also be a keybind labeled "Switch Tool" under the Inventory tab, defaulted to the R key.
If this is set to Completely Manual, pressing the "Switch Tool" key will rotate the column of items in that slot.
Wouldn't you want a second key to rotate the column backward? Possibly, but I don't want to take over too many keybinds.
Why can't I switch the whole hotbar? I don't know if people would find it as useful as just rotating one slot. If you think this is better than individually rotating slots, I guess it can be a setting, but I'd personally find it disorienting.
If this is set to Automatic First Slot, the inventory will look like this:
These are not new slots. There are still only 36 item slots in the inventory. You won't be stopped from putting other non-tool items in these slots, but items will not automatically enter these slots unless the rest of the inventory is full.
If you put other items in these slots, you may notice the column automatically switches to that item when facing certain blocks. The idea of this is that if you point at a certain type of block, you will switch to the tool for that block. (And if you point at a mob, the slot will automatically switch to the sword/melee weapon slot.)
This is incredibly useful as it means you don't have to awkwardly switch between tools just because a bit of gravel or dirt got in the way of your giant tunnel, and you'll have plenty of hotbar space for a few different types of redstone components or building blocks.
But what about hoes/Specialized Enchantment tools/etc? I didn't include a slot for hoes since hoes are not for digging. Specialized Enchanted tools will have to remain outside of the special first slot, but fortunately, the "Switch Tool" key will still work in this mode if you need to work with a lot of tools.
My avatar is a texture from a small block game I made in Python. It's not very good and it probably won't work if you install it.
I'm very alone in my Minecraft worlds as I don't have a very good internet connection to run a server. If you're like me, you might be interested in my Posse mod suggestion.
Or put Fortune/Silk Touch on your main pickaxe and only carry the pick and sword in your hotbar at all times. Take the extra three seconds to hover over your axe or shovel and press a number to add it to your hotbar whenever you're going to need it a lot.
Sorry, but this issue doesn't seem bad enough to warrant four new slots.
Watch out for the crabocalypse. Some say the day will never come. But it will.
Feel free to drop by for a chat whenever.
If you'd like to talk with me about other games, here are a few I play.
Team Fortress 2
Borderlands series (Borderlands 2 is my favorite game, ever. TPS combat is a lot of fun and makes up for the lower-quality story, in my opinion)
Elder Scrolls series
Warframe (IGN is something like That_One_Flesh_Atronach)
Pokémon series (HGSS forever)
Rocket League
Fallout series
Left 4 Dead 2 (Boomer files always corrupt though)
SUPERHOT (SUPERHOT is the most innovative shooter I've played in years!)
Dead Rising series (Dead Rising 2 is one of my favorite games, and the 3rd was a lot of fun. 1st has poor survivor AI and the 4th is bad)
Just Cause series
Come to think of it, I mainly play fighting-based games.
It isn't 4 new slots from the looks of it, just the first column would have added tool functionality.
Want some advice on how to thrive in the Suggestions section? Check this handy list of guidelines and tips for posting your ideas and responding to the ideas of others!
http://www.minecraftforum.net/forums/minecraft-discussion/suggestions/2775557-guidelines-for-the-suggestions-forum
This sounds like a more in-depth way to say "the Minecraft inventory as a whole isn't big enough for the number of different blocks in the game now" (am I wrong in summarizing like this?) That being said, I fully support a bigger inventory outside of shulkers especially thanks to all the stained/colored block variants.
I disagree. This is a waste of enchantments that can be fairly rare mid-game. (Besides the fact that while you may want to mine up some ores with Silk Touch for certain reasons, you may not want to fill up your coffers with tons of smooth stone that is basically useless for crafting)
Sure, but my question is, why should you have to switch tools at all when you're, for example, doing a landscaping project which requires you to switch between tools frequently? Why not just have the game automatically switch to the right tool for the job when you need to switch from mining stone to mining gravel, or to cutting down a tree?
Also, I really don't see the point in having three hotbar slots taken up by "A tool for cracky things", "A tool for crumbly things" and "A tool for wood", when I could be putting any of the other zillion things in those slots. I've been playing a lot of Starbound recently, where there is only one main tool for doing practically all work. In Terraria, all non-wall non-tree blocks are mined with a pickaxe.
I find this system of "Well you need this tool to mine these blocks, but not these other blocks" to be arbitrary and pointless from a gameplay point of view, and it only really serves to keep a bit of realism in the game. At the very least, not having to manually switch tools would be a good quality-of-life way to make this part of the game feel less arbitrary and pointless.
I don't think you've looked closely enough at that edited inventory GUI. There are still only 9 columns, it's just that the old first column has new functionality. Obviously I would not add four new slots to the inventory with a setting that can be toggled on or off in the controls menu.
That's not the point of the Automatic First Slot setting. The point is to automatically switch to the tool required to mine the block or kill the mob you are pointing at. It's worth noting that these slots are not technically restricted, but you'd find it rather annoying having your first slot switch to your bow when you point at dirt because you put the bow in the shovel slot.
Fair enough, but:
- I don't know that most people switch out the tools in their inventory. I personally don't, unless it's my first Diamond Pickaxe, which I usually reserve for obsidian until I have a steady supply of Diamonds to use on pickaxes.
- This is what the Completely Manual setting is for. With it on, only the new column rotating key works, and the whole first-slot stuff is disabled.
My avatar is a texture from a small block game I made in Python. It's not very good and it probably won't work if you install it.
I'm very alone in my Minecraft worlds as I don't have a very good internet connection to run a server. If you're like me, you might be interested in my Posse mod suggestion.
I love the idea and it makes a lot of sense, though I wouldn't want it to switch to the sword when facing a pet, though I suppose you could just stay on any of the other 8 hot bar slots in that case. It would even work if it were just a scroll function through that first column like how you can scroll through the hot bar. It would even work if they added an item that added to the inventory by one row since it wouldn't interfere and would be relatively simple to setup.
It makes sense that you would have a slot function that would essentially tag any item you put into it as being for dirt, or wood, ect. While it could lead to pulling out your bow for dirt it could be used for building easily. say your placing an alternating pattern of andesite and wood fencing. You hover over the wood fence and now you have your andesite in your hand ready to place, and then when it detects the andesite placed moves to the fencing, resulting in speed building or you could even use it for speed bridging too. Maybe one could detect lava and switch to a slot with a water bucket or a boat or haybale to MLG. Though maybe thatd be too OP.
Really great idea though! Should definitely get more attention then it has.