I would like to add on to my previous post with a few additional notes on my opinion.
One: I'm not entirely opposed to the idea of achievements giving a reward. Hell, if it's implemented rightly, I don't even mind gameplay advantages from achievements. HOWEVER, I don't think Minecraft is the right type of game to have any intrinsic boosts (except maybe a "heart container"-type item like some golden apple suggestions out there) like this. I personally would prefer, both in Minecraft and in any game that has achievements for the sake of achievements, a more superficial* reward, such as cosmetic awards (paintings, capes, skins, texture packs, music) and official mods (read: unlockable game modes). You don't really see that many games where you get a non-gameplay reward for going above and beyond the "normal" game, which is a shame once you get to the point where, especially in RPGs, you're doing stuff to get rewards that you won't need if you're skilled enough to earn them.
Two: Gameplay advantages from achievements is actually a fairly decent system for a non-RPG with RPG elements, since it has a hard limit, grinding only exists if there are achievements that are able to be "ground" (though you could specifically try to get the achievements instead of "playing the game normally", whatever that would be for you), and if the achievement system is creative, it encourages the player to do creative things. I mainly don't approve of the system in Minecraft particularly because of my previously stated reasons: Minecraft already has item-based progression, and the game isn't 'long' enough to require more character progression to keep up with the difficulty.
Three: The idea of levels, skills, stats, upgrades, etc. has such a stigma among Minecraft players that a good number of them would probably say it sucked without even trying it. I'm not saying that a majority of players, or even a majority of players who dislike the idea of a stat system in Minecraft, would prejudge it like this (although some may try it, but be biased against it, and thus inadvertently prejudge it), but I think there'd be enough of a vocal minority that would to make it seem like an unpopular change immediately.
Summary: I like the concept, but I don't think it or any of its sister suggestions involving stats and the like would fit in with Minecraft as it is.
No no, it's more like this:
One: I'm not entirely opposed to the idea of achievements giving a reward. Hell, if it's implemented rightly, I don't even mind gameplay advantages from achievements. HOWEVER, I don't think Minecraft is the right type of game to have any intrinsic boosts (except maybe a "heart container"-type item like some golden apple suggestions out there) like this. I personally would prefer, both in Minecraft and in any game that has achievements for the sake of achievements, a more superficial* reward, such as cosmetic awards (paintings, capes, skins, texture packs, music) and official mods (read: unlockable game modes). You don't really see that many games where you get a non-gameplay reward for going above and beyond the "normal" game, which is a shame once you get to the point where, especially in RPGs, you're doing stuff to get rewards that you won't need if you're skilled enough to earn them.
Two: Gameplay advantages from achievements is actually a fairly decent system for a non-RPG with RPG elements, since it has a hard limit, grinding only exists if there are achievements that are able to be "ground" (though you could specifically try to get the achievements instead of "playing the game normally", whatever that would be for you), and if the achievement system is creative, it encourages the player to do creative things. I mainly don't approve of the system in Minecraft particularly because of my previously stated reasons: Minecraft already has item-based progression, and the game isn't 'long' enough to require more character progression to keep up with the difficulty.
Three: The idea of levels, skills, stats, upgrades, etc. has such a stigma among Minecraft players that a good number of them would probably say it sucked without even trying it. I'm not saying that a majority of players, or even a majority of players who dislike the idea of a stat system in Minecraft, would prejudge it like this (although some may try it, but be biased against it, and thus inadvertently prejudge it), but I think there'd be enough of a vocal minority that would to make it seem like an unpopular change immediately.
Summary: I like the concept, but I don't think it or any of its sister suggestions involving stats and the like would fit in with Minecraft as it is.