Description Blocks: What Are They?
Description Blocks would be a collection of new blocks, mostly decorative, that players could hang text descriptions, messages and notes on (by right-clicking and then entering the text). The text entry could then be accessed and read by left-clicking on the block.
Imagine, for example, a skull. You come across it, click on it and a text window pops up, which could contain things like:
"These are the remains of Joe the miner, who liked to mine at night. Joe was a kind-hearted soul, but obviously none too bright."
or...
"While this cave looks natural, there are small signs of deliberate reworking. There may be traps here. You should be careful."
or...
"This is Gobsnobbit's mine. For lava, go straight, then left. Insert bucket. Receive Lava."
What would Description Blocks be used for?
Description Blocks would be used primarily for storytelling; a vehicle for narration and clues in adventure scenarios. Not only would we be able to say more with one than we currently can with a sign, a Description Block would be much less intrusive in its environment. It could even enhance it.
For instance, finding a skull near a dungeon is going to carry a lot more impact than finding a sign that simply says, "Dungeon Over There".
Also, as mentioned, many Description Blocks could just be used for decoration and flavor.
How would you craft a Description Block?
That's a question open for discussion.
It could be that we wouldn't craft them at all. Their availability could be limited to Creative Mode. They'd be meant strictly as a tool in designing scenarios for Adventure Mode.
But I'm sure, if such things were added, people would want to be able to create and place them as decorative accents in their "legit" building projects. Also, I can think of plenty of uses for the description ability in Survival Mode.
So a recipe for each block might be best. However, due to the nature of these blocks, there should be materials consistent throughout their recipes. A book, pieces of paper, or an ink sac seem like the most obvious choices.
Possible Description Blocks:
- A skull (made with bones)
- A vase or urn (made with clay)
- A lump of dirt (made with... oh, c'mon)
- A cobblestone (this would look subtly different than a normal cobblestone block, so you'd have to be paying attention to spot it)
- A tombstone (made with smooth stone)
- A Creeper statue (made with mossy stone)
- A large book (good for journal entries)
- A bookcase (would have to be visually distinct from the existing bookcase block and probably made with one)
- A flowerpot (made with clay and a flower)
- A dead chicken (only because I hate chickens. Made by killing a damn chicken)
Other Suggested Description Blocks:
- Sparkles (made with glowstone dust) [suggested by Gkardos and AnonTheMouse]
- Paintings (with a visually distinctive frame) [suggested by AnonTheMouse]
Mod Possibilities:
I believe there's at least one mod out there that enables the attachment of text content to bookcase blocks. This suggestion might serve as a nice addition and compliment to that.
This Sounds really nice. Possibly we need a special crafting table for this, and other adventure items. Just a thought.
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GENERATION 20: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig on any forum and add 1 to the generation. Social experiment
I like the idea. I think there's nothing wrong with using normal bookcases myself, but that's me. Also, I would like to see it on paintings. Maybe get my "Da Vinci Code" on.
I like the idea. I think there's nothing wrong with using normal bookcases myself, but that's me.
The reason why I think it'd be best if a bookcase Description Block were quickly distinguishable from the normal variety is because: 1. they'd probably often be put in the same space (like a library) and 2. the normal variety currently has no attached functionality.
I think click-click-clicking on bookcase blocks to see if there were any Description Blocks among them would get kinda old, fast. And you wouldn't want to accidentally break one, because they're non-recoverable (if you were in Survival Mode).
You'd have a lesser though similar issue with paintings. A potentially good way around this, though, would be to give the Description versions of paintings a visually distinct frame.
Description Blocks would be a collection of new blocks, mostly decorative, that players could hang text descriptions, messages and notes on (by right-clicking and then entering the text). The text entry could then be accessed and read by left-clicking on the block.
Imagine, for example, a skull. You come across it, click on it and a text window pops up, which could contain things like:
"These are the remains of Joe the miner, who liked to mine at night. Joe was a kind-hearted soul, but obviously none too bright."
or...
"While this cave looks natural, there are small signs of deliberate reworking. There may be traps here. You should be careful."
or...
"This is Gobsnobbit's mine. For lava, go straight, then left. Insert bucket. Receive Lava."
What would Description Blocks be used for?
Description Blocks would be used primarily for storytelling; a vehicle for narration and clues in adventure scenarios. Not only would we be able to say more with one than we currently can with a sign, a Description Block would be much less intrusive in its environment. It could even enhance it.
For instance, finding a skull near a dungeon is going to carry a lot more impact than finding a sign that simply says, "Dungeon Over There".
Also, as mentioned, many Description Blocks could just be used for decoration and flavor.
How would you craft a Description Block?
That's a question open for discussion.
It could be that we wouldn't craft them at all. Their availability could be limited to Creative Mode. They'd be meant strictly as a tool in designing scenarios for Adventure Mode.
But I'm sure, if such things were added, people would want to be able to create and place them as decorative accents in their "legit" building projects. Also, I can think of plenty of uses for the description ability in Survival Mode.
So a recipe for each block might be best. However, due to the nature of these blocks, there should be materials consistent throughout their recipes. A book, pieces of paper, or an ink sac seem like the most obvious choices.
Possible Description Blocks:
- A skull (made with bones)
- A vase or urn (made with clay)
- A lump of dirt (made with... oh, c'mon)
- A cobblestone (this would look subtly different than a normal cobblestone block, so you'd have to be paying attention to spot it)
- A tombstone (made with smooth stone)
- A Creeper statue (made with mossy stone)
- A large book (good for journal entries)
- A bookcase (would have to be visually distinct from the existing bookcase block and probably made with one)
- A flowerpot (made with clay and a flower)
- A dead chicken (only because I hate chickens. Made by killing a damn chicken)
Other Suggested Description Blocks:
- Sparkles (made with glowstone dust) [suggested by Gkardos and AnonTheMouse]
- Paintings (with a visually distinctive frame) [suggested by AnonTheMouse]
Mod Possibilities:
I believe there's at least one mod out there that enables the attachment of text content to bookcase blocks. This suggestion might serve as a nice addition and compliment to that.
You'd still have them. This wouldn't replace signs.
GENERATION 20: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig on any forum and add 1 to the generation. Social experiment
A friend of mine has suggested different types of crafting tables to garner different results from the same basic recipe.
Which I find to be an intriguing idea.
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@Gkardos: Crafted from Glowstone Dust?
The reason why I think it'd be best if a bookcase Description Block were quickly distinguishable from the normal variety is because: 1. they'd probably often be put in the same space (like a library) and 2. the normal variety currently has no attached functionality.
I think click-click-clicking on bookcase blocks to see if there were any Description Blocks among them would get kinda old, fast. And you wouldn't want to accidentally break one, because they're non-recoverable (if you were in Survival Mode).
You'd have a lesser though similar issue with paintings. A potentially good way around this, though, would be to give the Description versions of paintings a visually distinct frame.
Cute. :smile.gif: