Now that Notch has confirmed implementing something similar to this Suggestion, it's been recommended to me that the thread changes to a discussion of how we would create such blocks. So here are the suggestions I've been given.
Original:
= 2 Masonry blocks
Higher return:
= 3 Masonry blocks
Cobblestone:
= 2 Masonry blocks
Cobblestone with Workbench:
= 3 Masonry blocks
Cobblestone with Mortar:
= 6 Masonry blocks
Natural stone with Cobblestone:
= 6 Masonry Blocks
Natural stone with Gravel:
= 9 Masonry blocks
I'll post my opinion on all this methods when I get back from dinner.
OLD TOPIC CONTENTS BELOW
So, when building in indev or infdev, I usually make my stone structures out of natural stone, rather than cobblestone. I do this because I hate the way castles look when they are made from cobblestone bricks. The pattern is crazy and haphazard, and does not look like a sturdy structure to me. Just random rocks piled together into walls and towers and keeps. The natural stone is smooth and since it's all in cubes, looks like big carved blocks. Sturdy. But it also looks exactly the same as a cliff or mountain side.
So, here is the Masonry block.
It's crafted by placing natural stone into a 2x2 square, and that creates 2 masonry blocks. So it's quite expensive, costing fuel to smelt cobblestone into natural stone, and then costing 4 stone to make 2 blocks. That expense is worth it though, for its strength.
You wouldn't build a house from masonry, it's too expensive. You build castles out of masonry. Fortifications. Because masonry would take at least four times longer to mine through than cobblestone or natural stone. At least. Have you ever tried to mine Obsidian? Even with a diamond pick it take what feels like 60 seconds. Maybe masonry would take half that. Maybe 15 seconds. I dunno, that could be playtested.
So the point of masonry is to:
A)Look nicer than cobblestone
B)Look built unlike natural stone
C)Add a new building material, and thereby variety in our structures
D)Be a moderately expensive building material, so rich players can show their prosperity without being tacky and having gold blocks everywhere
E)Be durable, and useful for fortifications
Reason E is the most important. When MP survival comes out, we'll need something like this for our castles to be defendable. A diamond pick can tear a huge hole in a cobblestone wall in 2 seconds. Yeah, you can shoot arrows at the invader, but what if there are three of them? Five? Twenty seven?? You need masonry. So the defenders can actually man the walls, instead of the enemy breaching in the moment they touch your defenses.
I second this, great idea, not sure about the blueprint, but I suppose it'd be worth it's resources. As long as you always get back what you place.
I'm also not sure about the having to wait 15 seconds with a pickaxe because I placed one wrong, but that's just looking at the cons, it really looks like an awesome brick.
Orj, I considered that. It would be beneficial, considering that currently, nothing is creeper proof. On the other hand, because of their durability, it might be better to leave them vulnerable to explosives, as TNT use would be a big factor in terms of tactics. Maybe, if hit by a TNT explosion or a creeper boom, affected blocks become cobblstone? Might be interesting, visible damage and all.
Alphasoldier, I considered that too, the hassle of having to delete blocks accidentally placed wrong. I think that would be another interesting tradeoff: Masonry implies careful preparation and planning, carefully cutting blocks of stone to fit together. The Minecraft equivalent of that process is building carefully with Masonry blocks, because you don't want to screw up.
Inorite? I'm pretty happy about that. I'm assuming it's because it's such a simple suggestion. There's very little to have a problem with. A new brick with a nice texture and a very simple unique property.
Now that Notch has confirmed implementing something similar to this Suggestion, it's been recommended to me that the thread changes to a discussion of how we would create such blocks. So here are the suggestions I've been given.
Original:
= 2 Masonry blocks
Higher return:
= 3 Masonry blocks
Cobblestone:
= 2 Masonry blocks
Cobblestone with Workbench:
= 3 Masonry blocks
Cobblestone with Mortar:
= 6 Masonry blocks
Natural stone with Cobblestone:
= 6 Masonry Blocks
Natural stone with Gravel:
= 9 Masonry blocks
I'll post my opinion on all this methods when I get back from dinner.
OLD TOPIC CONTENTS BELOW
So, when building in indev or infdev, I usually make my stone structures out of natural stone, rather than cobblestone. I do this because I hate the way castles look when they are made from cobblestone bricks. The pattern is crazy and haphazard, and does not look like a sturdy structure to me. Just random rocks piled together into walls and towers and keeps. The natural stone is smooth and since it's all in cubes, looks like big carved blocks. Sturdy. But it also looks exactly the same as a cliff or mountain side.
So, here is the Masonry block.
It's crafted by placing natural stone into a 2x2 square, and that creates 2 masonry blocks. So it's quite expensive, costing fuel to smelt cobblestone into natural stone, and then costing 4 stone to make 2 blocks. That expense is worth it though, for its strength.
You wouldn't build a house from masonry, it's too expensive. You build castles out of masonry. Fortifications. Because masonry would take at least four times longer to mine through than cobblestone or natural stone. At least. Have you ever tried to mine Obsidian? Even with a diamond pick it take what feels like 60 seconds. Maybe masonry would take half that. Maybe 15 seconds. I dunno, that could be playtested.
So the point of masonry is to:
A)Look nicer than cobblestone
B)Look built unlike natural stone
C)Add a new building material, and thereby variety in our structures
D)Be a moderately expensive building material, so rich players can show their prosperity without being tacky and having gold blocks everywhere
E)Be durable, and useful for fortifications
Reason E is the most important. When MP survival comes out, we'll need something like this for our castles to be defendable. A diamond pick can tear a huge hole in a cobblestone wall in 2 seconds. Yeah, you can shoot arrows at the invader, but what if there are three of them? Five? Twenty seven?? You need masonry. So the defenders can actually man the walls, instead of the enemy breaching in the moment they touch your defenses.
Love this since I hate and a castle made out of cobblestone just like you said :tongue.gif:
I'm not sure about the way to construct them but i love the idea :smile.gif:
love the idea of a stronger stone :smile.gif:
Speaking of which, here is the texture tile I used:
Also, DO WANT. Bricks are too ugly for my taste.
I'm also not sure about the having to wait 15 seconds with a pickaxe because I placed one wrong, but that's just looking at the cons, it really looks like an awesome brick.
Orj, I considered that. It would be beneficial, considering that currently, nothing is creeper proof. On the other hand, because of their durability, it might be better to leave them vulnerable to explosives, as TNT use would be a big factor in terms of tactics. Maybe, if hit by a TNT explosion or a creeper boom, affected blocks become cobblstone? Might be interesting, visible damage and all.
Alphasoldier, I considered that too, the hassle of having to delete blocks accidentally placed wrong. I think that would be another interesting tradeoff: Masonry implies careful preparation and planning, carefully cutting blocks of stone to fit together. The Minecraft equivalent of that process is building carefully with Masonry blocks, because you don't want to screw up.