Sure, boats are cool. You can cross water a lot faster then you could by swimming. But they are not recollect-able, so they are only of use in the body of water you put the boat in. While easy to make, it becomes a hindrance that I need to make a new boat every time I find a new body of water. With the new Oceans biome, this can become an even greater hindrance.
Minecarts are good for a set path. But, they require a lot of resources to get and use properly. You can get a great supply of tracks for 6 iron, but let's face it, you're going to need 100's of tracks if you really want to go anywhere. If you're tracks only spread 40 blocks or so, it's hardly a time saver, now that you can sprint.
What I propose, is a new item/tamable mob that you can ride freely. Preferably the tamable mob so that it can jump up blocks. You can even give it the Zelda effect, where while you ride it, it shows a stamina bar that depletes overtime. This would require you either give it rest or food. The animal that I have in mind, is very obvious, but I think it would fit in well with the Minecraft theme. Horses.
Opposed to horses, you could use a fishing pole with an apple on the hook while riding a saddled pig to control it where to go. I think that would be funny and very preferable. Even a dogsled would be cool to use. Just put 3 planks of wood on the bottom of the crafting grid, followed by one on the left of the middle. Right click a tamed wolf with this, and you're off.
As for items that don't require animals, I can't really think of much. Maybe you could?
Leave your suggestions below, and feel free to criticize everything I've said. Unless you liked it, then post below what you agree with. I will edit this post with new ideas upon being received, and give credit to the person who said it.
Animal Trasnportation Ideas:
Horses: Tamable with wheat (apples/carrots??), and require more wheat to refuel their stamina. Runs faster then sprinting, jumps.
Pig w/Apple: A saddled pig can now be controlled when you have a fishing rod with an apple attached to it (can be crafted with fishing rod + apple).
Dog Sled: You can now make a sled (3 wooden planks on the bottom of a crafting grid, 1 wooden plank on the middle left) and right click a tamed wolf to attach it to the wolf. Right click the sled and you're in. Wolf can jump when you press the space bar, but the sled will not. The sled can slide up 1 block, but will detach itself from the wolf if you try to go up something 2 blocks.
Craftable Transportation Ideas:
Ziplines: Craftable zip-line shots (arrow + string ) can now be shot (but only ridden down, not up). Shoot once to create the zip line, and right click a block near you to place the other end of it.
Cars: Using different items (not to sure of which kind, most likely involving iron and glass and such), you can create a car to drive.
Build-Your-Own Boat/Plane: You can now construct a boat/plane, add a block (not a clue what to use), and it will now move!
Very good idea. Most people would probably oppose horses saying just install mo'creatures or it doesn't fit minecraft blah blah. The pig thing would be HILARIOUS but probably the best option considering saddles and apples are pretty hard to find, granted saddles aren't to bad, and red apples can now also be found in strongholds i believe? As for a non mob transportation method, Ziplines, nuff said. Would be pretty cool if your going between mountains, then again not too good for long distance.
Other than bobsleds and controlled pigs (Just imagine it jumping up in the air all suprised then dashing for the apple!) I think redstone could be combined with a minecrat, glass panes, a furnace, some soul sand for tires, that type of stuff. And then, you can make a go kart. Cannot ride on certain things, like sand or something. Good idea? Can imagine making different kinds for a big derby!
I think the nether needs to give more potency to movement, however if notch does change the nether and makes it more dangerous then using the nether to enhance transit may not be viable.
I think something like the zeppelin mod is what notch should add. Now that we have large bodies of water, floating around in a bucket seems kinda retarded. Use teh Zeppelin mod to make ocean going boats which can later be adapted to airships.
I think the nether needs to give more potency to movement, however if notch does change the nether and makes it more dangerous then using the nether to enhance transit may not be viable.
I think something like the zeppelin mod is what notch should add. Now that we have large bodies of water, floating around in a bucket seems kinda retarded. Use teh Zeppelin mod to make ocean going boats which can later be adapted to airships.
Not a CAR. A GO KART. Would still require a track, but wouldn't cost tons of iron to make a simple pathway, just make it out of dirt or stone.
Minecarts are good for a set path. But, they require a lot of resources to get and use properly. You can get a great supply of tracks for 6 iron, but let's face it, you're going to need 100's of tracks if you really want to go anywhere. If you're tracks only spread 40 blocks or so, it's hardly a time saver, now that you can sprint.
What I propose, is a new item/tamable mob that you can ride freely. Preferably the tamable mob so that it can jump up blocks. You can even give it the Zelda effect, where while you ride it, it shows a stamina bar that depletes overtime. This would require you either give it rest or food. The animal that I have in mind, is very obvious, but I think it would fit in well with the Minecraft theme. Horses.
Opposed to horses, you could use a fishing pole with an apple on the hook while riding a saddled pig to control it where to go. I think that would be funny and very preferable. Even a dogsled would be cool to use. Just put 3 planks of wood on the bottom of the crafting grid, followed by one on the left of the middle. Right click a tamed wolf with this, and you're off.
As for items that don't require animals, I can't really think of much. Maybe you could?
Leave your suggestions below, and feel free to criticize everything I've said. Unless you liked it, then post below what you agree with. I will edit this post with new ideas upon being received, and give credit to the person who said it.
Animal Trasnportation Ideas:
Horses: Tamable with wheat (apples/carrots??), and require more wheat to refuel their stamina. Runs faster then sprinting, jumps.
Pig w/Apple: A saddled pig can now be controlled when you have a fishing rod with an apple attached to it (can be crafted with fishing rod + apple).
Dog Sled: You can now make a sled (3 wooden planks on the bottom of a crafting grid, 1 wooden plank on the middle left) and right click a tamed wolf to attach it to the wolf. Right click the sled and you're in. Wolf can jump when you press the space bar, but the sled will not. The sled can slide up 1 block, but will detach itself from the wolf if you try to go up something 2 blocks.
Craftable Transportation Ideas:
Ziplines: Craftable zip-line shots (arrow + string ) can now be shot (but only ridden down, not up). Shoot once to create the zip line, and right click a block near you to place the other end of it.
Cars: Using different items (not to sure of which kind, most likely involving iron and glass and such), you can create a car to drive.
Build-Your-Own Boat/Plane: You can now construct a boat/plane, add a block (not a clue what to use), and it will now move!
I think the nether needs to give more potency to movement, however if notch does change the nether and makes it more dangerous then using the nether to enhance transit may not be viable.
I think something like the zeppelin mod is what notch should add. Now that we have large bodies of water, floating around in a bucket seems kinda retarded. Use teh Zeppelin mod to make ocean going boats which can later be adapted to airships.
Not a CAR. A GO KART. Would still require a track, but wouldn't cost tons of iron to make a simple pathway, just make it out of dirt or stone.