Powered minecarts are notoriously obsolete now, since powered rail outclasses them in every way. P-rail is faster and operates infinitely without fuel. It's also easier to automate. Obviously powered minecarts need to be improved a bit.
Here's a way to buff them that doesn't just make them redundant with powered rail: Allow powered minecart to operate without rail. And allow other minecarts directly pushed by a powered minecart to remain on a straight and steady path, even without rail.
This allows powered minecart to function as minecraft's version of a car, traveling on normal roads. You would still be able to travel over rail with a powered Minecart. In fact, you'd still need rail in order to change directions or go uphill. A mostly rail free powered minecart trip might still have a few rail sections in order to turn or head up slopes.
Would this be "better" than powered rail? No. It's just different. Powered minecarts might be used in areas where you don't want visible rail. Or it could be used for infrequently traveled routes that you pass over so rarely its not worth the resources to build a permanent rail link.
Maybe powered minecarts should just be furnaces on wheels. You know, send someone a raw chicken and some coal, then they receive some cooked chickens! And some coal...
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"For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill."
-Sun Tzu
Here's a way to buff them that doesn't just make them redundant with powered rail: Allow powered minecart to operate without rail. And allow other minecarts directly pushed by a powered minecart to remain on a straight and steady path, even without rail.
This allows powered minecart to function as minecraft's version of a car, traveling on normal roads. You would still be able to travel over rail with a powered Minecart. In fact, you'd still need rail in order to change directions or go uphill. A mostly rail free powered minecart trip might still have a few rail sections in order to turn or head up slopes.
Would this be "better" than powered rail? No. It's just different. Powered minecarts might be used in areas where you don't want visible rail. Or it could be used for infrequently traveled routes that you pass over so rarely its not worth the resources to build a permanent rail link.
-Sun Tzu
I don't think it would be overpowered since you'd still need to supply fuel for each trip. Not to mention the lack of steering.