While this idea was originally with Creative Mode in mind, an inventory scooping Survival Mode variation would also be viable.
The idea is fairly simple. Use blocks that act as markers for their own activated map editing functions (such as copy, paste, or fill). For example, you could have a fill block. Once placed, you have it replaced in your inventory by a fill block of a different color. When you place the second fill block you can then activate either block and insert a single block into the inventory. Upon doing so and clicking the fill button below, the game fills the space between the two blocks with the type placed in the inventory. In Survival mode, the fill process continues until completed or your personal inventory is emptied of the relevant block type.
The copy and paste function blocks could operate on similar principles. These blocks disappear when their function is activated and the "B" blocks (marking the "To" location) are not harvestable or available on the crafting menu. For Copy and Paste functions, the area in between the Copy "From" and "To" blocks is mapped when either is activated, then both blocks disappear, but a Paste block is then placed in your inventory which, when placed and activated, replicates the stored segment.
In creative mode, why shouldn't players have bulk block placement options? For the sake of keeping system load manageable, the distance the "From" and "To" blocks could be spaced apart could be limited.
... Thoughts?
PS: In survival mode, these blocks could be crafted from a dropper and a redstone repeater, and a block that determines the specific function (copy/paste or fill). Say, stone for Copy(/paste) blocks, and cobblestone for a fill block.
While this idea was originally with Creative Mode in mind, an inventory scooping Survival Mode variation would also be viable.
The idea is fairly simple. Use blocks that act as markers for their own activated map editing functions (such as copy, paste, or fill). For example, you could have a fill block. Once placed, you have it replaced in your inventory by a fill block of a different color. When you place the second fill block you can then activate either block and insert a single block into the inventory. Upon doing so and clicking the fill button below, the game fills the space between the two blocks with the type placed in the inventory. In Survival mode, the fill process continues until completed or your personal inventory is emptied of the relevant block type.
The copy and paste function blocks could operate on similar principles. These blocks disappear when their function is activated and the "B" blocks (marking the "To" location) are not harvestable or available on the crafting menu. For Copy and Paste functions, the area in between the Copy "From" and "To" blocks is mapped when either is activated, then both blocks disappear, but a Paste block is then placed in your inventory which, when placed and activated, replicates the stored segment.
In creative mode, why shouldn't players have bulk block placement options? For the sake of keeping system load manageable, the distance the "From" and "To" blocks could be spaced apart could be limited.
... Thoughts?
PS: In survival mode, these blocks could be crafted from a dropper and a redstone repeater, and a block that determines the specific function (copy/paste or fill). Say, stone for Copy(/paste) blocks, and cobblestone for a fill block.
I think you mean "single-block type" rather than just a single block (see bolded part) or else this would be, effectively, a duplication glitch in survival mode. I don't support this for survival mode at all in that part of the challenge of "surviving" while building is avoiding being killed by mobs and/or suffering fall damage (and/or figuring out how to scaffold and build complex structures without flying) during the TIME it takes to build something. So, building should be somewhat time consuming and people should not just be able to instantly fill in gaps and things like that. Also, rebuilding manually (in order to change the location of something) is also part of "surviving." Basically, if people don't want to play through the elements of the game in survival and want to take shortcuts, they should be playing in creative mode instead.
Talking in creative mode ONLY, I think a simple edit feature not based on specialized blocks would be more straight forward, but I'd support this for that.
In the case of "Fill" it would be a single block type, in the case of "Paste" it would be whatever block is about to be placed from the structure in the Paste blocks memory. So if you copied a redstone gizmo and didn't have enough repeaters in your inventory, you'd run out and the paste would be halted at that stage. No block duping.
The idea was conceived for creative so feel free to support it just for creative mode. For console, I think using blocks to activate map editing functions is the easiest way.
In the case of "Fill" it would be a single block type, in the case of "Paste" it would be whatever block is about to be placed from the structure in the Paste blocks memory. So if you copied a redstone gizmo and didn't have enough repeaters in your inventory, you'd run out and the paste would be halted at that stage. No block duping.
The idea was conceived for creative so feel free to support it just for creative mode. For console, I think using blocks to activate map editing functions is the easiest way.
The duping comment was basically just targeting the first bolded text in the quote. I think you meant to add "type" to that reference to "single block" because otherwise it would mean that I could put 1 block of something in my inventory and have it fill or paste multiple blocks of it into an area. I understood what you meant to say, but was just saying that your post wasn't actually saying what you meant to say.
For consoles, I don't think there really is an easy way to do a paste of very much (considering also the variations in the terrain - unless the paste has to "float" entirely over any existing terrain); but as I said, I would support something like this for creative mode only. In principle... building in creative mode would be more enjoyable for a lot of people if it were quicker than it currently is.
Doing a Copy would copy any terrain blocks in between the "From" and "To" blocks, so if you didn't want them copied, you'd have to get rid of them before placing the function blocks. Also, when pasting, the process would cease if there were pre-existing blocks in the way. However, assuming you've done your terraforming first, you're still going to save a lot of time on complex or very large structures. I think also if the fill block inventory were left empty it would count as a bulk delete function (creative mode). How wonderful would this be for working with those infernal water source blocks?
Define "More easily". Is it easier to place blocks or place blocks and type commands? Besides, in this form it ports easy to other editions.
I won't deny that it's probably more "user friendly" than commands, especially for younger players that may not understand how to enter them, but entering a command that would place X number of blocks within a defined set of coordinates sounds easier than having to manually place "fill" blocks. If you want to cover long expanses, you could have the command completed by the time it takes you to move to the secondary waypoint.
I'm not knocking your suggestion on it's own merits. It proposes a solution to very real problem. Although realistically (call it pessimistic) I don't see it happening.
While this idea was originally with Creative Mode in mind, an inventory scooping Survival Mode variation would also be viable.
The idea is fairly simple. Use blocks that act as markers for their own activated map editing functions (such as copy, paste, or fill). For example, you could have a fill block. Once placed, you have it replaced in your inventory by a fill block of a different color. When you place the second fill block you can then activate either block and insert a single block into the inventory. Upon doing so and clicking the fill button below, the game fills the space between the two blocks with the type placed in the inventory. In Survival mode, the fill process continues until completed or your personal inventory is emptied of the relevant block type.
The copy and paste function blocks could operate on similar principles. These blocks disappear when their function is activated and the "B" blocks (marking the "To" location) are not harvestable or available on the crafting menu. For Copy and Paste functions, the area in between the Copy "From" and "To" blocks is mapped when either is activated, then both blocks disappear, but a Paste block is then placed in your inventory which, when placed and activated, replicates the stored segment.
In creative mode, why shouldn't players have bulk block placement options? For the sake of keeping system load manageable, the distance the "From" and "To" blocks could be spaced apart could be limited.
... Thoughts?
PS: In survival mode, these blocks could be crafted from a dropper and a redstone repeater, and a block that determines the specific function (copy/paste or fill). Say, stone for Copy(/paste) blocks, and cobblestone for a fill block.
Support my suggestions. Make the game better!
I think you mean "single-block type" rather than just a single block (see bolded part) or else this would be, effectively, a duplication glitch in survival mode. I don't support this for survival mode at all in that part of the challenge of "surviving" while building is avoiding being killed by mobs and/or suffering fall damage (and/or figuring out how to scaffold and build complex structures without flying) during the TIME it takes to build something. So, building should be somewhat time consuming and people should not just be able to instantly fill in gaps and things like that. Also, rebuilding manually (in order to change the location of something) is also part of "surviving." Basically, if people don't want to play through the elements of the game in survival and want to take shortcuts, they should be playing in creative mode instead.
Talking in creative mode ONLY, I think a simple edit feature not based on specialized blocks would be more straight forward, but I'd support this for that.
In the case of "Fill" it would be a single block type, in the case of "Paste" it would be whatever block is about to be placed from the structure in the Paste blocks memory. So if you copied a redstone gizmo and didn't have enough repeaters in your inventory, you'd run out and the paste would be halted at that stage. No block duping.
The idea was conceived for creative so feel free to support it just for creative mode. For console, I think using blocks to activate map editing functions is the easiest way.
Support my suggestions. Make the game better!
The duping comment was basically just targeting the first bolded text in the quote. I think you meant to add "type" to that reference to "single block" because otherwise it would mean that I could put 1 block of something in my inventory and have it fill or paste multiple blocks of it into an area. I understood what you meant to say, but was just saying that your post wasn't actually saying what you meant to say.
For consoles, I don't think there really is an easy way to do a paste of very much (considering also the variations in the terrain - unless the paste has to "float" entirely over any existing terrain); but as I said, I would support something like this for creative mode only. In principle... building in creative mode would be more enjoyable for a lot of people if it were quicker than it currently is.
Doing a Copy would copy any terrain blocks in between the "From" and "To" blocks, so if you didn't want them copied, you'd have to get rid of them before placing the function blocks. Also, when pasting, the process would cease if there were pre-existing blocks in the way. However, assuming you've done your terraforming first, you're still going to save a lot of time on complex or very large structures. I think also if the fill block inventory were left empty it would count as a bulk delete function (creative mode). How wonderful would this be for working with those infernal water source blocks?
Support my suggestions. Make the game better!
I'd rather have command blocks that can do this more easily.
Define "More easily". Is it easier to place blocks or place blocks and type commands? Besides, in this form it ports easy to other editions.
Support my suggestions. Make the game better!
I won't deny that it's probably more "user friendly" than commands, especially for younger players that may not understand how to enter them, but entering a command that would place X number of blocks within a defined set of coordinates sounds easier than having to manually place "fill" blocks. If you want to cover long expanses, you could have the command completed by the time it takes you to move to the secondary waypoint.
I'm not knocking your suggestion on it's own merits. It proposes a solution to very real problem. Although realistically (call it pessimistic) I don't see it happening.