I was reading a few posts on the Escapist, and I thought it was strange but understandable that some people thought that Minecraft had its share of creepy moments. When I thought about it myself, I have wondered from time to time about the fact that in SSP, you're basically a single man in a near limitless expanse of land, and thus far you are the only human being on Earth.
Considering this, I think it would be interesting to capitalize on this and add in some random encounters that allow the player to interpret on their own.
For example, as you're mining deep into the earth, you hear a skeleton rattling. He's probably on the other side of a wall in a big dark cavern - a big cavern ripe for mining. Standard fare, no big deal, right? Actually, when you investigate the noise, you come across a small, lit room. One of the walls is dirt, presumably where the miner's path caved in. There is a cobblestone wall dividing the room, with a wooden door in the middle. You see the skeleton jumping, but he has no bow. You kill him to be safe, and investigate his cell. All that in it is a bed, a single torch on the wall and a chest with maybe an empty bucket, a book and some charcoal. How'd the skeleton get there? Was he once human? Why was he unarmed? That's up for you to decide
Similarly, abandoned homes could spawn on the surface. Just a basic square home, but in obvious disrepair - a window could be missing a pane or two, the roof can have a hole in it, but strangely, there's a pork cooking in the furnace...
Or maybe even a small five by five hidey-hole near the base of a cliff, with a single torch on the wall and a bone on the floor - evidence that someone didn't quite make it their first night in Minecraft...
In a long about way, what I'm really getting at is randomly, and rarely, spawned compartments in the ground and on the surface with crafted items to give a hint that there were other people who have lived and mined in your vicinity, but are long gone or dead. It gives the land history, and given the right night and frame of mind, I bet it could scare the bejesus out of someone.
I thought of an event. Your walking around. You hear a boom in the distance,. Look around, and you find an exploded hidey hole in the ground. Bits of meat, armour, and a few (worn-out) tools on the floor.
On a technical note, the events could be triggered. As in, a place is generated into the world, and when you get to a certain distance, the events start to run.
Look for the Ruins Mod. It is very nice. Give it a try, it's worth it. You can even create your own templates (and thus, create your own ruins, the way you'd like them to spawn). Heck, you could even pre-make whole castles/towers with moats that you wouldn't have to waste time building in-game. Just wander around, look for it, and when it spawns, occupy it.
Also, check out the "Humans+" Mod. Not so lonely anymore.
Considering this, I think it would be interesting to capitalize on this and add in some random encounters that allow the player to interpret on their own.
For example, as you're mining deep into the earth, you hear a skeleton rattling. He's probably on the other side of a wall in a big dark cavern - a big cavern ripe for mining. Standard fare, no big deal, right? Actually, when you investigate the noise, you come across a small, lit room. One of the walls is dirt, presumably where the miner's path caved in. There is a cobblestone wall dividing the room, with a wooden door in the middle. You see the skeleton jumping, but he has no bow. You kill him to be safe, and investigate his cell. All that in it is a bed, a single torch on the wall and a chest with maybe an empty bucket, a book and some charcoal. How'd the skeleton get there? Was he once human? Why was he unarmed? That's up for you to decide
Similarly, abandoned homes could spawn on the surface. Just a basic square home, but in obvious disrepair - a window could be missing a pane or two, the roof can have a hole in it, but strangely, there's a pork cooking in the furnace...
Or maybe even a small five by five hidey-hole near the base of a cliff, with a single torch on the wall and a bone on the floor - evidence that someone didn't quite make it their first night in Minecraft...
In a long about way, what I'm really getting at is randomly, and rarely, spawned compartments in the ground and on the surface with crafted items to give a hint that there were other people who have lived and mined in your vicinity, but are long gone or dead. It gives the land history, and given the right night and frame of mind, I bet it could scare the bejesus out of someone.
So, decent idea or a sack of crap? You decide.
I thought of an event. Your walking around. You hear a boom in the distance,. Look around, and you find an exploded hidey hole in the ground. Bits of meat, armour, and a few (worn-out) tools on the floor.
On a technical note, the events could be triggered. As in, a place is generated into the world, and when you get to a certain distance, the events start to run.
Bat Solo.
Look for the Ruins Mod. It is very nice. Give it a try, it's worth it. You can even create your own templates (and thus, create your own ruins, the way you'd like them to spawn). Heck, you could even pre-make whole castles/towers with moats that you wouldn't have to waste time building in-game. Just wander around, look for it, and when it spawns, occupy it.
Also, check out the "Humans+" Mod. Not so lonely anymore.