Notch recently revealed that he was tinkering with the maximum and minimum height scales. He was thinking of increasing the room players have to build vertically in the minecraft world. Put simply, he is trying to make the world taller. I thought this would create the opportunity to really push the topography and biome code to create very distinct and realistic mountains. A biome could be created that would be designated by height. Above a certain number of blocks a snow and ice biome with very few trees or perhaps only shrubs, would spawn.
This biome could be a treacherous one. Snow and ice blocks could be the only blocks that spawned at that altitude. The terrain could be modified to be steeper above the snowline and a sort of light wind could be implemented that slowly pushes the player or slows them down. This wind feature, when combined with icy slopes, could make traversing mountain passes dangerous and difficult, especially if cliffs were a prominent feature of mountain terrain. A new item could be crafted, like an ice pick that would allow players to climb cliffs of ice (only ice). Also, perhaps when ice is broken it will not produce water in this biome (too cold). To make the mountains even more treacherous, an extreme cold system, similar to the drowning system (but slower) could slowly take health, unless the player is wearing a specific set of armor. This armor could possibly resemble inuit clothing, such parkas or very thick boots. These could be crafted from leather and wool. Perhaps the weather system could be adjusted so that it is more likely to snow when the player is at this height, making the biome more immersive.
Specific mobs and items could spawn in these biomes, such as ice monsters (yeti or abominable snowman)or a snow leopard, or maybe some type of hermit resembling that of a hermit monk in the Himalayas. Items could spawn that would be valuable and worth the risk of climbing the mountain and braving the rough terrain. These items may include special healing items like an herb obtained from the hermit, or some kind of weapon like a godly hammer or winged sky boots that would enhance your speed and/or jumping capabilities. You could also get an achievement for reaching the summit of one of these mountains.
On a side note, there could be some derpy things like silly penguin mobs or snow men that spawn just for the sake of silliness.
One could construct a home down in a valley looking up at these huge and majestic, snow-capped mountains. It would be like having the Grand Tetons or the Himalayas in Minecraft. Overall, I think that a snowline biome could enhance gameplay as well as create a beautiful landscape, and would be a fairly simple gameplay modification and add content that is congruent with the feeling already established by Notch.
Post Script:
Not pertaining to the specific idea of a snowline biome, but there could be a mountainous biome, (like there are forest, swamp and desert biomes). It would be a biome that has a very high average altitude and is densely packed with mountains and plateaus. It could be very rocky and treacherous.
Also, some other thoughts I had after finishing the original post:
-Delicate ice that breaks when walked on, perhaps the player may fall down a crevice if not careful, ice pick could be used to prod ground to search for delicate ice hidden below thin snow layer
-Pine trees spawn just below the snowline, and perhaps smaller versions of pine trees (more shrub-like) spawn sparsely above the snow line
-Rarely occurring northern lights (aurora borealis), could have a magical sort of use, or be purely decorative and make you feel warm and fuzzy inside
-maybe some sort of skis could be crafted and worn as boots and increase downward speed
-snow shoes could be crafted to safely cross delicate ice and maybe give a speed boost in snow
-a new mountain goat mob, like a ram, would probably be neutral, could drop meat and/or wool and/or leather (useful for parka crafting and food)
-maybe NPC villages of primitive snowy dwarfs or elves could spawn and trade above-average tools
-when you climb to the summit a little flag will spawn on the highest block with the face of your skin on it, also the number of mountains climbed could be a statistic
For a new member this a really thought out, creative, (and as far as I know) and original idea. Most new users post short ideas or something like "guns" or "obsidian tools" which have been suggested at least 1000 times. (P.S. You can edit the post if you have afterthoughts.)
Anyway, I do disagree with some things. I don't see a point of making the mountain top steeper. Maybe the whole mountain, but not just the top. There is no use of ice picks in the game since you can just destroy blocks or place ladders.I'm neutral about the ice cold extreme system. No items that "Increase jumping and running ability".Instead of the dwarves or elves, I think a small building with a monk or pigman monk will do. The flag and # of mountain would be good if it was dangerous enough.
For a new member this a really thought out, creative, (and as far as I know) and original idea. Most new users post short ideas or something like "guns" or "obsidian tools" which have been suggested at least 1000 times. (P.S. You can edit the post if you have afterthoughts.)
Anyway, I do disagree with some things. I don't see a point of making the mountain top steeper. Maybe the whole mountain, but not just the top. There is no use of ice picks in the game since you can just destroy blocks or place ladders.I'm neutral about the ice cold extreme system. No items that "Increase jumping and running ability".Instead of the dwarves or elves, I think a small building with a monk or pigman monk will do. The flag and # of mountain would be good if it was dangerous enough.
thanks for the feedback :biggrin.gif:, i really appreciate it
Ice Pick Rebuttal
although Im going to have to disagree with you on the ice pick issue. At first I thought you were right, that it would have no use as you could simply destroy or place blocks to climb, but I found after playing a bit on some rough and steep terrain that this is an arduous process and destroys the natural beauty of the terrain. The ice pick (perhaps it could apply to stone as well) would be a tool implemented for convenience, much as the sheers were implemented to acquire wool from sheep. You could kill the sheep for one wool or use sheers to get 3 instantly. The same idea applies to the ice pick, spend time and energy by placing and destroying blocks, or scale a cliff in 1/3 of the time while preserving the terrains natural beauty.
I also had some thoughts on how the ice pick would work. The ice pick could in fact be double picks, perhaps with an interesting sprite consisting of two picks crossing. When equipped, the player would have a pick in either hand. To scale a cliff wall, the player would approach the wall and begin to alternate clicking between the left and right mouse buttons, which correspond with the respective picks in the players hands. I think this would really make the player feel as if they were actually climbing the wall and make this a fun experience.
Now the only thing stopping the ice pick from being very effective is the ladder. Some may ask, why would you use ice picks when a ladder does the exact same thing? My argument is that ladders are annoying to carry around and once they are placed, they are difficult to get back. An ice pick would allow for the player to quickly and efficiently move vertically without leaving anything behind. It would appeal to anyone who is adventuress and likes to explore. I also had another idea as to how the ice pick may overtake the ladder. Maybe the ice pick would allow you to also climb a one or two block overhanging lip that would otherwise act like a roadblock for a ladder.
These are a few ideas I had for the ice pick(s) and how it may be an effective tool. I dont think anything repetitive or useless should clutter the game so let me know if you see any of these ideas as such.
Notch recently revealed that he was tinkering with the maximum and minimum height scales. He was thinking of increasing the room players have to build vertically in the minecraft world. Put simply, he is trying to make the world taller. I thought this would create the opportunity to really push the topography and biome code to create very distinct and realistic mountains. A biome could be created that would be designated by height. Above a certain number of blocks a snow and ice biome with very few trees or perhaps only shrubs, would spawn.
This biome could be a treacherous one. Snow and ice blocks could be the only blocks that spawned at that altitude. The terrain could be modified to be steeper above the snowline and a sort of light wind could be implemented that slowly pushes the player or slows them down. This wind feature, when combined with icy slopes, could make traversing mountain passes dangerous and difficult, especially if cliffs were a prominent feature of mountain terrain. A new item could be crafted, like an ice pick that would allow players to climb cliffs of ice (only ice). Also, perhaps when ice is broken it will not produce water in this biome (too cold). To make the mountains even more treacherous, an extreme cold system, similar to the drowning system (but slower) could slowly take health, unless the player is wearing a specific set of armor. This armor could possibly resemble inuit clothing, such parkas or very thick boots. These could be crafted from leather and wool. Perhaps the weather system could be adjusted so that it is more likely to snow when the player is at this height, making the biome more immersive.
Specific mobs and items could spawn in these biomes, such as ice monsters (yeti or abominable snowman)or a snow leopard, or maybe some type of hermit resembling that of a hermit monk in the Himalayas. Items could spawn that would be valuable and worth the risk of climbing the mountain and braving the rough terrain. These items may include special healing items like an herb obtained from the hermit, or some kind of weapon like a godly hammer or winged sky boots that would enhance your speed and/or jumping capabilities. You could also get an achievement for reaching the summit of one of these mountains.
On a side note, there could be some derpy things like silly penguin mobs or snow men that spawn just for the sake of silliness.
One could construct a home down in a valley looking up at these huge and majestic, snow-capped mountains. It would be like having the Grand Tetons or the Himalayas in Minecraft. Overall, I think that a snowline biome could enhance gameplay as well as create a beautiful landscape, and would be a fairly simple gameplay modification and add content that is congruent with the feeling already established by Notch.
Post Script:
Not pertaining to the specific idea of a snowline biome, but there could be a mountainous biome, (like there are forest, swamp and desert biomes). It would be a biome that has a very high average altitude and is densely packed with mountains and plateaus. It could be very rocky and treacherous.
Also, some other thoughts I had after finishing the original post:
-Delicate ice that breaks when walked on, perhaps the player may fall down a crevice if not careful, ice pick could be used to prod ground to search for delicate ice hidden below thin snow layer
-Pine trees spawn just below the snowline, and perhaps smaller versions of pine trees (more shrub-like) spawn sparsely above the snow line
-Rarely occurring northern lights (aurora borealis), could have a magical sort of use, or be purely decorative and make you feel warm and fuzzy inside
-maybe some sort of skis could be crafted and worn as boots and increase downward speed
-snow shoes could be crafted to safely cross delicate ice and maybe give a speed boost in snow
-a new mountain goat mob, like a ram, would probably be neutral, could drop meat and/or wool and/or leather (useful for parka crafting and food)
-maybe NPC villages of primitive snowy dwarfs or elves could spawn and trade above-average tools
-when you climb to the summit a little flag will spawn on the highest block with the face of your skin on it, also the number of mountains climbed could be a statistic
Anyway, I do disagree with some things. I don't see a point of making the mountain top steeper. Maybe the whole mountain, but not just the top. There is no use of ice picks in the game since you can just destroy blocks or place ladders.I'm neutral about the ice cold extreme system. No items that "Increase jumping and running ability".Instead of the dwarves or elves, I think a small building with a monk or pigman monk will do. The flag and # of mountain would be good if it was dangerous enough.
thanks for the feedback :biggrin.gif:, i really appreciate it
Ice Pick Rebuttal
although Im going to have to disagree with you on the ice pick issue. At first I thought you were right, that it would have no use as you could simply destroy or place blocks to climb, but I found after playing a bit on some rough and steep terrain that this is an arduous process and destroys the natural beauty of the terrain. The ice pick (perhaps it could apply to stone as well) would be a tool implemented for convenience, much as the sheers were implemented to acquire wool from sheep. You could kill the sheep for one wool or use sheers to get 3 instantly. The same idea applies to the ice pick, spend time and energy by placing and destroying blocks, or scale a cliff in 1/3 of the time while preserving the terrains natural beauty.
I also had some thoughts on how the ice pick would work. The ice pick could in fact be double picks, perhaps with an interesting sprite consisting of two picks crossing. When equipped, the player would have a pick in either hand. To scale a cliff wall, the player would approach the wall and begin to alternate clicking between the left and right mouse buttons, which correspond with the respective picks in the players hands. I think this would really make the player feel as if they were actually climbing the wall and make this a fun experience.
Now the only thing stopping the ice pick from being very effective is the ladder. Some may ask, why would you use ice picks when a ladder does the exact same thing? My argument is that ladders are annoying to carry around and once they are placed, they are difficult to get back. An ice pick would allow for the player to quickly and efficiently move vertically without leaving anything behind. It would appeal to anyone who is adventuress and likes to explore. I also had another idea as to how the ice pick may overtake the ladder. Maybe the ice pick would allow you to also climb a one or two block overhanging lip that would otherwise act like a roadblock for a ladder.
These are a few ideas I had for the ice pick(s) and how it may be an effective tool. I dont think anything repetitive or useless should clutter the game so let me know if you see any of these ideas as such.
(i hope this is allowed im new XD)