Minecraft Forums

I have wanted to post this for a while, mainly because of two things:
1) I love natural science, and genetic mutation is awesome.
2) I read an article about why the creeper is the shape that it is...
Some guy messed up the dimensions on the pig in development, and the body's length & height were swapped.
So, genetic mutation.

Firstly, no, this would not be a daily occurrence. You won't be able to walk a hundred blocks and see a mutant anything. Well, maybe if you're super lucky. Never mind that. The likelihood of a genetic mutation is, based on actual data, would be 3/1,000 per spawn. A mutation could be on a whole spectrum of severity. Some genetic mutations in a mob would be nearly unnoticeable, like an extra half heart of health or an allergy to a random material (obviously none that the creature would be composed of). However, some could be a major difference. Obviously, those would be rarer.Maybe a creature would have three arms. Maybe a few creatures spawning at the same time would be conjoined and yet still function as separate entities. What I'm not thinking of here is the epic, X-men type mutation that results in superpowers or blue fur or crap like that. That doesn't even happen. I speculate only on that which can actually happen. While the mutation rate seems too low to even matter, I have calculated the rate, and mutants would turn up eventually. However, it wouldn't be something that happens all the time. Some possible mutations may be, but are not limited to:

-Alteration of pigment development, which would cause the mob to be lighter or darker than it would normally look.

-In spiders, the insect-related Hox gene could be mutated, resulting in a spider's body parts being replaced by other; legs for eyes, eyes for legs, mouth on its back, etc. Yes, this actually happens.
See this:



-An alteration of the immune system could result in allergy to certain materials, such as cocoa or sugar, which would cause the mob to experience suffocation with exposure to them.

-Multiple medical conditions could be present in mobs as well: osteogenesis imperfecta, a condition in bones, could triple physical damage taken and/or make the mob take high damage from eggs or snowballs. Mobs could also have terminal effects, which would cause them to die before despawning.

-Achondroplasia could be present in the mobs genes, usually causing effects like dwarfism in mobs. This would half the height of a mob, but scrunch the mob into that space. No jokes here, please. This is a real disorder.

Those are my current thoughts. If you have anything to say, please do so, but I would appreciate it if thoughts shared with me were honest but polite and constructive. Thank you for reading.

This just seems a bit too complicated and too much for vanilla minecraft. This would be great as a mod, though.

no way, dont know why... but NO!

Sounds too complicated for a game like Minecraft. Works well for a mod though.

A really good thing. Sure, allergy also should mean you get cacti-like damage in contact of sunflowers...
Well, some mobs such as ghast or blaze are not going to have genes...
Triple physical damage would be a little too overpowered...

However, imagine a spider with arm and holding a bow(ridiculous!). Or creeper with dispenser instead of head shooting ghast ballz.
Or skeleton with 2 bows(4 arms) but one leg(takes extra knockback and damage).
Adds more chalenge and interest.
It should be more common
Support

Quote from MinecraftSiegeEngineer

A really good thing. Sure, allergy also should mean you get cacti-like damage in contact of sunflowers...
Well, some mobs such as ghast or blaze are not going to have genes...
Triple physical damage would be a little too overpowered...

However, imagine a spider with arm and holding a bow(ridiculous!). Or creeper with dispenser instead of head shooting ghast ballz.
Or skeleton with 2 bows(4 arms) but one leg(takes extra knockback and damage).
Adds more chalenge and interest.
It should be more common
Support

The mob with osteogenesis imperfecta (which is brittle bone disorder) would receive 3x physical damage, not give it. This would also be a rarer mutation. I understand ghasts and blazes wouldn't have genes. Maybe mutation in the nether would result in the mob just dying. I didn't mean a creature could just have random stuff on it, and mutation of the Hox gene is mainly in insects. So, only spiders would be capable of having that mutation. Effect of the allergy depends on what it is. Maybe mutations could work in tiers. Lastly, the likelihood is based on actual genetic test results. I'd like to keep that where it is.

Quote from Puredarkness

*Puts on mods list*

Now just wait for 1.7 and for me to get a grasp of modelling without forge, and you'll have your mod.

But for vanilla, support. Adds variety.

Thank you soooo much. When you release the mod, and I find out how to use them, I'll be all over that.

Finding one of these disabled mobs would most likely give a similar feeling to finding a shiny pokemon, but that's about all it would do gameplay-wise, besides finding a mob that is easily killed. (with the exception of the dwarfism, which would allow for some scary stuff if you were to encounter a hostile one).

Quote from 0hi0st8

Oh my god that is horrifying.

Quote from Artifact123

Oh my god that is horrifying.

I included an image because I thought the public would doubt that such a defect existed. Look it up, mutation can be quite delightful.

This would be great for a mod. I would like it in vanilla too, but most people don't seem to want to. A creeper with skeleton arms and a bow...great idea.

I. Love. This. Idea. Most ppl here are saying this would rule as a mod, but I actually think it should be added. Just like how horses or ocelots are spawned and have dif markings, this would work similarily, but rarer. I love it. I hope MC considers this.

One thing though: the mutations should either 1. make them stronger by a larger amount 2. or make them weaker by a visible amount. Not just looks changing, but, like, actions and strength. Although I think you already kind of implied this, just thought I'd say it just in case.

maybe instead of just mutations to make them smaller size, there could be bigger too. like a giant spider/skeleton/pig etc. Those giants will drop more items, and those smaller drop less. Although the mutated ones will all drop rarer items, weaker or stronger.

As everyone is saying, it'd be a great mod, but really, for vanilla, it's a bit strange. It's like, la la la la, picking mushrooms for my new house HOLY ­ THAT SPIDER IS ­ED UP! That would give me a mod feeling right away, and that's not what I want when I do vanilla. The idea has lots of potential though, I'm excited to see if anything will happen with it.

Quote from 0hi0st8

I included an image because I thought the public would doubt that such a defect existed. Look it up, mutation can be quite delightful.

How... delightful.

Quote from DurzaMC

How... delightful.

Isn't it, though?

I love your idea!

I think there should be a chance that the mutation results in non hostility too though, I really miss the former glitch that allowed friendly creepers.

Full Support

Quote from Alphee

I love your idea!

I think there should be a chance that the mutation results in non hostility too though, I really miss the former glitch that allowed friendly creepers.

Full Support

That would be fine. I didn't consider mental defect.

Quote from Raffilcagon

Would this mean you could possibly come across a normally passive mob that is aggressive?

Yes. Even a fluff.