Powered Minecarts... They've been in Minecraft since antiquity, but for most rail systems they are completely unused.
I can't speak for everyone, but I think a big reason nobody really uses powered minecarts is because it's easier to automate systems using booster rails. Plus you have the issue of having to run after your powered cart after starting it up so you can get in the normal cart before it gets away.
Since dispensers can place fluids, deploy TNT, set fires, and equip armor onto players, I figured it would only be appropriate to add another functionality to it:
When a dispenser is pointing at a piece of rails, if there is a powered minecart on the rails and a piece of coal in the dispenser, the dispenser will place the coal into the powered minecart and set it in motion.
Now you don't have to put coal in the cart then chase after it in order to catch your ride!
Technical Stuff:
I can already see you all asking, "what direction will the cart go?"Imagine that the cart is shot out of the dispenser onto the track. It will follow the normal directional rules.So, for example, ► is the dispenser, pointing right.►═, ►╔, and ►╚ will make the cart go right.►╗ will make it go down.►╝ will make it go up.If the dispenser/rail is set up like this: ►║ the cart will follow The South-East Rule.
I think this is a good idea. I know that I never bother with powered minecarts because it's a hassle. To me, it's always been better long-term to go through the extra effort of setting up power rails so I never have to worry about powered minecarts. I bet I'm not the only person that feels that way.
1) The powered Minecart willl not start unless pushed. No gain, you still have to push and run.
2) If you use detector rail + dispenser, you will spill coal onto the road for each non-powered minecart and possibly for each completely filled, powered minecart.
Not necessarily, for point one, if you have the minecart going downhill, against a block, or already in motion, it will still move. For point two, you could have a system like the one for bonemeal, where it doesn't actually fire it unless there is a furnace minecart over it. Both of those problems could potentially be solved.
I can't speak for everyone, but I think a big reason nobody really uses powered minecarts is because it's easier to automate systems using booster rails. Plus you have the issue of having to run after your powered cart after starting it up so you can get in the normal cart before it gets away.
Since dispensers can place fluids, deploy TNT, set fires, and equip armor onto players, I figured it would only be appropriate to add another functionality to it:
When a dispenser is pointing at a piece of rails, if there is a powered minecart on the rails and a piece of coal in the dispenser, the dispenser will place the coal into the powered minecart and set it in motion.
Now you don't have to put coal in the cart then chase after it in order to catch your ride!
Technical Stuff:
So, what do you all think?
Dispenser: Wood & String & Cobblestone
Detector Rail: Stone & Iron & Redstone
Powered Rail: Gold & Wood & Redstone
All Renewable, but Powered Rails are riskier (Pigmen)
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