I've seen a lot of talk about beacons and how the area needs to be vastly increased, or the buffs need to be "more useful." This is often paired with comments on the exorbitant cost of creating both the pyramid and the beacon block itself.
Personally, I feel the cost of the beacon block itself is worth the "cool" factor of having a beam of light shooting out of/through your base, but I also tend to agree the bonuses granted are lackluster, and the area of effect is too small. But, just buffing everything and making the area bigger doesn't make the Beacon any more fun.
I'd like to suggest the following to either modders or Mojang for future updates!
Prism Relays and Beacon Networks
New block that can intercept and redirect a portion of the light beam, Prism Relay. Each beam can only be "split" so many times before it becomes too faint.
Beams are redirected to either another beacon or alternatively a cheaper block intended only to "copy" the original beacon(s) in the network. (Nether Prism?)
All Beacons in the network grant the entire network their buffs (radiating from each Beacon and Nether Prism), but similar buffs are not cumulative (i.e. do not stack).
AoE size around each Beacon and Nether Prism in the network is based on the smallest Pyramid in the network. But, Nether Prisms do not require pyramids.
Non-player Effects
Add effects that do more than just effect players!
Radiance, weak sunlight effect, burns undead at reduced rate from real sunlight. Rain still protects undead. (Does nothing during the day)
Bounty, increases rare drop rate on mobs and blocks in the area
Fertile Soil, increases growth rate of all growing plants including trees.
Nutrition, baby animals mature faster
Player Effects
Sustenance, decreased hunger or increased benefit from food
Acute Senses, add noticeable footfall sounds to creepers. Enemies glow slightly, making them easier to see.
Duplication, chance to not consume arrows, potions, or other non-food consumables on each use.
Balance Tweaks
Create new pyramid blocks made from ore/gems which are constructed with 4 ingots instead of 9. These blocks cannot be used in recipes which use 9 ingot blocks (golems, anvils, et cetera)
Pretty legit...but no pyramid blocks, that would make them too easy to build.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
XP Guide Regardless of what change you do, no matter how small, someone will complain. - Jens Bergensten If you want me to see your reply, make sure to quote my post in your reply.
Pretty legit...but no pyramid blocks, that would make them too easy to build.
Fair enough. What if the ability to "combine" pyramids was removed so each beacon had to have its own? It would be much cheaper to build one pyramid, but potentially more expensive to build multiples (I haven't done the math).
Would be cool if you could use the redirection ability you suggest to turn it into a system similar to a redstone network, i.e, having redirected light shine on specific patches of ground, activating some sort of sensor. Pistons could be used as an on/off switch for the redirected light.
Personally, I feel the cost of the beacon block itself is worth the "cool" factor of having a beam of light shooting out of/through your base, but I also tend to agree the bonuses granted are lackluster, and the area of effect is too small. But, just buffing everything and making the area bigger doesn't make the Beacon any more fun.
I'd like to suggest the following to either modders or Mojang for future updates!
Prism Relays and Beacon Networks
- New block that can intercept and redirect a portion of the light beam, Prism Relay. Each beam can only be "split" so many times before it becomes too faint.
- Beams are redirected to either another beacon or alternatively a cheaper block intended only to "copy" the original beacon(s) in the network. (Nether Prism?)
- All Beacons in the network grant the entire network their buffs (radiating from each Beacon and Nether Prism), but similar buffs are not cumulative (i.e. do not stack).
- AoE size around each Beacon and Nether Prism in the network is based on the smallest Pyramid in the network. But, Nether Prisms do not require pyramids.
Non-player Effects- Add effects that do more than just effect players!
- Radiance, weak sunlight effect, burns undead at reduced rate from real sunlight. Rain still protects undead. (Does nothing during the day)
- Bounty, increases rare drop rate on mobs and blocks in the area
- Fertile Soil, increases growth rate of all growing plants including trees.
- Nutrition, baby animals mature faster
Player Effects- Sustenance, decreased hunger or increased benefit from food
- Acute Senses, add noticeable footfall sounds to creepers. Enemies glow slightly, making them easier to see.
- Duplication, chance to not consume arrows, potions, or other non-food consumables on each use.
Balance TweaksIs there anything else prisms can bounce? Can it act like a mirror, or...?
Regardless of what change you do, no matter how small, someone will complain. - Jens Bergensten
If you want me to see your reply, make sure to quote my post in your reply.
Fair enough. What if the ability to "combine" pyramids was removed so each beacon had to have its own? It would be much cheaper to build one pyramid, but potentially more expensive to build multiples (I haven't done the math).
Would be cool if you could use the redirection ability you suggest to turn it into a system similar to a redstone network, i.e, having redirected light shine on specific patches of ground, activating some sort of sensor. Pistons could be used as an on/off switch for the redirected light.
Why, thank you!