Occasionally in the Nether you should find a "Life Shrine". These would be as rare as dungeons, and be guarded by a single, 20-heart, hostile pigman. Killing this beast will allow you access to a "Life Crystal", which allows you to bring a spot of life to the nether.
In a sphere of certain size (I need help on specific) within the Nether, the block, in addition to providing level 15 light, will do the following:
Cause grass to grow on dirt.
Allow overworld farm animals to spawn on the grass.
Allow placement of water, perhaps most importantly.
When placed in the overworld, it will still provide light and grow grass on nearby dirt.
An interesting idea, but it should have some downsides since a hostile pigman with 20 HP wouldn't be that hard to kill. Wall yourself and the hostile pigman off from any other nearby pigmen and you shouldn't have too much trouble getting the life crystal.
Some possible downsides:
hostile mobs from the overworld are able to spawn. They would be rare though. (The creeper wouldn't though. We only need one explosive mob per realm/dimension.)
-Grass would grow slower then normal.
-Water would only flow 4 or 5 blocks.
-Water only hydrates tilled soil half as much as it would in the over world.
In a sphere of certain size (I need help on specific) within the Nether, the block, in addition to providing level 15 light, will do the following:
Cause grass to grow on dirt.
Allow overworld farm animals to spawn on the grass.
Allow placement of water, perhaps most importantly.
When placed in the overworld, it will still provide light and grow grass on nearby dirt.
Some possible downsides:
hostile mobs from the overworld are able to spawn. They would be rare though. (The creeper wouldn't though. We only need one explosive mob per realm/dimension.)
-Grass would grow slower then normal.
-Water would only flow 4 or 5 blocks.
-Water only hydrates tilled soil half as much as it would in the over world.
Perhaps... a 30-Heart Piggyman?