I think minecraft combat needs to be much better developed. Right now, it's either repetitive hitting and dodging, or repetitive shooting. Now, I won't go into combat mechanics or weapons or anything like that. I'm just going to work on the hostile mobs, and making sure each mob has its own unique fighting style, that will require some thinking, rather than mindless bashing of the keys.
Zombie
This is the most simple enemy. Something of a training battle. And, in my opinion, not a whole lot has to be changed about this. One thing I would like to see is armoured zombies. Zombies would sometimes wear an article leather or iron armour. This could possible contribute to their defense, as you'd expect armour to do so. When killed, they would drop that armour, with slightly depleted durability.
Skeleton
Skeletons are where strategy starts to come into play. The current skeleton is pretty easy to beat. Either get a wall between you and it, or get a change in elevation. Both of these allow you to kill it with a sword pretty easily. So, I'd like to see skeletons spawn more in flat areas. This will make them harder to beat with changes in elevation, and pressure you use a bow. As they can be seen at long distances in flat area, they are easy to dispatch, but they can also see you easier. I'm considering giving skeletons better eyesight. What do you think?
Creeper
I know exactly what I want done for the creeper. The creeper forces you to stay alert. I'd like to improve their stealthiness. First, I'd like to see them spawn only one or two at a time in one place. Packs make them easier to spot, and (with the exception of caves) I always seem to see creepers in packs. But I don't want to lower their spawning rate. Just have them spawn over a greater area, thus spreading them out more.
Spider
The spider is already a very good enemy. But it makes for bland battle in flatish areas. I'd like to see spiders spawn more in mountainous areas, as the terrain makes the fight much more interesting. Both you and the spider use the terrain to your advantage, the spider being able to jump and climb, but also being limited by size.
Slime
Oddly enough, I see nothing wrong with the slime.
Ghast
I'd like to see more strategy involved in fighting ghasts. My proposal is that ghasts will now attempt to stay rather elevated above you, as well as keeping 32 meters away from you. The ghast is already incredibly hard to kill (I don't mean it's a hard enemy. I just mean that they're usually difficult to kill), My changes will make it harder to kill directly. I also would like ghast fireballs to be easier to aim when reflected. This would make the ghast easily killable in two ways. If you have a proper base with very good defenses, or if you reflect fireballs at it, since fireballs travel in a straight line.
Zombies - Been suggested
Skeletons - Never been caught off guard by one? They can hurt you rather nicely
Creeper - Not sure how spreading them out makes them more stealthy... They are annoying enough already anyway
Spider - If you want the challenge of fighting spiders in mountainy areas, probably best to hang around mountains
Slime - Oddly enough, this is the one mob I think should be made tougher. It's pretty rare and only found deep underground. I think it could stand to be rather tough (after it's drop is made worthwhile, tho)
Ghasts - How do you propose the fireballs are made easier to aim? Do the gravitate towards the Ghasts? That seems too easy, all you have to do now is look towards them, they're big enough.
Zombies - Been suggested
Skeletons - Never been caught off guard by one? They can hurt you rather nicely
Creeper - Not sure how spreading them out makes them more stealthy... They are annoying enough already anyway
Spider - If you want the challenge of fighting spiders in mountainy areas, probably best to hang around mountains
Slime - Oddly enough, this is the one mob I think should be made tougher. It's pretty rare and only found deep underground. I think it could stand to be rather tough (after it's drop is made worthwhile, tho)
Ghasts - How do you propose the fireballs are made easier to aim? Do the gravitate towards the Ghasts? That seems too easy, all you have to do now is look towards them, they're big enough.
My goal is to make combat more interesting. Not to make mobs harder. Of course, in one happening, the other will also invariably happen for at least one mob. So let me rephrase.
Zombies: I'm aware that it has been suggested, but as I'm offering improvements for the rest, I figured I might as well.
Skeletons: Skeletons may be able to hurt you quite nicely, but what strategy do you use to fight them that makes them so different from other mobs? They are an uninteresting enemy that offers little to combat.
Creeper: If many creepers spawn in one place, it's easier to see them. If they're more spread out, it's harder. And as I've said, I want to make enemies more interesting, not more annoying. Exactly what makes the creeper so annoying to you?
Spider: I could certainly choose to "hang around" mountainous areas, but I'm trying to improve enemies in general. Not trying to satisfy my own personal needs.
Slime: Yes, but since it currently offers no reward, I see no need for it to be harder.
Ghast: Perhaps I wasn't to clear. What I meant was to make the ghast hitbox slightly bigger. Currently you could hit a ghast dead on, but still cause it no damage. A bigger target would be easier to aim for. Because while ghasts are big, they have a surprisingly small area (relatively to their size) in which you can hurt them.
Zombie
This is the most simple enemy. Something of a training battle. And, in my opinion, not a whole lot has to be changed about this. One thing I would like to see is armoured zombies. Zombies would sometimes wear an article leather or iron armour. This could possible contribute to their defense, as you'd expect armour to do so. When killed, they would drop that armour, with slightly depleted durability.
Skeleton
Skeletons are where strategy starts to come into play. The current skeleton is pretty easy to beat. Either get a wall between you and it, or get a change in elevation. Both of these allow you to kill it with a sword pretty easily. So, I'd like to see skeletons spawn more in flat areas. This will make them harder to beat with changes in elevation, and pressure you use a bow. As they can be seen at long distances in flat area, they are easy to dispatch, but they can also see you easier. I'm considering giving skeletons better eyesight. What do you think?
Creeper
I know exactly what I want done for the creeper. The creeper forces you to stay alert. I'd like to improve their stealthiness. First, I'd like to see them spawn only one or two at a time in one place. Packs make them easier to spot, and (with the exception of caves) I always seem to see creepers in packs. But I don't want to lower their spawning rate. Just have them spawn over a greater area, thus spreading them out more.
Spider
The spider is already a very good enemy. But it makes for bland battle in flatish areas. I'd like to see spiders spawn more in mountainous areas, as the terrain makes the fight much more interesting. Both you and the spider use the terrain to your advantage, the spider being able to jump and climb, but also being limited by size.
Slime
Oddly enough, I see nothing wrong with the slime.
Ghast
I'd like to see more strategy involved in fighting ghasts. My proposal is that ghasts will now attempt to stay rather elevated above you, as well as keeping 32 meters away from you. The ghast is already incredibly hard to kill (I don't mean it's a hard enemy. I just mean that they're usually difficult to kill), My changes will make it harder to kill directly. I also would like ghast fireballs to be easier to aim when reflected. This would make the ghast easily killable in two ways. If you have a proper base with very good defenses, or if you reflect fireballs at it, since fireballs travel in a straight line.
Skeletons - Never been caught off guard by one? They can hurt you rather nicely
Creeper - Not sure how spreading them out makes them more stealthy... They are annoying enough already anyway
Spider - If you want the challenge of fighting spiders in mountainy areas, probably best to hang around mountains
Slime - Oddly enough, this is the one mob I think should be made tougher. It's pretty rare and only found deep underground. I think it could stand to be rather tough (after it's drop is made worthwhile, tho)
Ghasts - How do you propose the fireballs are made easier to aim? Do the gravitate towards the Ghasts? That seems too easy, all you have to do now is look towards them, they're big enough.
Wraiths: Boss-like mob for Hard!
My goal is to make combat more interesting. Not to make mobs harder. Of course, in one happening, the other will also invariably happen for at least one mob. So let me rephrase.
Zombies: I'm aware that it has been suggested, but as I'm offering improvements for the rest, I figured I might as well.
Skeletons: Skeletons may be able to hurt you quite nicely, but what strategy do you use to fight them that makes them so different from other mobs? They are an uninteresting enemy that offers little to combat.
Creeper: If many creepers spawn in one place, it's easier to see them. If they're more spread out, it's harder. And as I've said, I want to make enemies more interesting, not more annoying. Exactly what makes the creeper so annoying to you?
Spider: I could certainly choose to "hang around" mountainous areas, but I'm trying to improve enemies in general. Not trying to satisfy my own personal needs.
Slime: Yes, but since it currently offers no reward, I see no need for it to be harder.
Ghast: Perhaps I wasn't to clear. What I meant was to make the ghast hitbox slightly bigger. Currently you could hit a ghast dead on, but still cause it no damage. A bigger target would be easier to aim for. Because while ghasts are big, they have a surprisingly small area (relatively to their size) in which you can hurt them.