Ok, here's my analysis:
The purple blocks are arranged like some sort of plants. Periodically along their structure there are off-white nodules, which could possibly be a light source, or a new ore. It you observe the purple blocks on the "tree houses", they appear to be similar in color scheme to the plants, but they have a clear latticed texture (visible on the topmost house). This suggests that this is a new building block to be crafted with the mystery plant material. This block also has stair variants, visible in the fringes. These are possibly a type of brick or plank.
The back tree itself could be composed of the same material as the smaller "trees", if you look at the background you can see that the tree is not in fact black, but just discolored due to the distance from the observer. If you observe the portion of the branches that connect the houses to the trunk, you can see that it is a very similar, if not the same material that is used within the houses.
In the background, you can also see a floating island with a single, tree-like silhouette . If you observe closely at the base of the tree to the left, you can see some endermen's legs and the tips of their arms, suggesting that endermen live in close proximity to, or even within these houses, suggesting that endermen are sentient.
If you observe the houses themselves, they come in a few different variants, most notably, one-tiered and two-teired designs, as well as the one constructed at the base of the tree, which is also two-tiered but with an increased number of windows.
On a more commentary-oriented front, we can assume that this is the dungeon that jeb spoke of that would include new blocks and mobs. We can assume that inside the houses there is various end-related treasure, and that the new structures will serve a strategic purpose in defeating the enderdragon.
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In-game name/Minecraft username (required): derborgus3333
Age (required): 18
Identified Gender: Male
What server(s) do you want to join? (required): Vanilla server
A bit about yourself? (Like for example, favorite thing to do in Minecraft): I primarily do building/architecture in survival, though I consider myself adept at command blocks. I'm a tinkerer at heart.
Do you read the rules? Do you agree to the rules? (required): Yes, and yes. Generally, I adhere to the rules anyway (ggrr...floating trees...)
Why do you want to join?: A few of my friends have played on the server recently, and it got me interested.
Any questions for the staff?: N/A
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The new mobs could follow a "dark knight" sort of motif...vindicators are armored warriors, evokers are powerful mages, and vexes could be a gargoyle or familiar of some kind...
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I suppose you could put an end portal at the same coords as in the over world...
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I've seen something like this before, but I thought it would disrupt going to the end normally. On a different note, wouldn't it not work while in the nether?
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So I've been trying to cobble together some sort of /home system for a 1.9 vanilla server, whether that be to a point set by the player or to a bed, but I haven't been able to figure out what the best way to do this is. I've thought about assigning every player a unique score, placing an armor stand with their same score on request, and then teleporting a player with the same score as the armor stand to the armor stand, but entities don't load at the distances needed to teleport across the world like I want.
Is there a better way to do this, either teleporting players to their beds, or allowing them to set coordinates unique to them? (Do not say Bukkit.)
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Have you thought about replacing certain features with the new block models for us vanilla people? (diff texture for the bottom and top of the lamp, random textures, etc?)
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It was for a resource pack addition (possibly for a server) that would allow certain blocks or items to look like hats when applied to the head, with minimal/no disruptions to normal gameplay. (such as the blocks looking like hats outside of the head slot)
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Is it possible to make a resource pack that alters a block/item model only when it is applied in the head slot? (as in, not when dropped, held, in inventory, or placed)
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Didn't think of that- thanks! (I was thinking about using the levitation effect bounce you up into the air after performing a mario-style head stomp)
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How would I accomplish applying an effect that lasts for less than a second with command blocks (not drinking a potion). Would be in the new 1.9 snapshot, if that matters.
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Apparently in the 1.9 snapshot, you can make skeletons use custom arrows. How would I do this (if there is indeed a way)?
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Yich, didn't see it mentioned on the previous page. Anyway, that really stinks. I know that many resource pack creators have made quiver textures in preparation.
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Me again, it appears as though when a un-opped person tries to place and open one of the item-containing chests, they turn up empty, but when an operator uses it they have items, as normal. Is this a vanilla issue or are plugins interfering?
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Another screenshot from Searge:
https://twitter.com/SeargeDP/status/613719595506077696
Analysis:
Any mob can dual wield, and it will display, but they will not use this item, it is solely for aesthetic purposes. This could be useful for map makers however.
In the background, there are a bunch of dispensers pointing at variously equipped armor stands, probably Searge experimenting with how equipping will work with two hands.
There are a few small, black lines in the water pool, appear to be arrows.
There is an ender portal in the background, further hinting at end changes.
Random glass blocks scattered about the background. Probably just for the sake of being confusing.
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New Searge post:
https://twitter.com/SeargeDP/status/613694677842284545/photo/1
My analysis:
Armor Stands can now use both hands, as players can.
The wither's boss bar is more purple, and can display in addition to the enderdragon's.
There are four endermen visible off to the right.
When you brighten the photo, you can see the mystery block hiding behind the armor stand, and that the obsidian pillar that the photo is taken in front of has a large chunk taken out of it. The mystery block appears to be luminescent, emitting light in a manner similar to glowstone. (we know one thing about it's properties now!) There is also something nestled on top of the obsidian pillar to the far right, probably a bedrock block.
EDIT: Searge has revealed that the mystery block will not be in-game, but used internally to help build generated structures. Little disappointed but also excited too, as this means structures will have changes. The fact that the block is next to the broken pillar leads me to believe that pillars will be able to generate with holes in them.
https://twitter.com/SeargeDP/status/613699145069654017