I thought I'd throw out this idea since villages around the corner and villagers around the other corner. I make an assumption that the NPCs in the coming patches do more than just stumble around looking blankly at players.
Cavemen: from stone to iron
Having primitive peoples in Minecraft would offer the player even more things to do. For example, a player comes across a cave opening. Further inspection reveals the presence of multiple shaggy looking men and women with simple garments and stone weapons. To gain their trust, fear or respect the player could kill the alpha male (sort of evil) or win them over with gifts of food and items or even completing quests. (save little Grumgrum from the wolves?)
Once a trusting relationship has been established, the player could build a village and entice them to live there. The primitive men could learn how to farm simply by being near the player as he plants some crops and receiving the tools of the trade. They could also be taught how to cut down trees, fish, hunt and mine which would open up an interesting RTS type game play element to the game.
The new found village would have a level as well. The more improvements the player builds, such as walls, wells, lighting, farms and quality housing, the higher the level would climb. Once the village of primitive cave folk reaches a certain level the people would throw off their primitive skins and don a more common villager skin. Production of items and materials could also increase along with the village level.
External threats to the villagers would exist in the form of monsters and perhaps even raiders. The threat of losing a village would encourage the player to keep an eye on his/her primitive friends. A player could also choose to move from village to village or cave to cave bringing civilization to the primitive people and letting them fend for themselves once the job is done. :smile.gif:
While the coming generated villages and villagers seems interesting, I believe the cavemen-to-villager concept adds more gameplay, gives the player more goals, and creates more attachment to the villagers themselves. There are plenty of ancient stories about a great civilizers that would bring knowledge and farming to primitive men and it may be fun to play this role in Minecraft.
Cavemen: from stone to iron
Having primitive peoples in Minecraft would offer the player even more things to do. For example, a player comes across a cave opening. Further inspection reveals the presence of multiple shaggy looking men and women with simple garments and stone weapons. To gain their trust, fear or respect the player could kill the alpha male (sort of evil) or win them over with gifts of food and items or even completing quests. (save little Grumgrum from the wolves?)
Once a trusting relationship has been established, the player could build a village and entice them to live there. The primitive men could learn how to farm simply by being near the player as he plants some crops and receiving the tools of the trade. They could also be taught how to cut down trees, fish, hunt and mine which would open up an interesting RTS type game play element to the game.
The new found village would have a level as well. The more improvements the player builds, such as walls, wells, lighting, farms and quality housing, the higher the level would climb. Once the village of primitive cave folk reaches a certain level the people would throw off their primitive skins and don a more common villager skin. Production of items and materials could also increase along with the village level.
External threats to the villagers would exist in the form of monsters and perhaps even raiders. The threat of losing a village would encourage the player to keep an eye on his/her primitive friends. A player could also choose to move from village to village or cave to cave bringing civilization to the primitive people and letting them fend for themselves once the job is done. :smile.gif:
While the coming generated villages and villagers seems interesting, I believe the cavemen-to-villager concept adds more gameplay, gives the player more goals, and creates more attachment to the villagers themselves. There are plenty of ancient stories about a great civilizers that would bring knowledge and farming to primitive men and it may be fun to play this role in Minecraft.
Nothing wrong with having both in the world. :smile.gif: