What if there was a tool that allowed you to move blocks a single space over from their current position?
To use the tool you'd simply click on the block you want to move. After a brief moment the block would move one space in the direction directly opposite from the side you're hitting (so if you hit the bottom it goes 1 square up, etc.) How long it takes the block to move would depend on what material the tool is made out, and what material the block you're moving is made out of, just like with pickaxes/axes/shovels.
The tool would also be able to move lines of multiple blocks, just like pistons. But perhaps reflecting the limits of human strength you should only be able to move a maximum number of blocks well under 10. Perhaps just 5 blocks at a time. And unless there's an empty space at the end of the column you're trying to move, they wouldn't budge at all.
What is this tool for?
This tool would have two big uses:
1) Placing blocks diagonal, not adjacent, to existing blocks. It currently is very tricky to place blocks one level higher or lower than a hanging platform since you don't have anything to build off of. This tool would allow you to place a block in the wrong position, then move it to the right spot.
2) Saving time by moving several blocks at once. It can be useful if you realize you've built something in the wrong position and want to move it over a little bit.
I think this would be a handy tool that could streamline construction in many cases. What do you think?
I'm wondering if there's some way to combine the functionality of this with your hammer suggestion. They're similar proposals, so it would make sense to have just one tool for both, rather than two new tools.
Yeah, I know they're a little similar. But that would be useful if you want to drop blocks all the way down, while this one just sends it down a single step.
I actually think this tool is more useful, but I'd like both if possible.
Sure, they both have their own uses (agreed this one is more useful), but it's a very similar use, so what I'm saying is, is there not some conceivable way to have one tool have both uses?
Also, yeah, the piston mod will cover most of the uses for this, though a tool would be better for on-the-fly stuff.
Hm. Perhaps left click could bang it one block over, right click applies to gravity. I still think they belong as separate suggestions since people might like or dislike the ideas independent of each other. But it would be convenient for both to be on the same tool.
And yeah, a piston could do this. But pistons aren't handheld, and having to place and remove one repeatedly during construction might be almost as much hassle as working without it. This is basically the power of a piston in the palm of your hand.
It'd be great for that misplaced block of glass, stone, or a bookshelf. A cool concept, but you'll need to balance it with the upcoming introduction of pistons. It would be portable, but it also wouldn't be automatic. It would also have a durability.
As for the kind of tool you're looking for, the hammer idea is still probably the best. I can't see that pushing things though, so you could go with something like a wedge, or lever. Those things were used for lifting and moving all the time. You could also say it is hitting the blocks over, not pushing them.
Hammer:
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That is a bit cheap, though, so it might be, []
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So it's a hand held piston that can move blocks diagonally?
I guess.
You can't move block diagonally, but you can move them so they are diagonal to other blocks.
Let's say you're building a bridge over a deep gorge and want to build a step down, like this (side view):
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Normally you couldn't, because you have no way of building downwards. There's nothing for that cobblestone block on the end to be built off of. You'd have to get beneath the bridge somehow, which could be very challenging.
But with this tool you could build the blocks in the straight line, then push the last block down to the right space.
This would be like a mobile piston. It isn't practical to set up a piston for each block you want to move while building. Pistons are better as permanent fixtures, for floodgates and reusuable devices.
I'm actually thinking that this might work as a crowbar.
To use the tool you'd simply click on the block you want to move. After a brief moment the block would move one space in the direction directly opposite from the side you're hitting (so if you hit the bottom it goes 1 square up, etc.) How long it takes the block to move would depend on what material the tool is made out, and what material the block you're moving is made out of, just like with pickaxes/axes/shovels.
The tool would also be able to move lines of multiple blocks, just like pistons. But perhaps reflecting the limits of human strength you should only be able to move a maximum number of blocks well under 10. Perhaps just 5 blocks at a time. And unless there's an empty space at the end of the column you're trying to move, they wouldn't budge at all.
What is this tool for?
This tool would have two big uses:
1) Placing blocks diagonal, not adjacent, to existing blocks. It currently is very tricky to place blocks one level higher or lower than a hanging platform since you don't have anything to build off of. This tool would allow you to place a block in the wrong position, then move it to the right spot.
2) Saving time by moving several blocks at once. It can be useful if you realize you've built something in the wrong position and want to move it over a little bit.
I think this would be a handy tool that could streamline construction in many cases. What do you think?
Yeah, I know they're a little similar. But that would be useful if you want to drop blocks all the way down, while this one just sends it down a single step.
I actually think this tool is more useful, but I'd like both if possible.
Hm. Perhaps left click could bang it one block over, right click applies to gravity. I still think they belong as separate suggestions since people might like or dislike the ideas independent of each other. But it would be convenient for both to be on the same tool.
And yeah, a piston could do this. But pistons aren't handheld, and having to place and remove one repeatedly during construction might be almost as much hassle as working without it. This is basically the power of a piston in the palm of your hand.
As for the kind of tool you're looking for, the hammer idea is still probably the best. I can't see that pushing things though, so you could go with something like a wedge, or lever. Those things were used for lifting and moving all the time. You could also say it is hitting the blocks over, not pushing them.
Hammer:
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That is a bit cheap, though, so it might be,
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It probably wouldn't be just iron though.
I guess.
You can't move block diagonally, but you can move them so they are diagonal to other blocks.
Let's say you're building a bridge over a deep gorge and want to build a step down, like this (side view):
[] [] []
Normally you couldn't, because you have no way of building downwards. There's nothing for that cobblestone block on the end to be built off of. You'd have to get beneath the bridge somehow, which could be very challenging.
But with this tool you could build the blocks in the straight line, then push the last block down to the right space.
Piston Mod
This would be like a mobile piston. It isn't practical to set up a piston for each block you want to move while building. Pistons are better as permanent fixtures, for floodgates and reusuable devices.
I'm actually thinking that this might work as a crowbar.