While playing around with fireworks stars after the latest update, I realised that there's a particular use to which they could be put and a new effect which could be useful for that reason.
In multiplayer, and especially in adventure or capture the flag games, fireworks would be great for:
1. Summoning aid.
2. Signalling the start of an adventure.
3. Signalling victory.
Those are just the things I thought of off the top of my head. I'm sure others can come up with more ideas.
The one problem with all of these is that the firework effects fade very quickly. Which is where my idea comes in.
Allow Redstone to be added to the firework star to produce an effect I'm calling Sustain.
This effect would cause the color burst of the firework to hang in the air for about 10 seconds before fading.
If the star had been crafted with a "fade to" effect, the burst would constantly fade back and forth between the two colors at about one quarter the usual speed of the fireworks fade before fading out at the end of the time.
In a bit more detail, the rocket goes up and the burst occurs at the normal speed, but when the stars appear at the edges of the burst, they slowly drift downward instead of vanishing, until the extended time runs out.
If a falling light star hits a solid block on the way down, it extinguishes immediately (optional, so long as the fallen light is a non-gettable item).
Is this a worthwhile idea? I know I'd like to use it in an adventure/puzzle map.
I fully support this idea, and I think it needs more recognition, but first they would have to be visible from farther away. This would give fireworks a practical purpose, and though fireworks are great for celebrations and all, they NEED a practical purpose.
In multiplayer, and especially in adventure or capture the flag games, fireworks would be great for:
1. Summoning aid.
2. Signalling the start of an adventure.
3. Signalling victory.
Those are just the things I thought of off the top of my head. I'm sure others can come up with more ideas.
The one problem with all of these is that the firework effects fade very quickly. Which is where my idea comes in.
Allow Redstone to be added to the firework star to produce an effect I'm calling Sustain.
This effect would cause the color burst of the firework to hang in the air for about 10 seconds before fading.
If the star had been crafted with a "fade to" effect, the burst would constantly fade back and forth between the two colors at about one quarter the usual speed of the fireworks fade before fading out at the end of the time.
In a bit more detail, the rocket goes up and the burst occurs at the normal speed, but when the stars appear at the edges of the burst, they slowly drift downward instead of vanishing, until the extended time runs out.
If a falling light star hits a solid block on the way down, it extinguishes immediately (optional, so long as the fallen light is a non-gettable item).
Is this a worthwhile idea? I know I'd like to use it in an adventure/puzzle map.
http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/1698011-updated-pix-gryphons-balanced-flight-for-survival-mode/
Ah, I think I understand. But it would be far too overpowered to allow people to get free firework stars like that.
Anyway, that's a minor point. I'd like to know what people think of the "Sustain" idea.
At the moment, firework explosions are only visible from fairly close. :-(