I don't understand why the glider doesn't feel like an absolute joy to use.

[Apocalypse_Andy]

It takes long enough to get the schematic, but the glider is so underwhelming it feels like a novelty item.  When the people I have talked use it, they say they try it out for a bit, then put it in a box.  Like me, they probably get tired of the extra fall damage and the limited utility of the item with reduced storage.  Not a great tradeoff.

I would HAPPILY spend 20X the resources for a glider that had:

significantly decreased minimum gliding speed (the speed at which you fall from the air like a stone)
slightly increased air time
significantly reduced fall damaged (some reduction for wearing the item and much more while the wings are out)
fall damage that reflects fall speed not fall height
added damage received for smashing into objects at speed
ability to accelerate and decelerate without looking up or down
ability to look around without changing direction in first person
better control overall

It feels like the glider falls just short of fun.  Can we get a better glider, a tier 2 glider, a powered tier 3 glider?

Edited October 8, 2024 by Apocalypse_Andy

[LadyWYT]

I'm guessing it's due to the devs opting for a more "realistic" approach to how far the glider can go and how it handles in general, as opposed to opting for a rocket-boosted wings of convenience from the other block game. Unless I'm mistaken, I seem to recall several players complaining about the elytra's addition to Minecraft, in that it trivializes most other methods of travel.

More airtime with the glider would be nice though. I think if it could glide further, it might prompt more players to build glider towers/spots high on mountains in order to travel around the nearby area quickly. Or if it could negate your fall damage heavily when deployed, it would offer an incentive for players to equip it when doing activities with a high fall risk.

Alternatively...I doubt this would be implemented, but if there were, say, obvious thermal air currents similar to what the hang glider missions from Pilot Wings 64 had, and the glider handled in a similar fashion...that would be a rather interesting way to travel.

[ifoz]

1.20 seems to have a new flying device in the files, though I do not know if it is simply decorative or is something you could actually be able to use.
I can imagine that using it in tandem with the glider could potentially be very fun.

[seraph of candles]

I think it's a difficult balancing act. Done badly, flight can actively discourage players from even interacting with their builds, let alone building anything new. My guess is the team is being very cautious and erring on the side of uselessness for now. You should still feel the need to build roads and secure paths, to put in front doors and solid, realistic roofs. I totally think there are ways to let flight and gliding complement those builds instead of negating them, but it's tricky! Hopefully they thread the needle later on. Gliding should be fun.

Edited October 10, 2024 by seraph of candles

[Ven]

Glider mechanic is too easy to abuse even as it is now. I've seen people building so-called "bed towers" that allow you to climb up 150-200m in mere seconds by holding right button on the bed and looking upward, then using the glider to fly off them continuously. That often leads to lethal outcome due to collision bugs, but still It already allows you to skip the wildlife and large unexplored areas sacrificing nothing but fewer inventory space, encouraging players to build more towers (usually terribly ugly) that would be required in large amounts for consistent travelling, instead of building surface infrastructure.
I believe that glider mechanic should be present but more effective gliders given away to the modders, or at least revised thoroughly before implementing anything new in that area. Since it could easily destroy current game balance.

The idea like building a flying city out of hovering land masses where glider would be the main way of moving around does sound good though. Maybe make those new gliders a super end-game content? Post terminus-teleporter era.. cause since you've got that home warp device assumingly you've got everything else, including roads and decent settled household. No any glider would rival with that thing in transferring capabilities in the end.

Edited October 14, 2024 by Ven

[Apocalypse_Andy]

I would disagree about abusing a system in a single player game.  There are hundreds of mods (and game settings) that make things easier.  Play how you like I would say.  I use a translocator mod to teleport myself to a platform to jump off of.  Now I have a cool glider course in the sky.  By the time you can do that you have steel. A pack of wolves or a bear is hardly a problem.  That's also kind of what I was referring to.  You need to get through the archive to get the glider.  By that time most people would be well established.  Also a sacrificing a few inventory space is important if you are playing in vanilla.  Like I said, a novelty item to be used briefly then packed away.