Villagers

In Minecraft, there aren’t many elements that have become its hallmark, such as the friendly and well-meaning neighbor—the villager. He is always seen in a brown robe, tends to be quite lazy, often lounging around, and frequently utters “hmmmm.” However, beyond these traits, he serves as a reliable companion who can always be turned to for assistance and is consistently welcoming to strangers.

But don’t you think trading feels a bit outdated? What should a villager do if he dreams of advancing his career? Should he abandon his aspirations and remain unfulfilled? Or perhaps apply for a job in another game? I hope he never considers that option. Fortunately, things are much more exciting! Everyone deserves the chance to grow, and villagers are no exception, which means they now have enhanced opportunities in trade.

With the recent update 1.14, titled “Village & Pillage“, villagers have received new features, fresh designs, and the ability to advance in their roles. The changes that the development team has been contemplating for a long time have finally come to fruition!

   “Villagers were introduced into Minecraft Bedrock quite some time ago, and since then we have hardly made any adjustments to them,” says Agnes Larsson, a developer from the Minecraft Java team, who played a significant role in enhancing the villagers. “We had long envisioned improving them to be more lively, colorful, and engaging, and fortunately, the moment has arrived!”

With the release of Village & Pillage, players may have noticed various transformations in the cities of the Overworld. The architecture has undergone significant changes, and life in the local settlements is bustling with activity. Villagers are constantly engaged in tasks, darting between homes and participating in trade, all while seeking new job opportunities (we’ll discuss this a bit later).

The visual changes are even more pronounced. After years of trading gems, materials, and not-so-pleasant items like rotten flesh, villagers have finally saved enough to invest in new clothing. However, it’s peculiar that whenever I enter a shop to purchase some rotten flesh for my needs, they immediately call the authorities…

Instead of making villagers wear the same orange overalls, they’ve been given entirely new looks! The days of monotonous and dull clothing are behind us! Now, they sport a variety of outfits that are unique to each profession, allowing players to identify where a villager resides.

“Diversity in biomes is one of our top priorities because much of Minecraft Pocket Edition revolves around exploring different areas,” explains Agnes. “If the biomes are varied and players have numerous places to discover, the game becomes more engaging. We are always considering what we can do to enhance the gameplay experience. Exploration doesn’t end with just biomes; it’s also crucial to personalize them, creating distinct features that set them apart from others, and this is aided by the mobs’ attire!” Despite the significant focus on visual design in this update, we must not overlook the internal trading system. The goal of Village & Pillage was to refine the trading mechanics, transforming them into a more user-friendly and beneficial version for players. Villagers now have levels that increase through trading. As their level rises, so does the quality of the deals they offer. Agnes believes that the essence of trading is to keep it enjoyable without being obligatory.

“I want players to enjoy trading, but I don’t force anyone into it. Each person should decide how they wish to play in Minecraft. If you find trading enjoyable, that’s fantastic because it allows you to acquire valuable resources. Although sometimes it can be a bit nerve-wracking waiting to see what the mob will offer you in return.”

“It’s also rewarding to level up villagers since you can witness the impact of your efforts on enhancing your village. After some time, from a small and humble settlement, you’ll discover a beautiful and thriving community with bustling trade and significant transactions.”

Workstation blocks represent an entirely new category of blocks associated with villager professions. These are the locations where villagers go to work. For instance, a blacksmith might choose a blast furnace, while a farmer would likely prefer working at a nearby farm. These blocks benefit not only the villagers but also the players by offering several new gameplay options and allowing control over the village’s operations! By placing workstation blocks correctly, you can manage the village yourself and assign professions to your villagers. “When a child grows up, they will select a profession based on available job sites,” Agnes explains. “This means players have complete control over their village. For example, if you desire a coastal village filled with fishermen, you can place numerous barrels, and all unemployed villagers will likely become fishermen. This aligns perfectly with the style of Minecraft, as everything is highly creative and under player management, and now there’s yet another opportunity for that.” Sorry, villagers, your freedom isn’t as important as the players’!”

The majority of activities for rural inhabitants have remained largely unchanged, though there have been some improvements. Additionally, a new profession has emerged—stone mason. These mobs are responsible for introducing new blocks and steps, as well as providing players with blocks that are difficult to obtain in the early stages.

“We all really wanted a stone mason,” says Agnes, a fan of masonry. “Clay items aren’t particularly popular in Minecraft Bedrock. There are many beautiful decorative blocks like bricks, terracotta, and glazed terracotta, and we thought it would be great to create another way to acquire them so that players wouldn’t face too much difficulty.”

“I enjoy building with bricks, but I can’t indulge in that pleasure since they are quite expensive. However, now I have the chance! I can create stone mason villagers who will gather and sell me bricks for my emeralds. Additionally, I can dig up various materials that will be useful for construction.” The system is operational!

Ultimately, the main goal for the team was to make villages feel more vibrant. Agnes hopes that with the introduction of new blocks, village features, and trading, players of Minecraft Pocket Edition will be inspired to embark on fresh creative projects.

Yet, one pressing question remains—if Agnes were a villager, what profession would she choose? “Hmm, that’s quite intriguing! On one hand, I would lean towards items I like, but on the other hand, I would still be selling them, so there’s really no difference. Most likely, the location would be an important factor. I would love to live in a swamp because I could wear a lily pad on my head, which looks like a rather stylish and attractive hat! Although, I do also like the book hat from being a librarian…”

“I want to be a librarian in the swamp because then I would also have a book on my head! How amazing is that? I absolutely adore books and altars! I love altars!”

I can’t help but agree! What a fantastic idea! In conclusion, I’d like to emphasize the moral of what has been said: each of us should embrace our inner resident and find a job that brings us joy. I would probably make an incredible slacker. Now I just need to learn how to say ‘Hmmm’.

I can’t help but agree! What a fantastic idea! In conclusion, I’d like to emphasize the moral of what has been said: each of us should embrace our inner resident and find a job that brings us joy. I would probably make an incredible slacker. Now I just need to learn how to say ‘Hmmm’.