Maaaaybe but I have another idea. What if the obsidian were crafted (perhaps like you suggest) into a "sharpening stone" of sorts? It could be crafted together with your diamond tool (or other tools) to replenish its durability, after which it would be expended.
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The handle on diamond tools could break, requiring you to make a new handle with another stick (or perhaps a more durable one out of iron or diamond rods).
Erm, ... to be honest, a scope would make guns fun for me, but I think I risk being incredibly contradictory in saying that, as I earlier criticised suggestions thus far for them making guns seem overpowered, and a scop would make it ridiculously overpowered I think. But still, I think it would be awesome to be able to shoot things from a huge distance, like on top of a mountain or something.
Other than that, what about a type of ammunition that forced creepers to explode? Or perhaps a type that made spiders react as though in daylight? or one that made skeletons attack you with melee?
You probably shouldn't be concerned about firearms being overpowered, nor should anyone, even if they were semi-automatic, since basically everyone and their brother are equipped with armor that stands very little chance of being penetrated by something as inconsequential as a ~.32 caliber bullet (or lead ball, or shot, or whatever level of firearm is decided on). I'm of course talking about the diamond armor.
Can I kindly request that people stop using this argument, why is the fact that guns would fit in, because of the time period, seen as sufficient justification for putting guns into the game? I'm currently undecided on whether to put guns in the game so I'm not just being anti-guns, but this argument is a very poor one. For one thing it could be used to justify any number of other items which would clearly be unsuited to Minecraft, and for another why do people seem to think that Minecraft's level of technological advancement should follow the same pattern as that of Earth? So can we please drop it.
I wasn't saying there ought to be guns because Minecraft parallels real life technological development 100%, I was just saying that it's not implausible for them to exist. As it is now, every item in the game is in there on virtue of its being plausible (since you must collect the resources to build them), but, if you must have other arguments, here are some that were in my huge post that got lost when I was logged out:
1. Firearms have a definite distinct use from bows (namely hunting and more precision shooting - with more precision shooting, flying units such as dragons and a variety of new gameplay elements become more available)
2. They'd add a greater variety of choices in weaponry to the game
3. Despite rumblings, they would not be unbalanced because they'd be very costly and difficult to make, not to mention that solid iron or diamond armor would be all but impenetrable to bullets
Combine all three points and there is a gameplay addition that not only adds depth, but does not make the game a shooter, and, on top of all this, IT IS PLAUSIBLE. In my big post I said it was up to Notch what direction he wants to take the game but he has many reasons to consider firearms, since they would not be any more unbalanced than anything else in the game, are plausible, could add complexity to how players and NPCs interact, and counter the more difficult enemies that are sure to come.
On the other hand, we could continue using stone age weaponry in a game where it's possible to build basic computers because some people are worried that it may have anything in common with all those yucky mainstream games (despite the numerous other elements that are already shared such as a numeral-based health system, armor, inventory, basic weaponry, etc.). The reasons for having firearms are more than the meager reasons for totally refusing them, unless it's just an artistic choice by Notch even after considering all these things.
Well I'm pretty sure I can fire an arrow more than 60-70 meters in real life, just sayin. Maybe the bow in this is supposed to be a shorter type with lower draw weight though (as opposed to the 70 pounds that I use). But then again the Minecraft guy is a machine of destruction that can rip out huge corridors of rock in just seconds so surely he could handle a meatier bow.
1. Make a bow
2. Branch mine (description can be found in the elite miners thread) rather than spelunking unless you're prepared to deal with tons of monsters
3. Fill your branch mine with torches
4. Surround your surface base with torches and a trench
5. Never deal with monsters again
I agree, the bow needs a bit of rejiggering. It should take time to draw it back and fire. The arc should be straighter and the distance longer to compensate for this. Also, string should be allowed to be made from plants or wool, and the bow should degrade.
@leaveittosteve Out of interest was your article in favour of guns or in opposition to them?
Favor
Quote from Arlo »
Without reading through the entire 19 pages (I've spent enough time on enough game forums that I'm familiar with all of the arguments, pro and con, over the fairly incessant demand by some that guns be added to just about every game that doesn't already have them), I'll only say this:
Quote from tons0phun »
I have seen comments saying that Notch has said "No" to guns.
I deeply and sincerely hope this is true and that, if true, he sticks to it.
There are already plenty of shooters on the market, so gun fetishists have plenty of options. I sincerely, and kindly, wish that they'd leave the rest of the games alone. Especially this one. Anyone who wants a pixelated shooter can play Doom.
Ok, but merely having guns doesn't make the game a shooter, just like how having swords doesn't make it an RPG. Was there some reason that you absolutely refuse to have guns in the game? People who are proponents of guns in Minecraft are not all "gun fetishists." I could own several guns if I wanted to right now and I do not, and I barely even play shooters anymore (last one I was big into was Raven Shield probably). You must surely admit that given the fact that the technology in Minecraft is essentially at a 19th century level (mine carts, coal burning engines, "electricity", TNT, diamond tools, etc.) that guns are not that implausible and would actually fit reasonably given the fact that hunting and defense are elements of the game and people used firearms for those purposes in the 19th century.
Oh for a second I thought you were talking about polygons and I was like "what the" and then I realized. Yes this would be fine in my opinion, but I doubt most people would go for it.
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The handle on diamond tools could break, requiring you to make a new handle with another stick (or perhaps a more durable one out of iron or diamond rods).
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You probably shouldn't be concerned about firearms being overpowered, nor should anyone, even if they were semi-automatic, since basically everyone and their brother are equipped with armor that stands very little chance of being penetrated by something as inconsequential as a ~.32 caliber bullet (or lead ball, or shot, or whatever level of firearm is decided on). I'm of course talking about the diamond armor.
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I wasn't saying there ought to be guns because Minecraft parallels real life technological development 100%, I was just saying that it's not implausible for them to exist. As it is now, every item in the game is in there on virtue of its being plausible (since you must collect the resources to build them), but, if you must have other arguments, here are some that were in my huge post that got lost when I was logged out:
1. Firearms have a definite distinct use from bows (namely hunting and more precision shooting - with more precision shooting, flying units such as dragons and a variety of new gameplay elements become more available)
2. They'd add a greater variety of choices in weaponry to the game
3. Despite rumblings, they would not be unbalanced because they'd be very costly and difficult to make, not to mention that solid iron or diamond armor would be all but impenetrable to bullets
Combine all three points and there is a gameplay addition that not only adds depth, but does not make the game a shooter, and, on top of all this, IT IS PLAUSIBLE. In my big post I said it was up to Notch what direction he wants to take the game but he has many reasons to consider firearms, since they would not be any more unbalanced than anything else in the game, are plausible, could add complexity to how players and NPCs interact, and counter the more difficult enemies that are sure to come.
On the other hand, we could continue using stone age weaponry in a game where it's possible to build basic computers because some people are worried that it may have anything in common with all those yucky mainstream games (despite the numerous other elements that are already shared such as a numeral-based health system, armor, inventory, basic weaponry, etc.). The reasons for having firearms are more than the meager reasons for totally refusing them, unless it's just an artistic choice by Notch even after considering all these things.
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I use lumber for the furnaces though since it's more renewable and my carbon cap was regulated by well-to-do nations
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2. Branch mine (description can be found in the elite miners thread) rather than spelunking unless you're prepared to deal with tons of monsters
3. Fill your branch mine with torches
4. Surround your surface base with torches and a trench
5. Never deal with monsters again
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0
0
Favor
Ok, but merely having guns doesn't make the game a shooter, just like how having swords doesn't make it an RPG. Was there some reason that you absolutely refuse to have guns in the game? People who are proponents of guns in Minecraft are not all "gun fetishists." I could own several guns if I wanted to right now and I do not, and I barely even play shooters anymore (last one I was big into was Raven Shield probably). You must surely admit that given the fact that the technology in Minecraft is essentially at a 19th century level (mine carts, coal burning engines, "electricity", TNT, diamond tools, etc.) that guns are not that implausible and would actually fit reasonably given the fact that hunting and defense are elements of the game and people used firearms for those purposes in the 19th century.
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I'll just respond in the thread normally since I was just planning on dropping this massive bomb and then leaving.