I just read that minecraft torches will become finite in the future. I don't like this, but I understand the logic. My reason for not liking finite lighting is because it is already a PITA to make the number of infinte torches that I want to bring on an expedition, even with my conveniently located tree farm inside my castle.
This led me to an idea that seems reasonable, convenient, and applicable several different ways throughout the game: Automation of mundane tasks.
For example, instead of hunting trees down for wood, it would be nice if I could make a sawmill block where any full grown tree within "x" amount of blocks will automatically be converted to wood blocks, awaiting me in a chest attached to the sawmill block. All I would have to do is plant the trees, make the sawmill, and power it.
The same could be done for a furnace, allowing me to make a smelting shop; where any ore I leave in the room will be automatically smelted and be left in a chest awaiting pickup. There would be several different ways to apply such automation.
I believe these additions would be well balanced as long as they are built of high end resources and also consume resources to work, perhaps requiring a generator of some kind. And as far as the generator goes, it could be balanced by its efficiency; a stone generator fed coal would produce little power, but an obsidian generator fed redstone would produce power for much longer periods... perhaps enough to process an entire generation of trees in my sawmill. :smile.gif:
interesting. I would assume that these generators will produce power? if so, then why not by pass them by placing a red stone torch or repeater circuit that pulses?
Even though I love the idea of never having to do boring stuff, I'm afraid that others wont go for this idea do to its technological advancement (Because Minecraft is a midevil setting) and/or it takes away from the game.
This led me to an idea that seems reasonable, convenient, and applicable several different ways throughout the game: Automation of mundane tasks.
For example, instead of hunting trees down for wood, it would be nice if I could make a sawmill block where any full grown tree within "x" amount of blocks will automatically be converted to wood blocks, awaiting me in a chest attached to the sawmill block. All I would have to do is plant the trees, make the sawmill, and power it.
The same could be done for a furnace, allowing me to make a smelting shop; where any ore I leave in the room will be automatically smelted and be left in a chest awaiting pickup. There would be several different ways to apply such automation.
I believe these additions would be well balanced as long as they are built of high end resources and also consume resources to work, perhaps requiring a generator of some kind. And as far as the generator goes, it could be balanced by its efficiency; a stone generator fed coal would produce little power, but an obsidian generator fed redstone would produce power for much longer periods... perhaps enough to process an entire generation of trees in my sawmill. :smile.gif: