Since the core of Minecraft is the mining and crafting of different materials and objects made from those materials, some of us think that it would be really beneficial to add more elements/minable ores. For example: tin, copper, and bronze (which you could get from mixing tin and copper, and wouldn't be quite as strong as iron, but easier to make [also, we could allow multiple items to be forged together in the forge]), steel (iron+coal), and maybe some other interesting ones like silver, aluminum, maybe even uranium.
This would allow for the crafting of really interesting items, and more options in armor/equipment materials. Some of this would be easy to implement, since a steel pick would just be like an iron pick, but with more uses. It would also be really be good to make different elements region-specific, so that you can't get everything out of digging one single mineshaft. Perhaps all regions could have basic iron and coal, but only specific places would have some of the more interesting ones (i.e. you have to be digging deep beneath a mountain biome to get uranium). This would also be a further incentive to explore. Below I've detailed some ideas for how each new element could be used.
But first, the smelting system:
It would be good to have two smelting slots available for metals to be smelted together. In particular: tin+copper=bronze, iron+coal=steel. Also, it would make sense to make the players have to get different fuels to attain higher temperatures, which would be necessary for smelting the more difficult ores. It could be something like this:
Burning oil/lava: silicon, making glass, titanium, and aluminum
Also: could be please not have the bucket itself disappear when using buckets of lava as fuel?
Copper:
Used for circuit components. Copper wires should replace redstone lines for circuits; would make a lot more sense. Redstone as it is now is far too common; it should probably be made rare and only used for generating power, or done away with altogether. Also, if they could be hung in the air, like power lines, this would be good. Finally, if it were ever possible to make electromagnetic motors, wound copper wire would be the primary component.
Tin:
This could be beneficial by simply making it more common than anything else. It would be weaker than any other metal, but relatively easy to get. We could make it the only metal that you can mine by stone, and then have to use tin picks to mine iron ore. Also, since it's so flexible, this could be used for small metallic objects, like silverware, buckets, and, of course, robot components. (Just think back to how it was used in history. :-)) Also: this wold be great for alleviating the current stress on iron, which has to be used for ANYTHING metallic.
Bronze:
Would be made by smelting tin and copper. Would be stronger than tin but not as strong as iron, and would be the first armor you could wear (tin is not suitable for iron)(also, bronze armor just looks awesome!). Also, if money is implemented at some later time (like for trading with NPCs), it could make the most basic coin (I think, even if you don't implement coins, that villagers should highly value bronze, silver, and gold when being traded with). It would also just be really cool to build with, aesthetically. I'd just love to be able to make blocks, half-blocks, etc. and build a temple with it.
Steel:
Would be made by smelting iron with coal. Would be much more durable than iron, and probably be the only thing that can mine diamond. Alternatively, it could be the only thing to mine titanium, which could be the only thing to mine diamond. (Also, this is a side note, but if we could make lasers and cut with them...I'm thinking, robots...did I mention I'm a computer engineer? :-) ) Steel could be the best tools, leaving pure iron to be used for other, more industrial things, like minecarts, rails, iron golems, etc.
Aluminum:
I'm not sure about this one, but it could be interesting. It could come from an ore called bauxite, and be very common, but impossible to smelt without high temperature. One of it's best qualities is it's high strength-to-weight ratio, so the player could make metal boats out of them, which wouldn't break when rammed against things (like wooden ones). Also, if there were ever aircraft, it would be the element of choice. Also, it could be used in the exterior of automobiles and robots. It's also a good conductor, so could be used as an (not quite as effective) alternative to copper. It could also be used to make CDs.
Gold:
I know we already have this, but it could be used for a lot more things, especially in circuit components...like for robots! I think iron golems could be adapted to actual robots that are very hard to make. It would also be an even better conductor than copper, making it sometimes worthwhile to replace copper in critical circuits. Of course, it could also be used for the most valuable coin in a currency system.
Silver:
The most interesting thing would be the ability to craft it into mirrors! Also, it would be the middle coin in a currency system, and the best conductor of all time.
Uranium:
Duh: radioactivity. This stuff could damage anything right next to it. It could also fit in nicely to the potion-brewing system. Also, if refined (which should be a difficult process for the players to implement), it could be the best power source. Also!: a small amount would be used for the clock for a microprocessor (atomic clock).
Silicon:
Ok, this would be difficult, but I think would be really awesome: silicon could be used to craft micro-circuits. Of course, this implies a whole new system: I envision having a micro-crafting table that is used specifically for making circuits and other computer components. One block in the real world would equate to, let's say, a 64x64 block for making circuits. As it is now, circuits are so ridiculously cumbersome, that it's impossible to do hardly anything practical and nothing portable with them. This could allow for robots and vehicles to be made. Did I mention I'm a computer engineer? :-)
Sulfur and saltpeter:
These two smelted together could allow for the creation of gunpowder instead of only being able to get them from creeper drops.
Precious stones:
These would be pretty and cool, although probably superfluous. The end.
NOTE: If corrosion were ever included in the game: silver, platinum (if we had it), and gold would be the only elements that can resist it.
Hey guys, I know that this post is long with lots of suggestions, but even if a few of these ideas were implemented I think it would be awesome!
I for one, am a huge fan of Minecraft because I love creation and building. One of my favorite parts is where you develop technologically, moving from wood to stone to iron, and then circuits, farming, etc. The creativity part is the best. Recently though, I've gotten a bit tired of Minecraft, mainly because it is too easy. Any area I start in I fall into the same development pattern and it usually it only takes me a few hours to get nearly every material and live in an awesome place. Then there isn't much else to do... :-/ These kinds of changes would really liven up the game giving a developmental incentive to explore.
Since it is minecraft it would be nice if there were a few more metals and elements to mine with some cool uses.
I especially like the suggesting about smelting metals together to get combinations...bronze and steel is a cool idea.
Anyway, that's what I think...these changes and region-specific ores and elements would give a really good incentive to explore and develop.
Awesome thoughts! Yes, it's true that there's not much incentive to explore other biomes as far as needing materials; currently, most of the resources in other biomes are just aesthetics/different foods.
I like this idea...more metals to work with would be awesome. And I totally am looking forward to trading with villagers...coins or even ingots would be a great idea for that.
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Yeah, totally. After walking through a few biomes and gathering new plants and stuff there is usually little reason to go anywhere else and really explore because you have everything. I go anyway because I get tired of staying in the same place but I don't have a good reason to explore except to find fortresses or whatever...more deep-mine materials and rare elements could really spice things up! :-)
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This would be interesting, but I dislike someone of the ideas. The bronze idea is good, ditto for silver. Uranium, silicon, and aluminum are all more modern metals (at least in use).
As far as I can see, Minecraft is more of a medieval game than modern (potions, enchanting, golems). The only really advanced technologies are redstone and tnt.
+1 for the gold, silver, and bronze
-1 for the uranium, aluminum, and silicone
This would be interesting, but I dislike someone of the ideas. The bronze idea is good, ditto for silver. Uranium, silicon, and aluminum are all more modern metals (at least in use).
As far as I can see, Minecraft is more of a medieval game than modern (potions, enchanting, golems). The only really advanced technologies are redstone and tnt.
+1 for the gold, silver, and bronze
-1 for the uranium, aluminum, and silicone
I understand what you're saying, and I'm not at all adamant about wanting all of these added. I decided just to throw out a bunch of ideas and see what stuck. Some of the ones like uranium and aluminum were wild tries. I'd just really like to see steel and bronze and silver.
Thanks for commenting!
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This would allow for the crafting of really interesting items, and more options in armor/equipment materials. Some of this would be easy to implement, since a steel pick would just be like an iron pick, but with more uses. It would also be really be good to make different elements region-specific, so that you can't get everything out of digging one single mineshaft. Perhaps all regions could have basic iron and coal, but only specific places would have some of the more interesting ones (i.e. you have to be digging deep beneath a mountain biome to get uranium). This would also be a further incentive to explore. Below I've detailed some ideas for how each new element could be used.
But first, the smelting system:
It would be good to have two smelting slots available for metals to be smelted together. In particular: tin+copper=bronze, iron+coal=steel. Also, it would make sense to make the players have to get different fuels to attain higher temperatures, which would be necessary for smelting the more difficult ores. It could be something like this:
- Burning wood: all the lesser stuff
- Burning coal: iron, steel, sulfur+saltpeter=gunpowder
- Burning oil/lava: silicon, making glass, titanium, and aluminum
Also: could be please not have the bucket itself disappear when using buckets of lava as fuel?Copper:
Used for circuit components. Copper wires should replace redstone lines for circuits; would make a lot more sense. Redstone as it is now is far too common; it should probably be made rare and only used for generating power, or done away with altogether. Also, if they could be hung in the air, like power lines, this would be good. Finally, if it were ever possible to make electromagnetic motors, wound copper wire would be the primary component.
Tin:
This could be beneficial by simply making it more common than anything else. It would be weaker than any other metal, but relatively easy to get. We could make it the only metal that you can mine by stone, and then have to use tin picks to mine iron ore. Also, since it's so flexible, this could be used for small metallic objects, like silverware, buckets, and, of course, robot components. (Just think back to how it was used in history. :-)) Also: this wold be great for alleviating the current stress on iron, which has to be used for ANYTHING metallic.
Bronze:
Would be made by smelting tin and copper. Would be stronger than tin but not as strong as iron, and would be the first armor you could wear (tin is not suitable for iron)(also, bronze armor just looks awesome!). Also, if money is implemented at some later time (like for trading with NPCs), it could make the most basic coin (I think, even if you don't implement coins, that villagers should highly value bronze, silver, and gold when being traded with). It would also just be really cool to build with, aesthetically. I'd just love to be able to make blocks, half-blocks, etc. and build a temple with it.
Steel:
Would be made by smelting iron with coal. Would be much more durable than iron, and probably be the only thing that can mine diamond. Alternatively, it could be the only thing to mine titanium, which could be the only thing to mine diamond. (Also, this is a side note, but if we could make lasers and cut with them...I'm thinking, robots...did I mention I'm a computer engineer? :-) ) Steel could be the best tools, leaving pure iron to be used for other, more industrial things, like minecarts, rails, iron golems, etc.
Aluminum:
I'm not sure about this one, but it could be interesting. It could come from an ore called bauxite, and be very common, but impossible to smelt without high temperature. One of it's best qualities is it's high strength-to-weight ratio, so the player could make metal boats out of them, which wouldn't break when rammed against things (like wooden ones). Also, if there were ever aircraft, it would be the element of choice. Also, it could be used in the exterior of automobiles and robots. It's also a good conductor, so could be used as an (not quite as effective) alternative to copper. It could also be used to make CDs.
Gold:
I know we already have this, but it could be used for a lot more things, especially in circuit components...like for robots! I think iron golems could be adapted to actual robots that are very hard to make. It would also be an even better conductor than copper, making it sometimes worthwhile to replace copper in critical circuits. Of course, it could also be used for the most valuable coin in a currency system.
Silver:
The most interesting thing would be the ability to craft it into mirrors! Also, it would be the middle coin in a currency system, and the best conductor of all time.
Uranium:
Duh: radioactivity. This stuff could damage anything right next to it. It could also fit in nicely to the potion-brewing system. Also, if refined (which should be a difficult process for the players to implement), it could be the best power source. Also!: a small amount would be used for the clock for a microprocessor (atomic clock).
Silicon:
Ok, this would be difficult, but I think would be really awesome: silicon could be used to craft micro-circuits. Of course, this implies a whole new system: I envision having a micro-crafting table that is used specifically for making circuits and other computer components. One block in the real world would equate to, let's say, a 64x64 block for making circuits. As it is now, circuits are so ridiculously cumbersome, that it's impossible to do hardly anything practical and nothing portable with them. This could allow for robots and vehicles to be made. Did I mention I'm a computer engineer? :-)
Sulfur and saltpeter:
These two smelted together could allow for the creation of gunpowder instead of only being able to get them from creeper drops.
Precious stones:
These would be pretty and cool, although probably superfluous. The end.
NOTE: If corrosion were ever included in the game: silver, platinum (if we had it), and gold would be the only elements that can resist it.
I for one, am a huge fan of Minecraft because I love creation and building. One of my favorite parts is where you develop technologically, moving from wood to stone to iron, and then circuits, farming, etc. The creativity part is the best. Recently though, I've gotten a bit tired of Minecraft, mainly because it is too easy. Any area I start in I fall into the same development pattern and it usually it only takes me a few hours to get nearly every material and live in an awesome place. Then there isn't much else to do... :-/ These kinds of changes would really liven up the game giving a developmental incentive to explore.
Since it is minecraft it would be nice if there were a few more metals and elements to mine with some cool uses.
I especially like the suggesting about smelting metals together to get combinations...bronze and steel is a cool idea.
Anyway, that's what I think...these changes and region-specific ores and elements would give a really good incentive to explore and develop.
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As far as I can see, Minecraft is more of a medieval game than modern (potions, enchanting, golems). The only really advanced technologies are redstone and tnt.
+1 for the gold, silver, and bronze
-1 for the uranium, aluminum, and silicone
I understand what you're saying, and I'm not at all adamant about wanting all of these added. I decided just to throw out a bunch of ideas and see what stuck. Some of the ones like uranium and aluminum were wild tries. I'd just really like to see steel and bronze and silver.
Thanks for commenting!