I think that a lot of new creativity in multiplayer would be unleashed if we had the concept of enforceable private property.
For small items, ownership could be exerted by having locks that can only be opened with the single key that is held by the owner. Of course, this means that the chest (or whatever) needs to be immune to other forms of attack, and that's where my main suggestion comes in.
Ownership of chunks.
Suppose there was a very hard-to-craft (probably via a multi-stage crafting process involving rare materials) block that we shall call the "title". A title block may only be placed in a chunk not already containing a title block. Placing a title block claims the containing chunk as your property.
The effect of a privately owned chunk is that non-owners (the public) may enter and interact in the chunk normally, EXCEPT that, unlike the owner, they may not act on any block, mob or person in the chunk using the left mouse button. This rules out mining with a pick and attacking with a sword, for example. It does not rule out right mouse button operations like placing blocks and operating levers etc.
Some discord remains in this otherwise comfortable environment as bow attacks and the placement/detonation of TNT is still available. Nonetheless, using TNT-proof obsidian and other techniques will allow creative owners to have a much easier time protecting their creations than has previously been the case.
Probably quite hard to implement but way worth it, IMHO, because of the new possibilities for creativity that would open up.
There is one additional feature that would need to accompany private property, however. Astute readers will already have noticed the potential to trap the public, leaving them with no way to escape or die/respawn. To address that, I'd like to see the "hearthstone" concept introduced, allowing players to teleport to their current spawn point at will from anywhere in the world. This does not count as dying, and the inventory is not lost.
I say no to any form of teleportation that does not involve traversing Hell.
That's fine - hearth only to some point in the Nether (which cannot be owned) if you like.
The key point is that trapping players alive is a ploy that must be prevented.
Hate to break it to you but Bukkit essentials can already do a fair bit of what you want...
But still those features in standard SMP is a good idea if not already suggested.
A land claim and deed system would co inside well with a form of currency too. As you would have a hard programmed reason to use the money. But people would simply just explore and find unclaimed land leading people to sprawl and explore your map to unreasonable sizes...
But people would simply just explore and find unclaimed land leading people to sprawl and explore your map to unreasonable sizes...
Actually, I doubt that would be a problem. The whole point of playing on a multiplayer server is so that you can interact with other players. If all you want to do is run off and play in your own patch, then you're probably going to go single player in the first place.
can only be used every 5 minetes or so to stop people blinking across the map
Mmm. The only problem with that is that cooldowns are not already implemented for anything in the game, so it would have to be done just for this. And its quite a big deal doing the timer and the visual feedback on its state.
I still reckon the straight teleport to a fixed, known point is best - since it's already implemented for respawning.
Whats to stop a single player (or multiple working together) from running along placing a title block every 16 blocks or so, thereby effectively claiming most of the server for himself?
Also, what if I were to place one of these but want certain people to be allowed to build/mine whatever in my chunk, how would that work?
Regions exist in SMP (I believe it is a bukkit plugin) that covers this and addresses my points above.
Its a no for me as I see no practical use other than combatting griefers
That's fine - hearth only to some point in the Nether (which cannot be owned) if you like.
The key point is that trapping players alive is a ploy that must be prevented.
Well, the New Nether proposed a one-use item that instantly teleports you between the Overworld and the Nether, but it's a one-way trip...
For small items, ownership could be exerted by having locks that can only be opened with the single key that is held by the owner. Of course, this means that the chest (or whatever) needs to be immune to other forms of attack, and that's where my main suggestion comes in.
Ownership of chunks.
Suppose there was a very hard-to-craft (probably via a multi-stage crafting process involving rare materials) block that we shall call the "title". A title block may only be placed in a chunk not already containing a title block. Placing a title block claims the containing chunk as your property.
The effect of a privately owned chunk is that non-owners (the public) may enter and interact in the chunk normally, EXCEPT that, unlike the owner, they may not act on any block, mob or person in the chunk using the left mouse button. This rules out mining with a pick and attacking with a sword, for example. It does not rule out right mouse button operations like placing blocks and operating levers etc.
Some discord remains in this otherwise comfortable environment as bow attacks and the placement/detonation of TNT is still available. Nonetheless, using TNT-proof obsidian and other techniques will allow creative owners to have a much easier time protecting their creations than has previously been the case.
Probably quite hard to implement but way worth it, IMHO, because of the new possibilities for creativity that would open up.
There is one additional feature that would need to accompany private property, however. Astute readers will already have noticed the potential to trap the public, leaving them with no way to escape or die/respawn. To address that, I'd like to see the "hearthstone" concept introduced, allowing players to teleport to their current spawn point at will from anywhere in the world. This does not count as dying, and the inventory is not lost.
The Sun rises in the North!Now these points of data make a beautiful line...
That's fine - hearth only to some point in the Nether (which cannot be owned) if you like.
The key point is that trapping players alive is a ploy that must be prevented.
But still those features in standard SMP is a good idea if not already suggested.
A land claim and deed system would co inside well with a form of currency too. As you would have a hard programmed reason to use the money. But people would simply just explore and find unclaimed land leading people to sprawl and explore your map to unreasonable sizes...
Actually, I doubt that would be a problem. The whole point of playing on a multiplayer server is so that you can interact with other players. If all you want to do is run off and play in your own patch, then you're probably going to go single player in the first place.
Mmm. The only problem with that is that cooldowns are not already implemented for anything in the game, so it would have to be done just for this. And its quite a big deal doing the timer and the visual feedback on its state.
I still reckon the straight teleport to a fixed, known point is best - since it's already implemented for respawning.
Also, what if I were to place one of these but want certain people to be allowed to build/mine whatever in my chunk, how would that work?
Regions exist in SMP (I believe it is a bukkit plugin) that covers this and addresses my points above.
Its a no for me as I see no practical use other than combatting griefers
Well, the New Nether proposed a one-use item that instantly teleports you between the Overworld and the Nether, but it's a one-way trip...