Wouldn't it be great if you could send signals between dimensions? This is an idea for a new kind of interdimensional redstone switch.
The Nether Lever
A nether lever functions like a regular lever but with a twist. When you switch it on or off, all nether levels in whichever dimension you are not currently in change their position.
So if you're on Earth and switch a nether lever either on or off you cause three things to happen. One, you change that specific lever. Two, all on nether levers in the nether switch off. Three, all off never levers in the nether switch on. Other nether levers on Earth are unaffected.
If you're in the nether and flip a nether switch the same thing happens, except other nether levers in the nether are unaffected and you instead would change every nether lever on Earth.
Nether Lever Frequency
What if you want to manipulate only some nether levers and not others? Simple. Nether levels could only manipulate nether levers in the other dimension that are on the same kind of block.
For example, a nether level in the nether on a cobblestone block could only affect nether levers on cobblestone blocks on earth. Ones on iron blocks could only affect other ones on iron blocks. Ones on wool could only affect other ones on wool. Etc. So nether levers would only affect other nether levers that are: both A: In the other dimension and B: on the same material. That would in effect make each kind of block a separate frequency.
Considering how useful the nether lever would be it should probably have a high crafting cost. One possible formula I think would be fair would be something requiring 1 gold ingot and 1 obsidian like this in an alternate version of the normal lever recipe:
It could look like a golden handle set on a black obsidian base.
What use would there be in turning on/off something in a dimension I don't currently occupy? It would be a lot easier to just use a regular switch. Besides, I'm not sure this is possible because I don't think the game keeps the Overworld active when you're in the Nether.
What use would there be in turning on/off something in a dimension I don't currently occupy? It would be a lot easier to just use a regular switch. Besides, I'm not sure this is possible because I don't think the game keeps the Overworld active when you're in the Nether.
In multiplayer I believe both dimensions are currently loaded at once, so you could use it to control devices other players are using.
In single player there would be no difference until you return to the other dimension and that world is loaded. When you return all nether levers would reload in the appropriate position and do whatever they're supposed to do. You could use this to control distant machines as a kind of wireless signal. For example, let's say you want to call a minecart back to you from across the map. You could go to the nether, flip a nether switch to activate a powered rail on earth, and when you return to earth the cart will immediately start traveling to you.
In multiplayer I believe both dimensions are currently loaded at once, so you could use it to control devices other players are using.
In single player there would be no difference until you return to the other dimension and that world is loaded. When you return all nether levers would reload in the appropriate position and do whatever they're supposed to do. You could use this to control distant machines as a kind of wireless signal. For example, let's say you want to call a minecart back to you from across the map. You could go to the nether, flip a nether switch to activate a powered rail on earth, and when you return to earth the cart will immediately start traveling to you.
Ah, ok. Still, that doesn't seem to have very many uses outside of SMP, and most of the ones I can think of are griefing.
EDIT: Ignore that, I completely misinterpreted your suggestion.
This sounds BETTER (than what I read it as originally), but I still foresee huge problems with (for example) SMP. Bear in mind, the way you have it written, you'd only be able to have ONE 'wireless' or 'nether lever' system in any given world.
That's a good point. What if there was a way of tuning it? What if a nether lever could only flip nether levers in the other dimension that are mounted on the same kind of block?
For example, a nether level on a dirt block in the nether would only affect nether levels on dirt blocks on earth. Each block type would in effect act like a different frequency.
You know, this really isn't a "control things across dimensions" suggestion. That's just a useful side effect. It's really a way of having wireless signals on Earth.
It would also give the nether an important function as a place for control rooms.
It makes two redstone channelers. Right-click it to change its name. By default, they are called "default". When one is directly powered with redstone current, all other channelers on the same channel will change their state.
For this to work, they need to reload the chunks they are in. This could be used to keep your crops growing or your furnaces smelting.
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Medieval builder and texture artists. Also totally awesome.
It makes two redstone channelers. Right-click it to change its name. By default, they are called "default". When one is directly powered with redstone current, all other channelers on the same channel will change their state.
For this to work, they need to reload the chunks they are in. This could be used to keep your crops growing or your furnaces smelting.
That's definitely useful. It might be a little too high tech for Minecraft though. I figure this still fits because it's based on magic and the nether rather than any kind of actual radio signal.
The Nether Lever
A nether lever functions like a regular lever but with a twist. When you switch it on or off, all nether levels in whichever dimension you are not currently in change their position.
So if you're on Earth and switch a nether lever either on or off you cause three things to happen. One, you change that specific lever. Two, all on nether levers in the nether switch off. Three, all off never levers in the nether switch on. Other nether levers on Earth are unaffected.
If you're in the nether and flip a nether switch the same thing happens, except other nether levers in the nether are unaffected and you instead would change every nether lever on Earth.
Nether Lever Frequency
What if you want to manipulate only some nether levers and not others? Simple. Nether levels could only manipulate nether levers in the other dimension that are on the same kind of block.
For example, a nether level in the nether on a cobblestone block could only affect nether levers on cobblestone blocks on earth. Ones on iron blocks could only affect other ones on iron blocks. Ones on wool could only affect other ones on wool. Etc. So nether levers would only affect other nether levers that are: both A: In the other dimension and B: on the same material. That would in effect make each kind of block a separate frequency.
Considering how useful the nether lever would be it should probably have a high crafting cost. One possible formula I think would be fair would be something requiring 1 gold ingot and 1 obsidian like this in an alternate version of the normal lever recipe:
It could look like a golden handle set on a black obsidian base.
In multiplayer I believe both dimensions are currently loaded at once, so you could use it to control devices other players are using.
In single player there would be no difference until you return to the other dimension and that world is loaded. When you return all nether levers would reload in the appropriate position and do whatever they're supposed to do. You could use this to control distant machines as a kind of wireless signal. For example, let's say you want to call a minecart back to you from across the map. You could go to the nether, flip a nether switch to activate a powered rail on earth, and when you return to earth the cart will immediately start traveling to you.
Ah, ok. Still, that doesn't seem to have very many uses outside of SMP, and most of the ones I can think of are griefing.
That's a good point. What if there was a way of tuning it? What if a nether lever could only flip nether levers in the other dimension that are mounted on the same kind of block?
For example, a nether level on a dirt block in the nether would only affect nether levels on dirt blocks on earth. Each block type would in effect act like a different frequency.
I think I'll add this to the suggestion.
It would also give the nether an important function as a place for control rooms.
It makes two redstone channelers. Right-click it to change its name. By default, they are called "default". When one is directly powered with redstone current, all other channelers on the same channel will change their state.
For this to work, they need to reload the chunks they are in. This could be used to keep your crops growing or your furnaces smelting.
That's definitely useful. It might be a little too high tech for Minecraft though. I figure this still fits because it's based on magic and the nether rather than any kind of actual radio signal.