Have you ever been sitting there mining away looking for that last diamond you need or been out in the fields collecting wool when all of a sudden the best idea ever suddenly pops into your mind? This idea is so awesome that is has to be shared with everyone on the forums! Admit it, this has happened to you at least once. The following guide might not make you a master of creating suggestion topics, but it will help you with creating more balanced and overall better topics. Who knows, this topic may very well save you from making an embarrassing suggestion one day.
Having a great idea created in your mind can give you great confidence in yourself, which can be either a very good thing...or a very bad one. Overconfidence can blur your judgment and reasoning, which may make your topic less than desirable. Before rushing to the keyboard and sharing your idea with the world, you need to see every aspect of it.
Just because you think your idea is perfectly balanced without a single problem in it, others may not view your idea the same way. Minecraft was not made specifically for you and what you may see as a challenge, others can see it as something that is not a problem. You must also remember that most of us are not professional game developers, and some of us don't know what is best for the game, even when we think that we do.
Example #1
Did you ever create a topic that you knew was absolutely perfect and would have praise and support boundlessly flowing into it as well as more Reputation points than you could imagine? You later come back to see everyone hating the idea and mercilessly destroying every word of it. When this happens, it's a terrible thing to experience and we can let our anger take control over us. Let's take a look at an example.
Poster: Anyone ever notice how zombie pigmen just stand around in the Nether and ignore you as you go about? They're pretty pathetic and so easy to me. They aren't really a challenge if you ask me. I think that zombie pigmen should be aggressive on sight and attack you as if you had already provoked them. This would add more challenge to the Nether and make it more fun!
Comment #1: No, this is a pointless idea.
Comment #2: The Nether is fine as it is. Ghasts and Magma Cubes are bad enough, especially when you first go in. Zombie Pigmen are also very strong. They don't need to be auto-agro'd.
Comment #3: Just because they're not a challenge to you doesn't mean they aren't to all of us. I personally don't want to worry about being killed instantly when I go in there.
Poster: You people are just stupid. The fact is that zombie pigmen are easy and you are all bad players who can't handle yourself.
All right then. The original poster made a few mistakes here:
1.) The poster stated that Zombie Pigmen are "...pathetic and so easy" and just because he thought this, he possibly assumed everyone else did as well.
2.) The poster said how the Pigmen are not a challenge to him. While this may hold true when they are passive, Zombie Pigmen can take down players very quickly, especially in groups. Topping this with an onslaught of Ghast fireballs and potentially Magma Cubes and Blazes, not every player would enjoy having hard-hitting Pigmen attacking on sight. If 4J were to implement auto-agro Zombie Pigmen, some players here and there would enjoy it, but a majority of them would find the Nether more difficult than it should be and thus making the suggestion more game ruining instead of enhancing.
3.) After three negative replies the poster immediately became hostile and started attacking the other comments, either because he was completely convinced that his idea was the best thing ever, or he was too embarrassed to take the comments seriously and instead became aggressive towards them in order to overcome his anger and embarrassment. Also keep in mind the poster can receive a warning from the staff for posts like that.
Regardless, the poster of this topic did not realize that his idea was not as great as he made it out to be.
Details.
It should go without saying that details are vital to a suggestion, and yet some people still refuse or forget to put any into their topic. Without a proper amount of detail, the readers may not get the same feel for your suggestion as you did, and some may even take the idea out of context. Shall we have another example?
Bad_Poster: We need more ores. 8 is too few. The next update should add more ores.
It's clear that the poster wants a larger variety of ores in the game, but beyond that, we have no idea what any of them would be, or how they would be used.
Good_Poster: I recently had an interesting idea for a new type of ore to add to the game. What about instead of us receiving the Emerald Ore in a future update for villager trading we receive the Ruby Ore that was previously removed from the PC version? With this we could have three more version exclusives (the ore, item, and block) and not let the Ruby go to waste. This item could still retain the texture for the Ruby Ore and item and could have a texture similar to that of the Emerald Block, but red.
This is a bit better. This poster took the time to give us some more detail about his idea. While everyone may not like the idea of having a Ruby instead of an Emerald, at least they can have an idea about what the poster is going for. His name, visual description, and idea for a version exclusive give a more definite picture than "We need more ore and that's a fact."
Presentation.
First impressions are everything when it comes to presenting an idea. It can make a huge difference on how someone will view and react to your idea. Presentation goes alongside with the "Details" section, so let's take a look at a few things that would be good to include in your suggestion:
1.) Why is your suggestion innovative and what all does it add?
2.) What are the pros and cons of it?
3.) Why should someone else approve of your suggestion?
4.) Are there any pictures included?
5.) Iz ur gramer & spelin gud or nawt.
Balance.
Balance is one of the most overlooked things when a suggestion is made. Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in how we want the idea to be that we lose sight on how it would impact the game. If we want a suggestion to be taken seriously, every possibility needs to be seen and how they would affect everything else. Let's look at the next two examples:
Poster: I had this awesome idea for a new golem that could be added in--the obsidian golem! This golem could be crafted just like the iron one, but with obsidian instead. This golem could have twice the health and deal two times the damage of a regular iron golem!
When you stop to think of it for a moment, this isn't really that balanced compared to an Iron Golem. Obsidian can be obtained in vast amounts in both the End and in deep caverns while Iron Ore will generate 8 or 9 ore per vein on average. Granted Iron requires stone tools and Obsidian requires Diamond, the ease of obtaining Obsidian later in the game makes this golem overpowered in comparison. Not to mention its health is equal to the Ender Dragon's....
Poster: Hey, this game needs a new mob and I know just what it can be! The thief can be a mob that commonly spawns at all times and is able to take items from both players and chests. He has 40 hearts and will take everything if he kills you. Support this cool new mob!
Do we really even need to analyze this idea? No, but we will anyway! The name "thief" is lacking creativity and really could have had a little more thought put into the name. The ability to steal from chests, players, and have health that's almost the same as the Iron Golem seems pretty overpowered, don't you think? Adding this into the game would cause nothing but frustration and create quite an uproar in the community while many players stop playing altogether. This mob would be nothing but an irritation.
Game Fitting.
Even if your idea may seem "awesome" it does not necessarily mean that it should be in Minecraft. Ask yourself this: In a game where you swing swords, chop down trees with axes, and fight off zombies in caves, would a Steampunk-type biome that rarely spawns in the Nether really fit in that well?
Criticism.
We need to how to be able to take criticism and that not everyone who sees our suggestions will like them. If someone rejects your idea in a troll-like manner without giving any reasons as to why, then you have every right to feel upset. If they are trolling, please report their post and a moderator or admin will remove it. Responding to trolls wont help your topic. However, if someone declines your idea in a civil way with good reasoning, then it's probably a good idea to take this person seriously, and not be overcome with anger or disappointment because someone doesn't like your idea and pointed out its flaws.
If your idea receives a large amount of negative feedback with good reasoning to back it up, then you should either look for a way to improve the idea or let it die. If you instead attack them with insults or try to play the "It was a joke!" card, you're going to do nothing but embarrass yourself further and make the suggestion look even worse, and probably receive a warning.
Originality.
While a large amount of originality isn't needed for every suggestion, it is never a bad thing to have it anyway. Remember, it's quite possible that someone else has had the same idea as you, and that you should use the search bar in the top-right corner of the page first. Time for more examples~
Poster: You guys no what wud make Minecraft a better game Herobrine!! Every1 knows who he is and he clearly needs to be added! Jeb, someone at mojang, add him fr us rite now!
Reply #1: Ugh, really? Not this again. Herobrine has been suggested soooo many times before. He will not be added into the game, period.
Reply #2: Please, for everyone's sake, use the search bar before making another suggestion....
On top of the spelling errors and lazy abbreviations, the poster assumed that his idea was totally new and never suggested before...and we all know it's no secret that Herobrine has been brought up countless times in the past. Had the poster just used the search bar, he would have saved himself the embarrassment. He also demands that Mojang add Herobrine "rite now" as if he knew what was best for the game.
(Pro tip: 4J runs Minecraft Console Editions; Mojang runs Minecraft for the PC and PE.)
Poster: I had an idea for a new dimension. May I present to you the Leather! It can be accessed by crafting a portal using the new Leather Blocks, made with 9 leather pieces. It'd be made the same way as a Nether Portal and activated by throwing a steak into it. In it could be a whole dimension of grass and cows with a giant cow boss too. The cow boss could stomp you and break the ground around it. Please support my idea!
Reply: What...I don't even know where to begin with this. A large cow that could break the ground? Is there even a point to something like this?
More or less, the idea is a cheap combination of the Nether-based portal and a plains biome, but with only cows in it. The concept of a giant cow really isn't too original either. Turning a peaceful cow into a giant hostile beast is pretty stupid, too. And a name like "The Leather," well, it really is a crappy name, huh?
Ask yourself this: Could you really see 4J taking the time and data space to make a dimension like this? I didn't think so.
You can make a suggestion based off an unoriginal idea though as long as you bring something new to it. However, if your suggestion is a small tweak to another poster's idea, you can always add your comment to it on their thread.
Support.
This part is a little bit different from the previous ones because it's for those who are replying to a suggestion instead of making one. It can be really irritating seeing a really bad suggestion being showered with compliments on how "wonderful" the idea is, isn't it? Example inbound:
Poster: Minecraft should have super TNT added to the game! This could be made with 9 TNT and be 100 times more powerful! This would be great for mining and finding diamonds quickly!
Reply #1: Awesome!
Reply #2: Total support
Reply #3: Why hasn't this been added yet?
Reply #4: Yes!
Kind of makes you cringe, huh? Nothing says, "fun" like an order of "stupid idea" with a side of "hurr surpurt." The four repliers were blinded with the thought of epic explosions and easy diamonds and immediately gave in to the idea instead of seeing how overpowered and destructive this idea is. But hey, maybe they were all being sarcastic...right? We can all dream, at least....
The point here is simple: Do not support bad ideas. Take a minute to examine the idea thoroughly and see how it would affect every aspect of the game. You'll then see past the pretty outer coating of cool explosions into the inner coating of this being used for massive griefing and lagging. Not as pretty now, huh?
Even if everyone else supports something and you see a flaw, don't let the majority shy you away from sharing your opinion about an idea. Others very well may see the same issue or even another one, but are afraid to be the odd one out since everyone else is praising it. You standing up and pointing out a flaw may encourage others to do the same, and that 100x power TNT will turn from a glorious thing to a not-so-wanted-anymore thing.
Realism.
When making a suggestion on something that adds realism into the game, it needs to be limited so that it doesn't affect the game play too harshly. Remember that the element of gameplay is far more important than it being 100% realistic. Imagine if Team Fortress 2 were completely realistic....
---1 or 2 bullets from any distance could kill a player.
---Information bubbles never appear for Medics when a teammate yells, "MEDIC!"
---Rocket jumping is impossible and any attempt to do so would immediately end in death.
---Engineers need to take an hour if not longer to fix/upgrade/repair items with multiple power tools.
---Each class would move more slowly the lower their health is.
---The Scout would need to find a bathroom every hour after drinking enough Bonk! Atomic Punch.
I'm sure the game would lose its fun value as well as many of its player very quickly if it were made fully realistic, wouldn't you agree? Guess what time it is...that's right, example time!
Poster: We need more realism in the game. I suggest we add a thirst bar! When in desert biomes you'll get thirsty faster and when it runs out you'll start losing your health. This can be cured by drinking from a water bottle.
Gosh, I'd hate to spawn in a desert world and go in a frenzy trying to craft glass bottles before I die. I'd also hate to go caving anywhere near deserts in fear of quickly dehydrating to death. Not to mention, no-one wants to carry around water bottles.
Poster: Minecraft should have more realistic features in it, like when you're caving, if you mine out too much, part of the cave would collapse in on you!
Well, there goes just about half the fun of Survival Mode right there. Everyone would be afraid to touch a single ore in fear of the whole place completely falling in along with the entire surface world. And you thought Creeper holes looked bad....
Poster: I suggest that when a player or mob hits you in the arm or leg that it'll become injured and you'll be unable to use it for a while until it's healed. This would add a cool level of realism into the game.
So one or two hits from a mob would essentially paralyze you, which would then spell your demise as the mobs close in on you? At this point, we can only hope that such a suggestion is merely a joke. I'd hate to have been mining for 45 minutes in a server to come up and have someone punch out my leg and slowly beat me to death, wouldn't you?
Another simple message lay here: Realism may not be the best option. Or at the least, tone it down so it doesn't ruin the game and take the fun out of it. Remember: Gameplay importance -> Realism importance.
Perspective.
This has been touched on a little bit already, but there are still a few points that need to be looked over. When we want approval from others on our suggestions, we need to try to "enter" their minds, meaning why should the rest of the world approve your suggestion and why should 4J take the time to implement it into the game? And now the surprise of your lifetime...more examples
Poster: We should be able to craft talismans using 8 diamonds and a respective item. This item would grant the user control over the mob that matches the talisman. Each talisman has unlimited uses.
This idea isn't the worst idea out there, but it is by no means the best either. Using 8 hard-to-find Diamonds does add some balance into the idea, but in the long run, these talismans would drastically shift the balance of Minecraft.
Other than building and creating, Minecraft is about surviving and thriving while defending yourself. If we could control every hostile mob in the game, where would the challenge be? Wouldn't it damage the purpose of the game?
Poster: Mobs and items should never despawn. Once a mob spawns, it stays alive and doesn't disappear.
In certain ways Minecraft is not fully optimized for performance. Some players will suffer from chunk updates, lighting changes, or sounds overlapping one another. Technically, this suggestion allows an infinite amount of monsters to spawn in a world. Even when offline, a lot of mobs in one place can start lagging up the game, with this getting more drastic in online worlds. I'm sure even people with the best Internet around would eventually be brought to their knees begging for the mobs to stop as more and more spawn in that one cave that no-one is able to find.
Sure, it can be argued that people would simply need a better Internet connection, but this is only true to an extent. Not everyone is going to go out and upgrade their Internet connection any time soon. When making a game, you want it to run as smoothly and lag-free as possible for all levels of connection, good or bad. Even the best Internet connections and consoles could be slowed down by a poorly coded addition, no matter how small it is.
Poster: My idea is to add an X-ray potion into the game. It could be called the "Potion of Enhanced Vision" and could be made with an Eye of Ender and an awkward potion. This potion would last 30 seconds and make only ores visible.
Finding Diamonds is a happy and uplifting moment to most players, and with a good reason, too. Who would not want a tool that lasts 1,562 uses or armour that grants 80% damage reduction? This idea brings us closer to the treasures, but in the wrong way. Diamonds' rarity isn't a mistake, and having instant access to them would defeat the value and integrity by a vast amount. We should not have such useful items handed to us so easily.
One potion combined with exiting without saving would give someone Diamond Amrour and tools before you would've read down to this point in the post, and would've demolished the intended challenge of the game. It is best to leave the players have the challenge of and putting the effort into finding rare and powerful items instead of handing them out on a silver platter. After all, aren't challenges and goals the purpose of any game?
Commonly used excuses/mistakes.
"It can be optional!"
This is probably the most over-used excuse someone uses to defend their bad idea. Optional things are left to the major factors in the game, such as Host Options, game modes, and structures. Things of that sort, ya know? Don't tack on the optional part if it's a bad idea.
If your suggestion is good and has balance, it won't need to be optional, get it? "Oh, my idea of a daytime mob that instantly kills you isn't liked? Well, it can be turned off!" No. 4J won't add an option for one mob. It doesn't work that way, though we do have the bonus chest. But that's more for beginners.
"It's rare!"
Another over-used excuse as an attempt to save a bad suggestion. Think of it as taking the lazy way out of reworking your idea.
"We should add a super-rare ore that spawns only in mushroom biomes. These could have twice the power of diamondz!! Nu-uh. The idea is still unbalanced. Enchanted Diamond items are very powerful as is, and another pointless tool/armour tier serves no purpose, especially in our limited worlds.
When suggesting something, you need to take into consideration that our worlds are relatively small and finding a world with everything in it is a challenge. Throwing a structure that spawns in 0.1% of every plains biome isn't really a 5/5 idea.
"I'm sure 4J could/would do it!"
This is where blind optimism gets you. Suggesting "super-realistic water movement that updates and ripples when wind or an entity hits it while perfectly reflecting light and oh yeah NO LAG AT ALL" is just dumb, and saying "I'm sure 4J could do it" doesn't prove anything either. Just because someone can do something doesn't mean they will. Don't get your head too far up in the clouds. Being optimistic can be a good thing, but being too optimistic can hurt.
I'm sure we all have ideas that we think should be added into the game, something possible, but would take a long time to perfect and finalize. I'm pretty sure 4J is not going to spend a year to implement one feature because one person "really really likes it."
"Well, it's expensive!"
This goes alongside "It's rare." Suddenly beefing up your forsaken idea of a relic that controls all mobs from needing a few items to 5 Diamond Blocks does not magically save it. Mobs are meant to be a challenge, and being a deity over them not only ruins the challenge to the game, but also kills the use of the utility mobs that we have. Don't make this mistake.
"It can be ignored!"
This excuse is actually pretty stupid when it comes to ideas that truly cannot be ignored. Sure, you may not want to use a super-TNT in your world, but will that prevent others from using it to destroy your house? Not. At. All. Ignoring it did nothing.
And if the idea is bad to begin with, and no-one cares for, why would 4J implement something in that everyone will ignore? That's time and effort well wasted on something that'll never serve a purpose.
"Not what you think!"
This is apparently a recurring theme on the PC section used to draw more people into the topic. Were you given the mystic ability to reads others' minds and know what they were thinking before they clicked on your topic? No. You have no such ability, and tacking that on your topic title doesn't make your idea any more appealing.
"It's meant to be challenging!"
If you don't know what a challenge is, don't try to force your definition of one onto us. Having a ghost that haunts you no matter what or where and damages you until you perform an exorcism is not a challenge, it's an irritation. The challenge of Minecraft is to have a be able to avoid mobs in the safety of our homes, and having a ghost that can pop up and hurt you whenever it feels like it smacks the gameplay right in the face. There's a distinct difference between a challenge and a nuisance.
"I'm new here."
Telling everyone this changes nothing, because at the end of the day, you've still made a topic that no-one wants to see. Redemption is possible by reporting your topic and asking a mod to lock it, delete it, or by editing the topic so it works out better and doesn't break any rules.
If you are a new member to the forums and do make a mistake, it's fine to tell us that you're new, but don't leave it at that. Go and immediately correct the mistake or find out how you can. Don't make the mistake, have others tell you that you messed up, and then go, "Hurr, im new here, so ya." This will possibly lead to a warning from the forum staff. The forum staff are happy to answer any questions you may have.
Opinions.
You may find this difficult to swallow, but your opinion is the weakest argument you have when defending your idea. If you posted a topic suggesting something, we already know you like it and want it in the game.
No-one blames you for having opinions, but thinking your idea "would be a really epic thing to add" will not magically make others support you. If you want to garner support, you are going to need to lay down the facts, and just the facts, about why others should be on board with your suggestion.
Common presentations.
Massive text.
This is a common new-member mistake that you should avoid unless you're making a well-organized topic and want to highlight specific points in it. Typing everything in size-24 fonts does not make your topic more noticeable; it actually draws users away from reading it. Typing with massive text makes you look like a child screaming for attention. We understand that you want us to read your suggestion, but screaming it at us will just annoy us instead. There's never a need to get so excited about your awesome idea that you need to go, "Hey, LOOK HERE! LOOKY LOOKY LOOK at My ToPic!!" Please don't do that.
Walls of text.
While this isn't too much of an issue, it still can be hurtful to the eyes. Having one massive paragraph tends to evoke the "TL;DR" in all of us. Having a handful of smaller paragraphs will keep the reader more interested in the topic. An easy way to space the topic out is to make a paragraph for key points--Overall description, in-game uses, why it should be there, etc.
Grammar and punctuation.
Even though this in the Internet, proper spelling and punctuation still matter. It's understandable if English is not your first language (you may want to mention it in the topic, though), but for everyone who learned English as a first language, take a few extra seconds to not type like this:
ok hey guys we shud mayb hav vehicles in da gam bcuz their cool nd wud mak th game more fun. so plz keep dis topic up so it can get populr!
Topics here don't have a space limit like some sites. Shorthand writing and no capitalization/punctuation will embarrass you and no one will take your suggestion seriously. It takes only a few extra seconds to type full words and use your SHIFT key to capitalize properly. This would help your topic immensely.
Another thing to keep in mind is please Do Not Capitalize Every Word Of A Sentence. It's extremely annoying and makes your topic difficult to read.
Emoticons.
While this isn't too big of a problem, it can still be an annoyance that will lessen others' views on your idea. For example, making a post like this:
Guys! You know what a good weapon to add would be? Glaives!
Will this make your suggestion completely worthless? Maybe. Will it make your topic look stupid as all get-out? Yes. All emoticons have their place, but having 30 of them side-by-side in a suggestion is not the right place. Wait until the sugar wears off before making a suggestion.
Backpedaling.
The curious thing about the Internet is, you don't need to see or hear someone to know when they're lying badly. If you receive negative feedback, don't try to spin it around so you don't look bad.
"I was trolling you guys all along. LOL!" -- No, you weren't. Good trolls do not openly admit that they're trolling. We don't believe you and your attempt to escape backfired. Admitting to trolling is a waste of your time and those reading your topics, and you can receive a warning for it.
"It was a joke, seriously." -- Was it really a joke or were you trying to worm your way out of the mound of negative comments? We aren't going to believe you if you use that desperate method to back out.
"You people are such hater/trolls" -- Stop it. Now you're just trying to make yourself feel better. Writing off negative feedback as trolling will only embarrass yourself. Just fix your suggestion or have it locked and then move on. Again, you can receive a warning for a response like this. If you can't find another way to respond, then the best is to not respond at all.
Thread titles.
It should not take a guide to tell you how to make a thread title. If you are planning on making a topic about new tools, don't call it "Awesome idea" or if you are suggesting an enhancement for villages, don't title the topic "something 4J should add." Also, avoid the fancy ASCII frames such as this:
__--~~--__--~~**{ New ores and tools } **~~--__--~~--__
Dumb, dumb, dumb. Adding fancy borders to your title doesn't make it any better. All it's doing is saying, "Everyone, ignore all the other topics and look at mine!!" That's bad attention. Keep your titles normal.
Don't beg for support.
And don't ask for it in the title either, as if that will magically make them support you before even reading the topic. It does not and will not work that way, nor will saying something like, "Well, if we get enuf support, maybe Mojang will see and add it into the game and stuff." (Pro tip reminder: 4J makes Minecraft Console Editions, not Mojang.) If your suggestion on helicopters and jetpacks has 500 people supporting the bad suggestion, that doesn't mean it will be in the game. There's a simple solution to getting supporters: Make the suggestion good. Being on your hands and knees will get you nothing but pity.
Don't make the suggestion just for 4J Studios.
This is a public forum where we all get to see and comment on topics. If it were solely for 4J Studios, then it would be designed so only they could see each topic. Saying, "If we get enough support, they will see it for sure!" Nope. It does not work that way, especially if your idea is stupid and supported anyway.
Make your idea work for everyone, not just 4J. If it were implemented into the game, it would be there for everyone to deal with, if you catch my drift.
Age is not an excuse.
No, don't argue that it is, because it isn't. Whether you're 10 or 30 makes no difference. typng lik this w/ no structre or speling or punkyuashun duz not work, and admitting your age does not make it any easier to read.
Chill out.
This probably does not need to be on the list, but here it is anyway. No matter how awesomely good you think your idea is, don't whip yourself into a frenzy of "Guys this idea of new skeletons in AWESOME! PLEASE support it so everyone can see! COME ON LETS DO THIS!!!1!"
Please don't make a fool out of yourself and give everyone else a chance to embarrass you further. Be neutral when posting your suggestion and calmly explain why others should support it with you. CAPS LOCK AND DESPERATION PLZ PLZ doesn't work.
Minecraft was not made for only you.
Don't go posting things like, "I think this idea is awesome and so should you. Please support!" No-one is going to think, "Hey, this guy likes it and so should I!" No. Logic and reality do not work that way.
4J is not out to please you and only you. There is no shrine dedicated to you in their office, and they don't get together in meetings discussing how that if you're not pleased all is lost. Negative, there are more people who play Minecraft than just you.
Explain why others should be on your side instead of making a herpy durp case with all of your wishes and demands and then leave the forums, expecting to see the game updated the next day with everything you want. Be a little selfless, it won't kill you.
You don't need to share who supports you.
Usually tacking "(37 supporters)" on your title thread doesn't do anything. I'm not saying you shouldn't be proud of your supporters, but they are just that--supporters. No amount of supporters will change the suggestion itself unless you take the criticisms and suggestions from them and improve your idea.
Say you made a topic about a monster that is disguised as an ore and will deal 15 hearts of health per hit. Saying that you have "23 supporters" while you have 149 against you will not magically make this idea better, and you should probably look into what the 149 are saying. If your topic stays active and keeps receiving reputation points frequently, then well done, you've made a good topic! A list of who supported will not and should not bend others' opinions.
"Add this mod!"
Mods will never be added to the console version, no matter how many topics everyone starts. Modding the consoles is against Microsoft and Sony's terms of service. While we may receive DLC that could be similar to some popular PC mods, we will never get the mod itself. If you want something in particular from a mod, follow the same role as any other suggestion--why should this be for the game and why would we like it? You may still reference a certain feature from a mod to help enhance your suggestion, though.
Don't speak for everyone.
Do not title your topic "Something everyone wants." We went over this before--you cannot read minds, no matter how hard you try. Titling your topic like that is a wonderful way to make yourself seem arrogant and have the mentality of "Since I like it, everyone must!" We all have different opinions, and I can promise you not everyone will want it, especially if you say they do.
"A lot of people suggested this so 4J should give it to us!"
That's wonderful logic right there. So when 800 new members flood the forums suggesting "Obsidian tools and armour!" 4J should just bite the bullet and throw it in. That's how every game developer should work. Because yes. Remind me to make 50 alternate accounts so I can give myself more reputation points each day. But seriously, no. Don't say stupid things like that. Set your mind to avoid this logic, for it will never work here.
Do not say, "not overpowered" in your title.
Because if someone pops in and proves your idea is overpowered, then you're set for a heap of embarrassment. The solution is easy: Don't do that. When you go to post, do so from a blank slate and try to balance it as you go. If someone points out how it could be over or under-powered, then you can correct it from there. Saying that it isn't overpowered from the get-go doesn't magically make it balanced, so don't do it.
"We need this!"
"Uh I think we should have more animals because WE NEED THEM!" No, no, no, please stop now. You have fallen in love with your idea so deeply that your mind is so far out in left field that you truly believe the game needs something. It doesn't. The game will not be ruined without it.
So before you go and speed-type on how the game needs Lapis tools or we'll all die, stop and think for a minute about what the game really needs. There's a difference between what's needed and your lustful wants.
Credits.
Theriasis for writing the original topic for the PC version and granting me permission to base mine off of it.
Admin d3fin3d for permitting me to write this as a Pinned Topic.
Wow just wow. Everything on there i have seen. Im not innocent either but i have seen alot. Thanks for this i bet it will help the newer people out there :D.
Also note that challenge is different for each individual. Means something to each in their own perspective. A challenge for one person may not be a challenge to another; it could be as you put it, a nuisance to them; or could be simply just an addition that is tolerable, but has too steep of an attribute in some way or another. There are many ways to look at difficulty.
There is the survival part.
There is the builder part.
there is the parkour part.
I know there must be more, as with most things that is based on the individual, there is always a different outlook by someone.
overall this is a good reference, similar to the other one I have seen in the past about posting suggestions. I think the other one I have seen was in the pc section, but that is irrelevant since a suggestion is a suggestion no matter which version it is posted in.:D
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
My First World, always getting back to is a pleasure I enjoy with each new update that brings in more things to add in.
Also note that challenge is different for each individual. Means something to each in their own perspective. A challenge for one person may not be a challenge to another; it could be as you put it, a nuisance to them; or could be simply just an addition that is tolerable, but has too steep of an attribute in some way or another. There are many ways to look at difficulty.
There is the survival part.
There is the builder part.
There is the parkour part.
overall this is a good reference, similar to the other one I have seen in the past about posting suggestions. I think the other one I have seen was in the pc section, but that is irrelevant since a suggestion is a suggestion no matter which version it is posted in.
It's similar to one topic that we've seen recently. Some people find running into lava to prove quite challenging whereas I don't even flinch, even if I break a block revealing lava in four directions.
But I agree, the word "challenge" is a very person-defined word, however the general public can usually differentiate between a challenge and an irritation (such as the auto-agro Pigmen).
And yes, this topic is directly based off of Theriasis' topic for the PC, used with permission, of course. You skipped the credits, didn't you?
Actually I didn't skip over it. Some things slip my mind on occasion. I actually realized that after I posted that, as I reread it and just didn't bother going back to edit the post. Lol.
It is just as good as the original one that is based off of, and that much I appreciate.:D
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
My First World, always getting back to is a pleasure I enjoy with each new update that brings in more things to add in.
Yesterday I was on my way to class, when a black cat fell from the sky. I didn't really know what that nonsense was about so I asked him if I could step around him because he was bad luck, but he simply meowed and then disappeared. I was a bit worried that maybe he'd teleported to Afghanistan or somewhere equally dangerous, but a wizard came and assured me that it was alright. I threw my Zune at him because I was 78% sure he was lying. The wizard roared at me and sentenced my mother to thirty five years of chain smoking. I was sad.
I couldn't find blueberry12 or Fnoop on the forums, can you please post a link.
Also does missing apostrophes really make people mad (ex:couldnt vs couldn't)?
I probably should've checked those names myself. Blame Theriasis for that. =\
My guess is at the time of the original post, these accounts still existed, but have since been removed.
And if you're like me, yes, anything that isn't "correct" will annoy some people. ._.
When is it okay (or not okay) to bump your own thread?
I often feel compelled to bump my threads because I honestly don't know how else I can show my ideas to people even with banners. :\
For suggestions, I believe it's usually when you update it with more information, pictures, etc.
For a help suggestion, I think it's once every 24 hours if you don't receive help.
For anything else, it depends on what it is. If you want to bump it, try holding off on replying to a comment, and reply maybe a day or so later. If nothing else, try to put some meaning into the comment so it's not just "Bump."
As for banners, I can't say really say since I don't try using them. I have this page linked in mine (as of November for you future readers), which kind of tricks people into coming here, but I could do better if I wanted to.
The intervals for appropriate bumping vary. For suggestions, I think it's only if you've added something new to the post, like BloodyPhoenix said. For help questions or suggestions, it's once every 24 hours. Moderators are good at keeping this rule enforced, so make sure it's more than 24 hours.
When is it okay (or not okay) to bump your own thread?
I often feel compelled to bump my threads because I honestly don't know how else I can show my ideas to people even with banners. :\
I dropped in here to do some cleanup after an off-topic post, and noticed that post from quite a while ago, with some questions and confusion following. Here's the official answer:
Posting in a topic only to bring it back to the front page of the forum is not allowed, a topic should only be on the front page of a forum if there is active discussion taking place.
There are three exceptions: PC mod development -- as per the rules, bumping is permitted once every 24 hours after the last reply if help is still needed -- and the PC and MCPE support sections -- Bumping support threads if no response is received within twelve hours is allowed.
Aside from those very few exceptions, which are listed in the rules, bumping is absolutely not permitted. In fact, it's one of the few things it's possible to get a 3-point infraction for, if you do it enough.
Threads are conversations, not web pages. If you have new content to add to a thread, add a new post; do not edit an older post and then bump the thread.
Wow... 6,210 words. I hope it knocks some sense into most people. I still see suggestions that have titles saying things like "Ideas" and such but whoever read this will (hopefully) make better suggestions.
I can only hope that a few of those three-thousand-some views have been put to good use.
And if I can ever get on a PC for a night, I plan on updating this. Theriasis updated the PC's quite a while ago and I've never had the chance to convert the new sections to a 360 "me" equivalent.
Edit: I regret rereading my topic. I spotted multiple errors and I can't fix them on this device! xnx
Have you ever been sitting there mining away looking for that last diamond you need or been out in the fields collecting wool when all of a sudden the best idea ever suddenly pops into your mind? This idea is so awesome that is has to be shared with everyone on the forums! Admit it, this has happened to you at least once. The following guide might not make you a master of creating suggestion topics, but it will help you with creating more balanced and overall better topics. Who knows, this topic may very well save you from making an embarrassing suggestion one day.
Having a great idea created in your mind can give you great confidence in yourself, which can be either a very good thing...or a very bad one. Overconfidence can blur your judgment and reasoning, which may make your topic less than desirable. Before rushing to the keyboard and sharing your idea with the world, you need to see every aspect of it.
Just because you think your idea is perfectly balanced without a single problem in it, others may not view your idea the same way. Minecraft was not made specifically for you and what you may see as a challenge, others can see it as something that is not a problem. You must also remember that most of us are not professional game developers, and some of us don't know what is best for the game, even when we think that we do.
Did you ever create a topic that you knew was absolutely perfect and would have praise and support boundlessly flowing into it as well as more Reputation points than you could imagine? You later come back to see everyone hating the idea and mercilessly destroying every word of it. When this happens, it's a terrible thing to experience and we can let our anger take control over us. Let's take a look at an example.
Poster: Anyone ever notice how zombie pigmen just stand around in the Nether and ignore you as you go about? They're pretty pathetic and so easy to me. They aren't really a challenge if you ask me. I think that zombie pigmen should be aggressive on sight and attack you as if you had already provoked them. This would add more challenge to the Nether and make it more fun!
Comment #1: No, this is a pointless idea.
Comment #2: The Nether is fine as it is. Ghasts and Magma Cubes are bad enough, especially when you first go in. Zombie Pigmen are also very strong. They don't need to be auto-agro'd.
Comment #3: Just because they're not a challenge to you doesn't mean they aren't to all of us. I personally don't want to worry about being killed instantly when I go in there.
Poster: You people are just stupid. The fact is that zombie pigmen are easy and you are all bad players who can't handle yourself.
All right then. The original poster made a few mistakes here:
1.) The poster stated that Zombie Pigmen are "...pathetic and so easy" and just because he thought this, he possibly assumed everyone else did as well.
2.) The poster said how the Pigmen are not a challenge to him. While this may hold true when they are passive, Zombie Pigmen can take down players very quickly, especially in groups. Topping this with an onslaught of Ghast fireballs and potentially Magma Cubes and Blazes, not every player would enjoy having hard-hitting Pigmen attacking on sight. If 4J were to implement auto-agro Zombie Pigmen, some players here and there would enjoy it, but a majority of them would find the Nether more difficult than it should be and thus making the suggestion more game ruining instead of enhancing.
3.) After three negative replies the poster immediately became hostile and started attacking the other comments, either because he was completely convinced that his idea was the best thing ever, or he was too embarrassed to take the comments seriously and instead became aggressive towards them in order to overcome his anger and embarrassment. Also keep in mind the poster can receive a warning from the staff for posts like that.
Regardless, the poster of this topic did not realize that his idea was not as great as he made it out to be.
It should go without saying that details are vital to a suggestion, and yet some people still refuse or forget to put any into their topic. Without a proper amount of detail, the readers may not get the same feel for your suggestion as you did, and some may even take the idea out of context. Shall we have another example?
Bad_Poster: We need more ores. 8 is too few. The next update should add more ores.
It's clear that the poster wants a larger variety of ores in the game, but beyond that, we have no idea what any of them would be, or how they would be used.
Good_Poster: I recently had an interesting idea for a new type of ore to add to the game. What about instead of us receiving the Emerald Ore in a future update for villager trading we receive the Ruby Ore that was previously removed from the PC version? With this we could have three more version exclusives (the ore, item, and block) and not let the Ruby go to waste. This item could still retain the texture for the Ruby Ore and item and could have a texture similar to that of the Emerald Block, but red.
This is a bit better. This poster took the time to give us some more detail about his idea. While everyone may not like the idea of having a Ruby instead of an Emerald, at least they can have an idea about what the poster is going for. His name, visual description, and idea for a version exclusive give a more definite picture than "We need more ore and that's a fact."
First impressions are everything when it comes to presenting an idea. It can make a huge difference on how someone will view and react to your idea. Presentation goes alongside with the "Details" section, so let's take a look at a few things that would be good to include in your suggestion:
1.) Why is your suggestion innovative and what all does it add?
2.) What are the pros and cons of it?
3.) Why should someone else approve of your suggestion?
4.) Are there any pictures included?
5.) Iz ur gramer & spelin gud or nawt.
Balance is one of the most overlooked things when a suggestion is made. Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in how we want the idea to be that we lose sight on how it would impact the game. If we want a suggestion to be taken seriously, every possibility needs to be seen and how they would affect everything else. Let's look at the next two examples:
Poster: I had this awesome idea for a new golem that could be added in--the obsidian golem! This golem could be crafted just like the iron one, but with obsidian instead. This golem could have twice the health and deal two times the damage of a regular iron golem!
When you stop to think of it for a moment, this isn't really that balanced compared to an Iron Golem. Obsidian can be obtained in vast amounts in both the End and in deep caverns while Iron Ore will generate 8 or 9 ore per vein on average. Granted Iron requires stone tools and Obsidian requires Diamond, the ease of obtaining Obsidian later in the game makes this golem overpowered in comparison. Not to mention its health is equal to the Ender Dragon's....
Poster: Hey, this game needs a new mob and I know just what it can be! The thief can be a mob that commonly spawns at all times and is able to take items from both players and chests. He has 40 hearts and will take everything if he kills you. Support this cool new mob!
Do we really even need to analyze this idea? No, but we will anyway! The name "thief" is lacking creativity and really could have had a little more thought put into the name. The ability to steal from chests, players, and have health that's almost the same as the Iron Golem seems pretty overpowered, don't you think? Adding this into the game would cause nothing but frustration and create quite an uproar in the community while many players stop playing altogether. This mob would be nothing but an irritation.
Even if your idea may seem "awesome" it does not necessarily mean that it should be in Minecraft. Ask yourself this: In a game where you swing swords, chop down trees with axes, and fight off zombies in caves, would a Steampunk-type biome that rarely spawns in the Nether really fit in that well?
We need to how to be able to take criticism and that not everyone who sees our suggestions will like them. If someone rejects your idea in a troll-like manner without giving any reasons as to why, then you have every right to feel upset. If they are trolling, please report their post and a moderator or admin will remove it. Responding to trolls wont help your topic. However, if someone declines your idea in a civil way with good reasoning, then it's probably a good idea to take this person seriously, and not be overcome with anger or disappointment because someone doesn't like your idea and pointed out its flaws.
If your idea receives a large amount of negative feedback with good reasoning to back it up, then you should either look for a way to improve the idea or let it die. If you instead attack them with insults or try to play the "It was a joke!" card, you're going to do nothing but embarrass yourself further and make the suggestion look even worse, and probably receive a warning.
While a large amount of originality isn't needed for every suggestion, it is never a bad thing to have it anyway. Remember, it's quite possible that someone else has had the same idea as you, and that you should use the search bar in the top-right corner of the page first. Time for more examples~
Poster: You guys no what wud make Minecraft a better game Herobrine!! Every1 knows who he is and he clearly needs to be added! Jeb, someone at mojang, add him fr us rite now!
Reply #1: Ugh, really? Not this again. Herobrine has been suggested soooo many times before. He will not be added into the game, period.
Reply #2: Please, for everyone's sake, use the search bar before making another suggestion....
On top of the spelling errors and lazy abbreviations, the poster assumed that his idea was totally new and never suggested before...and we all know it's no secret that Herobrine has been brought up countless times in the past. Had the poster just used the search bar, he would have saved himself the embarrassment. He also demands that Mojang add Herobrine "rite now" as if he knew what was best for the game.
(Pro tip: 4J runs Minecraft Console Editions; Mojang runs Minecraft for the PC and PE.)
Poster: I had an idea for a new dimension. May I present to you the Leather! It can be accessed by crafting a portal using the new Leather Blocks, made with 9 leather pieces. It'd be made the same way as a Nether Portal and activated by throwing a steak into it. In it could be a whole dimension of grass and cows with a giant cow boss too. The cow boss could stomp you and break the ground around it. Please support my idea!
Reply: What...I don't even know where to begin with this. A large cow that could break the ground? Is there even a point to something like this?
More or less, the idea is a cheap combination of the Nether-based portal and a plains biome, but with only cows in it. The concept of a giant cow really isn't too original either. Turning a peaceful cow into a giant hostile beast is pretty stupid, too. And a name like "The Leather," well, it really is a crappy name, huh?
Ask yourself this: Could you really see 4J taking the time and data space to make a dimension like this? I didn't think so.
You can make a suggestion based off an unoriginal idea though as long as you bring something new to it. However, if your suggestion is a small tweak to another poster's idea, you can always add your comment to it on their thread.
This part is a little bit different from the previous ones because it's for those who are replying to a suggestion instead of making one. It can be really irritating seeing a really bad suggestion being showered with compliments on how "wonderful" the idea is, isn't it? Example inbound:
Poster: Minecraft should have super TNT added to the game! This could be made with 9 TNT and be 100 times more powerful! This would be great for mining and finding diamonds quickly!
Reply #1: Awesome!
Reply #2: Total support
Reply #3: Why hasn't this been added yet?
Reply #4: Yes!
Kind of makes you cringe, huh? Nothing says, "fun" like an order of "stupid idea" with a side of "hurr surpurt." The four repliers were blinded with the thought of epic explosions and easy diamonds and immediately gave in to the idea instead of seeing how overpowered and destructive this idea is. But hey, maybe they were all being sarcastic...right? We can all dream, at least....
The point here is simple: Do not support bad ideas. Take a minute to examine the idea thoroughly and see how it would affect every aspect of the game. You'll then see past the pretty outer coating of cool explosions into the inner coating of this being used for massive griefing and lagging. Not as pretty now, huh?
Even if everyone else supports something and you see a flaw, don't let the majority shy you away from sharing your opinion about an idea. Others very well may see the same issue or even another one, but are afraid to be the odd one out since everyone else is praising it. You standing up and pointing out a flaw may encourage others to do the same, and that 100x power TNT will turn from a glorious thing to a not-so-wanted-anymore thing.
When making a suggestion on something that adds realism into the game, it needs to be limited so that it doesn't affect the game play too harshly. Remember that the element of gameplay is far more important than it being 100% realistic. Imagine if Team Fortress 2 were completely realistic....
---1 or 2 bullets from any distance could kill a player.
---Information bubbles never appear for Medics when a teammate yells, "MEDIC!"
---Rocket jumping is impossible and any attempt to do so would immediately end in death.
---Engineers need to take an hour if not longer to fix/upgrade/repair items with multiple power tools.
---Each class would move more slowly the lower their health is.
---The Scout would need to find a bathroom every hour after drinking enough Bonk! Atomic Punch.
I'm sure the game would lose its fun value as well as many of its player very quickly if it were made fully realistic, wouldn't you agree? Guess what time it is...that's right, example time!
Poster: We need more realism in the game. I suggest we add a thirst bar! When in desert biomes you'll get thirsty faster and when it runs out you'll start losing your health. This can be cured by drinking from a water bottle.
Gosh, I'd hate to spawn in a desert world and go in a frenzy trying to craft glass bottles before I die. I'd also hate to go caving anywhere near deserts in fear of quickly dehydrating to death. Not to mention, no-one wants to carry around water bottles.
Poster: Minecraft should have more realistic features in it, like when you're caving, if you mine out too much, part of the cave would collapse in on you!
Well, there goes just about half the fun of Survival Mode right there. Everyone would be afraid to touch a single ore in fear of the whole place completely falling in along with the entire surface world. And you thought Creeper holes looked bad....
Poster: I suggest that when a player or mob hits you in the arm or leg that it'll become injured and you'll be unable to use it for a while until it's healed. This would add a cool level of realism into the game.
So one or two hits from a mob would essentially paralyze you, which would then spell your demise as the mobs close in on you? At this point, we can only hope that such a suggestion is merely a joke. I'd hate to have been mining for 45 minutes in a server to come up and have someone punch out my leg and slowly beat me to death, wouldn't you?
Another simple message lay here: Realism may not be the best option. Or at the least, tone it down so it doesn't ruin the game and take the fun out of it. Remember: Gameplay importance -> Realism importance.
This has been touched on a little bit already, but there are still a few points that need to be looked over. When we want approval from others on our suggestions, we need to try to "enter" their minds, meaning why should the rest of the world approve your suggestion and why should 4J take the time to implement it into the game? And now the surprise of your lifetime...more examples
Poster: We should be able to craft talismans using 8 diamonds and a respective item. This item would grant the user control over the mob that matches the talisman. Each talisman has unlimited uses.
This idea isn't the worst idea out there, but it is by no means the best either. Using 8 hard-to-find Diamonds does add some balance into the idea, but in the long run, these talismans would drastically shift the balance of Minecraft.
Other than building and creating, Minecraft is about surviving and thriving while defending yourself. If we could control every hostile mob in the game, where would the challenge be? Wouldn't it damage the purpose of the game?
Poster: Mobs and items should never despawn. Once a mob spawns, it stays alive and doesn't disappear.
In certain ways Minecraft is not fully optimized for performance. Some players will suffer from chunk updates, lighting changes, or sounds overlapping one another. Technically, this suggestion allows an infinite amount of monsters to spawn in a world. Even when offline, a lot of mobs in one place can start lagging up the game, with this getting more drastic in online worlds. I'm sure even people with the best Internet around would eventually be brought to their knees begging for the mobs to stop as more and more spawn in that one cave that no-one is able to find.
Sure, it can be argued that people would simply need a better Internet connection, but this is only true to an extent. Not everyone is going to go out and upgrade their Internet connection any time soon. When making a game, you want it to run as smoothly and lag-free as possible for all levels of connection, good or bad. Even the best Internet connections and consoles could be slowed down by a poorly coded addition, no matter how small it is.
Poster: My idea is to add an X-ray potion into the game. It could be called the "Potion of Enhanced Vision" and could be made with an Eye of Ender and an awkward potion. This potion would last 30 seconds and make only ores visible.
Finding Diamonds is a happy and uplifting moment to most players, and with a good reason, too. Who would not want a tool that lasts 1,562 uses or armour that grants 80% damage reduction? This idea brings us closer to the treasures, but in the wrong way. Diamonds' rarity isn't a mistake, and having instant access to them would defeat the value and integrity by a vast amount. We should not have such useful items handed to us so easily.
One potion combined with exiting without saving would give someone Diamond Amrour and tools before you would've read down to this point in the post, and would've demolished the intended challenge of the game. It is best to leave the players have the challenge of and putting the effort into finding rare and powerful items instead of handing them out on a silver platter. After all, aren't challenges and goals the purpose of any game?
"It can be optional!"
This is probably the most over-used excuse someone uses to defend their bad idea. Optional things are left to the major factors in the game, such as Host Options, game modes, and structures. Things of that sort, ya know? Don't tack on the optional part if it's a bad idea.
If your suggestion is good and has balance, it won't need to be optional, get it? "Oh, my idea of a daytime mob that instantly kills you isn't liked? Well, it can be turned off!" No. 4J won't add an option for one mob. It doesn't work that way, though we do have the bonus chest. But that's more for beginners.
"It's rare!"
Another over-used excuse as an attempt to save a bad suggestion. Think of it as taking the lazy way out of reworking your idea.
"We should add a super-rare ore that spawns only in mushroom biomes. These could have twice the power of diamondz!! Nu-uh. The idea is still unbalanced. Enchanted Diamond items are very powerful as is, and another pointless tool/armour tier serves no purpose, especially in our limited worlds.
When suggesting something, you need to take into consideration that our worlds are relatively small and finding a world with everything in it is a challenge. Throwing a structure that spawns in 0.1% of every plains biome isn't really a 5/5 idea.
"I'm sure 4J could/would do it!"
This is where blind optimism gets you. Suggesting "super-realistic water movement that updates and ripples when wind or an entity hits it while perfectly reflecting light and oh yeah NO LAG AT ALL" is just dumb, and saying "I'm sure 4J could do it" doesn't prove anything either. Just because someone can do something doesn't mean they will. Don't get your head too far up in the clouds. Being optimistic can be a good thing, but being too optimistic can hurt.
I'm sure we all have ideas that we think should be added into the game, something possible, but would take a long time to perfect and finalize. I'm pretty sure 4J is not going to spend a year to implement one feature because one person "really really likes it."
"Well, it's expensive!"
This goes alongside "It's rare." Suddenly beefing up your forsaken idea of a relic that controls all mobs from needing a few items to 5 Diamond Blocks does not magically save it. Mobs are meant to be a challenge, and being a deity over them not only ruins the challenge to the game, but also kills the use of the utility mobs that we have. Don't make this mistake.
"It can be ignored!"
This excuse is actually pretty stupid when it comes to ideas that truly cannot be ignored. Sure, you may not want to use a super-TNT in your world, but will that prevent others from using it to destroy your house? Not. At. All. Ignoring it did nothing.
And if the idea is bad to begin with, and no-one cares for, why would 4J implement something in that everyone will ignore? That's time and effort well wasted on something that'll never serve a purpose.
"Not what you think!"
This is apparently a recurring theme on the PC section used to draw more people into the topic. Were you given the mystic ability to reads others' minds and know what they were thinking before they clicked on your topic? No. You have no such ability, and tacking that on your topic title doesn't make your idea any more appealing.
"It's meant to be challenging!"
If you don't know what a challenge is, don't try to force your definition of one onto us. Having a ghost that haunts you no matter what or where and damages you until you perform an exorcism is not a challenge, it's an irritation. The challenge of Minecraft is to have a be able to avoid mobs in the safety of our homes, and having a ghost that can pop up and hurt you whenever it feels like it smacks the gameplay right in the face. There's a distinct difference between a challenge and a nuisance.
"I'm new here."
Telling everyone this changes nothing, because at the end of the day, you've still made a topic that no-one wants to see. Redemption is possible by reporting your topic and asking a mod to lock it, delete it, or by editing the topic so it works out better and doesn't break any rules.
If you are a new member to the forums and do make a mistake, it's fine to tell us that you're new, but don't leave it at that. Go and immediately correct the mistake or find out how you can. Don't make the mistake, have others tell you that you messed up, and then go, "Hurr, im new here, so ya." This will possibly lead to a warning from the forum staff. The forum staff are happy to answer any questions you may have.
Opinions.
You may find this difficult to swallow, but your opinion is the weakest argument you have when defending your idea. If you posted a topic suggesting something, we already know you like it and want it in the game.
No-one blames you for having opinions, but thinking your idea "would be a really epic thing to add" will not magically make others support you. If you want to garner support, you are going to need to lay down the facts, and just the facts, about why others should be on board with your suggestion.
This is a common new-member mistake that you should avoid unless you're making a well-organized topic and want to highlight specific points in it. Typing everything in size-24 fonts does not make your topic more noticeable; it actually draws users away from reading it. Typing with massive text makes you look like a child screaming for attention. We understand that you want us to read your suggestion, but screaming it at us will just annoy us instead. There's never a need to get so excited about your awesome idea that you need to go, "Hey, LOOK HERE! LOOKY LOOKY LOOK at My ToPic!!" Please don't do that.
Walls of text.
While this isn't too much of an issue, it still can be hurtful to the eyes. Having one massive paragraph tends to evoke the "TL;DR" in all of us. Having a handful of smaller paragraphs will keep the reader more interested in the topic. An easy way to space the topic out is to make a paragraph for key points--Overall description, in-game uses, why it should be there, etc.
Grammar and punctuation.
Even though this in the Internet, proper spelling and punctuation still matter. It's understandable if English is not your first language (you may want to mention it in the topic, though), but for everyone who learned English as a first language, take a few extra seconds to not type like this:
ok hey guys we shud mayb hav vehicles in da gam bcuz their cool nd wud mak th game more fun. so plz keep dis topic up so it can get populr!
Topics here don't have a space limit like some sites. Shorthand writing and no capitalization/punctuation will embarrass you and no one will take your suggestion seriously. It takes only a few extra seconds to type full words and use your SHIFT key to capitalize properly. This would help your topic immensely.
Another thing to keep in mind is please Do Not Capitalize Every Word Of A Sentence. It's extremely annoying and makes your topic difficult to read.
Emoticons.
While this isn't too big of a problem, it can still be an annoyance that will lessen others' views on your idea. For example, making a post like this:
Guys! You know what a good weapon to add would be? Glaives!
Will this make your suggestion completely worthless? Maybe. Will it make your topic look stupid as all get-out? Yes. All emoticons have their place, but having 30 of them side-by-side in a suggestion is not the right place. Wait until the sugar wears off before making a suggestion.
Backpedaling.
The curious thing about the Internet is, you don't need to see or hear someone to know when they're lying badly. If you receive negative feedback, don't try to spin it around so you don't look bad.
"I was trolling you guys all along. LOL!" -- No, you weren't. Good trolls do not openly admit that they're trolling. We don't believe you and your attempt to escape backfired. Admitting to trolling is a waste of your time and those reading your topics, and you can receive a warning for it.
"It was a joke, seriously." -- Was it really a joke or were you trying to worm your way out of the mound of negative comments? We aren't going to believe you if you use that desperate method to back out.
"You people are such hater/trolls" -- Stop it. Now you're just trying to make yourself feel better. Writing off negative feedback as trolling will only embarrass yourself. Just fix your suggestion or have it locked and then move on. Again, you can receive a warning for a response like this. If you can't find another way to respond, then the best is to not respond at all.
Thread titles.
It should not take a guide to tell you how to make a thread title. If you are planning on making a topic about new tools, don't call it "Awesome idea" or if you are suggesting an enhancement for villages, don't title the topic "something 4J should add." Also, avoid the fancy ASCII frames such as this:
__--~~--__--~~**{ New ores and tools } **~~--__--~~--__
Dumb, dumb, dumb. Adding fancy borders to your title doesn't make it any better. All it's doing is saying, "Everyone, ignore all the other topics and look at mine!!" That's bad attention. Keep your titles normal.
Don't beg for support.
And don't ask for it in the title either, as if that will magically make them support you before even reading the topic. It does not and will not work that way, nor will saying something like, "Well, if we get enuf support, maybe Mojang will see and add it into the game and stuff." (Pro tip reminder: 4J makes Minecraft Console Editions, not Mojang.)
If your suggestion on helicopters and jetpacks has 500 people supporting the bad suggestion, that doesn't mean it will be in the game. There's a simple solution to getting supporters: Make the suggestion good. Being on your hands and knees will get you nothing but pity.
Don't make the suggestion just for 4J Studios.
This is a public forum where we all get to see and comment on topics. If it were solely for 4J Studios, then it would be designed so only they could see each topic. Saying, "If we get enough support, they will see it for sure!" Nope. It does not work that way, especially if your idea is stupid and supported anyway.
Make your idea work for everyone, not just 4J. If it were implemented into the game, it would be there for everyone to deal with, if you catch my drift.
Age is not an excuse.
No, don't argue that it is, because it isn't. Whether you're 10 or 30 makes no difference. typng lik this w/ no structre or speling or punkyuashun duz not work, and admitting your age does not make it any easier to read.
Chill out.
This probably does not need to be on the list, but here it is anyway. No matter how awesomely good you think your idea is, don't whip yourself into a frenzy of "Guys this idea of new skeletons in AWESOME! PLEASE support it so everyone can see! COME ON LETS DO THIS!!!1!"
Please don't make a fool out of yourself and give everyone else a chance to embarrass you further. Be neutral when posting your suggestion and calmly explain why others should support it with you. CAPS LOCK AND DESPERATION PLZ PLZ doesn't work.
Minecraft was not made for only you.
Don't go posting things like, "I think this idea is awesome and so should you. Please support!" No-one is going to think, "Hey, this guy likes it and so should I!" No. Logic and reality do not work that way.
4J is not out to please you and only you. There is no shrine dedicated to you in their office, and they don't get together in meetings discussing how that if you're not pleased all is lost. Negative, there are more people who play Minecraft than just you.
Explain why others should be on your side instead of making a herpy durp case with all of your wishes and demands and then leave the forums, expecting to see the game updated the next day with everything you want. Be a little selfless, it won't kill you.
You don't need to share who supports you.
Usually tacking "(37 supporters)" on your title thread doesn't do anything. I'm not saying you shouldn't be proud of your supporters, but they are just that--supporters. No amount of supporters will change the suggestion itself unless you take the criticisms and suggestions from them and improve your idea.
Say you made a topic about a monster that is disguised as an ore and will deal 15 hearts of health per hit. Saying that you have "23 supporters" while you have 149 against you will not magically make this idea better, and you should probably look into what the 149 are saying. If your topic stays active and keeps receiving reputation points frequently, then well done, you've made a good topic! A list of who supported will not and should not bend others' opinions.
"Add this mod!"
Mods will never be added to the console version, no matter how many topics everyone starts. Modding the consoles is against Microsoft and Sony's terms of service. While we may receive DLC that could be similar to some popular PC mods, we will never get the mod itself. If you want something in particular from a mod, follow the same role as any other suggestion--why should this be for the game and why would we like it? You may still reference a certain feature from a mod to help enhance your suggestion, though.
Don't speak for everyone.
Do not title your topic "Something everyone wants." We went over this before--you cannot read minds, no matter how hard you try. Titling your topic like that is a wonderful way to make yourself seem arrogant and have the mentality of "Since I like it, everyone must!" We all have different opinions, and I can promise you not everyone will want it, especially if you say they do.
"A lot of people suggested this so 4J should give it to us!"
That's wonderful logic right there. So when 800 new members flood the forums suggesting "Obsidian tools and armour!" 4J should just bite the bullet and throw it in. That's how every game developer should work. Because yes.
Remind me to make 50 alternate accounts so I can give myself more reputation points each day. But seriously, no. Don't say stupid things like that. Set your mind to avoid this logic, for it will never work here.
Do not say, "not overpowered" in your title.
Because if someone pops in and proves your idea is overpowered, then you're set for a heap of embarrassment. The solution is easy: Don't do that. When you go to post, do so from a blank slate and try to balance it as you go. If someone points out how it could be over or under-powered, then you can correct it from there. Saying that it isn't overpowered from the get-go doesn't magically make it balanced, so don't do it.
"We need this!"
"Uh I think we should have more animals because WE NEED THEM!" No, no, no, please stop now. You have fallen in love with your idea so deeply that your mind is so far out in left field that you truly believe the game needs something. It doesn't. The game will not be ruined without it.
So before you go and speed-type on how the game needs Lapis tools or we'll all die, stop and think for a minute about what the game really needs. There's a difference between what's needed and your lustful wants.
Theriasis for writing the original topic for the PC version and granting me permission to base mine off of it.
Admin d3fin3d for permitting me to write this as a Pinned Topic.
You can visit the MCX360, MCXONE, MCPS3, MCPS4, MCPSVITA & Other Platform Rules to avoid your thread being removed or locked.
Core5, Zippy, ClookRum, rbH, Turcoize, Randl, CremeFill, Orca_Tank, mock, AirOutGland, Bigcheecho, GateFox, FrozenS2M, Rex1900Roblox
Stay fluffy~
Why would you count the words?
And we can only hope.
About a day after this was pinned, two topics using "bad suggestions" from here were posted.
Stay fluffy~
There is the survival part.
There is the builder part.
there is the parkour part.
I know there must be more, as with most things that is based on the individual, there is always a different outlook by someone.
overall this is a good reference, similar to the other one I have seen in the past about posting suggestions. I think the other one I have seen was in the pc section, but that is irrelevant since a suggestion is a suggestion no matter which version it is posted in.:D
It's similar to one topic that we've seen recently. Some people find running into lava to prove quite challenging whereas I don't even flinch, even if I break a block revealing lava in four directions.
But I agree, the word "challenge" is a very person-defined word, however the general public can usually differentiate between a challenge and an irritation (such as the auto-agro Pigmen).
And yes, this topic is directly based off of Theriasis' topic for the PC, used with permission, of course. You skipped the credits, didn't you?
Stay fluffy~
(It is secretly in mine, too!)
Stay fluffy~
It is just as good as the original one that is based off of, and that much I appreciate.:D
Yesterday I was on my way to class, when a black cat fell from the sky. I didn't really know what that nonsense was about so I asked him if I could step around him because he was bad luck, but he simply meowed and then disappeared. I was a bit worried that maybe he'd teleported to Afghanistan or somewhere equally dangerous, but a wizard came and assured me that it was alright. I threw my Zune at him because I was 78% sure he was lying. The wizard roared at me and sentenced my mother to thirty five years of chain smoking. I was sad.
Also does missing apostrophes really make people mad (ex:couldnt vs couldn't)?
I probably should've checked those names myself. Blame Theriasis for that. =\
My guess is at the time of the original post, these accounts still existed, but have since been removed.
And if you're like me, yes, anything that isn't "correct" will annoy some people. ._.
Stay fluffy~
When is it okay (or not okay) to bump your own thread?
I often feel compelled to bump my threads because I honestly don't know how else I can show my ideas to people even with banners. :\
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For suggestions, I believe it's usually when you update it with more information, pictures, etc.
For a help suggestion, I think it's once every 24 hours if you don't receive help.
For anything else, it depends on what it is. If you want to bump it, try holding off on replying to a comment, and reply maybe a day or so later. If nothing else, try to put some meaning into the comment so it's not just "Bump."
As for banners, I can't say really say since I don't try using them. I have this page linked in mine (as of November for you future readers), which kind of tricks people into coming here, but I could do better if I wanted to.
Stay fluffy~
I dropped in here to do some cleanup after an off-topic post, and noticed that post from quite a while ago, with some questions and confusion following. Here's the official answer:
There are three exceptions: PC mod development -- as per the rules, bumping is permitted once every 24 hours after the last reply if help is still needed -- and the PC and MCPE support sections -- Bumping support threads if no response is received within twelve hours is allowed.
Aside from those very few exceptions, which are listed in the rules, bumping is absolutely not permitted. In fact, it's one of the few things it's possible to get a 3-point infraction for, if you do it enough.
Threads are conversations, not web pages. If you have new content to add to a thread, add a new post; do not edit an older post and then bump the thread.
The golden age: it's not the game, it's you ⋆ Why Minecraft should not be harder ⋆ Spelling hints
I'll try to be more clear-minded and explain every point of my suggestions.
All around me are familiar faces...
^^^^ Click it! You know you want to...
And if I can ever get on a PC for a night, I plan on updating this. Theriasis updated the PC's quite a while ago and I've never had the chance to convert the new sections to a 360 "me" equivalent.
Edit: I regret rereading my topic. I spotted multiple errors and I can't fix them on this device! xnx
Stay fluffy~
^^^^ Click it! You know you want to...